2011 Legislative Session: Third Session, 39th 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)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Morning Sitting

Volume 20, Number 3

[ Page 6277 ]

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Prayers.

Introductions by Members

D. Black: Mr. Speaker, I wanted to have an opportunity…. Yesterday I was pleased to have my entire family in the Legislature. It wasn't a day to make introductions, but if you'll allow me, I'd like to mention that my husband, Peter, was here. My sons — David, Matthew and Stuart Black — were here with their wives and partners, Maya, Joanna and Takako. All of my seven grandchildren were here, which made it a very special day to me — seven grandchildren. They are Meagan, Lauren, Ian, Christopher, Maggie, Rebecca and Kate. I was delighted to have them with me.

Orders of the Day

Hon. R. Coleman: I call business today, the response to the throne speech.

Throne Speech Debate

R. Sultan: I move:

[We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session.]

In thanking Your Honour, I have some observations to make.

[C. Trevena in the chair.]

This is a milestone moment in the history of our province — the simultaneous changing of the guard on both sides of the Legislature. We have a dozen good people — six from each side — locked in combat, each of them submitting their case for party leadership to us, the customers, their followers.

[1005]

With new leaders will inevitably arrive new policies, and as we ponder this changing of the guard, it's helpful to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the policies of the past so that we may better understand those which worked well for British Columbians and those which did not.

What a difference political leaders can make. To illustrate, one of the lions of the Vancouver financial community recently observed:

"It's hard to believe, in looking back, that in two short terms the Harcourt-Clark government, with a mandate of only 39 percent popular vote, managed to reduce B.C., with all our natural attributes, to the slowest growth per capita in Canada; to ninth in mining, just in front of Prince Edward Island; and, for the first time in our history, experiencing net migration out of the province. We became a have-not province, and our provincial debt was downgraded twice.

"We should all remember how" — he continued, referring to the sitting Premier — "he almost immediately returned us to our rightful first place and stimulated economic investment, lowered taxes, eliminated the insidious capital tax and returned sound fiscal management to our government. Our credit rating has been raised to triple-A, and we're again a have province contributing to the federation.

"Thus, we now have the lowest corporate and small business taxes in the G7; the lowest income tax under $120,000 earnings in Canada; the expansion of 60 parks and six ecological reserves, for 1.9 million hectares, three times the size of P.E.I.; the largest post-secondary university expansion in our history, with the creation of seven new universities, 20 leadership research chairs and nine regional innovation chairs in the fields of medical, environmental and technological research; and the 2010 Olympic Games, a project which transformed not only British Columbia but also Canada."

Well, how was such a transformation possible? What were the policy keys? That's the lesson for the day. For answers, we should look more closely at the numbers and the policies which generated them, comparing the most recent decade with the decade which preceded it.

The policies of the leader and the team he assembled, now about to exit, can most readily be assessed over an interval of about nine years, because that's how the numbers happen to be presented. Their results can be juxtaposed against the results of the matching, by coincidence, nine-year interval when the NDP were in government.

With considerable liberty, I shall rather loosely use the phrase "earlier decade" to refer to the period from the final Socred year of 1991, a baseline reference point for the incoming government of the '90s, and 2000, its final full year of operation. We could just as well call it the NDP decade. Likewise, I shall use the phrase "most recent decade" or "current government decade" to refer to the period between 2000, the baseline inherited by the incoming B.C. Liberal government, and 2010.

So how does the current government decade compare with the NDP decade? Well, the contrasts are striking. Let's start with population. As has already been alluded to, Canadians vote with their feet. In 1991, the last year of the Socreds, 35,000 people moved into B.C. from elsewhere in Canada. In the final year of the NDP 15,000 people left the province.

The present government came into office, and in the last year we have information 7,500 people have made their way back to B.C. from the rest of Canada, and total in-migration from all sources has quadrupled. It was a huge vote of confidence from these migrants, you might call them, for the current government and not much of an advertisement for the policies of its predecessors.

Let's take a look at the policy differences, starting with the mix and magnitude of government spending in
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these two different decades. My data source is the most recently published Ministry of Finance Financial and Economic Review.

Now, we all know left-leaning governments tend to expand and centre-right governments tend to shrink. Everybody knows that. So did government shrink on the current leader's watch? Well, not exactly.

[1010]

Consider the numbers as measured by GDP. During the NDP decade government expenditures grew a total of 14 percent. During the present leader's decade government expenditures grew by more than twice as much — 32 percent.

What was the mix of that accelerated government spending? The government of the NDP decade reduced the share of GDP dedicated to health care from 6.7 percent to 6.5 percent. In contrast to the current government's decade, the share of GDP dedicated to health care reversed direction and grew from 6½ percent to 7.8 percent. How about education? In its decade the previous government rather sharply reduced the share of GDP devoted to education from 5.1 percent to 4.4 percent. With the current government decade, the shrinkage continued, but it's certainly a much, much lower rate — from 4.4 percent to 4.1 percent.

What about debts and deficit? Recently I've heard individuals on the benches opposite portray their decade in power as one of high fiscal virtue. Well, between '91-92 and fiscal '00-01, folks on the other side racked up cumulative government deficits equal to 3.6 percent of GDP — deficits. In contrast, despite some ups and downs — deficit, surplus and so on — when you take the cumulative impact of the current government's decade between '01-02 and '09-10, cumulative government surpluses equal 2.6 percent of GDP.

Let's talk about economic growth. Growth helps balance books. Growth makes everything possible. As measured by growth in GDP, the Royal Bank recently ranked us second to Manitoba. It happens to be a government that typically has a different view of the world, so give them full credit. But in truth, we've had our ups and downs here in B.C. in a topsy-turvy world.

If we measure GDP growth in B.C. relative to the rest of the world combined — and there are such figures now — what's the gross domestic product of the world? Some interesting results. In the previous decade, under the former government, B.C.'s growth just about equalled the growth of the world. In the most recent current government decade B.C.'s GDP growth was 50 percent higher than the world GDP growth rate, which suggests that maybe this government has been doing something right.

Now, there was a huge contraction of economic activity in the world in 2009 in response to the financial crisis. We were hit hard in B.C. There was a huge impact — and the scurrying around on the budget, as we're all aware. But we weren't hit as hard as most parts of the world, and we recovered faster. So that suggests we were in fact doing something right.

How was it done? Well, infrastructure investment is the classic response of government to deep economic downturns, and it really helped in our case. It's in the construction sector that the contrast between these two decades is most apparent. In the '90s non-residential building permits, government and non-government, grew by 15 percent, barely keeping pace with inflation. That's over the full decade — 15 percent.

In the current government's decade non-residential building permits grew by 60 percent, a multiple of four. Wow. No wonder they had that great big celebration for the Premier last week down there at the construction association. Undoubtedly, aggressive infrastructure spending by government helped with cooperative municipalities who dug deep. Infrastructure funding from the Harper government in Ottawa made all of this possible, and it made a difference.

Who benefited? Under the dialectic which occasionally grips this House, there's sort of a zero-sum game at work between business and workers for a share of the pie. We don't have to embrace that rather quaint view of the world to ask seriously: how well has labour done and how well has business done in the two contrasting decades? Did labour share in all of this economic activity of the current government decade just past? And the answer is yes, it did.

B.C. doesn't particularly lead Canada in labour income indicators. Our salaries and wages per worker are in fourth place behind Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and we've got some catching up to do.

[1015]

In the NDP earlier decade, personal income per capita grew by only 18 percent. In the current government decade it grew by 38 percent — by any measure, a large increase in the pay packet, twice as high in the decade of our soon-to-leave leader as it was under the leadership of the previous decade.

There's a lot of talk about minimum wage. For youth ages 15 to 24, average hourly wages — about $13.62 — are the third highest in Canada. For all workers, the average hourly wage last month was $23, up 28 percent from slightly under $18 in '01, when the government came into power.

How about disposable income after taxes? NDP decade — it grew by 20 percent. Current government decade — it grew by an astonishing 43 percent. We appear to be closing the wage gap with those other provinces.

Well, labour did rather well by my assessment of these numbers, much more than they did, in fact, when their allies happened to be in control. But were these merely crumbs falling off the table from the really big party taking place at the business round table at the top? Was it business which really cashed in? Hardly.
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Here's the shocker. Maybe you should campaign on it. Total corporate profits before tax quadrupled in the earlier decade under the NDP, and they merely doubled under the government decade. I don't understand these numbers. I don't have an explanation for it. I'm just reporting the facts.

What can we learn from this? What are the keys to success? Memo to incoming leader: the first key to success is low taxes. This government cut personal, small business or corporate taxes in every budget since 2001. Astonishing. The result was an unmatched tax environment.

The global accounting firm KPMG regularly assesses the tax competitiveness of 95 cities in ten countries around the world. They compare the total tax burden faced by companies, including income tax, capital tax, sales tax, property tax, miscellaneous local business taxes and statutory labour costs. I'm sure value-added taxes are in there somewhere. From that they compute a total tax index for each location expressed as a percentage of the total taxes paid by corporations in the U.S.A.

In their 2011 scenario this international accounting firm shows Vancouver as having taxes 41 percent below the U.S.A. average, 41 percent below the U.S.A. benchmark, making Vancouver the lowest-cost tax jurisdiction in the world of all the cities studied by KPMG. I find it hard to believe these numbers myself. I dealt with people. They say: "Are you making them up?" I say: "Well, look it up on the Internet. It's KPMG. They're not necessarily a pal of ours."

The transformation of B.C. from a jurisdiction characterized as penurious in terms of taxation to one with unmatched low taxes in the current government decade is, I believe, remarkable. Despite continued weakness in the economies around us, B.C. continues to outperform. Could our tax policy perhaps have something to do with it?

Tax breaks aren't confined to business. Most individuals living in this province now pay between 37 percent and 75 percent less in taxes today than they did in 2001, when the present government came into office. The basic personal income tax credit increased by 17 percent last year to $11,000. British Columbians earning up to $118,000 per year paid the lowest provincial income taxes of any jurisdiction in Canada. An additional 320,000 British Columbians at the low end of the income ladder were expunged totally from the income tax records. They just don't pay income taxes.

Finally, I would be remiss not to emphasize the economic success of the HST tax. Conceived in haste. Wretchedly introduced. But cash rebates mean low-income British Columbians are net winners from the HST. Even the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says so. So I'm very confident that the many winners from this new HST tax regime will vote to keep it when the appropriate question is asked.

[1020]

Side note to new leader: if you think voters were angry over this little HST tax surprise — and boy, were they angry — then watch out for the larger, broader and deeper anger of the business community when you say: "Oops. Sorry, we made a mistake. We're cancelling it. We're going back to the PST." Hold your hat, leader. That's not a pleasant thing to contemplate.

A second major British Columbia success was our determination in the most recent decade to run a relatively clean provincial balance sheet. The ratio of accumulated deficits — that is to say, our debt in proportion to the economy — is a good report card on any regime's cumulative fiscal prudence, or lack of it. Canada as a whole does reasonably well on this measure, particularly compared to our wild and crazy friends south of the border.

Within Canada how does B.C. look? Pretty good. The three provinces with the highest debt-to-GDP ratio, 2010-11 time period, are Quebec, 48 percent — outstanding winner; Nova Scotia, 40 percent; Ontario, paragon of all things conservative, 36 percent. What? The three provinces with the smallest debt-to-GDP ratio are Alberta, 5 percent; Saskatchewan, 7; British Columbia, 16.

Memo to incoming leader: let's keep it that way. Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec will pay a heavy price. "What price?" you ask. Well, you may read about the sad fate of Greece, Spain and Ireland in the daily financial press, and I don't have to go into the details for you here.

Further memo to incoming leader: if additional infrastructure spending is warranted, and I'm a big fan of that — sensible infrastructure, that is, because we've got lots of dying sewer systems, decaying bridges and homeless people who need some place to live — let's arrange to put the risks of that investment onto the private sector so that our own balance sheet integrity is not put further at risk. It's my impression that in the earlier decade, that would be considered dangerous and unacceptable doctrine.

Let's complete this tour of the current government decade with a brief listing of some of the specific accomplishments to be written in the report card of the outgoing leader. I've got three pages here, which I don't think time permits me to go through. Let me just mention a few.

Environmental. Cleaning up Britannia mines; doubling transit ridership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; first government with a drinking water protection plan; ordering Victorians to stop discharging their untreated human waste into the Strait of Juan de Fuca — and it's about time.

Services quality. Student achievement in the public education system — right up there towards the front of the class on global comparisons. We gripe about education a good deal and lament it, but we are actually, on a global basis, very, very good.

Hospital waiting lists, lowest in Canada. Cancer treatment outcomes, just about the best in the world. If you
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get cancer, heaven forbid, get it in B.C. Discovering and implementing the now standard global therapy for eliminating the transmissibility of HIV. Thank you, Dr. Montaner.

Mass transit — Canada Line, Evergreen line, new B.C. Ferries fleet, on and on. Industrial transportation — Gateway, south perimeter road, Port of Prince Rupert, Rupert to Chicago rail.

Sports and cultural. Skating oval, Callaghan Valley, B.C. Place, a good start on the Horseshoe Bay–Deep Cove rec path.

Highways — Sea to Sky, Kicking Horse. On it goes.

Health care institutions — Abbotsford cancer centre, mental health and addictions wing at Lions Gate Hospital. Max Cynader's brain health centre at UBC. I could go on.

Education — film centre at Capilano University, seismic upgrades at dozens and dozens of our schools. Social infrastructure — 6,000 new residential beds and over 7,000 obsolete residential beds replaced, hundreds of housing spaces for the Downtown Eastside, homeless and rental subsidy program for 8,000.

So it's been a decade of formidable leadership, but now what about our future leadership?

[1025]

In the few moments which remain, I would try to offer some suggestions about where we should be going in the future decade. No lack of choices. For example, what should be our continuing reform of one of our current Premier's passions, the public education system? It's no exaggeration to say that all else depends on this. These are our children; this is our future. The number one priority, in my opinion.

This leads into the knowledge economy, and with a nod to the member from Langara, what is our science and technology strategy? In terms of annual contribution to GDP, high-tech contributes about $10 billion, which is greater than the mining industry, the forestry industry, the oil and gas industry and agriculture combined, by a fair margin.

What level of support should be extended to our research universities, venture capital corporations, BCIC, Genome B.C., B.C. Cancer, TRIUMF and the Michael Smith Foundation — all critically important knowledge institutions?

Payoffs from knowledge tend to be long term. Politicians are pressured to think short term. That is one of our dilemmas.

I could go on at some length about the challenges in replacing our forest industry. I could talk further about the challenge of looking after kids too frequently subjected to abuse, neglect, poverty and murder. What do we do when parenting fails, beyond the instinct to reach for the Rolodex to call the media? Lots of unfinished business.

Let me close with some glimpses of a suggested policy prescription in the most complex area of all, health, offered by one of our own members, and I know that red light will come on shortly. "When it comes to health care in the current system in this province, there are four areas we need to focus attention on. Provide better and more comprehensive services to the sickest patients to bring costs under control. A small percentage of patients cost the system the most money because the system is failing them." I won't go into the details, but she has some sensible suggestions.

"Secondly, create a new role in the health care system to help people manage their own health." Hmm, we've been there in this Legislature, and she's calling for more.

"Three, expand and better coordinate mental health services." I think we all agree with that. "Increase the availability of treatment and care; talk about dementia soon." That's something I'm perhaps more imminently faced with than most of you. "Ensure that mental health professionals are appropriately regulated."

Finally, improve health care in northern and rural British Columbia.

A good menu. I recommend her full brief to you all. It could be one of the first orders of business of the new leadership, so I commend these points to the Legislature.

In closing, I have composed a final note to our next leader, whoever he or she may be. It reads as follows: "Your predecessor was so bold as to dream large, not small; to build, not to tear down; and to advocate what is good for our grandchildren, not necessarily what is good for us. We expect no less from you."

That, dear colleagues, is my response to the Speech from the Throne.

P. Pimm: First of all, I'd like to start by saying what an honour it is and has been to serve the people of Peace River North. It's truly a privilege to represent them here in the Legislature in our beautiful capital city of Victoria.

I want to recognize the endless support that I have received from my wife, Jody; my children, Jennifer, Kristi, Matthew and Shane. They're my support structure back home. For that I thank them.

I'd like to thank my constituent assistants Jennifer Wilkinson and Gayle Clark for the help that they give our constituents in Peace River North while I'm here in Victoria. I want to thank them for managing the day-to-day issues and serving the community so well. I'd also like to thank Lyndsey Easton, Ryan Shotton and all my support staff here in Victoria for all of their help on a daily basis.

Last but not least, I also want to thank my local supporters and those who believe in the sometimes unpopular decisions we have to make for the betterment of our province.

[1030]
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This is my third opportunity to stand in these chambers and speak to the Speech from the Throne. As we move forward to 2011, we have lots to look back on and to be proud of and much to look forward to.

It's hard to believe it was only one year ago that we were hosting the greatest sporting spectacle the world has seen to date. What an Olympics we had, from Alexandre Bilodeau winning Canada's first gold medal on home soil to Denny Morrison's gold-medal performance to Sidney Crosby's golden goal that sparked the nationwide celebrations. We showed the world what British Columbia and Canada have to offer.

In the days and weeks following the Olympic and Paralympic Games much of the media reported that something had changed in Canadians, and I'd agree that there was a transformation. I'm proud that it was here in this province that for 17 days the world got to experience our diverse culture, beautiful landscapes and friendly hospitality.

The exposure and buzz created about British Columbia during the Olympics was priceless. Nearly half the world's population tuned in to watch at some point or another during the Olympic Games. The business and investment opportunities our province gained as a result of the Olympics are showing why hosting the games was such a huge success on and off the ice and snow. Our province and our country's Olympic legacy will live on, and all Canadians and British Columbians can be proud that they got to be part of something so very special.

We now find ourselves on the eve of a new era in British Columbia with an opportunity to vote on who will lead the province as our next Premier. We're so very fortunate to have six great candidates for the job, and with the new weighted voting system, people from all across the province will be represented in a fair and balanced way.

I'm very pleased that the people in my riding of Peace River North will have the same voice in electing our next Premier as the fine folks here, in the Lower Mainland and Victoria. I congratulate the delegates for overwhelmingly supporting and deciding on this new system which can give equal representation across the province.

On February 26 we elect a new Premier to lead us forward through 2011 and build on the legacy and achievements of our current Premier, who has worked so hard to do what was best for our province. He deserves the recognition of being a true leader and somebody who really cares about British Columbians. He will go down in history as one of the best Premiers ever.

I look forward to our opportunity to build on the past successes of this government and to continue along the path of strengthening British Columbia. I know that northern B.C. will play a vital role in the future of the province by attracting investment and creating jobs. We are truly ready for a decade of the north. Whether it's in the northeast, northwest, north-central, the north will drive the economy for the next decade.

We made some tough decisions over the past months, and we did so because we felt they're the right decisions for the people in this province and what was best to strengthen our economy. Some of our decisions were not popular, but doing what is right is not always the popular or easy thing to do.

Take HST, for example. I know that people still want more information about HST, but people are now realizing that it's not quite as disastrous as some have led us to believe, and they're seeing some of the benefits that it actually can have. The forest industry, for example, is benefiting from HST right now, and we're starting to see companies reopening mills and indicating direct linkages to the savings they're realizing from HST. By lowering the tax on new investment, the HST is encouraging capital investment, making B.C.'s economy more tax competitive across the country and around the world.

When I look at the community of Mackenzie and see how happy the folks are that have gone back to work at the mills, I believe we've made the right decision. Canfor, B.C.'s largest forest company, says they're going to spend $62 million on upgrades in the province. That includes Vavenby mill outside Kamloops that's been closed for 19 months. When it's reopened later this year, it's going to put another 140 people back to work.

In my riding HST is very important to the small business sector. The input tax credits that benefit small business are even more pronounced in northeastern communities because there's one small business for every ten people. Small businesses are a lifeline for northern communities. We know the importance of the HST for businesses, and we can't afford to put them at a disadvantage.

[1035]

In my constituency the welders, farmers, contract operators, truckers and pipefitters operate their own small businesses, and they are now starting to see some of the benefits that HST has for them.

We're trying to build a strong province where investment is encouraged, jobs are created and strong communities are built. The harmonized sales tax creates an environment for all of these things. It's the single largest thing that has levelled out the playing field between Alberta and British Columbia companies.

All that being said, we've heard loud and clear that the people want to have their say on HST. We've heard this, and we've responded, so on September 24, 2011, all British Columbians will have a chance to be Finance Minister for a day and vote on the HST referendum.

This referendum is supported by all the leadership candidates running to become the next Premier. It will be an important step in B.C.'s future. We have a chance to keep B.C. competitive and forge ahead. Resorting back to the provincial sales tax would be a step backwards for our province. That's why I strongly encourage
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people to inform themselves about the facts about HST before they vote in the referendum.

If you have questions about HST, there's a website filled with factual information. It's not a pro-HST website. The website explains the facts and answers to British Columbians' questions about HST. Becoming informed and educating yourself on the facts about the HST is the only way to make a decision about it. Becoming informed about the facts about HST, again, is a good way to make an informed decision about it.

I'm confident with my decision to support the HST, because I've seen firsthand how it helps businesses and gets back to work for people. That is why I'll be voting yes in the upcoming referendum, because I know that British Columbians want to build a strong economy and create more jobs.

I'm proud of what the government has been able to do for my communities in Peace River North over my time in office. One that I'm particularly proud of is the $297 million investment in the new Fort St. John hospital and residential care project. This is a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the residents of northeastern British Columbia. This government's investments in health care continue to address the growing needs of our province.

We also have the family residence program. This program provides a subsidy for each family with a child in B.C. Children's Hospital. In the district of Taylor the government provided $950,000 in funding for the development of eight affordable apartments for the seniors rental housing program. This is the type of support that the north is getting from this government, and I'm proud of the record we have established since I was elected.

Outside health care, many projects have been important to increase the strength in the north. A $187 million upgrade to the SYD road from Fort Nelson to the Horn River basin. This is a road that is vital to the north moving forward.

This project, and many like it, supports the natural gas industry that's so important in northeastern B.C. and to the rest of British Columbia. The total industry capital investment was $7.9 billion in 2008, a 154 percent increase over 2001. The industry has invested almost $38 billion in B.C. since 2001, and the oil and gas sector employed over 22,000 people in 2008.

We've developed the new royalty programs to encourage summer drilling, production of wells and jobs that were previously not feasible. Our royalty programs resulted in more than $1.3 billion in additional revenue to the province since July of '03. B.C.'s oil and gas industry is governed by some of the toughest environmental regulation in the world, and last year the natural gas sector proved once again that it's extremely important to the province's economy. Summer drilling increased by 50 percent in 2010 over 2009, and tenure sales brought in over $800 million again in 2010.

This government has recognized the importance of the natural gas industry, something the NDP failed to recognize and capitalize on. Very little summer drilling occurred under the 1990s NDP. Instead, oil and gas was a seasonal industry that did not offer year-round employment. Under the 1990s NDP, the tax and royalty regime was not competitive. As a result, industry invested elsewhere. Revenue averaged just $460 million a year.

[1040]

I'm proud of the record that we've maintained and hope that we continue to partner with the oil and gas industry to keep people in the northern communities employed, keeping the economy of British Columbia strong.

Another project that's very important to the future of the natural gas industry will be the Kitimat LNG plant. B.C. is Canada's gateway to the Pacific, and the Kitimat–Summit Lake pipeline is an important component of our natural gas sector moving forward. As the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, natural gas demand is expected to increase in the future.

B.C. will have an important role in providing this fuel to expanding markets in Asia. These projects will create significant economic opportunities. The investment cost of the pipeline is expected to be $1.2 billion alone, and the Kitimat liquid natural gas project will reportedly create approximately 1,500 person-years of work during its construction and a hundred permanent positions once the terminal is in operation.

Industry has stated that these positions will remain in the communities wherever possible. So again here we have an example of job creation and how this government is working hard to make B.C. an attractive destination for investment.

Another major project that will help support British Columbia is the Site C dam — the decision to pursue Site C at the time when B.C. Hydro forecast that B.C.'s electricity needs will grow by 20 to 40 percent over the next 20 years. The province and B.C. Hydro are planning now so that British Columbians will continue to enjoy the benefits of clean, reliable and affordable electricity into the future.

Since 1990 our population has grown by 1.25 million, an increase of 38 percent. It's projected that by 2020 our population will increase by over 650,000 more — another increase of 15 percent. By 2030 it's projected that the population will grow by 1.2 million, a 28 percent increase from today. We do need to meet that growth.

Site C will have a thousand-megawatt capacity and produce 4,600 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, enough to keep the lights on in 400,000 households throughout the province. This is why our government is moving forward with stage 3 of the five-stage process to build Site C, the clean energy project. The third stage includes a rigorous environmental assessment and continued consultation with the public, stakeholders, local communities and First Nations.
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The regulatory review phase is expected to take about two years. It's anticipated that Site C will be available for domestic electricity needs by 2020. If constructed, Site C will contribute to the local and provincial economy by creating an estimated 7,650 direct construction jobs through the construction period and up to 35,000 direct and indirect jobs through all stages of the project.

We have an opportunity to develop a northeastern electrification plan that would deliver power to Fort Nelson and into the Horn River. The Horn River development is going to be huge with the Liard Basin and Cordova Basin as well. It's extremely important for us to produce this as an avenue as well as making Fort Nelson a viable service centre for the Horn River region.

The northwest electrification of B.C. has its own demands, and we're working hard to address these as well. The northwest transmission line will bring clean, green energy to many rural and remote communities. The 340-kilometre line will run from Terrace to Bob Quinn on Highway 37 North. The total investment of this project is pegged at over $400 million. Electrification of this part of the province will foster economic opportunities throughout the region in mining and clean energy production. B.C. Hydro has also signed agreements with First Nations to provide them with economic development funds and training.

The doorway to the Pacific and Asia is one we need to make sure we capitalize on. Another project that's headed in that direction is the Ridley Terminal expansion. We see Prince Rupert as a pathway to strengthening business ties and relations with Asia. Just this last year the port of Prince Rupert recorded its strongest volumes ever, following up on a 12-year high in volumes from the previous year. The port of Prince Rupert has grown not only in size but in significance, given the increasing demand for resources from and to Asian markets. This only highlights B.C.'s opportunity to take advantage of our position as a gateway to the Pacific.

All of these projects are examples of how this government is planning for a strong future in our province and putting in place resources that will manage and provide for that future.

[1045]

I must say that I'm extremely proud of our outgoing Premier and all of the accomplishments he's made over the past ten years while he was at the controls. Our taxation is not even comparable to 2001, when he took over the reins. When he was given the honour of Builder of the Decade, it could not have been more fitting. He will go down in history as one of the best ever.

In closing, I'd like to echo my hope, my confidence that with the election of the new Premier, along with the continued hard work of the elected MLAs, we can continue to grow as a province and lead the country. I like the direction we're headed in as a government and look forward to continuing to manage and strengthen our economy under the control of our future Premier.

With that, I'd like to second the motion.

D. Black: Earlier this morning I had an opportunity to mention to the House that my family was here yesterday for the Speech from the Throne. Some of them were able to stay overnight and stay in Victoria, and they're with us in the gallery today. I'd just like to make mention that my husband, Peter, is here. My son Stuart; his wife, Takako; and two grandsons Ian and Christopher are in the gallery. My son Matthew; his wife, Joanna; and my two granddaughters Meagan and Lauren are in the gallery, and I appreciate very much the House making them welcome this morning.

I rise to respond to the government's Speech from the Throne, but first let me say to this House and to all my colleagues here that it's an honour to stand here today as the interim Leader of the Official Opposition and the unanimous choice of my caucus.

As a grandmother of seven beautiful grandchildren and, as I might be able to say, as a rather seasoned politician, this is not a job that I either expected or sought. But it is one that I'm determined to fulfil to the best of my ability on behalf of all British Columbians. I bring to this role a love for this province and this country and a lifelong commitment to public service.

I want to take a moment just to thank the many British Columbians who have offered me their kind words of encouragement and support. I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor, the member for Victoria–Beacon Hill. The member for Beacon Hill served the people of British Columbia well, with dignity and with honour. She made a lasting contribution to my party, to British Columbians and to our public life, and she remains a powerful voice for a more compassionate and just British Columbia. Thank you to the member for Beacon Hill.

I stand here at a crucial time in our province's history. Despite having been in power for ten years, little progress has been made by the B.C. Liberals on fundamental issues that shape our future. First Nations treaties are stalled. Greenhouse gas emissions are rising. Child poverty is worse here than anywhere else in Canada for seven years running. Tens of thousands of forestry jobs have been lost in British Columbia.

The recent disappointing unemployment figures were brushed aside by the Minister of Finance, but they show an underlying economic weakness that cannot be ignored. Today the unemployment rate in British Columbia is higher. It's higher here than anywhere else in Canada west of the Atlantic provinces. For a government that likes to spin its economic credentials, the fact that so many British Columbians are without work is an indictment of its economic record. With rising costs and stagnant wages, many wonder if they'll be able to afford a home, raise a family and save for the future.

[1050]
[ Page 6284 ]

Just last week we saw a TD economic report that showed British Columbians are the most economically stressed in all of Canada. This will come as no surprise to that young family that's struggling to pay the half-million-dollar mortgage on a modest home in B.C. In my community in New Westminster I meet families every day who struggle with the basics, and I worry about the future their children will inherit.

Our economy is just not working for far too many British Columbians. They're being squeezed by this government's actions and by its ongoing inaction. The narrow agenda that has driven the B.C. Liberals for ten years has made life harder for hard-working British Columbians, and too many others have simply been left behind. We can and we must do better.

After ten years of a Liberal government, it's time for change. It's time for real change — change that offers hope for a better future, change that puts people first, change that British Columbians can trust and change to a new government with a new vision. In the next election, whenever that might come, I am confident that British Columbians will choose change and elect a new New Democratic government for British Columbia.

Yesterday's Speech from the Throne was a powerful example of why British Columbians do want change. I understand that the Premier is just a few days away from retirement. But come on — a walk down memory lane and the history of the last ten years as only this government could write it?

The throne speech powerfully demonstrates the drift of this government. The B.C. Liberals have been running on empty for months. The government is tired. It's lost touch; it's unsure of what to do next. This House has been adjourned for eight months. Critical issues have been ignored, and the throne speech failed to address any of them.

Even more troubling, the B.C. Liberals don't seem to know right from wrong — 6 million taxpayer dollars for Liberal insiders convicted of corruption — $6 million, $6 million. A growing dirty tricks and election expense scandal involving the former Solicitor General and key campaign operatives installed, no doubt, by Liberal headquarters. More unanswered questions about B.C. Rail, the B.C. Rail corruption scandal, that touch on the credibility of at least two Liberal leadership candidates.

Is it any wonder that so many British Columbians, whatever their political stripe, are coming to the conclusion that the B.C. Liberals simply cannot be trusted? Is it any wonder that so many British Columbians are cynical about their government? The response from the Liberal leadership candidates doesn't offer us much hope. Sure, they all promise to do a better job of listening. But listen carefully. They all sound the same — more of the same, more of the same.

The HST — they all support it, despite the toll it's taking on average families and small business in this province. The environment — they barely mention it. Health care — we hear the same tired calls for further privatization, and one candidate's proposal would actually amount to hundreds of millions in cuts. Education — just what are they saying? I haven't heard it discussed much. Cleaning up government — nothing, nothing concrete. Rising costs, stagnant wages.

Finally, they say they'll increase the minimum wage — finally, after ten years. But they offer little else for average families who are struggling today.

[1055]

Madam Speaker, make no mistake. The next Premier of British Columbia, no matter who wins, may change the face of this government, but that person will not change the substance of this government. The B.C. Liberal leadership race is proving that. Same old, same old, same old.

The Liberals are just not up to today's challenges, and frankly, the level of hypocrisy is staggering.

Christy Clark promises a family-first agenda. This is the same Christy Clark who sat at Treasury Board and slashed budgets for B.C.'s most vulnerable children. This is the same Christy Clark who closed hundreds of schools in British Columbia and the same Christy Clark who was part of a cabinet that even tried to cut school lunches. I'm sure that families in British Columbia may be happy to hear Ms. Clark is concerned about them, but they know from experience just what she means by: "Families first."

The member for Surrey-Cloverdale promises that he will listen — this from the person who, when he was Transportation Minister, gave himself the power to steamroll over municipalities. You'll forgive me if that promise sounds just a little hollow.

The member for Abbotsford West says he will restore openness to government — this from the same person who quietly paid $6 million of your money, my money, our money, to cover the defence costs for Liberal operatives convicted of corruption.

The member for Shuswap's slogan is "The people are coming." Well, I'll give the member that. After ten years of Liberal incompetence, ten years of Liberal deception, ten years of Liberal broken promises, the people are coming. They're coming to throw the B.C. Liberals out of government once and for all.

But before that happens, the B.C. people do have another job to do. They have to pass judgment on the HST, the most regressive and ill-timed tax shift in B.C.'s history, a tax that drives up costs for families and businesses in every community in our province.

The Liberal leadership candidates all seem to think that the HST is just a great idea. Most of them actually signed off on it in cabinet, and they were part of the decision to spring it on British Columbians with no warning.

But now they want to be Premier, and they're looking for forgiveness. So let me give the B.C. Liberal leader-
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ship candidates a chance to do something concrete. Here's their chance to put their money where their mouths are.

Yesterday I served notice that I will be introducing a bill this session to change the Recall and Initiative Act. My bill would give British Columbians a chance to vote on the HST as early as June. If the B.C. Liberal leadership candidates are serious, they will call on their government to bring my bill to the floor of this chamber and pass it. Pass it here before we leave.

That's my challenge to the B.C. Liberals who want to be Premier. If you want to show you are different, then prove it in your actions. Pass my bill, move up the referendum, and let British Columbians vote on the HST.

The HST and the way that it was brought in are part of a larger problem with the B.C. Liberals. They simply don't get it. The throne speech spoke powerfully to that drift. The B.C. Liberals have been in power too long. They've forgotten who they are here to serve. It's time for them to go.

[1100]

Today's challenges require a fresh start, a new approach and a government that truly does put people first; a government that understands that we are stronger when every young British Columbian has the opportunity to make the most of themselves; a government that understands we are all better off when the least advantaged among us are given a hand up; a government that understands that in today's world, sustainable economic growth is the path to secure jobs and a healthy environment; and most important of all, a government that understands that our most important assets are the skills of our people, the diversity of our neighbourhoods and the strength of our communities.

New Democrats understand this reality. We have the energy, the determination and the humility to provide British Columbians with a government they can trust. It is time for a change in British Columbia. It's time for a new government with a fresh approach. New Democrats, in partnership with British Columbians in every region and every community, are ready to deliver on that challenge. We're ready with the promise of a better future for every British Columbian.

T. Lake: It gives me great pleasure to rise in the House today and respond to the Speech from the Throne that was delivered yesterday.

Before I do that, I just want to, as we have the honour to do, thank the people that are important in our lives, to allow us to do the work in the public service. Of course, above all, is our family — my wife, Lisa; my daughters Shannon, Stephanie and Gemma; and of course my dog Pal, who keeps me sane by making sure I get him out for a run most of the time when I'm at home.

Also, I want to thank Paula Kully, my constituency assistant, who is visiting Victoria for the first time this week, and Rob Sherf, who also works in our North Kamloops office, and the support staff here in Victoria — Andrew Lane, Jeff Melon and Sam Olyphant — for providing the support that's needed when you are trying to do a good job on behalf of your constituents.

I also want to say thank you to Premier Gordon Campbell for 27 years of public service, ten of which were….

Deputy Speaker: Member.

T. Lake: I beg your pardon, Madam Speaker.

Interjection.

T. Lake: The member for Point Grey. Thank you, hon. colleague.

For 27 years of public service and ten, of course, as Premier of this great province.... I wish him all the very best in his years ahead and hope it provides him with many, many enjoyable hours with his family. He well deserves that.

As we celebrated the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games this past year, many, many good things were happening throughout the riding of Kamloops–North Thompson. I just wanted to highlight some of those things that have happened since we were last here in Victoria. I know the media make it sound like we've had 250-some-odd days off of work, Madam Speaker. But of course, you know and my colleagues in the House know that we've all been very busy in our constituencies or ministries or assigned tasks to do the work of a public servant.

In Kamloops again, as we celebrated the 2010 Olympics, we also celebrated the 40th anniversary of Thompson Rivers University, which started out as Cariboo College in 1970, as a comprehensive regional post-secondary institution.

[1105]

In those days Cariboo College was mostly a collection of mobile buildings that were put together. People were experiencing post-secondary education in the Kamloops region for the first time.

At that particular time I was growing up in the Okanagan and went to Okanagan College, which was a similar and competitive institution. I remember visiting Cariboo College while playing volleyball and was very envious that Cariboo College in Kamloops had a gymnasium of their own, whereas in Okanagan College in Kelowna we didn't even have a gymnasium to use.

The motto of Cariboo College was quansem ilep, a Chinook word meaning "to strive ahead." Certainly, that sums up the 40-year history of what is now Thompson Rivers University. From its beginning as a community college without a campus to its status today as an outstanding university, TRU has gone from strength to strength.
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As I mentioned, I think one of the differences over the last decade in Kamloops and the region has been the development of TRU supported by this government. Most recently, that support extended to the new house of learning currently under construction. This will be a centrepiece of this comprehensive university. It is inspired by the design of the traditional Keek-wili pit houses of the Interior nations and features a sod roof, a living roof, and 492 beetle-kill log roof panels.

[L. Reid in the chair.]

This house of learning is made possible by more than $20 million in funding from the province of British Columbia, as well as significant funding from the government of Canada and the generosity of benefactors like the amenable Ike Barber, who contributed $1.5 million to create a centre where people from all over British Columbia can come together to discuss problems, as he says, on an even playing field, where people are sitting in a round room that does not consider status. We all talk as equals.

He wants people from all over British Columbia to use this facility. He speaks of the strength of the entire province and the need for the focus to be around the province rather than centred in one area of the province such as the Lower Mainland.

This building is also supported generously by Mark and Ellen Brown, who this past year announced a contribution of $2 million, the largest pledge ever to the TRU Foundation. This building will be built to LEED gold standards and will be one of the most environmentally responsible, cost-efficient buildings in Kamloops and, of course, a very healthy place for all who work and study there.

I had an opportunity to tour the facility in just the last week, and it is truly an amazing building. It will help support Canada's newest law school in 35 years that will soon be opening — in September of 2011 — in Kamloops at Thompson Rivers University. That law school, the first in 35 years in Canada, also received a boost with a $125,000 gift by Fulton and Co., a law firm in Kamloops with over 100 years of history.

The recent announcement of Wally Oppal, QC, as chancellor of Thompson Rivers University will also, of course, increase the profile in the legal profession, and we hope that will kick off our law school in a very, very positive manner.

I was also glad to be at TRU recently when the province contributed $260,000 for a contribution towards an electron scanning microscope, which will aid in research projects in the science faculty there.

But the university isn't the only institution that has benefited from the last ten years of provincial government support. On January 31 we celebrated the official opening of the Royal Inland Hospital's new $11 million intensive care unit. Thanks to this redevelopment and renovation, intensive care services have been expanded to meet the increasing needs of the Kamloops region.

As many of you know, Royal Inland serves a huge area of the Interior and is the third-largest trauma centre in British Columbia. With that, we've seen increases in patient volume, acuity and length of stay over the years. In fact, more than 500 patients were treated at the ICU last year.

The new ICU will include 17 private patient rooms with five airborne isolation rooms, including a bariatric room; a new family entrance, waiting area and quiet room; improved functional and visual layouts, as well as improved and enhanced infection control.

[1110]

There's also adequate support space for staff. Of course, the staff at Royal Inland is just exceptional. When you are in a high-pressure situation like an intensive care unit, it is extremely important that staff have the needs that they require for the workspace and to look after their patients in the best way possible.

This 1,440-square-metre ICU is about 80 percent larger than the old space on the fourth floor. Funding for that project is being shared between the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, the Thompson Regional Hospital District and the province through the Interior Health Authority. The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation is working hard to raise money and this past week announced that Mark Recchi, world-renowned hockey player from Kamloops, is now the new ambassador for the hospital foundation.

Since 2002 Interior Health, through the province of B.C., has invested over $883 million on capital projects to better serve the Interior residents. Royal Inland has benefited from a number of those investments, including about $17 million to the Hillside psychiatric centre; $13.9 million for the redevelopment of the hospital's second floor, including new state-of-the-art emergency and medical imaging departments; and $2.5 million for a new electrical system upgrade, which enables the purchase and operation of a new CT scanner as well as a digital mammotome, which is critical to diagnose and help treat women that are at risk of suffering from breast cancer.

Over the next three years B.C.'s health care system will benefit from investments such as new medical equipment and modernized health facilities as part of a $2.6 billion health sector capital plan.

In addition to the great Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, we also have a great collaboration between the health authority and the city of Kamloops which is recognized around Canada. It is one of only three strategic health alliances, and this alliance won the B.C. Medical Association's 2009 Excellence in Health Promotion corporate award.

This health alliance takes advantage of the tremendous facilities that have been constructed in Canada's
[ Page 6287 ]
tournament capital, particularly the Tournament Capital Centre, which is a huge complex of a wellness centre, gymnasia, swimming pool, sports medicine clinic and also a gymnastics facility.

With this partnership, we see people who have suffered from cardiovascular disease. Once they've been treated by their acute care physicians, they are sent into the vascular improvement program in which specially trained kinesiologists will guide their recovery through exercise and also through other sorts of approaches, including meditation and looking at the entire person to try to get them back on track as they transition from a very scary diagnosis and treatment back into a healthier lifestyle.

We were able to tour the Tournament Capital Centre recently with Dr. Kendall Ho, who is the director of the eHealth strategy office at the UBC Faculty of Medicine. I met Dr. Ho through my position as Parliamentary Secretary for Health Promotion and participated with Dr. Ho in a number of outreach opportunities to talk to people about healthy living, particularly around diabetes.

We took part in a diabetes awareness seminar that was partnered with SUCCESS to the Chinese community in Vancouver, through the intercultural on-line network in which Dr. Ho is doing a great job reaching out to the multicultural community, overcoming some of the communication challenges that exist when we're talking about promoting healthy living.

I invited Dr. Ho to come to Kamloops to show him what we were doing in the Interior with our alliance with Interior Health and the city of Kamloops. He has used that model and will take that back to look at how he can partner with Interior communities to reach out to First Nations particularly, as well as the growing multicultural community in the Interior.

We all know, with the demographics of our population changing, that the need for looking after our seniors is imperative. In December Interior Health put out a series of requests for proposals for development of 482 new residential care beds throughout the Interior, 125 of which will be built in Kamloops with contracts expected to be awarded this spring and completion hopefully by 2013.

[1115]

This is a significant investment in seniors health care, and these are in addition to other programs such as assisted living and caring for people in homes and a program that we have supported through the seniors information centre in Kamloops to try to help people that want to stay in their homes with things like household repairs, lawn and garden repairs, clearing sidewalks so that people can stay in their homes longer and stay out of the acute care system.

In Kamloops and throughout the province we are updating, modernizing and adding thousands of beds. These will be of great benefit not only to the seniors they serve but, of course, to all British Columbians as we try to relieve the pressure on the hospital system and the need for acute care.

There are many determinants of health. We know the social determinants include housing. Adequate housing has been addressed, I think, by many, many different levels of government over the last five years in particular when I think all of us across North America realized that housing needs were not being met for many in our society. I don't want to say that any one government can take credit for doing any more than any other. I think all of us across North America…. You can point to numerous governments and numerous programs that have all tried to focus on the problem of homelessness.

I know in the United States they've had a federal program that's been very successful. Places like Calgary have done an enormously successful job. I think also, when we look at the Lower Mainland and around British Columbia, we have some very good success stories.

So I'd like to talk a little bit about some that are happening in Kamloops, starting with the Rendezvous Hotel, which was purchased last January at a cost of $853,000. The Rendezvous Hotel was…. Well, it was an interesting venue, not that I was all that familiar with the insides of the venue. But needless to say, there were many police investigations centred around the drug trade and many calls for service to this particular business.

When the opportunity came up to purchase the hotel and turn it into a shelter, the province stepped up. Now we are in the process, through the Canadian Mental Health Association and their award of the bid, to move forward with renovations and complete this former rooming house, which was in deplorable condition, to a new, well-maintained facility assisting Kamloops' most vulnerable citizens, both men and women.

I'm very proud to see that transformation occur, and I want to thank the Canadian Mental Health Association in Kamloops as well as the AIDS Society of Kamloops, which are also partnering in that project.

It's a project which I think is a great example of government's comprehensive strategy Housing Matters B.C., which was launched in 2006 and, I think, has done a great deal to break the cycle of homelessness.

For seniors housing — there are those in the seniors community that have difficulty meeting the economic challenge of housing in our province. Just a month ago the federal and provincial governments gathered to celebrate the opening of Golden Vista, a new 46-unit housing for seniors just down the street from my constituency office.

This is a project put together by a former CFL star, Stefen Reid, who is from Kamloops. It was great to see Stefen come back to his hometown and contribute in the way that he is. Fifteen of those units are dedicated to low-income seniors, giving them an ability to live
[ Page 6288 ]
independently in their home community, close to the resources and supports that they will need.

Now, $900,000 was contributed from the federal government of Canada's economic action plan. Again, these units will be managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and promoting health of all people through services, programs and public advocacy.

As we leave Kamloops, in talking about some other areas of the constituency in the North Thompson, I just want to touch on another project that I think was important to my constituency and other constituencies around the province, and that was the work of the Ranching Task Force of which I was co-chair as parliamentary secretary.

The Premier realized that the challenge of the ranching industry was huge, suffering from the downturn in the economy, suffering from BSE, suffering from drought, the Canadian dollar. All of these were conspiring against a ranching industry that had a long and storied history in British Columbia.

[1120]

I was very proud to work alongside the British Columbia Cattlemen's Association as well as other stakeholders from throughout the industry to identify challenges that the industry was encountering, including government regulation and legislation.

We were able to have a cross-ministerial approach that identified some of the ways which we could aid that industry and, at the end of the day, were able to come up with $5 million, in cooperation with the federal government, to support research and marketing initiatives which I think will make this industry sustainable into the future.

We travelled to China and Japan to work on opening up those markets to Canadian beef. We are well on our way to doing that. Once we are able to get Canadian beef into China, I know that will definitely have a positive impact on the price that farmers receive for their product and will help lift up the entire industry.

Moving up the riding, the newest municipality in British Columbia is the mountain resort municipality of Sun Peaks. They have extremely good leadership under Mayor Al Raine and his council. They have a community that pulls together in many different ways to meet the challenges of a small but growing resort municipality that, of course, in the winter has a lot of people there that aren't full-time residents. Then, in the summer, the full-time residents are left to make sure that they have all the infrastructure necessary to create a vibrant community.

One of the challenges was schooling. A lot of the kids in that region would have to be bused to the nearest school, close to Kamloops. The parents of that community said, "You know what? We can put together our own school," which they did.

In September of 2010 the Sun Peaks Education Society formed a community-based school called the Discovery Centre. The Discovery Centre is the product of a parent-driven initiative through the Sun Peaks Education Society. The whole group around that society, the entire community, has come together to support this centre.

They have a website, www.balancededucation.ca. Their goal is to foster a fresh learning environment which goes beyond the norm, where all students are inspired to be the best that they can be. It is the only school I know of in Canada where the students actually ski to school.

I'm also very proud to say that Sun Peaks Resort was rated by Condé Nast Traveler as the No. 2 resort in Canada, second only to Whistler. Every year more and more people discover what a great place it is. This year Sun Peaks reports growth from Australia and Washington State, up to a 20 percent increase, which reflects an overall trend in the Kamloops area, which was just highlighted in our local media, where Tourism Kamloops reported revenue from accommodation was up 14 percent in 2010 over 2009.

Certainly, a lot of reason for optimism in Canada's tournament capital, where sports and tournaments have attracted people from around the world. Of course, having such a great natural outdoor environment, including Sun Peaks so close, it's a natural draw.

In 2011 Kamloops will host the Western Canada Summer Games with thousands of competitors, coaches, support staff and, of course, thousands of volunteers. I'd like to thank those volunteers who are making that happen, as we watch the Canada Winter Games occur at the moment and Team B.C. — doing very well, I might add.

The community of Barriere, the district of Barriere, is a growing community that has only been incorporated for the past few years. They are being supported by federal and provincial government programs such as the Towns for Tomorrow program, which has allowed them to develop critical infrastructure projects that assess climate change, sustainability and overall health and livability.

Barriere is using some of their infrastructure funding for a community park improvement project, which includes a new field house and a new bandshell, where they can have community events, and also a new multi-use greenway project in that community park.

The town road in Barriere will also be revitalized with an infrastructure planning grant. They're also looking to our new Towns for Tomorrow program to help with their new water system.

We all remember the fires of 2003 that just about destroyed the town of Barriere. We know that a sawmill there in Louis Creek in the Barriere area was destroyed, putting a lot of people out of work and creating a huge vacuum in that community.

[1125]
[ Page 6289 ]

The North Thompson Economic Development Society was formed. Contributions came in from governments, from private citizens, from the corporate sector, and that helped a whole number of initiatives throughout the valley, one of which was the development of the Louis Creek industrial park. I'm happy to report that just recently the Ministry of Environment has issued a certificate of compliance. After four years of looking at the project, a certificate of compliance has been issued, and now the land can be subdivided, handed over to the district of Barriere for a very important economic development opportunity.

Economic development, of course, comes from local leadership. It comes from leaders like Carmen and Barb Smith, who were nominated and awarded citizen of the year in Barriere. Carmen and Barb have been in the community for many years. They are founders of one of the district's most important employers, at a cedar mill. They contribute in many, many different ways, including lending their swimming pool to the community for swimming lessons. Everybody in town knows Carmen and Barb Smith and has benefited from their generosity.

As we move north to Clearwater, this is a community that faces tremendous challenges. The downturn in the forest sector, with the falloff of the U.S. housing market, hit Clearwater very hard. Close to 200 people were employed at the Vavenby sawmill operated by Canfor. In July of 2009 that mill was put on a closure for a temporary period until market conditions improved. I'm very happy that just a few days ago Canfor announced that that mill would be reopening, with $24 million in investment and 140 direct jobs. That community could not have received better news.

I want to thank the Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands and his team for what they have done for the forest industry, because without the huge developing market in China, this mill would not be reopening this year. Canfor sends 30 percent of its product to China now, whereas in the past it was a minuscule amount. That enables mills, like Vavenby, to ship their product to the United States and Japan as those markets turn around. So I just want to say a big thank-you not only to the ministry but also to the union and the workers that sat down with the company to cooperate and determine how they could make that mill vital again.

We're supporting the district of Clearwater with $50,000 for the community resource centre, another important outcome of the North Thompson economic development fund, and transitioning them over to a new model with the district of Clearwater as they apply for permission to purchase the Dutch Lake elementary school, a school that has been closed for seven years and now can be redeveloped into a community hub that will be critical for the people of Clearwater.

As I end my comments, I want to just touch on Wells Gray Park, one of B.C.'s finest provincial parks. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of B.C. Parks, I want to talk about Wells Gray, which was put on the map in 1939 as a B.C. provincial park. It is a huge and very beautiful park, integral to the community of Clearwater.

So many tourists will experience Clearwater. We want to make sure that more and more understand and know about Wells Gray, and with that, the Minister of Environment toured the park with me last November and agreed.

We have started to implement new signage, through the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, on Highway 5 to make sure that everyone who drives by Clearwater understands that just down the road there is beautiful Wells Gray Park, which is featured on a new website that's been created by Wells Gray tourism and marketing manager Heather Steere. I encourage you to visit that website, my colleagues, and when you get some time this summer, I hope you'll take the time to do some river rafting, some hiking and fishing in beautiful Wells Gray Park.

In summary, as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Kamloops–North Thompson region is looking forward to the future as well.

I know we as political parties are looking forward to a new era, with both parties undergoing leadership contests. I wish all of those who have stepped up to run as leaders of both parties the very best. I want to thank each and every one of them for doing that, because it takes great courage to put yourself on the line in order to be a leader.

[1130]

Madam Speaker, with that, I will say that this throne speech, I think, has talked about the last ten years, but it sets the tone for the next ten years. In Kamloops–North Thompson we look very much forward to the next ten years in British Columbia.

N. Macdonald: It's good to be back here. I've particularly enjoyed some of the debate today, and not to degrade any of the recent speakers, certainly it's always good to hear from the member for West Vancouver–Capilano. I think he sets the standard. He always comes prepared.

Some of the conclusions that he reached I would disagree with, and certainly, there's a very good article from Paul Willcocks that looks at the Progress Board and reaches different conclusions than the member has. But there's no doubt that the member comes prepared and speaks to the standard that we should have in the House of debate that is prepared and comes from a base of knowledge, which the minister has. Excuse me. It's "member." It should be "minister."

I also want to commend the member for New Westminster, who has taken on a role for us that's very much appreciated by the opposition. We're proud to have her up and speaking for us.
[ Page 6290 ]

As previous speakers have said, there has been a lot of change in this House over the past period that we've been away. It shouldn't be a surprise that there's been a lot of change because of the period of time that we have been away. This is a ridiculously long period to go without this House sitting, and it points to the fact that the set schedule for sittings is about as real to this Premier as the open cabinet meetings. It is as real as that. A child could have been conceived and born in the period this House has not sat.

There has never been a Legislature that has been more expensive and has done less for the people of British Columbia than this one at this time. That is wrong. People expect us to be here, and they expect us to hold the government to account. They expect the government to come and be accountable.

There has been a failure there, and it doesn't just sit with the Premier. It sits with all MLAs who enable that. This is our House. It's the people's House, actually. We went door to door, and we knocked on people's doors. We said that we would be their representatives. Implicit in that is that we're going to show up here and do the job that people elected us to do. We're the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

In Columbia River–Revelstoke people have raised a whole host of issues over that eight- or nine-month period, and I'd just break them down into three basic themes. The first is around democracy and due process. A tremendous amount of discussion by people on that issue.

The second, which other speakers have alluded to, is on the piece of social equity, on the fairness, social justice. Those issues come up again and again.

The third, and this is particularly for people in rural areas, is around the care of our shared resources, particularly with our land and streams. I think for urban MLAs, as well, you hear about health care, about some of our Crown corporations, about education — those shared resources and what's happening there.

People have views that they want their MLAs to bring forward to this House. There are no questions that there are problems in all of those areas that need to be addressed, and the expectation is that we are going to come here and address them. There's no question that that is what is expected, that government MLAs are going to put forward positions and defend them, and that we are going to come forward and try to find weaknesses in their positions, not to score points but to strengthen legislation.

It is not only that we don't sit. I'd ask MLAs to remember that all of the important pieces of legislation that have been passed in the last two years have been passed using closure, whether it's the carbon tax; whether it is the changes to the Election Act; whether it is the so-called green energy plan, which is, in my area, a hugely controversial piece of legislation; the HST. All depended on the use of closure.

[1135]

The system that we go to school…. I'm a teacher, as many MLAs would know, and we teach children that this is the system that we use to create legislation. We have truncated it in this House repeatedly, and why? We don't sit for September, October, November, December. It's a problem that we need the new leadership that comes to address. This House needs to work differently, and it's heartening to hear members on both sides running for leadership making those sorts of commitments — that they're going to make this place work better. People expect it.

With the HST, it is interesting what people said when you actually were talking to people about the harmonized sales tax. I think all members understand that the implementation of the harmonized sales tax bothered people tremendously — the way it was done. I hear many members saying that they get that, that that was the problem.

You could have an argument on the tax from me. I am still hearing from my area that it is a tax shift that's problematic. But the bigger problem was the way it was done. I think what is encouraging for British Columbians is that people actually stood up and did something about it.

Now, I'm sure for government MLAs that was a bit of a painful process. It nevertheless was an encouraging process in that people, not only who are activists but also those who have never been particularly active, organized themselves. I mean, I watched Bill Vander Zalm come to many of my communities. He did not have an organization in place. He showed up without notice and had community members go out and organize themselves. In my area they collected 30 percent of the signatures in a pretty short period of time.

I would participate as a volunteer, signing up signatures, and I would stand out in front of the post office with people who have never been particularly politically active. That it worked and that they were successful I think all of us here should be pretty impressed with. It shows that people do watch and do care.

The message I would take from it, as much as on tax policy, is that they expect us as MLAs, and the government in particular, to do better, to really lay out exactly what they are going to do in an election.

I would say the 2009 election was a failure on many, many counts. It's the HST that bothered them, but it was also the budget, the deficit that was forecast being six to eight times off what was guaranteed. That bothered people. The idea that health and education were being protected did not resonate with people. Three failures that point to the illegitimacy, I would say, of the government. What it led to, quite correctly, is that the Premier heard, no doubt, from MLAs and has stepped down.

In my view, what needs to happen next, and I hear this from people…. There is an expectation of another election. Governments need mandates, and what I hear
[ Page 6291 ]
from at least one member of the leadership hopefuls on the Liberal side is that there's an understanding that there needs to be a mandate. What I would say to MLAs here is that when a new set of leaders is chosen, we need to go to an election. We need a government that is legitimately here with a mandate, and that does not exist today.

The second thing that people talk about, and talk about repeatedly, is around social equity. It is around a strong sense that is backed up statistically, but we see it in our communities. I think intuitively we know that British Columbia has become less fair. We have seniors who are finding life more and more difficult, and it is based upon many decisions that are made here in this Legislature by the government.

[1140]

Politics is about choices and about what is important. If seniors were as important as the rhetoric from the government suggests, then they would be treated differently.

There is a strong case that since 2001 the life for seniors has been made more and more difficult. I would just point to a few examples from the past year, maybe even the past number of months. MSP payments going up, residential care rates going up. At the same time, this House passed tax cuts for banks of — what? — $100 million. And it's a repeated pattern. Corporations and banks paying less; seniors on fixed incomes paying more. At the same time, the quality of services is degraded.

It is incredibly difficult for seniors. All of us in our offices hear the same thing. We all say that they have to be treated with the respect that they deserve, but it has to happen. It has to be more than words. All of us recognize that there's a cost to that, but we need to go out and make the case that wise investments in looking after people and wise investments in infrastructure are good things and that if tax dollars are used properly, this is a tremendous, positive thing.

I know that in my communities there have been investments by this government that were wise investments. In fact, in the local papers I'd be the first to say that that's the case. We depend on infrastructure. We depend on services. We need to continually be fighting for those things. It's not just seniors. We have issues around children in care. We have issues around education. We have a whole host of issues that need to be dealt with. Now, we could never get it perfect, but we need to aim to as close as perfect as possible — especially in certain areas, in particular, with children in care.

This Legislature, this government, has the ability to take children from parents. If you have that right, you take on a tremendous obligation to do that job properly. Now, the only defence that I hear is that other governments have failed as well, but surely, even as somebody makes that argument, they must realize the weakness of it.

We have to do better with children in care. We have to do better with our young in general. That's a point that was made very well by the member for West Vancouver–Capilano, and it's one that we agree on. But to do that, we actually have to put in place the programs and have the Legislature function in a way that we can make it happen.

The third thing that people talk about repeatedly is our public lands and the care that needs to be taken with those streams. There are two issues in my area. The IPP issue — the independent power project issue, as it's called — is problematic still for a number of reasons.

First, it's clear that local areas, rural communities, should have a say on whether those projects go ahead or not, and that was deliberately removed by legislation by the B.C. Liberals. That is a mistake, and it should be repealed so that if projects are to go ahead, they have the support of communities. These communities understand whether a project makes sense or not.

In Revelstoke people point to existing independent power projects and say: "How can you be against them when they exist there and they seem to be working?" The difference is that the community had a say on the projects. The community was able to judge whether it made sense or not. The projects were changed because of that process, and the ones that made sense went ahead. The ones that were judged not to make sense did not. Local input.

Second, I have over 20 to 25 streams with projects that are expected to go ahead. It is a huge concentration of these sorts of projects in a way that does not make sense. The overall environmental impact of the projects needs to be looked at in a regional manner.

[1145]

Third, where it makes sense, they should be public. They should certainly provide a public benefit. Those are the things that people repeatedly come and talk about.

The other area is around forestry. There is an economic crisis, and there is a forest health crisis. None of those are simple. The economy of the United States has changed. The products have changed. There are ongoing issues that will continue around trade into the States.

We have lost approximately half of the employment in forestry over the past ten years, and that is something I will use in question period to throw back at anybody who asserts that B.C. Liberal forest policy is a success. But it is far more complex than an exchange in question period would allow.

There are things going on in the States. There are things happening in other parts of the industry that have impact and are necessarily going to be complex. We do have to figure out how to get more jobs from this vast resource.

The second thing we need to do is look after the resource. We have taken away our capacity — by "we," I mean the government has taken away the capacity — to
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fully understand what is going on, on our public lands. We don't do inventory properly. We don't do the research properly. There are so many shortfalls there that we need to address as a House and that we need to address as legislators.

I would propose that a reasonable thing to do would be to have a forestry committee that worked so that we could look at information and present solutions to this government. That is something that we have been calling for, and my predecessors as Forests critics have been calling for, for the past five years.

The Vancouver Sun had an article where they estimated the value of our public lands at $1 trillion. That is a publicly owned asset. Even if it was half of that, it is far and away our most valuable asset, and we have not looked after it properly. It impacts not only future fibre supply and employment, but it relates to water. It relates to salmon. It relates to so many parts of the quality of our life that need to be addressed.

I know that we have limited time. I want to just finish with two things.

There are no reasons why this House needs to only sit for four days. There are all sorts of issues that need to be looked at. We need to get to the bottom of the B.C. Rail scandal. That needs to be addressed. Those questions that we have waited eight years to ask could be addressed as we continue.

We could change the date for the HST referendum. People are distressed as much by the uncertainty as by the HST itself. There are a host of issues that could be addressed in terms of policies with children, issues with seniors, issues with forestry. All of that work should be done. For us to only sit four days and then to step away again really devalues this institution, in my mind.

With that, I know that others are having to speak. It's good to see everyone, and it's nice to be back here.

Hon. I. Chong: I rise in my place, as well, with an opportunity to respond to the throne speech. But before I begin, I do want to offer my congratulations to the interim Leader of the Official Opposition, the member for New Westminster.

I want to also thank the former leader, the member for Victoria–Beacon Hill, for her contribution. While we obviously, over the years, did not always see eye to eye on a number of areas, I think we would agree that we both value the honour and privilege that we have to serve the public. I know I can speak quite candidly.

[1150]

In the community, when we were at events together…. I know that she wholeheartedly enjoyed being in her constituency, and certainly, I want to wish her well as she continues to contribute more in that fashion now that her duties are less onerous for her.

I also want to take an opportunity to acknowledge our Premier, the member for Vancouver–Point Grey, who I've been sitting behind for a number of years, serving with him. When I first met him in 1995, when he spoke about public service, it was quite clear that all he was attempting to do was to encourage people to be involved.

Whether they decided to seek office, whether they decided to run campaigns, whether they decided to be involved in public policy, all that he was asking from people from all walks of life was to get involved, to be involved, to be a part of good public policy. For that, I am forever grateful that the member for Vancouver–Point Grey, the Premier, reached in and got me stimulated in that way so that I would offer myself to public life in this way. Again, I want to acknowledge his contribution, as I'm sure others will over the course of the next number of weeks.

I want to just take an opportunity to quickly talk about some things in my riding of Oak Bay–Gordon Head and try to, as well, in the very short time, make remarks about the throne speech, obviously.

No one can ever say politics is dull in this province. I certainly would not say so, especially after having gone through a rather difficult period of time in the last 60 days, where the recall process was underway in the riding of Oak Bay–Gordon Head. But I want to address it in a positive light.

I want to thank the literally hundreds and hundreds of people — some who I had not known for long, some who I had never met — who took the time from their schedules to come out and work and volunteer for me.

For those who also stopped me in the grocery stores, in the retail stores, in the bank lineups, walking down the street, walking my dog, to take an opportunity to offer me a kind word of encouragement; to tell me that while they did not follow politics greatly, they had followed the work that I had done and that was enough for them to not sign a recall petition; to remind me that they had supported me, perhaps in the past — not always, perhaps — but wanted me to continue on for the term that I was elected to serve, for the full four years….

It is one of the reasons why I fought so hard to ensure that the recall did not succeed. It's for that reason, as I say, that I wanted to thank the hundreds and hundreds of people who came out to do that.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

I also want to acknowledge that while there were certainly thousands of people who did sign the petition, I will reach out to those individuals. I recognize that a number of them will never vote for me or support me, but there are some there who have felt disenfranchised. As someone who is elected to public office, we certainly owe it to ourselves and to those who support us or want to support us to find a way to come to a meeting of minds, maybe not always to
[ Page 6293 ]
agree but certainly to represent them. I will endeavour to continue to represent them to the best of my abilities.

With respect to the throne speech, ordinarily we would see a speech that allows us to take a look at a vision for the next year. Obviously, in the period of political time that we're in, it's not possible to talk about that vision without, obviously, offering some perspective. So I'm going to do the perspective in that regard. I want to talk about the last ten years, of what has happened that I've seen of significance under a B.C. Liberal government.

We have seen the largest-ever investment take place in our transportation and public transit sector. We have seen the largest-ever investment in our post-secondary sector with respect to facilities, as well as with a new expansion of spaces. We've seen a new relationship with our First Nations. While that has not come to a conclusion, it certainly has developed far greater than anyone had ever expected.

We have seen the most successful ever Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games hosted by a jurisdiction, one that included all Canadians and one that allowed them to share it with pride. We have seen a triple-A credit rating be restored to this province, the highest ever in Canada.

We have seen an initiative called ActNow B.C., a health promotion initiative that has been, specifically, particularly highlighted by the World Health Organization to ensure that we continue to support healthy living.

[1155]

Those are a number of things that have happened in the past ten years. Those have not been easy tasks to achieve, but we have under good leadership.

While I would like to continue on and elaborate on other areas of effort that we have made and will continue to make as a government, I do know that time is not with us this morning.

Hon. I. Chong moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. R. Coleman moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:56 a.m.

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