Hansard -- Wednesday, February 9, 2005 p.m. -- Vol. 27, No. 2 (HTML)

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

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY


CONTENTS

	Routine Proceedings
		Page

Introductions by Members		11735

Statements (Standing Order 25B)		11735
	Trade between B.C. and China
	R. Lee
	Financial assistance for Olympic athletes
	B. Bennett
	Alternative budget of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
	R. Sultan

Oral Questions		11736
	Health care services and Fraser health authority
	J. Brar
	Hon. S. Bond
	Long-term care beds
	J. MacPhail
	Hon. S. Bond
	J. Kwan

Petitions		11739
	Hon. L. Reid

Throne Speech Debate		11739
	R. Masi
	B. Bennett
	J. MacPhail
	Hon. L. Reid
	D. Jarvis
	Hon. R. Thorpe
	Hon. B. Barisoff

Hon. P. Wong: I am pleased to announce that today is the first day of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rooster. This is a time of celebration, rest and reflection, a time to reaffirm the vibrancy and vitality of Chinese Canadians and, indeed, all Asian cultures. I wish everyone and all our colleagues a peaceful, prosperous and happy new year. I wish all British Columbians sun tai kin hong, which means good health; sum sheung see sing, which means best wishes; and gung hay fat choy in the golden decade ahead.

R. Masi: It is my pleasure today to introduce a number of people from my riding of Delta North. First of all, it is my pleasure to introduce Jeannie Kanakos, our nominated candidate in the next election for Delta North. She is accompanied by her daughter Jessica. Also with them are John Parker-Jervis, my CA, who is accompanied by Angela Delli Santi; and of course, a very special person in my life, Susan Masi, my wife of a number of years, who has stood beside me in this job through all its ups and downs over these years. Would you please make them all welcome.

Hon. K. Falcon: Today in the galleries I'm pleased to say that we have 60 students from Southridge Secondary School in South Surrey. They are joined by their teacher, Mr. Trevor Julian, and also a couple of adults. I would ask that the House please join me in making them welcome.

Hon. G. Abbott: I have some introductions as well today. First of all, the parents of my executive assistant, Jason Kuzminski, are visiting him from Regina, Saskatchewan. Evelyn and Mervin Kuzminski are here, and I would like the House to make them welcome.

As well, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture it is my pleasure to welcome a former member of this assembly, Mr. Harry de Jong, former member for Abbotsford. He's here with his wife, Ann. Also with them are Albert and Wilma Sevenhuysen, who are also from Abbotsford. Would the House make them all welcome, please.

J. Bray: On behalf of the member for Victoria-Hillside, I would like to introduce three constituents from Hillside. They are Jacqueline Halliburn, Adam Wincey and Tatiana Danylyshyn. They are here to observe question period. I ask the House to make all three very welcome.

C. Clark: We are joined today in the gallery by two arts advocates: Julie Fowler from the Island Mountain Arts collective and Paul Crawford, the director of the Grand Forks Art Gallery. Both have signed on to try and make sure that we continue to support the arts, including parents who enrol their children in arts programs.

Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce 27 public servants seated in the east gallery who are participating in a full-day parliamentary procedure workshop. This workshop, offered by the Legislative Assembly, provides a firsthand opportunity for public servants to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between the work of their ministries and how their work affects the Legislature. Would the House please make them welcome.

R. Lee: Today, February 9, 2005, is the beginning of the lunar new year. In the Chinese calendar, today is the first day of the year 4702, the Year of the Rooster. Many people in the Asian countries celebrate the lunar new year, including China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. In fact in our province, the Asia-Pacific gateway, we have the largest celebration outside Asia. I wish every British Columbian a prosperous and happy new year.

Last month I had the opportunity to join the trade mission to China with the Minister of Forests, the Minister of State for Immigration and Multicultural Services and the member for Alberni-Qualicum. Together with more than 60 delegates from forestry and related sectors from British Columbia we participated in the opening of the Dream Home Canada presentation centre in Shanghai. The completion of phase 1 of the Dream Home Canada project is a milestone in the expansion of the market share for B.C. wood products and building technology in China.

The delegation visited some wood-frame construction sites using B.C. wood products in Suzhou, a sister city of Victoria. I also visited Tianjin with some delegation members. Tianjin is the nearest port to Beijing, only a one and a half hour drive from the capital city. The vice-mayor of Tianjin gave us a warm reception. Tianjin's economic zones are eager to establish a closer trade relationship with our cities. We visited some furniture and wood-flooring manufacturing facilities, which have generated a lot of discussion among the delegation members.

In conclusion, with a population of 1.3 billion people and an economic growth rate of more than 8 percent a year in the last two decades, China has a shortage of wood. It is expected that it will import at least nine million cubic metres of wood every year. The potential for British Columbia export is tremendous.

B. Bennett: There are few things that bring a lump to my throat as fast as hearing O Canada played on a world stage and seeing a Canadian being draped with an Olympic gold medal. You don't have to be a sports fan to feel a sense of national pride when one of our own is recognized as the world's best.

Olympic athletes inspire everyday Canadians to set goals, work hard and be true to themselves in the face of adversity. However, we rarely see beyond the podium to the lifetime of sacrifices that athletes have to make just to get the opportunity to compete at the international level. Not only must they train full-time, but many are university and college students who have to study for a career after athletics and work odd jobs to put food on the table. Most Canadian Olympic athletes are not multimillion-dollar hockey players. Too many Canadian athletes have to scrimp and save and work around their training schedule just to survive.

We need to do a better job of supporting our athletes. The Canadian Olympic Committee and its partners have developed a limited program to help boost our medal count for the 2010 games. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge recently said that more support is needed to help our athletes succeed in 2010. I believe we need to go further and pull governments, communities and corporations together and develop a long-term sustainable plan to properly fund Canadian athletes competing at an international level.

This legislative session I will be introducing a motion calling for communities and governments at all levels to review assistance provided to Olympic athletes, in recognition of the financial hardships they face. The motion I will introduce this session is about more than sports. It's about more than winning a gold medal or standing on a podium. It's about creating role models. It's about inspiring all young people to set goals and work hard no matter what their interests are and no matter what obstacles they may encounter. It's about improving our society by supporting our future leaders.

R. Sultan: Once again the government should be grateful for the NDP's generous funding of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Their B.C. Solutions Budget 2005 tells us what the other party's planners have in mind.

A few highlights. Not one red cent for debt reduction. Do they really prefer paying the banks and bondholders more than schools and hospitals? Higher income taxes. They would raise income taxes for mineworkers by 34 percent, BCGEU members by 36 percent and nurses by more than 42 percent. This helps working people? New payroll taxes. Regressive taxes advocated in a document denouncing regressive taxes. Did anybody check for consistency?

There are other clangers: "Real funding for K-to-12 students — i.e., adjusted for inflation and student enrolment — has actually dropped steeply." That's simply not true, even before the $150 million announcement. Or how about this: "The current B.C. government is no longer supporting the development of new social housing for low-income people." That's simply not true either. B.C. Housing is spending $290 million a year, and it's not being spent on fast ferries. And how about this: "We should accelerate the development of mass transit projects in B.C. through $300 million in new capital funding." That's a start, but $60 billion in projects is already underway.

In fairness, let's give CCPA some checkmarks. They do embrace balanced budgets — but then, it happens to be the law. Finally, we should salute them for quoting New Era of four years ago, where that document said, and they repeat: "High taxes, overregulation and hostile business practices have driven workers and employers out of our province. We can turn that around in short order with the right attitude, policies and taxation environment." Right on, CCPA. Thanks for reminding us of that.

J. Brar: I am proud to rise in the House today and ask my first question. First of all, I want to say thank you to the people of Surrey–Panorama Ridge for the privilege. After four years of B.C. Liberals' arrogance and broken promises, British Columbians know the Premier cannot be trusted. Gambling expansion, wait-lists, B.C. Rail — the list is long.

Let me quote Dr. Jonathan Brock at Surrey Memorial Hospital: "Hospital wards are at capacity. Some patients leave in pain and with potentially serious problems without being seen." Can the Minister of Health tell patients why they're not getting health care when they need it and where they need it, as was promised during the election of 2001?

Hon. S. Bond: This is a government that places an incredibly high priority on the health of British Columbians. We are spending a record almost $11 billion on health care in the province, and that's good for health care. In fact, in the province over the last three years, we've actually seen almost 70,000 new procedures done in British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Surrey–Panorama Ridge has a supplementary question.

J. Brar: It's the same story every time — more promises but no delivery. Let me quote a letter from

Luella Vincent, who went to visit a friend recently at Surrey Memorial Hospital and reported this experience: "When my husband and I went to see her, the chaos was considerable. I asked why there were no proper supplies and was told it was not a real ward but an overflow from the emergency room. She is currently on life support. Her family is stressed beyond belief. No staff, no rooms, no equipment. This is the Third World."

After four years in power, can the Minister of Health tell Ms. Vincent why her friend had to suffer through Third World conditions at the Surrey Memorial Hospital?

Hon. S. Bond: First of all, whenever families have difficult circumstances, we're always very sorry that that happens. I can tell you this: the people who live and are served by the Fraser health authority are actually receiving excellent care in the majority of circumstances, and we are very proud of the investments that we've made. In fact, the Fraser health authority has received a significant increase in funding over the last number of years to ensure that patients in the Fraser health authority are receiving the kind of treatment that they deserve. In fact, this government is responding to an increase, and we are sending dollars to the Fraser health authority.

If we look to the past, we certainly knew there were going to be growth pressures in the Fraser health authority, and the member opposite should recognize….

J. Brar: Mr. Speaker, that's not what I hear from the CEO of the Fraser health authority. Just recently he sent an e-mail to staff members saying what the situation is. I think the minister responsible should at least read that e-mail.

One only has to go into an emergency room to know that this government isn't telling the truth. The head of Fraser health authority says patients are facing unacceptably long wait-lists. According to the Fraser health authority, the region faces a $50 million capital funding shortfall this year, rising to $163 million by next year. Over 800 long-term care beds have been axed. The expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital is on hold.

Will the Minister of Health admit that her health care promises are meaningless and that her government is to blame for the emergency room crisis at Fraser health authority?

Hon. S. Bond: Let's talk about planning. When this government came to power in Victoria, there was not one single FTE dedicated to planning in the previous government. We have a plan. Let's look at the increase in dollars that went to the Fraser health authority. Part of the reason that the Fraser health authority….

Mr. Speaker: To the Leader of the Opposition, the Minister of Health Services has the floor.

Hon. S. Bond: Growth pressures in the Fraser health authority are not news to anyone. Demographics aren't a surprise. As a matter of fact, if proper planning had been done in the decade that the members opposite were in government, we wouldn't be facing the challenges in the Fraser health authority that we are facing today.

J. MacPhail: It's the same story all over this province. When this government came into power, the first thing they did was give a big tax break to their friends and cancel all capital projects. That's what they did. This Premier can't be trusted. He broke his promise on long-term care beds. He contributed to a massive backlog in emergency wards.

On January 14 the Minister of Health told the media that 5,000 new long-term care beds would be ready — wait for it — by 2008. Yesterday the Premier, when asked the same question, wouldn't give a deadline — wouldn't give a deadline. Who's telling the truth, Mr. Premier? He would only admit that his promise wouldn't be met, and he has no one to blame except himself.

To the Minister of Health Services: just what is the new promise on long-term care beds, and why should

British Columbians believe it when the government can't even get its story straight between the two of them?

Hon. S. Bond: We are excited about the plan that we have for seniors in the province of British Columbia.

Hon. S. Bond: We do have a plan to create 5,000 intermediate and long-term care beds in the province. And do you know what happened? Do you know what happened when we got to Victoria? We got to Victoria, we did an inventory of all of the housing that was available to seniors in the province, and guess what we found. Some of the buildings were 30 years old, and in fact, you couldn't fit a wheelchair in some of the bathrooms. That's not good enough for the seniors of British Columbia.

Hon. S. Bond: …the member opposite's track record in terms of building beds in this province: 1,400 in a decade. There are no surprises in that.

In fact, we have a plan. We're going to add the type of housing that the seniors of today deserve and want in the province. We're going to do that. It's going to take us a little bit longer than we anticipated, but we are going to get it right, because we care that seniors have the type of service that they deserve.

Mr. Speaker: Pardon me. The Leader of the Opposition has a short supplementary.

J. MacPhail: The Minister of Health is excited about putting the boots to seniors. We've known all along that the Premier would break his promise. Today it lies in shreds on the floor of his office. The Health minister also told the media two weeks ago that in total, the Liberals have added a mere 100 beds over the last four years — four years and 4,900 beds short of the Premier's promise. Again to the Minister of Health: stand up, take responsibility for your actions or lack thereof, stop blaming others when you know it's not true, and tell us how many new, additional long-term care beds are here in B.C. after four years of broken Liberal promises.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. The Government House Leader and the Leader of the Opposition, please come to order.

Hon. S. Bond: This is about taking responsibility for providing housing for seniors that's most appropriate to their care levels. Seniors in this province used to have two options, and the member opposite would well know that. In fact, they had a choice of home or residential care. That's not good enough for the seniors of today. What we're going to do is create a system that adds options that will address the needs of seniors today. In fact, the really good news is that the private sector has also stepped up to the plate because of a booming economy. In fact, a recent study says that the private sector, over the last three years, has actually added almost 5,000 units for seniors.

Hon. S. Bond: We are moving aggressively. We will meet our 5,000-bed commitment. We care about seniors. We're going to continue to move our plan forward.

J. Kwan: If this government and this minister actually cared about the seniors, they would have built the new beds that they promised. The story changes every time the minister opens her mouth. In the Fraser health

authority there is a net loss, a net loss of 800 beds; in the capital regional district, a net loss of 205 beds.

The Premier is happy to spend tens of millions of dollars on partisan television ads, but he cannot keep a simple promise for the seniors. Will the Minister of Health stand up and repeat a promise that she made just a few weeks ago that 5,000 new, additional long-term care beds will be built by 2008, or will she break that promise too?

Hon. S. Bond: We have made it clear, and the throne speech confirmed that yesterday. We are committed to reaching the target of 5,000 new, additional long-term care beds. We've stated clearly….

Hon. S. Bond: We are committed to adding 5,000 beds for long-term care over the next number of years. We made the commitment. We will continue to work aggressively, and we will have them fully in place by 2008.

J. Kwan: Last year the former Minister of Health was actually empathetic. He told this House that the net increase in long-term care beds would be 5,000 by this time next year — next year. The new Minister of Health says that they only have created 100 beds and pushed the promise to 2008. Maybe the minister is proud of that record. Now, of course, they're fudging on that number. The Premier won't give a date and the government can't even get its story straight on the number of new beds. To the Premier: when will the 5,000 new beds be built — the 5,000 additional, new long-term care beds?

Hon. S. Bond: We are absolutely committed to adding the 5,000 beds in British Columbia. We will have more than half of them in place by 2006 and will meet our commitment by 2008.

Hon. L. Reid: I have the honour of tabling a petition on behalf of the Richmond Multicultural Concerns Society.

There is no question that the task of governing in these times is almost an impossible one. To strike the balance in providing services that people demand and that they consider an entitlement, with the ability to pay for these services, is a constant responsibility and challenge of government.

This government has met this challenge well. We have seen in this province an economic miracle. In a short four years we have seen a complete turnaround in the spirit, energy and enthusiasm of British Columbia. It has not been an easy road. The government faced enormous economic challenges when it took office in 2001. A huge structural deficit was the order of the day. Private investment was minimal and declining. The mining industry was in a shambles with no future clear direction. Post-secondary education had no clear direction and few plans for expansion. Access to university was extremely difficult because of lack of facilities and space.

The health system was bogged down because of duplication in the management and policy-making structure. Training programs for doctors and nurses were in a state of neglect, and future plans for expansion and training of medical personnel were nonexistent.

In education, school districts were upset with the funding formula, and many were experiencing deficits but had few options and little autonomy in the spending of budgets. Teachers were reaching the end of a zero-zero-and-zero contract, and many school boards were looking at half-filled schools with no means of dealing with the problem.

I must repeat, Mr. Speaker: we have seen an economic miracle. British Columbia posted a gain of 197,000 new jobs, saw $27.8 billion in residential real estate and 30,844 housing starts. As a result of a booming economy British Columbia experienced a net in-migration of 7,333 people from other provinces in 2004 — the first time since 1997 that more people moved to B.C. than left for other destinations. Newcomers are attracted to a thriving economy, and that is what B.C. has to offer.

B.C.'s economy is in recovery, having posted an overall growth rate of 4.5 percent in 2004. Forecasters predict we will see another 3 percent to 4 percent in 2005. We are seeing significant job growth, resource development and high consumer confidence. As a direct consequence, we are experiencing strong consumer spending.

B.C.'s employment growth is the highest in the country, and the portion of B.C. workers making $16 or more an hour is higher in B.C. than anywhere in Canada. One of the major forces in our booming economy is construction. Construction alone created more than 30,000 jobs in 2004, and the great boom shows no sign of weakening.

Credit Union Central of B.C. predicts that an incredible $8.2 billion in non-residential construction will take place in 2005. On top of that, it is expected that new housing starts will rise again to more than 32,000. The future looks even brighter. For example, if you look at major projects, meaning projects over $40 million, there is $16 billion on the books between now and 2010. They include such large-scale and multi-year endeavours as the $1.7 billion RAV line, the $495 million Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion and the $162 million Olympic village.

Other large-scale projects include the $1 billion expansion to the port of Vancouver container terminals and a ten-year, $1.4 billion upgrade of facilities at Vancouver International Airport. Infrastructure construction is estimated to climb to just over $6 billion in 2005. The B.C. construction industry has not looked so positive in over 20 years. This boom will help the industry bring in the next generation of contractors, employing thousands of British Columbians in the future. With the outlook so good, it is an excellent time for young British Columbians to start their careers in this field.

B.C.'s mining sector alone is seeing some of its best growth in recent years. Prospectors in 2004 spent $130 million in bids to find new mines, contrasting the low point of 2002, which saw only $25 million spent. New demands worldwide have helped spur the development of northeast coalmines, the reopening of copper mines and a resurgence in mineral exploration.

Education, along with its intrinsic value and immense contribution to the progress of our society, is also a big economic player. Education employs 149,000 people in our province and accounts for 5.2 percent of B.C.'s gross domestic product. It accounts for 7 percent of the workforce. With all of those people working and all of those wages, all of that money comes right back into our B.C. economy. Education becomes even more important with an economy relying on a flexible and adaptable workforce. With sectors such as biotechnology and information technology becoming more important, public education becomes key in a strong economy.

Mr. Speaker, the province is responding to the education need. The Premier recently announced the single largest increase in education funding for B.C. schools in a decade, with a $150 million investment. The 2005-06 education funding will be more than $4 billion, the highest ever. I repeat: the highest ever. Since 2000, per-student education funding is up by $863 to an estimated $7,079 per student for the 2005-06 year.

At the same time, we know that public school enrolment has declined by 29,300 students since 2000-01. Since 2000-01 the province has provided districts with more than $140 million in special one-time funding, including $10 million for textbooks; $3 million for Ready, Set, Learn programs; and $1 million for computers in schools. This is an outstanding record in educational finance.

In advanced education the government is responding to the need our growing economy will create in the future. Budget 2004 announced that 25,000 new post-secondary spaces will be added by 2010, on top of the 5,800 new spaces already added since 2001.

In today's ever-changing economy, knowledge is essential. Keeping up to date is absolutely key to enhancing careers. Each year nearly 90,000 people take advantage of university continuing education opportunities at B.C.'s four major universities: the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser, the University of Victoria and the University of Northern British Columbia. As well, the university colleges and institutes are all responding to the needs of advanced education and continuing education in a cost-effective and accountable manner, allowing more and more British Columbians to advance their careers to the next level.

Despite increasing challenges created by punishing duties, a strong Canadian dollar and a continuous battle with the mountain pine beetle, the B.C. forest industry is once again reclaiming its place at the top among North American forest industries. Many B.C.–based companies are now beginning to emerge on a world scale. This government introduced a broad package of forestry reforms, including a new timber-pricing system and new licensing policies. These small changes carried anything but a small impact. The improvement was phenomenal. Companies are fighting to be efficient and are becoming increasingly competitive in the world market.

The economic impact of the forest industry is substantial. Through logging, wood-product manufacturing and paper manufacturing, the industry employs over 91,000 British Columbians. In 2003 it produced $13.7 billion in sales alone, adding up to a colossal 10 percent of British Columbia's GDP.

We are all aware of the increasing opportunities of the economic activity a booming Chinese market has to offer. Our forest industry stands to benefit greatly from that boom. With 10 million to 12 million new housing starts a year, China's potential need for lumber and wood products is immense, providing significant marketing initiatives are undertaken. With the proper regulations now in place, the B.C. forest industry has the capacity to compete with other industries to bring the benefits of a booming Chinese market home to British Columbians.

British Columbia is also home to an emerging high-tech industry. The biotech industry in British Columbia is the fastest-growing of its kind in the country and is considered one of the leaders on the west coast of North America. Biotech is just one part of the high-tech industry, which in its entirety contributes about 5 percent of the province's GDP. Regardless, it still employs more than 2,500 workers with an additional 1,120 people employed in pharmaceuticals.

The B.C. biotech industry is made up of 260 companies across the province. Reports have shown that B.C. is one of the most cost-effective locations on the west coast for the biotech industry, outranking such traditional low-cost leaders as California.

Asian economic growth is not only affecting the forest industry, it reaches much further. The Asian economy is creating an incredible surge in trade, and it shows no signs at all of levelling. British Columbia is already home to Canada's busiest port, and we can expect trade to grow more dramatically in the next 15 years. In 2003, B.C.'s three major ports handled 122 million tonnes of cargo, adding up to $35 billion of Canada's worldwide trade. These three facilities together supported 18,000 direct jobs for British Columbians. But this is nothing compared to what we can expect in the future.

By 2020 British Columbia's trade could grow by almost 200 percent. Rapidly expanding economies in Asia are pumping an increasing flow of containers into the Canadian market. These containers hold everything from home appliances to furniture to clothing.

In anticipation of this great surge, officials are planning to launch a $1.5 billion expansion of B.C. ports. On the northern coast the port of Prince Rupert is building a $500 million container facility to increase its capacity by 1.2 million containers a year. In addition, Prince Rupert offers a direct rail link to Chicago and the U.S. Midwest via its CN Rail link. This route is a day and a half shorter than the southern route, allowing for the more cost-effective movement of goods. That's very important in terms of economic value.

Here in the lower mainland, existing ports will see an increase in their capacity, including the Vancouver port, the Fraser port and the Deltaport. The challenge will be the immense task of ensuring our road and rail infrastructure are designed with the appropriate capacity to accommodate this surge in container traffic.

This government is creating solutions. Next door to my riding of Delta North the Deltaport container terminal is about to undergo a major expansion. Plans are in progress for a third berth and eventually an entire second terminal. By 2012 truck traffic is expected to jump from 1,800 trips a day to 2,400. By 2020, truck trips a day could double. Impact on our local road systems will be substantial.

In response the Minister of Transportation is developing final plans for its proposed South Fraser perimeter road. Under the gateway transportation program the South Fraser perimeter road will allow trucks to use a new designated route, allowing for the free flow of people and goods. Traffic emanating from such points as the Deltaport and the Tsawwassen ferry terminal will finally have a proper, limited-access route connection to Highway 1, eliminating the need to clog residential streets in North Delta.

The North Delta portion of the road, which has for years now been subject to dangerously high truck traffic, will finally be restored to a quiet residential street, as it was intended. The industrial area of Tilbury will be properly connected to the arterial routes. Trucks will finally have the proper transportation routes they need to move goods safely and efficiently. Our residential streets can once again be freed of the safety hazards of big-rig congestion. It is a win-win situation for both our residents and our economy.

I remember fondly, as I'm sure you all do, that wonderful morning in July of 2003 when the packed crowd at GM Place shot to their feet in joyous jubilation as Vancouver was announced the host city of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Since that day a great sense of optimism is sweeping over the province. Consumer confidence jumped in B.C. as we all began to ponder the great economic boost these games will bring to our province. The projected benefit to the B.C. economy by the 2010 Olympics is estimated as up to $5.8 billion. This boost won't end in 2010. The legacy will live on for many years to come.

One industry poised to directly benefit from these games is the tourist industry. B.C.'s tourism industry was hit hard in 2003 with such factors as SARS, mad cow disease and forest fires, causing revenues to fall. It has since bounced back. This government's announcement that Tourism B.C.'s annual budget will be raised from $25 million to $50 million will greatly increase B.C.'s competitiveness on the international market. Last year tourism in B.C. employed over 115,000 workers, and it is expected to bring $9.86 billion in revenue in 2005.

Such exciting events as the Vancouver convention centre expansion and the 2010 Olympics will all create great opportunities for British Columbia's tourism between 2005 and 2015. Annual tourism revenues in the greater Vancouver region are expected to rise from $3.5 billion in 2004 to $7 billion in 2015. The outlook is very bright on the tourism front.

In this day and age we hear a great deal about social problems in our communities. We hear about violence, hunger, begging, bullying and similar unwelcome activities. At times, similar problems are reflected in our schools because, you know, that's what schools are all about: a reflection of society, both the good and the bad. I must say that it is mostly the good.

However, many of the concerns and problems that the public associates with schools are essentially community-based. Consequently, in my opinion the solutions lie within the community and not just within the schools. In order to deal with such problems, schools use a number of strategies such as codes of conduct; sometimes inner-city schools designations; teacher workshops, and there are many of them related

to these topics; student initiatives; peer counselling programs; we are now instituting the Roots of Empathy program; and many other strategies.

In my opinion, one of the most effective concepts for dealing with societal attitudes and problems that intrude into the schools would be the community schools concept. In my mind, it's very simplistic to say that the passage of a law will take care of the complexities that the school system faces in dealing with children's problems. However, when the community can join together and combine its resources to deal with such problems, then perhaps positive results may be accomplished. The ideal educational vehicle for community action is the community school.

I picked up an excellent definition of community schools in my reading: "The community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other resources. Its integrated focus on academics, services, supports and opportunities lead to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Schools become centres of the community and are open to everyone all day, every day, evenings and weekends."

Community schools offer a number of advantages. They increase the use of local public facilities — and I think we're all aware of that — but they also integrate and coordinate existing public services such as health services, police, nursing, human resources and that whole realm of services that deal with people. They maximize communication between school and community. They enrich and enhance learning through formal and informal activities, which is very important in the learning situation of students. They reinforce a sense of community and improve the quality of life in the neighbourhood, which is becoming more and more important in the days as they go by. They improve communication between the school and the community, which is sometimes lacking in some municipalities and cities. They provide an opportunity for local residents to participate in community activities.

Beyond parental committees in the schools they encourage committees of people, who perhaps do not have students in the school, to get involved in the school and the community activities, which I think is very important because there is much to offer from people in the community to the schools.

I believe strongly that if those school districts not already utilizing the community school concept entered into the strategy, they would find available support systems to assist in dealing with the many societal problems that face our children today. I know that we do the best we can at the governmental level. We attempt to pass laws that make our schools and streets safer, but I think it runs deeper than that. I think we have to look at the community aspect in involving more and more people in dealing with our societal problems.

Full marks go to the government for steadily increasing the education budget and emphasizing the need for additional funding for libraries, music, art and special education. These, of course, are not extras. These are fundamental activities and values that we all appreciate and that develop our cultural activities.

However, there is another problem, the acute problem of childhood obesity and the proliferation of sedentary activities for young people. I believe there is a case for the addition of required physical education courses for at least up to the grade 11 level, and it should be re-examined. Physical education is far more than running around a gym. Effective PE includes individualized training programs, healthy eating habits, leadership training, teamwork and an appreciation to succeed in our complex social structure.

However, I do want to give full credit to the Ministry of Education for supporting the Action Schools B.C. program. This is a great program, and I understand it's going to be extended to the grade 9 level, which is a great thing. This program, funded by the Ministry of Health Services and the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development, was a pilot program, and now it's going to be further developed. The aim is to increase physical activity and develop a foundation for healthy living in the hope for a decrease in obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis and other acute chronic diseases.

One of the yardsticks used to measure education is the graduation rate. The Education ministry and the teachers of British Columbia are to be commended for the steadily increasing graduation in British Columbia. This year 77 percent of our students graduated from our school system, and more aboriginal students than ever before completed school, 46 percent. We know we have more to do in this area, and we will do it. As well, a record 5,099 grade 12 students won provincial scholarships. This was an exceptional year, and the teachers and the students are to be commended for that outstanding result.

These numbers represent a most positive trend for our students, who we know will all ultimately be seeking employment. We know that the unemployment rate with a university degree is 2.9 percent compared to 5.2 percent for a college trade diploma. As well, we also know that the rate climbs to 10.9 percent for less than high school. However — and I think we should be reminded of this — the trick in education is to balance the emphasis on standardized testing with its accompanying pressures and still maintain the motivation to stay in school. So far in British Columbia we have maintained that balance.

In the field of advanced education, access still remains a difficulty. High averages are required to enter university. However, this situation is steadily improving with additional spaces opening up, and the target of 25,000 new spaces appears very reachable by 2010.

The opening of the two major university campuses at UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University has filled a need for students in the interior of the province, while Simon Fraser Surrey will help alleviate the

population increase of university-age students in the Surrey region. The expansion and development of post-secondary facilities in British Columbia over the last few years has been carried out effectively and purposefully.

The ministry has created a strong provincial system of post-secondary institutions ranging from a large research-based university, like UBC in Victoria, to the developing mid-sized satellite campuses, such as UBC Okanagan, backed up by the very popular and highly esteemed university colleges and institutes and community colleges. Overall, this is a most comprehensive and effective post-secondary system which provides much-needed educational opportunities for a broad range of students. The Ministry of Advanced Education should be very proud of our very effective post-secondary structure in British Columbia. As well, I'm very pleased to see that tuition increases will be limited to the inflation rate. That's good news for everybody.

The challenge now is for the Ministry of Advanced Education to continue to deal with the onset of the skills shortage. We have talked in the past of the impending shortage of skilled workers, but now it is upon us. It's not pending anymore; it is here. A booming economy and our aging workforce have accelerated the need for new methods and new delivery models for training and apprenticeships. A significant and positive change has been put forward by the ministry to acknowledge that modular training and competency-based credentials which reflect actual skills, knowledge and ability of participants are important steps to providing more flexibility for students while maintaining the quality training and credentials that they need.

In the field of health care all the provinces right across Canada are facing extremely difficult times. Our Canadian medicare system is a fine concept, one of the best in the world, but it is being stretched to its financial limit. I'm very happy to see that our federal and provincial governments, with strong leadership from the Premier of British Columbia, have agreed to review and realign health spending in Canada. The essential problem in health services is not the level of expertise or the level of care; it is the ability to access that care. We must be able to shorten the lineups, and this may mean, ultimately, that the public may have to have the option of personally paying for some health services.

This government, however, is doing its part to improve access to patient care. The health care budget has continued and will continue to see a 36 percent rise over the seven years between 2000 and 2007. That amounts to $3 billion more in resources available to the system over seven years — so don't say that we've been cutting health. Budget 2004 alone increased the Health ministry budget by $1 billion, and every penny of that $1 billion will go directly to patient care.

Just recently this government announced several investments in health care. We have invested $27.6 million to support medical education. These funds will be used to expand and upgrade academic space in teaching hospitals around British Columbia to support the increasing number of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. The University of Northern British Columbia, in cooperation with UBC medical school, is now enrolling 24 first-year medical students, which adds to the doubling of the number of medical students being trained throughout the province. Understandably, this initiative will take some time to develop but over a seven-year period will increase the number of trainees in place in British Columbia to nearly 900.

Also, we have invested $35 million in emerging medical technology to improve access to better diagnostic care. We are making the necessary improvements, but we also know we have much to do. For example, back home in my riding of Delta North, most people use Surrey Memorial Hospital when they are in need of hospital care, due to its proximity to the riding. We understand that because of growth, Surrey Memorial is now undergoing severe pressures, especially in the emergency ward. It stands to reason that a city with a population of 400,000 and growing needs expanded access to medical facilities. We also know that this problem will be looked at, met and taken care of as the years go by. We know that the foundation at Surrey Memorial is already preparing plans for expansion of the emergency sector.

Mr. Speaker, I must take this opportunity to compliment all the members of the Citizens' Assembly. This independent, non-partisan assembly of 160 randomly selected members of the general public has worked diligently and given its time and energy faithfully and objectively. Their task was complex and difficult. How do you balance citizen participation with effective government? What system can guarantee both representative and effective government? The assembly, after long deliberation, has put forward a proposal to be voted upon by the general public. What a superb exercise in democracy. Whether the final outcome is change or no change, there should be an acknow-ledgment of and an appreciation for the confidence and the courage of the Premier for following through with the promise of electoral reform and entrusting the people of this province with this decision.

The Speech from the Throne is a blueprint for our future. It sets out in bold detail the agenda that this government will be pursuing throughout the course of this legislation and the years beyond. This throne speech is more than mere words. It is a statement, a commitment to the people of British Columbia that we will continue to keep our promise and strive to build a great province for all its citizens as we stand on the threshold of a golden decade.

B. Bennett: Mr. Speaker, it's my honour today to second the Speech from the Throne, which sets out our government's vision for the future of this glorious province. I plan to speak directly to my constituents today, for it is the good people of the East Kootenay who sent me here and to whom I am accountable. It's been an incomparable experience to have this opportu-

nity these past three and a half years to have a role in rebuilding British Columbia, bringing the province back to respectability, and to have the good fortune to come from an area of the province that is so easy to help because the people there are so decent, hard-working and enthusiastic.

Almost four years ago I stood at this desk and delivered my rookie speech. I went back yesterday and reread that speech, thinking that it might be interesting to see what I said then after listening to our government's first throne speech. I was prodigiously inexperienced then — an amateur politician. I was also very nervous speaking in the chamber, but I had great expectations for the positive changes that our government would make, and I was committed to the belief that I, as an MLA from a far-flung rural riding, could make a difference in the lives of my constituents.

I learned over these last few years that together as a team, as a diverse group of individuals, government can make a difference in people's lives. As a group of elected people, we — this caucus and this government — have made B.C. a better place to live, to work and to raise a family. I know that to be true, and I will campaign in the spring election on the basis of that truth.

I've also learned that one elected person can, in fact, make a difference as well. I recall my first meeting with the Premier after the 2001 election. I really didn't know what to expect. The first lesson I learned about Premier Campbell is that government must have goals and that MLAs must have goals. I was asked for my three main goals for the term. Fortunately for me, I did have specific goals, and I laid them out for the Premier. My primary goals at the time were (1) to develop a successful regional hospital in Cranbrook that could serve all the people in the East Kootenay, (2) to raise the profile of the coal industry and its workers and make it possible to use coal for the production of electricity in British Columbia and (3) the expansion of the Cranbrook Airport.

Over the past three and a half years many other important priorities have been brought to me by my constituents and by British Columbians from all over the province. Frankly, it's been the most interesting and satisfying experience of my life — to have the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives, to share their dreams for themselves and their families and, yes, to suck it up sometimes and try to come to grips personally with the unintended impacts of big government's sometimes clumsy attempts to do the right thing.

Over the term of our government I've not lost sight of the three goals I presented to the Premier in 2001, and I am very grateful to the Premier for allowing me the opportunity to realize some of the goals and the aspirations that I have for the East Kootenay. All three of my primary goals for the region have either been achieved in their entirety or are very close to completion.

The East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook has 13 new specialists today that the people of the East Kootenay did not have access to three years ago. These physicians moved to the East Kootenay because this government committed to building a true regional hospital that would serve the whole region, not just Cranbrook. Our government found the resources to recruit and retain specialists for rural hospitals. Our government found resources during some very lean years to tackle the aging and deteriorating infrastructure at the regional hospital, and it shows: $8 million has already gone into the basic hospital infrastructure that was shamelessly allowed to deteriorate under the previous government. Another $23 million has been earmarked for a major expansion and renovation to the regional hospital. Construction starts this spring.

Physicians and nurses at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital today will tell you that they are incredibly busy. Working at a regional hospital is a stressful business. But these same physicians and nurses will also tell you that they are so pleased because today they feel like the government and the health authority actually support the regional hospital. As busy and frantic as it is at the regional hospital, health care professionals are grateful that this government and the health authority are committed over the long term to sustaining a centre of excellence at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital that four years ago the people in our region could only dream about.

Coal. My second goal was raising the profile of the coal industry and its workers and making it possible to use coal for the production of electricity in B.C. I came down to Victoria in the spring of 2001 full of enthusiasm for all that the East Kootenay shares with the rest of the province. I assumed that there would be a high level of awareness of the huge metallurgical coal industry in the Elk Valley. Here was an industry at the time employing 2,500 people, all of whom earn an average of about $85,000 a year. The coal industry at that time was a $1.5 billion industry, at a time when the mining industry in the province was down to less than $4 billion in total. Surely, I thought, the bureaucracy and elected people in Victoria would appreciate that or at least know about it.

I quickly discovered that even some of my colleagues were not aware of the coal industry and its workers. Coal, in fact, I learned, was a dirty word. Victoria, especially in the 1990s, took the money and tax revenues from the industry but hid the industry like a crazy uncle who was forced to live upstairs, out of the public eye. But very quickly, cabinet ministers came to my riding. Several toured the coalmines and enthusiastically reported back to caucus after their trips. The Premier, of course, had toured the Elk Valley mines many times in opposition, and he supported me in my efforts to raise the profile of the industry.

At Christmas in 2001, I wrapped up little pieces of coal and gave each member of the B.C. Liberal caucus a piece of coal for Christmas. At Christmas in 2002, everyone got coal candy.

I was provided with the opportunity, through the caucus committees that the Premier set up, to work with the Ministries of Energy and Mines and Water, Land and Air Protection. The industry had been asking

previous governments for 12 years to standardize the regulations for coal-fired emissions with other western Canadian standards and to allow the use of coal in B.C. for the production of electricity. Over the span of two years our government developed and announced B.C.'s first real energy plan. Coal was featured as part of the energy plan for the province. The uncle was allowed out of the closet, and it turned out he was not crazy after all.

The profile and the importance of the coal industry to B.C. were increased to a level never seen before under the previous government, which was openly hostile to an industry that supports hundreds of unionized workers and their families. Our government established air-emission regulations that meet the high standard in western Canada while still permitting any enterprising company to develop a coal-fired power plant. It's now up to the industry to decide whether a coal-fired power plant is part of their business plan.

I can say with certainty the coal industry is confident in the future of the province, providing the B.C. Liberal government stays in power. The future of coalmining jobs and mining jobs in general has never been as bright as it is with this government in Victoria.

The Cranbrook Airport expansion. My third primary goal was to see the Cranbrook Airport expanded to accommodate large jet charters laden with tourists eager to spend money in the Kootenays. The Premier got out in front of this one very quickly, declaring his support at the 2002 UBCM convention. The rest of us involved in the project were not quite so quick off the mark. We struggled over the past three years to find a proposal for expansion that the city of Cranbrook would support and that the St. Mary's Indian band could support.

Recently, my office and the city of Cranbrook agreed that the wisest and most productive thing for the region to do would be to proceed with a major expansion of the runway to 8,000 feet, without the land needed from the St. Mary's band to put on that last 1,000 feet, and a major expansion of the terminal building. This 8,000-foot runway and a terminal building three times the size of our existing terminal will allow Boeing 757 and Airbus 320 charters to come in directly from anywhere in North America.

The city of Cranbrook is now ready to go. The other towns in the region are contributing half a million dollars, and the province is working with the federal government to pull the funding details together. Already the resorts are gearing up for a huge increase in traffic. Real estate development is increasing in anticipation. I'm hoping for a big announcement from the province and the federal government in the near future. I can't check this particular goal off quite yet, but I have my pencil ready in my hand, and I'm confident the expansion of the Cranbrook Airport, the world's gateway to the B.C. Rockies, will happen soon.

Much water has passed under the proverbial bridge in the past few years in British Columbia and in my riding. Many of us here in the south are actually ten years older, not four years older. We're greyer, heavier, shorter but, hopefully, a little wiser. We have been the beneficiaries of strong and intelligent leadership from the Premier. We've had some dandy dust-ups in caucus, but other than two members who, frankly, did not contribute to the aggregate value of our caucus team, we are united and ready to take on our opponents.

I've learned as an MLA that government steers more like an ocean tanker than a speedboat. Government by nature does not turn on a dime. The ship of state can be turned gradually, slowly, with great effort and patience and after long, arduous effort, but it can be turned. I believe we have turned this huge ocean liner and have the ship pointed in the right direction.

We've changed how government works in British Columbia. I believe that history will record that one of the B.C. Liberal government's most important reforms was the thorough review — cleansing — and the new accountability that we, with considerable difficulty and resistance, have initiated.

I speak specifically of a variety of things: first of all, the core review of government services and programs, which was an agonizing but essential self-examination by and of government; the fixed legislative calendar; the fixed election dates every four years; the citizens' assembly, a revolutionary step for any government; the meaningful caucus committees, which actually had an impact on government policy; the accountability of ministers for their departmental budgets and the overall provincial budget; the accountability and performance reporting that all ministries and Crown agencies now must live up to and which the auditor general has applauded; the adoption of generally accepted accounting principles, the first province in Canada to do so; and no more fudge-it budgets.

The access to government that our constituents have had. I must say that I'm actually worn out taking cabinet ministers around my riding these past three and a half years. I don't think there's a precedent in B.C. for the way our ministers have travelled the width and the breadth of this province listening to people, trying to help solve their problems and achieve their aspirations. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the ministers. There are many of you who have toured my riding, some of you several times.

Of course, this government did inherit an unholy mess in June of 2001. All partisanship aside, almost all political commentators in B.C. and Canada would have agreed in 2001 that B.C. was an economic and political basket case, the dunderhead of the Dominion. Unfortunately, we were the province that other Canadians remembered for huge aluminum boats that barely floated, the place where Premiers lasted a couple of years if they were lucky, where the average term of a cabinet minister was 11 months, where ministers announced things they didn't even intend to do and where laundry workers made as much as teachers or engineers in return for their votes at election time. That was the B.C. that existed less than four short years ago.

Much has changed. Although we have by no means achieved what is possible for B.C., we are well on our

way to a decade of prosperity, good health, excellent education, a clean natural environment and a social safety net that will be the envy of this country. We can do it. We are doing it thanks to the hard work of the people of this great province.

I said at the beginning of my speech that I'd gone back and looked at my rookie speech after the government's throne speech in 2001. What I said then was that I was proud to be a member of a government that actually does after the election what it promised to do during the election. I said that our government needed to make B.C. competitive again by reducing stifling, competition-killing regulation and by making our taxation regime competitive with the rest of Canada and also with the rest of the Pacific Northwest.

I talked about how people in my riding of East Kootenay at that time in 2001 were worried about their future. We depend on the mining and forest industries for high-paying jobs that support families, and we need reliable access to the land and an investment climate that encourages new jobs. This government has met all those challenges. Taxes in B.C. are competitive, and regulation has been reduced to the point where more people are actually moving back to B.C. than leaving, where investment is flowing to B.C. to create new jobs rather than racing out the door as it did in the 1990s.

Our political opponents are hoping that British Columbia voters will attribute the strong B.C. economy to rising commodity prices and a strong world economy. They conveniently leave out the fact that during the 1990s, B.C.'s economy went south from best to last while the rest of Canada prospered during an unparalleled period of prosperity. Strong commodity prices were no match for the NDP governments of the 1990s.

No provincial government can control the broader economic circumstances it finds itself in at any particular time in history, but a provincial government can and must do everything it can to build a welcoming investment and job creation climate. Competitiveness and productivity are two themes that no government can afford to overlook.

I believe that government has an obligation to the children not to satiate the unbridled supplications of every special interest group in the province — for example, by burdening our young people with a debt that currently costs British Columbians $7 million a day. Trite as it may be to say, government must not spend beyond its capacity to pay.

In 2001 we had two choices: increase revenue; decrease expenses. We did both, although decreasing expenses got the most attention. Because of the spirit of optimism in B.C. today and because of the changes to our tax regime and regulations and because the world now sees B.C. as a secure, friendly place to invest, we will soon be paying down some of the debt that threatens the future of the unsuspecting children of this province. Now, for the first time in a decade, we can afford the public services that are provided to British Columbians, and we can afford to increase service in key areas. The throne speech sets out these key areas of focus with five goals that will lead us and drive us into the golden decade that is now attainable in B.C.

The most literate, best-educated jurisdiction in North America. The Premier's focus on accountability in our schools and on literacy has led to improvements in student performance. My region of the East Kootenay leads the province in graduation rates. I bet you didn't know that. More money has been given to schools for computers, more money to community libraries. The digital divide is being bridged in the Kootenays as we speak.

Parents are now part of their children's education, not forced to stand outside the system, powerless to help. Operating funding has increased by $300 million. That's $863 more per student since 2001. We've also spent $140 million on new and renovated schools. In my riding, the town of Sparwood is getting a new high school, long overdue.

In advanced education, 6,000 new student opportunities have been created already, and 25,000 new student spaces are being created by 2010. At College of the Rockies, 450 new seats are being created. Many of these seats will be for trades training to respond to the growing need in the East Kootenay for skilled workers. We need more capacity at the College of the Rockies for trades training. I say to the minister: minister, we need an expansion of our college. We are bursting at the seams.

Finally, our government is putting a limit on tuition increases now that tuition is competitive with other provinces. The limit will be the cost-of-living index. This, along with special student funding programs, will help our college and university students achieve their dreams.

The second goal, leading the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness, is the key to the survival of our health care system as we know it. Canadians expect a seamless, reliable health care system. We have been told so long by federal politicians — particularly the federal NDP, who have never had to pay for anything — that such a system is our birthright that we have lost sight of the impending crunch coming at us from our rapidly aging society.

Populations that are older need more from the system and do not pay the same taxes they did during their working years. This is the double whammy that threatens our health care system. The health care system now devours 44 percent of the provincial budget, not including debt service. When W.A.C. Bennett was Premier, health care used about 10 percent of the provincial budget.

It is true, of course, that we do have marvellous technology today; we have life-saving drugs that are invented regularly. But the capacity of taxpayers to pay for these health care innovations is not keeping pace with the spiralling cost of innovation.

While we train twice as many doctors in B.C. as the NDP did in the 1990s, while we have the best Pharmacare program in Canada, while we train 2,000 more nurses now than in 2001 and while we have reorganized health care to get the most for patients out of

every health care dollar, we will now focus more resources on prevention. I can't tell you how many times over the past four years I've been counselled by my constituents that government should do more about prevention. Often this advice comes from seniors, who have learned that lesson over their lifetime. It's important for my constituents and other British Columbians to know that we listened.

With the commitment in the throne speech, B.C. will have the healthiest people in Canada. The new Act Now program will reduce tobacco use, will reduce obesity and will encourage British Columbians to know more about the importance of understanding the personal impact of what they eat — simple stuff but long overdue.

The third goal, providing the best support in Canada for persons with disabilities, special needs, children at risk and seniors, is the key to maintaining the civil, caring society that we have in British Columbia today. It is essential for my constituents to grasp the link between a stronger economy and our capacity as a society to do more for those who need our help.

Our political opponents are running around like drunken sailors saying spend, spend, spend. They do not know where the money comes from, because they do not understand the economy, nor do they understand business. They criticize us, saying the focus on the economy and balancing the budget is an end in itself. We B.C. Liberals know that building a stronger economy and balancing the provincial budget is only a means to an end. The end goal is to have the resources from a strong economy to be able to help people.

Our government has already made the largest single increase in assistance to persons with disabilities. Assisted-living units are developing all over B.C. We've tripled funding for autism and early childhood development since 2001. Social housing has increased by 38 percent since 2001. Over three years $37 million in new funding to ensure that women and children escaping violent and abusive relationships will have 24-7 access to safe housing…. For community living services, $91 million in the next three years will go directly to the people in our communities who strive so valiantly and are of such good nature, often holding down part-time jobs or volunteering — and they need our help. This good news is made possible by a balanced budget and a vibrant, expanding economy.

The fourth goal is to lead the world in conservation, with the best air and water quality and the best fisheries management, bar none. B.C. has an opportunity — with our vast, diverse land mass, our clean water and air — to be a positive role model for the rest of the world, but the examples we set must be based on scientific fact and not on emotion or politics. We must continue to develop our economy by ensuring access to the natural resources that employ our people.

Our government has stated clearly that we will manage on the basis of good science. That principle must not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness or junk science, because what in reality is sacrificed is not only the truth but the families in rural B.C. They, according to the Urban Futures Institute, still power the British Columbia economy from their homes in the Kootenays, the Cariboo, the north, the Island and all over this beautiful province.

On the other hand, tourism is growing in B.C. — and why wouldn't it? We have the most majestic, magnificent, natural resplendence to offer the world. We have high mountain alpine meadows; thousands of lakes you can drink from; forests full of wildlife, peace and solitude; fishing; hunting; skiing; snowmobiling; hiking; camping; and wildlife viewing. B.C. has it all.

We must protect the goose that lays the golden egg. It is the balance between the need to have resource extraction and its high-paying jobs and the development of new wilderness tourism products to satisfy a travelling world that will be one of B.C.'s most confounding challenges in the next decade. We should lead the world in wise environmental management — management that relies on good science — but we must invest in the research to know what good decisions and policies are.

New parks are fine to satisfy those who equate parks with environmental commitment, but government will need to strive for good, science-based decisions on resource extraction. To make good decisions, we must truly understand the impacts of human activity and development and not be herded by special interest groups into public policies that are based on fear and ignorance.

The new B.C. conservation corps, funded by $9 million of new money, is a practical way to encourage youth in the province to learn more about our natural world. This will be an opportunity for knowledge about the outdoors to be taught and experienced without political bias. It is time in B.C. that government made an effort to educate all British Columbians on the facts around the sustainable, integrated use of the natural world.

I also applaud the government for the 50 new conservation officers and park wardens. We do need more COs in the East Kootenay, and I look forward very much to hearing from the minister how many will be added to our skeleton crew now working so diligently in the mountains and valleys of our region.

Finally, the $6 million being added to the habitat conservation trust fund is welcome news. The idea for the habitat conservation trust fund was actually hatched in Cranbrook many years ago, and the organization has become a world leader in innovative, effective conservation initiatives.

The fifth goal is to create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada. Jobs for families is the most important issue in my riding and, I expect, around the whole province. Right now, today, I don't hear as much about jobs as I did in 2001, because the unemployment rate in the Kootenays is at its lowest level since the early 1970s. B.C. has created the most new jobs in Canada two years in a row.

Real estate values in the Kootenays are going up in every corner of the region, sometimes in towns and

villages where values have been depressed since the 1980s. In Cranbrook there are twice as many realtors as there are houses for sale. Available tradespeople are almost impossible to find. The mines can't find people to drive trucks. Retail is strong. Construction is strong. Jobs are being created every day in the Kootenays.

The risk to this wonderful improvement is the wet blanket an NDP government would throw on our burgeoning economy. Let there be no misunderstanding about the impact of another NDP government in B.C.: the economy in this province would freeze up like an early crocus in a Cranbrook garden. Consumers don't spend unless there is consumer confidence. Investors don't invest unless there is investor confidence. Businesses don't create new jobs unless there is business to be had. We absolutely must prevent the NDP from gaining power again in this province.

Our government, like all governments, has stumbled from time to time. As a collection of diverse human beings, we have not always understood what would work and what people wanted, but as a government that was elected less than four short years ago, we have in the main accomplished what we said we would. The economy in B.C. is booming. Government spending is under control. The budget is balanced. The people of B.C. now have a surplus going forward to worry about rather than a deficit and a growing debt. Health care has been reorganized and is on the mend. Students are doing better, new schools are being built, and our universities and colleges are growing with new programs and research that will ensure that British Columbia has the highest standard of living in Canada well into the future.

Again, it's been an honour for me to second the Speech from the Throne. I look forward to these next few months and to four more years of serving my constituents.

J. MacPhail: I rise to respond to the Speech from the Throne. It's the fifth and last throne speech in this government's mandate. This speech, like those that preceded it, highlights the credibility gap this government has with British Columbians — a gap that emerged very soon, almost as soon as the Premier was sworn into office, and has grown wider and wider with each broken promise, with each mean-spirited policy, with each display of arrogance. It has now developed into an unbridgeable divide for many British Columbians who actually put their faith into the B.C. Liberal election platform, only to have that trust broken, and broken big, over the last four years. They're now suffering the indignity of this government's attempt to buy their way back into British Columbia's hearts.

You can't fool all the people all the time. After four years of B.C. Liberal rule, the people of this province won't be fooled again by a government that promised positive change, only to unleash an extreme agenda that has torn at the fabric of our society and made life harder for average British Columbians who pay their fair share of taxes and want government to be there for them in return — a government that is out of step with the hopes and aspirations of mainstream B.C., a government that promised shorter health wait-lists but has delivered privatization schemes and the longest wait-lists in history. We saw that today.

What was this government's answer to their being confronted with their broken promise on delivering an additional 5,000 long-term care beds? They said: "Oh, the private sector has delivered private care beds." Talk about admitting to privatization of the health care system. Their election promise in the New Era document didn't say: "We'll deliver long-term care beds which you're going to have to pay thousands of dollars a month to stay in." But today that's their answer. Their answer is: "Yeah, we didn't deliver any of the additional long-term care beds that we promised, but the private sector did." That's their answer to the health care system: privatize, privatize, privatize.

This was a government that promised better care and more resources for children but has delivered massive cuts, chaos, mismanagement and scandal at the Ministry of Children and Family Development; a government that promised to keep assets like B.C. Rail in public hands but insulted British Columbians, calling the outright sale a 990-year lease. They think British Columbians will be fooled by that? No. Perhaps Liberal government caucus members are fooled by that, but not smart-thinking British Columbians.

This is a government that said with passionate conviction that gambling expansion would lead to deaths — deaths, Mr. Speaker — and that there would be blood on the hands of the legislators that pursued it. That's what this government said when they were in opposition, but they then proceeded to unleash the biggest expansion of gambling in B.C. history.

This is a Liberal government that promised affordable and accessible post-secondary education but has put college and university out of reach for thousands of students — tens of thousands of students. This Liberal government promised to govern for the many but has focused its agenda on benefits for the few.

With this throne speech the Premier wants to say that he's changed, that he cares. "Put on a plaid shirt, and I'm a new man." But the Premier hasn't changed. With three months until election day, he is just changing his story. That's all. You can bet that the day after this election, the plan is the same as it was the day after the last election. It will be an aggressive attack on the foundation of government and the services it provides to average families.

Today the Premier says he cares about public health care. He wants us to eat more fruits and vegetables. Yet all we can be sure of is that he will go further than ever on privatization of health services. We saw that today in their answer to long-term care beds. "Go to the private sector, you parents. Go to the private sector, you senior citizens," when you're most in need of a public health care system.

Today the Premier cares about education, he says. He's going to cap tuition at the rate of inflation, after

allowing it to more than double. By the way, this was a government that voted in favour of a tuition freeze when they were in opposition and promised in the last election that they would freeze tuition. Oops.

Then they proceeded, during their four years of government, to double tuition. But yesterday in the throne speech all of a sudden the Premier cares about post-secondary education. He said to the students: "I'm going to promise you that your tuition is only going to go up by the rate of inflation." Wow. How silly is that? Does he think the students that are struggling each and every day to get a post-secondary education will forget those massive tuition hikes he imposed on them? No. Tomorrow we can expect not fair-minded tuitions but more closed schools and higher tuition, with very few of those promised new post-secondary spaces funded. That's what we can expect.

Today he says he cares about seniors. He'll get those 5,000 beds that were promised by next year. He'll get them built someday — one day. The Minister of Health Services changes her story every day — every hour, actually. The Premier admitted yesterday that he didn't know when the beds would be built. The Government House Leader really bungled it earlier this afternoon when he thought that there were thousands more beds created than the Minister of Health Services and was proven wrong.

The former Minister of Health Services, now the Minister of Finance, promised the Legislature that the 5,000 additional long-term care beds would be built in 2006. That's on the record in Hansard. Prior to the Government House Leader going to speak on this issue, I accused the government of being the Three Stooges on this issue. But we now have a new record: we have four stooges on the issue, with the addition of the Government House Leader's comments on this. What we do know is that tomorrow that promise will also be broken. Those beds will never be built by this government. We know that.

Today the Premier says that the most vulnerable are included in his plan, but tomorrow we will learn that that plan, all along, was one of calculated neglect and outright punishment. How can we be so certain? It's because the pattern has been established and the record of this government is clear. We have come full circle back to 2001 and the New Era document, which, by the way, is no longer available. It's no longer on the website of the Liberal government. I have a copy. In fact, I'm the only one in the Legislature that ever refers to it anymore.

It's like that word, the "heartlands." Did you notice how the word "heartlands" didn't appear once in the throne speech? The previous throne speech had the word "heartlands" in it not dozens but probably dozens of dozens of times. In fact, you couldn't get a speech out of the Liberal government caucus members without referring to the heartlands until about a year ago. It was just like the Liberal fantasyland has poofed the New Era document away. The word heartlands is gone. I listened very carefully to the Address in Reply — first two speeches: the nominating speech and the second speech to the Speech from the Throne — and I didn't hear the word heartlands. Did anybody? Raise your hand if you heard the word heartlands. I didn't hear it. They're terrified of using the word now, because they've abandoned the interior and the north of this province — completely abandoned it.

So that's their record. We've come right back to the New Era document, and there's no reason to believe the government has changed. If anything, since 2001 the most extreme members of this government have been emboldened and empowered — the most extreme members — and the moderate elements have been sidelined. Behind the scenes, you can bet another mandate will be interpreted in this way by this government. The extreme elements of this government will interpret the mandate, not for the promises laid out in this throne speech or any that have preceded it, but they will say it's a mandate for more of the same. It's a mandate for more conflict, for more cuts, for more privatization schemes, for more of the tax burden shifted onto the backs of middle- and low-income earners — a mandate that the people of this province do not want and that this government will not have.

Despite the similarities between yesterday's throne speech and the broken new-era promise, there are some key differences. In 2001 the Premier promised to reduce wait-lists, expand emergency rooms, build thousands of new long-term care beds and ensure that every British Columbian would receive health care where they need it and when they need it. While the 2001 Premier promised all that, the February 2005 Premier appears to have given up, thrown in the towel and abandoned any commitment to health care. Under his leadership wait-lists have risen by 40 percent. Emergency rooms are bursting at the seams. Rural patients are forced to travel long distances for those scarce beds. Today patient care is worse than in 2001, and British Columbians are angry and frustrated.

I had assumed, with three months until election day, that the Premier would want to address that anger, reach out to all those who were betrayed by his election rhetoric and promise to do better, to make changes, to adjust the course. Not a word. Instead, the Premier unveiled a program to improve our eating habits. A worthy goal, no doubt — one embraced by the New Democrat caucus — but hardly a substitute for a substantive plan to cope with the challenges and promises faced by our public health care system — many of those problems self-inflicted by this government.

I think his throwing in the towel suggests a rising level of exhaustion in the government ranks. After only four years in power, the Premier and his ministers have already run out of ideas, run out of steam. On the most important issue in B.C., all they have to offer is focus group–tested platitudes — a tacit admission that they've failed, that health care is worse and, as far as they're concerned, that nothing can be done.

No ideas. Just, please, we beg you, eat more vegetables. Just, please, believe us when we say that we've changed, that things will be different, that the next four years won't be like the last four years — a time-tested political strategy that may have worked in the past but won't work today.

They still don't want to admit to their record. They're still going back over four years to blame others. They won't embrace their own record, because it's a failed record. They're embarrassed by it, and they surely don't want to run on it. British Columbians are suspicious of this Premier and are savvy enough to spot the cynicism in the Premier's words. They're tired of last-minute, pre-election political conversions. They're tired of politics as usual. They're tired of us and them — polarized politics that has defined this province for generations and is not in step with modern B.C.

We saw that in the member for East Kootenay's speech just moments ago — how he once again polarized politics in this province, how he set them against us. That's what he did. This government makes a few winners and so many more losers with every decision. It's holding us back from achieving our full potential.

Let's look at the Premier's broken promises. I'm just going to look at the top ten. There are at least a dozen more, but let's look at the broken throne speech promises.

Broken promise No. 1. I'm reading from the New Era document. Why don't the members follow along? Follow along from their New Era document, please. "Deliver high-quality public health care services that meet all patients' needs where they live and when they need it." 2001.

Here's the reality. They closed facilities and reduced services in Nelson, New Westminster, Summerland, Delta, Kimberley, Lillooet and many more communities. They allowed wait-lists to increase by a staggering 31 percent despite the Premier's promise to reduce the number of people waiting for surgery. The wait-lists for orthopedic surgery alone, including joint replacement surgery, has increased by 83 percent since the Liberals came to power. They've increased fees for medical services premiums, and the Pharmacare is now hugely expensive for British Columbians while they've reduced the amount of services and procedures covered.

Broken promise No. 2: "Create 5,000 new long-term care beds by 2006." That promise was made in 2001.

Here's the reality. Not only have they failed to keep the promise of creating 5,000 additional long-term care beds, but they've actually closed over 2,700 beds in communities all over the province. They separated senior couples as the government forced the closure of hundreds of beds throughout the province. They forced seniors to move hundreds of kilometres away from their families and homes as the government cut services and closed beds. Oh, where's the government caucus clapping now? A deafening silence.

They raised fees for long-term and extended care beds as well as the fees for MSP, and they make it harder for seniors to get by. They've created massive backlogs in hospitals and emergency rooms by reducing the number of beds in our communities.

Oh, here's broken promise No. 3: "Ensure British Columbians are being served by a non-partisan public service appointed strictly on merit." That was 2001. I wonder if Prem Vinning is listening. I wonder if Prem Vinning feels well served by that promise. That's Prem Vinning, the fundraiser for the Liberal government who was put into the office of the Premier and was forced to resign before he even got his first pen — a political insider that was going to deliver "an Asia Pacific trade strategy." Oh, we see that reflected in the throne speech.

I wonder what insider is going to deliver on that strategy today. On Gordon Campbell's first day…. That was just the most recent political insider appointment by the Premier. But on the Premier's first day in office, he appointed the president of the B.C. Liberal Party to the non-partisan position of Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. The president of the Liberal Party went from that position to a deputy minister position in this government. Oh. No experience whatsoever in the public service — none. He was given a salary of almost $200,000 of taxpayer money.

Then the Premier fired 270 government communications staff, who were public professional servants, and then hired replacements appointed by cabinet, making government communications staff political appointees.

Broken promise No. 4: "Moderate the impact of cuts on people by phasing out less vital programs." That was 2002.

Here's the reality. Here are examples of programs and services that the Liberal government deemed "less vital" and that have been eliminated or had their funding significantly reduced. Now, this is the first three and a half years. They're promising to do different now, but here's what they did in their first three years: they cut funding or reduced funding for legal aid, for women's centres, child care programs and subsidies, and affordable housing. They cut crime prevention and victim assistance, they cut transition to work assistance for people on social assistance, they cut dozens of programs for high-risk youth, they cut youth employment programs, they cut the B.C. seniors supplement, and they delisted MSP services such as podiatry, massage, physiotherapy and chiropractic therapy and optometry.

J. MacPhail: Listen, only No. 5, and I'm trying to speed along. Broken promise No. 5: "Improve services for women and children." That was from 2002. Some of the deepest cuts made by this Liberal government have been to services and programs that most affect women and children. They eliminated the freestanding Ministry of Women's Equality. They slashed the legal aid

budget by 40 percent. They shut down legal aid offices across the province. They cut welfare rates for single moms. They forced them to go back to work when their children would turn three. They cut child care programs for the very people that would be forced back. They ended the zero-tolerance policy for spousal violence. They eliminated victims' assistance programs and cut all funding to women's centres. This government targeted the Ministry of Children and Family Development for some of the biggest budget cuts across government, a 23 percent cut to the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

As a result of those cuts, agencies serving children across the province had their budgets slashed, dozens of programs for high-risk children were eliminated, and front-line social workers serving our most vulnerable children were cut. Yet Doug Walls did okay — Doug Walls, the Liberal insider who finally got fired. Doug Walls, the Liberal insider who was given a budget of $500 million — he did fine by this government because he was a Liberal. He was a good-serving Liberal, a personal friend of the Premier, a family member, very close to the current Minister of Health Services. He did just fine, but it was the children who suffered.

Oh, broken promise No. 6. I object to this being broken No. 6. I'm sorry, colleagues. I object. This should have been broken promise No. 2 at least. Here's one: "Stop the expansion of gambling" — 2002. Gambling revenues have doubled under this government, and if the revenue targets are met by the year 2006-07, the B.C. Liberal government will be making $1 billion from gambling revenues — a 78 percent increase.

That definition…. That's not the definition of "expansion." Let me see. How can I figure out another word? Increasing, almost doubling, a pot-load of more bucks into our revenues — that's not called expansion with this government. The limit on slot machines, one of the most addictive forms of gambling, has been eliminated. In fact, they're not slot machines; they're video lottery terminals. That's what this government has put into bingo halls now. Talk about increasing the number of casinos. Every bingo hall is virtually a casino now.

Under this government, the Liberals, the cap on the maximum number of slot machines in B.C. was first increased to 5,400. It had previously been about 2,000 — increased to 5,400. Then it was eliminated altogether. But did the government make an announcement about the elimination of that? No. They just snuck it through. Casinos have been expanded and deregulated. The Liberal government has allowed casinos to begin serving alcohol on the casino floor, and they've put automatic transaction machines for money right on the premises — two key triggers to problem gambling that the B.C. Liberals spoke against in opposition.

The Liberal government under this Premier has also started pushing municipal bingo halls to take on slot machines under a quiet plan to turn local bingo halls into "community gaming centres." That's Liberal-speak for "casino." New and addictive forms of gambling have been introduced consistently. In October of 2004 this government ended any pretence of being shamed, and they started on-line Internet gambling — to boost revenues.

Broken promise No. 7: "Establish an offshore oil and gas industry by the year 2010." That promise was made in 2003. Here's the reality. It will be very interesting to see what this government is going to campaign on, on the offshore oil and gas industry. I can hardly wait. I can actually hardly wait to hear what they're going to campaign on.

Here's the reality. The Liberal government generated false hope for coastal communities when they started touting the prospects of the offshore oil and gas industry. Now it's an empty promise. They've had to hire new help, because they don't know what they're doing. They're so desperate that they had to hire new help. They're so worried about their broken promise. They had to bring on somebody who may actually be able to help them — a New Democrat. A good New Democrat is finally being brought on to bail this government out. I think it's hilarious. They're so pathetic in their own ineptness around establishing a policy for offshore oil and gas exploration that they've had to give up on Liberals.

That's this government. It was an empty promise brought on by political expediency and vote-grabbing. They're caught in the middle of the Liberal hype and the reality that the coastal communities that have been devastated by this government's false hope…. They now have to be actually honest that this commitment will not be part of the government's re-election platform. I can guarantee that this government won't be campaigning on an offshore oil and gas plan to deliver by the year 2010. Let's be clear. In 2010 they were going to have the industry up and running. As recently as 2003 they promised that — as recently as 2003.

J. MacPhail: I hope, certainly, that I'm not impeding the health of any of the members opposite. They seem to be getting a little bit uptight about being confronted with their broken promises. But I'll try….

Deputy Speaker: I would like to remind the members that when they're not in their own seats, they should not be commenting. Thank you.

J. MacPhail: I think attendance is an issue that isn't addressed in the House either.

J. MacPhail: No, no. I understand that, Mr. Speaker. Other members were referring to the lack of attendance by other members in this House, which of course is out of order and unparliamentary.

I can understand why they want to divert attention. I can understand why this Liberal back bench wants to divert attention from their broken promises. But it won't divert my attention.

Here's broken promise No. 8: "Open up a new provincial authority called community living B.C. to oversee programs for people with developmental disabilities." That's a promise made in 2003, a mere 15 months ago.

Here's the reality. The Liberal government, under this Premier's failed plan for devolution and Doug Walls's Liberal insider scandal…. It's resulted in repeated delays and millions of dollars wasted, with the result that community living B.C. is still not up and running. In fact, it's been shelved until further notice. Somehow this government wants people to believe they care about the most vulnerable. They think, in the year 2005, that they can state in the throne speech that they care, when they've done nothing but harm and take dollars away from those very families that they're now promising the world to. I don't think any of those families will be fooled by this government's broken promise.

Broken promise No. 9: "An open and accountable government." That promise was made in the year 2001.

Here's what the Liberal government under the Premier actually did. They made staffing cuts and changes to the freedom-of-information and privacy act, they reduced the budgets for over three years to the FOI commissioner, and they've reduced public access to government information. They increased secrecy as a result of the government's privatization agenda. The new B.C. Ferry Corp and privatized portions of B.C. Hydro were explicitly excluded from the Freedom of Information Act.

The new lobbyist registry operates on the honour system. Well, I guess the Liberals' own friends don't want to actually be confronted with an enforcement program. That lobbyist registry, operating on the honour system, has such enormous loopholes that B.C. Liberal insider Patrick Kinsella can represent companies without actually having to register. It's not a problem for the government or the registry.

This Premier's Liberal government has spent millions of dollars on pro-government ads that, after having pledged not to do so — not to spend public money on partisan government advertising — did just that. The very week they actually stopped using taxpayer dollars to tell us the propaganda around the government, they hired a person in the Premier's office to make fake phone calls to talk shows to say what a good job the Premier is doing. So they didn't pay for ads, but they hired someone to do that on the Premier's payroll. Thank goodness, people cottoned on to it soon enough so not many tax dollars were wasted on that.

Of course, we also know that caucus suspensions remain a secret, except when the chief Whip slips up — not very open and accountable. The Premier also has secret scrums that anybody outside of his own hired guns isn't allowed to attend. Actually, the Liberal-paid staffers attend our caucus scrums all the time. We welcome them. We look on it as a training session for the Liberals. We welcome them. But we're not allowed to attend the Premier's scrums.

Broken promise No. 10: "My government is committed to giving local governments more autonomy" — 2002.

Here's the reality. Every single one of the Liberal caucus members stood up and said aye to Bill 75, the Significant Projects Streamlining Act. That's the bill that gave government absolute power to override all local bylaws and decision-making processes. They passed Bill 48, the Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Statutes Amendment Act, 2003. That bill gave government the ability to overrule local government decisions on aquaculture and force fish farms onto communities that don't want them.

Of course, they have failed, to date, to implement the Premier's pet Community Charter. The government passed enabling legislation, but they have completely failed to resolve outstanding issues about revenue tools.

In an economy where the skills of our citizens and the strength of our communities are the most important capital assets that we as a province possess, an agenda that squanders those assets in the service of a narrow ideology comes at the expense of our future.

New Democrats understand that reality. We understand that new reality and we're responding. Our leader, Carole James, is asking us to consider that rather than being mutually exclusive, fiscal responsibility, compassion and a dynamic entrepreneurial economy can — indeed must — go hand in hand; that British Columbians shouldn't have to face a choice between a business-friendly party that ignores social concerns and a party that is concerned with social justice and equality but doesn't understand business; and that the traditional choice offered to voters is a false one and that it leads to the kind of polarization and danger that this government has fuelled.

She has taken the lead, charting a new agenda for the NDP and a new agenda for British Columbia — reaching out to the business community, to working people, to communities and families. She's putting forward a balanced and responsible approach guided by key principles of effective government for this new century: fiscal responsibility, openness and accountability, opportunity and a commitment to end the confrontational approach of this government.

After four years of extreme government and broken promises, British Columbians now want balance, a

return to the basic values that we all share — values that are more important today than ever before, values for which the NDP has always fought. British Columbians want those values joined together with a commitment to a growing and dynamic economy and an open and accountable government. That's why Carole James and the NDP will balance the budget every year and why Carole James and the NDP will establish a permanent economic advisory council made up of business, labour and community leaders to develop long-term economic solutions that work for everyone.

I note that the Premier stole that idea from the leader of the NDP yesterday in the throne speech. I note that he was actually reduced, word for word, to taking that idea from a promise that Carole James made weeks ago. That's why Carole James and the NDP will move to make post-secondary education, skills training and apprenticeship opportunities accessible and affordable, ensuring that B.C. has the best skilled workers in the world. Any commitment from the Premier on that matter was noticeably absent yesterday — noticeably absent.

That's why Carole James and the NDP will put a stop to failed B.C. Liberal privatization schemes which are costing the taxpayer more and providing less service. That's why Carole James and the NDP will take big money out of politics and ban union and corporate donations. Why don't we pass that law this session, Mr. Speaker? Why don't we pass it? Under the NDP, if you can't vote, you can't donate. Let's pass that legislation this session.

That's why Carole James and the NDP will involve communities in health care decisions. It's why Carole James and the NDP will stop this government's practice of punishing the poor and the vulnerable. These are commitments that Carole James has made since she became leader — not at the last minute, not as a death row repentance like the Premier did yesterday.

The Premier has failed. He has failed for patients, students, working people and the poor. He ran on a promise to improve the lives of average families. That promise, we know today, was completely hollow. Today all he and his government are left with are buzzwords and platitudes to fill the void. In three months' time British Columbians will pass judgment on the Premier's record. He will be forced to run on his record. They will have before them a moderate, compassionate and sensible alternative.

Mr. Speaker, let me end on a more personal note. I was thrilled today to be joined by the member for Surrey–Panorama Ridge. It was wonderful when he joined my colleague and me in the Legislature. Although the coming days and weeks promise to be, shall we say, lively, I do want to begin this session by publicly thanking my colleague from Vancouver–Mount Pleasant for the incredible support that she has shown me.

I will miss all of you as well. I will miss all of you. Things got heated, sometimes personal, but away from this chamber, I must say that we were always fair, respectful and even friendly. I think that is the way politics and our public life should be.

Hon. L. Reid: I am pleased to rise in debate today and put my thoughts on the record in terms of where I believe this province is headed over the next number of months, number of years.

I am thoroughly dismayed at the presentation that we've just heard in terms of its inaccuracies and the commitment that member showed in terms of portraying what is, in fact, not an accurate assessment of where this province is today in British Columbia. I stand before you today, hon. Speaker, as the member representing the riding of Richmond East, with a firm commitment to how important it is that the policies that put families first in British Columbia continue, because that is the essence of any economy. Many of you will have heard the Premier say many, many times that this is about building a strong economy in the province.

The purpose behind that commitment is building stronger families. If we want a strong economy in British Columbia, it will only be because we have stronger families in this province. Of that there is absolutely no question. The throne speech of yesterday — this document of yesterday — heralds that, honours that, recognizes that, identifies where those processes can in fact be improved, and that will take us forward. That is the commitment that I believe is evident.

The inability of the member opposite to be accurate in her assessment is alarming. There have been ten years where she had every opportunity as the Minister of Health and as the Minister of Finance in this province to put in place what she speaks of. Either she was not able to take those issues forward to her cabinet, or she was not able to convince them of her wisdom on those questions.

Frankly, not very much happened that was important to families in British Columbia on the NDP watch. Not very much happened. Beyond the rhetoric, beyond the swaying of the arms, there needs to be precise ability to go forward and to matter in the lives of families in British Columbia.

I want to begin my remarks today by acknowledging the women that I have had the absolute privilege to serve with in this Legislature and who have continued to provide support as we go forward on these questions. I also want to acknowledge all of my colleagues in this Legislature who fundamentally believe in the Premier's commitment to families in British Columbia, because it is vitally important.

The people I deal with on a regular basis who advanced this agenda with me are Loreen O'Byrne, the director of early childhood development in British Columbia, a carrier of intense passion and dream about how this could work; and the provincial adviser for infant development programs in British Columbia, Dana Brynelsen. It's a vitally important contribution that she has made and will continue to make. Those programs are three decades old in British Columbia,

supporting vulnerable learners and supporting vulnerable families. Carol Matusicky, the executive director of the B.C. Council for Families, has huge influence, huge insight and huge ability to bring to bear what matters in the lives of British Columbians. Marianne Drew-Pennington, the executive director of the family resource program in British Columbia….

It's a huge opportunity to support families as we go forward, to understand how important it is to put in place programs where families can be coached and mentored and where durable parenting can be demonstrated, because this is about caring for children. At the end of the day, if we want stronger communities in British Columbia, it will only be because we have stronger families.

Jean Rasmussen is an absolute leader in British Columbia in the area of family literacy. A passion…. The Premier wants this jurisdiction to be the most literate in North America by 2010. That goal will be achieved because we have individuals such as Linda Mitchell, such as Jean Rasmussen — such individuals who are passionate about the family literacy movement in British Columbia.

Mary Gordon is someone I have immense regard for in terms of being the founder of the Roots of Empathy program. That's a program many of you will know about when it comes to vulnerability in very young learners and understanding that we can indeed reduce the incidences of bullying in British Columbia and across this land if, indeed, we focus our resources on demonstrating fragility and vulnerability to very, very young children so that they understand that and do not spectate around instances of bullying. In fact, they are able to intervene and withstand that level of pressure from their peers. It's vitally important that we give them the skills to do that.

This is about building a resilient economy in British Columbia and about building resilient learners in British Columbia. It's all part of the same package. Certainly, Mary has some discussion around working with still younger learners — four-year-olds and three-year-olds. That discussion is underway in British Columbia.

Amy Collum. If I might pay tribute to Amy Collum, president of the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia, is a tremendous resource. She is someone who will build professional development for early childhood educators in British Columbia that is accessible, that is meaningful to them, that will take them forward. It will build professionalism as we go forward — vitally important. I provide my highest accolades.

I wanted to make a special mention of Terri Cunningham, my ministerial assistant, who has given me great wisdom and great guidance as we've gone forward.

Riddled in this throne speech has been the notion of partnerships and the notion of prevention — how indeed we can prevent and look out for the generations that will come after us. We will only do that if we more effectively partner with British Columbians. None of this work will be done by government alone. That is the essence of my comment today. None of this work can be done by government alone, frankly by any agency alone. We will only succeed on any of these fronts if we're prepared to partner.

The Premier has a strong commitment that if you wish to have a stronger province, you must effectively resource young children and their families. Again, government doesn't do that alone. Government does that in partnership with a variety of agencies — many I've just mentioned — a variety of communities, municipal councils, mayors, individuals who strongly believe that families deserve supports. Whether it's in the community of Prince Rupert, whether it's in the community of Richmond East, we indeed need to ensure that we create opportunities for families to flourish. That's what this is about.

What I wish for my family isn't anything more than what I wish for every single family in British Columbia. That their children have opportunity, that they have security, that they have stability, that there are networks of support in place are vitally important.

Many of my colleagues have heard me say over the years that it is about the babies, and it absolutely is. It is about the little souls who were born in the years 2000 and 2001 and the kinds of opportunities they're going to have when they cross the threshold into their first kindergarten classroom in the year 2005-06.

Many of you will know that we have engaged Dr. Clyde Hertzman from the University of British Columbia on the human early learning partnership, on the EDI work — the early development indicator work — because it's vitally important to understand what learning takes place, where there may be gaps and how we can better strategically make investments to assist young learners as they go forward. That work is underway in British Columbia. Frankly, we will be the first jurisdiction anywhere that has a snapshot of the learning of every single five-year-old — an enormous accomplishment. So again, I would pay tribute to Dr. Clyde Hertzman.

It was the Premier's passion that we go forward in early childhood development from the base of the best possible science, and I can tell you that I have the absolute privilege to have in British Columbia in November a number of presenters on what we were calling the Healthy Child B.C. Forum. It wasn't just about what we're doing in British Columbia or, frankly, what we're doing in Canada. It was all about what the rest of the world was doing that made sense in terms of defining better public policy.

We had Dr. Al Aynsley-Green from the United Kingdom. He's the national director for children. He has tremendous impact on how the United Kingdom goes forward, the kinds of programs they engage in across their communities and the kinds of work and presentation that the government engages in, in the United Kingdom.

We have Sven Bremberg from Sweden, a medical doctor, a PhD and an associate professor in the department of pediatrics — huge insights offered to us. He was confident in the direction that British Columbia

is headed, and certainly, they believe that we are doing some very, very good things.

Dr. Moira Inkelas in the U.S.A. is a PhD and assistant professor in the department of health services at UCLA school of public health. There are huge opportunities for us to learn from countries, if you will, that have a much broader scope, a much larger population base and, in many instances, huge challenges that we aren't often confronted with.

How we brought that work to bear. Dr. Clyde Hertzman came and presented. Dr. Frank Oberklaid from Australia, one of Australia's leading pediatricians and a director of the University in Melbourne's centre for community and child health — a great opportunity for us to learn from Australia.

Riripeti Haretuku from New Zealand is national co-coordinator of the Maori SIDS prevention program. It's a good opportunity for us to have some understanding of how other countries interplay, interface, with aboriginal communities and how indeed we can do a better job and learn from our aboriginal communities here in British Columbia, because it is about respectful engagement. It is about honouring the work that needs to take place in British Columbia, and it is about bringing all of these individuals together who had tremendous insight and tremendous import in what they had to say.

Vaughn Palmer came as well. He moderated the parent forum for us in the evening. In terms of how we bring together and take really important messages and make them readily accessible to parents and to community…. He did provide some assistance in that regard.

Let me say thanks to those individuals who gave their time to come to British Columbia from all over the globe to understand better what we're doing and to find good delight, if you will, in the work they saw underway in British Columbia so that they, indeed, can take back some of the things they learned from us. We learned many, many fine things from them as well.

I also had a wondrous opportunity just before Christmas to see some programs that we have underway in northern British Columbia — Dease Lake, Atlin, Telegraph Creek and Iskut. We have some superb staff within the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Allen Cummings, Prince George; Shirley Reimer from the Prince George office; and Susan Ashworth from Dease Lake are individuals who make it their priority to understand their community and put in place priorities that matter in the lives of their community members. It's vitally important that we continue to have that level of expertise as we go forward.

Certainly, we talked yesterday about where the province might go by 2010. I want very much to honour the commitment that the Premier has made in terms of British Columbia being the most literate jurisdiction by 2010. I began my career as a teacher. The ability to read, the ability be a literate citizen, is not just a lovely platitude. It's absolutely essential for people to be productive members of society. It's absolutely essential, and we have to do all the things we can do to make sure that happens.

I have a great passion, as you know, about how we build supports for very young learners. One of the issues we came across in the early days was the discontinuity, the disconnectedness, that was in place around programming we had. Our challenge was to build programs across the spectrum, to take a continuum of learning and build those programs. From birth to three years of age, from three years of age to six years of age, our challenge is to build strong, strong programming that takes us forward. It's vitally important that we continue to do that, because we intend to ensure that there are programs in place that are a kindness to families in British Columbia. At some point in the child's life the programming shouldn't fall off the table, and they again must begin to look for that level of programming. We have made some great strides in that regard.

We want very much to build the best support system for those with special needs. Many of you will know that there are a quarter of a million children under the age of six in British Columbia. This is about ensuring that we can give each of them the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The Minister of Education, the Minister of Health — many of us have talked about screening and developmental assessment so that we indeed can go forward. The Premier spoke of this recently in terms of hearing, sight and dental health — all before a child reaches grade 1. We want all of those things identified and opportunities in place for families to receive services as we go forward. Certainly, all of us in this chamber know that the earlier problems are detected, the better it is for the child. Frankly, we want to intervene when those interventions are going to be the most effective.

You have heard me speak, and you've heard the Premier speak, about early childhood development going forward from the base of the best possible science. We know that, and if we understand that early childhood development happens first in children's homes, we will do all we can to build stronger families in British Columbia.

Page 11 from the throne speech speaks to me. "The family is the fundamental building block of any community or society. Key to any family's well-being is the means to support and provide for its members, especially children." That tenor is, I think, the tenor of this government as we go forward.

I believe we have made excellent progress in improving programs and services for early childhood development in British Columbia. We have Children First initiatives in 30 communities in British Columbia, and we only have them because people have been prepared to collaborate. Communities have come forward with community champions, and they have said: "You know what? The health and well-being of the babies of this community matter." They have said that over and over and over again all across British Columbia. We've had some great support. We've had some great part-

nerships come to the table, but it's because people are prepared to collaborate.

The Premier is fond of saying that you can do wondrous things in this life if you're not that concerned about who gets the credit. Well, there are people in British Columbia today who deserve enormous credit for having gone the extra mile to ensure that the babies in their communities had resources at their disposal.

Preschool partnerships in British Columbia. A number of years back people thought: "You know what? We're not going to welcome preschoolers into the public schools in British Columbia." We now have some glorious examples of where that has worked extremely well.

I'd like to put on the record Central Okanagan school district, school district No. 23. Juleen McElgunn, an associate superintendent, has championed the notion of having preschools operational from public schools in British Columbia. It ties in beautifully, if you will, with the Premier's commitment that we have a better utilization of public buildings in British Columbia. Indeed, most districts in this province, if not all, do have empty classroom space.

In Central Okanagan they have invited preschoolers in, and they take their preschool program as part of a public school setting. It is a great opportunity. Just very recently — within the last number of weeks — I had the opportunity to be in Kelowna and to visit three of those centres. They're people who are truly committed to ensuring that when those children reach five years of age and walk the threshold into their first kindergarten classroom, they are confident.

Their self-esteem is intact. They're articulate. They're adept. Those are the things that matter, because the reality is that all the little tiny souls simply want to fit in. They want to be part of the group. They want to have a sense of belonging. All of this type of programming will promote that sense of belonging as we go forward. Abbotsford school district, the Kootenays — they're doing wondrous things in terms of inviting young learners into the system.

Aboriginal early childhood development programs and services. Eight million dollars are invested every year in 41 aboriginal communities across British Columbia for the exact reasons I've mentioned — so that we have confident, adept, articulate youngsters who feel they have a place in the public schools in British Columbia. They're vitally important.

Supported child development in British Columbia. The office of the provincial child development adviser has been established since 2003. We're making some tremendous headway there. We have refocused supported child development, and we are building a continuum from infant development to child development in British Columbia. I believe we will lead the country in this regard.

Success by 6 is a wondrously unique partnership with the Central Credit Union movement in British Columbia. Success by 6, the United Way and the province of British Columbia. It's a $10 million opportunity for credit unions to come forward, for the Success by 6 partnership to fundraise and to build community capacity, to build a sense of welcome and belonging for youngsters across British Columbia and to ensure that those programs were in place as we go forward.

Accolades again to Dave Mowat of VanCity and to George Scott, who was one of the first people we sat down with to have that discussion when we came to government. That program is underway in British Columbia. In April, in fact, you will see an enormous push in fundraising as we go forward so that every single program can be well-resourced across British Columbia.

All of these examples I'm giving speak to the notion I've raised with you, which is partnership. We will only do well if we keep partnership in mind — how we ensure that every child has a really great opportunity to have a glorious childhood but also how we continue to build partnerships as we go forward.

You will know that the Premier has given me responsibility for the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder file. That is a family diagnosis. That is an opportunity for us to understand how difficult it is to be affected by fetal alcohol and how much we need to ensure that we reduce the number of babies born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and make that reduction every single year in the province. We wish very much that babies have the best possible chance, the best possible start. We have indeed put some programming in place to assist existing agencies and also to fund directly some levels of programming, because it is about building supports for families as we go forward.

The early intervention therapies in British Columbia. I wanted very much to have a spokesperson, to have an adviser to give guidance and insight to government, and my intention was that that person would be a speech language therapist in year 1 and either an occupational therapist or physiotherapist in year 2. That work is underway in British Columbia.

Building Blocks programs, which actually do home visiting and which support families to have healthy pregnancies and better care for their children, are in 45 communities today, working extremely well.

Family resource programs in British Columbia. I have touched on that earlier. It is all about supporting families. We can all be parents on the good days. What do we do on days that aren't working as well? How do we provide those levels of support?

Healthy Child B.C. — we have talked about that. We've talked about the Premier's commitment to research and development in the province. It's vitally important that that continues.

In fact, the research chairs have a strong focus in early childhood development. The Leading Edge Endowment Fund, the aboriginal ECD research chair — there will hopefully be two. And certainly, we have established the B.C. early childhood development legacy fund. Indeed, those dollars annually flow to agencies that require top-up funding as they go forward.

Some of you will remember the name Carol Legge, the province's first provincial adviser in the area of

fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. We now have the Carol Legge FASD endowment fund established at the Vancouver Foundation. So for anyone who would wish to honour her work and to honour the families as they go forward, that would be a wondrous place to make a contribution.

Many of you wonder about the necessity to balance the budget. It is exactly for programs such as this. If we are going to continue to make strides in British Columbia, it will be because we have the resources that we can now invest as we go forward, which will truly matter.

The Premier speaks often of literacy. The reality is that it underpins every single aspect of our lives. There is absolutely no question about that. Reading to your children, having them read to you and having them understand the notion of a book — all of those things are vitally important. The gift of literacy is truly a gift, and it's one which every single little soul in this province absolutely deserves.

Over 40,000 babies were born in British Columbia last year; 40,000 babies will be born this year. The challenge is how we respond as a community, how we respond as a province, how we respond as a government. My commitment, hon. Speaker, is that we're going to give each and every one of those little souls the best possible start in life.

D. Jarvis: Mr. Speaker, this government was elected approximately 1,460-odd days ago. At that time this province was languishing between recession and stagnation. The rest of Canada at that time was moving ahead, with solid growth and economic growth. Economic measurement in those days showed that we had gone from first to last place in this country and that we were left, when we came into office, with an inept structural deficit. We ran on the basis of bringing back hope and prosperity to this province, and that we'd stop the flow of the capital out of this province and stop the flow of our best talent that was leaving.

We created what we call the New Era document, some 200-odd changes that would restructure this province's economy. We've kept that promise. We've brought stability back to this province. There were a lot of tough decisions that we made, and in a lot of cases there was not too much joy along with it. But I would say again that we brought stability back.

I just finished listening to the Leader of the Opposition, who was criticizing us about different things — promises we didn't keep. But we have kept over 95 percent of the things that we said we'd do in the New Era document. That is a fact. We brought stability back to this province.

Let me remind a lot of people in this building that I have been around here for quite a while. They may not know that in less than five years of the last NDP government, from January of '96 until May of '01 — less than five years — their government had four Premiers. They had 84 ministerial changes in four years. Now, do you call that stability? In the last four years we have had one Premier.

I'm pleased, as I say, to rise to speak to the throne speech. Believe it or not, this is approximately my twenty-fourth time I've risen to speak to the throne speech. Time flies when you're having fun. These last several have gotten more positive in each progressive year. I can now truly say that British Columbia is probably the best place in Canada to live, and it's getting better.

Before I start, however, on my few words that I want to put forward, I'd like to briefly touch upon a tragic event that occurred in my riding of North Vancouver–Seymour last month on January 19. Along the Berkeley-Riverside escarpment we had a horrendous slide in the early hours — approximately 3 o'clock in the morning. Unfortunately, we lost a valuable member of our community, Eliza Kuttner. She taught computer science at Capilano College. Her husband, Michael Kuttner, still remains in serious condition in the hospital.

The families in the Seymour community are still reeling from that loss and the shock, and I think it will be some time before normalcy is achieved again. I'd like to tell the families affected that the provincial government will not abandon them. I want these families to know that it has been a privilege meeting them and talking to them. Some of the families are still out of their homes and for some they will never be able to return to them. For those, we will make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.

I would like to thank the Solicitor General, who set in motion PEP, or the provincial emergency program, and all the hardworking district employees and rescue workers, like the urban rescue team, who still remain involved in this process. Thank you all on behalf of the residents.

The Premier himself was there with the Solicitor General that morning. We all went out quite early to look at the slide area. It was quite a shock to see what had happened. It was amazing to see the urban rescue team that had been practising for nine years, I believe it was. This was the first time they'd ever been called upon in such an incident like this so close to home. They, with their dogs, were going through the rubble looking for individuals, and it was heartwarming to see how the community, the fire departments and the RCMP, everyone, got together. As I say, I'd like to thank the Solicitor General, because he was the lead man in this instance.

This government believes the family is a fundamental building block in our society and children are the mainstay of our future, and this was highlighted in this year's throne speech. By providing quality health care, day care and education, it is the cement that gives our children the brightest and healthiest start in life. We are providing the funding for 32,000 day care spaces and an additional 10,000 will become eligible for day care subsidies. This funding will be provided over the next five years in cooperation with the federal government to give young families an additional $650 million for day care and cost relief.

Over the next two years over $76 million will be invested for diagnostic screening for our children for dental, hearing and sight. This is a very special program and will be welcomed by the young parents in my riding.

The last three and a half years have been at times very difficult, but we are now putting our house in order. It hasn't been an easy task. We are now coming through to see the other side of a difficult period and reaping the benefits of restructuring.

This throne speech is a map to prosperity for this province to reach a higher ground and higher purpose. As Canada's Pacific Rim province, our geographic position gives B.C. a natural advantage over the rest of the country for economic growth, especially with the Asia-Pacific markets.

The key aspect of this gateway is to continue to build a well-functioning transportation system, a transportation system that not only brings supply to markets, to the coastal ports, but emphasizes the support required by our shipbuilders. B.C. ports form the primary lifeline of this province and link us to international markets that today are one of the major factors that is improving our economy.

The shipbuilding industry on the North Shore is extensive, and we must not forget that there is also a shipbuilding industry in Victoria and in Esquimalt. Also, it's an integral part of our Pacific Rim growth. In the north there's Prince Rupert, and it's on its way to being an integral part of our Asia-Pacific trade as well, I believe.

We have approximately 28,000 kilometres of coastline in British Columbia, and I do not believe we are using it to our best advantage. We are ostensibly a maritime province, but we have a depreciating shipbuilding industry. All across the North Shore of Vancouver and my riding of North Vancouver–Seymour the port industries are invaluable to our economic and social performance. Since the beginning of Vancouver, some 150-odd years ago, the marine industry has been an integral lifeline to this province and to the North Shore of Vancouver.

I represent workers and their families for six shipbuilding companies and countless ancillary businesses who supply and work in this industry. I also have represented the ports along the North Shore that not only require affiliation with the shipbuilding industry, but are recipients of the market supply that comes on the coast through our transportation system from the northwest, the northeast and even into the central Kootenays.

Vancouver and the North Shore can handle the largest ships, and we are closer to Asia than any other North American ports, excluding Prince Rupert. We are connected to all North American rail and services and still capable for needed expansion. The North Shore waterfront industrial across the Seymour and Lonsdale ridings is made up of Allied Shipbuilders, Matsumoto Shipyard, Mckenzie Barge, Lafarge Construction, Nexen Chemicals, Sterling Pulp, Western Stevedoring, Dow Chemical, ERCO Worldwide, Fibreco Export, Vancouver Pile Driving, Neptune Bulk Terminals, Newalta Corporation, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Washington Marine shipbuilding, James Richardson International, Seaboard Lumber, the Vancouver Wharfs, Vancouver Drydock, Seaspan and BCR Marine. It's quite an expansive industrial area.

These are the North Shore's industries that contribute to and improve the economic viability of this province and are important to the North Vancouver–Seymour and North Vancouver–Lonsdale communities. Our government last year provided the marine transportation industry with tax reform and provided the ports with much-needed relief in this instance. As much as this tax relief was welcomed, it appears the assessments and the municipal taxation increases have, unfortunately, taken up much of those savings. So, some other method of taxation relief to the port industries is needed to make the ports more competitive, especially relative to our U.S. counterparts.

Relief to port taxation through property and fuel tax should be encouraged, and it has been suggested giving them the authority to issue either tax-exempt bonds or something along that vein so we can keep our ports viable, so they can expand and are primary to the province's interest as we restructure our economy and continue to lead in Canada's growth.

As our ports grow, so does our economic growth. A booming transpacific trade is essential if we are to continue our economic growth. As our bulk markets increased this past year, it was primarily due to trade with Asia. Potash, sulphur, grain, lumber and coal drove our port businesses, and all came through North Vancouver from other parts of the province, both coming and going. As the ports expand, we spend millions of dollars in improvements to increase their capacity for future growth. They look to our government for financial investment and assistance by the way of tax incentives and legislation. I'm reminded that in government it is necessary to remain competitive with our port's rivals, who are only half a day away from Vancouver.

The throne speech outlines many positive aspects, which is why we say the best place to raise a child is in British Columbia. We want our children to have a bright future — the brightest future as possible, bar none. So I was pleased to see the government will help the families and tax them as little as possible. B.C. families who are earning less than $30,000 a year will have their taxes reduced by 28 percent. The rest of us will be in the 25 percent range. That's all good news for my riding.

If our economy continues to grow, the tax savings will not end there. The government action over the past three and a half years, without question, helped us rebound from the depressing decade of the nineties when capital and our citizens were leaving British Columbia. They left, as it was not the place where they could do business or would want to do business or invest or, for the fact of the matter, try to survive. But

today things are different. Our New Era document, which occurred and people have read…. It notes that people want to come back to British Columbia now to invest and to do business where they can see growth.

This government is committed to the education of our children and students in the advanced education fields. All school districts can look forward to large funding increases, despite student enrolment declines. There is no question that our education has gone through a reconstruction process and that dollars are limited. As the economy improves, we have been able to increase the funding of our education system. The per-capita funding will become the largest in B.C.'s history, at $863 per student, even though student enrolments will have decreased by as much as 29,000.

The question of education is always a hot topic in my riding. Over the past year our high school completion rate and our graduation rates have improved steadily. The completion rate, being those that enter grade 8 and have graduated in the province, is now at approximately 79 percent. Graduation rate, the result of the provincial exams, is also high, at 80 percent. I was pleased to see the increase to our school district 44 that will also allow them to bring in more teacher aides that are desperately needed for the teachers who are starting to get tired. It is a tough job.

We have been sending $7 million to $8 million a day over the past 15 years to foreign banks for interest payments on our debt. Now, that was allowed to grow over the past years — up to $34 billion during the eighties and nineties. It is time that we reduced that debt. Imagine what we could do with the $7 million-plus every day that we send to the offshore banks. If we directed it towards education and health care, it would certainly wipe out many deficits in our school districts. But to send millions of dollars a day to foreign governments is a waste. That waste is hard to accept and why I always seem to be harping on it.

Debt is the enemy, the banker's best friend. No one can grow an economy with a debt. The future of our education and health care will suffer. Even Tommy Douglas said that debt was our worst enemy.

The government's mission is to give all British Columbians a bright future and not to leave a debt to be paid by our children and grandchildren. This government is in the pursuit of investment and development as an economic leader, which is the way to a better future.

B.C. is positioned to become the leader for advanced education, and we'll also embark on the largest expansion of post-secondary seats in the last 40 years of this province. We'll invest over $500 million in capital improvements. This will provide new capacity to offset the rising tuition costs.

Also the government will enact legislation to limit future tuition increases to the rate of inflation — no more double-digit increases. This government would also improve student financial assistance over the existing student aid programs. Students will be allowed to earn three times more money than they could before, without penalties. The loan reduction program now allows a portion of the loan to be forgiven for students successfully completing their studies, which is a good incentive. As we know, there is a lack of skilled workers, and all efforts are being made to improve the industry training program to get students and workers on the job easier and faster.

Like other governments around the world, B.C. is striving to enhance its economic base in order to pursue better biotech and life sciences, do research and improve patient care. B.C. has the largest and most developed infrastructure in western Canada. We are always ahead in the research for cancer, HIV and AIDS medicines, and we have world-class universities and research centres. Now what is needed is a strategy to develop and ensure policies that will benefit all in promoting better patient care. A significant number of drugs are waiting to be approved, and we need to see that these go on the market as soon as possible.

Homeowners' property assessment values went up approximately 30 percent this last year and, in some cases, even more. I was pleased to see that this government increased the threshold for homeowners' grant qualifications up to $685,000. Those seniors and constituents of mine who are on fixed incomes do appreciate this relief. Most homeowners will not see too great a change in their taxes as a result of the assessment increases, as I believe that local municipalities will be adjusting their mill rates to ensure a consistent revenue stream.

Mining and gas exploration over the last few years has been the darling of this government, and rightly so. In the nineties the previous NDP government went out of its way to discourage resource extraction in this province. Today, this attitude has been reversed, and exploration has increased tenfold. Employment in the mining and gas industries has been overwhelming.

Over all, the jobless rate this last year has been respectable. Jobs throughout B.C. equalled approximately 197,500 new jobs created. Actually, it was over 202,000, but if you take out the part-time jobs, we still come out with a net of 197,000 new jobs, which is a wonderful thing for an economy that's having to be restructured. All in all, mining and oil and gas are booming and will continue to do so under the programs set by this government.

I wanted to take a moment to reiterate something I'd brought up earlier, approximately last October, with regard to Capilano College, which is the main college in my riding, and the film industry, which is a large industry in North Vancouver, in my riding and in the ridings of North Vancouver–Lonsdale and West Vancouver–Capilano. I think there are approximately 3,000 to 4,000 workers that are in my riding alone or close by.

At that time, when I brought it up, I said it was an industry that generates over $1 billion annually to this province. Actually, it was $1.4 billion last year. This is a new business that can be transient, that can move at any moment from city to city, town to town, and it employs, directly or indirectly, approximately 35,000 people in all of British Columbia. A dead giveaway

that this business is in your neighbourhood is the signs associated with it, the signs that are bright orange or the pink arrows with cryptic names and acronyms on them. These arrows are what direct the workers to their jobsites where they are in the business of making films.

The jobs are as varied as the film sets. The people working for them are costume designers, key grips, decorators, makeup artists, script supervisors, etc. These are the workers where their job titles…. The people who have these job titles usually learn their trades right on the job. The backbone of the industry is people and their skills, which will make the industry viable for a long, long time.

Capilano College, which is located in the heart of my riding of North Vancouver–Seymour, has come up with a solution to address the need for plentiful, skilled labour, which in turn will support the industry in the long term. At present, Capilano College has a student population of approximately 5,000, and some 600 of these students are studying to work in one way or another for the film industry.

By the way, I might add that Capilano College is the lowest-funded college in British Columbia, and I intend to talk a little bit more about that to the minister in the budget speech that will come up next week.

These students are learning the ABCs of their chosen trade, which is the film industry, and will be a welcome addition to the sets that they work on. Obviously, a film crew that can boast talent and well-trained employees is certainly going to have a leg up on anyone else in the business. That is not the only reason to consider a centre of excellence for students where students can go and study or upgrade their skills in their chosen crafts.

We need to stop pretending the film industry is here in British Columbia on a temporary basis. We need to establish a core presence where the economic factors that currently dictate a positive or negative climate have more than just a minimal impact on the industry as a whole. Currently, this business is at the mercy of a number of outside factors. Our dollar goes up, and — boom — production moves to another locale.

If we establish in a college a made-in-B.C. industry that is not at the mercy of those outside forces, we can easily withstand the swings that are indigenous to the world's economy. Again, a business that is capable of generating over a billion dollars a year needs to be taken seriously. I have to commend my government for their past support to the film industry and, more recently, the spiking up of tax credits to protect them from the other provinces that were trying to glom on to the business. It was quite appreciated, believe me.

When you think of a studio system where craftspeople are mentored and have continual access to training, keeping up with the latest technology is difficult enough. Trying to compete on a global market, where your training is learned from others who also do not have the same access to those skilled upgrades, seems somewhat archaic at best. Therefore, by having a public institution act as a centre for excellence, the industry can experience a myriad of pluses. The centre would act as a magnet for stakeholders, pulling in industry partners who can use the centre as an anchor in which to develop and plan to ensure the future needs and skill levels, so they not be ignored for the sake of private profit.

Today, right here in British Columbia, there are 26 movie and television studios or shows in production. There are other products that require the expertise of trained crews — broadcast news sets, all the various multicultural channels and commercial shoots and animation studios, not to mention the technical post-production work that Vancouver is very well known for.

The market for trained talent is enormous just in television alone. There are something like 200 channels or stations available in the lower mainland. Some of them specialize in only one thing. Even here in the Legislature, we have one of the most fascinating channels there is — the one we all refer to as our Hansard — which is filming right at this moment. And there are thousands of people out there watching me talk as of this moment.

This is a major reason to establish such a centre at Capilano College, which is in my riding, and I hope this facility will be made available to encourage and develop the domestic film industry by providing emerging Canadian film-makers with an opportunity to produce their own works with professional assistance.

They have found that the new Canadian film-makers have difficulty in moving their projects from conception to screen and that finding financial support as well can be a very daunting task. The proposed production facility would have a sound stage and other related features, which would be made available for emerging producers and directors and would provide trained crews to work in these productions.

You should know that this is not a new approach to the movie business, as the United Kingdom government…. In fact, the United Kingdom Film Council has just put aside £10 million annually for five years to create four centres of excellence to build screen academies for Great Britain.

Capilano College is asking for…. Firstly, they are the stakeholders, presently, who want to make us all very aware that there is a need for this kind of facility, and it is paramount. They are currently working in partnership with industry, industry unions, government agencies and film professionals to keep up with the demand to provide their current programs, but the need for expansion is accelerating.

I see that I'm slowly running out of time here. I want to close by saying that I feel this throne speech we have just heard is somewhat of an enlightening type of document that will show the people in this province

that things are getting better. The government in 2001 laid down its plans in the New Era document, as I said. Over 95 percent of what we said has happened or will be happening.

It is a matter of stability. If we want to go back to the old way of running government as we did in the 1990s, when nothing could be done…. Everything that was possible did go wrong. As I mentioned earlier, we had over 80 different ministers change jobs in less than four years. In every ministry of the 18 that are in government…. Nearly every one, in under five years, had eight ministers. How do you get stability when you have an operation such as that?

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with what the future holds for us and for my children and my grandchildren by this government. On saying that, I wish to say thank you very much for the opportunity to speak.

Hon. R. Thorpe: First of all, I want to thank all British Columbians for their hard work and commitment to the province over the last three and a half years. In particular, I want to thank my constituents from Okanagan-Westside for all of their support, all of their commitment and all of their ideas as we have moved forward in British Columbia.

The throne speech that we are debating here today is a throne speech of great vision. It is a road map that continues on the road and the journey of prosperity for British Columbians in all parts of British Columbia. It's a throne speech that has a vision of moving British Columbia to be a world leader in many, many fields. Our throne speech sets a very bold vision for British Columbia's future, building on the hard work and success of the members of this House over the past four years.

It establishes five great goals for a golden decade ahead. First, it is to make British Columbia the best-educated and most literate jurisdiction on the continent. Second, it is to lead the way in North America for healthy living and physical fitness as we move to 2010. Third, it is to build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities and special needs, for children at risk and for our seniors. Fourth, it is to lead the world in sustainable environment management with the best air and water quality and the best fisheries management, bar none. Finally, the fifth of the great goals for the decade is to create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

This throne speech has vision and is certainly the result of the leadership that our Premier provides our team, our caucus, our government and British Columbia. There is no question that when we were elected in May of 2001, we faced many challenges — challenges that were, quite frankly, larger than any of us could have ever imagined. Through the leadership of our Premier and every member on our team we have come through this journey. There is no question that British Columbia is a better province than it has ever been before and that the future is so very bright.

As we look to the future, with our first goal to make British Columbia the best-educated and most literate jurisdiction in North America, I think we should pause for a moment to look at the achievements we've achieved and then, of course, to focus in on the vision of the future.

First of all, on education we were very clear in our commitment to British Columbians to put students first by making education an essential service. We've made schools accountable for results through accountability contracts and school district reviews. We've given parents more choices and more say in the operation of their children's schools through school planning councils. As a government we have enshrined class size in legislation for the first time so that it is never bargained away and is not part of a union contract.

We've increased student funding. You know, Mr. Speaker, we hear the other side of the Legislature and their big public sector union leader friends mislead British Columbians every day and then say that there have been cuts to education. In fact there have been none. Over $305 million of new funding has gone into education since 2000-01 with 29,000 fewer students, increasing per-student funding by $863.

I have the privilege, as the MLA for Okanagan-Westside, to visit many schools. As a matter of fact, the highlight for me in being an MLA is to visit a school. Whether it be an elementary school, a high school or a post-secondary university or college, I'm always impressed by the energy of our students and the excitement for their future. That is why this throne speech highlights $150 million in new funding for school districts to ensure that library services, textbooks, arts and music programs and services to students with special needs will be there as we move forward.

We're also extending the Action Schools program to every school in British Columbia in grades K-to-9, and we will eliminate all junk food in schools within four years. We're increasing funding for colleges and universities by $132 million over the next three years and limiting, through legislation, the increases on tuition fees at the rate of inflation effective September of this year. We are moving forward.

We are also working to speed up getting credentials for newcomers to Canada in trades and professions, another area that I personally enjoy working on in my riding. I hope to be meeting with a group of new immigrants to Canada in my riding on February 19 to see and hear the challenges they have, because they can add so much to our communities.

Our second goal is to ensure that we lead the way in healthy living and physical fitness. Of course, that takes leadership; that takes vision. Also, it takes a commitment. As we look back over the past three and a half years, our government, in a very difficult financial situation, has increased funding for health care in the province since 2000 by $2.4 billion. As we look forward, we'll increase it by another $1.5 billion. Yet we have to hear the leadership of the NDP and the leadership of the B.C. Federation of Labour actually mislead

British Columbians and say that there have been cuts. Mr. Speaker, how can $3.9 billion be a cut? It's an investment.

We're doubling the number of doctors in training, the first training expansion in over 20 years in British Columbia. A 50 percent increase in the number of nurses in training through the addition of 2,134 new training seats and, of course, Fair Pharmacare…. I've actually met with many seniors in my riding and other constituents. They do appreciate the commitment of our government to make sure that over 280,000 seniors now enjoy lower costs and that 82 percent of all citizens in British Columbia are paying less today than they paid in 2001.

We have the best cancer outcomes in this country. We have a total vaccine budget in British Columbia that more than doubled from $15 million in 2003 to $34.3 million in '04-05. Those are some of the things we've done.

As we look forward to achieve our goal, some of the other things we're going to do include launching an Act Now program for all British Columbians so that health and fitness programs for all British Columbians in all regions of British Columbia that everyone can participate in….

We will continue to move forward on our commitment to ensure our goal of 5,000 new beds for seniors across the spectrum of living in assisted residential care and independent housing is achieved. I am proud of the accomplishments we've made in that area in my riding.

Also, not a lot of credit has been given to our Premier — or the credit he's due — for the leadership he demonstrated in the recent federal-provincial health accord, which will result in an additional $5.4 billion coming into the province for health care over the next ten years. Every penny of that will go to British Columbia's health care budget. That is a commitment we made. That is a commitment we live by. That is a commitment we will achieve.

We are also, as we look to the future, expanding British Columbia's global reputation in public health care and research by expanding British Columbia's Centre for Disease Control into the Pacific centre for disease control by working with the governments of institutions in Singapore, China and India. We should be very, very proud of the work that our scientists and doctors and other folks that work there have achieved — not only for British Columbians, but for people around the world.

Our third goal: to build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, special needs, children at risk and seniors. Let me say again: what have we done so far? We've increased funding for social housing by 38 percent. We had the single highest rate in the history of British Columbia on an increase for persons with disabilities, increasing it by $70 a month. As a matter of fact, in my constituency last week, walking down Main Street in Summerland, a constituent who does receive that benefit came up to me and said: "I want you to do me a favour, Rick." I said: "What was that?" "Please," he said, "say thank you to the Premier of the province. It is greatly appreciated." That is what a government that cares does for folks.

We have now tripled funding for autism and early childhood development programs, and we've nearly doubled the number of child care spaces eligible for funding from 45,000 to 77,000. But there is more we can do.

As we move forward to be the very best in Canada, the Premier is establishing a new Premier's council on aging and seniors issues to identify opportunities to improve seniors services, examine how to improve housing options and home care, consider the issue of mandatory retirement and make recommendations on how to improve seniors' independence and quality of life. This is an important initiative, one that will be very well received in the riding of Okanagan-Westside.

We are also going to continue to increase the earnings exemption for persons with disabilities, which follows other increases that we've given in this area. There will be an additional $37 million in new funding over the next three years to ensure women and children escape violence and abusive relationships and have more 24-7 access for safe housing. A commitment that has already been very well received in my riding when the Solicitor General visited is $122 million of new funding for 215 police officers over the next three years and the related court services that go with that.

We are moving very quickly to do these things to make our support systems the very, very best they can be, but how are we able to do that? We're able to do that because we now have one of the strongest economies in all of Canada. It is a goal that we set for ourselves. It is a goal that we've achieved in working with businesses and organizations in every region of the province. That is how we are able to care for those who need our help. It's a commitment that we are committed to doing and will continue to do as we move forward.

Our fourth leg in our five goals for a golden decade relates to sustainable environment management. In that area I am pleased that the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection is here today, and he's the member from Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos. He has demonstrated unbelievable leadership in this area. As we look to the future, he has committed to $6.5 million for the habitat conservation trust fund to support parkland acquisitions and conservations; and in addition, $9 million to establish a B.C. conservation corps so students and graduates can work in B.C. parks and wilderness, a new generation of conservationists; and $7.5 million to add up to 50 new park rangers and conservation officers.

In this area of sustainable environment management my colleague the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services has committed $120 million for B.C. community water improvements and also $16 million for a new action plan for drinking-water implementation. These are things that are going to lead

British Columbia to be the world leader in sustainable resource management. I want to thank all my colleagues for caring.

I live in the Okanagan, which, like so many other parts of British Columbia, is very special, but we do have some issues with respect to water and environment. I'm so pleased that our government is showing leadership and working together with the communities.

Of course, to achieve the leadership goals that our Premier has established for our government we need to make sure that we lead Canada in job creation. There is no question that the performance of the economy in British Columbia over the last three and a half years is absolutely amazing — just under 200,000 new jobs created. We've gone from being ranked last under the NDP and the leadership of those members over there to number one or number two. We've reversed the trend of migration out of British Columbia, so now our best and brightest are returning to British Columbia and are staying.

We're seeing a revival in the mining industry from exploration of under $20 million to over $130 million this year. We're seeing infrastructure built in every region of the province, and we committed to British Columbians that we would cut red tape by one-third, and we've done that by achieving a goal of 37 percent.

That is just a start. We must continue our vision to pursue the strongest economy in all of Canada. Our vision for the future, our launching of the Asia-Pacific gateway strategy to take our products to the world, will open new doors for new cultural exchange, new relationships and new partners in education. It is a massive goal. It is a challenging goal. But as we've seen with our government, when we establish a goal, we go out and get the job done. I know my colleague from Small Business and Economic Development will be doing a tremendous amount of travelling and work on this field.

In my previous role I did have the opportunity to go to India, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, and I know that the potential there for British Columbia is unbelievable. When we stay focused and when we work together with industries and industrial sectors, we will achieve economic opportunity and economic prosperity for British Columbians in all regions of the province.

We also are going to appoint a new B.C. competition council to conduct a comprehensive review of British Columbia's competitiveness in every sector, pinpointing the barriers to growth and identifying solutions to overcome them. That's what leadership is about.

We're also going to establish a World Trade University in Chilliwack to offer graduate-level programs in related fields, so we can once again showcase British Columbia to the world and start to build ambassadors for British Columbia from all countries around the world.

Those are some of the things that we are going to do as we move forward. In my particular riding of Okanagan-Westside I pride myself in the fact that in partnership with other elected officials I am able to work to achieve the goals for our constituents. I want to acknowledge and thank the mayor and council for Summerland; the mayor and council from Peachland; the three regional directors from the district of Central Okanagan; the federal MP, Stockwell Day; and Senator Ross Fitzpatrick, because when we work together, we can achieve goals that benefit everyone in our constituency.

This throne speech, as we set out the vision…. I sat last night and thought how this is going to impact the constituents of Okanagan-Westside. When I look at education, we are moving forward with Okanagan campus of UBC, a world-class university, and the expansion of Okanagan College.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a couple of elementary schools to participate in Ready, Set, Learn for young people, and the new testing programs for hearing and sight. There will be $150 million distributed to all school districts. That's going to benefit students throughout the entire riding.

Of course, the $132 million for advanced education is going to assist us in developing UBC Okanagan. My vision, as I look to the future for Okanagan-Westside, is to see UBC Okanagan integrate and have a campus with the Summerland research centre, building more opportunities in the entire Okanagan. That's what I see for my riding with respect to the visions of our throne speech.

With respect to the healthy living, the Act Now program, we are very, very active in the riding, but I see that it's going to happen more. Interestingly, constituents are listening about the throne speech. On Friday when I'm back in my riding, I'm meeting with a couple of constituents who have a Summerland-based business. They want to talk about how their business — which is focused on fitness, education and leadership training and utilizing e-learning — can complement the goals that we are setting out here in our throne speech. British Columbians want to lead, and I'm so pleased that as a result of the throne speech yesterday I'm meeting with these folks. Who knows what can come from that.

With respect to healthy living, I want to continue to work for the community of Summerland. They're currently looking at developing a project called Dale Meadows. I'm working closely with them, and I'm hopeful in the months ahead we will be able to deliver something in that area, or in Peachland — the healthy aspect of keeping our youngsters busy. We're working on a skateboard project for the young folks in Peachland.

Hon. R. Thorpe: No, I won't be participating, member; I'll be coaching. But remember, all champions need great coaches.

One of the areas in our throne speech of very, very strong interest to me is persons with disabilities, spe-

cial needs, our children at risk and our seniors. Over the past year and a half in Summerland and in Westbank…. Just last week in Westbank we opened 40 new assisted-living units for seniors, 40 new spots at Angus Place in Summerland and 142 assisted living at the Summerland health care centre are under construction right now. We are moving forward.

As I mentioned earlier, the folks with disabilities are so appreciative of the increase in funding that we were only able to give and provide as a result of a strong free enterprise economy. The Premier's task force on homelessness actually impacts on certain parts of my riding, and with the leadership of Mayor Walter Gray from Kelowna, who is a very active member with the Premier on the Premier's council, we are moving forward together. I will be making sure that from my riding's perspective we will have representatives on the Premier's council on aging and seniors, because we have a very active seniors population throughout my entire riding. They will be involved.

To lead the world in sustainable environment, in our riding I am working with the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection so that we can make sure that the sensitive ecosystems, in particular in the Summerland area, are addressed not just for the short term but that we have a long-term solution. I do look forward to some new conservation officers and some new park rangers in the area to assist British Columbians.

This week also I will be meeting with the chair of the Westbank Irrigation District, Carol Zanon, and Brian Jamieson, the general manager, to hear firsthand their plans on how they're going to be involved in our new water action plan — again, looking to the future.

As we move forward, it is important that the goals of the province and the goals of Okanagan-Westside mesh together so that we have goals for increased water and sewer needs in Westside, Peachland and Summerland; so that we have transportation goals which are going to lead to growing the economy. The continuation of the four-laning of Highway 97, the building of the new Kelowna bridge, the working with the Westbank first nations on the west side, and, of course, straightening out some of the many death curves on Westside Road in my riding are important.

Seeing the infrastructure at Mount Boucherie Community Centre become a reality is going to assist the youth of our community. Also, as I mentioned, the new skate park and other things….

This is an exciting throne speech, and these five goals for a golden decade are goals that all British Columbians will want to work towards to achieve.

I can't say enough about the leadership and the vision of our Premier as we move forward. This throne speech sets a vision for all of us. We must all seize the moment. We must all dare to dream, no matter which part of British Columbia we live in. We must all venture forward, just as we did over the last three and a half years — not for ourselves, but for our children, for our grandchildren and for the families of British Columbia.

We have a great opportunity. The riding of Okanagan-Westside is excited about its future, and I am committed to working with all of my constituents to focus on these five goals of a golden decade. Yes, we've come a long way, but there's so much more to do. British Columbia is back, but the future is ours and it's there for our taking.

I ask all British Columbians to join together to support this throne speech so that we can move British Columbia forward to its rightful place of leading in Canada.

Hon. B. Barisoff: It's my honour to be able to speak on behalf of the constituency of the beautiful riding of Penticton–Okanagan Valley.

The throne speech sets out a bold vision for the future of British Columbia, building on the hard work and the success of the last four years. When we call it the golden decade, it certainly will be the golden decade.

As the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection, I am particularly pleased that the ministry is launching a $9 million program that will allow 150 students, or possibly more — recent graduates, students — to work alongside park rangers and conservation officers. The conservation corps will work to enhance the world-class parks as well as perform educational and outreach programs. These students will be out throughout all of British Columbia. What I look forward to is that one day a lot of them will be park rangers and will be conservation officers.

Over the next three years we'll invest $7.5 million to hire an additional 50 park rangers and conservation officers. The people around British Columbia have told me that they want to see more park rangers, more conservation officers, and we're certainly going to be able to do that.

We are providing a one-time, $6.5 million contribution to the habitat conservation fund to support habitat restoration programs, and we'll be dedicating further dollars to groundwater and drinking water protection. We will also be making further investments to expand the number of air quality stations around the province and improve those stations already in place.

You know, this government has made some very difficult choices while working to eliminate a $3.8 billion deficit left to us by the previous government. When you talk about a $3.8 billion structural deficit, and you see where we are today…. When we talk about it being the golden decade, it truly will be the golden decade.

We have spent your tax dollars wisely over the past four years, and I am pleased to share some of the accomplishments my constituents have been able to benefit from — one in particular, when we speak about health care. A $12.6 million state-of-the-art imaging system which allows doctors to access X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans and other images from a distance was

launched at the Penticton Regional Hospital on January 16, 2005. That truly is an accomplishment. Children that happened to be at the Vancouver Children's Hospital…. They actually went onto the computer, called it up, and there it was. You can talk to a specialist wherever and actually look at the X-rays. People won't have to be carrying a big brown bag with them when they go from hospital to hospital. These specialists will be able to look at them, and that's 24-7. They'll be able to look at them at home, from their offices and at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning.

The example that they used…. If there happened to have been an accident on the Hope-Princeton Highway and they'd gone into the Princeton hospital and taken an X-ray, a specialist in Penticton could look at it and decide whether they needed to transport them to Penticton, Kelowna, or even head directly to Vancouver.

The interior health authority invested $10 million in surgery to increase the patient access to neurosurgery, general surgery, thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric dentistry and plastic surgery. Those are just a few of the things that are happening in my riding. Interior health performs 41 percent more knee replacements than the provincial average, with 47,000 surgeries performed in one year.

Hon. B. Barisoff: That's true, but they're great people. The elderly people in the Okanagan Valley are our greatest asset. One thing about them is that they're always there. I'm glad that my colleague from Prince George mentioned that.

The fact that we had the Summer Games and the triathlon one week after the other…. Do you realize the amount of volunteers that came forward? They were actually able to put that on. That came a lot from the seniors community in the Penticton area. IHA has tackled the hip and knee wait-list problem, injecting over $2 million for hip and knee surgeries. That figure added to the dollars from the provincial government has increased the number of people in the IHA getting hip and knee surgery — up by more than 600. This year the top of the 41 percent higher the provincial rate for hip and knee surgery….

This fall the South Okanagan Primary Care Maternity Clinic in Penticton Regional Hospital opened to provide comprehensive maternity care to expectant mothers. At the moment there are only six family physicians providing maternity care in the South Okanagan. The clinic will provide expectant mothers with better access while offering the physicians the resources they need to provide the very best maternity care in the South Okanagan. This clinic was based on the model established at B.C. Women's Hospital and will also offer post-natal care. In June 2002 a new paramedic position was created to ensure more timely effective care for local residents.

In the field of education, bar none, South Okanagan is one of those great spots to be in. Four schools in Oliver, three schools in Osoyoos and one school in Penticton will be upgraded to high-speed Internet as part of the province's final phase to upgrade schools provincewide in 2004. It was announced that an Okanagan Falls school will receive an upgrade for high-speed Internet through the provincial learning network.

The Ministry of Management Services also committed $50,000 to extend high-speed Internet from the city of Penticton, which is one of the very best high-speed Internets throughout the entire province, to the En'owkin Centre on the Penticton Indian reserve, which will provide local first nations with greater educational business communication opportunities.

Skaha Lake Middle School was built to replace the aging Snowden and Princess Margaret schools. Penticton Secondary School is actually going to be a brand-new school in the years to come. We hope construction will start later on this year or early in 2006. The Penticton and Okanagan Valley school districts were given extra one-time funding thanks to the government savings — of $833,000 to the Okanagan-Similkameen school district and $2.05 million to Okanagan-Skaha school district.

The Solicitor General's ministry has provided over $443,000 to parent advisory councils since 2002 as well as community grants totalling $260,000 to other organizations such as the Penticton and Area Women's Centre, the Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society, the Osoyoos Child Care Centre, the Oliver fire department and the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls — just to name a few.

In advanced education, we've been very fortunate in the Okanagan. We've got UBC Okanagan that has come to the valley, and we've gotten one of the best colleges. Okanagan College is right in Penticton with subcolleges in Oliver and Osoyoos. We've announced, with the government, 5,500 new spaces, and a lot of those will be in UBC Okanagan and in the separate Okanagan colleges.

The province has granted research labs at OUC $147,500. As part of this funding, $47,500 was granted to the development of a sedimentary, applied geomorphology lab at the Penticton OUC campus.

OUC also has the first practical nursing program. It's offered the first time this year in January at the Penticton campus beginning in 2005, the winter semester. That's a one-year program. A lot of these students will have jobs in the South Okanagan at the Penticton Regional Hospital or the South Okanagan General Hospital or possibly up in Kelowna.

Penticton has received part of the $1.94 million fund to train framing technicians as one of the 25 pilot projects that will explore innovative ways to help students move into the trade and technical careers.

In the transportation end of it, we have been very, very fortunate in the South Okanagan. A signage program to better direct tourists to local wineries has resulted in a stronger local economy, increased tourism growth and new job opportunities. With these new

signs, we're seeing the fruit industry and the wine industry just booming. It's amazing, when you get the circle tour that goes out through the Kootenays and comes back up into the Okanagan, the people that are taking advantage of our tremendous orchard industry and our tremendous wine industry.

A $1.588 million contract was used to enhance the Eckhardt Road–Railway Avenue intersection completed this August 2004, and $15.6 million to construct passing lanes on Highway 97 between Oliver and Osoyoos and between Okanagan Falls and Vaseux Lake. A dual left-hand turn lane at the Channel Parkway section of Highway 97 and in Penticton Eastside Road will be widened to make room for the cyclist lane.

With that, I also want to add that at the Red Wing housing development, we were actually able to get a new traffic light that has been promised by governments for the last, say, probably ten years. The elderly people were just ecstatic. It was one of the great things that actually happened.

McAlpine Bridge in Oliver was also replaced. That was one of the only wooden bridges on all of Highway 97, and this government finally got a new bridge and put it there — certainly one of the great things that happened.

When we get into the environment, my ministry, the province has protected over 16 hectares of critical wetland habitat on the Okanagan River. This has been a significant feeding and breeding ground for 25 species of waterfowl and habitat for many species of concern. It's something that a lot of people of the South Okanagan have been looking for, for some time. The province has invested $96,500 on invasive plant management in the Anarchist and Vaseux areas. The investment fund is for the weed management areas impacted after last year's wildfires, to help prevent invasive plants from spreading to the surrounding areas.

One of the real jewels of the Okanagan Valley — and we all take it as part of all of us because it was a national treasure — was the reconstruction of the historic Myra Canyon trestles. I want to actually commend my colleagues in Kelowna and, in particular, my colleague in Okanagan-Westside for their efforts in making this happen. It wouldn't have happened without a lot of hard work from the colleagues all the way from Vernon to Kelowna and Okanagan-Westside — the extra work that they've done.

With the province's donation of $1.35 million, we hope to have all these trestles completed by the year 2007. I want to tell everybody that we are hoping to have those parks opened up sometime in the early summer — we hope for the Canada Day weekend. We've let out contracts for contractors to go in there and make it safer with all the burnt trees that we have to take down.

In the communities. Penticton will see an increase in traffic fine revenues of more than 300 percent due to the government's decision to return all net traffic fine revenues over to municipalities. Penticton's fine revenues in 2004 saw an increase from $81,719 to $341,636. What this does is allow a couple more police officers to be hired in the city of Penticton to make it just that much safer for all our residents of the Penticton area.

In the Princeton and Penticton areas, 273 kilometres of abandoned railroad tracks have been converted into hiking trails as part of the Rails to Trails. The Premier of the province took the time to come out and actually open up the Rails to Trails. The people of the Penticton area and the South Okanagan were extremely pleased that the Premier actually took the effort to make sure that was one of the important projects in the South Okanagan.

In 2004 we hosted the B.C. Seniors Games in Penticton. It was a tremendous success. As I commented earlier, the number of volunteers that came forward…. The seniors that were there in the South Okanagan — one of the members indicated earlier that we have a lot of seniors in the South Okanagan — just did a tremendous job of making things happen.

Affordable housing. We got a $174,000 grant to the Southview Housing Society for construction of a 31-unit housing complex for low-income individuals in Penticton, as well as $1.2 million for 26 provincially funded housing units, and 33 new assisted-living supplements were awarded to Heritage House in Oliver for assisted-living apartments. Lower-income seniors will benefit from the increased access to affordable housing.

In November 2003, Destination Osoyoos was awarded $100,000 to assist in renovation and conversion of the former elementary school into a community centre. I happened to be there. Fantastic. They made a fantastic community centre out of the old school.

Oliver Curling Club is getting a major upgrade renovation, thanks to a $106,000 Canada–B.C. infrastructure program grant. Work will include replacing the existing sand floor beneath the rinks with a cement floor, widening the rinks to international standards, replacing piping, upgrading the lobby and viewing area, and improving some handicapped access. This is going to make it so they can actually host some of the Olympic events that are coming in 2010.

The community of Osoyoos also got $107,000 to upgrade their airport. Things are just so exciting. Work includes paving and widening the runway to 16 metres, extending it to 755 metres. We won't see 747s coming in there, but we certainly will see a boost in the economic activity that will come to the Okanagan area. It's not going to be like Cranbrook. We can't get the big jets in there, but we've certainly got enough to make it so we can get the smaller jets in there.

In the agriculture department, the Minister of Agriculture was in Penticton the other day. When supplementary estimates go through…. The Minister of Agriculture made a commitment that if that happens, we'll see a new replant program that will indicate probably, roughly, a little over $4 million. We'll see another million dollars going into the SIR program — two great programs very good for the people of the South Okanagan. The wine authority is moving on too. There are just so many things. It just never stops.

The good news just keeps going and going and going. You wonder when you talk about the people

from the opposition and when we talk about what's going to happen and that we are in the golden years…. People usually talk about the golden years as being some of our senior citizens, but we're in the golden years of British Columbia. We're going to see what's going to happen — a golden decade for British Columbia. And every year within that golden decade is going to be golden, because this government has made a true commitment to the people of British Columbia. We're making things happen.

The throne speech is something that we all were excited about. I noticed today in question period that the Leader of the Opposition was saying that the Minister of Health shouldn't have been excited. But she should be excited, because we've done so much for the province, and there's so much yet to come.

I'll tell you something, Mr. Speaker. We do well have the golden decade, and it will be the greatest time that British Columbians will ever see, because they'll be ruled by a Liberal government for the next golden decade.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I'll take my seat. I think you're moving me on because we're getting close to quitting time.

Hon. G. Plant: Breathless with anticipation as I am for the continuation of this discussion, I move adjournment of debate.

Mr. Speaker: Hon. members, the House is adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

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