2014 Legislative Session: Second Session, 40th Parliament
HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

official report of

Debates of the Legislative Assembly

(hansard)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Morning Sitting

Volume 5, Number 7

ISSN 0709-1281 (Print)
ISSN 1499-2175 (Online)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

The House met at 10:06 a.m.

[Madame Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers.

Introductions by Members

J. Horgan: Thirty years ago today Canada was playing Sweden for the bronze medal in the Sarajevo Winter Olympics. You're probably saying to yourself: "Why would you remember that, Member for Juan de Fuca?" Well, I remember it because it was my wedding night. I just want you to know that Canada was shut out in that game, but I did okay.

The score was 2-0 for Sweden, and I remember it because I was watching the game with the love of my life, my alpha and my omega, my reason for being, Ellie Horgan. Now Ellie is joining us here in the gallery today to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, because nothing really says "I love you" like an early-morning question period. [Applause.]

I think you were premature on that clapping, because now I want to ask the House to please join me in saying "I love you" to my beautiful and wonderful spouse, Ellie Horgan.

D. Barnett: Today in the House I have a constituent of mine who is the manager of external and stakeholder relations for Tolko Industries. He's a director-at-large for the Northern Development Trust, and he's also a director for the Association of B.C. Forest Professionals. I ask this House to welcome Tom Hoffman to this House today.

V. Huntington: I'm extremely pleased to be able to introduce Bernadette Kudzin and Yvonne Parenteau, my constituency assistants, without whom I could not manage. Will the House make them welcome.

Hon. T. Lake: We have in the House today a great friend of this House from the great city of Kamloops, a man who was elected seven times — twice locally, five times provincially — a former member from Kamloops, a former minister of many different portfolios, a former Speaker of the House, but most importantly, the leader of the world-famous Kamloops Rube Band. Please welcome Claude Richmond to this House.

J. Darcy: It gives me great pleasure to welcome to this House a new legislative assistant working with the opposition caucus, Veronica Harrison. She has worked previously as a constituency assistant and also as a legislative assistant in Ottawa, and I'm sure that Veronica will find that it's much nicer here.

[1010]

Hon. A. Virk: I have the pleasure of introducing a special guest today, Dr. Arun Jagdeo, who is the president of the Professional Association of Residents of B.C. Dr. Jagdeo is here as the House marks Resident Awareness Day, recognizing the importance of more than 1,200 residents undergoing postgraduate training in medical specialties throughout British Columbia.

These are the physicians of the future, committed to providing quality health care throughout British Columbia. Please would the House join me in providing a warm welcome to Dr. Arun Jagdeo.

C. Trevena: It's always a pleasure to introduce people from my constituency to this place, and today I have the added pleasure of introducing friends from my own community. I've got to say that it's been a long time coming. They've been asking for some time to come and visit this place, but unfortunately, with the Legislature sitting so rarely, we've not been able to coordinate it until right now.

George and Donna Nickoloff navigated time off from their work as pharmacists at Campbell River Hospital. Their engaged and engaging daughters took advantage of the pro-D day at school district 72. They're very eager to experience parliamentary democracy, B.C. style. I think they're already getting an example of that. I hope we won't disappoint them in this early morning question period nor provide too much provocation in the budget this afternoon.

I would ask the House to welcome George, Donna, Gina, Anna and Ruby Nickoloff.

N. Letnick: In the precinct today I have the pleasure of announcing that Mr. Fred Steele and Mr. Bhupinder Dhaliwal are here to discuss important issues concerning apples. They are the newly elected president and vice-president of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association. Would the House please make them feel welcome.

M. Mungall: Not to be entirely outdone by the member for Juan de Fuca, I also brought my spouse to work today. I'd like to introduce Zak Matieschyn, who's up in the gallery. He's joining us here today not just for the first-ever question period at 10 a.m., but he's also going to be here for the budget speech. May the House please make him welcome.

L. Throness: I have the pleasure of having 13 nieces and nephews, and I'm a pretty good uncle to all of them. But on the weekend I became a truly great uncle when my nephew Chris and his wife, Krista, brought beautiful Hannah Rae into the world. Would you welcome, please, yet another Throness and another future taxpayer to this
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great province.

Hon. A. Wilkinson: I hope the House will welcome the two women who have been the beating heart, the engine room and the guiding light of my political life in Vancouver-Quilchena, Deb Desroches and Liz McPhee. Also welcome, please, the new 2015 Rhodes scholar for British Columbia, hailing from Haida Gwaii and the University of Victoria, Mr. Dylan Collins.

J. Martin: I'm very pleased to introduce a good friend of mine today, Collin Rogers, to the House. Collin is very active in commercial and industrial land development in and around the Chilliwack area. He's the riding president of my riding and one of the big reasons I'm here today and is also very active on my colleague from Chilliwack-Hope's campaign and a very prolific campaigner, helping my predecessor John Les, and Barry Penner, in a number of elections. Please welcome a free enterpriser of the first order, Collin Rogers.

Hon. D. McRae: I see in the gallery today that we are joined by the mayor of Comox. Would the House please make Mayor Paul Ives welcome.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

MEDICAL RESIDENTS

S. Hammell: I rise today to speak about Resident Awareness Day, a day that was created to raise awareness and celebrate the important contributions of residents to the Canadian health care system.

Residency is a stage of graduate medical training and is required as part of a doctor's training under Canadian law. When someone graduates from medical school, they must complete a residency program in the medical specialty of their choice. This is before they can open their own practice or practise independently. Residents train in one of over 70 specialties. While they are learning, they provide surgical assistance to both surgeons and general practitioners, reducing their burden.

[1015]

Currently in B.C., as was mentioned before, over 1,200 residents are training in urban centres such as Surrey, Vancouver, Prince George and Victoria and in smaller communities such as Fort St. John, Cranbrook, Tofino and Gibsons. These residents are front-line physicians who deliver round-the-clock medical care to patients and their families in intensive care units, surgical and medical wards, outpatient clinics, and other hospital and community facilities across our province.

In addition to working full-time hours at the hospital, residents also have courses and exams, and teach medical students, peers and health care professionals. Most importantly, as said before, these are the physicians of the future, committed to providing quality health care in British Columbia. I am proud to rise to help raise public awareness of resident physicians in B.C.'s health care system.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY
TSAWWASSEN FIRST NATION

S. Hamilton: I'd like to take this opportunity to share an example about the positive benefits that can come from partnering with First Nations to build a strong economy and a secure future for all British Columbians. In 2009 our government reached an agreement on a treaty with the Tsawwassen First Nation. It was the first urban treaty in the history of B.C. and the first modern treaty negotiated under the B.C. Treaty Commission process.

TFN's vision is a model for other nations in their treaty process. They're proving that self-government can lead to new and exciting socioeconomic opportunities. Just last month I was pleased to join the Tsawwassen First Nation and see how they're seizing on these opportunities.

We were there to celebrate the beginning of two major developments that will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in construction spending — Tsawwassen mills and Tsawwassen commons. These projects represent a victory for not only the local economy but, in fact, for workers throughout the entire Lower Mainland. This will create thousands of jobs not only during construction but after the projects are completed. These will be ongoing jobs in retail and property management and will help drive the region's economy for years to come.

This win is possible because of the vision of the Tsawwassen First Nation's people, including elders such as Ruth Adams, and the vision of their Chief, Bryce Williams, and former Chief, Kim Baird, supported by their respective legislative councils.

I'd also like to note the work that TFN has done with local farmers. Recently signed long-term leases on TFN agricultural lands will allow Delta farmers to make significant improvements, and enhance the land's productive capacity. These leases were signed by the Guichon, Chong and Harris farming families. By working with local farmers, the Tsawwassen First Nation has the foresight to help its neighbouring community and help sustain agricultural production and manage its lands now and in the future.

Today, as thousands of people get to work on two multi-million-dollar projects, the Tsawwassen First Nation is making their vision a reality by helping support hundreds of families in the communities they live in. It's a vision shared by our government, and it's a vision that will lead to a strong economy and a secure tomorrow for all British Columbians.
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NEW WESTMINSTER RESIDENTS AT
2014 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

J. Darcy: I have the great pleasure today of paying tribute to not just one but two wonderful members of our Canadian Olympic team who hail from New Westminster. The first is Elli Terwiel, an alpine downhill skier who has been on the world circuit since 2011. But Elli actually started skiing at the tender age of 18 months.

Yes, when some of our kids, including mine, were barely able to walk, Elli was strapping on skis. Well, probably her parents were strapping on the skis. She moved into the Nancy Greene Ski League when she was four and says that her Olympic dream was sparked when she had the chance to wear Nancy Greene's medals.

Today she's studying civil engineering and plans to take a master's in architecture. But first things first. On February 21 Elli competes in the slalom races at the Sochi Olympics, and all of New Westminster and all of B.C. will be watching.

[1020]

But I would be remiss, as MLA for New Westminster and also as Health critic — nothing critical here, Minister — if I did not mention another important member of the Olympic team from New Westminster. That would be Dr. Bob McCormack, an orthopedic specialist from Royal Columbian Hospital, who is the chief medical officer for the Canadian Olympic team for the third time running and who is also the physician for the curling team.

Dr. McCormack is absolutely thrilled to be in Sochi to keep our Canadian athletes there as healthy as they can possibly be. When the flame goes out, he'll be back tending patients at Royal Columbian Hospital, helping to keep them as healthy as they can possibly be.

CAREY PRICE AND
2014 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

D. Barnett: I am so pleased to rise today to send my best wishes to the pride and joy of Anahim Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin, Carey Price. Carey was a last-minute addition to the Team Canada roster. Playing goalie, he made 14 saves against Finland on Sunday, and boy, are we thankful.

He is a product of local junior and amateur hockey in B.C. He started to learn to play hockey at the age of five, and by the time he was nine years old, he started playing organized hockey in my constituency.

When he played junior hockey in Williams Lake, his parents were incredibly dedicated and made sure he was able to attend every game. His father took flying lessons in order to receive a pilot's licence and fly Carey to Williams Lake, and if the weather wouldn't cooperate, yes, his parents would make the 5½-hour drive from Anahim Lake to the arena. The devotion and his commitment to the sport when he was younger are exactly why he is in Sochi today, proudly wearing our nation's colours.

Carey hasn't forgotten his Chilcotin roots, his First Nations heritage and his love for the community he grew up in. He still remains close with his family, former teammates and his childhood friends back home.

Good luck, Carey, and to all the other players from B.C. on the men's and the women's hockey teams. All of us in this chamber are behind you. Bring home the gold. Go, Canada, go!

SAFETY IN SURREY-NEWTON AREA

H. Bains: I rise today to commend the work of the Newton Community Association for bringing Newton and Surrey residents together to make our streets and communities safe. It is sad that sometimes it takes a heartbreaking incident for us to realize that the crime in our community has crept up to a crisis level. Such tragedy struck the Newton area when Julie Paskall was brutally murdered while waiting for her son to come out from a hockey game.

The Newton Community Association came into action and was instrumental in engaging and inviting the community to a meeting in early January to discuss issues of criminal activity and possible solutions to control crime in the area. Community activists Doug Elford, Jude Hannah, Liz Walker and Sheena Wilkie, all longtime Newton residents, are continuing the fight to keep this issue alive and to push for all levels of government to come to the table and come up with resources needed to find real solutions to deal with crime in Newton.

Thanks to their efforts, people have come together after this horrific crime to demand change. This past Saturday I, along with my colleagues the member for Surrey–Green Timbers and the member for Surrey-Whalley, attended a second meeting hosted by them.

The sentiments at this meeting were the same. We need more police officers, a community court for Surrey, regulated recovery homes and more programs for mental health and addictions in our growing community and city. The message was loud and clear that we the residents of Surrey, like the residents of any city, have a basic, fundamental right to be safe in our own homes and on our streets.

On behalf of the residents of Newton and all Surrey, I stand here today to urge all levels of government to work together and put the safety of residents at the top of the list. Once again, my heart goes out to the family of Julie Paskall and all Surrey residents who have lost a loved one or had a life-changing experience due to violence in our community. The motto is "We shall overcome."

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

L. Reimer: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to highlight in the House today that this week is Chamber of
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Commerce Week in British Columbia.

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During this week we have the wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the incredible work that the hundreds of chambers of commerce accomplish throughout British Columbia every day.

The network of 125 chambers in B.C. represents 36,000 businesses in every corner of the province, from Prince Rupert to Fort Nelson and Fernie to Tofino. It plays a vital role to support and stimulate local economies by providing invaluable services to thousands of entrepreneurs and creates vibrant communities throughout the province.

It has been a pleasure for me to work with our local Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce over the years. I have seen not only the wonderful benefit of belonging to the chamber of commerce but the wonderful contributions to community each of their members make. In my community such members include Bill Dick of Phoenix Truck and Crane, Mark Pettie of Pettie Insurance, Wim Vander Zalm of Art Knapp Plantland, to name only a few.

There is a long list of members in this chamber who have been very active in both the B.C. and local chambers: the Minister of Energy and Mines; the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations; the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development; and the Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business, just to name a few.

The B.C. Chamber of Commerce is an important partner to help us achieve our goal of being the most small business–friendly jurisdiction within Canada. This week our government will celebrate the hard work of the chamber and acknowledges that we share their mission to build a diverse, competitive and sustainable economy.

There will be events held by chambers across the province, including events in Prince George, Kelowna and even right here in Victoria on Friday, for their B.C. Chamber Week breakfast. We know that when small businesses thrive, our economy thrives and so do our families.

Oral Questions

IMPACT OF
FERRY SERVICES REDUCTIONS ON
ECONOMY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

C. Trevena: Yesterday I asked the Minister of Transportation if he could tell this House the impact to the provincial economy of the decision to end B.C. Ferries' extremely popular tourism run, the Discovery coast route, which goes from Port Hardy to Bella Coola and allows people to drive through the Cariboo.

European tour operators have written to the minister questioning his decision and say that they'll be looking for compensation. They've got bookings well into the 2014 season. These are business people and expect a government to act in a responsible way when it comes to making decisions which impact businesses.

Yesterday the minister didn't answer my question, so perhaps the Premier can tell this House why this decision was made without any analysis of the economic impact.

Hon. T. Stone: I'm pleased to rise again and answer the question that was posed to me yesterday. As I said yesterday and as I have said consistently for the last three months since we made our ferry announcement back in November, these are very difficult decisions. I acknowledged right at the outset of our ferry vision that tough decisions were going to be required in order to get Ferries to a place of sustainability, affordability and efficiency.

At the end of the day, this government…. We're going continue to do everything that we can — working with the Ferry Commissioner, with B.C. Ferries and, indeed, with coastal communities — to ensure that the ferry service is there for generations to come.

Now, specifically with respect to route 40, I think it's very important for this House to understand — and, indeed, for tourism operators to understand — that the Discovery coast circle tour remains intact. The change we're making here is a change in service. Tourism operators from Europe, from any part of the world, will continue to be able to travel the beautiful passage from Port Hardy through to Bella Coola and on to the Discovery coast circle tour.

Madame Speaker: The member for North Island on a supplemental.

[1030]

C. Trevena: I think that the minister is missing something here. We have a change in service which means a vessel that could carry 115 vehicles and take eight hours is being replaced by a vessel which even local people really don't like going on, which just takes 16 vehicles, is more like a barge, has no services and will take 33 hours, stopping at a number of communities. Great tourism opportunity.

It is, effectively, a cancellation of a service. It is a cancellation of a service which is going to have impacts on people who have booked lodges, who have booked hotels. There are going to be millions of tourism dollars lost to B.C. businesses. It's incredible damage, both to B.C.'s small businesses and beyond, to our reputation.

The minister apparently didn't know what the economic impact of this decision would be until after he made it, because there was no economic analysis done, no matter what he says about difficult decisions being made.

We also know that European tour operators, as has been stated before, sent a letter stating their concerns, but the minister didn't read it. He was asked about it five days after he received it.
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Madame Speaker: The member will please pose the question.

C. Trevena: Thank you, Madame Speaker.

He said, "Perhaps it's in the system somewhere," which I say speaks volumes. To the minister, has he now read that letter, and if so, how does he respond?

Hon. T. Stone: The member opposite may believe that it makes sense to have a vessel that, with a capacity of 115 vehicles, actually carries on average 15 vehicles — 15 vehicles. A capacity of 381 passengers, and on average, there are barely 40 people on that ship.

The member opposite may think that that's sustainable for the long-term service of B.C. Ferries. We on this side do not believe that that's sustainable. That is why we are moving forward in matching a vessel with capacity that is a much better match for the actual utilization on that route.

Madame Speaker: The member for North Island on a further supplemental.

C. Trevena: I think the minister would benefit from a trip to the north Island and to the central coast. He clearly has no idea what it's like either to run a tourism business or to travel a ferry or to depend on ferries for his business.

It would take four summers for the Nimpkish, the smaller vessel, to carry the number of passengers that the Chilliwack, the larger vessel which is being removed from that route, removed from service, takes to carry the tourists. That is why, when he talks about it not being full, he's clearly getting his figures from a very strange source.

These cuts — and it is a cut to service — are going to have a massive impact on communities and on business. Port Hardy stands to lose more than $3 million. One operator alone is going to lose $1.2 million a year, which means job losses. The Tourism Association of B.C. says any reduction or restriction in services has negative short- and long-term economic consequences on businesses and employment across B.C.

Madame Speaker: Please pose your question, Member.

C. Trevena: Thank you, Madame Speaker.

The Aboriginal Tourism Association estimates that aboriginal tourism on the coast is worth $15 million, which the minister might understand if he had done an economic analysis ahead of these cuts.

To the minister, what does it take for the minister and his Liberal government to understand the damage being done to business in B.C. by this short-term, blinkered approach?

Hon. T. Stone: Again, let's be clear. The vast majority of routes, sailings, that we are reducing through this plan have utilizations of far below 20 percent. In fact, on many of these sailings there are more staff on board than there are passengers.

Now, the tough decisions that we are making on B.C. Ferries to ensure its long-term sustainability are the kinds of decisions that the opposition would be incapable of making. But these are the types of decisions that we're making, and it's why we're going to have a second consecutive balanced budget here in British Columbia.

[1035]

L. Popham: Last year the Minister of State for Tourism claimed: "Tourism is so important to this province that the Premier has appointed not one but two ministers responsible for tourism in British Columbia."

Here's a question for you. How many ministers of tourism does it actually take to figure out that cuts to ferry service affect tourism in British Columbia? And how many ministers does it take to stand up for tourism in B.C.?

Hon. T. Stone: Again, I have said consistently, as has the government for the last number of months, that these service adjustments are going to have an impact. We have never said that there will not be an impact in coastal communities. But again, this government is committed to ensuring that the tough decisions are taken so that the ferry service is sustainable and affordable and efficient for the long term.

Now, I would point out….

Interjections.

Madame Speaker: Minister.

Thank you.

Minister, please continue.

Hon. T. Stone: Specifically with respect to the route that the member is asking about, let's be very clear. We're going to work as hard as we possibly can with B.C. Ferries to ensure that the Nimpkish, the new vessel that will be on this Discovery coast circle route tour, will have all the amenities and the comforts that it possibly can for those to travel on it.

We're going to ensure that the schedules between route 10 and route 40 are synchronized, and we're going to make sure that B.C. Ferries does a better job of promoting the Discovery coast circle tour. That will reflect our commitment to the continued growth of tourism here in British Columbia.

L. Popham: You know, Minister, this is not a tough decision. This is an uninformed decision. When I canvassed both ministers of tourism last summer for the numbers of tourists that travel on B.C. Ferries, I got this answer: "This information is information that I'm sure
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B.C. Ferries has. We don't actually have access to that. I would recommend that the member opposite, if unable to get a response from the Ministry of Transportation, perhaps contact B.C. Ferries."

It is astounding to me that a couple of tourism ministers have no idea how many visitors visit B.C. and travel on the ferries. So I will ask the Minister of Transportation: can he tell us how this government can effectively promote B.C. to tourists if he doesn't even keep track of who's travelling here?

Hon. T. Stone: Let me again remind the members opposite that the route in question, route 40, last year lost almost $7½ million. The vessel that currently serves that route, the Queen of Chilliwack, needs to be replaced within the next three years, at a cost of over $100 million. That would increase the loss on that route from $7½ million to somewhere in the neighbourhood of $14 million per year for a three-month service that carries approximately 500 vehicles in the entire season.

The members opposite might believe that that's sustainable. They might believe that that's how you ensure that the ferry service is there for the long term. But I can tell you this government…. We are balancing our budget, and we're doing it because we are prepared to make the tough decisions like this one with B.C. Ferries.

[1040]

G. Holman: Yes, what's the loss on the highway to the minister's community?

Members on both sides of this House know that these ferry cuts — sorry, adjustments — are bad for business. The B.C. Liberal member for Cariboo-Chilcotin wrote a letter speaking out against the cancellation of the Discovery coast route between Bella Coola and Port Hardy. She said, "For the tourist industry here in the Cariboo, losing some of the tourist traffic that comes from the circle route would have an impact on business," and also stated: "It's important for our region." She's right, but her colleague the Transportation Minister doesn't seem to be listening.

If the minister has no answer to the small businesses that will be hurt in B.C. and no answer to tour operators in Europe with hundreds of booked tours that are now in jeopardy, can he at least share with this House his explanation to his colleague about her concerns regarding tourism in her riding?

Hon. T. Stone: Unlike, perhaps, the case with members opposite, we are actually encouraged on this side of the House to stand up and defend the interests of our constituents, so I have no issues with the member for Cariboo-Chilcotin doing her job, which is to bring forward concerns that her constituents express to government.

Now, this government has increased investments into B.C. Ferries to record levels. In fact, this fiscal year alone it's over $180 million of support. That includes an additional $86.6 million of taxpayer contribution for this performance term, all in an effort to keep fares down as much as possible.

I would end on this note. Since 2001 this government has invested over $1.4 billion in ensuring that B.C. Ferries has the vessels, has the terminals and has the services that it requires.

G. Holman: I don't know if the minister is aware, but ferry users over the last decade have contributed $5 billion to the operating cost of B.C. Ferries — $5 billion.

Kerry Jacox from Nimpo Lake in West Chilcotin knows that cancelling the Discovery coast sailing will kill B.C.'s circle tour route, affecting hundreds of hard-working British Columbians throughout the province. Kerry wrote to us and said: "The already hard-hit towns of Port Hardy and Bella Coola are at risk of becoming ghost towns. Do not let this happen."

Tim Noble of Anahim Lake works at a resort in the Chilcotin and says that the elimination of the Discovery route will impact tourism operators who have invested millions of dollars to develop the local tourism economy. He says they are being "stabbed in the back."

Can the Transportation Minister explain what he's going to do and explain to the chambers of commerce…? We heard from the member opposite before how important the chambers are in this province. What do the chambers feel about cancelling this route?

Hon. T. Stone: You know, it's quite interesting to hear members opposite talk about how important it is to lower fares, how important it is to put more money into ferries and how important it is to declare ferries part of the highway system, when in fact not a single word on any of those three points was mentioned in their platform in the last election — not a single word, not a word.

[1045]

If the members opposite don't want to take my word for it, perhaps the words of former NDP Premier Dan Miller might hit the mark, who said last week he thinks that this government is right in going at some of these runs where the capacity is "very underutilized."

We're going to continue to make the tough decisions. We're going to make the tough decisions to ensure that the B.C. ferry system is sustainable and affordable and there for the long term.

J. Horgan: I'm fairly certain that the minister understands that his representation of our platform is incorrect, so I'll leave that for the fact-checkers upstairs to look at. But I have a simple yes-or-no question for the minister.

Is there an economic analysis of the consequences of these decisions on the central coast — yes or no?
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Hon. T. Stone: Again, I will say one more time….

Interjections.

Madame Speaker: Order.

Minister, just take your seat.

Please proceed, Minister.

Hon. T. Stone: I will say one more time that this government acknowledged on November 18th, when we made the announcement of our vision for B.C. Ferries…. We said very directly that the decisions that would be undertaken were going to have some impact. There's no question about that. They're going to have some impact.

But we remain steadfast that we have a plan. We are committed to executing on that plan. We are committed to making the tough decisions so that British Columbians in coastal communities have a ferry service that is sustainable, that's affordable and that is there for the long term.

IMPLEMENTATION OF MISSING WOMEN
INQUIRY RECOMMENDATIONS AND
BUS SERVICE ON HIGHWAY 16

J. Rice: Last Friday people gathered in cities across North America to call for justice for missing and murdered aboriginal women. This government has failed to implement most of the 63 recommendations from the Missing Women Inquiry report. The inquiry made two urgent recommendations. One of those urgent recommendations was for the government to bring in a shuttle bus along the Highway of Tears.

My question is to the Minister of Justice. When will women and girls have access to safe, accessible transportation along the Highway of Tears?

Hon. S. Anton: The Oppal Commission provided many recommendations to government on a number of different areas, and we have made significant progress not only in the year and a half since the commission but in the 15 years since the terrible tragedy of the missing and murdered women.

We have made progress on policing. We have made progress on helping victims of crime and helping women involved in crime. We have a three-year domestic violence program, and on the question, we are working with communities in the north to establish safer ways for people to travel.

This government is committed to the missing-women file and recommendations. We have made significant progress. British Columbia is a safer place. The Speech from the Throne mentioned a violence-free British Columbia. That is a key piece of our work in justice and in government.

Madame Speaker: The member for North Coast on a supplemental.

J. Rice: Members on this side of the House would like to see action that prevents women and girls from going missing, actions like taking a shuttle bus along the Highway of Tears.

[1050]

When you travel this highway, there are haunting billboards telling us not to hitchhike, yet women are hitchhiking beneath these billboards.

Women and girls continue to be at risk because they have no other option. While the Missing Women Commission recommended that a shuttle be brought in immediately, this government has failed to do so. More than a year later nothing has been done. In fact, Greyhound Bus service has been reduced.

Again to the Minister of Justice: when will this government take action on an absolutely vital transportation link on the Highway of Tears?

Hon. S. Anton: Because of this government's commitment to public safety, the commitment to a violence-free British Columbia, we have a safer province now. The members opposite may know that we introduced missing-persons legislation last week. The members opposite may know — or perhaps they don't know — that we have made significant advances in policing and helping….

Interjections.

Madame Speaker: The members will come to order.

Hon. S. Anton: This government is committed to the safety of all vulnerable women in British Columbia. In particular, this government is committed to the safety of aboriginal women in British Columbia, which was a key piece of Commissioner Oppal's report. British Columbia is a safer place now than it was 15 years ago, and it will continue to be a safer place as we build on these initiatives.

Interjections.

Madame Speaker: Hon. Members, this Chair will hear the answers and will hear the questions.

FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES

K. Conroy: A recent fire that devastated a Quebec care home and killed at least 28 seniors reminds us that inadequate safety and fire standards have very real and tragic consequences. While all new buildings in B.C. are required to have sprinklers, the law does not apply to older buildings. As a result, there are care homes and assisted-
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living facilities in B.C. that to this day still do not have sprinkler systems.

Will the Minister of Justice, as this is her responsibility, commit today to passing the legislation needed to ensure all B.C. care homes and assisted-living facilities are retrofitted to be equipped with modern sprinkler systems?

Hon. T. Lake: Our government's primary concern, of course, is ensuring the safety and security of our residents in our facilities. All new residential care facilities and assisted-living facilities are required to be built to the current B.C. building code standards — which, of course, include sprinklers.

We have done an inventory of facilities around the province. We do have a number of facilities that are either partially sprinklered or still do not have sprinklers. We know that that's a gap. We are meeting with the B.C. care providers in the very near future to do some work along with them and the health authorities to make sure we address this problem to ensure that our seniors in facilities in British Columbia are kept safe.

Madame Speaker: Member for Kootenay West on a supplemental.

K. Conroy: This government has had 12 years to bring in regulations and has not done so. Meanwhile, the minister has said that almost all of our facilities do have sprinklers. Almost all is not good enough. Each and every one of our seniors deserves to be protected, not just almost all of them.

[1055]

Will the minister make the needed commitment and ensure that not just some but all of our care homes in B.C. have mandatory requirement for sprinkler systems?

Hon. T. Lake: As I mentioned, we are extremely concerned about the safety of the residents in our senior facilities, whether they're assisted-living or long-term residential care facilities.

Since the building code changes that occurred in 1996, all new buildings have to have sprinkler systems for these facilities. We are working with the health authorities and the B.C. care providers. It's only obvious that newer buildings will have sprinkler systems.

Interestingly enough, there have been more new buildings built in the last 12 years to house our seniors in long-term care facilities than ever before. We are proud of that record, and we will continue to ensure that there are new facilities for our seniors throughout the province of British Columbia and that they are kept safe and secure.

K. Corrigan: My question is to the Minister of Justice, who has responsibility for the regulation of sprinklers in British Columbia care facilities. There are currently almost a dozen care homes that don't have adequate sprinkler systems. There are at least another eight that have no sprinkler systems whatsoever, and that represents hundreds, if not thousands, of seniors and others who are vulnerable.

The president of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Stephen Gamble, said: "The province of Ontario recently brought in legislation to retrofit senior complexes with sprinklers. The other provinces and territories should follow this lead."

In addition — the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs are not the only ones — Timothy Pley, who is the president of the B.C. association of fire chiefs, says that anybody who is living in care and unable to evacuate themselves should be protected by fire sprinklers.

Madame Speaker: Question, Member?

K. Corrigan: My question to the minister, again, is…. Please tell this House…. Rather than waiting to do an inventory and rather than waiting to have another disaster like we had in Quebec, will this minister take immediate action to ensure that care facilities in this province are retrofitted with sprinklers?

Hon. T. Lake: I think all British Columbians' hearts go out to the families of the victims of the terrible tragedy in Quebec. We do not want to see the same thing happen here, which is why I immediately asked for an inventory of the facilities in British Columbia that are not fully sprinklered.

As mentioned, since 1996 all new buildings do have to be sprinklered. We'll be meeting with the health authorities and the B.C. care providers very soon to address this issue. But as I mentioned, we have built 5,000 new spaces for long-term residential care facilities, and the reason we were able to do that is because we are growing the economy here in British Columbia to look after our vulnerable citizens.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Hon. S. Anton: Madame Speaker, I have a report to be tabled.

I have the honour to present the following reports: the final report of the 2013 British Columbia Judges Compensation Commission and the final report of the 2013 British Columbia Judicial Justices Compensation Commission.

These two commissions are appointed under the Judicial Compensation Act to make recommendations respecting the salaries and benefits for Provincial Court judges and judicial justices of the peace respectively.

Pursuant to section 6(3) of the Judicial Compensation Act, I also advise the House that if the assembly does not
[ Page 1367 ]
resolve to reject any of the recommendations contained in the reports within the timelines established in the act, then the judges and judicial justices will receive the salaries and benefits recommended in their respective reports.

[1100]

Orders of the Day

Hon. T. Stone: I call continued debate on the Speech from the Throne.

Madame Speaker: We'll wait a moment for members.

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

N. Simons: It's a pleasure to speak to a full House today — uh-oh. [Laughter.]

I have a few minutes left in my speech to respond to the Speech from the Throne from yesterday. I thought I would do myself a favour and get through the topics I wanted to by writing some of them down.

[D. Horne in the chair.]

I spent a bit too long talking about how disappointing the Speech from the Throne was, especially for ferry-reliant communities — communities on the Sunshine Coast, which, as I pointed out yesterday, are entirely ferry-reliant.

Gibsons is the home of The Beachcombers; Sechelt, the home of the writers festival; and Powell River, home of Kathaumixw, an international music academy. All of these communities will feel the impact.

Our day-to-day economy will suffer. Our tourism will decline. Ridership will decline, and the bonuses will continue to flow to people at B.C. Ferries who've never even taken a ferry. Back-slapping will occur in the upper offices of the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, who's pretended to be concerned about the cuts and the announced consultations and went ahead with them regardless of all of the input, without any of the most basic amendments.

You could almost see the glee in the minister's face when he stuck it to our communities, and I don't understand that. I don't understand that one bit. The logic that he applies for B.C. Ferries doesn't apply anywhere else. But only he can get away with it. Smooth talker.

If petitions, letters, rallies, town halls, marches and e-mail campaigns don't work and if business associations, tourism operators, economists, regional district officials, elected officials, councillors, mayors, chiefs, and Islands Trust officials can't get through to this government, let us conclude that this government doesn't give a flying fish about the plight of ferry-reliant communities.

Wouldn't it have been nice if this government recognized as well, on other issues, that the people of this province value and cherish the land we have protected for agriculture?

With that, Mr. Speaker, I cede the floor.

Hon. J. Rustad: It's with great pleasure today that I rise to respond to the throne speech. For me, it's a speech which carries forward with our vision from the election, which carries forward our vision for building a strong economy, for securing our future and for having a prosperous opportunity for all people in British Columbia — aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike.

Before I get into my main comments, I do want to take this opportunity to thank a few people. In particular, I want to start by thanking my wife for her continued support. Going through the election process and the number of years now that I've had the privilege and pleasure of an opportunity to serve my constituents, my wife has played a very strong role in supporting me through that. I just wanted to say thank you to Kim and that I love her very much.

Also, I want to take a moment to thank my parents, Molly and Laurie Rustad. They have been strong supporters, obviously. They have really helped to shape me, and they've helped to give me the guidance. I just want to thank them for all of their support over the years as well.

Of course, the other crew that I want to make sure I make mention of is my constituent assistants. Constituent assistants play an enormous role for all of us here in the House. As our duties often take us away from our riding, we aren't able to be as available as we'd like to be, and our constituent assistants fill that void.

In particular, I want to thank Barb Gale, who was a constituent assistant of mine for four years, who left. She retired and moved down to the Kelowna area — Savona. But she was great and very, very helpful over the time she was with me, and I was very appreciative of that work.

My current constituent assistants. Of course, Judy King has been with me for many years now, and she does a great job. Added to my team now is Nadine Frenkel. Nadine has been a great addition. She's doing great work on behalf of the constituents of Nechako Lakes, and I just want to thank her very much for that.

[1105]

We laid out, as I mentioned earlier, the vision for how we are going to be securing our future. That included making sure that we have a balanced budget, included making sure that we control spending and to make sure that as we go forward, we grow our economy, particularly our resource opportunities, to bring in the additional revenues to be able to secure and expand services but also to be able to leave a legacy for our future.

The throne speech laid out clearly what that legacy is, as we move forward and we look at opportunities in LNG, as we explore opportunities in mining and forestry — the jobs those will create, the way that will change and shape
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communities and lives and, more importantly, the way that will leave an opportunity for us to pay down our debt.

To be able to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren. There can be no greater positive effect that we could have as a legislature than to be able to tackle that great big issue that every jurisdiction around the world faces, which is our debt — which is the debts around the world but particularly our debt: play our part, pay it down and be able to leave that legacy for our children and grandchildren. That's why I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to be able to support this budget.

When I think about what this means for my riding in particular, I'm very excited about the opportunities that'll be created. LNG throughout the north. A report that was released back last summer suggests that if five plants were to be built, it would create up to 75,000 permanent, direct and indirect jobs as well as up to 39,000 jobs per year in construction over about a ten-year period. That will have an enormous impact on companies, on individuals, on the entire north.

It will really help to shape a future, a future that I'm very proud to say the aboriginal communities will play a huge part of. When I look at aboriginal communities like the Wet'suwet'en First Nation, who have set up a holding company, who have gone out and are trying to find ways to engage, taking advantage of this opportunity, what this will bring for them will be truly a game changer.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that they fully intend to want to take advantage of and make sure that it makes a difference for their people. Right across, throughout the north, you're seeing that kind of an opportunity. You're seeing companies being set up. You're seeing First Nations making arrangements with the proponents.

They're looking at the way they can take advantage of the contracts and the services that will be provided. They're looking at ways of how this will change their lives, how this will create the kind of catalyst that they want to lift people out of poverty, to change those lives, to change those communities, to create the jobs, to create that economic entrepreneurialism that we want to try to foster in the province. When I look at that and I look at the agreements and what our government is trying to do to enable this, I can see that the future for my riding of Nechako Lakes, but certainly across the north, is a tremendous one.

I'm very excited, as well, about some of the mining opportunities that we have in my riding — when I think about Mount Milligan, which is just outside the riding but that we have agreements with. I look at the expansion at Endako, the expansion at Huckleberry, New Gold's Blackwater project, as well as a host of other exploration projects that are going on. That has truly laid a foundation for many communities. I think about Fraser Lake and Endako and the people that work at Endako and how that mine has been so critical for that community for many, many years.

Mining truly has a great opportunity to be able to be that base, to be able to create that prosperity. I'm very pleased to say that First Nations are also embracing these mining opportunities. In fact, across Canada, the mining industry employs more First Nations people than any other industry.

Here in British Columbia we have reached out and created opportunities through what we call economic and community development agreements. We now have ten of these agreements signed, and those are opportunities that create a revenue stream flow to First Nations. More importantly, they help to foster the type of business environment that we want, that can create those changes in communities.

There was a young lady that I had an opportunity to talk with, who has been able to go into a training program in Fort St. James — associated not directly with mining but because of the activity that's happening there. She said to me that because of that training, because of the differences that are being created, it took her from being someone who was unemployed, who was frustrated, who didn't see a future as a single mom, to someone who now is excited about her future.

[1110]

She told me it has made her a better mother, it has made her a better member of her community, and she is very optimistic about her future. That's the kind of change that we need to see happen — individual by individual, community by community around the province — to fully capitalize on the resource opportunities that we are trying to promote and trying to move forward.

I also look at forestry in my riding. We have had a challenge now in Houston, where West Fraser has decided to close one of their mills. But I look at Canfor in Houston. They've just completed a $35 million upgrade, and they're looking at additional upgrades to do.

I look in Burns Lake. We now have a replaced mill with Babine Forest Products that, this month, should open its doors and actually start producing wood. It's about a $100 million investment in that community and in forestry.

I look at Fraser Lake and West Fraser's investment there. They're putting in a power plant, putting on additional shifts. They've done significant upgrades. They've got more upgrades that they're going to be doing to that facility.

I look at Fort St. James. Apollo has just finished doing some capital upgrades. Conifex has been doing significant investments. Also in Fort St. James we have a new power plant that will be using biofibre. That's under construction today.

Down into Vanderhoof, Canfor is continuing its investments. L&M Lumber has just completed investments and upgrades in its mill. It has just put in a new power plant in its facility. All of this speaks to the stabilization and growth opportunities that are in the forest industry,
[ Page 1369 ]
even at a time when we have a decline in our timber supply. This is something that secures a future for all those employees through that strengthening of our economy.

I also want to touch on agriculture. In my riding agriculture has been a tremendous stabilizer. We haven't seen so much of the swings. When forestry is down or mining is down — or up, or whatever that may be — through the economic cycles, agriculture always manages to stay a stable part of the area.

I'm very pleased that people have seen to invest now in two new hay compression plants, adding a diversity to our agriculture base, being able to grow the amount of hay now that is being produced and creating a new market in trade with China. That is taking advantage of the relationship that we have with China and the great work that is being done through the Ministry of Jobs, through the Premier's trade missions as well as others that are building those relationships and creating that potential. Those will also carry forward with driving significant investment in agriculture.

Along with that, with a strengthening cattle market in terms of beef prices, with opening up markets and opportunities that we've been helping to work on it has created quite a bit of stability and potential for growth for our agriculture sector throughout the area.

Also, I'm very excited about some tourism opportunities. Our guide-outfitters — I just finished talking with them about it. They're having a great year in terms of being able to go down and sell trips, bringing tourism into the area, investing in their product. That looks like it's going to have a good year, for this season and next, as well as, of course, the 2015 Winter Games that are coming, the Canada Winter Games, into Prince George. It will be quite a catalyst for opportunities throughout the region.

As you can tell from this, there is a lot of activity that's happening. We have a very low unemployment rate. We have great opportunities with new projects like New Gold, with LNG, that are coming on, and the other investments that are happening through the north. Quite frankly, we see quite a boom coming for years ahead.

But to help meet that, we're also making investments in transportation. We have just reclassified Highway 16 from a class B to a class A in the sections that weren't already class A highways. We've also been doing significant investments in road improvements. In fact, just this past year we completed a new passing lane between Vanderhoof and Prince George, a new passing lane between Vanderhoof and Fort St. James, as well as about $15 million to $18 million in significant investment and improvements along the highways and along the side roads.

That's part of a continuous amount of investments that we've been doing that have totalled more than $170 million over the last number of years throughout our area, because we understand that transportation is a key in order for us to be able to move forward a strong economy.

[1115]

I want to take a few moments now to move from my riding to talk a little bit about my ministry. The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation is playing an interesting role in many things that are happening around the province. But I think, more importantly, the relationship that we have between the B.C. government and First Nations has undergone a significant change and improvement over the last number of years. In fact, when I think about the overall relationship, it was just eight years ago or so when we had virtually no agreements with First Nations in the province of British Columbia.

Contrast that to today, where we have over 200 agreements plus we're negotiating a significant number of other agreements. Those agreements range from things like incremental treaty agreements, forest consultation and revenue-sharing agreements, economic and community development agreements, strategic engagement agreements, reconciliation framework agreements — just to mention a few. These agreements between government and First Nations help to build respect. It helps to build the relationship, and more importantly, it leads as building blocks on reconciliation.

On the treaty side, we have made some significant progress. We have eight First Nations that are now in treaties, soon to be nine, as we hope to have signed the Sliammon treaty very shortly. We have four First Nations which are currently negotiating final agreements, which are the K'ómoks, the Sliammon, the Yekooche and the In-SHUCK-ch First Nations.

Just over the last year we signed 12 new incremental treaty agreements across the province. All of these are building blocks towards getting to the ultimate reconciliation of treaty.

But we also recognize that through that process of trying to reach treaty, we want to make sure that First Nations have full opportunities to be able to explore economic potential. The Member for Delta North today gave a two-minute statement about Tsawwassen. Tsawwassen — that investment will see about $650 million to $750 million in the development on their lands, plus another about $250 million in infrastructure that Tsawwassen will be investing in. Treaty has unleashed that economic potential for that nation.

But we recognize, as I mentioned, that we want to be able to promote and see that kind of economic development throughout the province. And those where we come into things like, for example, our clean energy agreements….

We've entered into agreements now with First Nations to do revenue-sharing on new clean energy projects in the province. We've reached three of these final agreements. We've actually seen the first cheque go out to a First Nation on one of those agreements, and we expect to see that part of our agreements grow over the next number of years.
[ Page 1370 ]

As I mentioned, economic and community development agreements. These are agreements between First Nations and the province with regard to mines that are operating within an area. This year I was very pleased to hand out the first of our revenue-sharing cheques on those agreements to the Skeetchestn and the Kamloops band. This was an agreement that….

When I look at what New Gold has done, their workforce is now about 25 percent aboriginal. It's created a number of new companies and opportunities within those First Nations to be able to look at supplying services and contracts, and it really has changed the nature for those First Nations. We have many other of those agreements now that are in place, and we're seeing the same type of opportunity.

I mentioned Mount Milligan as an operation that is impacting my riding. It also has economic and community development agreements, both with the Nak'azdli and McLeod Lake bands, and we're seeing the same type of opportunity happening for those nations. These are the kinds of things that really change the nature of how First Nations interact with the economy, but more importantly, it helps in building our relationship with First Nations and continuing on with those building blocks, as I mentioned.

We now have, also, I think about 118 forest consultation revenue-sharing agreements. They are designed to engage First Nations on the forestry opportunities, to be able to provide revenue back, define how consultation works to make it simpler and more straightforward for First Nations, for government and for companies and, ultimately, to be able to help foster economic development and opportunities on the land base. In total, when you look at all of these types of agreements we have, the difference they are making, I think, speaks for itself.

Many of the First Nation leaders that I've talked to over the last number of years — certainly, in the last number of months, but in my years before serving in this ministry — have told me they're interested in engaging in economic development. They want to see those opportunities. They want to see the potential for their people.

[1120]

But they also want to make sure that we do it right, that we make sure we address the environment and that we make sure we do what we can and work with them to address cultural and social issues as well. That's what these agreements try to do.

Part of our jobs plan, when we came forward, was to say that we wanted to create an additional ten new — what we call — non-treaty agreements, or these incremental building blocks towards reconciliation. I'm very proud that in the first seven months we have now reached four of those agreements. We're now at a total of 22 since our job plan has taken place. They include everything from the strategic engagement agreements through to the other types of agreements I have talked about.

I find it interesting, though, that when you engage and talk about what these agreements mean for First Nations, often it's about how you can reduce the amount of paperwork and requirements that are in place. I'll just give you an example for the Stó:lô, with the agreement that we have with a number of the Stó:lô Nations, with our strategic engagement agreement. We've gone from about 1,900 different consultations that are required within that area, and all the work and stress that comes with that, down to about 190.

We've been able to bring that down because of the relationship we have, the way that we structured this going forward and the ability that we have now through that relationship to be able to see projects move forward in a more timely way and also to make sure that First Nation concerns are addressed. It's those types of agreements that are truly creating the real potential, I think, for our relationship but also for what we want to see in the province of British Columbia.

The Premier talked, of course, about LNG and the fact that she wanted to make sure that First Nations are partners and full participants in LNG opportunities. I find it interesting that my critic, the member for Stikine, also talked a little bit about LNG in his speech.

He framed it as the province putting all the eggs in one basket. I can tell you that if the other side of the House happened to be in power, there wouldn't even have been any eggs to consider putting in a basket. We look at this, however, as being a golden opportunity, particularly for First Nations, so I find it quite puzzling how the member opposite seems to continually speak negatively about what LNG can bring for the people in the province and in particular for the file that he's a critic for.

We also look at LNG as a real catalyst around training. The member for Prince George–Valemount, the Minister of Jobs, is developing a ten-year plan around training, and we are looking at that as to how we can engage First Nations to truly bring up the level of participation. LNG, of course, has a tremendous potential around that, but there is a tremendous amount of other work that is happening.

I just wanted to point out that aboriginal participation in skills-training programs has actually increased now by 103 percent since 2006. As I mentioned earlier, with the example I gave from Fort St. James, it's tremendous how this is changing lives and really creating the difference.

Along with the skills training, there is an enormous opportunity, I think, working with our aboriginal population off reserve, both on the economic side and the participation and work that that can bring. But also, I just want to highlight the off-reserve aboriginal action plan that we have in place and the five pilot projects and how they're progressing.

I also want to really thank the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres for their work with us on that. It's making a difference, it's bringing forward best
[ Page 1371 ]
practices, and it's creating, in partnership with the other things that we are doing, an environment that is more positive for our aboriginal population.

Last summer, when I was appointed to this role, I decided to undertake a task to go out and visit with as many First Nations as I could while being minister on their traditional territory. Part of that tour has taken me, basically, to all corners of the province already, and I just wanted to talk a little about some of the things that I've seen.

[1125]

In particular, I think about my visit up to the northwest and the experiences that I've had up in the northwest — everything from going to a fish-counting area where the First Nations are participating in monitoring, on the environmental side, the return of the fish and the flow of salmon; out to discussing with a group about a new fish plant that is in place and how they are processing fish; getting a chance to tour where LNG facilities are with the Haisla First Nation to see the work that's going on, on that side; to going up to the northeast and having an opportunity to go and tour a greenhouse that is now set up and in place for growing native plants to help work with reconciliation; down into the southeast corner of the province to look at how we're trying to set up some incremental treaty agreements to move forward on some land swap opportunities to return First Nations opportunities for having access to the lake; to being on the Island looking at the potential for the shellfish industry, the work that's happening with the Maa-nulth and the five treaty nations and seeing how they're progressing; to the clean energy projects that we have across the province.

It truly is exciting to see the types of engagement that First Nations are having with the economy and how they are shaping and visioning where they went to go as people for their region and certainly for their individual First Nations.

Some of the meetings I had…. For example, down in Williams Lake, where I sat down with the NStQ…. I sat down for a couple of hours with them, and they laid out their vision and what they want to try to accomplish as we work through. We are very close to being able to reach an agreement-in-principle and continue to move forward with treaty.

Sitting down with the Nations down here on the coast and having an opportunity to visit with the Tsawwassen — go into their Legislature to see how they conduct business — and an opportunity to speak to their Legislature…. That was very uplifting. It really showed the First Nation: where they're trying to go, the vision that they have and how they've been enabling and unleashing what that potential is.

I spoke about, of course, the investment that's being created there, but one of the things I want to highlight about that is that there is so much support within the First Nation community for this. It's really quite remarkable. They decided, before they moved forward with a project like that, that they would go out and engage with the people and do a vote to say: "Is this where you want us to go? Are we going in the right direction?"

They had 97 percent approval for this project going forward. The whole nation is excited about what they're doing, what they're going to be able to create. This will create about 3,000 long-term direct and indirect jobs around this facility, plus about 4,500 in the construction phase. It will completely transform the Tsawwassen First Nation as well as the entire area. It's through going out and actually having this interaction that you get the chance to learn about some of these things.

It's been a tremendous pleasure to meet elders across the area. I met one elder, for example, when I was up in Haisla, when I had an opportunity to attend the Aboriginal Arts Awards that were presented this fall. He's an individual that lives up there that is an award-winning carver and artist. He's got his own shop and business set up. It truly is interesting to hear his story about where they have gone and how they've progressed through.

Overall, when I look at the ministry and where we are going, I really do believe that this has the opportunity for a real turning point both with the work that we're doing now, the momentum that has been built, and with the things that the Premier laid out in the throne speech: how we're going to progress with LNG, how we're progressing with development, how we're progressing with keeping our taxes low, building that strong economy, creating the jobs and creating what we want to see as a prosperous future for the province of British Columbia.

It means getting to yes. It means finding ways to make those economic opportunities become a reality, finding ways to be able to overcome obstacles, being able to address concerns and making sure you incorporate all of that as the project goes forward.

I think that's probably a big part of why we were re-elected as government. It's getting to yes, figuring out how we can build the future, figuring out how we can make sure it's inclusive and making sure that all British Columbians, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike, have the chance to prosper.

[1130]

I want to close, I think, by coming back a little bit and talking a little bit more about Nechako Lakes. In particular, when I work through the riding and I go door to door, knock and visit with people, and when I get a chance to meet with chambers, they're excited about the future. They're excited about the vision that our Premier and our government have brought forward for the province. They're excited about what we can do in the north, about what the growth opportunity is. They're excited about what we can leave for our children.

I want to take a moment, also, to thank my campaign team. Without them, of course, it's very, very difficult — it's impossible — to be able to have an opportunity to serve the people of the riding. Particularly, I want to
[ Page 1372 ]
thank my campaign manager, Keith Playfair. He put in a tremendous amount of time. He's been there for me through many years, and I just want to really be able to say thank you for that support and that work.

Also, I wanted to say to the constituents in my riding…. I want to be able to say to them: "Thank you for believing in me, for your continued support and for believing in what we are doing as a province and where we are taking things forward." Without the constituent support, without all of the support that we've had around the province, the kind of vision that we have on LNG, the kind of vision that we have for moving forward resource projects wouldn't be able to become a reality.

With that, I look forward to hearing the rest of the debate around throne speech. I look forward to a budget that will be introduced this afternoon. I look forward to us continuing with having a balanced budget — perhaps one of only two jurisdictions in Canada that have reached that mark of a balanced budget. It's something that we're proud of. It's something that I know my constituents are proud of, because it's about how we develop that future for our children.

With that, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to say a few words about our throne speech.

S. Simpson: I'm pleased to have the opportunity to stand and take my place in the throne speech debate. I guess this would be about the ninth time or so we've done this, at least.

As with a number of other members, I want to take a moment at the beginning to say a few thank-yous — first and foremost, to my family, Cate and Shayla, my wife and daughter, who have been remarkable supports for all of this time and who continue to support me and the work that I do here. It's very much appreciated when your loved ones support you so strongly. I certainly feel very grateful to have that support.

As other members have said, the other people who provide a lot of support for us here are our staff in different places. For me, back in Vancouver-Hastings, to Rachel and Lynn and Theresa, who do work for me in the constituency, and to Susan here in the Legislative Assembly and, of course, the research and communications staff. I owe them all a great debt. They perform a lot of the duties that I get the credit for, but they do the work. I'm very appreciative of that.

Of course, to the people of Vancouver-Hastings, who have returned me to this place for the third time. It's a great privilege and honour to be back in the Legislature and to be back representing the people of Vancouver-Hastings. I feel very honoured. It's the community where I grew up and where I've lived most of my life. It's a real privilege to represent the community where you grew up and to represent the people who have been an important part of my life for the last 50-odd-plus years.

The thing, though, I guess, is that the people of Vancouver-Hastings still face the same challenges, and those challenges continue. They face challenges around trying to find the income and the income security that they need for the people who are in tough straits, for the folks who are facing poverty. We have a significant number of people who are facing poverty, people who are facing unbelievable challenges around the costs of housing and the ability to find affordable housing.

[1135]

It still continues to be one of the most compelling things that I see in my office in Vancouver-Hastings — the number of people coming in, young families, families who have an income, maybe a modest but a working income, who say to me that they can't find appropriate housing for their families, for them and their kids. When they do find something that's appropriate, they can't afford it simply because of the cost pressures of Vancouver — of the Lower Mainland, largely, but certainly of Vancouver — and the frustration that they don't see how they get out of that box that they're in.

For many of them, it means choosing to look to live elsewhere in the Lower Mainland, hoping that there's something more affordable. For some, it's just a reality of an everyday struggle that they face with no solution in the foreseeable future, and that's a pretty tragic situation.

Those are all challenges that we face here and that we need to work around. Of course, and the comments have been made, we came back here on the 11th of February, after being away for 200 days — 200 days without sitting in the Legislature. That's a stunning amount of time. It's an amount of time that…. It's just not right that the people's House isn't sitting and that we're not engaging in debate, we're not engaging in those discussions.

We're going to see…. The Opposition House Leader has submitted a couple of private members' bills, as we know — one that would make the fall sitting a constitutional sitting. What that means is that we would be obliged to sit in the fall, and that would be a good thing, because there is certainly no shortage of challenges and issues in British Columbia for the Legislature to be discussing.

The other would be to, in fact, make the standing committees, committees that would be active. There is no shortage, again, of committees that do nothing. I sit on the Crown Corporations Committee, a committee that has never met, I don't think, in the nine years that I've been here. I don't think the committee has ever had a meeting. There is no shortage of committees that would fall into that category of either having never met or met very seldom.

There's lots of work to be done. When we look at the Crown Corporations Committee, we look at the debates going on around things like the Lottery Corporation today. We look at the challenges with B.C. Hydro, the debates over the years around ICBC, the ferry corporation. There is no shortage of Crowns that have challenges.
[ Page 1373 ]

I'm sure if the legislative committee on Crowns was meeting and dealing with that, talking to those officials from those corporations and engaging the public who have legitimate interests in this, talking to the people on the coast who have interest in the ferry system, it would be a positive thing — and then coming back to this Legislature with some reports and some observations to help inform this Legislature about how to deal with some of those challenges. That would be a positive thing, but it's not something that's happening here, and unfortunately, it's not something that will happen, I assume.

It's time for us to look at those kinds of changes, though, when I look at how the legislative process works here. I know the Government House Leader has mused about how much legislation we'll see. I've heard that maybe we'll see 25, 30 bills, something like that, over this spring session. That's quite a bit of legislation.

There's an opportunity here. In a number of other jurisdictions — the federal House of Commons and a number of other legislatures — operate a little differently. They engage the public, and they look at ways to engage the public in the discussion about new laws. There is no reason why we couldn't embrace that approach here, why we couldn't decide that legislation that comes before us….

Some pieces require to be dealt with in a more immediate fashion. That makes sense, and we should deal with those. But with many pieces of legislation, there is time. What if we were to take that legislation and say, "We're going to do second reading here in the spring, but then we're going to give that legislation to a committee of the House and say to them, 'Go away at the end of May and come back sometime at the end of September,'" when we sit in October again.

In that time, in those months, talk to people, talk to the experts, invite some people to come and engage. Talk to people in different parts of the province. See whether there are suggestions that might be made that would improve that legislation. We all know, those who have been on committees that have sat, that committees tend to be more collegial than this House can be at times, and maybe there, there is room to have a conversation that isn't in the heat of question period and that would improve things.

Then have that committee come back and report back to the House in the fall on whether there are suggestions around ways to improve the legislation, and then we can finalize the debate in the fall. There would be nothing wrong with doing that, and we would get better laws. The other thing we would get….

[1140]

We know, when you look across the province and the country, the frustration and the cynicism there is around elected officials. When you look at the polling, it tells you that local elected representatives probably are viewed in the best light by the citizens. As you get farther away from people, the more skeptical they get about politicians. Part of the reason that's true, I think, with local councils and that, is because people can engage them. They don't get to engage us. If we use the committee structure where they got to engage us on things that are important to them, we may do better. We may create a different commentary.

We also may find ways to improve legislation that's before the House. It doesn't matter the political party. When bills are introduced by one side or the other, there is always, with more discussion and more engagement, the opportunity to make it better. That opportunity is there, but we would need to take that, we would need the commitments to the spring and fall session, and we would need to change the way we structure our committees and the way we produce and move legislation forward. But that's not what we're talking about doing here. Those are not the reforms that are being talked about.

The message I get in terms of where things are now is that there's a concern about what really is the direction of the government. You know, we've had eight-odd months or nine months — whatever it is — since May and the May election, and there was not a sense that there was a clear direction there.

I'll talk about LNG. That's been sort of the overwhelming commentary from the government — LNG. The overwhelming rhetoric has been LNG. But once you step back from that, it's very hard to see where that vision is moving forward other than that.

I think there was a lot of hope that this throne speech was going to provide that, that the government had quite a period of time since the election — cabinet, executive council have had quite a period of time — to think this through and develop that agenda, and that we were going to see that agenda in the throne speech. The throne speech is largely a rehash of things that we have heard before. Other than a committee on violence that is another committee and not action — and we can debate that — what we see is pretty much a total rehash of things we've heard about before.

That's disappointing, because it doesn't show vision. It doesn't show how we move forward. In addition to that, you say: "Okay. Well, if you don't have a vision, then how well are you managing things?" And that's a problem too, because the rhetoric we see is much greater than the substance.

We can go back and look over much of the spending of this government and the mismanagement of that spending — the northwest transmission line, $332 million over budget; the convention centre, $341 million over budget; the B.C. Place roof, over $400 million over the initial budget; the Port Mann highway, over a $1½ billion cost overrun on that highway; the South Fraser Perimeter Road, almost $500 million over budget; $6 million to Basi-Virk to end the trial, something that nobody in this province could support; Boss Power — government, again, bad law and $30 million to pay out a court settlement.
[ Page 1374 ]

BCeSIS, the student information and data management system — it cost $100 million. It doesn't work. It's going to cost another $84 million to hopefully get a system that will work.

Then B.C. Hydro, of course, where you have almost $5 billion in debt, much of it hidden in deferral accounts — accounts that were never intended for that purpose but have been used to hide that debt, leading the Auditor General to conclude the appearance of profitability where none actually exists. That's what the Auditor General had to say about B.C. Hydro.

That's a problem just there, on the spending. We'll talk a little bit about why that's a problem in terms of the budget that we're going to see here in a couple of hours.

[1145]

It's not just the overspending, but it's the overpromising too. Leading up to the election, we saw the government spend millions of dollars talking about a jobs plan. But the reality is that the jobs plan hasn't produced the jobs. That's the reality.

We have the worst job growth record in Canada in the private sector. From September of 2011 through to January of 2014 B.C. has had the worst record of job growth in the private sector in the country. We have lost over 21,000 full-time jobs since the last time this Legislature sat, and we know that in the industry that used to be the industry that drove this province, forestry, since 2001 we've lost about 25,000 jobs. That's a combination of changes in the industry — a whole lot of things.

The problem with this is that the government has made outlandish claims around jobs, outlandish claims around LNG, outlandish claims in a number of areas — none where the substance backs up the rhetoric. That's a problem, because that leads to the cynicism of British Columbians, and it's growing. That cynicism is growing.

An example of that. The government continues to talk about being debt-free. We have the Premier talking about…. I'm not sure whether…. The Premier, I think, has got as high as 12 LNG plants in one speech — but I think we're at six or seven now — and talking about being debt-free.

Well, the reality of the debt is this. It is rising faster under this Premier than under any other Premier in the history of the province. We will have over $70 billion of debt by 2016, and since the last time this Legislature sat, this government has added $2½ billion dollars to our debt load — since the last time we sat in this place. That doesn't sound like debt reduction and debt management to me.

Part of the problem with this is that we have a government that has talked about one thing since the election, and that's LNG. Let's be clear: LNG is an opportunity for British Columbia. It is an opportunity to develop this industry, to create some jobs, to produce some revenues — all a good thing. But you need to be honest with people about what we're talking about.

You talk to people in the industry, and they will tell you that maybe there are three serious proposals on the table, and one or two of them will be developed. There's nothing wrong with that.

There's nothing wrong with one or two solid developments of LNG. That would be a good thing, but it's not the panacea for the economy. It doesn't deal with the whole range of other areas where we need to be investing and building a diverse economy. The problem with the Premier and the cabinet and this government's approach is it's all or nothing on this one area, LNG. That isn't going to work for this economy.

It's time for the government to be forthright with people and say: "We're going to do our best to develop LNG. We're going to develop it in a way that gets us some jobs and some economy." And we'll see what that economy looks like when we see the tax regime, which we'll see, I guess, in the fall. Maybe we'll get a hint today in the budget, but we'll see it in the fall and see what revenue stream actually comes back.

It's not going to create 100,000 jobs. It's not going to pay off the debt. It's not going to end our need for a sales tax, which is one of the Premier's claims. That's not coming. Let's say we have a good opportunity here, but we need to have a diverse economy, and we need to work that economy. That's not what we're getting here.

Part of the problem, of course, is that this is a government that it is all rhetoric and little substance. It has got much worse, in terms of how that happens, in recent months and years. Let's just take a couple of examples.

Earlier today we heard from the Minister of Transportation in response to questions about ferries and the Discovery route and, in fact, what the economic impacts on tourism are. We've heard from many in that industry and in those communities who are incredibly concerned about that. But when you ask the question of the Minister of Transportation, "Did you do any economic analysis before you adopted this position?" the minister is silent. He goes back to his notes and reads his notes, but the notes say nothing about an economic analysis.

[1150]

My experience over nine years here is that when you get silence like that from a minister about whether they looked at economic impact, about whether they discussed those things, that silence usually means the work wasn't done. That's a pretty safe bet.

We see, and we're going to see here, some legislation or whatever, based on an area where I have some critic responsibility, around liquor. There are a whole lot of the recommendations that I think we're going to see in the 73 that are there that are common sense. They're positive. They're going to improve the situation.

There are other ones that…. I see nothing in that report that suggests there has been any economic impact analysis. Take for example the move to put liquor in grocery stores. But when you talk to people in the private liquor
[ Page 1375 ]
store business who have developed a pretty thriving industry, they weren't consulted on this in any meaningful way. They say that the economic impacts on them will be significant.

We know now that at least two, and I suspect more, financial institutions have essentially frozen any future lending to them until they find out what the law really says because the economic metrics of this industry are about to change depending on what the legislation or what we hear sometime this session.

In terms of growth for those small businesses, they're having a challenge getting the loans for that growth because there is some uncertainty in the financial sector as to what that's going to look like. They're doing their due diligence and protecting their interests until they actually know what the playing field looks like.

That's not good for those businesses. That's not good for those industries. But part of the problem here, of course, is there was no analysis done of that. There's nothing in that report that suggests anything but: "You know, 800 people responded to my blog and said it would be a good idea, so hey, let's do it." That's not the way you make that business work.

We know the key pieces. The Premier has really overswung on LNG. There is no doubt about that. That's a problem. She has really overswung. We know that we now have moved from what used to be a seller's market to a buyer's market in LNG globally, and we'll see how that challenges the ability to get a deal that makes sense for British Columbia. We're all hopeful it will, because it will create some jobs and some economic opportunity. But it's not the panacea, not by a long shot.

[Madame Speaker in the chair.]

We know that this government continues to do nothing about child poverty, nothing about poverty in general. We continue with the highest poverty rates and child poverty rates in this country.

We know that the jobs plan has been a total and complete failure. It is the ultimate of rhetoric over substance since the time it was put in place. We've been losing tens of thousands of private sector jobs. They're out the door — 25,000 jobs lost in the forestry sector, 21,000 jobs lost in the private sector since we last sat. We're losing jobs.

Part of that, of course, is realized by what people are saying with their feet. B.C. has had a net out-migration of people to other provinces for nine quarters in a row. For the last nine quarters more people have left British Columbia than have come. That's the lack of confidence that we see.

It really is a challenge, what we see. So what do we need to do here? It truly is time for this government to engage people, to turn the high rhetoric and the hyperbole down, to engage people in a real discussion about the issues that are in front of us. They need to do that.

The election was one misrepresentation after another by the Liberal Party. They misrepresented us from one election to the other. That's fair enough. It was enough to get the Liberals elected.

Now that you've got that done, maybe you should try being straight with people. A little honesty would be a remarkable thing.

Madame Speaker: Member.

S. Simpson: Tell people about the tough issues we face.

Madame Speaker: Member, noting the hour, would you like to reserve your place in debate?

S. Simpson: I will be glad to just wrap up here pretty quickly.

Madame Speaker: Thank you.

[1155]

S. Simpson: In closing, it's time for substance over rhetoric. It's time for honesty over misleading of British Columbians, and it's time for a little clarity.

This is a government with no substance, all rhetoric, and it has misled British Columbians for a dozen years and continues to do it today worse than ever. It's a shameful speech. It's a sad day for British Columbia, and we will move on.

Hon. T. Lake moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. T. Lake moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Madame Speaker: This House, on its rising, stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:56 a.m.

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