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)


Thursday, April 28, 2011


Afternoon Sitting


Volume 20, Number 10

[ Page 6471 ]

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011


The House met at 1:35 p.m.


[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]


Routine Business


Introductions by Members


J. Horgan: I'd like to introduce in the gallery a constituent of mine, Rick Atkinson, who is the regional vice-president of the paramedics association here in Victoria, CUPE Local 873. Rick is in the precinct today. There he is there. Thank you very much, Rick. Would the House please make him very welcome.


Introduction and
First Reading of Bills


Bill 5 — New West Partnership
Trade Agreement Implementation Act


Hon. P. Bell presented a message from His Honour the Administrator: a bill intituled New West Partnership Trade Agreement Implementation Act.


Hon. P. Bell: I move that Bill 5 be introduced and read for the first time now.


Motion approved.


Hon. P. Bell: I'm pleased to introduce Bill 5, the New West Partnership Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2011. The new west partnership trade agreement was signed by British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan on April 30, 2010. The agreement seeks to further reduce and eliminate barriers to the free trade movement of workers, goods, services and investments across western Canada between British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Our common goal is an open, efficient and stable market that operates in the best interests of our workers, our businesses and our investors.


Bill 5 introduces provisions that do the following three things, all of which are necessary to ensure that the province meets its obligations under the new west partnership trade agreement and the national agreement on internal trade: first, to ensure that the province has the statutory authority to exercise its rights and fulfil its obligations under the agreements; second, to provide a right of appeal and judicial review of panel decisions and ensure monetary awards are enforceable, all of which will effectively implement the agreement's dispute resolution procedures; and finally, amend the provisions to the College of Applied Biology Act to ensure that the rules of the council of the College of Applied Biology comply with the labour mobility provisions of the new west partnership agreement.


I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.


Bill 5, New West Partnership Trade Agreement Implementation Act, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.


Statements


CONGRATULATIONS ON ROYAL WEDDING


Hon. K. Falcon: Tomorrow, April 29, at 11 a.m., the marriage of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Elizabeth Middleton will take place in London, England. On behalf of all members of this Legislature, I would ask that the Speaker send a letter of congratulations to Prince William and Catherine Middleton for their wedding tomorrow.


J. Horgan: I want to join with the Minister of Finance. As a descendant of Irish ancestors, I will be more colloquial and say, on the opposition side, we give our best wishes to Wills and Kate on their most auspicious of occasions. Tomorrow, sometime at four in the morning, my spouse will be watching on the television.


Mr. Speaker: Consider it done.


Statements
(Standing Order 25B)


DAY OF MOURNING FOR WORKERS


K. Conroy: Today the Day of Mourning is being held to remember people who've been killed or injured on the job. In addition to the pin from WorkSafe B.C., we've all been given the opportunity to wear a pin that has come to symbolize this day. The pin shows a canary in a birdcage. As I'm sure most of you know, in the early days of coalmining, miners were sent into the mines carrying canaries in a birdcage to determine the air quality in the shafts. If the bird died, the miners had to quickly evacuate or perish themselves.


Steve Hunt, a member of the United Steelworkers, designed the pin after sitting through the Westray mining disaster hearings. The Westray mine was a coalmine in Plymouth, Nova Scotia, where, in 1992, a methane explosion killed 26 miners. Steve felt that the day of mourning required a symbol that would ensure we not forget the tragedy of the miners and the lives lost. He took the image of the canary and used it to symbolize the plight of workers worldwide. Nothing got done to ensure workers' safety until the canary died.

[ Page 6472 ]

Unfortunately, it's much the same for far too many workers today. Today this pin is being worn across Canada and the United States not just by steelworkers, but by thousands of people from many different unions and by politicians like us on both sides of the House and both sides of the border. As legislators, it is our duty to make sure legislation is in place that ensures every worker in B.C. can go to work in a safe environment and return home to their families at the end of their shift.


[1340]

I want to thank the steelworkers for providing the members of the Legislature this pin that we can all wear in solidarity as we remember workers who have died or been injured on the job and their families who are left behind.


D. Hayer: Mr. Speaker, the Canadian flag is flying at half-mast on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and over the Legislative Assembly in Victoria, not honouring the loss of a major leader or a captain of industry but in honour of the everyday worker lost or injured while on the job. Today across this land we recognize April 28 as a National Day of Mourning to commemorate those who died or were injured in the line of duty while performing their jobs.


In 2009 alone almost 1,000 Canadian workers lost their lives while on the job. That is more than 2½ deaths every day. Since 1993 well over 15,000 men and women lost their lives due to work-related causes. That is equivalent to the entire population of a medium-sized town in British Columbia, and that is an immense tragedy.


We have been commemorating this day and the loss of workers in our nation since 1991, and today what Canada began then has been adopted by 80 countries around the world. So if we see legislative employees or other workers wearing black arm bands, ribbons or lighting candles, we will know that they are remembering so many fellow workers who truly gave their all for their jobs.


I ask all members of the House to bow their heads for a moment, to join me in remembering all those who have lost their lives as a result of their work and to work diligently towards ensuring safety in the workplace to curtail this tragic loss of life.


roller derby


M. Mungall: Well, it was just one year ago that I was getting ready for the Salmo Slamo, where the Babes of Brutality of the West Kootenay Women's Roller Derby League were doing their first demo of the sport. I even spoke about it in this House.


At the time the league had two fresh teams, not quite ready for a bout, but that bout did happen not long after the Salmo Slamo. The Gnarlie's Angels went head-to-head with the Babes. Watching from the suicide seats, I cheered the Babes to victory at the league's first match.


Fast-forward to now, just months from that first bout, and you will find my local league boasting a full eight teams, making it the largest in Canada. Now on the roster for this season's bouts, the Angels and the Babes are joined by the Castlegar Dam City Rollers; the Slocan Valley Vendettas; as well as both Nelson teams, the Killjoys and the Lumber Jackies. I can't forget our junior team nor our travel team, the Kootenay Kannibelles, who recently trounced the Okanagan's SS Rodeo.


Now, the coolest part of the roller derby explosion is that the West Kootenay women, while the largest league, aren't the only growing league. We have Okanagan, East Kootenay, Okanagan-Shuswap, Abbotsford, Rain Valley Vixens, Vancouver Terminal City Rollers. Fort St. John has got a league too, and it's accepting fresh meat for the Energetic City Roller Derby Association so that they can battle it out with Prince George's Rated PG teams or any of the teams in the UNBC league.


Who can forget the gals that started it all in B.C., Victoria's very own Eves of Destruction? The Eves spread the derby word wide and far, and now bout hunters like myself are league sponsors.


On May 6 I'll be attending my first bout as a sponsor. Sinful de Mayo is a doubleheader. Get your tickets quick, because they go fast.


Remember, Mr. Speaker, to whip it and whip it good.


SAMANTHA NUTT AND ASSISTANCE FOR
WOMEN IN WAR ZONES


J. Thornthwaite: On March 8, I was honoured, along with my colleague the member for Burnaby North, to attend the International Women's Day presentation sponsored by Capilano University. Together we presented a certificate of appreciation to Dr. Samantha Nutt, the founder and executive director of War Child Canada.


[1345]

Dr. Nutt has worked tirelessly for the last 15 years to expose the atrocities and violent sexual and physical abuse of women in war-torn countries. As a keynote guest speaker at the event, Dr. Nutt shared three heart-wrenching stories that she experienced while working in the Republic of Congo, Darfur and Afghanistan. She spoke of the horrors of violent rape and physical abuse that millions of women all over the ages suffer on a daily basis while simply trying to provide food and water for their families.


However, she was heartened to share that the efforts of many non-governmental organizations who focus on providing education and assistance by women to women can help turn around the abuse they must endure every day.


While we here in B.C. can boast of all the encouraging numbers of our fellow women as doctors, lawyers and many high-level executive positions, including our new Premier, we must also realize that this is not universal and that in developed and developing countries we still
[ Page 6473 ]
have a long way to go. It is up to each and every one of us to talk about it and to help make a change. In the words of Dr. Samantha Nutt, all women need to be heard, respected and empowered, no matter where they live.


AUTISM AWARENESS


C. Trevena: April is Autism Awareness Month. Having one month dedicated to the disorders allows for a greater discussion around autism and gives individuals, families and governments the opportunity to address concerns, interventions and supports.


About one in 110 children is affected by autism spectrum disorders, which are believed to have neurological roots. There is no typical child or person with autism, but the disorders affect development. Many find it hard to form social relationships. Some find difficulty in communication, interest or focus, and behaviour may appear extreme. Autism is more likely to affect boys than girls, and there are close to 7,000 children and youth in B.C. diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.


Not everyone who has autism needs treatment. Some are so-called high-functioning, but among the challenges for parents is trying to access support services for their child who does need help if the disorder is diagnosed.


Early intervention is proven to help children and their families deal with the characteristics. But controversy is never far from the surface. At the moment it's whether to build a special centre which provides support for autism or to ensure families have money to select the supports themselves. Access to therapists is always contentious.


Money is, like in so many areas, always a problem, and for many parents, answers are too slow — parents who see their children grow up without the help they perceive is needed, parents who age themselves and are worried about future care for their adult offspring.


Networking is vital for many families. In Nanaimo this weekend there will be a chance for families from across Vancouver Island to get together for the first annual Autism Expo, designed as a celebration, a community gathering and an opportunity for families to connect with one another as well as local organizations that provide intervention or support services to the mid-Island area.


STEVESTON FUNDRAISING FOR
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF


J. Yap: I rise today to highlight two recent events in my community. Steveston is well known for its big-heartedness, having welcomed the first Japanese immigrants to Canada in 1877. So when the tsunami struck Japan last month, Stevestoners immediately answered the call. In late March the historic Steveston Wharf was transformed into a festival ground as 7,000 participants took part in the Walk for Japan. Organized in a matter of days by the Steveston Rotary Club, Steveston Community Society and the Steveston Buddhist church, this event raised over $80,000 for the Japanese Red Cross.


Steveston resident Janet Yau is another example of compassion and kindness. She decided to hold a raffle in support of Japan's people after hearing about the tsunami, so she went to work recruiting 55 local businesses to donate prizes. Janet then spent three weeks selling tickets all day, every day. She formed a team of ticket sellers, including more than two dozen moms in the area and even her four-year-old son, Tyson.


By the draw date Janet had sold 4,050 tickets and had raised a total of $8,100 for the Red Cross. Janet is quoted as saying in the Richmond News: "If anything, this whole experience has reaffirmed to me that Steveston is truly a village. This small-town community aspect makes this place unique."


[1350]

I'd like the House to join me in recognizing the work, community spirit and compassion of Stevestoners who contributed to this important task of helping people in a time of great need.


Oral Questions


GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO COURT RULING
ON TEACHERS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING


A. Dix: In order to continue our era of good feeling in the House, yesterday I asked a question of the Minister of Finance, and today I'm going to move on to the Minister of Education. The Minister of Health may want to wait for Tuesday. I'll give him a little preview. I'll ask him if he now agrees with the Premier's policy on health spending.


But we know where the Minister of Education stands on that, so I'll ask him a straightforward education question. He knows that the B.C. Supreme Court ruled against the government and found the government's decision to not allow teachers to negotiate improved classroom conditions for students to be illegal. I want to ask the minister if he's planning to appeal that decision.


Mr. Speaker: Minister of Education. [Applause.]


An Hon. Member: That's the last applause you're going to get.


Hon. G. Abbott: Yes.


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members.


Hon. G. Abbott: I am certain that I'll be able to weather this storm of appreciation from both sides of
[ Page 6474 ]
the House. The recent ruling of the B.C. Supreme Court is, of course, appealable. That is an important decision which government will have to make — whether to appeal or not.


I can advise the Leader of the Opposition that the consideration of whether to appeal is ongoing. Legal analysis is ongoing, and government will make its decision shortly. I believe the appeal period reaches its end mid-May, so the member will be hearing, I'm sure, relatively shortly about the government's decision with respect to that.


Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a supplemental.


A. Dix: Well, I'm puzzled, hon. Speaker, because…


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members.


A. Dix: …the Premier of British Columbia said when the court decision came out that she would respect the decision. She said she'd respect the decision and change the law. So I wanted to ask the minister whether his new role is to tell us what the Premier meant to say or whether he thinks that considering an appeal is respecting the decision of the B.C. Supreme Court.


Hon. G. Abbott: It's pretty clear that the Leader of the Opposition is a better politician than he is a lawyer. Clearly, the fact that the Premier respects a decision does not make it non-appealable. It is important….


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Continue.


Hon. G. Abbott: Now, I know, Mr. Speaker, that the Leader of the Opposition is a master of revisionist history. If their….


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members.


Hon. G. Abbott: However, I think I might be able to cite quite a number of cases from that period of time between 1991 and 2001 where a former NDP government respected a number of decisions of courts in this province but also elected to appeal those decisions. The distinction is not that subtle, and I hope the member can understand that.


Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a further supplemental.


[1355]

A. Dix: You know, hon. Speaker, the Premier was explicit. She said she'd respect the decision. She said she'd come back here and change the law. That's what she said. She didn't say she was considering an appeal. That's the Minister of Education. That's what he's saying now. That's not what she said.


I just want to remind…. So it's a little bit of he said, she said here, but I would say this. This is important. The court ruled: "The evidence that the government relied on in the hearing before me to support its assertion that class-size limits were causing hardships to students and parents was anecdotal hearsay." What is needed in B.C. at a time when 12,000 classrooms are outside the composition limits, at a time that 4,000 classrooms are outside the class-size limits, is action. Why doesn't the government accept the court decision and negotiate class size and composition with the BCTF?


Hon. G. Abbott: So now I think I'm starting to understand the nature of the question. This is actually about the Leader of the Opposition returning some favours to the B.C. Teachers Federation early on. We know….


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Take your seat, Minister.


Continue, Minister.


Hon. G. Abbott: We know that the Leader of the Opposition has always relied very heavily on the public sector unions to support his campaigns, and so I appreciate that he will raise this important issue. It may well be…. I've reviewed the words of the Premier very carefully on this point. There is nothing in her words that indicates that this is not an appealable issue nor that we would not give appropriate consideration to that. The member is thinly disguising a supposed question in order to get where he wants to be, which is openly shilling for the B.C. Teachers Federation.


SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDING AND COURT
RULING ON TEACHERS' BARGAINING


R. Austin: Actually, I think what we would like on this side of the House is to put our children's education first and foremost. That's what we consider to be putting families first. It's been six years since this government last made a substantial investment in new schools for Surrey.


Now after years of increased enrolment, the school district is making students in schools, like Earl Marriott, attend in shifts because of a lack of classroom space. Recently the B.C. Supreme Court ruling has struck down provisions restricting teachers from negotiating calendars and timetables, and the Surrey school district may be hit with increased costs because of this government's failure to invest in Surrey schools.

[ Page 6475 ]

Given the fact that this Supreme Court judgment will take effect before the end of the next school year, is the government ready to help districts like Surrey comply with this ruling?


Hon. G. Abbott: I appreciate the member raising this important question. I had the opportunity recently to meet with the Surrey board of education. It was a very good and constructive meeting. They do have challenges with respect to growing school population, and I'm delighted to say that this government, since 2001, has invested $230 million. So $230 million, ten new schools and 3,000 new student spaces in Surrey school districts since 2001.


We'll continue to make those investments. I am sure…. I am dead certain that all of the members from Surrey will show up in June when we celebrate the opening of the Adams Road Elementary School in Surrey. They'll all be there.


[1400]

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.


R. Austin: School districts all over B.C. are currently in the final stage of planning their budgets for the next school year, and several districts are planning increased class sizes in order to balance their books after years of cuts from this government.


Given the fact that the Supreme Court judgment on class size and composition will take effect before the end of the next school year, will the government act immediately to budget for the implications of this judgment, or do they plan on leaving school districts to pick up the tab for their mismanagement yet again?


Hon. G. Abbott: I thank the member for his submission. I heard a similar submission just two days ago when I met with the B.C. Teachers Federation in one of my continuing meetings with the federation, and I appreciate the member reiterating the theme again.


But the important thing is this. We have never — never once, in ten years as this government — reduced education funding in the province of British Columbia — never once. Overall, we have seen the budget for education in this province grow from $4.1 billion in 2001, when these folks left office, to, today, $5.8 billion in education funding. That equates, on a per-student basis, that we've moved from $6,262 per student back in 2001 to $8,357 today.


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members.


FUNDING FOR
SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM IN SURREY


H. Bains: Five different Liberal Education ministers have promised to fix CommunityLINK's unequal funding formula, a formula that forces the Surrey school district to make cuts to the classroom learning to pay for the school meal program, and yet nothing has been done — nothing.


According to Laurae McNally, the chair of the Surrey school district, if the government doesn't take immediate action, the board will "probably eliminate part of our school meal program, or we will have to make up the shortfall out of our operating budget, which will mean taking away from every classroom in the district."


To the Minister of Education: will he be any different than his previous colleagues by acting immediately to ensure that the Surrey school district doesn't have to make cuts into the in-class learning to pay for the hungry students' meals in our schools?


Hon. G. Abbott: Thank you….


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Continue, Minister.


Hon. G. Abbott: Certainly, I am looking forward to acting thoughtfully in respect of CommunityLINK. I wouldn't say necessarily acting immediately.


The NDP philosophy of acting immediately was what led, for example, to the accumulation in the Surrey school district of 363 portables back in the 1990s. That's the kind of approach of ready, fire, aim that the NDP has always undertaken.


[1405]

But we will be looking very thoughtfully at the CommunityLINK program. We will be looking thoughtfully at the formula. Regrettably, when the CommunityLINK program was formed in 1996, the government of the day that produced it I don't think put in provision in the formula to respect the growth in student population that would occur over time, and that has proven challenging to others. We will review the formula, and we will thoughtfully reform it.


Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.


H. Bains: The minister wants to talk about portables? Mr. Speaker, 9,000 students today are studying in portables. It's a shameful record of your government, Minister — 9,000.


Surrey school district….


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members.


Continue, Member.


H. Bains: For the benefit of the minister, Surrey school district added more than a thousand students last year,
[ Page 6476 ]
and yet the CommunityLINK funding formula remained unchanged. Even worse, on a per-capita basis, Surrey receives, if not the lowest, one of the lowest of all school districts in the CommunityLINK program on a per-student basis, leaving them with a $600,000 shortfall for their school meal program this year.


So my question again is to the minister. Five ministers they have gone through, and you are saying that we are still waiting. You still have to think about it. When will you take action so that the students in Surrey are treated equally as everywhere else in the province?


Hon. G. Abbott: Well, let me just remind the member, first of all, as he said in his preamble around portables, that we can't hold a candle to the NDP government in terms of use of portables in the Surrey school district — can't hold a candle; not even close.


You know, I am very proud that our government, despite economic pressures that we have faced, has maintained $51 million annually to the CommunityLINK program in this province. I'm proud of that.


The formula that is in place today has been in place since 1996. I have agreed that that formula should better reflect student numbers. It is regrettable, perhaps, that in my five weeks I haven't reformed it. You apparently had five years to do that and were unable to do it. We will be working on that, because CommunityLINK is an important program. But we will be doing it thoughtfully. We won't be doing it on the back of an envelope, as the member suggests we should. We will be pursuing this thoughtfully, I'm sure.


I know this member is very thoughtful. If he has some good ideas on how to reform CommunityLINK, I'd like him to tell me, because I know, regardless of what we do, he'll line up to oppose it.


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members.


COST OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
ON HARMONIZED SALES TAX


B. Ralston: Everyone in the province knows that the B.C. Liberal government misled British Columbians about the HST during the last election. Ever since, the B.C. Liberal government has been spending the public's money in an effort to change their mind about the wisdom of shifting $2 billion from big business onto individuals and small business here in British Columbia: paid Tom Syer $200,000; pro-HST website, $70,000; $780,000 on pamphlets thrown into the wastebasket; an undisclosed amount to run radio ads.


[1410]

The Minister of Finance surely knows the cost that this campaign is going to take in the months before the referendum. Will he lay out now, before the public, the entire cost of the public portion of the referendum campaign? Surely he knows, and the public has a right to know.


Hon. K. Falcon: If there was ever a better example of why government has an obligation to make sure the public has accurate facts and information on the HST, it was certainly provided yesterday when the Finance critic for the NDP stood up and asked the question on HST rebates which demonstrated he had absolutely no idea of what an HST rebate was all about.


You know, a week and a half earlier another one of their leaders, Jack Layton, was in B.C. saying: "You know what? The HST is good in Atlantic Canada because they don't charge it on home heating fuels." Well, guess what. We don't charge it on home heating fuels in British Columbia either.


So as I committed to from the very beginning, I will make sure that all of the information associated with informing the public of what the facts are around the HST will be made public prior to the end of this legislative session.


Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.


B. Ralston: The Minister of Finance is frequently wrong, occasionally right, but never in doubt, and this response just proves that. He's going to be using the public's money…. The B.C. Liberal government will be using the public's money to promote the HST here in British Columbia, to justify the shift of $2 billion from big business onto small business and individuals. How much of the $600 million contingency fund is he planning to use to advance that campaign?


Hon. K. Falcon: As I committed, fully and up front, all of that information would be made available the moment I am aware of what that dollar amount will be. I said that right from the very beginning. But I notice the Finance critic….


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Minister, just take your seat for a second.


Continue, Minister.


Hon. K. Falcon: I am sure that the member might want to check his facts on the question he asked yesterday, because he hasn't acknowledged how very wrong he was. And I do think that if the Finance critic for the NDP does not understand something so fundamental as HST rebates, as distinct from GST rebates, then you can see that getting accurate information out to the public is absolutely the right thing to do. We will do that, and
[ Page 6477 ]
we will make sure the public knows exactly what we're spending to provide accurate information to the public.


GOVERNMENT AND THIRD-PARTY
INFORMATION ON HARMONIZED SALES TAX


J. Kwan: The minister wants all to be forgiven. He says: "We did a terrible job introducing the tax." Then what does he do? He steps up an advertising slush fund with an undisclosed amount of taxpayers' money so that he could tell British Columbians that what's bad for them is actually really good for them.


[1415]

Then to top it off — just wait — he allows for an unlimited third-party advertising campaign for the people's referendum. That's not mea culpa. That's another con job, and the minister knows it.


Will the minister cancel the HST advertising campaign and put spending limits on third-party advertising so that the people of British Columbia will have some balance and fairness in the referendum that they fought for?


Hon. K. Falcon: Well, allow me, if you will, to roll back the date a little bit here if I could. I'd like to talk about an advertising campaign that…. Actually, the Leader of the Opposition was chief of staff at the time when one of the largest advertising campaigns, $7.8 million to promote the Nisga'a treaty, was put into place by that government.


Now, what is interesting about this? What is interesting about this is that the NDP said that it would cost no more than $2.3 million. And what happened? Well, three days before Christmas, the chief of staff at the time quietly released the cost: 400 percent more than they said it would be.


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.


The member has a supplemental.


J. Kwan: I'll remind the minister that this HST referendum is not the minister's referendum. It is not corporate B.C.'s referendum. It is the people's referendum, Minister. They are the ones that went out….


Interjections.


Mr. Speaker: Members.


Continue, Member.


J. Kwan: They're the ones that went out and got others to sign the petition. They're the ones that went out and put their sweat so that they can hold this government to account, so that they could finally have a say on this $2 billion tax shift onto the backs of families and small businesses.


Will the minister stop insulting British Columbians and stop with the advertising campaign and trying to pull the wool over the eyes of them once again?


Hon. K. Falcon: I would think that that member, of all people, would want to make sure that low-income folks in her riding have the facts on HST rebates. I would hope that that member, when she knows that she's got single parents in her riding with several children that are receiving $920 a year of HST rebates, would want that individual to know that the NDP position of going back to the PST means they get zero. I would think that that's an important fact for folks in her riding.


I cannot understand why those members are so afraid of having information in the public. Last night I was on a telephone town hall in Surrey, and 27,000 residents took part. The NDP is absolutely terrified to have a debate over the facts because the facts actually aren't with them. That is what they're afraid of.


APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES


L. Krog: B.C. Liberal inaction has created a serious shortage of judges in British Columbia. There are 17 judicial vacancies as we speak here today, and the consequences of that are serious. Even judges are speaking out publicly in an unprecedented way about this.


[1420]

So the question to the Attorney General is very simple. Is he going to fill these vacancies — yes or no?


Hon. B. Penner: We have appointed nine judges in the past year in British Columbia. That's not to say that there aren't challenges in the court system. We are managing to a budget, something the NDP would never want to do if they were in government. Their option is always to tax more, borrow more and spend more. On our side of the House we believe in living within a budget and trying to get the best value for every dollar spent.


[End of question period.]


Orders of the Day


Hon. R. Coleman: In this House we will continue budget debate.


D. Hayer: May I have leave to make an introduction?


Mr. Speaker: Proceed.


Introductions by Members


D. Hayer: It gives me great pleasure to introduce 63 students from grades 8 to 12 who are visiting from the
[ Page 6478 ]
Fraser Heights Secondary School in my riding of Surrey-Tynehead. Joining them are five teachers — Ms. Louise Hazemi, Mr. Brent Derbyshire, Ms. Angela Monk, Mr. Perrie Scarlett and Ms. Vicki Schrader — who have taken time out of their busy schedules to bring students here. Would the House please make them very welcome.


Budget Debate


(continued)


Mr. Speaker: Member for Fraser-Nicola. [Applause.]


H. Lali: Thank you. Well, keep going. Don't stop there.


[L. Reid in the chair.]


I continue debate from this morning on the budget that was presented in February by the government. I was reading into the record some of the comments in terms of the budget that folks who are observing or folks in the media are saying so that the ministers across the way don't think that I'm just making this up. It's right there in the record.


I'm going to read this out. It's an editorial in the Vancouver Sun on February 16, 2011. The caption reads: "A Stand-Pat Budget Sees Debt Growing Out of Control." I quote the editorial from the Vancouver Sun.


"Finance Minister…said he couldn't describe the status quo budget he presented Tuesday as exciting given the absence of new spending programs or tax measures. It may not be exciting, but it is alarming given the massive increase in overall debt."


I continue.


"However, economic growth going forward is hardly robust. The budget forecast the economy to grow by 2 percent in 2011, 2.6 percent in 2012 and 2.8 percent a year thereafter through 2015.


"The government insists that the debt remains affordable, citing the debt-to-GDP ratio, which will peak at 17.8 percent next year for tax-supported debt and 26.1 percent for total debt. But total debt has been growing at an annual average of 6 percent, far outpacing the rate of revenue growth. Without robust economic growth, the government's debt management plan — that is, holding the debt-to-GDP ratio below 18 percent — cannot succeed."


[1425]

This is from the editorial of the Vancouver Sun, and the Liberals are just pouring on debt for future generations. The editorial also continues:


"If there was one thing that stood out from this status quo, stand-pat budget, it was a rise in total provincial debt, which includes the debt of Crown corporations. By 2013 debt is expected to reach $60.4 billion, up from $33.4 billion in 2006, an 80 percent increase" in just four and a half years. "That will bring annual interest costs to $2.9 billion, accounting for more than five cents of every dollar of government revenue.


"Debt now represents more than 100 percent of revenue, and the budget plan has it rising still higher. To put all this in the worst possible light, the budget sees per-capita debt growing from $7,880 in 2006 to $12,762 in 2013, despite projected population growth of nearly 500,000."


It's unbelievable the amount of debt that this government is piling on. When they took office in 2001, the former Premier, Mr. Campbell, swore on a stack of bibles that he was going to bring down the deficit, when the budget was already balanced three years in a row; that he was going to control the debt, and here it is. The debt is just skyrocketing.


Here's another one of these testimonials. Again, this is from the Vancouver Province on February 16. Michael Smyth, the columnist, writes: "Budget Swimming in Slush for New Leader." It says:


"The weather outside the Victoria convention centre was unseasonably warm and sunny, but the conditions inside were considerably slushy. As in slush fund, that is, although the Finance Minister preferred to call it 'flexibility' built into his new budget for whoever becomes the next leader."


This was written a couple months back.


"With the Liberals in the home stretch of a hotly contested leadership race, the Finance Minister said his 'status quo' budget was designed to give the winner some money to play with after he or she moves into Gordon Campbell's west-wing office…there's enough slush sloshing around to fill every Slurpee machine in B.C."


This is from the Vancouver Province, Michael Smyth's column.


And of course, there's a $600 million contingency fund. Obviously, there's another $350 million in the forecast allowance in the budget. If you add all of that up, you've got a billion-dollar slush fund this year alone, with actually billions more in goodies that the Liberals hope to push out during the election campaign to try to win back the public and buy their vote.


The Minister of Finance — the former Minister of Finance — tried to paint a picture that everything was gloomy supposedly in the '90s and that everything is really glossy in the first decade of this century. I quote the Vancouver Province again:


"Of course, there were no overhead slides showing all the deficit budgets under Campbell's watch or how the accumulated debt is now set to hit an astronomical $60 billion. I remember a time when Campbell said mounting debt was simply an irresponsible 'tax on our kids.' Now the interest costs alone on the debt represent the third-biggest expense in government."


It's unreal how the former Premier and now the present Premier, who's obviously still waiting to take a seat in the House, can sit there and try to justify their ballooning of the debt when they railed against it, both of them and many members who were still sitting on the opposite side there when they were in opposition in the 1990s.


Here's another one from Les Leyne, the Times Colonist, February 16, 2011. The caption reads "Budget Built on Liberal-Created Myths."


"By now" — this would be the former Finance Minister — "…knows the story so well he recites it from memory. With nothing much new to say about Tuesday's budget, he took the opportunity in his budget speech — the last one Premier Gordon Campbell will likely applaud in the Legislature — to tell the old story yet again."


It's the Liberals' "very own creation myth," Les Leyne calls it.


He talks about some of the myths of the supposed structural deficit of $4 billion when it was actually a balanced budget. Their own Auditor General's report in
[ Page 6479 ]
2004 said it was a $1.4 billion surplus in the last year of the NDP.


[1430]

Then there's obviously the myth that they approved $45 billion worth of building. Of course we need a lot of the structures that are going up. They keep talking about the myth of their significant growth in the standard of living and, also, how supposedly when the NDP was in office, they put out a myth that thousands of people actually left this province in search of work, when the reality was that tens of thousands of people actually moved here from other parts of the province during those years.


You check the stats. Take a look at the stats. The former Minister of Finance is getting a little edgy because of the misrepresentation of the facts that they were putting out. Check the stats. The population of British Columbia during the 1990s grew by over 600,000 people, and the unemployment rate in 1991 was over 9.5 percent at the time. By the time we left office when the Liberals took over, it was 6.5 percent.


Under their ten years, when the Liberals have been in government, the average unemployment rate in British Columbia has been over 8 percent — over 8 percent. Under the last ten years of the Social Credit government, because they like to talk about GDP growth on an annual basis as the mark of how well an economy is doing…. Under the ten years of the Social Credit, the annual growth was 2.9 percent. That's a percentage of the GDP.


During the years of the NDP, the 1990s, the average annual growth was 3 percent. Guess what. Under the tenure of the B.C. Liberals, while that member was Minister of Finance, the average has been a distant third at 2.4 percent. So if they want to talk about numbers and they want to talk about job creation, all they need to do is take a look at those reports, which are put forward by the Auditor General of this province — not by any left-wing think tank or right-wing think tank but an auditor general.


Now I see that the minister is just sitting there with his head bowed, because he knows the kind of misleading facts that the Liberals have been putting out, especially on the HST during the election. When that member was asked a question point-blank about the HST during the election, "No, it's not on our radar," they said. We know the truth. They were already negotiating this.


There's been enough FOI information that has come out to say that the Liberals were already in negotiations with the federal government in terms of the implementation of the HST, which they Pearl-Harbored the people of British Columbia on right after winning the election. Had they answered that question in the affirmative and said the HST was on their radar, they know the results of the election would have been different. The member knows that, and the member opposite knows that, but he continues to mislead.


Deputy Speaker: I would caution the member.


H. Lali: Thank you, hon. Speaker. If I also may, the member opposite across the way is shouting a whole lot of things, and I think he needs a caution there as well, hon. Speaker. But anyway, hon. Speaker….


Deputy Speaker: Member, I would ask you to withdraw that last remark.


H. Lali: I withdraw. I apologize. I wasn't trying to challenge the Chair, hon. Speaker. I was just sort of making a comment.


Deputy Speaker: I will accept that, Member. Continue.


H. Lali: Thank you, hon. Speaker.


To continue on, Les Leyne continues in his editorial comment here. He says: "Start with the $4 billion deficit they inherited" — or supposedly they did, when they were saying that. "It was more or less imaginary. The last budget the NDP posted was balanced. The deficit was forecast by a fiscal review team that applied worst-case projections to make things look as bad as possible in order to give the Liberals room to work."


So they can justify the massive cuts that they made. See, on the one side, they've painted this gloomy picture to the people of British Columbia: oh my god, there's a structural deficit of $4 billion. They didn't tell the people of B.C. that it was $2 billion in corporate tax giveaways and people in the richest 2 percent of the province which formed a part of that. But they turned around and made massive cuts to health and education and social services and ministries all across the board.


There were courthouses that were closed all across the province, five of them in my constituency, which was known as Yale-Lillooet at the time. Transportation offices, probation offices, environment offices, ministry offices, etc., all across the province. Hospitals closed, wings in hospitals closed in rural B.C. and across other parts of the province and on the upper Island as well.


[1435]

They gutted the health care system in rural British Columbia, all because of the misleading information that was put out there at the time.


So Les Leyne continues: "The most telling comparison between the Liberal myth and the reality is on deficits. The entire thrust of Campbell's tenure as Premier was to eliminate deficit spending…but according to the current plan, at the end of what would have been Campbell's third term, the Liberals will have run seven deficit budgets."


I would also like to read a portion of some of the editorials that have come forward. There's an article, again by Vaughn Palmer, in the National Post this time, which was submitted on February 16. The caption reads:
[ Page 6480 ]
"From Debt Loathers to Debt Loaders." That's what it says right here. I want to quote what Mr. Palmer says.


"For all of Finance Minister's" — and he names the former minister — "insistence on a status quo theme for Budget 2011, he wasn't standing pat on borrowing and the provincial debt. The minister projects for the debt burden to exceed $60 billion three years from now, at the end of the current B.C. Liberal fiscal plan.


"For comparison's sake, just three years ago, as then Finance Minister Carole Taylor tabled her last budget in the Legislature, the debt stood at $34 billion, about where it was when the Liberals took office.


"From debt loathers to debt loaders in the space of six years."


It says here also, and I continue:


"Finance reports that each additional $1 billion in debt adds $42 million in interest cost each year. And that is at the current relatively low interest rates contracted by the public sector. As well, each additional one-point rise in interest rates is projected to boost interest charges across government, its Crown corporations and agencies, by a further $200 million a year."


I continue:


"The total provincial debt is scheduled to reach 100 percent of revenue this year, up from 80 percent when the Liberals took office…On a per-capita basis, debt will be up almost 50 percent from the good years in the middle of the past decade. And the debt load, expressed as a share of provincial economic output, is jumping from less than a fifth to more than one-quarter of provincial output."


I'll skip a little bit here, and I'll continue with what else he quotes. From Mr. Palmer:


"All manageable, the Finance Minister insisted Tuesday. Nothing that would pose any risk to the province's vaunted triple-A credit rating. Still, by the standards professed by the Liberals when they came to office, one wouldn't have expected anything like this degree of indebtedness at the provincial level.


"Unless the next leader of the party is prepared to return the government to its earlier ways, the direction is toward much more borrowing, more debt and a correspondingly higher exposure of taxpayers to higher interest rates, and less money to provide services."


So you can imagine, the new Premier, when she takes her seat — the reality for her is to either cut services or raise taxes. Because you can't have it both ways, if they say they're going to try to protect health care and education.


You know, what's missing out of this budget — because it's the same old, same old — is there's a lack of any strategy on job creation. There's also a lack of any strategy on protecting the jobs that we have, especially in the resource sector of this province. Especially in the resource sector — whether you're talking about forestry, agriculture, ranching, or you're talking about tourism, or many other areas. Mining, for instance, oil and gas.


There's no strategy there. There's nothing put in place to actually protect jobs or to even shift the economy, to diversify the economy, into the new clean, green technologies that the rest of the world is already pouncing on, especially European countries. None of that is in the budget to be able to promote all of that.


[1440]

You know, under the B.C. Liberals, with the abandonment that they perpetrated on rural British Columbia especially…. You look at the resource industries where there've been massive job losses. To give you an example, under this Liberal government's mismanagement of the forestry file and their sellout of the softwood lumber deal by joining in with Mr. Harper, selling out to the Americans, and their deliberate neglect of the pine beetle infestation…. When the federal government was coming forward with a couple hundred million dollars of their own money, these Liberals refused to match it.


So what you had as a net result over the last ten years under this Liberal government is that 78 sawmills and pulp mills in this province were forced to close by this Liberal government putting 42,000 permanent, family-supporting forestry jobs out of commission and most of that in rural and coastal communities in this province. That's their commitment to job creation, and there's none of that in this budget to be able to protect that.


When you look at the level of poverty…. You know, the number of people not only in absolute numbers but as a percentage of our population has steadily risen for ten years under this Liberal government to one of the highest in the country. But when you look at child poverty, it is now, for the eighth year in a row, the highest rate of child poverty of any province in the country, under this Liberal government. They have the audacity to stand up here in this House and try to tell British Columbians that they are the better managers of the economy and that they are creating jobs when what they've done is made hardship for families.


The new Premier now has the gall to actually stand up and say: "I'm going to put families first." She says, "I'm going to advance education," or make education better. But when you look at her own record when she was in this House, it was exactly the opposite as a record number of schools were closed. And a record number of cuts to children and families….


D. Hayer: It is an honour to speak in support of this budget that we will be debating during this session of the Legislature. However, I would like to welcome you back to these chambers, as I welcome all other members. I also have the honour and privilege to welcome two new leaders to this House — our new Premier, Christy Clark; and our new opposition leader, the member for Vancouver-Kingsway — in their new roles in the government. I look forward with great anticipation to the day when our new Premier joins us in this House.


The leadership races were extremely exciting, and this new leadership will certainly usher a breath of fresh air into these chambers as we proceed through the session and through the rest of the year.


I have always believed that new ideas and opinions are good and that changes of direction bode well for our citizens, for our province and for the future. I would be remiss, however, if I did not thank our former Premier Gordon Campbell for his work in the public service and everything he did to ensure that our city of Surrey and all of British Columbia was a better place.

[ Page 6481 ]

I also want to personally and especially thank him for keeping with and understanding the pain of the victims, of families of those 329 men, women and children who died as a result of the Air India bombing and those who died in the similar bomb attempt at Japan's Narita airport.


In 2005, on the 20th anniversary of the Air India bombing, my wife and I travelled by ourselves to Ireland to pay homage to the victims. I was very pleased and proud to see Premier Gordon Campbell in Cork and in Bantry in Ireland at the same time, representing the government of British Columbia to recognize the tragedy that occurred in the skies 20 years before that date.


Premier Campbell's creation of a special memorial at Stanley Park with the help of the Prime Minister of Canada and the mayor of Vancouver on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy earned a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of every victim of terrorism.


Our former Premier was also a leader in the recognition and reconciliation of the tragedy that was the Komagata Maru, one of the darkest days of our province.


I would also like to give my due thanks to the leader of the opposition party across the aisle for the excellent contribution to this House and to the people of British Columbia.


[1445]

Since I was first elected in 2001 I have been impressed by the work ethics of Joy MacPhail from 2001 to 2005 and the member for Victoria–Beacon Hill from 2005 to 2010 and of the member for New Westminster from 2010 to 2011.


Most of all, I want to thank the people of British Columbia and the party members who participated enthusiastically in our democratic system to elect both of our new leaders with grace and dignity. We all are very lucky and fortunate in British Columbia and in Canada. In other parts of the world where they want a democracy, where they want elections, they have to pay with their lives to achieve the freedoms and the privileges that we enjoy here, and sometimes we take it for granted.


Because of the beliefs and strengths and dedication of our pioneers, we have a country and a province we can be proud of. Our province, our country, is considered the best place in the world to live, to work, to visit and to do business in.


We must not forget our soldiers who fought and died to keep us free. Without the spirit of the pioneers, the dedication and sacrifices of our soldiers and the contributions of our seniors, we would not have the freedom to choose, the freedom to speak out and the freedom to enjoy a lifestyle and a future that is second to no country in the world.


Madam Speaker, that is what our government and our budgets are all about — creating and ensuring a future not just for ourselves but for all the generations to come. It is our task within this chamber to chart a course that will maintain the services we have all come to expect, that will strengthen the economy that we all depend on and that will build on the livability of British Columbia for today, for tomorrow and for decades to come. Without a sound financial footing, without a strong and vibrant economy, we could not be doing the things that are important to all British Columbians.


We also could not be doing all the things that are so important to my constituents in Surrey-Tynehead. The accomplishments in Surrey-Tynehead depend on the strong economy, but they also depend on the investments that our government has made and is making to make our homes, our lifestyles and the families better and stronger.


Just recently our new Premier, Christy Clark; the Minister of Health; and I, along with my other colleagues, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new eight-storey addition to the Surrey Memorial Hospital. This massive undertaking, which is worth more than half a billion dollars, is the largest investment in health care in the history of our province. This project will add more than 150 new care beds to Surrey Memorial Hospital.


The new tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital will expand many services, including 48 children's neonatal intensive care beds and specialized mental health and pediatrics units. The new tower is projected to cost over $500 million and will contain a new emergency department that will be five times larger than the existing facility at Surrey Memorial Hospital.


It will include a separate children's emergency, an enhanced minor treatment unit, a maternity department that will have 13 new birthing beds, private rooms for moms and their families, and additional academic space for new doctors and other health care professionals in partnership with UBC medical school and Fraser Health. The new tower will also have a new rooftop helipad to deal with emergencies in Surrey.


This is just one of the numerous investments our government is making in health care throughout Surrey, and it will create more than 3,760 jobs. All of this comes on the heels of 73 new acute care beds we opened at Surrey Memorial Hospital in August 2008.


As well, there was a $10 million expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital's kidney dialysis unit, which increased the availability of stations from 18 to 30. This was all part of a $30 million upgrade initiative at Surrey Memorial Hospital that began in 2005. This project aimed to build capacity, expand services and ease congestion at the Surrey Memorial Hospital. These additional beds represent a 26 percent increase in acute care beds in Surrey; that is 491 of them since Fraser Health was created by our government.


[1450]

For cancer services, this government has spent $12.5 million on renovations to the B.C. cancer centre in Surrey. These vastly improved services for cancer patients in
[ Page 6482 ]
our community will allow them to stay in the community and be treated with first-class service at the Surrey cancer centre from the B.C. agency. The health care improvement for Surrey residents will be immense.


The incredible addition to Surrey Memorial Hospital is not alone. In June of this year a new $239 million out-patient hospital will be opened at Fraser Highway and 140th Street in Surrey. It will be officially opened and will accept its first patients in June of this year. This tremendous new facility will be 188,000 square feet, and it has created more than 1,500 construction jobs.


This new hospital will feature expanded day surgeries and diagnostic services, including four operating rooms and ten procedure rooms. It will also include a primary care area for seniors or people living with chronic diseases or HIV/AIDS. This facility will decrease wait-lists, make day surgery more accessible and greatly ease the patient load on Surrey Memorial Hospital.


These excellent additions to the health care in Surrey, which will be filled with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, would not have come about if it had not been for prudent budgeting by a government driven to ensure that our economy stayed strong.


There is almost $1 billion being invested in health care in Surrey. Because of this budget and past budgets, we have been able to accomplish so many more things.


In transportation improvements alone in Surrey, we have built the 156th Street underpass at Highway 1; widened to four lanes Pacific Highway, 176th Street, from the U.S. border to Highway 1 in my riding; four-laned the Fraser Highway and Highway 10, which was promised for decades and decades; built the Golden Ears Bridge; and are building a pedestrian and bicycle overpass on Highway 1 and 168th Street in my riding, which will connect the Fraser Heights, Tynehead, Guildford, Fleetwood and Port Kells area.


Most important of all, we are building and soon will open the new 10-lane Port Mann bridge, which will have buses running on it for the first time since 1989, and it will include a separate bicycle lane and a pedestrian walking lane. This new 10-lane Port Mann bridge is designed to handle future light rail system expansions to Surrey and Langley. This incredible and long-awaited project is expected to be opened at least a year ahead of schedule, probably next year. Coupled with that massive project is the widening of Highway 1 to eight lanes, all the way from Vancouver to Langley.


Along with ambitious construction projects that employ thousands of people, there will be improvements to all the interchanges on Highway 1 and completely new overpasses and interchanges all along the Highway 1 route from Langley to Vancouver.


These projects will get my constituents to work and back home much quicker. They will also provide massive boosts to business and commerce by getting goods and services moved much faster and more efficiently.


Until this project is completed, the loss to the economy is estimated at $1 billion a year, and that's a lot of money being wasted by individuals and businesses. Those savings alone justify this massive investment in infrastructure in our project, which is needed for our future generations to enjoy and use.


Another important aspect of this project is that it will greatly improve the air quality for people who live in my riding and throughout the Fraser Valley. Right now people are standing in the traffic for hours and hours and wasting time, when it should be taking only minutes to go through.


At my old office on the Fraser Highway and 160th Street…. From there to go to the Port Mann Bridge used to take, in traffic, 45 minutes to one and a half hours. When there is no traffic, it takes only 5 minutes. So you can see how people are gridlocked and wasting time and burning fuel, which is not good for the environment or for anybody else.


In addition, the South Fraser perimeter road is on its way, with the construction expected to complete in about two years. This route from Deltaport to the Trans-Canada Highway 1 and 176th Street to Golden Ears Bridge, will take commercial trucks off the residential street. This will improve safety and traffic flow while cutting truck travel time.


[1455]

Another great addition to the transportation in Surrey will be the construction of an expansion of SkyTrain or light rail from the current station in Surrey Centre, Whalley area and to Guildford and then to the Fraser Highway and 168th Street — this future expansion going so far as downtown Langley, and probably later on, to the Abbotsford area.


Additionally, there will be new rapid buses added and future rapid transit in the form of SkyTrain or light rail system down the King George Highway to Newton and other parts of the rapidly growing city of Surrey.


This budget and past budgets have also allowed us to accomplish a great deal for our young people and for our future leaders. For them, for their future and the future of their families, we have built Simon Fraser University's new Surrey Centre campus, created Kwantlen University and built the new world-class trade and technology campus in Cloverdale, along with expanding the Newton campus of Kwantlen.


We are also building and opening a number of new elementary schools and began all-day kindergarten for those parents who wish it for their children. We have also seismically upgraded schools, and we will continue to do those critical upgrades when needed.


Madam Speaker, we have developed so many more StrongStart programs throughout Surrey schools that parents are really happy to see, and this will ensure that children and the families receive a good beginning to school, to our education system and to our society.

[ Page 6483 ]

I am working closely with the Surrey board of education and the Minister of Education to help vulnerable students within the city of Surrey by helping to fix that CommunityLINK funding formula. This board has been wrestling with this funding inequity for more than 15 years, and I want to see it fixed. I will be working closely with my colleague MLAs and also with the Surrey board of education and our Minister of Education.


In this world there is no place for vulnerable children and their families to be treated like second-class citizens. The Surrey school district is B.C.'s largest, with more than 12 percent of the province's total public school enrolment, and it needs to be treated equally and fairly with all other districts in the province.


I am working with the Minister of Education and the board of education to ensure that this occurs as soon as possible. I am also working with both of them to obtain capital budgeting and funding for the Surrey school district to replace portables at the Fraser Heights Secondary School in my riding of Surrey-Tynehead and to build more new schools in Surrey, and we have many more new schools. Because the population of Surrey is growing so fast — especially the children — we need to have more funding for capital to build more schools for the new kids that will be coming and attending our schools.


CommunityLINK, by the way, means learning good nutrition and knowledge. Its funding provides services such as the breakfast and lunch program, inner-city and community school programs, school-based support workers and counselling for at-risk children and youth.


We can also thank this budget and those of the past ten years for creating many great new housing projects for seniors, creating libraries and recreational centres for them to join and to mingle with others of their own age group. For example, there is the Harrison at Elim Village, a $30 million residential care facility for seniors.


Introductions by Members


Deputy Speaker: Thank you most sincerely, Member.


If I might ask you to join with me in acknowledging the students who have just arrived in the gallery. They are students from Mitchell Elementary School in my riding. I'm very proud of them. We had a discussion sometime back about what they might see when they're here, and I told them you would all be fabulous. So thank you very, very much. Welcome.


Debate Continued


D. Hayer: Welcome to the students that are here.


Madam Speaker, for example, there is the Harrison at Elim Village — as I was stating — a $30 million residential care facility for seniors. Kinsmen Place Lodge, a $33.7 million building project, and over $91,000 for the ActNow B.C. seniors park at Fleetwood Community Centre.


[1500]

We also provided over $365,000 for Fraser Health — three new stroke prevention clinics. We have also created centres for the homeless people and for those who are at risk of homelessness, and have funded many programs, facilities and sites to combat the tragedy of addiction and mental health. Additionally, we opened up the first phase of a $17.9 million Maxxine Wright centre, which provides pregnant women and their children with safe and supportive housing.


We opened up Freedom Place, a $7.3 million development which provides 20 assisted-living units for young adults with physical disabilities in the Guildford area of my Surrey-Tynehead riding. Most of these accomplishments have been done through responsible and decisive budgeting in the past.


Let's talk about what specifically is in Budget 2011. It reaffirms the government's commitment to funding the vital public services that British Columbia depends on, while continuing to demonstrate prudent fiscal management during a time of transition and ongoing economic recovery. It provides the government with the spending authority to manage the province's affairs for coming years, focusing on new spending on health care and social services, while providing some fiscal flexibility priorities for the new Premier and executive council.


Budget 2011 also reflects our responsibility to hold the line on government spending as the B.C. economic recovery continues. Our approach is helping B.C. successfully manage the economic downturn better than other jurisdictions around the world. Most of the people agree that B.C. has come out ahead, when you compare to other parts of Canada and other parts of the world, from this economic recession we've had the past couple of years. While we are holding the line on spending, we will continue to deliver new schools and new health care facilities, road improvements, social programs and hydroelectric facilities.


British Columbia's economy performed better than expected in 2010, with an estimated growth rate of 3.1 percent. B.C.'s independent Economic Forecast Council is forecasting growth of 2.7 percent in 2011. Exports, housing starts, retail sales and tourism numbers are all on the rise. Mining is back. We have mineral exploration spending now more than ten times higher than it was at the end of the 1990s. Thanks in part to our accelerated infrastructure program, construction activity surged in the last two years.


What has also surged is the amount of money left in taxpayers' pockets. Since this government was first elected in 2001, most British Columbians have had their personal income taxes reduced by 37 percent or more. An additional 325,000 people no longer pay any income tax in British Columbia at all. Anyone earning less than
[ Page 6484 ]
$20,000 per year does not pay any provincial income tax at all in British Columbia, and we have Canada's lowest personal income tax rates for any individuals earning less than $120,000 a year.


Keeping taxes low is an essential part of our plan to ensure job creation, attract new investment and keep our economy growing and expanding. Looking after the family is very important, creating jobs is very important, open government is very important, and connecting with British Columbians is very important. So in addition to all these investments in health care in Surrey, as I previously mentioned, I want to point out that this budget contains a $6.5 million increase for 2013-14 for the Ministry of Health to sustain front-line service delivery.


In fact, the new funding provided in this Budget 2011 builds on the funding increases in the past to raise the Ministry of Health's budget by almost $2 billion compared to 2010. By 2013-14 health care budget expenses will be reaching $18.5 billion, and the total health care expenses will make up almost 50 percent of total government spending. Of almost every dollar government spends, 50 percent of that goes on health care services.


For those who are vulnerable, Budget 2011 will provide $65 million over the three years to the Ministry of Social Development for income assistance for individuals and families in need. In education this budget sees per-pupil funding rising to $8,357 in 2011-12, the highest level ever in the history of the province of British Columbia.


[1505]

Just so everyone is clear on how much we are investing on education, our government spent more than $24 million per school day on education programs and services to support students across the province. The funding in higher education will also be increased. We will provide $1.9 billion for post-secondary institutions in the 2011-12 year. Post-secondary funding has increased by 36 percent since 2001-02. That is a 36 percent increase since we were first elected in 2001.


It is clear to me and should be clear to everyone who reads this budget document that our government is once again on the right path to funding the needs of today and the needs of future generations. This is a good budget. This budget gives our government flexibility, and it sets the stage for future generations to succeed, because as the future generations succeed, our province will stay the best place in the world to live in, to work in, to raise a family in, to visit in or to do business in.


I support this budget fully and stand by our government for the budget and look forward to the members from the opposition to respond and agree with all the great things I have said that are in this budget and everything else our government has done over the last ten years to make sure the economy of British Columbia stays the best economy, not just in Surrey-Tynehead but all over British Columbia.


D. Thorne: I rise to respond to the 2011 budget, but first I would like to congratulate the new Premier and the new Leader of the Official Opposition.


Generally, this budget is status quo in that it doesn't introduce any new programs or significant spending initiatives. This budget continues to cut spending and fails to invest in key areas, like protecting vulnerable children, improving access to education and training, protecting the environment or introducing a poverty reduction plan which would meet the new government's mandate of putting families first. However, a significant budget cushion of approximately $2.5 billion over the next three years has been left for the new Premier and her caucus.


I am honoured to stand before you once again representing the people of Coquitlam-Maillardville, who have placed their trust in me since 2005. I take this trust seriously and hope I have represented my constituents with dignity, honour and passion. I say "passion" because I am passionate about this beautiful province and its future.


That's why I stand before you today to look back at what this government has and has not achieved in the last ten years in power and in their yearly budgets. They may have changed Premiers and shuffled cabinet titles and ministers, but the fundamental issues that trouble our province remain the same.


Health care and education continue to suffer. We are ignoring climate change and environmental issues at our peril. The floundering economy is reflected in our high rate of unemployment and the thousands of forestry jobs lost. Child poverty is worse here than almost anywhere in Canada.


My constituents wonder if they will end up in a Tim Hortons outlet when they go for help in the emergency department at the Royal Columbian Hospital, and they wonder if their neighbourhood schools will close.


Today I'm going to take a stroll through several ministries and look at some of the issues that are particularly important to my constituents and how or whether the new budget has affected them negatively, positively or at all.


I look first at the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. More than a year ago, same time, same place, I talked about cuts to the arts and what they mean to my riding. Nothing has changed. The arts continue to be underfunded in Coquitlam-Maillardville and around the province.


The national provincial arts funding average is $25 per capita. In B.C. it is $6.54 per capita. That is an $18-per-person difference, and meeting the national average would make a huge impact for artists, musicians, dancers, actors and creative groups as they seek to enrich our society.


[1510]

The only good news last year regarding the arts was that this government was forced to back down and return $7 million in funding to the B.C. Arts Council. Of
[ Page 6485 ]
course, this reversal came only after months of protests and outcry from the arts community, the resignation of B.C. Arts Council chair Jane Danzo and continued debates in the Legislature.


This partial restoration of funds doesn't change the fact that programs and productions had already been cut and many talented people have lost their jobs and left our province. Nor does it address the huge cut in funding through gaming grants in general.


I am proud that the official opposition has been unwavering in its support for the arts, constantly pointing out their importance to our quality of life, our economy and our future. Without the arts, how would we see beyond the realities of the present day and express our dreams of change?


I am also proud that the official opposition has supported small community charities which have seen gaming grants eliminated completely or cut back drastically. I call on the government to restore gaming funds to their former levels and, finally, to involve the community if new grant categories are to be created or older ones eliminated.


I look now at the Ministry of Education. Having been one of two Education critics for the past two years, I know firsthand that these have not been easy days for public education. School boards have had to grapple with budget cuts as the Education budget has remained largely unchanged.


While there has been an increase in per-student funding to $8,357, no inflationary pressures faced by school districts have been addressed. My own school district, Coquitlam, the third-largest district in the province, receives only $6,781 per-pupil funding, the lowest in British Columbia. The only funding increase will go to full-day kindergarten and the remaining portion of teacher pay increases in the current contract. Many school districts have tacked an extra week on to spring break to balance their budgets.


We have seen 190 public schools close in this province since 2002. Why, when our new Premier was Education Minister, 120 schools were closed, 2,000 teachers were laid off and many librarians and special needs supports were cut.


I was more than pleased when a provincial law that stopped the ability of teachers to bargain for class size and composition was ruled recently as unconstitutional. The legislation was brought in by our new Premier when she was Education Minister.


"It is clear from the government's own evidence that a key reason that school administrators and the government did not like to have class size and composition limits included in collective agreements was the fact that these districts increased costs to school districts," said Justice Susan Griffin. She also said that the legislation came at a cost to teachers. "They lost the ability to be involved in decisions which could greatly affect their working conditions."


On a happier note, from school district 43, the new Mandarin bilingual program has been a great success. Because Coquitlam, as I mentioned, has the lowest per-pupil funding, we are especially grateful for the funding for this program, as it has come from external sources. Last year 140 families hoped to enrol their children in the 90 available spaces, and we're expecting that this year we'll see even larger numbers.


I move now to the Ministry of Advanced Education. Higher education has moved beyond the reach of many young people in B.C. at a time when we will need a more educated workforce, as many jobs will require a university degree. Right now B.C. ranks seventh among the ten provinces in the number of university degrees granted per capita.


What is stopping our young people? Tuition fees have doubled since 2001, forcing student debt levels to among the highest in Canada, averaging $27,000 for a four-year program. Student aid has been cut by $34 million. Underfunding of trades and apprenticeship training often means long waiting lists, which makes little sense when we keep hearing that there is a trade shortage on the horizon.


[1515]

Under the B.C. Liberals, B.C. became the only province in the country to eliminate a needs-based grant program. The province of B.C. also currently provides the least amount of student aid in Canada. At 2.5 percent above prime, student loan interest rates in B.C. are the highest in Canada. These are not statistics that bode well for a society that will depend not just on knowledge but on creativity and innovation.


Let's look now at the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation. Let's look at some hard numbers when it comes to job creation and economic growth. Between 2001 and 2009 B.C. was a have-not province six times and was the only province in western Canada to have negative growth in exports. Between 2001 and 2009 B.C. had the lowest growth in average hourly wages and lost approximately 50,000 jobs in natural resource and manufacturing industries.


Why, in December 2010, B.C. lost a shocking 20,000 full-time jobs, half of which were in construction, and let's recall that this government claimed that 46 percent from the HST would flow to the construction industry. But according to StatsCan, B.C. had the second-worst drop-off in building permits in Canada, and residential building permits fell by 51 percent in November alone.


Some 3,400 jobs were lost in the accommodation and food services industry over the last year, and the B.C. Restaurant Association tells us that the HST certainly played a hand in that. With higher ferry fares, fewer provincial park services, fewer fish for recreation anglers, it is no wonder the tourism industry is suffering.


Looking now at the Ministry of Environment. In my riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville the environment and its preservation are huge issues. We have several committed and active environmental organizations that
[ Page 6486 ]
monitor local waterways, clean up parks and trails, and work to further educate the public about clean water, clean air and the future of our beautiful but beleaguered planet.


Here are just some of the ways the Ministry of Environment has failed to act to protect our parks system. Interpretative programs were eliminated. Massive cuts between 2002 and 2004 led to the removal of toilets and boat launch facilities from many parks. Trails, bridges and other park infrastructure have also been in decline. Some 22 conservation officers were eliminated, along with 128 scientific technical officers, 21 park assistants, 17 biologists and 26 licensed science officers.


In 2003 the Parks and Protected Areas Statutes Act was amended to allow for oil and gas exploration and development within B.C. parks. As well, there continues to be ongoing subsidies and tax breaks to the fossil fuel sector.


I am proud that the official opposition supports policies that put environmental sustainability at the forefront of decision-making. As an example, the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, established in 2007, firmly established the opposition position on closed-containment fish farming. Our policies are science-based, transparent, and we are always aware of our accountability to the public. Unfortunately, the current government has taken no action on the recommendations of this committee.


Now, moving on to the Ministry of Health, everybody's favourite. Fraser Health, which serves my riding, continues to experience a shortage of acute care beds. We even made the national news earlier this year when the Royal Columbian Hospital emergency department was so overcrowded that beds were moved into the nearby Tim Hortons. There were many jokes: "Will that be a double-double on meds?" and "Roll up your rim to win your turn with a doctor." But really, it is no laughing matter.


Stretchers often block the hallways and exits of the ER, and ambulances are diverted to other hospitals. The fire marshal was called in twice to the Royal Columbian to deal with overcrowding in 2008.


What do we hear as the solution from the government? More calls for privatization. If it hasn't worked so far, why would we continue with this same tired policy?


[1520]

Eagle Ridge Hospital, which also serves my riding, was built to accommodate 200 beds but has never reached that goal. Local city councils have passed many motions calling on Fraser Health to "quickly and publicly address all 27 recommendations" in the service review delivered to the health authority in 2009.


I recently attended a status update on these recommendations at city hall, and I'm happy to report that many of them have been achieved, so we are making some progress. However, too many are "in progress," and I can only hope that they will soon be put in place.


One of the questions that came up at this public meeting was how the Tri-Cities, with 215,000 residents and expected to grow to 290,000 by 2020, still has no maternity facilities at its only hospital. I wonder the same thing, and I suspect, like SkyTrain to Coquitlam, that I may not live long enough to see that happen.


Preservation of the Riverview lands continues to be a high-profile issue in my riding. In 2007 the media printed a story that the government was considering selling much of the Riverview property to develop up to 10,000 units of market housing and 1,000 units of social housing, probably a token amount. Approximately 15,000 people from around the province have signed our petition in response to this announcement.


Since that time the government has remained ominously silent. In this case, Madam Speaker, no news is not necessarily good news. With the provincial government short of funds and possibly owing money to Ottawa in the future for the ill-conceived HST, I worry that it will look to Riverview to fill its coffers.


I have been proud to champion the cause of protecting what is left of the Riverview Hospital, and I will continue to do so. The land contains many valuable and rare trees, along with precious wildlife and other horticulture worth preserving. This land must be preserved for people with mental illness and for its environmental and heritage value. Instead of continuing to cut beds, we should be increasing the hospital's role to help with our many vulnerable citizens with mental illness.


As of October 2010, Riverview had only 189 patients remaining. Since 2002, as part of the Riverview redevelopment project, patients have been, and continue to be, moved into private long-term care facilities, often necessitating the transfer of current residents. This is no doubt a dramatic process for all concerned.


Tucked into the Ministry of Health are women and seniors — grouped together, I assume, because both groups are marginalized by this current government. The problems of poverty, HST, higher food and energy costs, etc., affect seniors to a disproportionate degree — those who are able to remain in their own homes and the men and women in seniors housing communities.


Meanwhile, our frail seniors who are in residential care are looking at yet another rate hike. This $54 million revenue grab will leave many men and women struggling to pay for basic needs. A senior whose before-tax income is $22,000 will now have to pay close to $2,000 more for long-term care. This translates into fewer necessities such as toiletries, dental care, over-the-counter medicine, hearing aids and clothing for seniors. It will mean that seniors might remain in their homes longer than they should, with many eventually ending up in acute care as what are commonly called "bed-blockers." This certainly seems like false economy to me.


Just looking briefly at the Ministry of Agriculture. Although my riding is suburban, I am still angered that this government has allowed the Agricultural Land Commission to remove thousands of acres from the
[ Page 6487 ]
ALR, while at the same time weakening legislation for environmental assessments. I'm also disappointed that the Buy B.C. program seems to become less important in the budget every year.


Moving now to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which is very, very important to my riding. Because only 25 percent of people who live in Coquitlam-Maillardville work in the city they live in, transportation issues are very important. Our residents use the West Coast Express for commuter rail service into Vancouver and east to Mission, and you will see many TransLink buses on our streets, although many neighbourhoods are not served. This is despite the fact that automobile exhaust is one of the largest sources of pollution in B.C.


[1525]

And the Nevergreen line, as I call it, has been on track and off track and then back on track so many times that everybody has lost track. The government announced the line would go ahead several years ago, before the estimated $1.4 billion in funding had been secured.


The federal government made its financial commitment, and construction was finally expected to start in 2010. However, the provincial government was $2 million short, and now TransLink has announced it cannot afford to build or operate the line, which they estimate will cost at least $350 million per year.


I would be pleased if someone, anyone, could tell me and the community what is going on. The last time I looked, SkyTrain's website said construction would begin in early 2011. Like my constituents, I'll believe it when I see it. It seems to me that we've passed early 2011, so the website will probably be updated any day now.


Looking at the Ministry of Finance, which flows quite naturally, I think, from the transportation ministry and talking about the Nevergreen SkyTrain line to Coquitlam, I hear from my constituents that the HST continues to be a huge issue in my riding. I can understand why, as the $1.9 billion tax shift from business to consumers hits everyone, from small business to those families that are struggling to make the end of the month come before the end of their money.


As everywhere else in the province, Coquitlam-Maillardville residents were outraged with the introduction of the HST just weeks after an election campaign where they were not told it was on the table. I meet people of every political stripe who are willing to be counted in the fight to stop the tax. But let's remember that all the Liberal MLAs voted for it right here in this House and are now making a concerted effort to resell the HST to British Columbians before the referendum is held this summer, and it's all at taxpayers' expense.


All of us in the opposition are pleased, of course — moving on to something positive to say — that the government finally listened to working British Columbians and raised the minimum wage. [Applause.] Well, it's good to know that they're listening. I always appreciate that.


Of course, it took about ten years, and unless some action is taken on affordable housing, the rising costs of transit, hydro increases, tuition costs, user fees, etc., the government is going to have to look at raising it again to keep up with costs that have spiralled out of control since 2003.


I want to get through these before my time is up, Madam Speaker, so I'm not pausing in between the ministries.


The Ministry of Attorney General. We do live in interesting times. The Crown Counsel Association says there are not enough prosecutors to fight crime in this province. The association president disputes claims that ten prosecutors have been hired to deal with gang violence. Instead, prosecutors were moved from other offices, leaving those offices understaffed. That is coming from the association.


As well, 60 legal aid offices have been cut, ten jails and 24 courthouses have closed, and there are not enough judges to oversee trials. Pretrial facilities are 200 percent over capacity, which increases the threat of violence. Surely we must make sure that the justice system has the resources it needs to keep our streets safe.


Much as I would like to ignore the B.C. Rail deal, I simply can't. The office of the Attorney General signed off on a $6 million deal to secure guilty pleas from two former political aids in this corruption trial. I have to believe this was so the government could save face and avoid media and public scrutiny.


As well, for more than seven years, the government has refused to answer questions relating to the sale of B.C. Rail. They have refused repeated public calls for an independent inquiry into the sale of the former Crown corporation, and like my constituents, I wonder what they are afraid of.


Moving onto the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and gaming. Gaming policy and enforcement and responsible gambling strategy come under the Minister of Public Safety, along with the B.C. Lottery Corporation. I remember very well when casinos first came to this province with a promise that they would generate revenue for non-profits and charities, many in the arts sector.


[1530]

[C. Trevena in the chair.]


But that social contract, which led to city councils approving casino locations, has been broken. In fact, gaming grants are actually lower now than they were in the 1990s, despite a huge increase in profits. Like most of the people in this province, I question why the top priority for gaming revenue should be subsidizing private casino companies' car parks and show lounges. Aren't the casino companies making enough money? Do they really need subsidies when grants are being cut
[ Page 6488 ]
for the arts and for charities that help people with disabilities, seniors and children who want to play sports, take music lessons or perform?


Casinos can receive a subsidy of 3 percent of their net win plus an additional one-time subsidy, which is an additional 2 percent of a casino's net win. Together these subsidies have offset about 40 percent — 40 percent, Madam Speaker — of the capital costs of casino development in B.C. in recent years alone. I can assure you that these casinos have not spent 40 percent of their capital costs on programs for problem gamblers or helping their families.


Again, it is difficult to see why casinos need subsidies at all. Gambling revenues at the lottery corp were at $2.5 billion in 2009-10. Casino receipts increased from about $492 million to about $1.3 billion, with casino growth going from one-third of the Crown corporation's total revenue to more than half of it.


Slot machine revenue has jumped to $1.3 billion, an interesting statistic when I remember something about the B.C. Liberals talking about stopping the expansion of gambling. Gaming, as it is now called instead of gambling, is a big business. At the very least, isn't it time that we separated gaming policy and gaming enforcement into separate ministries?


Looking now at the Ministry of Social Development and references to the budget and what occurred there in the 2011 budget. In February the budget projected 3,000 more people would be on income assistance over the next two years. So what does the government do? It cuts employment programs for people on income assistance by $16 million. Income and disability assistance is shamefully low.


Certainly thousands of B.C. children live in poverty, the most in Canada. Where is the poverty reduction plan? What is this government doing to be sure that children have enough to eat and warm winter coats?


In my riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville we see homelessness. Since 2007 the number of homeless people in the Tri-Cities has fluctuated between 160 and 210 people. After threats, obscenities and impassioned debate, Coquitlam council approved rezoning land for a homeless shelter in the eastern part of our city. Standing in the way of construction is a memorandum of understanding with the province, an operational plan and, most of all, funding by the government.


The Hope for Freedom Society, along with five local churches and volunteers, continues to operate a cold and wet weather mat program to provide temporary overnight housing for those in need. I thank them for caring, and I hope that the provincial government shares the same urgency as we do to provide the homeless with something more permanent in the Tri-Cities region of British Columbia.


Moving now — I'm in closing, I think — to the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Back in 2006 the hon. Ted Hughes released a scathing report into the beating death of a Port Alberni toddler, and 62 recommendations were proposed, which the government accepted. What has happened? Clearly not enough.


The B.C. Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, said in her final report on implementation of the recommendations that less than half had been completed. "Much has been promised and little delivered," she said.


It would seem logical that the ministry charged with child protection and the person charged with representing children and youth would have the same goals and work together. It has not seemed so. The province tried to reduce Turpel-Lafond's budget. She was forced to take the province to court to get documents she needed just to complete one report.


[1535]

In January Turpel-Lafond released a report reviewing the deaths of 21 infants since 2007. The report made several recommendations and questions the practices of the ministry in providing preventative care, ongoing monitoring of difficult family circumstances, and reviewing and learning from past mistakes. She indicated — again, I quote — "chronic, deep poverty" as the single-largest risk factor in the lives of families that she reviewed.


With 9,000 children in care at any one time, how can this government continue to not only ignore many of Turpel-Lafond's recommendations but to actively make her work more difficult? Surely everyone can agree that the best interests of children are what matters.


Madam Speaker, we are facing many challenges in this beautiful province, but I am confident that we can meet these challenges if we all work together for the good of our citizens. It is long past time to put people first and to let their wishes and needs be heard in these halls. Our young people must be able to get a better education. Our seniors must have respect. We must protect our resources and commit to a sustainable environment. Our citizens who are sick need the best health care. Our public schools must be viewed as one of our most precious resources and protected.


Of course we all want economic prosperity, and I believe we can have that by making smart choices that put people first and address the widening gap between rich and poor. All things are possible when there is a will to succeed. We have nothing to lose and everything, everything, to gain.


Deputy Speaker: Can I ask members who are having separate conversations to keep their voices down a little so we can hear the people who are participating in the debate.


J. McIntyre: It's with great pleasure that I take my place in the budget debate today. It's very nice to be back in the House. I thought I would like to start by, first of all, thanking all the constituents of West Vancouver–Sea to Sky who two years ago — I guess just about this time two
[ Page 6489 ]
years ago — placed their confidence in me representing them here in Victoria. It is every day a privilege to serve my constituents, and I really want to, as I say, begin this by thanking them all.


I also, of course, want to thank my constituency assistant Judith Fee, who does a huge amount of casework in our very big, sprawling riding, and my staff here in the Legislature, former and current, and most of all, I think, like all of us, want to recognize our families, who do so much behind the scenes to give us the support to be able to do this job. So I want to thank my husband, Andrew, my two children and my dad in Toronto, who will be 85 this September and who I still find that I rely on regularly for his strong advice. So thanks to all of them and to all of my colleagues who, again, make my job easier.


I thought I would start today with some budget highlights. Much has been said back and forth, but I think it is worth putting into the record some of the key things that this budget does for British Columbia. Our former Finance Minister has reiterated a number of times that this budget in 2011 really recognizes the commitment of the government to fund vital public services that we've all come to rely on, while also continuing on a prudent fiscal course during a time of transition and still ongoing economic recovery.


The deficit actually is now lower than what we originally forecasted. It's now 25 percent lower and is now at $1.265 billion. The budget also forecasts deficits lower of $925 million going forward to 2011-12 and $440 million in 2012-13, ending up with a surplus now of $175 million in 2013-14. So we're on track to balance the budget at the time we originally said.


Also, I think most importantly, and in contrast to the member across from us from Fraser-Nicola, we are bending the curve down on the GDP-to-debt ratio, which was higher. It was about 21 percent or so when we took office in 2001. We lowered it by about 37 percent or something, down to 13 or 14 percent. Yes, admittedly in this time of recession, where we're investing in infrastructure, it is creeping up a little, but it will never reach the level that we inherited, and it's on course to go down.


[1540]

We are very confident that we are funding the priorities, and I want to go through those: an extra $605 million to the Ministry of Health through 2013-14 to sustain that front-line delivery; $65 million over three years to the Ministry of Social Development to help the most vulnerable, those on income assistance and families in need; and some additional flexibility — $150 million in the contingency fund.


We're also still funding health care at record amounts. By 2013-14 the Ministry of Health budget will increase by almost $2 billion from the 2010-11 levels, and it's on track to $18.5 billion, or over 42 percent of all expenses, by 2013-14.


On the capital side, we've done an immense amount of investing, especially during the economic downturn. The capital spending on schools, hospitals, roads, hydroelectric projects and other infrastructure is now expected to total about $19 billion over this next three years. Since October 2008 we've committed $5.5 billion to about 900 accelerated capital infrastructure investments around the province that have stimulated the economy. It's kept British Columbians working, especially in a very difficult economic downturn.


Debt. I also, as I say, want to acknowledge, I guess in rebutting my member across, that we are bending down the debt-to-GDP ratio. That's a very important part of this budget.


I also want to remind people that this budget — it has sometimes been called status quo — is really built on the basis of a very, very strong foundation. In the decade that the B.C. Liberals have been in government…. I thought I'd just zoom through a couple of highlights. B.C. has created almost 50,000 jobs overall last year alone — in 2010, still coming out of an economic recession — and altogether moving up towards 400,000.


We've eliminated corporate capital tax on financial and non-financial institutions, which I think is pretty vulnerable with the new leader across the aisle here, who I want to congratulate personally. But I have some fear about his plan for British Columbia, especially with a promise to raise taxes.


We have lowered the general corporate income tax rate from 16.5 to 10 percent over these last few years, and the small business rate is about to be eliminated. It went from 4.5 to 2.5, and April 1 next year, exactly 12 months, will be down to zero — gone, eliminated for small businesses around this province.


We've also eliminated over 150,000 regulations since forming government. Our average hourly rate is up at over $23, which is up even over last year, January 2010, and altogether a 27.5 percent increase since December.


I cede the floor to my colleague.


J. Les: I beg leave to make an introduction.


Leave granted.


Introductions by Members


J. Les: I'm delighted this afternoon to welcome to the precincts….


Interjection.


J. Les: No, that would be overdoing it.


I am delighted to welcome to the House this afternoon 36 grade 11 students from Highroad Academy in my constituency of Chilliwack. They arrived in Victoria this afternoon. I am delighted they've taken some time to visit the legislative precinct. I hope all members will be on their best behaviour while they're in the House —
[ Page 6490 ]
no heckling, no catcalling, especially from the member for Abbotsford West. Would you please help me make them all very welcome.


J. McIntyre: I'm happy to add my voice of welcome to you all. It's wonderful to see students in the gallery. It's very important, I guess, government procedures that you're witnessing today, and I hope it will be a memorable visit for you all.


Debate Continued


J. McIntyre: So yes, back to my speech. I think that was a good break.


I'd like to move on, actually, from some of those general highlights and the strong economic foundation we've laid to talk a little bit about British Columbia's leadership role in adapting and developing a green economy, because I think that's something obviously very important as we move forward.


Again, despite something the member for Fraser-Nicola said when he asked about and tried to deny that we even had the foundation of a green economy…. I'd like to rebut some of that, because for the first time ever we now have private sector innovation that's being applied freely to the development of clean, tidal, geothermal, wind, run-of-the-river and biomass projects all across the province now.


[1545]

We introduced further incentives in 2005 to support the development of wind power projects. We also supported the construction of B.C.'s first tidal energy project, and it began operation in 2009. Policies that we have done have prompted the private sector to invest more than $2.5 billion now in new, clean, renewable power right here in British Columbia.


We established the innovative clean energy fund to support promising clean power technology projects and to help them succeed. That resulted in ICE fund contributions of about $47 million to 34 different projects all around B.C.


We passed legislation in 2008 that set a 5 percent average renewable fuel standard for gasoline and phasing the diesel requirement with a 3 percent target for 2010, 4 percent for 2011 and 5 percent by 2012. We've made a commitment to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of transportation fuels by at least another 10 percent by 2020.


Those are all very important attributes as we move forward, and we know that British Columbia is being looked at as a leading centre across North America with the legislation that we've been rolling out over the last few years.


Just locally, to give you a little bit of local flavour, in West Vancouver–Sea to Sky, of course, British Columbia has been building a green highway that runs from Whistler to Victoria and will include more stations throughout B.C. as it possibly gets extended as far south to California. We entered a federal-provincial partnership investing $89 million in 20 fuel cell buses in the Whistler hydrogen fuelling station, where I had the pleasure of being at the opening with the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.


So those are the kinds of things that we are taking a lead on in making sure that we have clean, green jobs, especially for youth and people who are contemplating careers. We want to make sure that those are the right kinds of jobs that are available for you.


I also want to take a moment to…. There was an interesting article by Moura Quayle, who used to be a deputy minister here not too long ago in the provincial parliament. She's now at the Sauder School of Business at UBC. She wrote this article with John Richards at the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser just this week.


It provided very good food for thought as we go forward. We have a new Premier, new Leader of the Opposition, but there is a great opportunity. The genesis of the article, the gist of the article, was that we have a lot to celebrate in British Columbia, but we have almost a duty or, hopefully, an obligation to take the green economy to the next level.


They cited a recent column by economist Mark Jaccard, who had been very favourable about our carbon tax and other steps we were taking. Interestingly, his report highlights figures from our budget that the carbon tax has paid back to British Columbians $200 million more than it has taken away. So they comment that the carbon tax has actually delivered a significant tax cut.


According to his assessment, at least three-quarters of British Columbians are paying less today because of the carbon tax, and of course, for thousands of people that means that we have more money in our pockets — right? — for groceries, child care, sports, all sorts of other costs that families incur.


They go on to say that our carbon-pricing policy has helped one of the largest clusters of clean tech companies in the world to expand. Clean tech stands, of course, as one of the fastest-growing sectors with hundreds of companies and thousands of jobs.


I also want to comment — and I feel quite strongly about this from other roles I've played in government over the years — that they're urging, and stating really, that our economic advantages have been bolstered by the leadership that we took in the Western Climate Initiative, in WCI, which was the regional agreement to help tackle some of the issues of climate change. Throughout, the cooperation that we've had with other jurisdictions like California, Quebec, Ontario and others, British Columbia is literally being regarded as being on the leading edge of the green economy.


I also want to move on from that to another type of job that, again, we're hoping to make sure that our youth and people behind us are developing skills and have interest in, and that is in what we have here in British
[ Page 6491 ]
Columbia: a vibrant motion picture industry. The theme is the same. They're good, clean, green jobs, high-paying jobs, but they need skills. They need the skills that we hope to prepare our youth with.


We have a very vibrant motion picture and interactive game industry here — third-largest motion production centre in North America. Our government has supported this industry with tax credits to level the playing field with other jurisdictions and to support what we have here in a very skilled labour force and also the diverse locations that we have around beautiful British Columbia.


[1550]

I just want to put on the record here that our film tax policies and the credits that we've provided have made sure that British Columbia is competitive. Budget 2008 raised those tax credit rates. Budget 2009 eliminated the expiry dates and expanded the eligibility for domestic credits, allowing some of our B.C. production companies more access to capital in other markets. Then in February 2010 our government announced new tax incentives and extended them to interactive digital media.


We've now got B.C. film crews, infrastructure and production companies that are recognized as the best in the industry and, coupled with these locations I was talking about, make B.C. now a top choice for domestic and foreign producers.


The motion picture industry here in British Columbia employs approximately 35,000 people. That is a lot of people. Most of those jobs are sort of project-based, freelance, and 5,000 or 6,000 of those are located on the North Shore adjacent to and throughout the riding that I represent. It's a very, very important industry.


That leads me and provides a very nice segue, because the industry is flourishing here in British Columbia now partly because of the HST. Without the HST that was introduced, you can ask many of the people…. You ask Peter Leitch, who is the head of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association. Those jobs, they know, would be immediately, overnight, going to Ontario where the HST is offered. They have been….


I want to thank them here and put on the record their efforts to help educate the public on this topic and let people know how important the HST is to particular sectors, that it's well worth considering.


I want to go on, because I do want to take some of my time today to talk about the HST and about the HST referendum that's coming up. My plea today is to make sure that the public does get engaged in the information and the public engagement campaign that we're finally embarking on, because as much as we have an excellent track record on the economy, and we have a good foundation, we still are facing considerable uncertainty related to the harmonized sales tax.


It makes some of what we're discussing here, and some of what we're talking about in the budget, moot if we find ourselves in a position to have to pay back to the federal government $1.6 billion and if we also have to go through the steps of re-employing hundreds of employees, $30 million a year, to reinstitute a tax department and audit department here in British Columbia. We'll be asking companies to deal with two different tax agencies again, both federal and provincial. That's about a cost of $150 million to business itself.


Really, as I say, my plea today is to make sure that British Columbians have the facts that they need to make an informed decision, so to that end we've taken a number of steps. The public has told us…. As much as we respect their decision in this referendum, they have told us over and over very clearly that they want the facts, the straight facts. So we have taken these steps.


We have appointed an expert panel. They're reviewing the referendum options, and they're going to be reporting out to the public independently about the likely impacts on consumers, on the budget and on our economy. We've delayed the release of that report, I understand, till after May 2, till after the federal election, but hopefully we will have that objective information.


We've also engaged in what's called Talking Tax. It's a public campaign that we're embarking on that's to provide this timely opportunity to discuss and review the HST in advance of the referendum. It's also an opportunity for voters to fully understand the choices before them and for the government to listen to what British Columbians have to say about the tax and also to hear their ideas about how the HST can be improved.


I don't know if some of you were here earlier. The Finance Minister was talking about the thousands — there were something like almost 30,000 people — that had participated in a couple of the teleconferences here because the public is engaged. It shows. They want to know more about it.


The other thing is, as I say, we really want to make sure that the public understands the two options, because this isn't a matter of no tax or tax. This is a matter of which form of taxation.


[1555]

Do you want to go with the single HST that's a benefit to businesses and creates jobs, or do you want to return to this two-tax PST-GST system which sees the provincial sales tax embedded at every level of the value chain, of the production chain? I'm hoping and confident that once we go through this public engagement process and people get the facts, they'll be able to make a much better decision. I just wanted to take a few minutes to talk about some of that plan, because people may not know what's before them now.


Under the plan that we announced a couple of weeks ago, we're providing a total of $500,000 for the yes and no sides, which will be subject to conditions on the appropriate use of the public funding and the accountability for that spending. We're creating a public dialogues fund
[ Page 6492 ]
of $500,000 to be independently managed by the province's public universities, colleges and institutes. They'll be holding informative public dialogues in advance of the referendum.


We're also producing and sending a comprehensive guide to every home in British Columbia with information that will have statements from both the yes and no side. We have asked the hon. Stephen Owen, and he's agreed to be appointed as an independent funding decision-maker. He'll be overseeing this. He has a very…. I think he's regarded very well by both sides of the House, and I'm very confident that he's going to be able to lead us in that discussion.


As I say, my final plea is that we have and do find ways to engage the public, including youth and everyone around the province — from rural, urban, all those who hopefully will be able to see the benefit and know why, actually for almost two years, we have consistently supported the tax. I think we know in our hearts it is the right thing for British Columbia.


It's been a very difficult thing, and I think we have a number of times apologized to the public for the way in which the tax was introduced, but it is probably the most significant public policy issue we're facing as a province. There are over 130 countries all around the world that have all gone to value-added tax. The rest of Canada, basically the vast majority of the population in Canada, has moved to that. So we will be going there, and we are there now.


The lost cost in opportunity, if we ever had to really reverse this system — the cost to business and to the public and to those at the lower end of the income scale who are getting a benefit, are getting cheques quarterly to help them with those costs, to actually more than help them with those costs…. All of those things will be a great loss. I just want to be on the record of saying that I hope we can get the facts out, and I hope that the public will see and will forgive, despite the way it was launched, will see the merits of the tax and support and cast their ballot.


They have a whole month, from June 24 until July 22, to cast that ballot, and I hope that everybody will do it in an informed, educated basis and take the time to get themselves up to speed.


With that, I'd like to do a switch here in my comments, because I realize that most of us do take the time at budget response to talk a little bit about their riding and how things are faring in the riding. I feel that we're halfway through this second term, and I thought it would be a nice opportunity to take people, and hopefully the viewers at home, on a tour pretty well down the Sea to Sky Highway, which is the main road that links all of my communities in the wonderful riding of West Vancouver–Sea to Sky that I represent.


I thought I would start at the north end and talk a little bit about Pemberton — start there. The village of Pemberton is undergoing a very interesting…. It's been a long, sort of tenuous road through a boundary expansion that will allow them actually to attract a school, a private school, elementary school gyms that they're working on. Their music festival…. All sorts of things depend on some of these zoning issues, and Pemberton will have, with this boundary extension, a better and bigger opportunity to set their own goals and objectives for what they would like to be going on in their community.


They've been the beneficiaries of some infrastructure grants, including a walkway around One Mile Lake, trails, infrastructure for wastewater. They just recently received some money for diking, which has been very much appreciated.


I think the community is growing. They have many babies. They had a record of babies, I think, in the last couple of years. So it's a thriving community, albeit still small — under 5,000. It's been, again, a pleasure to serve those members.


I also want to mention, of course, First Nations. The Lil'wat, Mount Currie band is adjacent. Pemberton and Mount Currie, I think for the first time in their history, are actually having joint municipal — if you can call them that; or joint band and council — meetings on a regular basis.


[1600]

That came out of a report called Winds of Change, where they had a very unfortunate tragedy in their community and realized that they have to work together, both aboriginals and non-aboriginals, to set their future course. They are doing that in a very respectful and very successful way.


I think those efforts were really highlighted during 2010, during the torch relay, when the torch stopped at Mount Currie band. In fact, when the torch stopped at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, when one of the youth from Lil'wat Nation passed the torch to one of the youth from the Squamish Nation, it was a very, very touching moment that I think all of us will remember — all of us holding candles.


Those are the kinds of memories from the 2010 torch relay and activities that were, I think, so important to binding and bonding the Sea to Sky corridor, because naturally, with the Olympics — many of the games, including the Paralympics, being held in Whistler — we had this wonderful opportunity of being able to work together, cooperate together and make these memories together.


Also, the 2010 hosting of the games was very important for First Nations because there were some economic opportunities for them that they had never had before, opportunities on the highway, producing asphalt. A number of them were trained by Kiewit and Sons and have now moved on to the Port Mann bridge and other places where they've received training. They've now
[ Page 6493 ]
been able to move from the Sea to Sky right into other good, well-paying jobs. They also, of course, have had opportunity in the forests and other kinds of things in the partnerships we've been doing with aboriginal communities. I've been very privileged to be a part of and to support that wherever I can.


Of course, coming down the road we move on to Whistler. You immediately see some of the successes, obviously, of hosting the 2010 games, and I would like to compliment Whistler publicly at this time. I wrote them a letter. Their success in hosting…. In a small community of 10,000 people they were able to manage what they did in short order, and particularly the Paralympic Games.


Most of the Paralympics were held in the Whistler area, and the medals were delivered there. They did an exceptional job, and I think everybody has regarded that as the best Paralympic Games ever. My compliments go out to all the volunteers and staff in Whistler and all the people who put the efforts into making that such a success. The legacies that we now have, things like the athletes village, which has now turned into a new neighbourhood called Cheakamus Crossing…. It's been built to be affordable for residents, to enable residents who work in Whistler to be able to live in more affordable accommodation in their own community.


We of course have the wonderful Nordic skiing — the cross-country skiing facilities that are now in the Callaghan Valley just south of Whistler. Even the medal plaza is all being redone in green now to be able to be a central focus of a community where everybody can meet and there can be theatre. Actually the GranFondo race — which we hosted for the first time last year and which was the bike race all the way through the Sea to Sky Highway — ends in Whistler and will end in the revitalized medal plaza this year. There are many recreational and cultural opportunities in Whistler as a result of our investments over the last few years.


Moving down to Squamish we see, of course, a number of legacies there. There was actually a direct legacy from VANOC for $750,000. The Squamish community now are looking at how to spend that money. It's going to be designated for youth, sports and development. They're now, fortunately, having the luxury of being able to figure out how to spend that money, and I'm anxious to see how that unfolds. They also received a grant for a central gathering place, which will now be O'Siem pavilion. It's just under construction now, but again it will provide a wonderful place right on their Main Street to be used for a gathering for the Sikh festival and other events in Squamish.


They've had a number of infrastructure grants for things like wastewater and other trails, but they also just received $1.2 million from the Public Safety and Solicitor General office for flood protection, which they are most pleased about. We've also been able to invest on the social front in Squamish with funding 24-7 at Pearl's Place, which is a transition home, and a homeless shelter. We were able to help the homeless shelter there become 24-7. Again, unfortunately, it turned into a much more needed facility and amenity for Squamish.


[1605]

They have an exciting development before them in terms of the oceanfront lands which the province gifted to Squamish for $1 a number of years ago. They've gone through some different machinations of trying to figure out how they would like to develop the 70 acres that are now available, which will be a combination of green space, some light industrial to support a marine environment and then also some residential. So I think they've come up with a very good plan that's going through the final stages now.


Of course, one of the things I really want to spend a moment on is a historic agreement that the district of Squamish has just signed with the Squamish First Nation. After essentially years and years of having no guide — and I'd say years and years, probably, of not working together in a harmonious way and not collaborating and not understanding that their futures really are intertwined together — they have just signed a historic agreement about a month ago, a legal agreement that outlines and maps out how the First Nations and the district of Squamish will move together on land use. It encompasses a number of issues — some agreements, like the umbrella lands agreement, go back to the late '90s — that have all been discussed and never been able to move forward in a collaborative way.


I am very proud of the leadership that's been shown by both the district of Squamish — the mayor, Greg Gardner; and his staff — and also the leadership shown by Chief Gibby Jacob and others — the negotiator, Toby Baker — who have put an enormous amount of work into really what is an absolutely historic agreement.


It actually mirrors some of the work that's been done in Whistler with their legacy land agreements, too, that the Whistler administration was so successful. These are historic agreements, never been done in British Columbia before between First Nations and existing municipalities.


Zooming down the rest of my highway now, although I can't speed on the highway, we go through Britannia. It has really developed beautifully. There was a land sale, I guess, and swap that involved the province and a private developer, Macdonald Development Corporation, who have allowed people who never had home ownership before to now own their homes in Britannia. They're working on developing the commercial area.


Of course, the Britannia museum, the one place in British Columbia where youth and others can learn about the history of mining and the future of mining, has been supported by both the federal and provincial governments and the private sector to fully revitalize that mining museum, which is open seven days a week and
[ Page 6494 ]
sees thousands and thousands of students and adults through there every year.


Lions Bay is very happy that they've been receiving some of the infrastructure grants for trails and got their new fire truck and have been, I think, very grateful to be the recipient, as others on Bowen Island have too, from the economic stimulus plan that the federal and provincial governments engaged in to make sure that communities got the necessary infrastructure and could set their goals.


Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.


J. McIntyre: I was just down to West Vancouver, so thank you very much.


B. Routley: First of all, I want to say how thankful I am once again for this opportunity to represent the fine people of the Cowichan Valley.


I do want to take a moment to thank all of the candidates in both parties who ran in the recent leadership campaigns and certainly to congratulate the new leaders. Democracy is alive and well in British Columbia, and I believe that is indeed a good thing.


In this budget debate I want to speak about the people of the Cowichan Valley and some local and Island issues that I believe would be a good place for this government to spend a small portion of the $600 million that they have in their contingency fund. I am speaking now about one of the first priorities — really an Island priority more than just Cowichan Valley. We're one of the many communities linked by the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway.


There is a huge legacy that goes back to the turn of the century. When the railway was first proposed by the federal government, they connected from Esquimalt to Nanaimo and really have gone north of that all the way up to Courtenay now. You look at that legacy. They gave away 20 miles on both sides of the railway track — a huge chunk of land on the eastern side of Vancouver Island.


[1610]

In return, we were supposed to get a railway in perpetuity. What has happened is really quite a tragedy, in my opinion. Being somebody who negotiated agreements over his life, I really wish that the founding fathers who had written that agreement had linked the lands directly and made sure that if the railway was in any way closed or shut down, those lands returned to the federal government. That didn't happen. It wasn't written that way. But I do know there is a collective responsibility both federally and provincially to deal with that issue.


I happen to know that Vancouver Island mayors…. The Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, representing more than 51 municipalities and regional districts, recently passed an emergency resolution calling for action on the E&N rail line. I know they requested a meeting with the government over the issue. The emergent issue right now is that they need $15 million to correct a problem. They've got an emergency with the tracks. They had a derailment, and in order to repair the track and get the E&N train — the dayliner, it's affectionately referred to — running again up and down the Island, it's going to take those emergency repairs.


I want to remind this Legislature that for years and years this government as well as previous governments have collected millions of dollars from those lands, whether it's the harvesting activity, all of the population and activity that's involved in those lands in that area. There's a responsibility, I believe, to pay back those communities.


You think about just the timber resource alone. Recently I read that Brookfield, when they sold off Island Timberlands, said that they had some of the most valuable timberlands in Canada — most valuable timberlands in Canada. A small amount of the money that is being taxed from those companies would be the $15 million that we need to fix up that rail line, and it is incumbent, I believe, on both federal and provincial governments to do just that — to repair that line.


I would also ask that government take a look at the new technology that's emerging. I recently saw a program where they showed a bus. I believe it's in use in Japan. They've also looked at it in Europe. This bus…. They push a button, and down come the wheels so that they can run on the railway track. When they get to the end of the line they push the button, they drive off the rail line, and away they go. Those kinds of new and emerging technologies are things that we need to look at.


When you look at the recent accident that we had on the Malahat, there's an example of an opportunity missed. All kinds of people would have been moving to the rail line, had there been such a train that I've just talked about. New technology, a new opportunity to move more people in what is already a very busy corridor…. Government has an obligation, I believe, to look at that — certainly on behalf of the people in the Cowichan Valley that I know believe that the railway ought to be fixed up and ought to be running again, and not only for the green tourism opportunities that are presented by that rail line.


We're fearful that if that rail line is not funded, what will happen is…. They're talking about an orderly shutdown of that rail line, and that is absolutely unacceptable. The people of the Cowichan Valley, I know, are absolutely opposed to any idea or notion of shutting down that rail line. It should be continued. In fact, we should be not only improving the rail line but looking at new opportunities such as I've just talked about.


[1615]

Again, I point to the taxation and the linkage — all those years, millions of dollars in provincial and federal revenue coming off those lands that were part of that
[ Page 6495 ]
railway deal. Some of it…. It's payback time. They've got to be putting back and making sure that the communities have what I think is rightfully there, and that's to get that rail line working again and get the E&N back on the tracks and running up and down the Island.


The second issue that I want to talk about is the Mill Bay–Brentwood ferry. This government apparently has until June 30. They said on their website…. B.C. Ferries was talking about one option, which would be to close the Mill Bay–Brentwood ferry, and that would be totally unacceptable to the people in Mill Bay and a lot of other communities. I know the chamber of commerce in Mill Bay, the regional district and others are most interested in making sure that that Mill Bay ferry continues.


I would urge that the government look carefully at that option — and urge you to ensure that that Mill Bay ferry continues to run — and to invest again in a run that now and in the future not only creates tourism opportunities but would be absolutely necessary in an emergency.


That recent accident on the highway…. Again, there were people that used that as an option in that emergency who headed off that way. I, myself, have gone the Brentwood way to Mill Bay in snowstorms. It's simply a safer option. So again, I would ask that the government, when they're reviewing the budget and this $600 million that they have in their contingency fund, look at those kinds of options that would help the people in the Cowichan Valley and other regions on Vancouver Island.


Now, turning back to this budget, sadly, this Liberal budget proves once again that they are planning to fail B.C. families. This government budget…. In their highlights document they admit, and I quote in part: "This budget sets no new directions." That's sad that there are no new directions. In fact, this budget was what I believe is an attack on B.C. families. It abandons families struggling to make ends meet — issues that really impact families, such as MSP premiums.


Here's a government that's found a new and unique way to attract all kinds of tax revenue, and you're not going to get any help from this government. No, they're going to load onto B.C. families more indirect taxation through MSP premium increases.


Hydro rates are continuing to escalate. Again, this government has bled off millions of dollars from B.C. Hydro, and now they are in a position where you've got B.C. Hydro saying: "Well, we're going to have to increase rates." Now they're going to have some kind of big political government review or injection of themselves, but they bled away all kinds of the revenue, and now families are paying more and more and more.


Ferry fares. As a Vancouver Islander, I remember when I was a kid, when old W.A.C. Bennett took over the ferry on behalf of the people of British Columbia and said it was an important part of our transportation route for all British Columbians. We had the old Black Ball ferry, and he bought it back and provided the opportunity for all of Vancouver Islanders to have reasonable transportation to and from the Mainland, to connect us to the rest of B.C.


And what has this government done? They've piled on. They created an almost independent corporation — if you can call it that — with the million-dollar man in charge. We're seeing nothing but ramping up increase after increase, and it's becoming more and more difficult for Vancouver Island families to get off the Island and visit other family members, whether it's sons or daughters, brothers or sisters — any family member over on the Mainland.


You know, I've talked to all kinds of people in my constituency that said that they used to go two or three times over to the Mainland. Now if they get over once a year…. It's such a costly adventure that it makes it difficult.


[1620]

The tourism industry, I believe, is indirectly impacted by the government's failure to acknowledge that our B.C. ferry system ought to have been held in the government's hands and certainly was benefiting all British Columbians, particularly Vancouver Islanders who depended on that service.


We've got seniors and the lowest-paid struggling to keep up. Many families are hurting, and now, once again, seven years in a row, we have the poorest children in the province living in poverty with no plan. There's no plan to address the needs of the people that most desperately need it.


But what do we have? Oh, there's immediate action. The government, meanwhile, puts in place their HST, which is a tax shift. And let's go back to when they first talked about this. This was a tax shift. They were going to take taxes, and they were going to take it from the big corporations — "we're no longer going to have to pay these taxes" — and they were going to shift it right over and put it on the backs of families throughout British Columbia — you know, a tax that benefits their corporate pals and, at the same time, hurts families throughout British Columbia.


The facts are clear. I don't know. This government…. It's a tax transfer, pure and simple, and they're soon going to try and dress this pig up to try and make it fly. You can try and put wings on this HST pig, and I can tell you right now, hon. Speaker, it just isn't going to fly. It ought not to fly because the people of British Columbia will see through what's going on here, and it's a transfer of tax onto all British Columbians.


I know the glee club, all of those benefiting — you know, the folks that are stuffing their pockets with the cash. Hockey socks full of cash, dump truck loads of cash that they're making, that they're taking away from the people of British Columbia, and they're loading it back up in the coffers of the biggest corporations to give themselves big paycheques and bonuses and who knows what they do.

[ Page 6496 ]

This HST is the biggest snow job since the last big snow job by these B.C. Liberals, and that snow job was the B.C. Rail. Why wouldn't these big corporations spend some money? It's a $2 billion gift from this government, a tax reduction.


Let's not forget, the people of British Columbia should not forget, that this government claimed that it was not on their radar. They were not thinking about it as an option whatsoever. That was what they told the people of British Columbia. That's what they've stood up in this House and said over and over again: it was not on their radar.


So if it wasn't on their radar, then it's a pure and simple gift to the corporate sector — pure and simple. That's what it is. So again, you can come up with all kinds of things….


This government now says they could have handled it a little better. Wow. Have they had some kind of decade-of-deceit makeover? I just don't buy it.


In 2001 they said, and actually the new Premier was one of the ones that said: "Read my lips. Take a look. You can count on me. We're not going to sell B.C. Rail." And they sold B.C. Rail. Then they said they wouldn't rip up health care contracts, and they did.


Then they ripped up teachers' contracts, and now it takes the Supreme Court to intervene to get any kind of justice for working people, for people that we count on to teach our children. Imagine, the teachers that we count on to teach our children have to take this government to the Supreme Court to get some kind of justice, and this government now tells us they're looking at its options to appeal.


Then let's talk about…. I remember standing in this House talking about paramedics. They ordered paramedics back to work. Do you remember this, hon. Speaker? They said: "Oh, well, we've got to order these paramedics back to work because there's a pandemic."


[1625]

The new Minister of Finance, I remember well: "Oh, there's going to be a terrible pandemic. Oh, it's just frightening what could happen to the people of B.C. if we don't act immediately." And did the pandemic materialize? Absolutely not. There was no pandemic. It was just more jiggery-pokery, the same as the 2009 deception by this government.


Interjection.


B. Routley: You know, the minister is beaking off. We've got the Finance Minister, who could listen and learn. Take the opportunity to listen and learn, because these are important things. These are points of view from the people of the Cowichan Valley that are upset with the jiggery-pokery, and they came out in droves and voted against the HST.


Interjections.


B. Routley: Yeah, but the paramedics were going to work every day. There were a handful of people. It had absolutely nothing to do with the paramedics going back to work — nothing to do, and you know that. That's more jiggery-pokery by this bunch.


However, they still cling to this HST attack on families. Take from the poor and the middle class and give to the rich and the richest, a government with no plans to help those families that are most disadvantaged. For seven years the worst record in Canada, no plan in this budget, hon. Speaker. There's absolutely no money for a poverty reduction plan.


The new Liberal leader seems to acknowledge the failure of this government over the years in declaring…. I want a particular note to file on this one. Note to file: now, after ten years of Liberal attack on B.C. families, of abandoning families, this Liberal leader says she wants to put families first. I see and hear this as a clear acknowledgment that someone else was first. Someone else was first, so that begs the question: who was first before families in British Columbia during the term of this Liberal government?


Even the incoming — well, if she gets elected — Premier has to acknowledge that families haven't been first. She wants to put them first. You need look no further than the big list of corporate Liberal donors who are benefiting in major ways from this government action, starting with, in 2001, corporate tax cuts and tax cuts to the biggest banks.


The HST is all about rewarding their friends and insiders of this Liberal government. It's the biggest thing they could do, they said. The line was that this was going to create the opportunity to gain investment and jobs. However, the facts are that since the B.C. government and the federal government started reducing corporate taxes, investment has failed to create the kinds of results claimed by these right-wing governments.


Where's the investment? They have claimed all these years that there was going to be investment. It just didn't happen. After all, if lower taxes caused investment, the Liberals' huge reduction in corporate income tax would have already done the trick. They have cut them from 16.5 percent in 2001 to 10 percent today. They eliminated capital taxes and cut property taxes, especially for big companies.


As part of the 2008 carbon tax package, this Liberal government cut the corporate income tax rate, and the HST has reduced corporate tax even further. By now we should be seeing a flood of investment and job creation, but, no. In fact, the investment in B.C. has increased on average just 0.26 percent since 2001. Forestry investment has been negative during the same period. It's not tax saving that those companies want. It's lower taxes and higher profits, more returns on less investment, and profits on their own don't cause investment or job creation.


[1630]
[ Page 6497 ]

All told, there's no good reason to expect much benefit at all from a tax that lets companies off the hook but makes the average families pay even more. It's a failed ideology, but they believe it will eventually trickle down to some of us.


I have to lighten it up a little bit. I find myself getting excited here. So I want to give you the Bill-lite story here.


If you can imagine for a minute, hon. Speaker. The Liberals are out berry picking, and they find themselves in grizzly country, short of food and suddenly looking to deal with a very hungry bear that confronts them. I imagine that these Liberals would gather together and decide to feed the bear most of their berries, and they would hope and even believe that the grizzly would give them enough berries back so that they could survive. I hate to imagine where they may go looking for berries. In fact, I shudder to think where they may go looking for berries.


If the bear spilled a few berries on the path as the bear runs off with all the berries, these Liberals would call in Jack Mintz. They would study these berries on the path, and they would declare a great success and point to this berry find as evidence that bears really want to share. They would explain that, given half a chance, in the fullness of time, these bears would even invest in massive berry farms, and we will all live happily ever after — not just eating berries, but we're going to have job creation on the berry farm.


Now, this is very close to the kind of thinking that goes into this Liberals' fable on the HST. Give away enough cash, and surely some of it is going to come trickling down, they believe — perhaps even cascading down in such a torrent that we should only have the opportunity to run as fast as we can out of the way, with all these cascading benefits from their HST. Now, let's get back to what's really going on with this failed government's plans.


For a decade now we've been told over and over that cutting corporate taxes will stimulate investment and create jobs. This government has steadfastly maintained that if you simply reduce corporate taxes, companies will respond by performing in the interests of British Columbians. Back in 2001 tax cuts to corporations were going to make businesses want to move to B.C. and invest. This was the very same Liberals' line last year, when this government sprang the surprise HST plan on the people and families of B.C. Again, they claimed this was going to create jobs and generate investment.


Against that backdrop, I want to pause for a minute and say: how are British Columbians faring with their own financial challenges? Let's not forget that this government, through the HST, is transferring $2 billion each and every year onto our B.C. families.


Currently B.C. households are the most vulnerable in Canada to interest rate hikes or an economic downturn, says a report released recently by TD Economics. B.C.'s debt-to-income ratio — which compares all debt, including mortgage debt, to personal disposable income — is 160 percent. This is the same level that was reached in the United States just before the financial crisis and the housing meltdown hit. This is alarming.


Everyone should be alarmed, yet this government and this budget are piling on more costs to those British Columbians and those families who are already in debt and stretched to the limit.


When you look closely at this government's record, they continue to act over and over for the interests of the crybaby capitalists. In fiscal 2007-2008 B.C.'s provincial treasury received $117 million in corporation capital tax. In 2008-2009 the comparable number was $108 million. The budget for this fiscal period calculates this year that the capital tax will generate nothing.


[1635]

B.C. has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, and we're promised jobs and investment. The facts are: it's not happening. It's just more pink fog from a government bent on giving away to the richest among us.


Did you know that when they made the same kinds of promises about bank jobs, when we were going to cut this horrible penalty to the richest banks in Canada…? Oh, they were so desperate, these crybaby capitalists and the banks, that they needed their $100 million back. What did British Columbians receive at a cost of more than $100 million each and every year to the revenues of British Columbia? According to the Canadian Bankers Association calculations, bank employment full-time and part-time in our province fell from 29,785 jobs in 2008 to 28,745 in 2009 — a loss of 1,000.


Wait a minute. We were supposed to create jobs — 1,625 jobs lost in banks and 15 branches were closed. More Liberal jiggery-pokery.


Looking back, when this government first ran into the public opposition on the HST, they quickly went out and promptly hired an economist, Jack Mintz, who is well paid by this government. But you need to know something else about Jack Mintz. I don't think any of the local papers were telling us this part of the story. I've since learned that he's not just an economist.


Did you know that Jack Mintz sits on the board of directors of Brookfield Corp., a multinational corporation with major investments here in B.C., such as Island Timberlands, and major investments in Western Forest Products, investments in 635,000 acres of private land, mostly in the log export business? That's a company that's now situated themselves in Bermuda so that they can avoid paying Canadian taxes and dealing with Canadian regulation.


This is the kind of group that they want to support and give tax cuts to. So lo and behold, Jack projected mostly all good things were going to come from the HST. Apparently that will include Brookfield's assets. My, my,
[ Page 6498 ]
isn't that cozy? It should be a very uncomfortable fact for this Liberal group that they would go out and hire somebody directly connected to the multinational corporations that stand to benefit from the HST.


It's shameful. It's too bad that this government didn't ask Mintz to evaluate the impacts of past tax cuts on investment and employment creation. Had he done so, however, he would have been obliged to conclude that investment and employment in British Columbia have stagnated; and that recently, despite all those tax cuts and capital spending, capital spending has fallen sharply. There are the facts.


E. Foster: A great pleasure that I rise today to speak to this budget, but before I do so, I have a few thank-yous.


To start with, I'd certainly like to thank my constituency assistants, Min Sidhu and Krysta Seifert, for the great job they do in my riding, in Vernon-Monashee, and the service they give to our constituents; also to my legislative assistant Rick Orlando, who makes sure that I'm always where I'm supposed to be and when I'm supposed to be there; Kevin Dixon, the EA in the Whip's office, who makes my job as a Deputy Whip a whole lot easier; and also to my communications officer Jeff Melland, who does a great job of keeping me informed on what's going on.


But I guess when you're doing thank-yous, the most important one is the family and in my case, my wife, Janice, who has supported me through 26 years of public service and not all easy for her, I assure you. So to her, thank you very much.


A couple of very special people are spending the year with us in our home in Lumby. We have two international students: Jesus from Mexico and Nobuhira, who is visiting us this year from Japan. So to Jesus and Nobuhira, I'd like to say hello and thank them for sharing their lives with us over this year.


[1640]

I think it's safe to say that my colleagues and I on this side of the House and the opposite side of the House quite often disagree on issues that come before us, but I think it's also safe to say, however, that we do share one important thing in common. We all want to make our communities better places, and we want to make B.C. a better place to live. Now, we have different ideas when it comes to accomplishing this, but at the end of the day, we do all have the same aim.


In my view, this budget provides the funding and the programs to make the communities in Vernon-Monashee a better place and also B.C. a better place to live. For this reason, I am proud to support the budget.


This budget continues to invest in our government's transportation investment plan. The province has secured significant federal cost-sharing on projects and has leveraged investments through partnerships and private partners. The public and private sectors together will provide $5.3 billion for transportation investments over the next three years. Since 2001 about $1.12 billion has been invested in highway expansion and rehabilitation projects in the Thompson-Okanagan areas.


In the Vernon area there are currently several road improvement projects underway. Most importantly, updates to Highway 97 at the intersection with Highway 6 to improve the capacity and safety of this intersection are coming along quite nicely. This $5 million project is only possible because of the close collaboration between the government and the federal government, which provides major funding for infrastructure projects in British Columbia.


Our strong relationship with the federal government helped to secure $1.3 million in funding for this project. Work is expected to be completed this summer and involves construction of double left-turn lanes on Highway 6 and 25th Street as well as improved right-turn lanes and paved shoulders for bicycles.


Work is also being done on Highway 6 by the Coldstream Ranch. This approximately $12 million project, fully funded by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, is of great importance to the area.


Engineering work is underway to realign a 2.2-kilometre section of highway removing a sharp S-turn at Kal Lake Road. This will greatly improve safety for travellers and commercial vehicles. The improved intersections along this stretch of Highway 6, a new rail crossing and wider shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists will also be major improvements.


Design work is underway and should be completed early next year so we can get this project ready for construction. Over the many years that I was in local government, this was a project that we worked on bringing forward, and I was most pleased in my first year as an MLA to be able to deliver this project to our communities.


There's more. Work is scheduled to begin this spring on the second phase of a $1.8 million project to improve highway safety at the intersection of Highway 97 and Bailey Road, south of Vernon. The next phase will involve construction of new acceleration lanes for motorists turning south towards Kelowna, extensions to the left- and right-turn lanes on the highway, and installation of multiple strips and rumble strips on Bailey Road to warn motorists that they're approaching a stop sign.


I'd like to thank the hard-working staff at the Ministry of Transportation and the minister herself for the great work on these projects, which do so much to improve the communities in my riding. These types of infrastructure projects make our roads safer, and they also create jobs for British Columbians, boost trade and support tourism.


As an aside, Madam Speaker, I would like to mention that the HST, which the members opposite are so fond of fulminating about, has proven to be a major help in
[ Page 6499 ]
getting construction projects moving all across the province. In fact, the number of proposed projects right now stands at an all-time high of 547. Since '01 the number of projects has nearly tripled, and their value has more than quadrupled. On day-to-day transactions, the HST is resulting in lower costs for goods and services.


An industry seeing major benefits from the HST is the forest industry, an important economic sector in Vernon-Monashee and in many regions of the province. In this regard, China is a big story.


The world's most populous nation and with a fast-growing economy, China represents a huge opportunity for B.C. wood products. If half the low-rise housing units being built in China used wood-frame construction for the top four floors and roof, 25 billion board feet of lumber would be used or the equivalent production of a hundred large sawmills. That is why we opened B.C.'s first lumber trade office in China in 2003.


[1645]

B.C. lumber exports in China in 2010 were more than 12 times what they were in 2003. In 2010 lumber exports to China reached 4.56 million cubic metres, or the equivalent of ten large B.C. sawmills.


Exports doubled in 2009 compared to 2008 and then nearly doubled again in 2010. In the first two months of 2011, lumber exports to China continued to nearly double what they were during the first two months of 2010. In March 2010 an MOU was signed between the governments of China, Canada and B.C. to pursue six-storey wood-frame construction for the Chinese housing market.


Madam Speaker, my colleague the member for Prince George–Mackenzie did some great work here, and the results have been fantastic in Vernon-Monashee. Just around Vernon, there are two major sawmills and another six smaller mills. In the entire district, there are about four other major mills and 12 smaller ones. I'm very proud to say that the mills in my riding have all shifts running for China market, which is great news for many families in the area who depend on forestry.


Brad Thorlakson, the CEO of Tolko Industries, mentioned recently in an article in the paper that the hard work done by the Ministry of Forests on the markets in China as well as the HST have made this possible. Speaking to several millworkers that live in our community, they are thrilled at the hours they're getting. They're running around the clock, and there's lots of overtime. This hasn't happened for a few years, and they're very pleased.


In health care we have a lot to be proud of looking back at our time in office. We worked hard to clean up the mess left behind by the previous government and to make our economy stronger than ever. Our responsible fiscal management also allowed British Columbia to weather the world economic crisis much better than most parts of the world. This is of crucial importance because without a strong economy, we cannot possibly hope to maintain and improve the critical services we all depend on — health care, as an example.


One thing I am particularly pleased to see in this budget is that it maintains the high levels of investment in health services that we have delivered since we formed government in 2001. The 2011 budget confirms this government's commitment to providing top-quality health care for all British Columbians. We have honoured our commitment to protect health care with an additional $2 billion in health care funding over the next three years. Budget 2011 announced a funding increase of $605 million for 2013-14 in addition to the funding increases for previous years announced in previous budgets.


This increase in funding breaks down simply as follows: $1.4 billion to health authorities for front-line services, $438 million to MSP for physicians and laboratory services, $144 million for PharmaCare budget. By 2013-14, health care funding will reach $18.5 billion.


These are big numbers, but I'm proud to say it is money well spent. B.C. has some of the best health outcomes in the country. We have the best results in Canada on a number of factors such as average life expectancy, mortality rates for cancer and heart disease outcomes. This is especially significant, given that cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of death in Canada. We also have the second-lowest infant mortality rate in the entire country. These are excellent outcomes, and I'm very proud to see that we are building on the strong foundation this government has put in place over the past ten years to make our health care system even stronger in the future.


A major factor that contributes to the success of our health care system is the investment in facilities that this government has made. Since 2001 this government has spent nearly $7 billion on capital projects for the delivery of health services. A variety of factors are considered when making progress towards a capital project investment: changing populations; changing demographics, especially aging populations; strategic planning for health care delivery across communities and across health authorities; advances in technology; structural conditions of the current facilities available in the regions.


A significant portion of these investments have been in conjunction with regional hospital districts and foundations. Since 2001 the province has worked with regional hospital districts and foundations to put forward $460 million towards expanding and renewing 30 emergency rooms across British Columbia. That's part of the overall provincial picture since 2001, and it's a bright one.


[1650]

The picture in my backyard is also very bright. In fact, we have funded a wide range of capital health care projects in the Interior: $433 million for new patient care towers at Kelowna General and Vernon Jubilee hospitals and medical teaching space; $448 million for a new cardiac care program and expanded surgical services at the Interior heart and
[ Page 6500 ]
surgical centre at the Kelowna General Hospital; $52 million invested at Royal Inland Hospital for a major redevelopment. This included the expansion of their emergency department to make trips to the ER quicker, a new MRI and a CT scanner, intensive care unit renovations, medical device reprocessing.


Now, there's an important fact about my riding, Vernon-Monashee. We have an aging population, and we're facing the pressures that come with it in health care. The number one concern for the Ministry of Health is that patients in Vernon receive quality care. That's why Vernon Jubilee Hospital continues to do a lot of work to address the challenges related to overcapacity. The hospital has bolstered regular staffing levels and brought in extra staff when needed. They've increased in-patient acute care beds by 23 in the past two years, and Interior Health continues to meet with the BCNU and others to consider other options to help address congestion issues.


Patient care is our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring that patients get the very best care. In fact, government has invested $180 million for a new patient care tower at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, which will provide additional capacity and efficiency starting in the fall of 2011. The new tower will include a new expanded and modernized emergency department, consolidated and centralized new operating rooms, a new maternity and pediatrics ward, a new intensive care unit, a new out-patient department and two extra shelled-in floors to build future capacity for additional patient beds.


We expect that all of these improvements will improve patient flow and quality of care and will help the hospital manage their capacity more efficiently. Adding beds is certainly one option, but it doesn't address the underlying issue. We know that many of the patients currently in hospital no longer require acute care. That's why it's important to focus energies on working with community and residential care partners to place people in other settings as soon as it's safely possible.


The province also gave funding infusion of $272,000 for patient-focused care to the Vernon ER. This will reduce wait times at the ER for patients and will also help ease congestion. This type of funding ties the amount of money health authorities receive to their success in delivering efficient and effective health care. The fact that health authorities get more money if they reduce wait times for patients means that they have a powerful incentive to become more effective and efficient.


This funding for the Vernon ER is part of a $250 million announcement that will be used to implement patient-focused funding across the province. By 2012-13, 20 percent of health care spending will be tied to patient-focused care, and the other 80 will stay as block funding. The province will allocate $80 million in 2010-11 and $170 in '11-12 to patient-focused funding.


I'd like to call a bit more attention to the new $180 million patient care tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. As I mentioned before, it includes a new emergency room department three times larger than the current ER, new operating rooms, a new intensive care unit, a new maternity and pediatrics wing, as well as the two in-patient floors for acute care beds. I'm working with the Minister of Health at this time to secure more beds in those shelled-in floors. It's a high priority, and we're working towards getting that done.


Now, here's the significance of the new care tower at VJH, and I'm very pleased to say this is a long list of benefits I'm about to share with the House. It will triple the size of the current ER, which will relieve pressures on staff and reduce wait times. It is the single largest health care capital project investment in the history of the North Okanagan. It will mean that Vernon and area residents will be able to access a hospital that has more capacity, greater efficiency and state-of-the-art equipment. It will bring a larger ambulatory care department, which will allow staff to better manage patient flow and provide patients with more out-patient programs.


The care tower will have larger operating rooms. There will be the space for more efficient layout. There's also space in the new tower for additional developments in the future. We will also see coordination of patients improved and make more effective and efficient efficiencies thanks to the closer integration of the new departments. Finally, the shift of departments to the new tower brings the benefit of freeing up space in the existing facilities for patients at VJH.


The member for Vancouver-Kingsway likes to say that Vernon has been left behind when it comes to health care. Well, I have to wonder if he's visited Vernon in the last ten years because despite demographic pressures that come with an aging population, which we are working to resolve, health care in the Vernon area is a lot better than it was in the last government.


[1655]

Should the member for Vancouver-Kingsway ever decide to visit, I'd be happy to take him on a tour of the new facility at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, in the new tower, which I had the pleasure of touring just last week. It is state-of-the-art.


These are going to bring significant benefits to the people of Vernon and to the surrounding area, and I can only say when the hon. member talks about Vernon being left behind in health care, I assume he's talking about Vernon, Texas, because Vernon, British Columbia, has improved a great deal since the days he was chief of staff in a certain former Premier's office.


Madam Speaker, investing in the new medical facilities and new medical equipment is of vital importance, but just as important is investing in the education of the future health care professionals. One very promising project in my riding springs from the collaborative partnership between Okanagan College and the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. Nursing students
[ Page 6501 ]
now have the option to complete the first half of their four-year bachelor of science in nursing at the college, closer to home and closer to their families.


This partnership provides students with more choices for nursing education and another choice of where they receive their education. It is also an investment in a priority health education program that will result in jobs and will benefit British Columbians now and in the future.


The province is providing the post-secondary institutions with a combined $2 million in startup funding to get the program up and running this September. The ministry will also provide ongoing funding to support the additional student enrolment.


Since 2001 the province has invested more than $200 million through the B.C. nursing strategy to educate, recruit and retain nurses. B.C. has more than doubled the number of nursing training spaces, adding more than 4,300 new spaces and producing a record number of graduates who have received more than 20,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates in British Columbia.


On the topic of education, I'm very proud to see that funding for the B.C. education system remains a core priority. The total operating funding for school districts remains at $4.7 billion per year, but the average funding per student is estimated to increase to $8,357.


Funding for post-secondary institutes in 2011-12 is $1.9 billion, continuing this government's commitment to funding higher education. Since 2001-2002 there have been significant increases in operating funding for this sector.


This government's commitment to education has made a big difference in Vernon-Monashee. Coldstream Elementary School opened last fall. This was a $13.4 million project to replace a school that had served the area for almost a hundred years. The school was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, gold standards. LEED standards focus on sustainability, innovation and design, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, water efficiency and indoor environmental quality.


There are 15 classrooms, two kindergarten rooms, kitchen, gymnasium, library, multipurpose space and the administration areas. The exterior will have a full-sized sports field, paved basketball and play areas, and two playground equipment zones.


Projects like Coldstream Elementary create better learning spaces for our students and staff while also supporting good jobs in British Columbia.


Another school that has recently benefited from government funding is the Vernon Secondary School, which is under construction as we speak. Vernon Secondary was built in 1968 and is currently being replaced at an estimated cost of $42 million. Vernon Secondary School replacement building is planned for completion and occupancy of students and staff for the start of the 2012-2013 school year. The new school is designed for 950 students and is a fully comprehensive secondary school. The new school has also been designed to achieve LEED gold standards.


Madam Speaker, as I said at the beginning of my remarks, all of us who sit in this House are here for one reason: to make our communities and our province a better place. We disagree fairly often on how to go about doing this, but we all share that aim.


When I look through this budget, what I see is a plan to make British Columbia better and to make my riding better. I see a plan that puts families first by investing in education and health care and by keeping our economy strong. I see a plan that makes me very proud to be part of this government, of our record of sound economic management and our vision for a better future, and I see every reason to give my enthusiastic support to this budget.


[1700]

M. Mungall: Hon. Speaker, a little bit caught off guard. I was anticipating the member to go on a little bit longer, but here I am, and on time.


To start off, I think I really need to focus on what this government has been claiming itself to be in the last little while in change. Sure enough, they have a new leader, and with the new leader, they continually say: "Change. We're going to bring change. Here we are. Fresh perspective for British Columbia. We offer change."


Let's look at the dictionary, at what "change" means: "to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone."As an example, the dictionary says: "to change one's name, to change one's opinion or to change the course of history."


That change, again, that they say they are offering this province of British Columbia is simply because they've made one change — one change in leader. Yes, the leader has a new name, is a new person. But does she bring change to this government? What's really going on?


Well, let's look at this budget. This budget is status quo — hardly change. It's hardly change that this government is promising British Columbia — rather, status quo. What does "status quo" mean? Just to be sure, to be absolutely sure of what's going on, status quo, according to the dictionary, is "to maintain." The status quo is "to keep things the way they presently are." No change here.


It's not just me or my colleagues on this side of the House calling this budget status quo. Not at all. Let's go right to February 15 when the then Minister of Finance introduced this budget bill, and he said: "…this can best be described as a status quo budget. It provides government with spending authority to manage the province's affairs for the coming year. However, it does not set out new directions. That will be in the purview of the next
[ Page 6502 ]
Premier, who will set the course for the next decade of growth and opportunity for this great province."


Up to the next Premier. Apparently, on February 15 the then Minister of Finance thought that the new Premier would bring about change that she promised. But she hasn't, because this is the exact same budget that was presented on February 15. What was that budget? Status quo. This is best described as a status quo budget.


The reality is that the status quo is not creating opportunity. It is not creating growth. It is not doing these good, rosy things that members opposite keep saying. Not at all. In fact, this status quo budget is doing exactly what budgets in the last ten years have been doing under the B.C. Liberal government, and that's hurting B.C. families.


Far from putting B.C. families first, this status quo budget is putting B.C. families last. There are many, many examples, and we could be here…. I could be here alone for hours and hours, but I'm only allotted 30 minutes, talking about each way in which this budget, this status quo budget, is detrimental for B.C. families. But I will pick one area right now, one area where it's having a tremendously negative impact on British Columbians, and that is in advanced education.


Now, I have heard the Minister of Advanced Education and heard other members across the way go on and on about what a great job they've been doing for post-secondary education, but who are they talking to? When I go out and talk to people who are running the institutions in this province, when I go out and talk to students who are going to institutions in this province, when I talk to professors and teachers, they talk about what's really happening.


[1705]

The picture they paint is not so rosy at all. In fact, the picture they paint is one of hardship and difficulty. Student debt in this province is at the highest in Canada west of the Maritimes, at $27,000 per the average student. It's $27,000. At very least, that $27,000 could have gotten a student a mortgage, a down payment for a home, and get into that economy, into the housing economy — start contributing, have some security, some financial security.


Instead, they graduate with, on average, a $27,000 debt load, highest west of the Maritimes. That's just the average student. Of course, that's not every student. A little while ago I received a Kraft Dinner box in my mail, a box full of good old KD. What students had done was to create a campaign to raise awareness of their debt situation. The box of Kraft Dinner that I received had the name of a young 20-something who is going to school. And what was her debt load? Some $84,000 — $84,000 in debt.


How does that happen? How does that happen in one of the richest countries in the world, in one of the richest provinces in the country, in the richest place in the world? In fact, we call this "the best place on earth." But the best place on earth should not be having a student with an $84,000 debt — or many students with a simple average of $27,000 of debt.


So why? Why is this happening? Well, one contributing factor is certainly that tuition has gone up, gone way up since 2001. In fact, I have a sign in my office, a sign that I was given at a rally held here on the steps of the Legislature on March 16. Students from all over British Columbia came together.


I saw a young gentleman who is from my neck of the woods. He has been an active student at Selkirk College. He was there. I ran into students from Langara College. I ran into students from Simon Fraser University, from Camosun College, from UBC, from UVic. They had all come together for one message, and that was that student issues count, and that tuition is too high and debt is too high.


So the sign that I got at this rally reads that tuition has doubled since the Premier went to Simon Fraser University. In fact, the sign was made by Simon Fraser University students. The vast majority of that increase, that doubling, has occurred since 2001 when the Premier was Deputy Premier in the cabinet that completely changed the way in which post-secondary education was administered in this province.


That doubling, that increase has been the largest increase in Canada over the past ten years — the largest. So they talk about how much they're funding, but they leave out some of the most critical parts of the story, and one of those parts is that they have allowed — they have created — the largest increase in tuition for post-secondary students in Canada over the past ten years.


What else? What else has contributed to this skyrocketing student debt load? Interest rates. B.C.'s interest rate for student loans is the highest in Canada — highest increase in tuition, highest interest rate in Canada. We're at prime plus 2.5. So that means that the average student with $27,000 of debt will pay $35,000 when all is said and done. That's $8,000 more just in interest because interest is the highest in Canada right here in B.C.


[1710]

This is nothing to be proud of. This is nothing to boast, and yet members opposite like to paint a rosy picture and boast about what they are doing. Yet if you start to bring other colours into that picture, into that story, you find out that it's not so rosy at all and that there's nothing they ought to be proud of when it comes to advanced education and how students are suffering with debt loads — highest debt loads outside of the maritime provinces.


Another thing, though, that is contributing to these debt loads is the fact that British Columbia has the lowest level of student aid grants in Canada. I found this out. I went to a workshop put on by the Millennium Scholarship Foundation about a year ago. They were showing where all the provinces are at and what the best
[ Page 6503 ]
strategies are to improve post-secondary education and therefore improve labour markets in our various provinces. B.C. was dead last in student aid grants in this country — dead last.


How embarrassing. How embarrassing that we are doing the worst. In a province like ours, the supposed best place on earth, we are dead last.


But don't just take my word for it or the hundreds and hundreds of students that rallied on the steps of the Legislature or the Millennium Scholarship Foundation or the incredible amount of research that has been done on students issues. Let's go to the students directly.


You can find them on YouTube doing some videos. Camosun College students got together and decided to tell their story of what's going on — a very different story, like I said, than those put forward by members opposite; a very different story indeed, and also, I'd have to say, and all due respect to members opposite, a lot more entertaining, the way in which they delivered it.


The first video that you can find on YouTube done by Camosun College students is a rap. It has two students rapping. One of the lines that they say is: "My life is a debt sentence; my mind is a debt sentence."


They go on to talk about the fluctuating interest rates. Who knew that rap would start to take on the issue of fluctuating interest rates?


They also talk about how their ambition comes with a price. Their ambition to want to do everything that they have the potential to do, their ambition to have a better life, their ambition to get an education, their ambition to contribute to society comes at a cost. A cost of interest rates is what they are talking about.


Their ambition comes with interest rates, prime plus 2.5, and to pay it back, you have to break your back, as they say in that wonderful video.


Another video on YouTube done by the Camosun College students union has a girl. She's nicely putting on lipstick. You're wondering: what on earth does this have to do with post-secondary education? Nicely putting on lipstick, but then she starts going all over her face. She's got a lot of lipstick on right now, excessive amounts of lipstick, and, you know, it's like: what on earth does this have to do with post-secondary education? Well, the message is less is more: less interest, more grants. Less is more.


In another video this smart-looking guy can't seem to shake this sleazy, obnoxious tagalong. He goes to the movies with his girlfriend only to find that that sleazy guy comes creeping up in the row behind him and decides to get in between him and his girlfriend, only to eat all the popcorn. This sleazy guy just keeps showing up in this smart-looking guy's life. No matter where he goes, there he is, Mr. Sleaze. The video's message? Student debt stays with you.


[1715]

Student debt is awkward, but we have to talk about it. So while this government won't talk about student debt in their budget or in any of their speeches, we will. Our new leader, where there's real change, is offering more — more than status quo. He's offering change. He's got bold moves that will address the needs of students, their families and this province.


Just an example: post-secondary education. We want to get the debt off the backs of students. A hundred million in students grants — that's what we propose. Thirty million to eliminate interest — that's all that's needed. It's simple, it's easy, and how are we going to do it? How are we going to get the money? From the people who benefit, from a labour force with post-secondary education. Because it's time that they paid their fair share into post-secondary education.


Right now they are paying less in taxation than students pay in tuition. Students get the debt, and the corporations — the big corporations — get the profits so that we can provide them with the labour force that they need. We get the debt; they get the profits. Yet we're providing them with the labour force that they need. It's messed up. It's messed up, and we're going to clean that mess.


Now, some members opposite worry about how we manage things — right? — because they have a different way of doing it. Now, I've already pointed out that their different way of doing things is messy. But having that debate is what we're here for. Having that debate is good; it's very good. It's part of our democracy, and I wish we did it more than the 90 hours that they are actually allotting us to review the budget in estimates this year.


A real concern for B.C. is that we are reviewing essentially $400 million of B.C.'s budget per hour at the rate that the B.C. Liberals have set for debate on estimates — far from what is fair, far from what is appropriate and far from what is needed. I guess maybe it's because they think the status quo means that we have nothing to talk about, but they are wrong. We absolutely have something to talk about.


The people of Nelson-Creston want to talk about this budget. The people of Nelson-Creston want to know why this government made a 4.4 percent cut to Agriculture after we already have the worst rate of spending in the country. The people of Nelson-Creston want to know why this government cut $15 million from the Attorney General, further adding to court delays and criminals getting off because there are no judges.


They also want to know if the $6 million cut from prosecutors is actually the $6 million that was paid to lawyers for the convicted B.C. Liberal insiders Basi and Virk. The people of Nelson-Creston want to know why this government has absolutely no new investments in children and families, absolutely no new investments in an area that they say is a priority for them — but nothing new.


The people of Nelson-Creston want to know why this government continues to leave school districts in the lurch with unfunded costs that force them to impact
[ Page 6504 ]
their budgets in places no one wants, the classroom. The people of Nelson-Creston want to know why this government is celebrating the 100th year of B.C. Parks by cutting their budget yet again.


The people of Nelson-Creston want to know where MSP increases generating an extra $147 million last year are going, because we're still without a surgeon at Kootenay Lake Hospital. We still have 2,000 orphaned patients in the Creston Valley, and we still have overworked public health nurses covering regions the size of some European countries.


The people of Nelson-Creston want to know about affordable housing programs. They want to know about municipal infrastructure. They want to know about B.C. Hydro.


[1720]

They want to know how this government can even talk about families when all it does is cater to a few who reap the dividends for massive corporate tax cuts while we pay more and more and more. The good people of Nelson-Creston want to know how this government can talk change when all it ever offers is the status quo.


J. Thornthwaite: I am pleased to stand in support of this budget today — a responsible budget, a balance between prudent fiscal management of taxpayers' money and a recovery budget to help get us out of the worst economic downturn of our generation, with a responsible amount of spending to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens get the care and services they need.


First off, I would like to congratulate our new leaders — both with new energy in a new session. Congratulations to the member for Vancouver-Kingsway in his leadership win. And of course, congratulations to our new Premier and the future member for Vancouver–Point Grey.


In addition to congratulating our new Premier and her very successful campaign for leadership, I would like to highlight some of the key announcements that she has made during her first few days as our new Premier. The key announcements that have been mentioned to me by my constituents — that they are most pleased about — are, first, the minimum wage.


Effective this Sunday, the general minimum wage increases from $8 per hour to $8.75 per hour. The first-job wage, also known as the training wage that was very unpopular, is now repealed and no longer in effect. So we've got an increase in the minimum wage, in response to comments that we had from many groups over many years, to $8.75 an hour starting May 1, to $9.50 an hour starting November 1, and up to $10.25 per hour on May 1, 2012. I think this first announcement was a classic example of how this government is new, and it's listening, and it's bringing forward and delivering.


The second major announcement that a lot of my constituents had made very, very positive comments about was the toughest animal cruelty laws that were brought forward by the Sled Dog Task Force. These are the toughest animal cruelty laws in the country. I would like to thank the hon. member for Kamloops–North Thompson, our Minister of Environment, and also the hon. member for Comox Valley, our Minister of Agriculture, for their assistance. Animal cruelty is a key issue that gets raised by constituents in my riding.


The province will immediately begin the process to make changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, including increasing penalties up to $75,000 and 24 months in prison for the most serious offences, extending the current six-month limitation period for prosecuting offences and requiring mandatory reporting of animal abuse by veterinarians. The BCSPCA has also received $100,000 to enhance their capacity for animal cruelty investigations.


The sled dog report also recommended ten changes to enhance the health, welfare and protection of sled dogs in British Columbia and to strengthen animal protection legislation, including development of a mandatory code of practice for sled dog operators and improved communication and awareness of animal abuse.


The other major announcement that came very recently after the Premier was elected was on gaming grants. Almost 2,600 groups share $15 million extra in gaming grants. This announcement was just made last week. Again, I thank the hon. member from Oak Bay — our Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development — for making this announcement for us.


They are only a small fraction of the other announcements that have been made over the last couple of years since I was elected in 2009. This is in addition to the fact that we have been suffering from the worst economic downturn that we have had.


[1725]

Some of the groups and some of the announcements have been of interest to people that are in my constituency.


The North Shore Disability Resource Centre — last year, we gave them $77,000. In February of this year we gave them a top-up for almost $20,000, and another $19,250 announced two weeks ago.


Parkgate Community Services Society, which is a very prominent organization that combines government as well as non-profit and volunteers and provides many, many services in my riding. They received over $39,000 in the last announcement, and in the most recent one, just a couple of weeks ago, almost $30,000.


So there have been some significant announcements in my riding, as well as across the province, that have helped to assist non-profit groups and organizations and service providers in our province. Even the Young Naturalists Club of British Columbia, which services not just environmental organizations but also children and education, received a top-up of $10,000 on top of their original $10,000 that they had last fall.


So I'm very, very pleased that this funding for 500 organizations was topped up to close to previous level
[ Page 6505 ]
years. Beneficiaries included, in addition to the ones that I mentioned, youth; arts; culture groups; community service groups, such as the Rotary and Kiwanis; fairs; festivals; museums; and organizations involved in community education, such as Parent Support Services.


There were other groups also, in the health and social services sector: transition houses, food banks, drop-in centres. And putting families first, the province targeted this funding to help food banks meeting growing demand as well as support for youth and family programs, parent advisory councils and district parent advisory councils.


Last year we upped the rate for students, for parent advisory councils, to $20 per student, and just recently, two weeks ago, they got an extra top-up of $5 per student. So these are very significant for parent advisory councils. They contribute a lot, and they go directly to the parent advisory councils themselves in each school, and this is on top of their regular education funding.


In addition to the announcements of the extra funding for these community gaming grants, a prominent individual — probably a retired judge — who is independent of government will be appointed to head the review to examine the role of government in gaming and input from charities, community members, industry representatives and local government.


So again, these last three announcements that…. Members of my community, constituents of North Vancouver–Seymour, had expressed complete satisfaction and gratitude that this new government under our new leader is listening and delivering to the residents of British Columbia as well as North Vancouver–Seymour.


Our economy is improving, but we are not out of the water yet — hence, the reason for this status quo budget.


Prudent management of the economy is what taxpayers want. British Columbians have fared much better than many of the jurisdictions around the world. Even our neighbours to the south are still struggling to get out from under the burden of some governmental decisions that were made that did not make prudent fiscal management of the taxpayers' dollars a priority.


Spending beyond our means now would mean increasing the burden on our future and on our children. It eventually catches up to you, either in your own family's budget or with the government's budget. Eventually we pay too much to service the debt in our own families, thereby reducing our spending ability, and likewise from a government perspective. Spending beyond our means will result in higher taxes in the future for everyone but also the ones we are trying to protect or those in our communities that are most vulnerable to change.


I often find myself connecting the dots between revenue and expenditures — the revenue ministries versus the expenditure ministries. Health and education, for instance, which my professional and previous political career centred around.


[1730]

I spent 22 years of my professional career as a nutritionist helping people live healthier lives, giving advice to individuals, groups and companies on how they can best prevent chronic diseases simply by making wiser choices at the supermarket. There are many high-skilled professional people working in hospitals, universities and clinics across the province. They serve millions of people across our province and help them get well and back on their feet.


Our top-notch health care system costs money, though — lots of money. And with technology allowing us to live longer and everyone demanding more, we are at a cusp right now, as are all jurisdictions in the world, as to how we are going to pay for it all and serve the people that we govern.


Likewise in our education system and social service system — it all costs money. These are expenditure ministries. Where and how do we pay for this all? A good economy. Because good government policies encourage investment and help businesses and industry to set up shop here and provide jobs for our citizens — good government policies that grow our revenue industries, like mining, forestry, oil and gas, energy and tourism. Taxes also pay for the services that we demand, that we deserve and that we enjoy.


Expenses and revenue. Just like I run my home in order to pay for my family and my kids, our government has to balance these in order to provide the health, the education and the social services for the people of B.C. and for the citizens, my constituents in North Vancouver–Seymour.


I draw your attention, when I was reading the budget, to table A12. There is a table that's very interesting: "Expense by function." There I looked at the percentage of the total expenses of each ministry.


I looked at, in particular, the expenditure ministries — Health, Education, social services, and Housing. Health takes up almost 40 percent; Education, including the kindergarten-to-grade-12s and post-secondary, almost 30 percent; and social services — in other words, social assistance for our most vulnerable, child care, and community living and housing — just under 10 percent. That leaves 20 percent for everything else that government must provide for their citizens — transportation, natural resources, etc.


So I match that to what I'm hearing from my constituents. What do the people of North Vancouver–Seymour want from their government? I wrote an article in one of our local newspapers after the leadership election, and I asked my constituents: what were their priorities? What is important to them? Their answers: health, education, transportation and a rehaul of the gaming grants — exactly what we're doing.


I asked them what they thought a families-first agenda looked like. What are we doing really well, what should we continue doing, and what could we be doing
[ Page 6506 ]
better? And then I matched what I heard from my constituents to what our government has accomplished over the years, what has been announced in the last couple of months and how my constituents in North Vancouver–Seymour had similar concerns and priorities to the rest of the province.


Let's take education. In my riding of North Vancouver–Seymour we are just about to announce the opening of the new artificial turf field at Windsor Secondary School. This project has brought together many funding and community partners, including federal, provincial and municipal governments; the school districts; community sporting groups; and local industry.


This project, valued at over $3.3 million, has been made possible thanks to an almost $2.2 million grant funded jointly by the government of Canada and the province of British Columbia and Canexus, a long-standing business partner in our community, which has generously donated $1.2 million towards this project.


[1735]

In addition to the direct funding, North Vancouver district, North Vancouver school district No. 44, and the North Vancouver Community Sport and Recreation Council will provide and have been providing technical and in-kind support. The official opening is scheduled to occur in the next week or so, just in time for my 12-year-old to enter her first years in high school in September of 2011. She will be attending Windsor.


What other exciting announcements have we had in North Vancouver–Seymour in the education field? How about the Capilano University film school? This is another partnership project with the federal government. A $30.2 million investment from the federal and provincial governments is funding the construction of a new film centre, the building, at Capilano University as we speak. I'm scheduled to go for a tour very shortly.


Capilano University school of motion picture arts is the largest film school in western Canada and offers a wide range of full-time certificate and diploma programs that prepare students for a variety of career paths including motion picture production, cinematography, costuming and indigenous digital film-making.


What about the K-to-12 education system? In addition to the per-pupil funding and extra funding for special needs, the ministry also provides extra grants for different school districts depending on each district's individual circumstances. This is in addition to the capital funding and annual facility grants, which help pay for renovations, seismic upgrades, maintenance and new schools.


Recent seismic upgrades in North Vancouver have been at Carisbrooke and Canyon Heights elementary schools. North Vancouver school district has also built many new schools in the last few years: Westview, Highlands, Lynn Valley and Sutherland, with its new track and field facilities.


Currently our school district is building new facilities including Ridgeway and Carson Graham as we speak, and the educational services centre and artists for kids gallery. Queen Mary Elementary is next on the list. Lastly, Windsor Secondary received a comprehensive seismic upgrade and has this new artificial turf field that I just mentioned. We've got a couple of other projects that are on the way.


So there's lots happening in North Vancouver–Seymour when it comes to education, and there's lots happening in North Vancouver–Seymour when it comes to building new schools.


What about transportation? That was another one of the issues that a lot of people in my constituency have expressed an interest in, and also a priority as far as spending. On the North Shore right now there are a couple of projects going on — big projects. There's the Lions Gate Bridge, which just received over $125 million in funding, and the Old Capilano or Blue Bridge, including transit improvements, received $40 million in total funding — $22 million from the province, and $18 million from the infrastructure stimulus fund, which is federal. Again, this is another good example of the partnerships of all levels of government coming together and making things happen for our constituents.


More importantly, in my own riding, right in North Vancouver–Seymour, right by the Highway 1, Fern Street and Exit 22 — that's a bottleneck. It's always been a problem, some would say a nightmare, if you live in North Vancouver–Seymour, getting back and forth, to and fro, as well as for folks that are going along the Highway 1 corridor up to the Sea to Sky, to and from Vancouver or Burnaby.


So far the provincial government has spent $500,000 to date on evaluation studies on trying to revamp this particular infrastructure project, and it's my number one priority, as well, moving forward for a transportation improvement in our riding.


What other funds have happened and occurred recently to do with the community gaming grants? How about some of the new arts funding announcements? The North Vancouver arts legacy fund's flow went to B.C. Spirit Festivals. They received $45,000 from the province to commemorate B.C.'s 2010 Olympic success by enlisting local arts and cultural organizations to lead B.C.'s Spirit Festivals that were held last February to commemorate the anniversary of the Olympics.


[1740]

The B.C. Arts Council more recently also approved almost $300,000 in provincial government grants to 12 arts and culture organizations in the North Shore. The 2010 sports and arts legacy builds on the success of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Cultural Olympiad by providing $30 million over three years to enhance opportunities in the arts for all British Columbians. In the 2010-2011 year the Arts Council received $7.75
[ Page 6507 ]
million from the legacy to help implement its strategic plan.


Lastly, I'd like to talk briefly about the HST. After much controversy, this new government is listening. We agree that the way that it was brought forward was not ideal, but we still believe that it is the best choice for all British Columbians. Why? Because value-added taxes are a fairer tax than other taxes. Virtually all developed nations have adopted a value-added tax. It will make us more competitive and encourage investment.


However, having said all that, we have an upcoming referendum to allow the citizens themselves to decide on their own. We have town hall meetings coming up and an informative website. In fact, we just got a notice today that 33,000 people have participated in the first two HST telephone town hall meetings in Surrey and in Peace River. These Talking Tax public engagement sessions provide a timely and important opportunity for government to listen to the public and help determine what improvements may be made to the HST.


There are provincewide tele–town halls conducted by region, stakeholder meetings with a wide variety of groups with interest in the HST, and website information and suggestions for improvement. We are receiving input on suggestions for improvement, and we welcome input from everybody on how we may improve the HST.


Over the last few months I have talked with many constituents about the HST. I can tell you that even one of the folks in my riding who was an ardent opponent when it was introduced…. He is a small business man, a very successful small business man, in my riding. He owns a very successful franchise of coffee shops on the North Shore. Recently he told me that he was voting for the HST. Why? He feels that to go back to the PST and the GST would be too difficult, too cumbersome and expensive, and that we would all come out worse in the long run than we are right now.


[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]


I was interested to hear what the top two issues were that the opposition members brought forward in the first question period that we have had since coming back to session. The two ministers who were being questioned by the opposition were the Minister of Finance about the HST and the Minister of Social Development about a perceived lack of services for group homes and community gaming grants. I find that fascinating.


It is like a conversation that I recall I had with my children a few years back: "Mommy needs to work in order to pay for that trip to Disneyland. If mommy doesn't work, then we can't go to Disneyland. What would you prefer?" "Disneyland."


Where do the members of the opposition think the money to service those group homes and to service the community services that we desire and we want…? They come from taxes, and choices have to be made. Taxes pay for services. You simply can't have it both ways. The most fair way to tax is a value-added tax that allows individuals to decide where and when and what they're going to spend their money on. So if we do have to tax, the HST is the fairest way to do it in order to pay for the services that our citizens demand.


Mr. Speaker, noting the hour, I would like to reserve my right to continue my remarks and move adjournment of the debate until next time.


J. Thornthwaite moved adjournment of debate.


Motion approved.


[1745]

Hon. R. Coleman: First of all, I'd like to inform the House of an agreement reached by the government and the opposition and the independents to close budget debate one-half day earlier to permit moving into other important House business including estimates debates. That would mean that the budget debate would be completed by noon on Tuesday.


Motions Without Notice


COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
TO SIT IN TWO SECTIONS


Hon. R. Coleman: Hon. Speaker, by leave, I move:


[Be it resolved that this House hereby authorizes the Committee of Supply for this Session to sit in two sections designated Section A and Section B; Section A to sit in such Committee Room as may be appointed from time to time, and Section B to sit in the Chamber of the Assembly, subject to the following rules:


1. The Standing Orders applicable to the Committee of the Whole House shall be applicable in both Sections of the Committee of Supply save and except that in Section A, a Minister may defer to a Deputy Minister to permit such Deputy to reply to a question put to the Minister.


2. All Estimates shall stand referred to Section A, save and except those Estimates as shall be referred to Section B on motion without notice by the Government House Leader, which motion shall be decided without amendment or debate and be governed by Practice Recommendation #6 relating to Consultation.


3. Section A shall consist of 17 Members, being 10 Members of the B.C. Liberal Party and 6 Members of the New Democratic Party and one Independent. In addition, the Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole, or his or her nominee, shall preside over the debates in Section A. Substitution of Members will be permitted to Section A with the consent of the Member's Whip, where applicable, otherwise with the consent of the Member involved. For the third session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament, the Members of Section A shall be as follows: the Minister whose Estimates are under consideration and Messrs. Bennett, Dalton, Hayer, Lee, Letnick, Pimm, and Rustad and Mmes. Barnett and Thornthwaite, and Messrs. Horgan, S. Simpson and Lali and Mmes. Elmore, Mungall and Hammell and Ms. Huntington.


4. At fifteen minutes prior to the ordinary time fixed for adjournment of the House, the Chair of Section A will report to the House.
[ Page 6508 ]
In the event such report includes the last vote in a particular ministerial Estimate, after such report has been made to the House, the Government shall have a maximum of eight minutes, and the Official Opposition a maximum of five minutes, and all other Members (cumulatively) a maximum of three minutes to summarize the Committee debate on a particular ministerial Estimate completed, such summaries to be in the following order:


(1) Other Members;


(2) Opposition; and


(3) Government.


5. Section B shall be composed of all Members of the House.


6. Divisions in Section A will be signalled by the ringing of the division bells four times.


7. Divisions in Section B will be signalled by the ringing of the division bells three times at which time proceedings in Section A will be suspended until completion of the division in Section B.


8. Section A is hereby authorized to consider Bills referred to Committee after second reading thereof and the Standing Orders applicable to Bills in Committee of the Whole shall be applicable to such Bills during consideration thereof in Section A, and for all purposes Section A shall be deemed to be a Committee of the Whole. Such referrals to Section A shall be made upon motion without notice by the Minister responsible for the Bill, and such motion shall be decided without amendment or debate. Practice Recommendation #6 relating to Consultation shall be applicable to all such referrals.


9. Bills or Estimates previously referred to a designated Committee may at any stage be subsequently referred to another designated Committee on motion of the Government House Leader or the Minister responsible for the Bill as hereinbefore provided by Rule Nos. 2 and 8.]


Leave granted.


Motion approved.


Hon. R. Coleman: By agreement, I move that the House, at its rising, do stand adjourned until Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 10 a.m.


Motion approved.


Hon. R. Coleman moved adjournment of the House.


Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned till Tuesday, May 3, at 10 a.m.


The House adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

[ Return to: Legislative Assembly Home Page ]

Hansard Services publishes transcripts both in print and on the Internet.
Chamber debates are broadcast on television and webcast on the Internet.
Question Period podcasts are available on the Internet.

TV channel guide • Broadcast schedule

Copyright © 2011: British Columbia Hansard Services, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

ISSN 1499-2175