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)

Monday, May 12, 2014

Morning Sitting

Volume 12, Number 6

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

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

[Madame Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Private Members' Statements

MINING WEEK

J. Tegart: I am pleased to rise today on behalf of my constituents of Fraser-Nicola to support Mining Week and the mining industry here in British Columbia.

[D. Horne in the chair.]

I know firsthand the value of mining to our communities and to our families in rural B.C. The local mines in Fraser-Nicola have provided jobs to my family for generations. My grandfather, father, husband and four brothers have worked in mines in Copper Mountain, Bethlehem Copper and Highland Valley Copper. Employment in the mines is how we put food on our table and how our family could live in one of the most beautiful regions of this province.

Historically, mining played a key role in building and shaping our communities. The great gold rushes of the past century spurred the development of many of our communities in Fraser-Nicola. Miners and prospectors travelled along wagon roads and trails, settling down in our communities, which also served as strategic hubs for transportation and warehousing.

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Mining continues to play a key role in our communities today. Mining provides an opportunity for young families who want to live in our communities as a way to be close to home. Mining provides secure, well-paying, long-term jobs and a good lifestyle that many of us in rural B.C. value. By supporting our mining industry, we are creating a stronger, better future for our families and our communities.

Currently ten economic and community development agreements have been signed with First Nations across our province. Close to home, in 2013, a revenue-sharing agreement was signed with the Upper and Lower Similkameen bands and Copper Mountain mine. British Columbia is in fact the first province to share revenue from new mines with First Nations, benefiting the social, cultural and economic prosperity of their communities.

Our communities in rural B.C. benefit not only from employment and training opportunities but also from the social benefits to our communities. In many of our communities mines have supported local sports teams, arts and culture events, youth programs, family festivals and health campaigns. We know that a strong mining industry grows our economy, creates jobs, helps pay for services we all use — like health care and education — and supports our communities and our families.

In our province, since 2001, the value of mineral production has nearly tripled, to above $8.3 billion in 2012. That means our government had $503 million more to spend in 2012 in areas such as health care, education and skills training.

It's clear that mining provides jobs and economic opportunities in communities close to home and across this province. In 2012 more than 30,000 people across the province were employed in mining, mineral exploration and related sectors, with this number expected to grow.

We know that the demand for metals and industrial minerals is expected to increase worldwide. Our communities in B.C. are well positioned to benefit, with our vast reserves of metals and minerals, a highly skilled workforce and the world's largest concentration of mining and mineral exploration companies. In fact, B.C. accounts for approximately 19 percent of all mineral exploration spending in Canada. In 2001 that figure was less than 6 percent.

The value of mineral exploration in B.C. continues to be strong, and the outlook for the future is positive. Since 2011 three new mines have opened: Copper Mountain, near Princeton; New Afton, near Kamloops; and Mount Milligan, near Prince George — creating 1,195 new jobs. This year three more mines will open: Yellow Giant, on Banks Island, near Prince Rupert; Red Chris, near Dease Lake; and Roman, near Tumbler Ridge — creating 815 new jobs.

Mining takes up a very small portion of B.C.'s land — less than 1 percent in the province — but it makes a tremendous impact on our economy. There are also seven major mine expansions currently underway — at Highland Valley Copper, Elkview, Huckleberry, Quinsam, Line Creek, Gibraltar and Endako — extending the life of these mines, sustaining more than 3,000 existing jobs and creating 300 new jobs.

We know the value of mining to our economy and to the communities across this province. That's why this government committed $24 million to cut the backlog in government permitting and approvals. We have exceeded our target by reducing the backlog of applications for notices of work in the mining sector by 80 percent, completely eliminating the backlog altogether.

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We know that mining supports many of our communities in the Fraser-Nicola and provides jobs and opportunities to our province as a whole.

Mining Week is an opportunity to recognize the importance of mining and mineral exploration to our province. We know that our government has the responsibility
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to make decisions today that create a brighter future for all British Columbians today and tomorrow. This means supporting mining and mineral exploration in British Columbia.

S. Fraser: I, too, would like to take my place in the Monday morning debate. I agree with the member for Fraser-Nicola that this is a great week. It's the celebration of Mining Week in British Columbia. Mining has been essential in the building of the economy of this great province and sustaining the economy of this great province, and it will continue to, I'm sure, for the foreseeable future and well beyond.

I also acknowledge the member for Fraser-Nicola's statements about the importance of jobs and just how much employment is created through the mining industry. I look forward myself to taking part in some of the events happening in the province this week for Mining Week. I'm sure that the member opposite will probably be doing the same, as maybe other members in this chamber will.

I would note, too, and acknowledge that the member is correct that there were four mines created, I think, since the Liberals took office. That's an important addition to the economy of the province, but I don't want to say that in isolation. In the '90s, when the NDP were in government, there were six mines created, opened, in this province.

While governments like to take credit for such things, we actually do not have a whole lot of say over those matters. Today the member for Fraser-Nicola rightly pointed out that the value of the industry has risen quite dramatically — tripled. That's quite true. That actually parallels mineral prices. They've tripled or quadrupled since the '90s. The Mining Association of British Columbia has noted that 1999 was probably the worst year for international commodity pricing for minerals.

I would note that in 1999 the price for gold was $279 per ounce — that's U.S. — and today it's almost $1,300. Silver, similarly: $5.23 for silver in 1999; $19.15 today. Copper — this is quite dramatic. In 1999 the international commodity pricing had copper at 72 cents per pound, and today it's $3.03 — probably a fivefold increase in value.

That is the puzzle for the industry in many ways. Can we open a mine…? The costs are huge to develop a mine. It takes years to develop a mine from when prospectors are on the land finding the minerals and then, following through, somewhere down the road where a mine actually opens. It's commodity pricing that determines whether or not the companies are going to go through with that.

So I want to salute the perseverance of the men and women in this industry, because they have a very challenging time to work through the rungs of that ladder and hope that the commodity pricing will still be favourable after the investment is made.

Again, I want to thank the member for Fraser-Nicola for raising this issue. I believe that all members of this House recognize the importance of the mining industry in this great province and finding the balance of that industry with the values of First Nations, the values of communities, the values of the environment that we all hold dear. The balance — that's the part for government. That's a tricky part too.

We all have our challenges in this industry whether we are government or whether we are the small claims holder — a rockhound that's looking for the big hit that might turn into a sale to a junior mining company that then has their own challenges to deal with.

[1015]

Money is tight in the exploration sector right now, so they have their challenges. Then, as I've said, moving forward to production is a risky venture at best. A lot of investment can be made. Then the bottom can fall out of that international pricing, and it may not follow through.

I would acknowledge, again, Mining Week in British Columbia.

J. Tegart: I'd like to thank the member opposite for his comments. This government believes in getting to yes on economic development, and that means supporting our mining and mineral exploration industry in B.C.

British Columbians gave us a mandate to grow the economy and control spending, and that's what we're doing. Since 2001 B.C. has been a leader in fiscal measures to create the positive investment climate that is necessary for a thriving mining industry.

We have, for example, extended the new mine allowance, which provides a deduction of capital costs for mines, and extended the B.C. mining flow-through share tax credit to encourage continued interest and investment, including grassroots exploration in B.C. We've extended the B.C. mining exploration tax, which provides a 20 percent refundable tax credit for companies.

Mineral exploration has grown exponentially since 2001. In 2001 exploration spending was $29.1 million, and in 2013 it was $476 million.

We've reduced the backlog of applications for notices of work in the mining sector with the average turnaround at around 55 days. Three more mines are expected to be in operation by the end of 2014, in addition to the three that opened in 2011. Mining plays a key role in shaping our communities and our province. It's clear that our communities benefit from jobs, training opportunities and opportunities for social development.

That's why my government, this government, supports mining in B.C. It's great to hear the comments from the member opposite also in support of B.C. Mining Week. Thank you, hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak about the importance of mining in British Columbia.
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SAFE SUPPORTS FOR WOMEN

M. Karagianis: Hon. Speaker, very sadly, over the weekend we have seen another case of domestic violence that resulted in the death of a woman. A child was involved, who will have experienced trauma in that situation. Of course, it also had a further unhappy ending with the suicide of the abusing spouse.

Every year in British Columbia there are about 60,000 physical and sexual assaults against women, almost all of them committed by men. Over half of the women in B.C. have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. That's more than one million women in this province. In B.C. there are over 1,000 physical or sexual attacks against women every week. Only 12 percent of sexual assaults against women are reported to the police. One in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. Shocking figures, hon. Speaker.

Very recently it has been estimated that there have been over 1,100 missing or murdered aboriginal women in Canada, with B.C. recording more of those numbers than any other province. Some 24 percent of aboriginal women said they have been victims of domestic violence in the five-year period ending in 2014, and I think those figures have grown since then.

Most spousal assault incidents are not reported to the police, and only 28 percent of victims of spousal violence report these incidents to the police.

While national statistics on domestic violence among immigrants are somewhat harder to qualify, we do know that for immigrant populations, social isolation, lack of information about rights and available services, lack of English language skills and lack of services available in their own language, immigration and sponsorship issues, poverty and a lack of support from within their own cultural communities often increase the vulnerability of immigrant women.

[1020]

This has tragically, as we know, resulted in a rash of murders over the last number of years of South Asian women. Further statistics on this: 30 to 40 percent of children who witness the abuse of their moms also experience direct physical abuse themselves. Certainly, we know that children who frequently witness domestic violence have lifelong traumas that, in fact, may manifest themselves in many ways.

Those numbers that I've just quoted are from Statistics Canada and are irrefutable. We know, in very vivid ways from the rash of recent domestic violence cases, that this is an urgent situation for the government to come to terms with.

Now, I looked up the Justice Institute of B.C.'s report on domestic violence prevention and reduction, which was done from 2000 to 2010. They have some very clear ideas on what some of the root causes of domestic violence here are and the kinds of steps that could be taken but have not been taken.

When the government changed in 2001, there was a significant change in the way the government approached services for women. The B.C. Liberal government in 2001 undertook a number of actions that I think have undermined the ability for us to provide adequate services in the case of all these domestic deaths.

The government made significant cuts to social programs and women's centres as well as changes to social policies, affecting the response to violence against women. This is a direct quote from the report.

"Massive cuts to criminal and family law, legal aid, health services, social assistance and social programs have affected women who experience violence in various ways and limited their access to justice, affordable housing, economic independence and freedom from violence."

Many of those services to this day have been undermined and do not exist for victims of domestic violence.

The report goes on further to say that:

"…women's equality and a move away from an equality and human rights perspective, with the elimination of the Ministry of Women's Equality and the women's health bureau in 2002 and the Ministry's Advisory Council on Women's Health, which connected the government to women's health policies and practices in communities throughout the province. The province currently lacks leadership on women's equality issues as well as financial resources."

Now, this report was done over a series of a decade but still is just as valid today as it was then.

"According to key informants, the problem of violence against women in B.C. has since been taken up as an individual rather than a social problem, with much greater emphasis on intervention, reduction and the mitigation of risk than on primary intervention. This...individualized focus...forces women to take responsibility for their own safety, rather than a social-structural analysis of the problem of violence against women that points to gaps in legislation and policy that undermine women's safety…."

That report from the Justice Institute, I think, outlines very clearly the lack of substantive government action and resources on this issue of violence against women.

Now, as this statement period goes on, we're going to talk a little bit. I'm going to hear from the government's side on what kinds of safety measures they think are in place, but the reality is that the Justice Institute has outlined a fundamental failing of the government around the equality of women, around recognizing the issue of women's services.

Across the last 12 years we have seen this government undermine women's services at a disproportionate rate to anything else that's gone on in government. The Justice Institute recognizes that and outlines that very clearly.

The issue of domestic violence has been brought up repeatedly here in the Legislature, both in estimates debate with the minister, in question period here, and yet we have seen the government very slow to react on the necessary resources that need to be put in place and, I would say, on just this whole issue of how we support women, how we approach women's equality, how we provide women's services in a holistic manner.

I'll continue my debate after I've heard from the other
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side of the House.

[1025]

D. Barnett: Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the member opposite on such an important topic. There is no doubt that this is a complex and sensitive issue. I acknowledge that it is of deep importance to both sides of this House. Our government takes the safety of women very seriously, as I do. It is personal with each and every citizen, I believe, in this province and especially in this House.

We have done much, and we all know we can always do more. Our government is committed to introduce a long-term comprehensive strategy to move towards a violence-free B.C. The strategy for a violence-free B.C. will be a path to create a province where all women have the supports they need to help prevent violence, to escape from violent situations and to recover if they have been victims of violent crime. It takes everyone to accomplish this, not just government.

Highway 16, the Highway of Tears. It is incredibly tragic to hear the stories of missing and murdered aboriginal women. That is why our government has taken a number of actions to make all B.C. highways safer and to support communities and vulnerable women.

The work conducted by Steven Point, the former chair of the advisory committee on the safety and security of vulnerable women, pointed to the need for safer transportation options on our northern highways. Fundamentally this means two things: (1) that there needs to be adequate public transportation options and (2) that we need to ensure that those who are travelling are safe.

Specifically, government is committing $4.5 million per year in public transportation options, including $1.5 million per year to B.C. Transit to partner with local communities, including services operating along northern highways between Smithers and Telkwa, between the Hazeltons and Smithers and Kispiox, Terrace and Kitimat, and between Prince Rupert and Port Edward. If other local governments or First Nations along the northern highways would like to partner and cost-share for similar services, B.C. Transit is always open to such discussions.

Investing in cell coverage along the highway is also a key priority, especially if people need to call for emergency services and support if they are in danger. Now, 70 percent of the highway already has cell coverage, but we are taking steps to add a significant amount of new cell coverage to Highway 16. It is my understanding that in partnership with Telus, there has been $7 million spent for cell services in the northern part of British Columbia, ongoing.

Our government is also investing in support services. In March this year our government provided Carrier-Sekani Family Services with $100,000 to expand safety training workshops for communities near Highway 16, which will include further discussions on safe transportation options.

In Prince George, for example, our government purchased and renovated the Astoria Hotel to provide a safe place of healing for women facing a range of challenges. We have also supported the Prince George New Hope Society drop-in centre with a $100,000 civil forfeiture grant to help women and youth, because we want to keep women in all parts of this province safe from violence.

This is all being accomplished through partnerships with local communities and First Nations. I want to publicly thank them and acknowledge them for their support.

There is no simple solution. This is an incredibly complex issue requiring a thoughtful and long-term solution. Solving this will not be easy.

[1030]

It will require hard work on the part of our government, members opposite and community and First Nation leaders to continue to work together to ensure all women in B.C. are safe and to prevent the tragedies of the past from ever happening again.

M. Karagianis: I thank the member for the comments, although I would certainly question very many of the items and services that the member has listed.

One would think right now that if you are a victim of domestic violence, you would phone the office of domestic violence. But in fact you will get no satisfaction from doing that because the office of domestic violence, which is housed in the Ministry of Children and Families, actually coordinates services within government. If they deign to answer your concerns, they will point you to a website where you can look up services which may or may not be adequate and may or may not in any way help you in trying to deal with domestic violence in your life.

The domestic violence plan that's been promised by this government, in fact, has got no money, is not currently underway and will not receive any funding until 2015. Then, I guess, henceforth from 2015 we'll see some kind of plan put in place.

The member opposite referenced a couple of things around the missing and murdered women inquiry and made mention of the recommendations from Steven Point. Well, Steven Point was appointed to be the champion of the recommendations and did not have a chance in any way to drive any kind of an agenda on that because, since he resigned, the government has taken absolutely no steps to replace him to ensure that the recommendations were undertaken.

One of the urgent recommendations? A bus along Highway 16, the Highway of Tears. The member opposite referenced some issues around Highway 16, but I just drove that highway over the Easter break, and I will tell you that it is erroneous to claim that there is cell service on 70 percent of that road, because there's not. I drove for many hours with no cell service whatsoever.

Talking to members in those communities, women
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and children today, right now, still have no choice if they live in remote communities. If they want to access the simplest thing like groceries or go to a medical appointment, they have to hitchhike. They hitchhike on that highway with their children because there is no comprehensive bus service — a very simple step for the government to take. Yet they have made no progress on that.

They've talked about consulting along that highway. I would again question that, because it's been very evident, when you hear from those communities, that there has been no consultation. The government has failed repeatedly to take steps, immediate steps, that could prevent some of these deaths.

The Justice Institute itself has concluded that the elimination of the Ministry of Women's Equality is at the root of this. This has undermined the ability for any kind of action to be focused on safety of women — and, of course, the issue of all of the number of organizations that have been cut, all of the kinds of resources that have been cut to women's services all along over the last decade all across this province.

The representative for children and families, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, has stated very clearly, and I think she's encapsulated it: "Domestic violence is everybody's responsibility." We are failing repeatedly in this measure in so many ways. We have to do better. The government has got to take notice and take action as soon as they can on domestic violence.

SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

L. Reimer: As a former city councillor for the city of Coquitlam, I truly understand the importance of local government and the pivotal role it plays in the social, economic and political structure of our communities. Our government is committed to working collaboratively with municipalities to keep costs low for taxpayers, which is why the position of the Auditor General for Local Government, or AGLG, was created.

In order to ensure that the AGLG best met the needs of everyone involved, this government consulted widely with stakeholders, including the Union of B.C. Municipalities, business groups and other affected parties. These consultations helped to determine how best to structure the role of the AGLG, and stakeholders will continue to be a key component as we work to establish the new office.

The primary purpose of the AGLG is to help local governments by offering neutral, non-binding advice that will assist them in spending more efficiently and improving program effectiveness. The Auditor General for Local Government's work is based on the four principles of independence, advancement of performance auditing, transparency and accessibility.

[1035]

This appointment of an AGLG garnered a great deal of enthusiasm from its inception. The city councils for both Penticton and Vernon asked that they be among the first municipalities considered for an audit by the AGLG, as both municipalities expressed their interest in upholding a high standard of fiscal efficiency and responsibility.

Our government is also committed to ensuring that B.C. communities realize the full potential of opportunities afforded by major industrial developments. This is evidenced in the northwest, which is expected to be at the epicentre of great new opportunities.

While preparing for economic growth is a good challenge to have, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to harness the potential of new jobs and development. My ministry is working closely with these communities to ensure that they have the resources needed to prepare for the rapid growth.

This is why we introduced the northwest readiness initiative. This initiative will help local and provincial service providers identify immediate and short-term community needs. The initiative links local service providers with provincial resources to ensure health, social service, safety and infrastructure needs are met. We'll continue with this government's commitment to ensure that local voices have major project input and to facilitate discussion between communities and proponents to develop local solutions to emerging issues.

This government also believes that revenue accrued in the province should benefit its citizens, which is why revenues from gaming support health care and education for all British Columbians. A portion of this revenue is also provided to communities as gaming grants to help to support non-profit community organizations. We distribute $135 million in community gaming grants to benefit over 5,000 local organizations representing virtually every community in the province.

Provincial financial support for local governments is strong. In fact, provincial transfers to local governments are at an all-time high. Supporting B.C. communities and enabling them to invest money in projects that are identified at the local level is a priority. Support has continued to increase during the past decade in spite of the many challenges our government faces in maintaining critical health, social and educational services.

The province also remains committed to helping local governments meet the infrastructure and job creation needs of their communities. We have provided $176 million through the Building Canada fund and $100 million through the infrastructure stimulus fund for local government priorities alone.

We have made significant investments in local water, sewer and community infrastructure, including $267 million in the Canada-B.C. infrastructure program, $75 million in the municipal rural infrastructure fund — which were both matched by federal and local governments — and $80 million in the B.C. community water improvement program.
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We've committed $100 million over ten years to fund flood protection, and we've invested $60 million in the Spirit Squares and LocalMotion programs to provide new and exciting infrastructure for communities. We have provided close to $70 million for 201 Towns for Tomorrow projects since 2007, funding up to 80 percent of projects in smaller communities and regional districts. We have committed $30 million for 98 community recreation program projects throughout the province.

My ministry is working closely with UBCM, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the federal government to secure ongoing infrastructure funding for local governments. This government is also committed to creating more tools for local governments to make programs and funds more accessible.

We created a Community Charter, providing local governments with the most empowering local government legislation in Canada, committed to developing legislation to implement changes based on the recommendations of the Local Government Elections Task Force, and continue to work with UBCM, Elections B.C. and other stakeholders to ensure that reforms related to accountability, transparency, compliance and enforcement, and education and advice are made for the November 2014 elections.

The Rural B.C. website provides information to local governments applying for provincial and federal government resources and the infrastructure funding program to support rural and regional economic development.

Communities that have signed the climate action charter have access to the climate action revenue incentive program. This program offsets 100 percent of the carbon tax directly paid by local governments, helping to support their climate actions. Since 2008 this provincial fund has provided $28 million to help support B.C. communities' efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work toward their charter goals.

In conclusion, these are just a few examples of tools and initiatives that this government has implemented to support local governments and to ensure that we have a thriving private sector. In addition to providing financial support, we believe that collaboration is key, and this government welcomes any dialogue with municipalities about how best to provide services to B.C. families.

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We truly believe that local governments help to create well-paying, family-supporting jobs where parents are able to raise strong families, which in turn create strong communities.

S. Robinson: I, too, spent five years as a city councillor, so it gives me great pleasure to stand in response to the member opposite about this notion of the provincial government supporting local government. And they do. They absolutely do, with grants and by giving them the power and autonomy to provide leadership in their communities as they see fit.

I actually just returned on Friday from having attended, over the last month, four different local government area association meetings, and it was very interesting to hear what they had to say. In fact, one of the most interesting speakers was Naheed Nenshi, the mayor from Calgary. He was in Penticton, and he gave an address.

He spoke about this idea of different levels of government and the connection that we have as individuals to those levels of government. He said: "If the federal government just suddenly disappeared, it might take people a month to even notice. If the provincial government just suddenly disappeared, it might take a week for people to even notice. But if local government disappeared, people will know within an hour. Things will really impact their lives." That, to me, speaks about the importance of local government.

In responding to the member opposite, when I think about what local government needs, I think about what happens when other levels of government — federal and provincial governments — step away from their traditional responsibilities like social housing and purpose-built rental housing.

When the federal government stepped away from providing opportunities for builders to build rental housing, we certainly saw a dramatic decrease in the number of rental units being built, and that has had a huge impact on affordable housing in our communities.

When the provincial government steps away from making sure that there are community-based resources for those living with mental illness and addiction…. We've moved away from institutional care, and that was a great, great plan. But the idea was to provide community care, community resources, and the provincial government didn't step in. What's the result? It falls onto local governments.

We now have local governments who are saying: "We're going to be building. We're going to be working to provide social housing." Well, that's not the purview of local government. That's provincial and federal governments' responsibility. Because they have failed, it has now fallen to local governments.

A more recent example of other levels of government not taking care of their responsibility and letting it fall on local governments is what's happening now with B.C. Ambulance. I was at the Lower Mainland Local Government Association meeting last weekend. They passed a resolution.

They're finding that their resources, their fire service resources…. Fire is a first responder. They're finding that they are now spending hours literally babysitting people who need or are waiting for an ambulance because the Ambulance Service, a provincial responsibility, has downgraded a whole range of calls. So a municipal service that is paid by municipal tax dollars is now doing the responsibility of provincial government.
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We have other downloading examples. Flood management has happened as well, where municipal governments now have the responsibility for doing flood response. But the money that came with that, that the provincial governments were doing, didn't follow with that.

While the member opposite might speak to all the great things and all the great resources that are out there, it's just not enough. This government and other governments have abdicated their responsibility. Thank goodness we have fabulous local governments who step up. They shouldn't have to, but they do, because they recognize that people in communities need these services.

I'm very pleased to respond to the member opposite, because we need to be advocating for local governments and making sure that senior levels of government are doing what they're supposed to do instead of downloading it to local governments.

L. Reimer: I would like to thank the member opposite for bringing to our attention many issues that need to be addressed. Certainly, while we're doing a lot for local government, there is still, I acknowledge, much that we are working on, and we would like to be able to do more of.

I'd like to reiterate the importance that this government places on supporting local government by sharing some key achievements since 2001. With respect to arts and cultural groups, the government has provided more than half a billion dollars, more than any other government in B.C. history.

[1045]

The member opposite made reference to social housing. I know that since 2001 this government has created about 17,000 new social housing units, and I believe about another 4,000 are under construction.

Since 2001 the B.C. government has invested almost $234 million through the B.C. Arts Council to support British Columbia's artists, arts and cultural organizations, including a record-high $24 million in funding this year.

Since 2001 the B.C. government has invested more than $1 billion to support sport in B.C., more than any other government in B.C. history. We all know the great benefit to having our children involved in sports.

The government has also increased gaming grants in their annual base budget by about $15 million. The government has invested nearly $7 million through the connecting citizens grant program, bringing high-speed Internet connectivity to over 210 previously unconnected locations in B.C.

Since 2001 the government has also provided $3 billion in new funding to local governments. The government returned 100 percent of all traffic fine revenue. We've returned more than $616 million in traffic fine revenues to communities since 2001, including more than $60 million in the last year alone.

The government committed $30 million for 98 community recreation program projects throughout the province that aim to make communities healthier and more active places in which to live. The government created and also funded the $40 million LocalMotion program for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the accessibility of communities.

Between 2007 and 2011 this government has invested close to $70 million to fund 201 Towns for Tomorrow projects, a program providing up to 80 percent of infrastructure costs for projects in smaller communities and regional districts. Our community development trust program was established in 2008 and has assisted over 11,000 workers with transition training and job opportunities with $189 million in funding.

This government brought in new resort community legislation….

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

100 DAYS OF PROTEST

C. Trevena: Mr. Speaker, 100 days of protest. It's actually now 105 — 105 days and nights of elders in the north Island sitting by the fire; of elected leaders and hereditary chiefs standing in the snow, the rain and the sun; of band officials, kids and warriors sharing a meal or a hot drink at the protest. They slept out in frigid temperatures and have sat through storms to defend lands they were granted in treaty.

The Kwakiutl First Nation, whose traditional territories are around Fort Rupert just south of Port Hardy, have been protesting logging on their lands quietly. The frustration they face is mounting. For the Kwakiutl, the protest is clear-cut. Island Timberlands, the private arm of Western Forest Products, is logging on lands the First Nation regards as their own. These are forest lands which the B.C. Liberal Minister of Forests, back in 2006, took out of the tree farm licence, TFL 6. That public oversight and control disappeared, and their lands were essentially gifted to Western Forest Products, and subsequently Island Timberlands, from this government.

The Kwakiutl have traplines and cultural artifacts on that land, land they have traditionally used not far from the village — the reserve at Fort Rupert. Kwakiutl are a Douglas treaty nation, but unlike most other Douglas treaty nations, the Kwakiutl have lands as part of that treaty.

This protest has been a long time brewing. In 2005, before the giveaway, letters went back and forth between the then Ministry of Forests and the Kwakiutl about that land. At the time I was able to establish from the then Minister of Aboriginal Relations that that was all the consultation the First Nations could expect — letters. The land was then transferred.

In 2007 the Kwakiutl brought their protests here to the Legislature with a march from the big house by the
[ Page 3762 ]
Royal B.C. Museum to the precinct lawns. A few years later they were protesting in the north Island at Western's dryland sort in Port McNeill and then a blockade at the ferry. The spark for this protest was when logging started over Christmas, when people weren't really paying much attention — old-growth red cedar and some second growth on the lands that the Kwakiutl say are theirs through treaty and now through the courts.

When their frustration at the lack of consultation and engagement had reached a zenith, they took the government to court, and that's not something any group is going to do lightly — take the government to court.

[1050]

But they believed that the handover of the land and then the extension of the stewardship plan for five more years overstepped the legitimate actions of the government. The Liberals' failure to consult with the First Nation abrogated the duty of the Crown.

In February 1851, 163 years ago, the Kwakiutl people signed a treaty with James Douglas. For £86 the First Nation signed over the lands from McNeill harbour to Hardy Bay and two miles inland. In that treaty it stated: "The condition of or understanding of this sale is this — that our village sites and enclosed fields are to be kept for our own use, the use of our children and for those who may follow after us; and the land should be properly surveyed hereafter…. It is also understood that we are at liberty to hunt over the unoccupied lands and to carry on our fisheries as formerly."

Now, there is much debate about the Douglas treaty First Nations, but what is very clear for the First Nations themselves is that there's a sense of exclusion. There is no process for them, no way they can talk to the governments, and their treaties are not respected. So they take to protesting, and they are keeping it up — 105 days today.

Their protest camp is on Crown land that Island Timberlands has to cross to get to the area it wants to continue to log. It's just on the roadside, the main road from Port Hardy down towards the airport, to Stories Beach and to Fort Rupert itself. Supportive drivers honk as they pass by.

On the 100th day of the protest last week there was a march from the village to the protest site. There's a fire burning around the clock to keep people warm. There are a couple of shelters there, in the back of which shelves have been erected and filled with supplies — water, coffee, their camp chairs, blankets, coffee mugs and pots all around.

It's a quiet protest, one that seems to be flying under the radar of all levels of government, and the Kwakiutl are frustrated. As the elected chief, Coreen Child, said to me: "It seems to us that no one has the mandate to have any relationship with a pre-confederation treaty nation."

It's not really surprising, although I think very sad, that the Kwakiutl ended up taking the government to court. They thought they won, but now the government is appealing, and no one is talking. Meanwhile, Island Timberlands continues to flex its muscles. A significant amount of timber is lying on the ground at Fort Rupert. They're also eyeing lands on Cortes Island and right on the edge of Sayward village, both of which would be devastating for those individual communities. Social licence does not seem to come into play when it's private lands.

That is one of the problems facing the Kwakiutl. As far as the First Nation is concerned, the company has no social licence. This is their land. That was confirmed by the courts last June, when it was proven that the Kwakiutl had never ceded territory. But the logging started without consultation, and it does impact the cultural plans and their traplines.

We all talk about the need for treaties and the need to work constructively with First Nations. In this instance, we have a treaty, and the First Nation involved wants to talk about the impacts on it by the actions of Island Timberlands, but no one is listening. So it goes back and forth to courts and principles and land and rights and pride and ownership.

The court case found that the province had a duty to consult about the Kwakiutl's entire asserted territory, not just those lands granted 163 years ago. No question that was controversial. Other court cases have stated that the rights of those First Nations who signed a treaty with James Douglas, the 13 Douglas treaty nations, were extinguished by the very fact of having a treaty.

The court recognized that removing the private lands from the TFL could impact the First Nations and their access to their spiritual sites, the areas they've traditionally harvested — what we blithely call non-timber forest products but which are important for food, for ceremonial and for medicinal purposes. They said it could impact the fishery streams and access to the old growth.

This is what the Kwakiutl want recognized — that the logging is having an impact. It's having an impact on their rights and on their resources.

I look forward to hearing what the government side has to say about this.

S. Hamilton: Earlier this year I had the opportunity to work with the Tsawwassen First Nation, and I have to say that it was a remarkable experience. I'm very, very impressed with how they were able to work with our government. They seized opportunities before them, and they're now creating economic opportunity for themselves and the entire region.

[1055]

Now, we respect and recognize that the Douglas treaty First Nations have historic treaties. B.C. consults with Douglas treaty First Nations on any decision that may affect their treaty rights with their traditional territory. The province is actively working with a number of Douglas treaty First Nations on a range of topics, including modern treaty strategic engagement agreements and econom-
[ Page 3763 ]
ic development.

I'd like to take the opportunity to highlight some of the significant accomplishments that we've achieved in cooperation with First Nations across the province. In my dealings with the Tsawwassen First Nation, I found a nation with a vision that I believe could serve as a model for other nations in the treaty process. Back in 2009 our government reached an agreement on a treaty with the Tsawwassen First Nation, and 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.

If you're looking for proof that self-government helps lead to exciting economic opportunities and exciting social opportunities, look no further than the Tsawwassen First Nation. I do hope their success serves as a catalyst for other First Nations across B.C. Through the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, our government is committed to building respectful relationships with First Nations and ensuring that they are an integral part of our economic growth.

Our government is working to ensure First Nations share in the prosperity that LNG presents to our province. We all want to see members of First Nations communities gain the necessary skills to share in the great jobs being created. We want to see First Nations be healthy, self-sustaining communities.

Our government is committed to the First Nations clean energy business fund, which provides money to promote the participation of First Nations in the clean energy sector. In fact, we've invested more than $5.1 million to support clean energy opportunities in more than 80 aboriginal communities across B.C.

Just last week our government reached an agreement with Tahltan First Nation to share revenue on hydroelectric projects. Both the McLymont Creek and Volcano Creek hydroelectric projects will provide renewable energy power to B.C. Hydro for distribution to the province's power grid. These agreements support economic opportunities for both First Nations and neighbouring communities.

The Tsawwassen First Nation recognized the opportunities of their location and are working on a development project that will create stability for their First Nation. The projects are also important to the entire region and will provide a spark to the Lower Mainland's economy. I wanted to talk about Tsawwassen because of my work with them, and because I truly believe they're a shining example for others.

But First Nations are finding success working with our government even from remote areas of our province. In places such as the northwest coast, First Nations recognize the value of working with our government. The president of the Tahltan Central Council, Annita McPhee, has praised our partnership, a partnership between our government and her First Nation.

We invested in the Tahltan to help create the Tahltan Socio-Cultural Working Group. It's an award-winning government-to-government forum that works to address the social and cultural challenges that sometimes happen with economic development in small communities. The Tahltan are working on sustainable development in their territory with support from our government, and we're sharing the benefits that come from those sustainable developments.

I understand the opposition sees opportunities in failure. They seize chances to try to get headlines because they can't work to accomplish positive outcomes on their own. Our government is working with First Nations, and we are sharing success stories across British Columbia.

The Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council and its five member communities have entered into a pilot agreement with the province to foster a collaborative government-to-government relationship. The 18-month pilot, funded by a $550,000 investment from the province, will create a shared decision-making board, and its role will be to make recommendations related primarily to natural resource–related issues.

Their tribal council Grand Chief, Robert Pasco, recently praised the relationship with our government. Pasco said: "Over the last few years we have spent considerable time building understanding with the province…. We are proud to see this work move forward and look forward to 18 months of hard work as we build the next steps in our work together on land and resource decision-making."

I'm proud of the hard work our government's doing, and we'll continue to roll up our sleeves and work with First Nations. They are part of our province, and they will share in the secure tomorrow that we want for all British Columbians.

C. Trevena: I thank the member for Delta North for his remarks.

[1100]

I think that the member would acknowledge that the Tsawwassen First Nation is very different, as a modern treaty nation. We're here, and we recognize that. At the same time, the Maa-nulth treaty was signed, which takes in the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'-Che:k:tles7et'h' in the North Island. We're seeing the evolution with the modern treaty process. I think it's unfortunate that that is not being pushed by this government. I think people would like to see treaties really being worked on.

What I'm talking about with the Kwakiutl is a Douglas treaty nation that is in a unique position, because it has lands attached to its treaty. It's a Douglas treaty nation that….

The member for Delta North talks all about how the government is in partnership, and they're talking and making all these agreements. Nobody is talking to the Kwakiutl First Nation, and that is what one of the real problems is.

No one is listening. We have had a protest for 105
[ Page 3764 ]
days, and no one is paying attention. No level of government is taking this seriously. This is a serious issue of a treaty that has been signed and a treaty that people thought had some validity to it. It was signed more than 160 years ago — 163 years ago. They thought there was some validity to it.

There is nobody talking, and there is nobody listening to their needs. The First Nation doesn't just want the involvement of the provincial level of government. They would like somebody to engage from the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Ministry of Forests, but nobody has. But they also want the involvement of the federal government to proceed. They argue that, as the Crown, the federal government should be at the table.

I think this is something that really needs to be recognized. There are undoubtedly jurisdictional challenges with this. The province is, after all, responsible for the lands and the forest that we're talking about — the rights over that. Lawyers, we know, have been wrangling over this for years. But the courts did leave an expectation that the federal government, as well as the province, would engage with the Kwakiutl to implement the treaties for everyone's interests.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

Treaty negotiations and treaty implementations are in everyone's interest. Unfortunately, elected Chief Coreen Child reflects the views of the hereditary chiefs and others in the band when she says that what they face is "an empty relationship." There's a sadness and bitterness to it, but it's an empty relationship.

In the Legislative Library — formerly, down in the rotunda — is the canoe that the former Lieutenant-Governor, Steven Point, gifted the province. He carved it with Kwakiutl master carver Tony Hunt. It's a symbol of us working together for the best future of the province. It is perhaps time to turn those symbols into reality.

Hon. T. Stone: I'd like to now call private member's Motion 18.

Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed with Motion 18.

Leave granted.

Private Members' Motions

MOTION 18 — DEVELOPMENT
OF NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY

M. Bernier: I have a motion:

[Be it resolved that this House support the continued development and positive progress of B.C.'s natural gas industry.]

We have an opportunity to create economic growth through the development of a new liquefied natural gas industry, and we are focused on developing that sector, building on our competitive advantage and also taking steps to ensure British Columbians are trained and first in line for this opportunity and for these jobs.

When we talk about LNG, I need to remind the House that the northeast part of the province in British Columbia, and my riding, has been seeing unprecedented growth already.

Through LNG, through the exports and growth of the LNG market, this will mostly be on the coast. The member for Skeena can probably attest to the changes that are taking place and that growth that's happening in his area.

This is going to mean decades of growth, decades of activity and job security and opportunities in my riding in northeast British Columbia. Growing the economy — this means getting to yes. This means getting to yes on responsible economic development and getting to yes to support projects around British Columbia.

[1105]

We've been supporting natural gas and resource extraction in British Columbia now for 50 years, and it's played an important role in building our province. But we're at a pivotal point and a change in history now. We have an opportunity to grow our economy, create jobs and create a bright future for generations to come.

We believe that government has to do everything possible to capitalize on this opportunity to create a strong economy and secure tomorrow. That's why we're working tirelessly to seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity the LNG industry has to offer us here in British Columbia. Our government has been solid on our message. We are trying to get to yes. We're working hard to get to yes, and we're working hard to make sure that we have opportunities for all British Columbians.

People want to know that government has a plan, and we have a plan. We are working toward a prosperous future. We have a choice. Do we say yes to growing the economy and seize this generational opportunity, or do we manage decline? We choose yes.

We choose growth, and we choose jobs, and so do British Columbians. Growth gives us the means to provide the services and the infrastructure that's needed for British Columbians today and into the future.

British Columbia, also, has been a leader in safe, responsible natural gas extraction for decades. In fact, people from around the world come to our province to learn about our best practices and to learn from our experiences.

The industry is in my riding, so I see firsthand how the strict regulations that we have, have prompted companies to be creative and to use technology to lessen their environmental footprint and to create processes that support this environmentally sound industry that we have and that we're promoting to the world. We have some of the most up-to-date regulations in the world for shale gas
[ Page 3765 ]
development. These regulations were updated in 2010 in response to growth in the natural gas sector because of the growth in the shale market.

In order to have a strong industry in British Columbia, we need to look at regulations. We need to get the gas out of the ground. How do we get the gas out of the ground? We have a process called fracking here in British Columbia. This is not new. We've had this for decades. But there are a lot of myths around fracking — one, for sure, that I hear all the time. There has never been a confirmed case of groundwater contamination in the province of British Columbia because of hydraulic fracturing.

We are also the first province in Canada to regulate the public disclosure of all the additives used in fracking so that the public can see exactly what has taken place. Anyone who says that we should be slowing down or stopping fracking is actually saying no to jobs. They're saying no to LNG. They're saying no to an industry that does and can and will employ tens of thousands of people here in British Columbia for decades to come.

Companies have already invested about $7 billion in British Columbia to acquire the upstream natural gas assets and to secure development that we have here that's going to lead us to a prosperous future with LNG in British Columbia. This is creating jobs, and this is going to help build a bright future for British Columbians. This is something that our government is proud to be working towards.

R. Austin: Thanks to the member for Peace River South for his comments. In fact, I just returned from his neck of the woods, from Fort St. John, last week, where I attended the North Central Local Government Association meetings in Fort St. John. He's absolutely right. I'm always astounded by the amount of economic activity that's happening in the northeast.

Things have changed dramatically in the last couple of years. There were times…. I think the last time I went to Fort St. John things were really quiet in the northwest. Our forestry was in crisis. Most of the manufacturing capacity had shut down. Of course, fisheries in Prince Rupert also were in bad trouble. There was a slowdown on the Rio Tinto smelter.

But in the last couple of years there's an enormous link between what's happening in my riding and the member's riding of Peace River South. He referred to it, because we are at the other end of the pipe and at the other end of the potential for a liquefied natural gas industry. If you were to come to Kitimat, you would witness literally tens of millions of dollars having been spent in the last couple of years as they prepare for what, hopefully, will be a final investment decision later this year or early next year.

I was interested to listen to the member's comments, because it seems that for the first time we can actually begin to have more of an adult conversation around liquefied natural gas.

[1110]

I think what people need to understand is that, as the member has already alluded to, we have had a natural gas industry in British Columbia for 40 years. I think the trouble is that with the government speaking about LNG and only speaking about LNG, it suggests to people who don't know about the gas industry as though this is a new thing, and whenever there is a new thing presented, people have questions.

I think what needs to happen here in the next months to come is that we need to be able to have an adult conversation about the very issues that the member for Peace River South is bringing up.

He alluded to the fact that we haven't had any water contamination while fracking, but I think the average person in British Columbia still doesn't understand what fracking is. If you start to bring up things like greenhouse gas emissions or fracking, very often, particularly from the minister on the other side, we hear: "Oh, you're anti-jobs."

Well, no, we're not anti-jobs. We're simply wanting to make sure that British Columbians understand how this industry can benefit British Columbians, and we think it's fair to have an adult conversation on the challenges that come about as a result of having a liquefied natural gas industry.

The natural gas industry has developed hugely over the last 15 to 20 years. People need to understand that that natural gas was largely exported — not outside British Columbia, but it was exported to the United States, and it was exported to the eastern provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

All that the LNG industry is doing is suggesting now that as those markets decline, if not collapse, in order for us to continue to take advantage of this huge natural resource that is British Columbians' — and we need to be the ones who benefit from it — we need to find new markets. Of course, those of us on this side of the House support that.

I think, also, what we need to do is to make sure that we can have these conversations. We can talk about greenhouse gas emissions, not by it being suggested that you're anti-job, but by saying: "Look, this Legislature passed the law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We supported it. They supported it; they brought it forward. British Columbians supported it. If we're going to have a liquefied natural gas industry, that is going to break these laws. What are we going to do about it?"

To me, that's simply having an adult conversation. I think we need to do that. Otherwise, people around British Columbia will start to have very negative feelings around us expanding our natural gas industry. We need to have those conversations.

The member referred to water and fracking. In many regards, the companies that are engaged in this are ahead
[ Page 3766 ]
of the politicians and are ahead of the people. They are actually looking for sources of water other than fresh water because they recognize the amount of water that's going to be needed once we increase the number of wells that have to be drilled in order to take advantage of a liquefied natural gas industry.

If these are things that the companies are looking at, then surely to goodness it's something that the government should be able to have a conversation with British Columbians around.

There's another issue in my riding if we have an LNG industry take off. In Kitimat and Terrace there's an airshed that's limited. So we need to be able to have those conversations. How are we going to make sure that we can have an industry and still have a safe level of air quality in our area? These are valid issues.

R. Lee: I'm pleased to rise to support the motion moved by the member for Peace River South. Thanks to this member's passion and enthusiasm for LNG, I had the opportunity last year to go to his riding to see firsthand the process of extracting natural gas in the field.

By talking to the people who prepare the extraction sites, who move the machines around and who manage and control the process, I feel the opportunity to create economic growth through the development of a new liquid natural gas industry is very, very real. But in order to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we must be focused on the development of this industry, and we must build on our competitive advantage.

British Columbia has 50 years of experience in recovering natural gas from the ground. British Columbia has the distinct geographical advantage of having the closest ports in North America for transportation to Asia, where energy, especially natural gas, is very much in demand. The potential for becoming a global leader in LNG development is within our reach. I'm very pleased to see our government is taking action to make this a reality.

[1115]

Last Friday the Premier just completed her fifth international trade mission, along with the Minister of Natural Gas Development and industry delegates. She travelled to Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong to promote the development of our province's LNG industry.

Malaysia and Singapore, along with Canada, are members of the transpacific partnership negotiations. On May 5 the Premier signed a letter of intent in Malaysia with Tan Sri Dato’ Shamsul Azhar Abbas, group CEO and president of Petronas, to work collaboratively to secure long-term investment in province's LNG industry.

Petronas is a national petroleum resource company located in Malaysia and is leading the development of Pacific NorthWest LNG in the Port of Prince Rupert. This project represents an estimated $16 billion investment, creating up to 3,500 construction jobs and 300 long-term careers in the community and about 300 new local spinoff jobs.

It has already received permission from the National Energy Board to export 19.68 million tonnes of LNG per year. The Pacific NorthWest LNG and its partner, Progress Energy Canada, have secured four transaction agreements to date. These agreements have been reached with Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Petroleum Brunei, Indian Oil Corp. and China Petrochemical Corp., Sinopec.

The letter of intent reflects the commitment by the province and Petronas to enter into negotiations regarding possible project development agreement to secure mutual interests. A final decision about investment will be made at the end of 2014, this year.

On May 7 the Premier and Woodfibre LNG's lead director Imelda Tanoto signed a letter of intent in Singapore to further the growth of LNG in the province.

This project in Squamish has also received a licence to export 2.1 million tonnes of LNG per year for 25 years. They are moving forward with their proposal because they understand the scope of the opportunity in our province.

Before taking off to her trade mission on April 30, the Premier witnessed the signing of a joint venture agreement between partners of a new operating company, LNG Canada Development, including Shell Canada, PetroChina Co., Korea Gas Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. This project located near Kitimat has obtained a 25-year permit from the National Energy Board to export 24 million tonnes of LNG per year.

International interest in our LNG development has been tremendous. We all have the opportunity to promote this great opportunity. Yesterday I was invited to meet a delegation from the international project development of PetroChina CNPC engineering company from Sichuan, PRC. Our government has been making progress in LNG development every day.

J. Rice: Being the MLA, the representative, for North Coast is certainly an opportunity, but it also has its challenges due to its geography. I think I bring that up time and time again. It's 66,000 square kilometres in area and covers Prince Rupert and all of Haida Gwaii down to the central coast — Bella Bella, Bella Coola and many First Nations communities within.

I live in Prince Rupert, which is a community that for over the last decade has been in the bust part of the boom-bust cycle and is anxiously looking for new industry to help support the community, where we have crumbling roads and bursting water pipes that just get fixed on a band-aid basis.

We have some of the highest property tax rates in the province due to the fact that we just can't support our aging infrastructure. We actually even have wooden water pipes still. So there are communities such as Prince Rupert that are really anxious for the benefits of the LNG
[ Page 3767 ]
industry to come to the community.

[1120]

Saying that, I also represent communities on the central coast with Bella Bella and Bella Coola and many First Nations communities within. They have been sort of contacting me, anxious about the fact that once again another LNG proposal has come about into the media, and they're having a hard time keeping them straight.

Thus far, there are about 12 to 13 — depending on who you talk to or what newspaper you read — proposed between Kitimat and Prince Rupert, so they're getting a little bit anxious. These are communities that are primarily subsistence communities relying on hunting and fishing and harvesting resources from the sea — clams, cockles and shellfish. They rely on the annual salmon run.

They're concerned about what this increased shipping traffic is going to look like for their communities — an LNG carrier, along with possibly oil tankers, passing through their territories. How are these impacts going to affect their ability to access their food?

I, too, am anxious to have that adult conversation that my colleague the member for Skeena proposed, because communities want to have this dialogue. At first it just seemed like one or two proposals, but now we have over a dozen.

There are a lot of things to take into consideration. With all the speculation, in my community particularly, I have people walking through my community office now about housing concerns. I've had in the last month three people come in to me who were recently renovicted. This is all based on the speculation of LNG.

When we do have these opportunities, such as the industrial development that the LNG industry brings to our communities, I think we also have to prepare for the part of our society, the parts of our communities, that are not going to see any benefits. There is always going to be a part of our population that just will not benefit, that will not get the jobs.

These are the hard-to-house people and people with mental and physical disabilities. These are the people who are walking through my doors right now, and I don't have a lot of answers for them. So I'm keen to have that adult conversation with the government on what we're going to do with the housing needs, with the housing pressures, in the communities at the other end of the pipe, such as Prince Rupert.

A few years ago I was renting a house. I could rent a whole house, over 2,000 square feet, in Prince Rupert. You could rent a house in my community for less than $1,000. I remember negotiating $200 less than the actual price that this house was offered at. And the landlord just snapped it up right away because we had such vacancies in our community. It was a renter's market; you could just negotiate.

Now the cost of renting a house in Prince Rupert is double that. Again, people are coming to my door saying they can't afford to rent houses or apartments. Part of the challenge in Prince Rupert is that we have some of the oldest housing stock in the province. Many houses are over 100 years old. If you know anything about Prince Rupert, we have the most amount of cloud cover in North America, and we have some of the highest precipitation in North America, at 259 days a year.

So we do have this to take care of and to look at right now. I don't think we can wait until the market settles out which LNG projects are going to come to fruition, because right now I have a housing need in my community. This is a challenge that I would look forward to addressing with the other side.

S. Hamilton: I'm proud to be here speaking about the opportunity that has knocked on our door. I acknowledge the comments from the member for North Coast. They haven't fallen on deaf ears. I firmly believe that this government has stayed well in front of the message. We predicted that these issues would be forthcoming. They're something that, I think, as we move forward, create jobs in local communities. That is going to result in benefit to the people who more require and are in need of our help.

But I am also pleased to tell this House that our government stands ready to open that door that I mentioned a moment ago and say yes to the opportunity that is possible with an LNG industry.

One of the ways we connect with the proponents of LGN projects within B.C. companies large and small in every corner of the province is through the LNG Buy B.C. program. We expect that LNG opportunities will create up to $1 trillion in economic activity and as many as 100,000 jobs in B.C. over the next 30 years.

[1125]

Doing business with large multinational companies and their prime contractors, such as those developing proposed LNG projects, can have unique and special requirements. The experience will give B.C. companies a better understanding of what these major companies consider to be business requirements — health and safety systems certifications, for example.

In a partnership between the ministry and Northern Development Initiative Trust, we will hold boot camps that will serve to help local businesses understand the procurement opportunities and processes associated with major LNG projects. Most local businesses don't have the experience of participating in major project supply chains. Three very successful boot camps have already been completed in Kitimat, Terrace and Kelowna. Additional boot camps are scheduled for Prince George, on May 14, and Prince Rupert, for June 3.

Other seminars will guide industry through the request-for-proposal process. This is something local businesses need to understand to help them successfully bid on major contracts. The seminar focuses on understand-
[ Page 3768 ]
ing RFPs and developing complete, timely and effective proposals. This is a worthwhile session for all companies with or without major project experience.

All of these workshops are free to attend and will help make sure local businesses are better equipped to take advantage of economic growth due to LNG and other major industrial developments.

We're also holding the second annual LNG conference, which supports our government's skills and training plan. It'll be larger than the 2013 conference, incorporate high-profile speakers and include a trade show. On the trade show floor, youth will participate in interactive career experience and have an opportunity to learn more about B.C.'s skills-for-jobs blueprint.

The conference will bring together leaders from First Nations and environmental organizations as well as educators and elected officials from across B.C. and around the world. This is an event no B.C. company will want to miss. Representatives of major energy companies will talk frankly about opportunities for B.C. companies and about what it takes to enter and compete in LNG project supply chains.

Our government is working hard to ensure that B.C. businesses are fully prepared and ready to take advantage of all opportunities once final investment decisions are made.

I know in my riding there are businesses that understand the opportunities, businesses such as Ideal Welders, which has served industry for more than 40 years. Ideal Welders help build key components for both Expo 86 and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, so they're well connected to British Columbia's history. Company founder Jim Longo is excited about the province's future and the opportunities offered by LNG. The company expects to double its size within the decade as it prepares for the work needed to grow and maintain an LNG industry.

Our government has worked hard to create a climate that attracts business and that attracts investment.

My riding is also the home to the new motive power centre on Annacis Island. The new school will offer heavy-duty-transportation and -equipment programs that were formerly offered by BCIT and Vancouver Community College through a collaborative effort of both. Graduates of the motive power centre will be the first in line for many of the jobs — as many as 100,000 over the next 30 years — that will be created from an anticipated $1 trillion in economic activity.

This truly is a vision for the entire province. LNG is opportunity knocking. For the sake of British Columbians and for future generations, let's hustle to the door and open it up. Let's say yes to jobs, let's say yes to a strong economy, and let's say yes to a bright future for all British Columbians.

D. Donaldson: I thank the member for Peace River South for introducing this private member motion during this part of the Legislature where it's called private members' time. I'm going to speak to it from the perspective of the MLA for Stikine.

The motion says: "Be it resolved that this House support the continued development and positive progress of B.C.'s natural gas industry." The context under which we're considering this motion, continued development and positive progress in the natural gas industry, is interpreted by the B.C. Liberal government as the sole focus on the proposed liquid natural gas sector and, once again, exporting a natural resource in its raw form, just like raw logs.

We are not, for example, discussing continued development and positive progress, supplying natural gas to businesses in B.C. at a price that would lead to a huge increase in manufacturing jobs all across the province — where is the analysis by this government on that scenario? — or supplying at a reasonable price natural gas captured right here in B.C. to as many residents as want it to heat their homes. Think about the conservation in electricity usage that that would create. Have the B.C. Liberals done an analysis on that? Perhaps they wouldn't need to push spending ten billion of taxpayers' dollars on Site C if they had.

[1130]

That is not the discussion this government wants to have. What this motion is about is the proposed liquid natural gas industry. We can have all these high-level debates about the risks and benefits of this new sector, but here is the reality check on the ground in Stikine. The Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs, the proper title holders of the traditional territories where three proposed gas pipelines to Kitimat are planned, have said no. The Gitxsan Chiefs Office, representing hereditary chiefs where two proposed gas lines to Prince Rupert are planned, has said to this government that they have until June 21 to respond to their condition linking this development to shared boundary issues around treaty or no pipelines will be built.

The Gitanyow, where the two proposed pipelines to Prince Rupert need to cross traditional territories, are still undecided about the development. The Kispiox Valley Community Association, representing those in the Kispiox Valley where the two proposed natural gas pipelines to Prince Rupert will cross, have not had their serious concerns addressed in any substantive way.

These are significant groups. Five proposed natural gas pipelines to feed to the coast, to feed possible LNG plants are proposed. What I'm telling you: as of today there is no social licence for these pipelines to be built as proposed. This government hasn't worked hard enough to understand that, or maybe they just aren't listening.

What we have seen in the past is that without social licence, there will be court actions and there could be civil disobedience. Is that what this government wants? Is that what the Premier is telling potential investors?

We're not talking about people who are adversarial
[ Page 3769 ]
to development. These are folks who are used to hard work and living in remote, rural conditions. This is not NIMBYism. This is people looking after their own backyard, and if more people did that, then collectively we'd be in a better place in this province. As one Kispiox Valley resident put it: "We need enough to make a living. We do not need to make a killing. It is less about greed and more about a sustainable livelihood."

The vision presented by this government is a free-for-all on liquid natural gas — no stipulation on seven or more proposed LNG plants regarding using clean energy to power their facilities so that the government's own greenhouse gas emission targets will certainly be surpassed. There's no trust that water usage and safety concerns around hydraulic fracturing will be addressed, as most recently highlighted by the way the Fort Nelson First Nation was backstabbed by this government.

Multiple pipelines, five proposed across Stikine, with no cumulative effect study, no requirement for a common corridor, no stipulation to use already disturbed transportation corridors, no guarantee that the gas pipelines could be used for oil transport in the future. Based on this context, it's easy to see that the sustainable livelihood carried out by many constituents of Stikine — one I support — will be destroyed.

The vision I hold for Stikine includes taking a precautionary approach to massive new industrial-scale development on the landscape that leaves other options available. It involves adding value and jobs to resources before exporting them. It involves supporting and encouraging community- and First Nation–owned clean energy projects, and it involves ensuring that the wild salmon economy and culture flourishes now and into the future.

G. Kyllo: I'm proud to stand in the House today and speak in favour of the motion moved by my colleague and friend the member for Peace River South. I thank the member for Stikine for his comments.

Natural gas and LNG are no doubt the key to B.C.'s future. They will play a key role in determining the jobs of tomorrow in our province and the thousands of opportunities that will come from this emerging new sector. Our government, under the leadership of our Premier, is working diligently to seize the opportunity of developing our natural gas resource wealth and saying yes to the economic opportunity, particularly LNG.

Developing the LNG sector in a responsible and prudent manner will mean hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created in every region of our province, particularly in the trades and skilled labour. From construction trades labourers, steamfitters and pipefitters, welders, concrete finishers, heavy-equipment operators, gas fitters and a whole host of others, we need the people and their skills to get the job done.

[1135]

It goes without saying, but this is an exciting time for young British Columbians. There is an immense opportunity for all of them in our province, and we are committed to maximizing the potential that this sector will bring to British Columbia so that they stand to benefit and have an even better quality of life than we enjoy today.

Along with the B.C. jobs plan, the B.C. skills-for-jobs blueprint, re-engineering education and training, is our path forward to focus training for high-demand jobs, encouraging innovation on how we provide education and training to better meet the needs of British Columbians, and aligning funding for skills and training programs for high-demand occupations and jobs in the workplace. This is a long-term plan, and it is expected that by the year 2022, one million job openings will be available for B.C., especially in trades and technical occupation fields.

The added pressure of the demand for skilled labour will be heightened as investments for LNG proponents continue in B.C. We're talking big numbers here. The prospect of just five of 14 LNG operations that are looking to be constructed in B.C. would result in upwards of $100 billion in industry investment over the next decade alone.

Without a comprehensive plan such as the blueprint, there would be a significant shortage of skilled labour, especially in the northern regions of our province. This is why our government is proactive in taking a leadership role in creating the blueprint to ensure that all of these roles in all regions of B.C. are filled, so we can keep our economy moving forward.

Through a coordinated approach by the ministries of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training; Education; and Advanced Education, the blueprint will shift funding for training based on labour market information in line to the jobs that are in demand both today and in the future. Essentially, the plan will give young people a seamless path from school through to the workplace, from learner to earner, maximizing their earning potential and helping to secure their futures.

We are re-engineering our education system from kindergarten through to post-secondary training and beyond to ensure that B.C. youth and B.C. workers are first in line for the jobs of B.C. in the future. The blueprint will have a developed set of actions that we must take to make the most effective use of our existing resources and future investments in education and training, actions such as doubling the number of ACE IT spaces to 5,000 over the next two years, giving students more choices, and encouraging more students to pursue skills and trades training; targeting $270 million annually by 2017-2018 in post-secondary operating grants towards in-demand jobs; investing $185 million in infrastructure, targeted for skills and trades training; reforming the Industry Training Authority so that B.C.'s trades training system is ready to meet the growing demand of workers; and using up-to-date, industry-validated data to drive
[ Page 3770 ]
programming decisions, increasing apprenticeships in high-demand areas.

This is a big task, but we are up to it. Labour and education leaders agree that the skills training blueprint is the best path forward to train students in B.C. now so they can be adequately trained and be first in line for jobs of tomorrow.

Here is what Camosun College and president of Skills Canada B.C. Kelly Betts had to say in regards to the blueprint. "Our students have tremendous potential in B.C.'s growing economy" — in particular, in LNG — "if they're given the opportunity and the support they need to thrive. B.C.'s skills-for-jobs blueprint is a map on how they will get there, by encouraging more students to take technical training through the ACE IT program and graduate successfully, as well as building important partnerships between the K-to-12 school system, post-secondary institutions and industry."

Clyde Scollan, president of the Construction Labour Relations Association, said the following: "The future success of our member companies and of this province's economy depends on having a highly skilled workforce. The measures just announced will go a long way to ensuring that people from all areas of the province will have access to gaining the skills necessary to benefit from the jobs."

B. Ralston: I rise to speak to the motion proposed by the member for Peace River South. I want to advise the House, and I spoke of this last summer in our brief session in July, that there was a natural resources conference in Prince George and Omineca in January of this year. On January 23 I heard a number of the proponents of the major projects, in particular Greg Kist, the president of Pacific NorthWest LNG, which is the Petronas Progress project. Petronas is a state-owned enterprise, and the success that they've had is probably somewhat due to the fact that they are a state-owned enterprise with access to deep reserves of capital.

[1140]

Here in British Columbia — my assessment simply from listening to his presentation — they were well advanced in their progress when they spoke back in January. They've acquired an upstream company that has 27 wells operating — progress. They have their own fleet of tankers that is able to deliver LNG worldwide. They certainly have access to Asian markets, because they are a major player in Asian markets.

Now, there are other competitors, whether it's Qatar…. It's been a longtime exporter of LNG. Australia, in the recent projections, is projected to be No. 2 in the next ten years. Certainly, in the United States there are a number of projects. A recent report by RBC Markets spoke of projects coming on stream in Oregon — in fact, one of them would be proposed to use Canadian natural gas — proposals in the Gulf states and even one on the east coast of the United States.

The government has referred to this as a foot race. But what Mr. Kist said — and this is, I think, significant — is that despite the progress, the major companies, and his included, have not yet made what they term a final investment decision. In order to make that final investment decision, they need to have certainty about the taxation and royalty regime, and they need to have a clear estimate of costs — of the total cost of the project.

While the government sometimes notices and comments and, I think, takes credit for some of the initial investments that are made, the scale of these projects is such that those companies can invest hundreds of millions of dollars in an exploratory construction just to get a more accurate sense of what the full scale of the project will be finally, and also labour supply.

Yet the minister said last year that we were going to have legislation on royalties ready to go and in advance of the session in October. That was last October. That was pushed forward to November, then to December, then into the new year. The latest agreement that's been signed, I think, with Petronas is that the government is now committing to have the royalty regime ready by this November.

While the member for Peace River South says that "we're working tirelessly on behalf of the government" and that "the government has a plan," a very vital, intrinsic part of the decision — the royalty regime and the taxation regime that's essential to making a final investment decision — has been pushed off at least a year and a half, with no explanation from the government as to why this is.

One could imagine that there are complex regulatory and legal issues to solve, but certainly one presumably could go to Australia and hire a legal team of those who put together the Australian royalty regime for advice, and certainly there are other royalty regimes. There are similar groups in the United States, presumably working on these problems.

If it is a foot race, if time is of the essence, why the slippage of at least a year and a half to two years on an essential part of the ingredients necessary to help these companies come to a final investment decision? I think one should be clear that if that's not forthcoming, as the government's own spokespeople say, the decision will go elsewhere.

The representative of Shell at this conference in Prince George, Susannah Pierce, general manager of social performance and external affairs, LNG Canada, speaking on behalf of Shell Canada, said something very similar….

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

B. Routley: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.
[ Page 3771 ]

Introductions by Members

B. Routley: Today we have with us a group of Grade 6 students from the Duncan Christian School and their teacher, Bobbi Morris, and some assistants. This visit is particularly unique and special to me, as my granddaughter Sarah, who is a competitive gymnast as well as in her second year as a violin student, is here. Her nana and I are very proud of her, and I would be pleased if all of you would join me in welcoming this special group to the Legislature.

[1145]

Debate Continued

J. Thornthwaite: By 2022 we are expecting a million job openings in British Columbia, and we're taking the steps to ensure that British Columbians are first in the line for the thousands of new jobs created by LNG development. We are preparing British Columbians for the skills-for-jobs blueprint and look forward to showcasing many of these job opportunities at the upcoming LNG conference.

In fact, there are at least five companies that I'm aware of in North Vancouver, my hometown, that will be attending that LNG conference. Xanatos Marine Ltd., Opus DaytonKnight, Versa Scaffolding Ltd., EnAble Performance Inc. and T'senaglobe Media Inc. all will be presenting their companies to the LNG people that will be attending that conference.

The B.C. jobs blueprint lays out a major shift which will ensure that funding for training is allocated based on labour market information and aligned to the jobs in demand both today and in the future. The plan will give young people a seamless path from school through to the workplace.

That's why our government is leading — to seize this opportunity — to develop a coordinated approach between the Ministries of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and Education and Advanced Education. We are re-engineering our education system from kindergarten straight through to post-secondary training and beyond to ensure that B.C.'s youth and B.C.'s workers are first in line for B.C.'s jobs in the future.

Our plan shifts funding and programs to a data-driven system where training dollars and programs are targeted to jobs in demand. The blueprint ensures that B.C. has the trained workers needed to fill top LNG and related jobs and other demand occupations.

This is a plan for the whole province, not just the north. In fact, it was mentioned a couple of weeks ago by the non-profit Resource Works — by a fellow named Mr. Cross, who was a Stats Canada former chief economist — that when the resource sector expands, it's going to be needing more business services, legal services, engineering services and accounting services. These firms are in the Lower Mainland. That's where the bulk of these jobs are created.

John Winter of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce noted that Vancouver is the epicentre of the service industries that support the resource sector, and although the LNG industry is still in the planning stages, jobs in those areas are already being created. So it's not just for the north. It's everywhere in the province that will benefit.

The skills-for-jobs blueprint is focused on changing culture and attitudes. That includes getting more young people involved earlier in the trades and technical training. For kids and parents in the K-to-12 system, we want them to have a head start to hands-on learning so that they're ready for the workplace, for more advanced training when they graduate. For students in college, universities or institutes, we're matching training with jobs in demand and maximizing the spaces available to provide the programs they need to compete successfully in the workforce.

For people looking to get into the workforce or move up into the workplace, we're building strong partnerships with industry and labour to better connect British Columbians with the on-the-job and classroom training they'll need to boost their skills or achieve certification. I mentioned last week that there's a partnership right now between the B.C. Maritime Employers Association and Capilano University in my riding to do just that.

Our blueprint for government, industry, labour and First Nations partnerships is also our commitment to deliver the skilled workforce B.C.'s growing LNG and other sectors need and to create the opportunity for long-term, well-paying jobs that strengthen our families and strengthen our communities.

D. Routley: Thank you to the member for bringing the motion forward. However, I must say that we've become used to debate in this House being waged by slogan rather than substance. If this government truly wishes to bring forward an industry in this short period of time that we are talking about, five years, that will produce $4 billion of revenue, it must produce four-to-six trillion cubic feet of gas by 2020. That's in just five years.

That would mean five to seven facilities, over 10,000 wells and all the roads, pipelines and processing plants that are incumbent in that, and 73 million tonnes of carbon pollution would be created. That would be three-quarters the amount of carbon pollution from the oil sands projects, and that does not include the 200 million tonnes that would come from burning the gas in Asia if this is successful.

[1150]

What we need is not political gamesmanship and campaigning. The provincial campaign was notorious for the simplistic nature of the campaigning that went on. What we need in this province is an adult and complex conversation about an issue that we all face.
[ Page 3772 ]

If this government were truly interested in developing the industry to the level that it claims, they would have spent the last years training people. "Skills training" is not just a slogan. It's not just a slogan of "Learner to earner" and "Skills for jobs." This government's plan for skills training is to take from other programs to redirect towards this, rather than make any real investment in skills training in this province.

It is the one area of the budget last year that had a numerical, a nominal decline in funding at a time when this government claims that they want to put British Columbians first for jobs.

We on this side of the House during the campaign, in a more complex and adult way, recommended that we needed to have a scientific review of fracking and the practices therein. We needed to enable and fund the Farmers Advocacy Office so that the landowners in the north would have an avenue to appeal if they felt their rights were being transgressed.

We need greater water protection regulations, and we need the tax and royalty regimes in place so that we can judge whether this is indeed the benefit claimed by this government. That measure by itself has been delayed for over a year and a half. If this is a foot race to completion, this government is losing.

This industry creates many concerns for British Columbians. Those concerns are dishonoured and insulted by the simplistic nature of the debate to this point. The Asian prices for gas are falling as the Japanese are moving to restart their nuclear program. The North American prices are rising, meaning that the differential in price that this government is basing its predictions on is narrowing. The predictions of a million jobs are based on predictions founded two years ago in a report that the Toronto-Dominion Bank has called — founded "on shaky ground." It's already 60,000 jobs short of its target.

We need to have a conversation with British Columbians about this in an adult and real way. We need to maximize the opportunity. Rather, we need to optimize it more than maximize it. This government was rushing and is not taking the adequate steps to consult First Nations, is not taking the adequate steps to train British Columbians. In the mere five years that this government is predicting these massive riches to be realized, we cannot even train the people that would be required to implement these plans.

What we need is that mature and responsible conversation with British Columbians, not more dumbed-down, political wedge-driving that dishonours B.C. — its citizens, its First Nations and its public interest.

This is not a case of a simple getting to yes or no. This is a complex question for British Columbians. We need to be able to consider the implications on all of our institutions — our public institutions, our education system.

We need to consider the implications for our environment. We need to consider the implications on electrical generation in this province. And we need to consider the implications on our society as a whole and have that in-depth, complex conversation with British Columbians in a way that respects their interests, rather than tramples over them and uses such an important issue as a simple political wedge to drive political advantage for the governing party.

[Madame Speaker in the chair.]

This is the unfortunate reality that we face with this government and its sloganistic manner of governance. It is with hope that we — once — finally have that conversation with British Columbians.

M. Morris: I'm pleased to speak in support of the continued development and positive progress of B.C.'s natural gas industry. I've heard the members opposite speaking today and my colleagues speaking today.

Natural gas has been produced in this province now for close to 60 years. We have developed an array of pipeline supply lines throughout the province, servicing all our communities and some large industrial operations within the communities as well, and we haven't had any issues with pipelines at all in this province.

[1155]

It supports heavy industry throughout the province and will continue to support heavy industry throughout the province.

We have the advent of a generational opportunity here in British Columbia, with an over-100-year supply of natural gas that we know of — perhaps there's more out there — that we can share with the world. And we can help reduce the hydrocarbons that the world is producing through the use of coal, for producing electricity, and other fossil fuels that we have out there.

By producing these huge pipelines and supplying the amount of natural gas that we need for the LNG plants on the west coast of British Columbia, we're going to be providing jobs for close to 1 million people right across British Columbia. Those jobs are going to support the people.

The member from the central coast was talking about how there won't be any advantages to the people within her riding, with LNG on the coast. I beg to differ with that comment.

We have all kinds of revenue that's going to be generated from LNG within the province here, and that is going to be used to address our social housing issues. It's going to be used to address our health care issues. It's going to be used to address all kinds of social responsibilities that this government understands. We know that they're out there, but we need the revenue that's generated from LNG in order to address them to the degree we should be addressing them.

The members opposite are also talking about hav-
[ Page 3773 ]
ing adult conversations. We have had more than adult conversations right across this province. We have been speaking with the youth about this.

We have re-engineered our K-to-12 education system. We have been targeting the youth in the senior years of high school, grades 10, 11 and 12, so that they're ready and they have the opportunities to learn trades prior to graduating from high school — so that when they finally leave high school, they're prepared to step into the industrial world we're creating out there in the resource sector to earn money and contribute towards the welfare of British Columbia.

We've had those conversations right across the province here, and we're going to continue to have those conversations. We're targeting our limited resources so that we focus on the strategic objective of LNG development in this province. Natural gas will continue to support British Columbia in a big way, far into the future.

M. Morris moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. M. Polak moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

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

The House adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

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