2008 Legislative Session: Fourth Session, 38th Parliament
HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

official report of

Debates of the Legislative Assembly

(hansard)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 35, Number 7

[ Page 13177 ]

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008

The House met at 1:34 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Introductions by Members

Hon. P. Bell: It has become a bit of a tradition for me in this House to rise about this time of the year to acknowledge a good friend of mine, someone who continues to represent her riding of Prince George–Mount Robson very well and who will be celebrating the third anniversary of her 49th birthday tomorrow. So would the House please make the member for Prince George–Mount Robson very happy in our birthday wishes for her tomorrow.

[1335]

L. Krog: I am delighted today to ask the House to make welcome an old friend of mine, Judy Reimche. Judy is accompanied by 16 written image students. For the uninitiated, that means they're in photojournalism at the Western Academy of Photography. I hope, as they look around this chamber, these splendid faces will convince them that notwithstanding what an American comedian once said, politics is not show business for ugly people.

Hon. R. Coleman: In the gallery today are Morris and Dalelene Yelland. Morris and Dalelene are my wife's aunt and uncle, but they're also from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. A little bit of advertising. If you go to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, they have the Hillcrest Bed and Breakfast, and it's a very nice place. I visited there this last summer, and I put that in because I do have to somehow get in the fact that I visited them so we could show off our first grandchild, born on July 12, 2008.

They are accompanied by my wife Michele of 34 years, who obviously doesn't live in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

An Hon. Member: We hope not.

Hon. R. Coleman: We think not, anyway, from the amount of time we see each other.

Morris and Dalelene are actually celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary on Sunday in the beautiful city of Victoria, because they came out from Saskatchewan to find out where the real best place on earth was.

D. Cubberley: Joining us today in the gallery is a constituent, colleague and friend of mine, Lana Popham. Lana's an activist who has effectively raised public awareness of the destructive effects of disposable plastic bags and spurred many across this region to adopt reusable totes for their shopping. She's also an organic farmer, a businesswoman and a principal of the Barking Dog Vineyard, Vancouver Island's first certified organic vineyard and the home of Winchester Cellars.

Barking Dog is also highly reputed for having Vancouver Island's first legal still. A very handsome wood-fired copper pot still it is, as well, from which originates, as of this spring, Victoria gin, which is B.C.'s only handcrafted gin containing ten organic and wild botanicals. It's also wildly successful.

So for those who enjoy an occasional tipple, a taste of Saanich never goes amiss. We're proud of Lana's achievements in Saanich South, and it's a real pleasure to have her here today. Will all members of the House please join me in making her welcome.

Hon. J. McIntyre: It's with great pleasure that I have the honour of introducing to the House today our distinguished visitors from China. Mr. Liang Shugen, the newly appointed consul general for Vancouver, is making his first official visit to Victoria today. He's accompanied by his deputy Consul General Li and Consul Chu. Along with Minister Chong from Technology, Trade and Economic Development, I had the pleasure of meeting with the consul general yesterday in Vancouver in advance of his meetings with our Minister of Finance and our Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.

This gave us an opportunity to discuss the very positive relations between China and British Columbia and ways in which we could enhance that cooperation. So I'm looking forward to working with Consul General Liang to continue building our relations on the very strong foundation that we enjoy today. Please, I'd ask the whole House to join me in welcoming our visitors very warmly.

S. Fraser: It gives me great pleasure to make several introductions today. Members from the Hospital Employees Union are visiting us from Port Alberni today. They are dedicated employees of Fir Park and Echo Village, providing quality care for our seniors under quite challenging conditions, and they provided me with a petition to present today after question period.

Please join me in welcoming Nancy Czigany, Janet Pombert, Laurie Payne, Sharon Price and Karen James. I said several, and I meant several.

Also visiting us in the gallery today is a retired Port Alberni fire chief. That's Larry McGifford. Please join me in welcoming him and making him feel very welcome too.

[1340]

Lastly but not leastly, it gives me great pleasure to welcome two stellar first-year UVic students who are cutting classes this afternoon. My daughter Emma Fraser and her friend and colleague Emmy Marshall-Hill are here
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today in the gallery. Please join me to make them feel very, very welcome.

K. Whittred: In the gallery today we have 38 grade 11 students from Bodwell High School in North Vancouver. They are joined by their teacher Mr. Macintosh and a number of chaperones. Would the Legislature please join me in making them very welcome.

D. Routley: Joining us in the precinct today is a woman named Lynn Courtney. She's a Ladysmith resident, a resident of Ivy Green manufactured home park who is fighting to maintain her residence in a park which may be up for redevelopment and fighting to retain the value of her home, which of course represents her life savings. She's organizing the residents to resist the redevelopment of their park. Can the House please make her welcome.

Hon. R. Neufeld: Well, this person I'm going to introduce is not in the gallery, but we're adding to the population in northeastern British Columbia. I want to introduce to the House a baby boy who was born May 30 this year. His name is Connor Ryan Currie. Montana and I are happy that we have also our first grandchild, a baby boy doing well, and so is mother. It's great to have a grandchild around the home.

Mr. Speaker: I didn't figure that the Premier could let that go by.

Hon. G. Campbell: Well, if we're making birth announcements, I'm also very pleased to have a grandchild now, who was born on August 8, 2008. As I was sitting at the opening of the Olympics, actually, I got the announcement that he was born. So he's going to be a very fortunate young man, I'm sure — James Mitchell. I'm sure he's looking forward to meeting your grandson, hon. Member.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, something happened in your life too.

J. Kwan: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Seeing as we're announcing births, I'd be remiss if I didn't do this, you know, to really record it in the history here that on August 16, I had the great honour and privilege of giving birth to my son, Renan Small — not a grandson but a son. Perhaps in years to come he might be in this Legislature to announce the birth of his son and to carry the legacy on. And the grandson after that — right?

In any event, I'm very delighted to share this news with the House officially in the Legislature. I have received many, many congratulatory notes from members of the House, including yourself on behalf of the assembly, and I would like to extend my thank-you to everyone for their good wishes. The baby boy is now 15 pounds and 2 ounces.

H. Bloy: It's an honour today to announce a friend who's in the gallery, someone who I have known since 16 years of age. He's been a strong advocate for good governance in Burnaby and a strong supporter of mine — Mr. Brian Bonney, director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

I would just like to announce also that my grandson James is doing fine, and he's six months old now.

R. Hawes: Mr. Speaker, I think we have to continue this. Tory Lynn Hawes was born on August 26 in the new Abbotsford hospital two days after it opened. Her mom, my daughter-in-law Nikki, had a great time in the new hospital.

I'm a pretty watchful granddad — she's No. 9, by the way — for my grandkids. I have nine of them now. So all these boys need to keep away from her because her granddad will be watching after her, and we don't want a bunch of these guys…. She's way too young to be around boys.

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J. Horgan: I just hope my kids aren't cutting class at UVic, and to the best of my knowledge, I'm not a grandparent.

Before the love-in ends, I just want to extend my sincere appreciation to both sides of the House for offering your support and good wishes during my recent illness. It was really heartening to recognize the humanity that we all share here. In about ten minutes that will end, from my perspective, so thank you very much.

J. Les: I can certainly understand that the Premier and the Minister of Energy and Mines are very excited about the arrival of their first grandchild. On the 30th of May this year my wife and I welcomed our latest granddaughter, Olivia Sarah Kelly, who was born on May 30. She is our 11th grandchild.

R. Lee: I am the proud father of a U.S. open table tennis champion. My daughter Leanne won the U.S. open championship in the under-12 category in July this year.

Hon. S. Hagen: Joining us in the gallery today are Darol Smith and John Mann. Darol Smith, as some of you may know, is a member of the United Steelworkers who also serves this province as chair of the North and Central Coast Plan Implementation and Monitoring Committee. This committee has an oversight and advisory role in the ecosystem-based management framework we have established for the area known as the Great Bear rain forest. The bioenergy proposal that they have
[ Page 13179 ]
brought forward is the reason for their visit here today and comes largely from the efforts of that committee.

John Mann has been involved in the coastal forest industry for many years and is here today representing FPInnovations. He's very excited about our greenhouse gas reduction policy and, of course, is excited about this important bioenergy initiative. Would the House please join me in making them welcome.

Hon. C. Hansen: I'd like the House to acknowledge the years of service by an individual who has served as a communications director in the health sector for many years and, most recently, many years as the deputy minister responsible for the public affairs bureau. Linda Morris is leaving the provincial government sector, actually, to become the chief executive officer of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation effective December 1. She's in the gallery. I hope the House will express our thanks for her years of service.

Hon. M. Coell: The member for Nanaimo introduced Judy Reimche to the House. I would like to add my voice of welcome to her. She's a resident of mine, a truly great reporter and is now retired and teaching students who are with her today. So please make her welcome.

D. Hayer: I have a couple of announcements to make. First, it gives me great pleasure to introduce some very special guests visiting the Legislative Assembly. They are five students of a provincial political science class visiting from Kwantlen Polytechnic University: Jenny Bell; Derek Robertson; Chelsea Smith; Sharon Gill; and my daughter Sonia Hayer, who gave bone marrow to my son, Alexander Hayer, when he had leukemia.

Joining them for this first trip is their professor, Dr. Shinder Purewal. I would like to thank him for taking the time away from his busy schedule to bring students to the Legislative Assembly, where they can learn and witness first hand the political process. Would the House please make them very welcome.

Last week, also, the Surrey Board of Trade had its annual business excellence awards. There were many worthy nominees, and the winners were La Belle Fleur Floral Boutique for the company with fewer than six employees; Grand Taj banquet centre for companies with fewer than 21 employees; WestStone Properties for companies with more than 21 employees; Servants Anonymous Society for their non-profit under $500,000 bracket category; Newton Advocacy Group Society, for a non-profit over $500,000 budget; Dale Regehr for the restaurant properties, the Businessperson of the Year for the city of Surrey; F.U.E.L. Catering as the new business of the year; and Glen Chua as the new student entrepreneur of the year.

[1350]

I will ask the House to join me in congratulating these business owners, their staff and their customers for the excellent service that they provide to our residents and citizens.

Hon. M. de Jong: In the gallery today is Chief Ken Brown of the Klahoose First Nation, where good things are happening. Great to have Chief Brown here. Please, everyone, make him feel welcome.

Statements
(Standing Order 25b)

FRED FORD

C. James: I am pleased to rise today to talk about an individual in my community that I deeply respect and admire. Fred Ford was former head of Victoria's Mary Manning Centre, and he was honoured last month for his advocacy on behalf of children who have been sexually abused.

The first-ever representative's Awards of Excellence were presented during the Champions for Children and Youth 2008 B.C. summit in late October. Fred received the Advocacy Award of Excellence. Fred exemplifies those who are unsung heroes, those who work in the field and dedicate themselves with their heart and soul to making this world a better place for children. They do so not for recognition or for honours, but they do it because of their drive to make the world a better place.

Fred Ford's advocacy work on behalf of children and people with developmental disabilities is exemplary, and his dedication is unmatched. Last year Fred fought a very public battle to avert the layoff of therapists at the centre. The campaign prompted a flood of donations and support from the public and led to a critical increase in the program's budget.

I'm very proud to pay tribute to Fred Ford, to thank him on behalf of all the citizens of greater Victoria, and to wish him all the best in his new life as a post-graduate student.

ECONOMY IN B.C.

R. Sultan: Here we stand only six months away from a provincial election, wondering how a small global trader such as British Columbia in very turbulent times can survive and prosper — and prosper we have. In a brief seven years this government, despite some recent setbacks, has created almost half a million new jobs. It's created new wealth through an aggressive agenda of cost discipline, tax cutting, deregulation and a very driven top-down economic agenda. In that seven years this government overcame a decade when jobs, money, businesses and families left the province.

This government introduced 103 tax cuts, well over one a month, over a seven-year period. It invested
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$11 billion in transportation, health and education infrastructure, supplemented by another $5 billion of 3P money. It achieved a triple-A credit rating, the best there is.

Program spending didn't suffer. K-to-12 education spending increased by a quarter. Health care spending increased by an astonishing 60 percent, and the proportion of the province devoted to parks and protected areas was raised to 14 percent, an area equal to the entire maritime provinces.

We have a plan built on this seven years of success. We believe that we will get through these troubled times by encouraging investment again through favourable tax treatment and by putting money into the householders' pockets, and not taking it away from them, through tax cuts.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the time to push the panic button in difficult and uncertain economic times and send B.C. backwards. It's time to keep B.C. strong.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. A reminder to members that the two-minute statements are meant to be non-partisan.

NATIONAL CHILD DAY

S. Fraser: I will provide a slightly different perspective. November 20 is National Child Day, hon. Speaker. The government of Canada proclaimed it so in 1993 to commemorate two historic events: the adoption of the UN declaration on the rights of the child — that was 1959; and the declaration on the rights of the child, 1989.

[1355]

National Child Day is set aside to celebrate Canada's most precious resource: our children. Article 3.1 of the UN convention states that in all actions concerning children — whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies — the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. But in B.C., in this province, we have failed to meet this essential premise.

Stats Canada brings it into stark reality. B.C. has the dubious distinction as the worst province for child poverty rates in the country six years in a row. Child advocacy groups suggest many reasons for this appalling failure. Reductions in income assistance levels, low minimum-wage rates, disappearing higher-wage jobs and reduced access to child care have all been identified as contributing to a situation where one in four children is growing up below the poverty line in this province. In B.C. we have failed so many children.

So on November 20, this day of the child, I ask all members of this B.C. Legislature to reflect on our failures as legislators to so many children. It is all of our responsibilities as legislators to remedy this failure. The UN convention should guide us here. The best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration.

Hon. Speaker, one in four children lives in poverty in this province. Those children should be our priority. They are the future, and we owe it to them.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP
WITH FIRST NATIONS

J. Rustad: Today we celebrate another milestone in the development of our relationship with first nations. The Yale First Nation took a major step closer to signing a treaty that will bring tremendous benefits to the members of the Yale First Nation and to all British Columbians.

For far too long, Mr. Speaker, first nations were on the sidelines when it came to economic development. Our government has made a commitment to developing a new relationship with first nations and making sure they are full partners in our province. As a government, we've established the $100 million new relationship trust, funds that support programs and education, capacity, culture and language, youth and elders and economic development.

We've also signed forestry agreements with more than 150 first nations, providing more than $220 million in revenue-sharing and access to more than 35 million cubic metres of timber since 2002. We've launched a $65 million aboriginal post-secondary strategy to help aboriginal students start, stay and succeed in post-secondary education.

As well, our government is contributing $30 million to the coast opportunity fund directed towards first nations involved in activities including fisheries, forestry and tourism along the central and north coast.

I had the pleasure of emceeing an event just this past Tuesday that will see $22.5 million go towards broadband Internet connectivity for first nation communities. It's clear that all British Columbians benefit by closing the socioeconomic gaps that exist between aboriginals and non-aboriginal people. We need to continue to build and strengthen our relationship with first nations. We need to build on the strong base already established and ensure that British Columbians benefit from the strong partnership that we have created.

CHILD POVERTY In B.C.

N. Simons: I'll start off by thanking the Premier for calling this House back into session so we can address some of these important issues facing British Columbia. One of those issues is child poverty.
[ Page 13181 ]

In 1989 an all-party resolution was passed in the House of Commons in Ottawa calling for the eradication of child poverty. We have a long way to go; 13 percent of children in Canada are still living in poverty. In British Columbia the percent is actually higher, at over 20 percent. The Progress Board generously ranks British Columbia ninth out of ten provinces when it comes to measures of social conditions. But single-parent families have a poverty rate of 62 percent, and most aboriginal children living off reserve are living in poverty.

Our own defensiveness sometimes makes us challenge the numbers. Are we really ninth or tenth? Is the measurement fair? Are things getting better, as the minister suggests? Well, most recent statistics reveal today that the rate of child poverty in British Columbia is climbing. For the fifth year in a row, we're the worst in the country.

[1400]

But the statistics don't tell the entire story. There are more children who are going to bed hungry. There are more children living in substandard, mouldy houses. There are more children who aren't doing as well in school. More children are going to the food bank. More parents are finding it more difficult to climb out of poverty. One day these children will ask why their mothers and fathers were left to struggle and fend for themselves while their government sat on a surplus of wealth.

In Powell River recently the city, the regional district and the first nation came together to state unequivocally that the principles that were enshrined in 1989 continue and that we must do more to ensure the safety and well-being of children in this province.

NATIONAL CHILD DAY

J. Nuraney: At the risk of sounding repetitious, I too rise to speak on the recognition of the national children's day. National children's day marks the signing of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child on November 20, 1989. The convention has since been ratified by Canada and endorsed by the government of British Columbia.

The United Nations General Assembly urged all countries to select a day to promote child welfare once the convention was signed. Canada has chosen November 20 as that day.

The convention outlines the fundamental human rights of all children, including a child's right to education, the right to health care, the right to be free from exploitation, and the right to have a voice and have that voice be heard. The convention also acknowledges that while parents have the primary responsibility for the development of their children, governments and communities have an important role to play in supporting and protecting children.

As a compassionate and responsible society, each one of us has a role to play in the health and well-being of our children. This is a responsibility that this government has taken very seriously.

Recently I attended an event at the Burnaby Village Museum to recognize and appreciate parents of adopted children. Last year the ministry managed to place 320 children in loving families. This is considered in all faiths the most important and commendable work.

Please join me in recognizing and recommitting to upholding our responsibility to the children of this province as we work together in creating a brighter future.

Oral Questions

SALARIES FOR GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES

C. James: The average family in B.C. earns about $60,000 a year. Over the past three years the average family has seen their wages grow by about 2 percent a year, barely keeping up with inflation. That's why average families are so outraged at the excessive pay increases that this arrogant government is awarding its top executives.

We all know that last summer the government tried to sneak through a 43 percent pay increase for its top officials, hoping no one would notice. The average British Columbian certainly hasn't received 43 percent in their pay package. Yet the government continues to give exorbitant salary increases, and the latest example is the CEO of Community Living B.C., whose salary has been increased by $86,000 — a 62 percent increase.

Is this Premier so out of touch that he thinks British Columbians aren't outraged by this? Will he commit today to rolling back those salary increases?

[1405]

Hon. M. Coell: The member knows that her facts are incorrect. She knows that the deputies and the assistant deputy ministers are paid about the fifth in the country, with five other provinces and the federal government ahead of us. We think that their salaries should be adequate. We think it's fair.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

C. James: So we finally get an answer for the public from this government. They think a 62 percent increase for the Community Living CEO is just fine. It's fair. That's the response we hear from this government — that that's just fair — at the same time that this government is cutting back services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities. Shameful. Shameful.

Doesn't the Premier see how fundamentally wrong that is? Doesn't the Premier see that at the same time he's giving a 62 percent increase to the CEO of Community
[ Page 13182 ]
Living, he has said no to providing supports for adults with developmental disabilities who have an IQ above 70? I say again to the Premier: when will he stand up, be accountable and roll back those salary increases?

Hon. M. Coell: The member knows her facts are wrong. She knows that the deputies and the assistant deputy ministers are paid at the fifth in this country, and they used to be at the tenth. Is she suggesting that we roll them back to being the tenth in this country?

C. James: I'll repeat the question for a third time in hopes that somebody over there will actually listen this time to the question. The question, again, is whether this government thinks it's appropriate to give a 62 percent pay increase to the CEO of Community Living while they cut supports and say to adults with developmental disabilities: "You're on your own. There's no support for you."

Perhaps the minister would like to hear a few more increases: CEO of B.C. Hydro, 34 percent; CEO of ICBC, 63 percent; CEO of Interior Health Authority, 35 percent. Continuing on, the commissioner of oil and gas — a 133 percent pay increase.

Again my question is to the Premier. During these tough economic times, how on earth can he justify spending millions of dollars on taxpayer-paid ads and giving these kinds of increases? When will he stand up, be accountable and roll back those increases?

Hon. M. Coell: I think it's regrettable that the member continues to use incorrect figures. I think it's important for her to know that…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. Coell: …the deputies and the assistant deputies in this province are paid at the fifth level in the country. She may want to roll those back to be in the tenth place, but I guess what I would ask her is…. We pay our doctors and nurses at the highest level in the country. Are they next? Do you want them rolled back too?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

This is the member for Vancouver-Fairview's first time rising in the House.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED PERSONS AND
SALARIES FOR GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES

J. McGinn: I wanted to tell you about Michael Gregory. Michael Gregory is a constituent of mine. Michael has been told he will lose the support he needs because of the government's cruel decision to cut off anyone with an IQ over 70.

My question is to the Premier. His government has $86,000 for a pay raise for the CEO of Community Living B.C. Will the Premier explain to Michael, to his family and to families like his across B.C. why he's being denied the services he needs while this Premier is handing out excessive pay raises to his top executives?

Hon. R. Coleman: Nobody, with the IQ 70 work that's being done, has been denied any service at Community Living B.C. I would suggest you get your facts straight.

[1410]

That's the fact. Everybody is grandfathered as we work through a new definition — which, by the way, has been mandated by the courts as something that we have to get to.

N. Simons: I'd like to just correct the minister. In fact, stealthily in July this government enacted a new regulation barring anyone who had an IQ over 70 from accessing services, and that's shameful in and of itself.

My question has to do with the other issue — the wait-lists. There are wait-lists of over thousands of adults with developmental disabilities in this province who are waiting for services. Hundreds of children are waiting for early intervention services. This minister has done nothing but fail the people in the developmental disability community time after time. My question is this. How is the Premier able to justify massive pay increases for his CEOs of corporations when these families are left without any support whatsoever?

Hon. R. Coleman: I'll reiterate for the member opposite. What happened in July is that nobody got rid of IQ 70. We actually had to do it because the court said so — that we couldn't use IQ 70 as a policy. We put it in regulation while we put together a new definition, which was the proper thing to do at the time.

We've gone out to the community, and we have had a broad-based discussion with the community on a new definition, which is very close to being ready to go. The only question left for the community is whether they want to go to an additional public consultation on the new definition, which we've offered them that opportunity to do, and they're going to get back to us in short order.

GOVERNMENT ACTION ON CHILD POVERTY

A. Dix: Well, what happened in January 2007, after the government had appealed the Fahlman case, was that the courts ruled the IQ 70 provisions to be illegal. There was a session in spring 2007. The government did nothing. There was a session for a very short period of
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time in the fall of 2007. The government did nothing. They did nothing in the spring session of 2008.

They waited until the final week of summer in July — the final week of July, just when the Premier was about to take a private jet to the Beijing Olympics, at the same time as they were giving those pay increases — to cut off and to reinstate that IQ 70 provision. That's what happened. It is unacceptable.

My question to the minister is this. Tomorrow First Call is going to release its child poverty report. It's a report on children in British Columbia. They're going to release it. It's going to show again this year that British Columbia has the highest child poverty rate in the country. Where is the minister's plan?

The Premier doesn't have a plan. There was nothing on the back of his ten-point plan on his envelope for children living in poverty. Why is it acceptable to this government to have, five years in a row, the highest child poverty rate in Canada?

Hon. R. Coleman: Why is it acceptable to British Columbians that when we raised the rate for accommodation under social services, those members voted against it? Why is it acceptable that when we raise welfare rates in the province of British Columbia, those members voted against it? Why is it that members opposite…? You know, it's really neat down here, Mr. Speaker, because they don't have to yell quite as loud to heckle, and they can still heckle, and I can still hear them. We're that much closer.

The other thing. These are the same folks on the other side that would…. Tomorrow, if given the opportunity to deny 7,000 families that receive rental assistance program in the province of British Columbia — that's not even a measurement in that report — you would deny them rental assistance because you think it's a subsidy to landlords and it doesn't help people. I've got story after story after story from single moms who tell me how much it's changed their lives and improved the lives of their children.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Member has a supplemental.

A. Dix: Well, we have one minister speaking lovingly about the fact that people earning over $200,000 — that their salary should be adequate. We have a minister who is supposed to be responsible….

[1415]

Fifth year in a row. Fifth year in a row the highest child poverty rate, according to First Call. Think about what that means for families in British Columbia. This minister and this Premier did nothing — nothing in their little ten-point plan, nothing on the back of that envelope — to address one of the most serious problems facing our province, as if hard times don't affect children living in poverty first.

My question to the minister is this. Where is his plan to address the worst rating on child poverty in the entire country?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. R. Coleman: These members are all friends of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. R. Coleman: I would just like to quote a source. If they're opposed to the source, I guess they could phone their NDP think tank and say, "We don't agree with you," but in the 1990s…. It says here that the 1990s were a difficult decade for British Columbians, particularly for the poorest in the province. There was an increase in poverty in B.C. by any measure. The depth of poverty was also….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. R. Coleman: I'm sorry if you don't like the truth. It's okay, you know.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Minister, just take your seat.

Members.

Continue, Minister.

Hon. R. Coleman: The depth of poverty was also higher and more visible on the street than the rise of homelessness, panhandling and food banks. That was the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

So what's happened since the 1990s? Increase in welfare rates — not done by those guys. Increase in shelter allowance — not done by those guys.

Some Hon. Members: They voted against it.

Hon. R. Coleman: And voted against by these folks over here. An increase in the medical side and all the things…. The lowest taxes in the country for people making under $30,000 a year. As a matter of fact, a family making under $30,000 a year in B.C. pays $1,400 less in income tax than they did in 2001.
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GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON ADVERTISING

B. Ralston: The Premier, as Leader of the Opposition, said: "I'm not going to run ads saying what a great job we're doing." Yet every night British Columbians turn on the television news and see a torrent of self-congratulatory government ads — squandered, wasteful spending.

To the Premier: will he put an immediate end to this type of wasteful government advertising?

Hon. C. Hansen: As we travelled around British Columbia, we hear that British Columbians want to know about what's happening with their provincial government.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Minister, take your seat.

Members, Members.

Continue, Minister.

Hon. C. Hansen: We on this side of the House like to celebrate the men and women in British Columbia that have been building this province, the men and women who actually have been responsible for some of the new infrastructure projects that are making a big difference in the lives of British Columbians. Mr. Speaker, that is what we are celebrating: the men and women who have built this province and continue to build this province.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

B. Ralston: I'm not sure what phantom voices the Minister of Finance is listening to. People that I talk to regard those ads as wasted government spending. The Premier promised a couple of weeks ago to cut government waste. Why doesn't he start — and when will he start — with cutting government ads?

[1420]

Hon. C. Hansen: We have a budget approved by this Legislature for the advertising undertaken by the province. We are living within that budget. We're making sure that the information that British Columbians are looking forward to is presented to them, and we will continue to do that within our allocated budget.

R. Fleming: During elections this government pledged not to advertise. Then of course, during two by-elections they did exactly that. Right up until yesterday we have seen full prime-time ads from this government on a heavy rotation. We've seen full-page glossy ads featuring nothing more than the Premier's face on them.

Is that what they're celebrating? Only a few….

Interjections.

R. Fleming: Look at your paper yesterday. The members across the way should look at the paper yesterday and open it up. Only a few years ago this Premier said: "When I look at how much money government spends on advertising, I think people are appalled by that. It's not where they want their dollars to go…. I'm not going to run ads saying what a great job we're doing." He went on to say that advertising isn't about communication; it's about trying to sell something.

Will the Premier stand by his own words? Will he show prudence and leadership, and will he cut advertising budgets by 50 percent?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. C. Hansen: I must say that it's a little hard to take, from a representative of a political party who totally abused an advertising budget during the 1990s. I found it interesting earlier in question period when the members opposite were talking about their leader's plan — or lack of it — for the economy of this province where, quite frankly, when they laid out this three-year budget on October 27, they didn't put $1 of additional spending into health care in spite of what the opposition Health critic has been saying.

The member did not put a single additional dollar into issues around child poverty and child welfare, unlike this government which has been increasing funding every single year.

I will put the economic measures announced by our Premier up against the economic measures announced by the Leader of the Opposition any day, because on the case of the economic measures announced by this Premier, they speak to the needs of British Columbians. In the case of the Leader of the Opposition, they were economic measures that would be a recipe for billions of dollars of debt in British Columbia, without addressing any of the issues that they purport to address.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: I remind members to listen to the question and listen to the answer.

The member has a supplemental.

R. Fleming: The Finance Minister has said that his government is conducting its wasteful advertising campaign within its budget. We on this side of the House are saying prove it. The Finance Minister knows full well that disclosure provisions don't come in until July 2009. That's two months after the May 2009 election.

We've seen this before. After the….
[ Page 13185 ]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

R. Fleming: Remember, after the….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Just take your seat.

Members.

Continue, Member.

R. Fleming: We've seen this before. After the 2005 election we learned that the B.C. Liberals had overspent their advertising budget by tens of millions of dollars. This is an election year. The pattern is repeating itself. The Premier declined to cut back his self-promoting ads. Will he at least tell this House how much his government is spending on advertising campaigns today and further plans to spend until the election gag law provisions take effect?

Hon. C. Hansen: This is a government that's brought in more transparency to financial reporting than any government in the history of this province. This is a government….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Continue, Minister.

[1425]

Hon. C. Hansen: This is a government that for the first time actually — once a year, at the time of public accounts — sets out all of the costs for all of the programs, and we will continue to do that into the future.

But I need to comment on something before I take my seat. We've used up most of question period today. The opposition was anxious to get back to this chamber to talk about the state of the economy in British Columbia. We've wasted….

Interjections.

Hon. C. Hansen: We've used up almost an entire question period, and we have yet to hear a question from the members of the official opposition that pertain to the challenges that British Columbians are facing now because of the economy that we're facing.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. C. Hansen: That, Mr. Speaker, is what we on this side of the House are looking forward to getting on to.

J. Horgan: I know it will come as a surprise to the new Minister of Finance, but children are part of the economy, and they've been living in poverty for five years.

I know we've had some quotes from the Premier, but this one's particularly juicy, and I know he wouldn't want me to miss the opportunity to bring it up.

I heard the Finance Minister talk about what he heard British Columbians say. Well, some years ago the Premier woke up and said, "There's not one person in B.C. who woke up today and said: 'I want more propaganda,'" but despite that commitment from the Premier eight years ago, we seem to have lost our way.

The self-promotion continues even in the Cowichan Valley, where yesterday the Cowichan Valley Citizen had a half-page ad, paid for by this government, talking about SkyTrain in Vancouver. Now, if you want to add insult to injury, the people in the Cowichan Valley have been calling out for even a couple of bucks and some verbal support for commuter rail, and what do they get? They get a government-paid ad saying SkyTrain is good for Vancouver. There isn't any in Duncan.

So will you pull back those ads, and will you pull them back today?

Hon. C. Hansen: You know, British Columbia families in every corner of this province are anxious and concerned about the economic challenges that we see happening around the world today. We know that British Columbia is not immune to those challenges and those economic pressures, and British Columbia families are and will be feeling the pressures of those.

But at the same time, we have a lot in British Columbia to be proud of, and one of the things I can tell you is that I am proud of the men and women in the construction sector of this province that have built and are building new infrastructure that will actually take us forward into the future.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

J. Horgan: It's interesting. Again the self-promotion campaign is in every corner of the province. In the November 5 edition of The Golden Star — where we've had forestry layoffs that have been ignored for the past two years — six distinct, separate ads, about 2,000 bucks' worth of ads, one a $400 ad extolling the virtues of the Richmond oval. Now, the Richmond oval might provide a training facility for the Minister of Forests to skate in circles, but it does nothing for out-of-work forest workers.

Will he withdraw these ads and put money back into communities, back into the workforce, and help British Columbians? Don't make this the best place on earth to be an ad executive.
[ Page 13186 ]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. C. Hansen: I'm glad the member raised the issue of the speed skating oval in Richmond, because that is going to be one of the best showcases for British Columbia wood products that comes from every corner of British Columbia.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

M. Farnworth: Well, the government clearly doesn't want to scrap the promotional advertising, but will they at least scrap the Premier's personal bling program? This is a classic example of what this government's priorities are.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Member, no props, please.

[1430]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Please take your seat for a second.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Continue, Member.

M. Farnworth: The opposite side laughs, but when we have the highest child poverty rate in the country, when we are denying services to families with developmental disabilities that need them, they laugh at the priority of this government, which is a gold medal, and the only thing on there in big script is the Premier's personal name. So will the government cancel the Premier's personal ego vanity plates?

Hon. G. Campbell: I am pleased to be back in the House, where we can have discussions about the things that are important to British Columbians. So let's start by understanding that the world that we're living in is significantly different than the one we left last May, and I can candidly tell you the question period isn't much. And it's unfortunate, because people are looking at us to get above this sort of thing.

I understand the member opposite may not want to honour….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. G. Campbell: I understand the member opposite may not want to honour the workers that spend their time, their effort, their energy outside. He may not want to honour the people who are building the Park Bridge or building the facilities that British Columbians are going to be so proud of.

I can tell you this, Mr. Speaker. When a Premier happens to go to one of those meetings, they're not looking at Gordon Campbell the person. They're looking at a representative of the government of British Columbia. I think it's time to say to the workers of British Columbia — the people that are building this province, that have built this province, that will build this province — that their contribution is something that we are all proud of, and I'm going to keep talking to them about that.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: We're not starting until there's silence.

Continue, Member.

The member has a supplemental.

M. Farnworth: If you want to honour the workers of this province, then don't waste their tax dollars on bling like this. If you want to honour the workers of this province, then when you do something, put their name on it. Put the name of a man and a woman and a worker of this province on something, not the Premier's name.

An Hon. Member: Don't insult their intelligence, first of all.

M. Farnworth: Don't insult their intelligence.

Again to the Premier: will the Premier scrap this personal ego-driven program that's designed to promote the Premier and nothing else?

Hon. G. Campbell: It's good to know the opposition's position on these things. I think the important thing is for us to recognize the workers that are building British Columbia. I can tell you that I've gone out. I've received a number of workers that have said: "You know, it's the first time we've been recognized." There are people that come and say to me: "I wondered if anyone noticed what we were doing."

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.
[ Page 13187 ]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Take your seat, Premier.

Members.

Continue.

Hon. G. Campbell: We're here in the House now to deal with not just one sector of workers but all workers in British Columbia. We want to accelerate the tax cuts that they get so they have larger paycheques, so they have a sense of confidence.

We're here to acknowledge the workers that are part of small business in British Columbia and recognize that a 44 percent reduction in small business tax would be beneficial to those workers and those businesses. We're here to recognize the workers in both heavy and light manufacturing who need to have a sense of stability and confidence as they move ahead. We're here to recognize the people that are building British Columbia, that are making this a great province for all of us to live in.

I believe….

[1435]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. G. Campbell: I believe that while everyone wants to make sure that the government is held to account for sure, I do believe that they expect all of us to rise above the traditions of the past. They expect all of us to ask ourselves these questions. How can we stabilize the economy? How do we create a sense of confidence in the economy of British Columbia and the future of families in every region of this province? And do we recognize the challenges that families are presented with today?

We do. We're going to act, and we look forward to the opposition joining with us and passing the legislation that's been introduced today as quickly as possible.

[End of question period.]

S. Fraser: I seek leave to present petitions.

Mr. Speaker: Proceed.

Petitions

S. Fraser: I present a beautifully bound set of petitions from Port Alberni protesting VIHA's cuts to the special care unit at Fir Park and Echo Village.

N. Macdonald: I rise to present a petition with 3,295 signatures supporting changes to the Wildlife Act to allow the use of Karelian bear dogs in shepherding bears away from built-up areas.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. de Jong: With leave, I call second reading of the Economic Incentive and Stabilization Statutes Amendment Act.

Leave not granted.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. de Jong: With leave, I call second reading of the Vancouver Foundation Amendment Act.

Leave not granted.

Hon. M. de Jong: Well, I thought that there was an appetite to talk about the economy. There apparently is not.

Hon. M. de Jong moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday morning.

The House adjourned at 2:38 p.m.

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