Hansard — Tuesday, February 20, 2007 a.m.

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


Point of Privilege		5397
	C. Puchmayr

Throne Speech Debate (continued)		5397
	G. Coons
	B. Lekstrom
	J. Brar
	D. Hayer

C. Puchmayr: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to reserve the right to rise on a matter of privilege to address statements that were made in this House during yesterday's debate by the member for Vancouver-Burrard.

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

Mr. Speaker: The member for North Coast continues with the Speech from the Throne.

G. Coons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a great honour and privilege to restart.

We were talking about the Conversation on Health. There's only one mention of the Conversation on Health in the throne speech. Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to hold five sessions about health on Haida Gwaii — real conversations, not Liberal ones. Old Massett, Masset, Port Clements, Queen Charlotte and Skidegate hosted forums that brought out many concerns from islanders. Some of these included the expense, the time, the energy, the importance of travelling off island. And the time off work, the cost of accommodation, meals, other travel — all these expenses are not covered.

Patients are being stranded in other locations, whether it's Vancouver, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Terrace. These patients are medevacked out, sometimes without proper clothing, without ID, no money, and they are just discharged from the hospital. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure you would agree: patients that are flown out, medevacked out to other locations must be looked after until they're returned to their home community. This is happening on Haida Gwaii. That's unacceptable.

A serious issue was about cuts to specialist visits, and retention and recruitment of staff. On the islands and especially on the north coast there's a major concern that seniors and elders are looked on as forgotten souls. Long-term care facilities and especially home support must be a priority. Having an eye for preventative and proactive care will save the system money in the long term. Increasing home support hours, including light housekeeping, will keep our valued seniors in their homes longer and out of expensive hospital beds. We must stop putting seniors at risk.

The cost of drugs, Pharmacare problems and mental health issues are high on the list for islanders. For communities to have a real voice and real representation, health board members must be elected, not appointed by the government. We need to get back to locally elected representatives, not handpicked Liberals.

Every year, it's the same old thing. The Premier picks a new priority for his throne speech, and every year he fails to deliver. The Premier's plan on climate change is seeing a complete reversal from his past practices. The transformational change of this Liberal caucus from a brownish sludge colour to that of being greener than Kermit the Frog is one that many British Columbians and Canadians find hard to believe. It's funny how this happens, especially since climate change did not rate one word in the last six throne speeches.

Based on the Premier's record, British Columbians have reason to doubt this throne speech and its focus on climate change. It was this government that scrapped the B.C. climate change business plan in 2001 and canned the climate change working group. It was this Liberal government that less than a year ago weakened AirCare. It was this government that extended the permitting of beehive burners, reversing the decommissioning program brought in by the NDP. Now it appears they've seen the light, and they've announced beehive burners will be eliminated. Hopefully, it is every single one in the province, not just a token, select few.

The Premier's long list of climate change initiatives can all be found, amazingly, in the plan New Democrats already put forward, but he fails to take real steps to create immediate change. It appears when it comes down to "show me the money," this Premier once again can't be trusted. Vital promises without the necessary funding seem to be the order of this Premier's day.

Last week the throne speech made the following statements: "The more timid our response is, the harsher the consequences will be," and "If we fail to act aggressively and shoulder our responsibility, we know what our children can expect — shrinking glaciers and snowpacks, drying lakes and streams, and changes in the ocean's chemistry." I believe this Premier and this government made an intrinsic deal with British Columbians, with Canadians and with our children. This is a deal. This is a commitment, and it must be immediately funded. Perhaps the Times Colonist was right last week when they referred to this gang of Liberals as going from saying nothing about climate change to talking last week like a climatologist on speed.

One year ago in estimates I questioned the Energy Minister and made the following comments: "I'm very disappointed…there is no vision, no action plan, no focus and embarrassingly limited support in funding for initiatives that deal with alternative energy…the budget for offshore oil and gas…is nearly triple the amount for alternative energy. I believe our province…needs to put the time, the energy and most importantly, funding and resources into alternate en-

ergy." Now we have that promise — mind you, a B.C. Liberal promise: a new $25 million in an innovative clean energy fund, although it appears we can probably forget that promise. There is no real plan. There is no real vision — just political rhetoric.

The throne speech in one line mentions TILMA, the secret trade, investment and labour mobility agreement signed last April by the Premier, incredibly without prior knowledge of it or any debate by the Legislature or in the public. This comes into effect in April of 2007. This secret pact undermines and limits the powers of democratic municipal governments in this province. It will affect all forms of local government as well as school boards, universities and hospitals. I believe it will have serious impact on environmental and labour standards in our province.

This government crossed over the border, signed a secret agreement with the oil barons of Alberta with no input from local government, no input from first nations or the public. This B.C. Liberal government cancelled the fall session so that British Columbians and the opposition would not have the opportunity to hear debate or have questions answered. Once again this Premier cannot be trusted to act on behalf of those who expect integrity in government. He must come clean with his pact with his friends and hold public hearings so British Columbians can question the impacts.

Mind you, the throne speech did pose a very important question: what can we do to secure the future for our children and grandchildren? However, noticeably, there is not one mention of child care in the speech. The failure of the Premier and the Liberals to acknowledge child care illustrates the government's complete irresponsibility and lack of vision when it comes to challenges facing B.C. families.

B.C. was the only province in Canada that didn't make an effort to negotiate with the federal government to maintain promised funding, and B.C. is the only province in Canada to bring in cuts as a result. That's shameful.

The closure of the Queen Charlotte child care resource and referral centre will have devastating effects on women, families and children on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Leases, training programs…. New equipment, toys and computers are still unopened in boxes. The move to a newly renovated facility in Masset on March 31 obviously has been cancelled due to the cutbacks by this government.

Will this uncaring B.C. Liberal government act to ensure services are available to those in need — with a $2 billion surplus? Probably not. The Finance Minister will probably listen to her friends and insiders that still want tax cuts for the wealthy.

Currently, there's a critical shortage of child care spaces in Prince Rupert. For the last three months all of the registered child care providers have been with huge, huge waiting lists. The end result of this government's ignoring of British Columbians will be no new spaces for Prince Rupert and an explosion of illegal child care situations, once again putting children at risk. This type of Liberal neglect is one reason why British Columbia still has the highest child poverty rate in Canada, despite high commodity prices and increased government revenues.

I'd like to talk briefly on the topic of ferries, our marine highway. Last May the minister responsible for our marine highway quoted from the Wright report of December 2001, a report that the minister echoed through this chamber and that followed the government path right to the T.

The minister stated: "Under this model, B.C. Ferries would receive a clear mandate and understanding of the province's expectations and would annually present its business plan" — a bit of a pause — "and report quarterly on the results of the operation."

He indicated he was reading in part from the key recommendation, reading in part because he intentionally omitted a key phrase when he paraphrased this in his quote. He omitted it because this government had full intentions of privatizing our marine highway, no public scrutiny, with no accountability in this Legislature and no one to look after the public interest.

Now, this is what was left out of the quote from the key recommendation: "And would annually present its business plan through the Minister of Transportation to the Legislature."

This government hands over $150 million of taxpayer money each year to the quasi-privatized corporation. British Columbians have been purposely misled about where this government is heading with our marine highway. It's heading towards privatization, user pay, soaring fees, less service and discontinuation of routes. This government continues to ignore the social and economic impacts upon ferry-dependent communities.

As far as ports, there was no mention — not one mention — of the Port of Prince Rupert and no mention that the government must expand ports or get left behind. As outlined in a report from the Asia Pacific Foundation, it is warning this government that it could be left with scraps in the competition for Chinese trade if we don't invest more in our ports — especially, I believe, the Port of Prince Rupert.

I believe this government must relieve the congestion, look at the environmental concerns, and ignore the push from down-south lobbyists and focus on the northwest corridor, especially the Port of Prince Rupert. Obviously, the recent B.C. Stats report entitled Will B.C. Miss the Boat on Port Expansion? has not hit home with this government.

What is this government doing to support and facilitate a cooperative and sustainable approach to transportation strategy for trade entering and running through British Columbia, especially through the northern gateway? That was not answered or referred to in the throne speech.

How is this government strengthening the western Canadian economy through improving the region's transportation system so that the Port of Prince Rupert does not get left with scraps in the push for Asian container markets? Many questions remain unanswered.

The Premier hopes to establish common environmental standards for all ports along the coast from California to Alaska. Many are concerned about marine

vessel emissions, which are a significant source of air pollution in B.C. A recent study concluded that ships are the major source of sulphur dioxide, which contributes to smog and acid rain in the Greater Vancouver area.

Clean fuel requirements, requirements to use electrical generators such as plug-ins while in port, fines for running engines while docked and subsidies for tugboat engine upgrades are among the measures that have already been adopted in some progressive areas. On record I've indicated that emission reduction initiatives must be B.C.'s highest priority so that they do not lag behind other environmentally progressive ports such as Seattle, L.A. and Long Beach.

I was pleased to see the throne speech mention the Kitasoo spirit bear conservancy and the CIII fund that creates a $120 million partnership to build economic development in conservation programs with first nations. I was thrilled that this one portion of the Great Bear, north coast and central coast LRMP was finalized. I see this agreement signifying that there must be more support both provincially and federally for our wild fisheries, and I am pleased that both governments recognize this in their framework.

In addition, the guidelines for accessing the CIII federal-provincial funding initiatives, which is a $30 million contribution from both signing parties — both the federal and the provincial governments — specifically does not include funding for open-net fish farming. This is great news to those on the central and north coast who strongly oppose further expansion of any more open-net fish farming.

I say CIII was one portion of the Great Bear, because there are two other very important and integral parts. There is the SRI fund, which is a $68 million fund available from the socially responsible investment initiative, but this money is contingent on having the province top that up to $80 million.

The Minister of Agriculture and Lands refuses to come up with any government funding, saying that money to implement the LRMP will have to come from existing sources — this despite the minister's assurances through the LRMP negotiations that government would bring money to the table.

The SRI money is earmarked for non–first nations communities and is intended to offset the potential economic impact of setting aside such a large space for wilderness purposes. The minister responsible continues to break his commitment on the SRI fund, and we will hold this government accountable to local communities, workers and industry.

The other key component of the north coast LRMP, which was tied to the EBM and the Great Bear, was the signing of a memorandum of agreement by this government and the north coast LRMP table on no net job loss or better in the region. This government has finally recognized that they did sign off on this agreement, and we must have fruitful and immediate action so that coastal communities, workers, local governments and industry are finally recognized and compensated by this Liberal government in the LRMP process.

As far as education is concerned, there's no funding for Bill 33, no funding for special needs help, no funding to combat school closures. There is absolutely nothing to address our oversized classes and classes with difficult composition problems. We have over 3,000 secondary classes with 31 students or more. There are 10,000 classes with four or more designated students with special needs.

In Prince Rupert, 24 percent of kindergarten classes have more than four designated students in them. The provincial average is 2 percent. There are 46 percent of kindergarten classes in Prince Rupert with three or more designated special needs students compared to the provincial average of 8.5 percent. In grades 4 to 12, 41 percent of classes have four or more designated students in them — 15 percent provincially. For three or more designated students, the number is 30 percent, and provincially it's 15 percent. The same disturbing figures are found with ESL students where Rupert classes are double the provincial average.

There's nothing in the throne speech for the students who are still waiting for the support they need, especially in rural areas. There is nothing in the throne speech for students who are lost in oversized classrooms, especially in rural B.C. This government intends to add more bureaucracy and more data collection, neither of which improves teaching and learning. It does nothing to support these students in need, especially in rural B.C.

The unnecessary changes that this government wants — legislating user fees, teacher registry, boards of education, superintendents of achievement — will only lead to more confrontation in our education system.

I have a small quote from a Sandspit resident: "I hope the Premier has thought about the fact that raising the next generation of children well is one of the best things we can do for the environment." There is nothing in this throne speech to support children.

I do have a comment about forests and the throne speech statement that said we will "invest in our forests, nature's carbon sinks." I do hope this government finally takes seriously and allows the necessary permit for the Haida Gwaii carbon forest pilot project. This project is a huge transitional step forward in the production and sale of forest-based carbon credits. They firmly believe that the Haida Nation can take a leadership role both in Canada and in the world and demonstrate that solutions to the issue of global climate change can be developed. This initiative, I believe, needs immediate action.

What was noticeably missing in the throne speech? No mention of Olympic overruns. No mention of the friends-and-insiders Alcan deal. No follow-through of the Premier's Task Force on Homelessness. No mention of the horrendous and unsafe condition of rural roads and highways. A brief mention, mind you, about employment and income assistance, and no mention of the Premier's promise at last year's UBCM to raise the shelter rates. Nothing about worker safety and the horrendous concern about deaths in the forest. No men-

tion in the speech of any new initiatives directed or targeted towards women or women's safety. No mention about the recommendations from the Highway of Tears Symposium.

We on this side are here for several reasons: to be a voice for those that don't have one, to hold this Liberal government accountable, to protect our environment while sustaining economic development in all regions of British Columbia, and to ensure that the most important in our societal framework — children, women, working families, first nations, seniors and the most disadvantaged — feel they are being listened to.

Why are we on this side doing that? Because those on the other side fail to do so. I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to the throne speech. I am done.

B. Lekstrom: Good morning. It gives me a great deal of pride to stand here today to respond to the throne speech on behalf of the people I represent in Peace River South, an area of our province, like all areas, that is beautiful and filled with not only the abundance of wildlife and beautiful scenery but amazing people that call it home. For me to have the opportunity to be their elected representative is truly proud for me.

We are extremely fortunate, I believe, to live in British Columbia. It doesn't mean we aren't without challenges, but we do live, I believe, in the best province in the best country in the world without question. We continue to build on the assets and the opportunities that we have. We will do that for British Columbians — not for government, but for the people that live here and for the businesses that operate and create jobs for ourselves and our families.

I think it's interesting. In a number of the speeches I've heard, certainly, people are passionate. They bring their views to the floor, but I think sometimes people are sidetracked from the point. Rather than addressing the throne speech, they're out talking about a number of other issues. Today I think people will be excited when they see the budget. I think people have somewhat confused some of the responses to the throne speech with, really, responses to the budget speech, which will be coming this afternoon.

I look forward to that. I think it will alleviate some of the concerns in the speeches I've heard from members on the other side. I think the people of British Columbia will be excited about it.

This throne speech touched on a number of issues, from global warming–climate change, housing, education, health care, the economy — a vast array of issues that we face in British Columbia with a clear vision of what we want to do. I want to speak to that vision, and I'm going to start with education.

There were a number of commitments made in the throne speech of what we're going to do to make our education system even better. It's something we should be very proud of in its present form, but as I've said many times in this House before, it's our job, regardless of what side of this House we're on, to try to build and improve on what we already have in place.

We don't do this alone as government, nor does the opposition. We build an education system for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. We do that through regulation, we do it through legislation, but most importantly, I'm going to give a great deal of credit to our teachers in this province who educate our children. They spend a great deal of time with our children each and every day. We commit to educate our children, and the people who do that are our teachers.

I think I'm going to ask British Columbians who are parents out there to take the next step. We can't depend on just the education system to be the people that educate our children. We as parents have to take a responsibility in that as well. Open your children's school books when they come home. Pay attention to what they're doing. Learn about the math and the sciences that they're doing, and work with them. Show them that you're interested in what they're doing. As I said, I think we're going to build an even greater education system than we already have.

Some of the issues that were addressed in the throne speech on education. One that I wholeheartedly support, certainly, is the issue of identifying teachers who excel in their field. I have two wonderful daughters who have gone through the education system. My youngest is in grade 12 and going to graduate this year. Without question, there are teachers who excel, not just recently, but when I was in school. There are certain individuals who stand out above and beyond, and for us to have the ability to recognize those teachers for their excellence in education, I think, is a wonderful thing. We do it in virtually every aspect of society.

You can compare it to different things where, I think, people are there as educators because of the love they have for it, not to get rich and make a million dollars. It's a commitment to education, and they're committed to that. But I don't see a downside to saying that I want to recognize an individual for going above and beyond what the requirement for that individual is. I think that's a wonderful thing.

The education system — I do want to talk a bit about it. I've heard some different numbers quoted in some of the speeches. I'm going to quote some numbers that I'm going to tell the people of British Columbia are factual numbers. I encourage you to check them.

Out of the 60 school districts that we have, they are going to receive a nearly half-a-billion-dollar increase in funding again — a significant increase. We have boosted the funding for school districts by $470 million this year alone. That is the largest single increase in our history in British Columbia. Is it enough? I'm not sure. Is it ever enough? I think that's a question we have to ask ourselves.

But we also hear about class sizes and so on. At the same time that we've done this increase, we also have over 12,300 fewer students in our B.C. public schools this year. That's a significant downsizing. As a result, our operating fund per pupil has increased to $7,596, which is up $503 from last year — again, an increase that we see. School districts received an additional $20 million last year to specifically address class size and

I want to talk about class sizes; 95 percent of classes now have 30 or fewer students, which is up from 86 percent. Only 1 percent of classes in our province have over 32 students. I don't think that's much different than the '70s when I was in high school.

Today I think there are options available out there. There are some classes that are going to see over 30 students, but I'll tell you: less than 1 percent is a pretty good record for this province for the schools in our education system. As of this year we have 1,152 new classes in our province; 176 new teaching FTEs and 406 learning assistants were added in the last year alone, despite — and I'm going to emphasize this — a decline in enrolment of 12,300 students.

Are we headed in the right direction in education? I most definitely think we are. Probably one of the most important things we do in this Legislature is make sure we strive to make things better, and we continue to do that.

The throne speech also touched on housing, something we hear a great deal about. I think we have done some incredible things, but sometimes you wouldn't believe that from different stories we hear. Right now our affordable housing is double what it was in 2001 — a significant increase. We actually have our new $40 million rent subsidy program, which reduces rent for 15,000 low-income families — again, a very positive step.

Does anyone accept homelessness? No, I don't think so. I've heard our Premier say that. I've heard members of the opposition and my colleagues say that — that we want to work to solve that issue. I think we will. There will always be a reality that if we had a home for every single person in this province, or accommodation, there would still be people on our streets for reasons that we will not be able to determine in this Legislative Assembly. There are people who choose that. Not many, but there are a few. But we are going to do our best to make sure that we provide opportunity for each and every person that wants to take that opportunity and make a life for themselves.

I heard the Leader of the Opposition, in her remarks on the throne speech, talk about how everyone deserves opportunity. I have to say that I agree 100 percent with that. The key issue here is when governments and people create opportunity for those who are looking for it, they have to reach out and embrace that opportunity. We can't force them to take it. It's government's job to create that opportunity for all in British Columbia. I think we've done that.

If you look at the jobs that are out there…. I can tell you that in the Peace country, where I come from and which I represent, you can't walk five feet without seeing a help-wanted sign. So I don't accept the fact that people come and say that there are no jobs and no opportunity. There is opportunity. For those who are less fortunate and need the assistance in order to get back into the workforce, we've done some marvellous things there, as well, through training initiatives.

The reality is that what we do as government is create those opportunities. Individuals have to have some self-responsibility to reach out and grasp those opportunities and take hold of them. Hopefully they will do that.

Health care. We hear a great deal about it. Is it a challenge? Without question. Was it a challenge in the '80s? I'm sure it was. Was it a challenge in the '90s? Most definitely. Is it a challenge today? Yes, it is. But I don't accept the fact that that challenge is as a result of lack of funding. The numbers clearly show that in 2001 the budget was $8.4 billion in our health care system. Today, moving into this year's budget coming up, we are going to expend $13.1 billion on health care — greater than a 50-percent increase.

That's a significant increase, yet there are still challenges out there. We hear a great deal about it. I've come to the position, and I'm not sure if it's shared by all, that all the money in the world isn't going to fix this issue. We have some structural problems in our health care system, in how we deliver it — most definitely.

It isn't about: is private better than public? I'm a great supporter of the public system. I think we have to look at delivery models and how we make sure the patient can get the help and care they need as quickly as possible. If we have to investigate different ways to deliver that health care, I think that's incumbent on government, as long as it's funded from the public purse.

I hear people talk about how we have a two-tier health care system. We have a multi-tier health care system. I walk into my doctor's office in Dawson Creek. I'm walking into a clinic that's owned not by the government, but by an individual. I go in. I see my doctor. We discuss what has to be done. Hopefully he fixes me up, and then he sends his bill to government. He's a private operator. That's what our doctors are in British Columbia. But they're funded from the public purse.

When I talk to people about that, when they have concerns about private health care delivery, it really turns on a light, and they start thinking: "Well, if that's the way it works, then why can't we look at specialized clinics?" We see some of them now that do nothing but specialize in certain procedures as long as, at the end of the day, the public purse is funding that health care.

I think we have to think outside the box. I think the Conversation on Health that some members of the opposition think is just a gimmick…. They're dead wrong. This issue is about going out and talking to British Columbians about what their views are, what their ideas are and what their vision is for health care.

We as government have one, but we want to talk to British Columbians to see if those two visions match up. I think it's incumbent on all of us to take part in that. These people who attend these Conversations on Health are not handpicked by the B.C. Liberal government. They're picked randomly. To say they are a bunch of Liberal hacks — I think that's one of the

These are average British Columbians coming out to say that they've got ideas, that they think there are problems here and solutions over there. I'm looking forward to the end of the Conversation on Health, when we can go through that and review the documents that are presented to us for consideration of how we move our health care system forward.

We have, actually, in our province, for whatever reason — and I wasn't part of the provincial government during the 1990s…. The reality is that between 1993 and 1997, 1,600 nurses were let go in our province. Now, maybe there was a reason. Today I can't comprehend that reason. I don't think there was a vision for long-range planning, and now we're paying the price for that.

We actually took — upon being elected in 2001, and carry forward today — the ambitious effort to train more nurses, and not only nurses. I'll speak to the issue of doctors shortly. We have increased the nurse-training spaces in British Columbia by 75 percent, which is wonderful. That's amazing, but again we're playing catch-up. We're seeing many of these nurses…. I can speak to the nurses that have graduated from the University of Northern British Columbia. The vast, vast majority have decided to stay in the north and practise, many of whom live there.

This is a great story. We have always, in the northern part of our province, said that if we can train people in the north, chances are they will stay there. That's where their families are. That's where their friends are. I'm proud to stand here today and tell you, Madam Speaker, that that is what's taking place, and we'll continue down that route.

The other issue is doctors. I believe we graduated — and I'll be very close on my numbers here — about 156 doctors a year in British Columbia up until 2001. There had not been a new doctor-training space put into our province in more than a decade at that point. Again, for reasons that I don't know, not being in government through the '90s, decisions weren't made to expand doctor-training spaces. What I do want to focus on are the positives that we have done as a government. We have committed to doubling the number of doctors we train in British Columbia, and that is barely, barely enough.

I think we have to look at future expansions as well. But for nurses, doctors and other health professionals we've gone one step further. It takes a great deal of time, effort and financial resources in order to go through that type of training. We have said that we will institute forgivable loan status for those who practise in rural and northern British Columbia — those who practise their trade once they're trained here.

Again, that has not only helped the people of British Columbia; it has helped our students that are going into these fields. I can't think of a better match than having government work with the people who want to contribute and deliver health care services in a way like helping them financially through loan reduction and loan forgiveness, as well as ensuring that they have enough spaces.

Health care. Is it a challenge? Most definitely. But it's everybody's challenge; it's not just government's. We hear stories each and every day about the challenges that are faced in our system. I want to read one of the quotes from the throne speech that says: "The demand for new services, technologies, drugs and treatments continues to grow faster than our ability to pay for them. The demand for nurses, doctors and other health providers grows faster than our capacity to hire and train them."

That's the reality of what we face today. As we grow as a society, as our technologies advance, we can help people that we never dreamt we could have helped even ten years ago. We can help them live longer, quality lives. In order to do that, you not only need money to be able to deliver those programs; you need the staff, the resources and the professionals that can do that for us. Today we are catching up, but it's still going to take a number of years, I think, to get to the point where we're going to be there.

I don't know if we will ever see a day — I wish we would, and this is regardless of government — where everybody says: "You know, there isn't a single thing wrong with health care. It's working perfectly." As a boy growing up playing hockey, you'd go to the hospital if you'd broken an arm or done some different things. There were challenges then.

These people work diligently on our behalf. I don't think we can say that this is any one person's fault. This is an issue that we as a society have to grapple with. We have to get our heads around the issue of health care, and we have to ask ourselves some tough questions about it — not ask governments or tell them: "You're doing everything wrong." Because I don't believe it can continue the way it is.

People say that the issue of health care eating up 70 percent of the budget in the years out is just hysteria and it may or may not happen. I think the trend will show you what's taking place in health care spending and the percentage of our budget that it consumes.

It continually grows. I won't put a percentage on it, but I can tell you I don't think there's a single person who wants to look at the numbers who can say that that trend isn't growing at a rate that — I certainly can't see — is sustainable. So we have to rethink what we're doing.

Before I leave health care, the member for the North Coast mentioned something that I do want to address, and it's not a new issue. It's the issue of medevacs. For us who live in northern or north coastal areas of our province, it's a challenge. When people are rushed to an emergency room — whether it be in Vancouver, or in many cases in the northeast we will go to Edmonton; it's a closer transition for us for emergency patients — they are there.

Medevac is not there to bring them home unless they're coming back to a hospital to be readmitted there, at which time medevac does look after that patient. But to hear the member for North Coast talk

about it, it may sound like it's a new phenomenon. It's been there since the beginning.

We continue, and I agree with the member that we have to find a solution to that. I've spoken to Northern Health on this issue. I'm sure most members that represent northern ridings have brought the same issue. But again, rather than play politics with it, I think here's a key area where we can work together to say: "You know, we have to find a way."

If someone's medevacked out after a car accident or an industrial accident, it seems pretty ludicrous to me that once they're discharged from the hospital at the receiving end and if they're able to be out on their own, they now have to find their own way back. We're working on that.

We've made some effort with Northern Connections and the bus service that we have for patients in the north to access the services in the different areas that we have to get to. I think we can take that one next step, and I know the health authority is well aware of it and working at solutions on that.

I do want to move to one of the major issues in this throne speech, which is climate change and global warming. Again, I guess I'm going to disagree somewhat when people say: "This is all new. We've just come across this issue, and the government is now getting on the bandwagon because we see people across the country ranking it as their top priority."

We've had working documents on climate change for a number of years. We brought in our energy plan in 2002 that called for 50 percent of all new energy produced in British Columbia to be green, clean energy. Not only have we met that — we surpassed it by probably 23 percent — but in the new throne speech that was delivered last Tuesday, we actually indicated that 90 percent will be green. You can read through this. I encourage British Columbians to read that.

What I would like to do is read…. Again, if you sit in this House and just listen to some of the discussion — much of which isn't focused on the throne speech for some reason that I haven't figured out in my six years here yet, but hopefully, I'll get it figured out — the province, in our throne speech, said that the province will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 33 percent below current levels by 2020. That target will place emissions 10 percent under the 1990s levels.

I don't know anybody who would read that statement and say that that's not acceptable. I think it's a great, great statement. I think it is an aggressive goal that we all have to reach for, whether you're on the New Democrat side of the House or whether you're on the B.C. Liberal side of the House. More importantly, if you're a British Columbian, I think that's what you expect and that's what you want.

Also, all electricity produced in British Columbia will be required to have net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2016 — again, a positive statement and one that I am hard pressed to find the negative in. Yet I do hear some people who are coming out and saying that we didn't go far enough; we didn't do this. To me, it's incredible.

The issue of — and I touched on this…. The energy plan will require that 90 percent of B.C.'s electricity come from clean, renewable sources — again, a great goal and one that I know is achievable. I think we have a great, vast array of opportunity out there when it comes to power generation in our province.

I do want to touch on a couple of issues that I face locally in my own region. I hear a great deal of support from both sides of this House on wind power, and I support wind power as well. But it is not without its own problems and concerns that have to be worked out with the industries that are the proponents, with the communities and the residents that live in our rural area. We're working right now on issues of setbacks and decibel levels that I think are vitally important.

The important part of this is that many, many British Columbians who enjoy the rural lifestyle are there for a number of reasons. When we come up with regulations that work with our wind proponents and the new wind generation we're going to see in this province, we have to ensure that people who live in these areas don't suffer — that they don't suffer anything as far as nuisance when it comes from sound, that they don't suffer any of these issues. There are numbers of reports that talk about health issues.

One of the key issues for me…. I've probably read about 400 or 500 pages of information, so far, on wind power, and it baffles me how one scientist can say one thing and another scientist who is equally as qualified can say exactly the opposite. God, it makes it pretty hard for us to make a decision. But we are working on that, and we are going to come up with that.

Probably one of the most important issues that we deal with is air quality and emissions. I've heard people talk about coal as "dirty coal." Well, all you have to do is go out and grab a piece of coal, and you know you're going to get dirty. That's pretty straightforward. It's the technologies we use and how we utilize this coal. I think there is the ability to look at coal-fired power generation, and we have taken a lead, not only for British Columbia and Canada but for the world.

I do want to read a comment and a passage from the throne speech. I attended a meeting about two weeks ago in my riding that was hosted to deal with the AES Wapiti project, which is a coal-fired power generation plant proposed about halfway between Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge. The people there…. Although there was the odd one that said, "Absolutely I will never support coal-fired power generation, regardless of the technology," it became evident to me when I attended and listened to the people that if we are going to produce power using coal, then the only acceptable way to do that is to use the best technology available in the world today.

We have followed through on that, and I'm going to read: "Effective immediately, B.C. will become the first jurisdiction in North America, if not the world, to require 100-percent carbon sequestration for any coal-fired electricity project." Again, I think leaders….

B. Lekstrom: Does this create some challenges for industry? I think it does. When we talk about air emissions and standards, we're going to work together on this because I believe it can be done. I'm going to say this, and sometimes when I talk about industry…. Far too many people in our province look at industry as the bad guy. I look at them just the opposite. We're fortunate we have the industry to come and invest in our province, to create jobs, to create revenues and royalties for the province so we can deliver education and transportation and health care.

I have not come across any industry leaders that I work with — particularly in the mining industry, the oil and gas industry, forestry, agriculture — that are opposed to ensuring a clean and sustainable environment for our future, our children's future and our grandchildren's future. They are every bit as interested in world-leading technologies as we are here in this House, and that, I think, is a different perception than a lot of people have.

I hear a lot of talk from the opposition — and not just the opposition, but members of the public — that say these oil companies, these mining companies are there just for the bottom line, just for the dollar. I'm here to say that's not true. Most definitely they need to have a return on their investment. That's what business is about.

I've said this before in this House: we are a major corporation as the province of British Columbia. People sometimes look at me and wonder: "What are you talking about?" Well, if it's a mining company or an oil and gas company or a forestry company or any of the others out there, their role and their return to their shareholders is in dollars and cents. You have to be able to supply some return. As a government, our return to our shareholders, who are the people of British Columbia, are the services which we provide and the quality of those services.

Right now I'm going to tell you, Madam Speaker, and the people of British Columbia that I think they've got a pretty good return on their investment here in British Columbia and the services that are provided. It's our job, and we will continue to strive to build on those services and the quality that we deliver and to enhance and bring in new services as well — as we're able to financially, as we carry forward, as we have new ideas.

Not every idea that's implemented in this province comes from a legislator sitting in this assembly. I would hope, and I'm sure I can speak on behalf of every member that sits here, that we gain a great deal of knowledge from the people we represent. We don't become experts in every field the day we're elected. We continue to learn throughout our lives, but I learn a great deal, as I'm sure — again I'll state — each and every member in this House does from the constituents they represent and the ideas they bring forward.

I could go on at length over the climate change issue, but I do want to talk briefly on the issue. I hear concern about: "There's no funding for these initiatives." Well, there is funding, and there is going to be funding in the years as they go out. This is an initiative that we have to build upon. The idea that some people would say, "My God, it's nothing but words and rhetoric," I'm going to disagree with.

We have to work at this. The vast majority…. I've heard time and time again, when any government talks about what they want to do, people say: "You know, industry should pay for that." Well, you know what? I think they should. I think new technologies are going to be embraced by the oil and gas industry, by the mining industry. Whoever is affected by this will embrace these, and they will work within them. They will incur a great deal of this cost.

I don't believe government is going to go out and pay for a new technology for the emissions to stop flaring at production facilities. I think the industry is already working on that. As much as we stand here and say we are ahead of the curve, I'm going to give a great deal of credit to industry itself.

Are there challenges that they face? Most definitely. Is there the odd time that they're out of compliance? I imagine. I think that has probably been since the beginning of time. But with government, the people of British Columbia and industry working together, we will meet these targets. I'll tell you that I think they're very aggressive targets. I've heard that. But you know what? As leaders you have to be aggressive.

I don't hear a lot of opposition to the fact that these numbers are there. I would hope they're supported by both sides of this House. The question really is: how do we get there? I think that's where the legitimate debate can take place. Is that direction the right one? Is that time frame the right one?

I believe we have put a time frame on this that is realistic, because to cap emissions at today's levels today is unrealistic. It isn't going to happen. So let's work together. Let's move forward, and we'll reach our position again as world leaders with a clean, sustainable environment and with an air quality that's second to none, not only in this country but the world. We're going to have to do it. This is about more than British Columbians. We have to do it together as a world.

Our economy is doing some marvellous things, whether it be through issues such as the number of jobs we've created…. The mineral exploration hit an all-time high at $265 million, and I do want to give thanks to our previous Minister of State for Mining. I think he did an amazing job, not only for people.

We can build on our oil and gas industry, our mining industry, our forestry and agriculture, and our private and small, large and medium-sized businesses together in this province to make it even better. But we are leading Canada, and I'm proud of that.

I see my time is quickly coming to an end. TILMA — I want to touch briefly on that. I support it. For as long as I've lived in the northeast part of our province, I can tell you that people have said: "Let's make the playing field level. Let's make sure the regulations are compatible." What TILMA does…. It doesn't inherit all of Alberta's regulations so that people in British Columbia live with those. We're going to build on what

each other has. We're going to build on the best of both, and we're going to create….

B. Lekstrom: I see I'm finished, Madam Speaker. I do want to thank you. Again, I am proud to stand here and represent Peace River South, and I'm prouder to be part of this government that has taken our province in the direction it has. We will continue to do that.

J. Brar: Thank you, Madam Speaker. To start, I wish you well for your fast recovery.

It's a real honour for me to stand in this House and respond to the Speech from the Throne on behalf of the people of Surrey–Panorama Ridge. Once again, before I start saying my response to the throne speech, I wish to thank the people of Surrey–Panorama Ridge for giving me the opportunity to represent them in this House.

The throne speech is a speech whereby the government of the day lays out its vision and priorities to address the emerging issues that the people of the province are facing. A responsible government will make sure that the throne speech is pragmatic and followed by actions. A responsible government will make sure that the throne speech represents the right priorities of the people of British Columbia.

This throne speech fails on both of those accounts of a responsible government, and this is not the first time. It has happened in the past. It's a kind of trend and pattern we have seen during the last five years. Let me just go into the past and provide some reference to you, Madam Speaker, as to what this government has presented to the people of British Columbia through the throne speech and what, in fact, they have done after that through their actions.

(1) I have seen a throne speech of the B.C. Liberal government that promised to the people of British Columbia the best health care system when you need it, where you need it. When it comes to actions, this government closed hospitals, mismanaged the emergency rooms throughout the province and failed to manage wait-lists to provide timely health care to the people of British Columbia. That indicates this Premier and this government cannot be trusted on the promises they made in the throne speech.

(2) I have seen a throne speech as well in the past of this government, making a promise to build 5,000 new long-term care beds. But when it comes to actions, this government failed to build those 5,000 new long-term care beds, which were promised almost five years ago. So why would the people of British Columbia trust this government and this Premier now on this throne speech?

(3) I have seen a throne speech of this government promising to provide the best education so that no child is left behind. But when it comes to actions, this government closed 113 schools in the province. That's another example that this Premier and this government cannot be trusted by the people of British Columbia.

(4) From the past I have seen a budget speech of this government called the children's budget. But when it comes to actions, this government cut programs for children. The child care resource and referral program is a prime example, a very recent example of a new cut by this government in the past few weeks.

I would like to move on to the current — the present — and future issues that I would like to speak to as the critic of the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance — the very important issue of poverty and homelessness and also the shelter allowance. As the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey–Panorama Ridge, I would like to touch upon some local issues, which include Surrey Memorial Hospital, child care, youth gangs, domestic violence and credential evaluation.

This fall the Premier of this province told the UBCM that he didn't want to accept people living on our streets, and he promised to increase the shelter allowance for welfare recipients. He said that it's part of his effort to do more to reduce the number of homelessness.

The Premier told UBCM delegates that he didn't want to accept people living on our streets. But the reality is that every day he waits to raise the shelter rates, there will be more people living on the streets all across the province. What's surprising is that there's no mention at all in this throne speech of the promise the Premier made at the UBCM to raise the shelter rates.

It is what B.C. mayors and councillors want. It is what religious leaders want. It is what community leaders want. It is what the ordinary citizens of British Columbia want. It is what the dietitians of British Columbia want. In fact, they say that overall assistance rates would have to go up over 50 percent just to meet the basic needs of the people on income assistance. It is what kids, families and individuals on income assistance want.

Poverty is growing in every community in British Columbia under the Liberal government. Study after study shows inadequate shelter and support rates are creating homelessness and poverty in the province of British Columbia. A report released last November indicates that B.C. has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada.

We are a rich province, but one where the most vulnerable people — 24 percent of our kids — have been left out. The gap between rich and poor is growing every day since this government took over in 2001. That gap is now the widest in Canada.

The GVRD homeless count indicates that the number of homeless people in the province of British Columbia, particularly in the GVRD, has doubled in the last three years. Similar things have happened in other cities in the province, like Kelowna, Victoria and many other small communities as well. For example, in Surrey alone — a 140-percent increase in homelessness within the last three years.

If we look at another report which came out last November as well, towards some stories behind these numbers of growing homelessness and poverty in the province…. The dietitians of B.C. showed why our food banks are overflowing with children and families

on welfare. Shelter rates in particular are too low to rent even the most basic Third World–standard shelter, and support rates provide only $6 a day for food, clothing, utilities and other necessities. It is no wonder we have a serious homelessness problem in the province of British Columbia.

A single mother with a couple of kids on welfare gets $555 for rent, but the average cost for an apartment in the lower mainland is over a thousand dollars. So once she pays her rent there is not any money left for her food. To try and cover that hole, she goes to the food bank, but that doesn't even begin to deal with shoes or clothes or heat or a phone. That's why a third of B.C.'s food bank clients are children and 50 percent of food bank users are families on income assistance. It's why for the first time last year the GVRD homelessness count turned up families with children on the streets or in the shelters.

It's a very, very painful story, but a real one under the Liberal government. The reason there is a homelessness emergency in the province of British Columbia at this point in time is that the cost for food and housing is higher than what this government is willing to provide the families and individuals on assistance. The result is that families either go hungry or homeless; usually both. If the government does not raise shelter rates today, there will be more homelessness and hunger in the coming months, in the coldest months of the year.

This government has millions for government advertising this year. This government has millions for hefty pay increases for political appointees this year. If this government had its priorities straight, the Premier would also provide an increase to income assistance this year and not next year.

As I said before, mayors, community leaders, families, dietitians and other concerned members of the communities have been calling on the Premier to immediately implement a shelter rate increase and to review the shelter rates so individuals and families who find themselves in need can meet those needs. But surprisingly, there's no mention of the promise the Premier made at last year's UBCM convention to raise the shelter rates.

So the question is: how can the people of British Columbia trust that this Premier and this government are going to act on the promises made in this throne speech? This throne speech shows that the priorities of this government are wrong. This throne speech shows clearly that this government is in fact an uncaring and arrogant government.

Let me talk about climate change for a moment, which I call basically a green dream of this government. It is another shallow promise made by this government. For the last many years British Columbians have been calling for the Premier to listen to the people of British Columbia and act on global warming. While the emissions were turning downward under the NDP government, in the first three years under the B.C. Liberals, greenhouse gas emissions rose 5 percent, and auto emissions also increased more than 10 percent. The past history of this government clearly indicates the love of this government for green commitment.

Let me just go over a few of the things in the past history, which will tell you the commitment of this government as it relates to the green dream. This is the government which contracted to build two coal-fired energy plants, the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the energy production sector. This is the government that refused to commit to greenhouse gas–emission reduction targets. This is the government that went to Ottawa and requested the Chrétien government to delay adopting the Kyoto implementation plan. And this is the government that abandoned the B.C. climate change business plan.

This is the government that eliminated the climate change working group as well. This is the government that cut the Green Economy Secretariat. This is the government that weakened the AirCare program in the province. This is the government that fired the commissioner for the environment and sustainability.

Now suddenly the Premier has a dream that B.C. has to go green. I'm not the first person to call it a green dream — many of the people in the departments of British Columbia have said so — which means, basically, not real. Even the Minister of Finance of this province, just last week, surprised the people of British Columbia by saying that there will be no budget in the coming budget, which is today, to implement what has been said in the throne speech.

The question, first of all, is on the benchmarks set by the Premier — that you will see any changes in 2020 when it comes to climate change. Any responsible government, if they want to show any progress on their commitment or their actions, must show something within this mandate that the people of British Columbia have given to them, which is to 2009. In 2020 — who knows will be in power at that time?

The second thing is: where are the benchmarks where we can see more immediate actions and changes, when it comes to climate change, before 2020? The question again is: why should the people of British Columbia trust this government when in the throne speech the government is saying the departments have to go green, while in the budget on the other side — in the budget speech, which is going to be today — the Minister of Finance is saying there will be no budget to implement the throne speech?

The other thing I want to touch upon is the conversation on health care. In the last throne speech this government came out with a new idea to go out to the province and talk to the people of British Columbia about health care. Well, let me tell you first of all, before the election of 2001 this Premier and his team went out to the province and talked to the people of British Columbia. They came back and made a number of promises, which included some promises they made later on health care.

As I said before, one of the promises was to provide the best health care when and where you need it. In

fact, what happened in the province is that we have seen during the last three years that the wait-list has gone up and the hospitals have been closed. They also made the promise to build 5,000 new long-term care beds, and this government failed on that promise as well.

Now the government is out again to talk to the people of British Columbia. The people of British Columbia I've spoken to…. The question they ask is: "Can you trust the Premier this time on whether he's going to listen to the people of British Columbia?"

The first thing the Premier did after the throne speech was…. The Premier went to Europe to talk to the people of that area — not the people of British Columbia. The only person the Premier took with him was his own relative, who is a strong supporter of a private health care system.

So when you have already made up your mind and then you go to the people, that is more of a marketing exercise to win the people's consent rather than having a real conversation where you have your own idea and you go out and talk to people and get their ideas.

I want to go back and see what the government has done when it comes to consulting, talking to the people of British Columbia, and that will give us some message as to what is meant by the conversation of this government.

The first thing: when the Liberal government came into power they eliminated the Human Rights Commission without any consultation, without any conversation with the people of British Columbia.

The second thing the government did: eliminated the Children's Commission without any consultation, without any conversation with the people of British Columbia.

The third thing this government did: they sold B.C. Rail without, again, consulting the people of British Columbia.

The fourth thing this government did: they closed 113 schools in the province without consulting the people of British Columbia.

The fifth thing this government did: they cut services to our seniors without any consultation with the people of British Columbia.

The sixth thing this government did: the government closed hospitals in the province without consulting the people of British Columbia.

Seventh: this government disbanded the task force, without any consultation with the people of British Columbia, to deal with the gang issues.

The list goes on, Madam Speaker. Now the question is…. The blame for growing health wait-lists, overcrowded emergency rooms and declining care for seniors rests with this government, not with the fundamental principle underlying medicare or the public health care system.

So the question, again: can the people of British Columbia trust the Premier when it comes to the health care conversation? The people out there I've spoken to ask those questions. The Premier cannot be trusted.

There are a few things I want to talk about when it comes to my own riding. The first one I want to speak to is the youth gang violence. In the South Asian community we have lost close to 100 young people through this gang activity and infighting among different gangs, particularly in the lower mainland during the last ten years. The community is trying its best. A lot of community organizations came forward doing their share, which includes United, PICS, SEWA, a lot of temple committees and other groups. They have been working very hard during the last almost ten years to deal with this issue.

Under pressure from the community, this government established a task force to deal with this issue in 2002. Suddenly the task force was closed, disbanded in 2004 without any visible results shown to the people in the lower mainland. The community came back, fought back, and under pressure again, just before the election, government came back and established the second task force, known as the B.C. Integrated Gang Task Force, which in my opinion is a step in a positive direction.

When it comes to the actual outcome of the actions of this government, what we see now is the much more sophisticated activities of those gangs as compared to the last few years. For example, the organization of those gangs has gotten significantly more sophisticated as compared to the past. We have seen during the last year that kids of successful community leaders are being abducted in the community. Two such incidents have happened in the middle of Surrey.

That is happening in this province. How can this government say that people — the successful community leaders, the successful business leaders — are safe and their kids are safe in this province? That's the big question, when it comes to the city of Surrey, that the people of my community are asking this government.

Four different reports have been done by community organizations as well as by the federal government during the last six or seven years. But this government has done nothing during the last ten years when it comes to going out and talking to people, putting together a report, coming up with recommendations. That hasn't happened.

But the community has been working hard. The recent development which I have seen during the last few months is that different community organizations came together under one umbrella, which is known as the Sikh Societies of the Lower Mainland. They got together. They looked into all the reports we have, and they tried to come to consensus about some of the recommendations which are part of all the different reports we have available at this time.

Finally, I was very pleased to see that they were able to build consensus on recommendations in looking at all those different reports. They presented their final report, putting together one list of recommendations. That was presented in a meeting, including the Attorney General from this government. I was also present at the meeting.

The group was very excited before the presentation, but after the presentation was made, the response from the AG…. Certainly, they were not very pleased to hear that this government is not prepared to do any-

thing when it comes to the implementation of the recommendations made by this group, which includes almost every organization that has been working on this issue for the last ten years.

The other issue in my local community is domestic violence. Last Sunday I attended the funeral of Amanpreet Kaur Bahia in Delta, who was found murdered in the basement of her own house. This is not the first incident. During the last few months alone we have seen the third such murder in the community.

The community has come together to talk about this huge issue, this huge social problem we face at this point in time. In fact, there was a huge community forum organized in the middle of Surrey by Radio India. I remember there were over 2,000 people who came to attend this forum and talk about this issue. In that particular forum the one thing which was very important to me was that the community came together and made a confession that we do have a problem. We need to talk about that problem, and we need to find ways to deal with that problem.

But at the same time, the community is looking for some leadership from this government. When we look into the actions of this government and the throne speech of this government, what we have actually seen during the last few years is that this government has cut funding for women's centres.

This government has done nothing when it comes to developing new programs, when it comes to a very culturally diverse community we have in the province of British Columbia. Particularly for these new immigrant women — I don't see any place or any phone number they can call and find help if they are facing violence within the family or outside the family. They continue becoming victims because the services are not available.

This government has been silent about it. This throne speech has absolutely nothing in this when it comes to the domestic violence being faced by women in my community, as well as in the province of British Columbia.

The other issue I want to speak about is Surrey Memorial Hospital. Let me tell you some facts. Surrey Memorial Hospital, as it stands today, has the capacity to serve 50,000 people in one year, but the actual number of people going through the emergency room is over 72,000 people.

As per the reports done by the health authority, it served 30 percent more patients as compared to VGH, which is the largest hospital we have in the province. It serves more heart patients than VGH and Royal Columbian combined, and 300 to 500 patients leave the ER room each month without seeing a doctor — as of today.

We have heard the story just recently of Gurpreet Singh, who went to Surrey Memorial and then was basically sent to Royal Columbian, and then went to VGH. It took him 22 hours when he had his fingers slashed — 22 hours to get care, which is totally, totally unacceptable. I heard his mother talking on the radio program that had they been in India, from where they came about five years ago, her son would have been treated much more quickly as compared to what happened to her son in British Columbia, which is 22 hours.

Surrey Memorial is where we hear stories from the people of Surrey almost every day similar to Gurpreet's story, which came out only last week.

During the middle of the last election the Premier stood in the middle of Surrey and made a promise to the people of Surrey, saying that he was going to fast-track this study to find out what the health care needs of the people of Surrey are. Subsequently, the Fraser Health Authority did their work and put together a report in which they made a number of recommendations — good recommendations, I would say.

Two of the key recommendations, which I would like to repeat here, were the expansion of the ER facility and also building a new ambulatory care facility in Surrey. But if we look at the actions of this government during the last almost five years when it comes to the actions of the Fraser Health Authority, this government has time and again ignored the health care needs of the city of Surrey.

Let me give you a few examples. First, B.C. Liberals ignored recommendations submitted by Bob Smith as the chairperson of Fraser Health Authority. Once the problem at Surrey Memorial became headline news in February 2005, the government fired Bob Smith as the chair of FHA, making him a scapegoat for the deterioration of health care at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

Secondly, the Premier postponed the construction of the ambulatory care facility to 2008, against the recommendation of Fraser Health Authority to start construction in 2007.

Thirdly, it was surprising to know that the B.C. Liberal government expects Keith Purchase, the former chair now of the Fraser Health Authority, to get behind the proposed funding level by this government rather than listening to the chair of the Fraser Health Authority and providing funding which is recommended by the Fraser Health Authority.

D. Hayer: Thank you very much for this opportunity to respond to the throne speech.

You know, Madam Speaker, I've been here for six years. When I listen to the response from the opposition to the throne speech, it really amazes me. Are they living in reality? I mean, theirs was a government that basically destroyed the economy of this province — where, if our children and our friends' children, our neighbours' children wanted to look for jobs, they had to go to Alberta, Ontario, the United States.

That was the government that never solved the problem of Surrey Memorial Hospital for a long time. Surrey was growing by leaps and bounds, and they never did anything when they were in power. Probably the reason they never did it? Because the economy was bad. They had no funds to do it.

When you talk about youth violence, it amazes me. The killings, the youth violence started at the beginning of the 1990s. I don't know what they did. I never heard anything. None of these people went out and

complained about the government they put in power, saying: "Why aren't they doing anything?"

None of them put much more money in for women's shelters, for other places. Actually, we have put more money in health care and education and social programs and for child care spaces than has ever been done, including by their government. But somehow they seem to forget that.

I mean, this is really amazing. You wonder if they live in reality or if they live in a different world. It looks like, when they talk about Surrey Memorial Hospital…. It is a shame. There are so many hard-working health care professionals — nurses, doctors, the cleaners and other staff — that are supporting it. Every time you compare it to a Third World country, it's insulting our health care professionals.

I just came back from India. I've seen some of those hospitals. They have a really good health care system, but they also have a really, drastically bad health care system because of the problem of financing and all that. I wish they would actually go to the hospital to learn how their system works and compare it to ours.

You know, sometimes when you lose a finger, you need a specialist person. You need a doctor who's an expert in it. You don't want to just attach it so it doesn't work and it makes it worse. You need the best health care system available. Sadly enough, when you go to the hospital, as I have gone with my mom, sometimes they have to look at a life-and-death situation first. If somebody is dying, they have to look at that person first before they can look at somebody's finger.

Sadly enough, in this case that the member for Surrey–Panorama Ridge talked about…. It's a sad situation, but it's nothing like going to India and other places. I have visited India myself. I have seen the hospitals. Just recently, in December, I was there for three weeks and visited from north India to other parts.

Now, Madam Speaker, I'm going to tell you what you heard in the throne speech and, I think, what my constituents heard in the throne speech. When I went back to my constituency after the throne speech, people were so excited about it. It was amazing. They were saying that this was one of the best throne speeches they'd heard from any government. Anyway, what British Columbians heard in that throne speech was a long-term vision that called for us to look to ourselves for change before asking other people to act on the change.

In many ways, that was the spirit of our pioneers — taking responsibility for our actions by creating our own solutions and making a better place for all British Columbians. In my opinion, the key to our sustained future is the fight against global warming and the battle against the increase of greenhouse gases, as has happened under the NDP.

I am proud that our government is taking initiatives on this issue. I am proud that we have strength and the purpose to understand that it is all of us who must initiate the action to protect our environment. Our province's success is rooted in the power of individual aspiration and the strength of our common purpose. In other words, everyone can, if they do aspire and work hard, achieve anything and everything in this province of ours.

The spirit of purpose will succeed, and it will succeed in the battle to reverse the environmental trends that are decimating our glaciers and our forests. If permitted to continue unchecked, as it was in the '90s, it will change forever our lives and the lives of our children and our grandchildren. But as the throne speech cautions, it is time for partnership, not partisanship — time for boldness and action.

We must work together, Madam Speaker. We must all work together. We must be focused, and we must be ready and willing to make changes if we want to succeed. If this government had not been willing to make changes over the past six years, had not been willing to make some short-term sacrifices for long-term stability, we would not be experiencing the incredible prosperity we have today.

The economy is on such a roll. Almost everywhere you turn there are help-wanted signs as compared to what you saw in the 1990s, when there were no jobs. To find a job, you really had to go to Alberta, Ontario, the United States or other parts. The jobs are well paying. People have options. They have a future. They have stability and security. They can now plan for the future for their families. They are now able to put some money aside to ensure they can live in comfort.

Not only are families more secure these days, even the province has benefited. That is, for the first time since 1983 this province, this government, has a triple-A credit rating. That is incredible and speaks volumes about the accomplishment of our government in directing an agenda that has seen British Columbia go from dead last in Canada to the number-one economy in just six short years.

If this government can take us from being a have-not province to being the envy of Canada, that same leadership will make our efforts to combat greenhouse gases and global warming an example for the world.

There is much promise in this throne speech, and we have proven beyond a shadow of doubt that not only will we live up to our promises, we will actually surpass them — unlike the last government. For example, last year we achieved unprecedented labour agreements. In partnership with our public sector workers, hard-working workers, we found solutions that were constructive, flexible and innovative. Yes, this government does live up to its promises — not like the last government, as the last speaker said.

It is living up to the expectations of all British Columbians. We are pledging to fulfil even more expectations with this throne speech. We are committed to leading our country in our relationship with the first nations. If you talk to the first nations, they will tell you that. We have an action plan to make sure we bring this about.

We are pledging to tackle the challenges of global warming and urban sprawl, and we have an action plan to bring this about. We are pledging to increase affordable housing and reduce homelessness. We will actually deliver, not just promise as the NDP did. We

will help those who cannot help themselves. We have an action plan for this too.

We are the only place in Canada where, if you are making less than $15,500 per year and your spouse is making the same amount, you pay zero provincial income tax. We actually have the lowest income tax for anybody earning less than $80,000 and the second lowest for anybody earning more than $80,000, which is incredible when you take a look. The economy was the worst economy just six years ago. Thank you to all British Columbians for helping us with that.

We are pledging to improve the quality, choice and accountability in our most important services: education and health care. We have an action plan to achieve those goals.

Finally, to ensure prosperity, livability and security, we pledge to open up Canada's Pacific gateway and strengthen our economic competitiveness. This last pledge is one of the most important, in my opinion, because British Columbia is the entry point to the vast North American market. It is a doorway through which goods, services and people will flow from China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and other Pacific nations.

Not only will all manner of products and people flow into North America through our Pacific gateway, the products of North America, the materials from British Columbia — both raw and processed — will flow out to the huge markets of Asia. We are forging strong relationship ties with these vast markets and their billions of consumers. The Pacific gateway will strengthen those ties through the ease of goods. In addition, it will greatly assist commerce in Canada and British Columbia, particularly in my riding of Surrey-Tynehead.

Commerce isn't the only improvement the Gateway project will bring to my riding of Surrey-Tynehead. By moving the traffic much more quickly, it will drastically reduce the emissions from cars and trucks stuck idling in traffic jams for hours on end. Air quality will improve. Home life for my constituents will improve. They will actually be able to spend more time with their families rather than being stuck in the traffic.

That is a major part of what the throne speech is all about: improving the air quality not just for lower mainland residents but for all British Columbians, for all of North America, for all of the world. We are pledging to reduce greenhouse emissions by a full one-third from the existing level by 2020. In fact, we are going to reduce these greenhouse gases in British Columbia by 10 percent below the level of the 1990s.

For the naysayers on the other side of the House who are surely saying that we can't do it or we won't do it, let me note a couple of other emissions statistics. Greenhouse emissions since 2001 have increased by only 5.7 percent, while during the tenure of the government of this province from 1991 to 2001, the greenhouse emissions increased by a whopping 24 percent. They seem to forget that.

What actions our government have put in place will not only eliminate the huge growth in emissions under the NDP but reduce them to a level far below that of the 1990s. That is even better than that of the North American leader in greenhouse gas reduction, California. The Governor of California will be visiting British Columbia to meet with our Premier to discuss how our regions can work together to combat climate change. We do need to work together with other states and other provinces.

We are leaders in the fight against climate change. We are leading by example, leading in Canada. We are setting an example for the world. This is striking. It is stunning, considering that it demonstrates beyond all doubt the conviction of our government to make sure we actually fix our clean air system to make B.C. the best place on earth to live in.

People can measure our progress. We are setting interim targets by 2012 and 2016 through a climate change action team that will determine the best way for us to achieve our goals. This team will also be charged with identifying actions that will make our government carbon-neutral by as early as 2010.

We will be investing $25 million in a clean energy fund that will encourage alternative energy solutions such as solar, wind power, tidal, geothermal and run-of-the-river energy production. In addition, our energy plan will require that 90 percent of British Columbia electricity comes from clean, renewable sources, and that will take effect immediately. It is much different and much better than it was done under the last government.

B.C. will become the first jurisdiction in North America, if not in the world, to require 100-percent carbon capture for any coal-fired electricity projects. Tailpipe emissions reduction for all new cars sold in British Columbia will be phased in between 2009 and 2016, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles by 30 percent. New regulations will be put in place for low carbon fuels that will cut emissions by a further 10 percent.

I was also very pleased to hear in the speech that a $2,000 sales tax exemption on hybrid vehicles will be extended and that beginning this month all new vehicles, all new cars leased or purchased by our province will be hybrid.

For homeowners, there will be incentives to retrofit existing homes and buildings to make them more energy-efficient and new measures to help homeowners undertake energy audits to identify possible savings and reductions in energy consumption.

Working in cooperation with municipalities and the private sector across B.C., we will develop incentives to encourage smaller lot sizes and smaller, more energy-efficient homes. Not only will these actions help green up our environment, they will make homes more affordable, allowing more and more young people to achieve their dream of home ownership. There's also provision in this vision of the future for the develop-

ment of small-unit supportive housing projects to further help find solutions to homelessness.

New changes are coming to education as well. We will take further steps to protect our most vulnerable children against sexual predators, and there are changes that will improve student achievement. These changes were asked for by British Columbians, and we have listened.

There will be a teacher employment registry administered by the College of Teachers, which will publicly report the names of teachers disciplined for misconduct relating to abuse. This registry will also allow school districts access to a teacher's past employment history. These are excellent steps toward making our children's experience at school safe and successful, to help improve their achievement levels. We will be expanding the role of district superintendent and requiring the new boards of education to develop district literacy plans.

As well, this vision includes the provision of support in ESL training for new residents, for new immigrants, and the streamlining of professional and skilled labour certification to help those much-needed foreign skilled workers to put those skills to work in British Columbia much more quickly. The economy is booming. Everywhere you look in British Columbia there's a help-wanted sign. They all say we need workers. We want to make sure these workers actually work in the field they were trained for so that they can contribute fully, not just for themselves but also for all British Columbians and Canadians.

Our highly successful provincial nominee program will be substantially expanded, and new efforts will be made to expedite entry for temporary workers in skill-shortage areas. All these are very positive steps and, much more, are welcome and needed in our multicultural society. Many people have incredible skills and have not been able to find careers in their chosen fields due to the lengthy accreditation process and lack of English-as-a-second-language skills. This accreditation process has been there with its challenges for a long time. Finally you'll see our Premier is actually taking action and working with the federal government to make it better.

Another milestone passed last week with the official countdown to the Olympic Games — just three years away. To help start the countdown, our Premier — and I think the best Premier in Canada — was in my riding of Surrey-Tynehead to kick off Spirit of B.C. Week, which was celebrated throughout our great province.

Another group that will be celebrating is those workers who are approaching retirement. To ensure that the province can continue to take advantage of the huge wealth of experience in our current but aging workforce, legislation will be introduced to end mandatory retirement.

More issues of health care were not left out either, with new innovations coming in that area. The very important Conversation on Health is continuing. One was held just recently in Surrey, and I have talked to many people who participated in that. They were really excited about it. They say: "The government is finally coming to us to look for solutions." Professionals and ordinary British Columbians were able to take part in that. These forums will set the course of action for future health care based on the feedback of British Columbians.

There are many continuing health care improvements our government is making, specifically in Surrey, that were not done under the last government. Some of the health care improvements in Surrey include the announcement of a new 148,000-square-foot outpatient hospital at Surrey–Green Timbers, with an estimated cost of $126 million; opening up a new $4.8 million minor treatment centre at Surrey Memorial Hospital, to relieve the emergency by treating more than 80 patients a day; opening up 20 beds, sub-acute units, to care for patients preparing either to return home or to move into residential care; opening ten new hospital beds and 18 additional acute care geriatric beds.

Further plans to improve health care in Surrey include a new state-of-the-art emergency room and urgent-care facility, which will triple the existing emergency floor space at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Construction is planned to begin in 2008, with the completion of the project in 2010.

A new prenatal care facility at Surrey Memorial Hospital; 67 new acute care and critical care beds by the end of 2007; 12 new renal stations in 2009; 250 new residential care beds built by the end of 2008. The NDP seems to have forgotten all of these promises. We have delivered some of them and others are in the process of completing.

There are so many strong and powerful commitments that are part of our future contained in this throne speech. Even the Sierra Club and David Suzuki are applauding our changes, our commitments. Perhaps most importantly, one of the lead authors of the United Nations report on climate change, University of Victoria climatologist Andrew Weaver, heaps praises on our government's plan to fight global warming. I think sometimes the NDP doesn't like that.

Mr. Weaver said our actions are "the most progressive that I've seen anywhere in North America for a start, and one of the best in the world." He said: "This is the way to go. This is great leadership. It really is super." Mr. Weaver also said: "They haven't said anything that's not doable."

The world has been calling for a change, and with this throne speech we have answered that call.

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