Orders of the Day

Hon. M. de Jong: Continued debate on the throne speech.

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

D. Davies: I’d like to start my first speech as the newly elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Peace River North. I want to thank my constituents for putting their trust in me to represent them, which I absolutely have the honour of doing. This is not a responsibility that I take lightly, as I commit to my constituents as their representative. And I do promise to fight and make our province a strong province and, certainly, to make Peace River North have a brighter future for all.

I’d like to take a few moments to recognize some of the great people that believed in myself and jumped on board to help me get into this wonderful place.

[2:25 p.m.]

First of all, I’d like to thank my team, who was led by Tamara Wilkinson and who jumped in with both feet to lead my campaign. Chuck Fowler, Anna Barlee, Joyce Hadlan, Bruce Christensen organized door-knocking and helped getting people involved in the process of campaigning and voting for what we believe in. My social media team — Tom Whitton and Marshall Pitts. Door-knocker superstar Craig Stephens; Cheryl Christiansen; Shurar Gerari; Scott Wisdall; Brianna Barney; Ramona MacDonald; Trevor Bolin; Dan Peterson; Barry Wilkinson. And my two children also got involved, Hannah and Noel.

My campaign chair in Fort Nelson, Kim Eglinski, and her extremely energetic co-chair, Christy Lear, who was always the Energizer Bunny. I must also extend thanks to Gwen Bumstead and Bill Streeper for their invaluable support in the furthest reach of my riding, the Northern Rockies. My financial agent, Susan Durban, and my sign guys. As we know, the signs are an incredible task but, I must say, more incredible when my riding is approximately six times the size of Vancouver Island. I really have to send a special thanks to my sign guys — Greg, Chris and Harrison Nickle; Curtis Spence; and Gerry Woziak. This feat was absolutely amazing.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Erin, for her continued support and love throughout this entire campaign and my past 12 years as a city councillor for the city of Fort St. John.

My region is quite unique and one that I am very proud to represent — born and raised in Fort St. John. The largest community in Peace River, we have a variety of industries that we’re lucky to have: oil and gas, forestry, agriculture, mining, tourism and hydroelectricity. These industries provide well-paying jobs, well-paying supporting jobs for hard-working British Columbians that are an integral way and an integral part of our way of life.

With the land mass of my riding being just under 161,000 square kilometres, Peace River North is the second-largest riding in this great province. I look forward to working hard for my constituents in every corner of my plus-sized riding.

[G. Kyllo in the chair.]

It is with that comment in mind that I am proud to speak here today in support of our government’s throne speech. This speech represents a new agenda for British Columbians, a path towards a stronger province, a path that will secure and strengthen our economy while at the same time addressing our social and environmental policies.

During the most recent election, voters sent us a clear and concise message that they want us, all of us as politicians, to work together, to collaborate, to cooperate on issues that are important to British Columbians. We have listened, and that is why we are putting forward this agenda that will create a stronger province for all British Columbians.

Our first priority as a government is to maintain British Columbia’s strong economy. Since the creation of the jobs plan in 2011, British Columbia has added over 250,000 jobs, fuelling Canada’s strongest economy.

Interjection.

D. Davies: Yes, and I hope that…. I’m going to recognize a few of the workers here in just a moment.

Having a strong economy is important. Not only does it give British Columbia families an opportunity to care for their loved ones, but it also gives the government revenue to continue to invest in our future. This is what sets us apart. While we recognize the need to invest more into our programs, we also see the need that a strong economy is vital to this. In fact, the agenda presented in this throne speech would not be possible without a strong economy.

Without a strong economy, we would not be able to provide historic investments in child care, like the one that will see every family in British Columbia earning less than $60,000 receive full child care subsidies.

Without a strong economy, we would not be able to afford the increase in social assistance rates by $100 a month so that individuals can receive the support that they need.

Without a strong economy, we would not be able to afford indexed disability rates to inflation, creating stability so that those British Columbians living with disabilities will always have the assistance that they need.

Without a strong economy, we would not be able to afford to expand the important single-parent employment initiative so that single parents who can only find part-time work or are underemployed can find their way to full employment — truly a hand up and an investment in the livelihood of our people in need.

[2:30 p.m.]

It is because of our strong economy that we can make these investments without raising the overall tax burden on British Columbians. We have pledged a decrease in MSP premiums by 50 percent for households earning up to $120,000 a year. This represents a savings of as much as $900 a year for British Columbian families.

Since being elected in 2001, we have reduced the overall tax burden facing B.C. families, and that is a record that we are proud of. We will not make life more unaffordable for British Columbians by raising taxes.

What we also won’t do is increase the burden facing future British Columbians. Over the last 16 years, the debt-to-GDP ratio has continued to fall. Because of our strong economy, we are set for the first time in a generation to eliminate our operating budget. So instead of paying service to our debt, we can spend money where it needs to be spent, providing better services for British Columbians and their families. If we did not have a triple-A credit rating, like some of our other provinces, we would be paying more than $2 billion a year in debt-servicing costs.

This throne speech and our plan for British Columbians prove that if you say yes to responsible resource development and focus on growing the economy, you can invest in the future of our province without raising taxes and without adding debt onto the shoulders of our future generations. Now, isn’t that a great legacy to leave our children?

Today there are over 2,200 people, many of them from communities that I represent, working at the Site C project. That’s over 2,200 people who face unemployment if the members opposite have it this way — if this project is cancelled. This project is extremely vital to the communities in the Peace region. Thousands of families are relying right now on the opportunities that this project is providing — beyond the people that are employed at the project, all the spinoffs. Thousands of families are relying on this.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to tell you and this House about Kerne Kennedy and Tim Estergaard, who, along with their families, are here in the gallery today. Kerne lives in Fort St. John with his wife, Stacy, and their five children. Life, unfortunately, has not always been easy for Kerne and his family. A few years ago Kerne lost his job working in the oil and gas sector. He and his family faced an uncertain future. Without a job, Kerne faced the prospect of losing his house and possibly being forced to leave his community, where his kids have grown up. But when all seemed lost, Kerne found a job working at Site C. This has enabled him and his family to now stay in their house and stay in our community. His family is relying on the hope and opportunity that are offered by Site C.

Before Site C, Tim Estergaard was working as an on-call oil and gas sector worker, meaning he had a lot of unreliable hours, leading to a poor quality of life. This changed when he got a job at Site C. For years, Tim and his wife, Laura, have been hoping to start a family, but they were unable to afford the fertility treatments and trips to Vancouver to see specialists. Without Tim’s job at Site C…. He can now work towards starting a family of his own.

Kerne and Tim and their families, like many others in my region and throughout this province, are relying on this project for their livelihoods. The leader of the Green Party, along with his caucus members — the member for Saanich North and the Islands and the member for Cowichan Valley — visited the Peace region a couple of weeks back. While touring the area, in response to a question from a local reporter, the Green Party leader called the jobs at Site C “artificial.”

Artificial. Tell that to Kerne, who still has his house because of Site C. Artificial. Tell that to Tim, who is relying on his job at Site C to allow him and his wife to start a family. Tell that to the over 2,200 other families — that the opposition wants to throw our community into chaos.

[2:35 p.m.]

The fact remains, despite what the members opposite say, that the power from Site C will be needed. As our province moves and becomes more electrified…. Whether it be electric cars or an increase in home heating with electricity, the need for electricity in this province is critical. Site C will provide 1,100 megawatts of dependable capacity and generate about 5,100 gigawatt hours of energy each year — enough power to heat the equivalent of 450,000 homes. By providing an abundance of clean renewable energy, Site C will help British Columbia transition away from fossil fuels and help combat climate change.

Site C is not only a generational opportunity for British Columbia. We are committed to see it play an important role in helping all of Canada achieve its climate change obligations. As stated in the throne speech, we are committed to working with the federal government and the province of Alberta to increase the electricity inter-tie between British Columbia and Alberta. Much of the power produced by our neighbours in Alberta is produced by coal-fired power plants that emit massive amounts of greenhouse gases. With the power produced by Site C, we have an opportunity to significantly reduce Canada’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, helping fight global climate change.

Now, some, like many across the aisle, say that LNG is an industry that does not exist. But my constituents in Peace River North and my friends to the south in Peace River South know better. For us, LNG does represent a big part of the future of the communities in my riding and, for that matter, across this province. It’s easy for someone thousands of kilometres away to talk about LNG as nothing but a dream. I would like to invite those people to come to my riding. Come to Fort St. John and visit us. Come to Fort Nelson and tell the thousands of people in the northeast that are already working in the natural gas industry — and the thousands that wish to join them — that this is just a dream.

We’ve always been dependent on natural gas resources, going all the way back to the fur trade in the 1790s when Alexander Mackenzie established one of British Columbia’s first trading posts on the banks of the Peace River. Being a resource community is a part of our identity. LNG means long-term jobs for all of our communities. Communities like Fort Nelson need LNG to become a reality. They need government to take this industry seriously and to work with local communities and First Nations to get to a yes.

When the Leader of the Opposition wrote a letter to the federal government saying no to Pacific NorthWest LNG, they were not just saying no to the project. They were saying no to the largest private sector investment in Canadian history. They were saying no to opportunities for our children and for my children, no to our First Nations communities. They were saying no to the future of our communities in Peace River North. That is why I, today, am committed to standing up for my constituents here in this House to ensure that the LNG industry continues to move forward.

The reality is that LNG isn’t just critical for the future of Peace River North. It is for the future of our entire province. We have Woodfibre LNG slated for construction in Squamish. We have the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta. That’s not to mention the secondary supplier companies across the province, many of them in the Lower Mainland, that support this important, critical industry.

We will never give up on LNG. We will never say no to the future prosperity and the growth of British Columbia. We will stand up for a stronger and brighter British Columbia. I’d like to point out that during the most recent election, not once did the Leader of the Opposition bother to visit my community — a community whose future depends on this industry. He says he wants to represent all of the province. But the honest truth…. I wonder if he could even find Fort Nelson or Fort St. John on a map.

[2:40 p.m.]

At least the leader of the Green Party knows where Fort St. John is, by his recent visit. And at least his caucus also knows where we are in the region. But the reality is that he and the Green Party alliance don’t have the basic understanding that our rural communities are facing.

During his recent visit, the member for Oak Bay called the LNG industry nonexistent. Well, I would like him to explain that to the thousands of my constituents who get a paycheque written right now from this very industry, the thousands of constituents for whom the LNG and natural gas industry puts food on their table, the thousands of my constituents who helped them with heating in the further northern regions of my riding.

The leaders of the Green Party and the NDP don’t understand what it takes to build a strong, diverse economy. They don’t understand the issues facing rural British Columbia.

In addition to standing up for Site C and continuing to fight for more opportunities for LNG, our government will also take measures to protect the other resource industries that our province so relies upon.

It’s not just Site C and LNG that we are continuing to fight for. The strength of our province and our economic success is derived from the resilience of our forest industry. That’s why our government is committed and continually fighting and defending this vital industry right now and the jobs that are being threatened by the United States’ protectionism policies.

Our Speech from the Throne lays out productive measures, like the implementation of pre-purchasing wood from B.C. companies for construction of public housing. This is in addition to other policies we have implemented, such as the appointment of David Emerson, who is a well-known individual in this country, as the new B.C. trade envoy to the United States. Mr. Emerson has a great deal of experience, and we trust him to work in securing a new softwood lumber agreement that is beneficial for all British Columbians.

We will also work to open eight new mines by 2022, while at the same time ensuring world-leading responsible mining practices by investing $18 million to improve mine permitting, oversight, compliance and enforcement.

We will take further action to protect and strengthen our agriculture industry, which so many of us rely upon. Last year, B.C. exported $3 billion worth of agricultural and seafood products to over 150 countries, and we’re very proud of that record. But we recognize that food security is also important, so we’re taking further steps to protect and preserve our agricultural land.

We will double the Grow Local program, which provides funding to organizations to increase the ability of British Columbians to grow food locally. We will also be bringing 91,000 hectares of agricultural land into production by 2020. These measures will help ensure that our natural resources are gathered in an economically and environmentally sustainable way so that they are there for future generations of British Columbians.

Although resource development will always play a crucial role in the future prosperity of Peace River North, we understand that it is vitally important to diversify our economies as well. This is ever-important for communities like Fort Nelson.

In particular, I am proud of the first-rate investment that our government is making in rural communities, such as the doubling of the successful rural economic dividend. This program was introduced in September 2015, with the aim to help rural communities diversify and strengthen their economies.

Four categories of community capacity building: workforce development, community and economic development and business sector development. For example, from the first round of the rural dividend, issued April 2015, over 120 projects were awarded for a total of $8.62 million in funding allocated. As of March 2017, through this program, our government has been able to provide communities of less than 25,000 residents with $24 million to reinvigorate and diversify their local economies.

[2:45 p.m.]

This builds upon the work that we’ve already done through building our rural advantages — B.C.’s rural economic development strategy. This strategy details our government’s long-term plan to provide all regions of British Columbia with the opportunity for well-paying jobs and healthy communities. The rural economic strategy provides rural communities with the tools that they need to grow and to thrive.

Included in the plan is $10 million to support new land management initiatives throughout the province, including places like Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Hudson’s Hope.This includes funding for a range of fencing repairs and multi-year invasive plant management projects, which is extremely important for our farmers in the Peace.

The plan also includes $79.6 million in investments over the next two years to expand and update post-secondary campuses in rural communities, like mine, throughout our province. It includes $15 million for trades equipment at B.C.’s secondary schools so that high school students can get hands-on learning opportunities that they need to be successful in our ever-growing trades. These investments are important, because we have to provide rural B.C.’s youth with opportunities that they need to succeed so that our communities can grow.

That’s why we’ve committed to creating a process through which the rural advisory council can hear from young adults in rural B.C. on what we can do to attract younger residents to rural communities throughout B.C. We see that issue, certainly, in the northeast, of trying to attract people to our communities.

We’re also investing $34,000 for young aboriginal business circles, a pilot project to help young aboriginal high school participants, which is happening right now in Fort St. John. The youth aboriginal business circles pilot is providing skills, knowledge and confidence for aboriginal high school participants so that they can create a business plan and pursue their goals. It will help young aboriginal entrepreneurs launch businesses in rural B.C. These investments are important. They will help create the next generation of rural leaders who will be helping grow our communities.

The rural economic strategy doesn’t just stop at creating leaders of tomorrow. It’s also offering to support rural communities in need today. For example, our government is providing $40 million through the connecting British Columbia program, which is helping to connect rural communities with high-speed Internet and broadband. There are a number of communities in my riding that are still on dial-up, so this is a great program that we see moving to connectivity throughout the province.

Ensuring that rural communities have access to high-speed Internet is key for small business. It’s key for people trying to start home-based businesses. It means those businesses have access to the digital infrastructure required in this competitive globalized economy.

It’s not just digital infrastructure that’s important. That is why our government is investing in the physical infrastructure that rural communities need. And while we are also taking steps to help diversify B.C.’s rural economy, including supporting tourism, we’ve invested $5.65 million in the 2016-17 budget to help develop a network of trails through projects funded under the rural dividend and the trails strategy for British Columbia. We are also working with industry to prepare strategies that support the growing potential to advance adventure tourism and film tourism.

Again, maintaining a strong, diversified economy means we have the ability to invest in the services that British Columbians need. For example, the government is focused on ensuring that we continue to meet the highest quality of standard of care for our senior citizens in this province. This will include new commitments of increasing the number of residential care beds by 500 in care facilities throughout our province. Furthermore, our throne speech announces the implementation of clear, measurable, daily care standards, which will be in place in every institution, with key monitoring and enforcement safeguards.

[2:50 p.m.]

We know that individuals do better when they have the ability to stay at home, to stay at home as long as possible. That is why our government is pleased to be doubling the home-renovation credit to assist these seniors and provide assistance with the cost of certain permanent home renovations to allow for mobility and functionality in seniors’ homes.

As we continue to care for those who helped build this province, we also are investing in the British Columbians who will be the next generation. This throne speech includes $1 billion of investment in affordable child care. We understand that it can be difficult for parents to find affordable child care, and as a parent, I recall having the same issues.

So we’re putting forward a plan that will not only increase capacity, helping create an additional 60,000 child care spaces, but will help families afford these spaces. We’ll be making child care free for any family that earns less than $60,000 a year, and we’ll be offering subsidies for any family earning up to $100,000 a year. It’s incredible.

This is important. It’s important because this will ensure access to child care services to those who really need it. These supports will help make life more affordable for middle-class families, and just as importantly, we will not increase taxes by doing so — increasing costs on the very families that this program is designed to help.

In addition to the child care, we recognize that our young people will need skills to take advantage of the 21st-century economy. As an educator myself, I’m proud of our education system in this province. B.C. students are among the best in the world, testing No. 1 in reading, second in science and sixth in math, as we’ve heard.

However, if we are to remain competitive, we have to ensure that our students remain on the top. That is why our government is committed to convening a royal commission on education. The last royal commission was in 1987, and that laid much of the groundwork for the education system we have today. A royal commission will allow us to gain better understanding of what in our education system works, what doesn’t and how we can improve it.

In conclusion, this throne speech sets British Columbia on a new path to prosperity. By continuing our focus on maintaining a strong economy, we will be fighting to create a better province for British Columbia. But this can only be achieved when we are not afraid to say yes to responsible economic development.

I would like to draw a little attention to the concept of responsible resource development. Canada and British Columbia are leading the way in resource development. Many innovations in the gas sector have been developed right here in British Columbia and are being adopted around the world. I’m proud to have had the opportunity to work in the oil and gas industry myself.

British Columbia cannot afford to burden future generations with deficit and debt. Our party will always stand up and fight for those that are trying to build a better life for themselves and for their families.

J. Horgan: I rise to participate in this year’s throne speech.

I want to start by welcoming the 26 new members to this place, on both sides of the House: two new Green members, ten Liberal members and 14 New Democrat members that come from every corner of this great province. They come with their own personal backgrounds. They come with their own personal passions. But each and every one of the 87 members of this place put their names forward with a genuine desire to make life better for their neighbours, for their community and for our great province. To all of you who came, thank you very much.

I am honoured to represent Langford–Juan de Fuca here now in this place. I was first elected in Malahat–Juan de Fuca, then elected in Juan de Fuca and then re-elected in Juan de Fuca, and now it’s Langford–Juan de Fuca. It’s the same place. I haven’t moved. I’ve been in the same spot, but the names have changed. I am, again, very honoured and humbled to be the representative of a terrific constituency.

[2:55 p.m.]

I know every member of this place feels passionate about their home and where they come from, but I have to tell you — as all will say — I represent the best constituency in this House. Although it’s not my maiden speech, a heckle can come my way for that. I’m grateful that people let that one slide as I said it.

We are all very proud, fiercely proud, of our homes and our communities. When we do come here — whether we come from the Liberal side or the NDP side or, now joined by our triplicates, the three Green members — we all come with our perspectives about how we can work together.

We’ve heard over the past number of days — and we heard in the throne speech, as I listened to it — things that we’ve all said during the election campaign. In fact, I remarked to my spouse last Thursday when I went home…. She asked me how the throne speech went. I said: “Well, I recall saying much of what came out of the Lieutenant-Governor’s mouth.” It was refreshing to know that what we ran on, what we committed to in our platform and in our election campaign, was reflected in that document.

But it did give us pause. Fifty-seven percent of those who cast ballots cast ballots for parties not represented by the B.C. Liberals. And for us, that strikes a disconnect with what the government is saying about what they heard and what we actually physically heard and saw on the election campaign.

What I heard from constituents, what I heard from people in every corner of the province was that they don’t trust the government of the day to deliver on the issues that they believe the government has messed up on. Now, we will have debates, and I’ve heard members participate in this debate. I heard just recently the member for Peace River North and others, as the debate has unfolded, that come to these issues from different perspectives.

For me, when I hear people talk about public education, I’m reminded of a 16-year battle between the government, on that side, and teachers and children and parents, administrators and trustees. That was my reality. That’s the reality that we heard when we knocked on doors. That’s the reality that we heard when the Supreme Court ruled, in less than 20 minutes, that the government had violated the rights of a class of citizens.

So when we hear the government say, “We’re listening,” we’re wondering where you were for the past 16 years. Why weren’t you listening in 2005 and in 2009 and in 2013? And why is it only now, when you no longer command a majority of members in the House, that you decide that the ideas on this side are now relevant to the broader population?

I heard the Premier say today to the hon. member for Maple Ridge–Mission that he should represent all members of his constituency. I am confident that he will, and I’m confident that every single person in this House will represent all of their constituents. But we have a broader obligation when we come and take up our seats here. The party, the group of members, with the majority of support are to take over the government and deliver the services that people want. The majority of support in this Legislature will be the government of the day. I expect sometime tomorrow that’s going to happen.

That does not diminish the enthusiasm and the intent and the values of the people on the other side of the House. It’s a numeric reality, and it’s a reality that is a result of 16 years, in my opinion, of ignoring critical issues by those on that side of the House, the government represented by those on that side of the House.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Medical services premiums are now topical. The member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head and people on this side of the House in the last session railed against the government about doubling medical services premiums on the most vulnerable. Many people in this province had to pay a hidden tax, when no other citizens in Canada had to pay. If you made $40,000 a year or you made $400,000 a year, you paid the same amount of medical services premiums. We on this side of the House felt that was wrong. It was not fair, and we campaigned against it.

The government is now including it in their throne speech. Although they did mention it in their budget, they said: “We are going to do something next year.” We on this side of the House campaigned to do something right now, and we intend to do something right now when we’re given the opportunity.

Tuition fees have tripled. Hydro rates have gone up 87 percent since 2001. That’s a hidden tax. That’s a cost for people that they cannot absorb. That a cost for industry that we’re now having to forgive when it comes to…. Mining companies are no longer having to pay their hydro rates. They’re deferring them to the future because of low commodity prices.

Now, that may well be good public policy. We can debate that here. But when you’re a regular person and you see your hydro bill going up by hundreds of dollars and you see large mining companies, major contributors to the B.C. Liberal Party, getting a break, that’s a disconnect.

[3:00 p.m.]

That’s why 57 percent of the people who voted in this past election voted for people on this side of the House. And that’s why we believe that it’s time for change. That’s why British Columbians are saying it’s time for change.

Neglected services. I live on Vancouver Island. I know that we represent, on this side of the House, save but one, all of the members on Vancouver Island. We represent coastal communities, and we are ferry-dependent communities. When ferry rates double and, in some cases, triple — 80 percent increases on major routes — that’s a disconnect.

When the government says, “We’re making life more affordable,” that’s not the reality for the people that I represent. It may be the reality for the member for Peace River North, but it’s not the reality for the people in Langford–Juan de Fuca. When they hear ministers stand in this place and say, “Everything’s great,” they go: “It’s not great for me. My wages have been flat for the past decade. In fact, I’m concerned about meeting my mortgage payment. I’m concerned about meeting my rent, and if I am renovicted because of a rapid development in my community, I might not find a place to live.”

So when a minister stands up and says that there are rules, as the current Minister of Housing has done over the past number of days: “There are rules that we all expect people to follow” — fair enough, but guess what. People aren’t following those rules. So what are the consequences when people can’t find a place to live? What are the consequences when they see their government talking about everything being fine, but their reality is tragic and catastrophic for them on a personal level?

That’s a disconnect. That’s the challenge that the people on that side of the House…. That’s why they did not receive majority support across the province. That’s why tomorrow, there’s going to be a change around this place, and it’s long overdue.

There’s been a recent interest in vulnerable people, as well, by those on the other side of the House, although income assistance rates have remained the same for a decade. People with disabilities got a modest increase last year, but at the same time, they had their bus pass and their travel privileges taken back, or a new cost added to them.

People living in poverty is not a new phenomenon in British Columbia or North America or, indeed, the world, but in a place as prosperous as British Columbia, it’s unconscionable that a government can sit for 16 years and allow child poverty to run wild and ensure that many, many people are in deep poverty and may never be able to get out of it. That’s not a government that cares about the vulnerable. That’s a government that is focused on the wealthy and the well connected, and that is why they did not receive majority support in this last election.

The writing is on the wall. We expected the B.C. Liberal Party, which I have been sitting across from for the past decade and a bit, to stand and deliver a throne speech that represented the values that they have put forward in election after election after election and have stood in this place and defended in throne speech after throne speech after throne speech. Instead, we had the bizarre phenomenon of hearing Green platform planks being put forward, New Democrat platform planks being put forward as if they were now all of a sudden the best ideas that the government could find.

Well, I agree. They were the best ideas the government could find, but they’re not their ideas.

I know there are many members on that side of the House who find it anathema to be sitting and listening to an NDP and Green throne speech being delivered, and I know there are many outside of this House that are exercised that the party that they felt stood for a certain set of values had somehow abandoned those values for one fundamental principle, and that was clinging to power. It doesn’t sit well on you, hon. Members. It doesn’t sit well on this place.

The challenge we all have now is that there is a genuine desire to work together. We must work together, all 87 of us — again, a quarter of us representing their community for the first time. We want to make sure — I want to make sure — that members can stand, as the member for Peace River North did, and say passionately what he believes and passionately about what his constituents deserve. Equally, the member for Maple Ridge–Mission should be able to stand and ask questions in this House without be denigrated by the leader of the government for cheap political points.

I want to make a commitment here and now that going forward, I believe all 87 of us should be valued members of this House. That has not been my personal experience over the past decade and a bit. I want to make a commitment to the ten new Liberals and, absolutely, to the 14 New Democrats and the two Green MLAs who are here for the first time that a new government will work with everyone to bring forward the best of ideas.

[3:05 p.m.]

Although I feel passionately about what I ran on, when it is part of a government package, I think we can all find the parts that we want to support. And if we disagree, it will not be, and it should not be, the end of the world. As you know, families sometimes disagree. I oftentimes have to grapple with the remote control to make sure that I can watch the Big Bang Theory because my spouse can’t stand Sheldon, but we work it out. We work it out. I appreciate that’s a small issue for many people, but that is, I think, representative of the challenges that we all face. We’re not always going to agree. There have been times when the member for Victoria–Beacon Hill and I have disagreed. I like a dipped cone; she doesn’t. These are the differences we have.

Sometimes in this place, there are going to be heated exchanges, and that’s a good thing. We need to be passionate about our values, wherever we come from. But we also have to remember that at the end of the day, we were all sent here to do the best we can — to make this province the best we possibly can, a better B.C. That’s what I campaigned on; that’s what I want to deliver in this House.

What I found on the election campaign…. I talked to the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head about this. I know that my colleague from Kingsway and my colleague from Beacon Hill have gone into election campaigns as leader of a political party. I had never done it before. It was inspiring for me to see the volunteers in every campaign I went into, in every community I went to. The people who came with their stories — that invigorated me. As an Irish descendant, I love stories. I love to tell them; I love to hear them.

As I travelled around, I met so many spectacular people, oftentimes random exchanges. Hon. Speaker, you know this as a member who likes to wade into the scrum and talk to people, sometimes passionately. When people come toward you as an elected representative or someone running for office — when they have ideas, when they have concerns — their passion incites passion in me. I met a couple in a coffee shop in the Downtown Eastside, in the riding of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, two disabled people on a disability pension that could not get married because it would have a negative impact on their financial situation. That struck me as ridiculous.

Why would they not be able to marry? Why would two people in love not want to have the opportunity to share the rest of their life together in harmony and under law and under any other religion you may want to have? They would not do that because it would have a negative impact on their financial situation. That’s an issue that I believe we should be able to address rather quickly, but they have been struggling, with the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, trying to get resolution to that personal issue. It might be a small thing to some, but when it comes down to not being able to have an extra 50 or 100 bucks at the end of the month when you’re struggling to get by, it’s a big deal. I believe we should be able to solve the problems of people like that when we come upon them.

We’re privileged to be here in this House. It’s a tremendous honour to be here, to be able to affect positively the lives of not just our constituents but people we meet along the way. Whether it’s on the ferry, whether it’s travelling just down the street, you should be able to affect people’s lives and make the changes they want to see.

I met a couple, Inder and Ahmed, a young couple that had come back to Canada. They married, and they settled down in Surrey. They wanted to make a life for themselves, but they couldn’t find a place to live. While they were struggling to find accommodation, they found that they were blessed with a pregnancy and were about to have a child. I understand that the child was born healthy and happy, but they’re still struggling to find a place to live that’s affordable and will meet their needs. They’re worried now about child care.

This is a microcosm that families, young people, are facing not just in the Lower Mainland but right across British Columbia. Although I’m gratified to hear that the people on the other side of the House have now embraced passionately the importance of increasing child care spaces, I think it’s a little bit late. I think the voters think it’s a little bit late as well — and disingenuous, at the 11th hour, when you’re facing a confidence vote, to say suddenly that the issues and values of the people on this side of the House are now our values. I think that doesn’t sit well with the voters, and it doesn’t sit well with me.

Forest workers in Merritt who lost their jobs, forest workers across B.C. who may well lose their jobs because of the debilitating border taxes that have been brought forward by the United States — these are issues that we need to be addressing not just rhetorically but aggressively in Washington by having a delegation that will go there and make the case. I know that the Speaker understands these issues quite well. He’s been fighting for them for the past number of years — but not, clearly, well enough to make a difference in the minds of decision-makers in Washington. We need to redouble our efforts. I’m committed to doing that.

[3:10 p.m.]

I met another woman, Marjorie, on the campaign trail. She was 93¾. She thought it was two-thirds, but we worked it out. She was 93¾. Instead of being in long-term care…. I know that one of the members was making reference to the commitment of this government to increase access to long-term care facilities. Instead, she ended up going in and out of the wards at St. Paul’s Hospital in the member for Vancouver–West End’s constituency. That’s not appropriate care for anybody, but particularly not at 93¾.

Now, Marjorie has since passed away, so she no longer needs that space. But in her last days, rather than being in a comfortable place surrounded by her family, she was in a ward with a lot of noise, a lot of activity and a lot of fright. For someone ending their life, I don’t believe that’s the best way to go in a province as prosperous and dynamic as British Columbia.

I stay at a particular hotel — I’m not allowed to say now anymore where I stay — in Vancouver when I’m visiting, and I’m often served by a woman named Erin. It’s a union hotel. It’s union wages paid to the staff in the restaurant; the servers get a union wage. I was talking to Erin one day, and she said: “Can you pay Pavel, because I’ve got to go. I’ve got to get to my other job.” I said, “What are you talking about?” and she said: “Well, I have to go back to Port Coquitlam.”

She comes in every day from Port Coquitlam to be a server in the morning at the hotel that I stay at, and then she goes back to the Tri-Cities to take on her second of three jobs so she can make ends meet. She’s a woman of middle age.

I apologize, Erin, if you’re watching, but you’re not as young as you used to be.

She’s a woman of middle age, and she’s struggling to make ends meet — with three jobs. When she heard that the Premier, until recently, was getting two salaries for one job, that offended her. That was the impact of big money, in her mind. It wasn’t the distorting effect that union and corporate donations have on our political process. She was offended that someone who’s already paid a pretty princely sum was getting additional revenues from her political party because of her fundraising abilities. That offended people. That alienated voters from your camp.

That’s something we need to address. That’s something that we shouldn’t just address because it’s the eleventh hour and you don’t have enough support in this House. It’s something we could have, should have addressed last year or the year before that or any other of the six times that we on this side of the House tabled legislation here that we could have all cooperated on.

It was there to be read. It wasn’t 30 pages on one day in a four-day week. It was there over the course of a decade for a decision to be made, and it was rejected by that side of the House — disingenuous. That’s why people don’t believe that the problems that have been created by that side of the House can be fixed by the people that now sit on that side of the House. And that’s why we need a change.

We’re going to address hydro rates. We’re going to address ferry fares. We’re going to address ICBC rates. We’re going to work to make sure that renters get a break when they’re trying to find a place to live. We’re going to put in place a renters rebate — 400 bucks for renters across British Columbia — to make life a little bit easier for them. Homeowners get a homeowner grant. Why shouldn’t renters get access to a government resource to help them along the way? We’re committed to doing that.

We’re going to address mental health and addictions by making sure there’s someone that gets up each and every day in the cabinet that’s responsible for making life better for those who are struck down by addictions, those who are afflicted with mental illness. That’s a commitment we made during the election campaign. That’s a commitment that this side of the House, both parties — the Greens and the New Democrats — are focused on, and we’re going to make sure we do our level best to have a genuine impact on people’s lives.

It has been over a year since the public health authorities declared a public health emergency in British Columbia, and it’s getting worse, not better. That does not speak to success; it speaks to failure. We need new eyes, a new approach, a new way of doing business, and we’re very excited about getting on with that.

Young parents who are concerned about child care spaces have not just had a recent conversion on this side of the House. There’s a passionate commitment on this side of the House to make sure we’re providing additional support, additional spaces that are safe and affordable and accessible. We’re committed to it. We’re going to do it.

Commuters stuck in gridlock right now — four years of inaction on transit and transportation initiatives in the Lower Mainland because of the government on that side of the House’s commitment to making sure that there was a plebiscite or a referendum before any expenditures could be made. That’s left people stuck in traffic. That’s left us four years behind on the choices and the decisions we need to make.

We want to eliminate the tolls. Now I understand that that’s a great idea. We thought it was a good idea. The voters in Surrey thought it was a good idea. The voters in Maple Ridge thought it was a good idea. We campaigned on it, and we’re going to do it.

[3:15 p.m.]

Seniors. Nine out of ten publicly funded seniors facilities in British Columbia do not have adequate staffing resources to meet the needs of their patients. We need to do better. We need to make sure that home care is genuine; it’s not just a slogan. We need to make sure that home visits are better than 15 minutes and that our seniors, our citizens that are vulnerable get the services they need, the services that they deserve.

We’ve talked about income assistance increases. We’ve talked about increases for people with disabilities. We’ve talked about putting in place a poverty reduction plan. The only province in Canada that does not have a poverty reduction plan is the province of British Columbia — among the most prosperous, if you listen to the Minister of Finance today, brimming with additional revenues. Yet we don’t have a plan to address what is debilitating poverty for many, many British Columbians.

We want to make British Columbia a leader in climate action again. We’ve worked with the Green members to come forward with a plan that we’re going to work hard on over the next number of years to make sure that British Columbia once again leads the country, that we’re actually reducing our emissions and doing that without having a debilitating effect on families right across this province.

We’re going to create jobs building transit, building bridges, building schools, building hospitals. When we’re spending public money in communities across British Columbia, we’re going to ensure that there are local-hire provisions, and we’re going to ensure that there are apprenticeship ratios, more people being trained on the job so that the next generation of workers is prepared for the challenges in the future.

We’re going to make sure that we’re working cooperatively with First Nations by recognizing fundamental rights, by ensuring that we’re respecting the values, culture and history of First Nations right across this province.

We’re going to right past wrongs, and we’re going to move forward together, building British Columbia in every corner of this great province, ensuring that First Nations rights and title is respected and ensuring, most importantly, that the Tsilhqot’in decision and the consequences of rights and title in British Columbia are understood by investors, understood by communities, and that we can all work together to be prosperous. Doing so in harmony with our First Peoples is critical. It’s fundamental, and we are committed to doing that.

This has been a bizarre week for all of us. It’s going to be a bizarre tomorrow. I want to thank you for indulging me today, hon, Speaker, to have the opportunity to speak to the Legislature for the first time in this session. I am deeply honoured to be here. I am deeply honoured to have a team as fine and diverse as that on this side of the House.

Look at them all, smiling away, happy, ready to go, ready to roll up our sleeves and meet the commitments that we made to British Columbians seven long weeks ago.

We want to make life more affordable for British Columbians. We want to make sure they’re getting the services that they depend on, and we want the economy to work for everybody. At all times, we’re going to be focused on making life better for British Columbians.

With that, I would like to move:

[Be it resolved that the motion “We, Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious Speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present Session,” be amended by adding the following:

“but Her Honour’s present government does not have the confidence of this House.”]

I move that motion with the sincere hope that we can have a peaceful and just transition to a government that’s going to work for all British Columbians.

Mr. Speaker: The amendment is in order. Debate continues on the amendment.

Member for Cowichan Valley. Sorry. I was going to recognize you as the seconder, but I’ll recognize the member for Delta South.

On the amendment.

I. Paton: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

I will begin by saying that I take a very different view, and I’m obviously very opposed to the….

Mr. Speaker: Member, on the amendment.

Sorry, just to be clear, we are now speaking to the amendment.

[3:20 p.m.]

I. Paton: Thank you, hon. Speaker. I’m now speaking to the amendment.

I will start out by saying that I rise to address the House today to speak about the Speech from the Throne. It’s my maiden speech here in the Legislature.

Politics is sometimes certainly about listening. It’s about listening to the people, it’s about listening to our constituents in all our different ridings, and sometimes it’s about sports.

We’ve all watched sports, and we’ve watched teams that go on winning streaks. We see teams that are doing very, very well — for instance, in the Stanley Cup playoffs. They’re the winners. Our team was the winner — the most seats, the most votes in this province. Yet sports teams will say: “We can do better. We may be up by two games in the playoffs, but I think there’s room for us to do better when it comes to our next game.”

What we did as a caucus is we sat down, and we, as a caucus, decided that we have listened to the people, that we have heard ideas from our constituents. We have knocked on doors. It’s not rocket science to come up with ideas as a caucus, which we all put together and which were part of the throne speech. These are ideas that are based on fiscal management, fiscal responsibility by this party and ideas that can be put into place with great fiscal responsibility.

I’d like to speak now a bit about my family, about this wonderful opportunity for me to be here today representing Delta South in the Legislature. First, to my family, I’d like to thank my mother, Marge, who’s going to turn 90 years old in a matter of a few weeks from now. My mom lives on the farm with us in Delta. She lives in an older heritage house that was built around 1905. She still loves her gardening, she still loves working around the farm, and my mother still, believe it or not, loves to drive into Ladner three or four times a week to volunteer at the hospital for her favourite hospital auxiliary thrift shop.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d also like to thank my father, Ian Paton Sr., who goes by the same name as me. My dad passed away about ten years ago. He was a huge part of my life. He was a partner with me on our dairy farm. He was a partner with me in our farm auction business. My dad was a professional agrologist. He was a UBC graduate in agriculture. He was also chairman of the Agricultural Land Commission and agricultural land reserve in the 1980s.

I also want to thank my children — my son, Tom, my daughter, Jamie — and two beautiful granddaughters, Maddy and Ainsley. I’d like to thank my brothers and my sister — my brother Bryce; my brother Dave and my sister, Glenda.

Of course, I’d also like to thank my wife, Pam. Pam was an integral part of my campaign. She was my campaign manager. We talk about stability in government. Stability in marriages is very important as well, and it teetered at times, but we certainly appreciate the work that my wife did to band us all together and to run a good campaign in Delta South.

Next I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped me. I can start out with a young fellow that may be known to our party, a young man named Dylan Kruger. Dylan had been working in Vancouver. He lives in Ladner, and Dylan has decided to become my CA. He was an integral part of my campaign, and I’m very, very happy to announce that Dylan Kruger is now going to be my CA in my Ladner office.

I also want to thank young people such as Will Zylmans; and Pip Steele, who was our financial agent; and Kelly Guichon, who is president of our South Delta riding association; and some other good young men, such as Taylor, Patrick, Tyson; Gordie Freeborn and, of course, the finest fire department in all of British Columbia, union 1763, the Delta fire department, which was such a great help for me during my campaign.

Lastly, I’d certainly like to thank all the voters who chose me as their representative. I suppose I should throw in that I’d like to thank Jason Alexander, a.k.a. George Costanza, who happened to be on my farm getting ready for a film shoot the day before the election and suggested that I have my picture taken with him next to an election sign on my front lawn. That certainly helped out.

[3:25 p.m.]

As for me, I grew up on the farm where I’m living today, and I’m not so sure that too many people can say that. I was born in 1956 on our farm. I’ve never really left. I’m still living there to this day in my grandfather’s house. We have a house that my wife and I live in. It was built about 1930, and my mom’s heritage house is right next door on the farm.

I graduated from UBC in 1978 with a degree in physical education. I was going to become a phys ed teacher, which I did. I got my teaching degree, but after a year or so, I decided to move back to the family farm and join in business with my father in our farm auction business and on our dairy farm.

For many years, I was involved, also, in the farm auction business with two partners in Abbotsford in a cattle stockyard, so I’ve had a great deal of experience over the years dealing with livestock auctions, horse auctions, farm equipment. I’ve even, at times over the years, filled in and work for Richie Bros. and different auction companies of the sort.

I would like to also thank my experience and my time on Delta city council. I cannot thank enough the mayor of Delta, our CAO, my fellow councillors at Delta city hall and, of course, the staff at Delta city hall that have given me a great deal of guidance over the years on the workings of the municipality, how we run council meetings. Sitting in, acting as acting mayor has given me a great deal of experience, and I certainly want to thank them for all their help.

I’ve also sat on committees at Metro Vancouver for regional planning and agriculture, so I’ve had a very good taste of municipal politics. And I’ve been taken, on a few occasions, to Ottawa with our mayor and CAO to deal with federal issues regarding Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta.

The small towns of Ladner and Tsawwassen that make up my riding of Delta South have a very special place in my heart. Perhaps some of you may or may not know, but we have some very, very interesting and special places in Delta South.

We have Burns Bog, which is one of the most unbelievable bogs in the world. It is in a Ramsar designation, for the environmental importance of Burns Bog. We have the Reifel sanctuary on Westham Island, which is probably one of the biggest migrating waterfowl stopovers in North America for waterfowl coming down from Russia and Alaska. We have Centennial Beach; we have Tsawwassen Beach. We have many wonderful events in Delta and south Delta such as the Tour de Delta, one of the great bike races in British Columbia, which is coming up in just a few weeks.

We have the famous Ladner Village Market, which goes every second or third Sunday in Ladner. We have Ladner May Day, the Tsawwassen Sun Festival and, of course, the biggest agriculture day for city folks to come out and meet country folks. It’s called Day at the Farm. It takes place in September on Westham Island, on Vancouver Island….

My grandfather John Paton homesteaded our family farm many decades ago. My father followed in his footsteps as a dairy farmer, and I had the passion to do the same.

In my auctioneering duties over the years, besides professional auctioneering of cattle and farm equipment, etc., I’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars with my auctioneering abilities for different charities throughout B.C. I’ve helped out many, many galas, as we all know — for Canuck Place, for Canadian Cancer Society, for Alzheimer’s, for the Delta Hospital, for Variety Club, for guide dogs, for the chambers of commerce. I’m certainly pleased to do that. And I have never charged a penny to go out on weekends and Saturday nights to help out at these fundraisers to give them help as their auctioneer.

My family has always been very active in our community. My father, back in the 1960s, decided that we needed an ice arena in Delta. We did not have an ice arena for kids to play anywhere in Delta, and he got together with some farmers and some Ladner businessmen and said: “How can we do this?” They got together, and they raised some money. They turned an old hangar at the Boundary Bay Airport, which was just closed down after World War II…. They converted an old hangar into the very first ice arena in Delta for children to be able to play hockey. There was curling and figure skating as well.

My dad also was one of the founding members in Delta that got together with community members and said: “Why don’t we have a hospital here in Delta?” Because of their hard work and their vision and fundraising, we eventually got a hospital built in Ladner, which is there to this day. It’s a very, very fine community hospital.

[3:30 p.m.]

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

I guess that you probably may wonder how I learned my auctioneering abilities. My father, to supplement his farm income on our farm in Delta, went off to auctioneering school in Mason City, Iowa, in 1953 to learn to become a cattle auctioneer, and that’s how I followed in his footsteps.

My sister, Glenda, also worked for 27 years at the Delta Hospital as a registered nurse, and as I said before, my mother has been volunteering in the hospital auxiliary — one of the longest-serving hospital auxiliary volunteers — since the late 1960s, before the hospital was ever built. So I think the Paton family has certainly contributed over the years to the Delta Hospital.

Personally, as far as community involvement, I’ve done many, many things over the years. Some people in the House may recognize an old community hall on Ladner Trunk Road and No. 10 Highway in Delta — the East Delta Community Hall. It almost burnt to the ground in 1992 because of a arsonist’s fire.

People said that perhaps it should just be bulldozed down, but myself, my neighbour David Terpsma, some of our farming friends and community members got together and said: “Let’s take a year and a half out of our life, and let’s rebuild this beautiful, historic community hall that was built in 1928.” We put it together, we volunteered our time, and to this day, it is a beautiful community hall on Ladner Trunk Road in Delta. We were given the Citizen of the Year Award, as a group, back in 1993 by the municipality of Delta for our work, volunteering to rebuild this community hall in Delta.

I’ve been a Delta councillor since 2010. The ability to effect positive change in my community through good public policy is very rewarding. Public service is in my family’s blood, and it is an honour and a privilege to now continue that service in the Legislative Assembly. My mother and my father were, in 1992, both awarded a Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal for their service in our community. My mother and father were both awarded this medal by the federal government, by the Queen, for service in our community of Delta.

As I reflect on my constituency of Delta South, I’m reminded how important it is to have stable government. British Columbians have spoken, and we know they want to have a stable government that seeks a balance between economic growth, investing in areas like health care and child care, while also protecting the environment. Balance is what I think this throne speech is all about. If this throne speech receives the confidence of the House, the government will move to introduce legislation that will reform campaign finance rules. The people have spoken, and we are taking action.

We will ban corporate and union donations and take further action to reform the system. We’ll also limit the donations that could be made by individuals to a level similarly seen in other jurisdictions. Foreign donations would also be banned in these reforms. Comprehensive reforms will also include banning donations from third parties that accept foreign donations so that foreign money has no avenue to attempt to influence British Columbian politics. In addition, it would also restrict the role of money influencing elections through third parties.

Elections should be about the voice of the people and what they believe in, and not who can get the single biggest political donation in British Columbia history. Under our legislation, federal political parties would no longer be allowed to transfer money to provincial political parties. This would have ensured that all donations any party received were raised under the same campaign finance rules.

In addition to maintaining a level playing field, loans that political parties take out should only come from financial organizations such as chartered banks or credit unions. Loans from private organizations or unions would be banned under these comprehensive reforms. This would go far to make sure that there isn’t any type of leverage of one individual or union over an elected official or their political party. Also, these same reforms, should we continue to be government, would also be proposed for local government candidates and their political parties, eliminating the potential for leverage over candidates at all political levels.

Regarding the urban-rural divide, I’d like to now change the subject. This throne speech provides a path to bridge that gap. As a member from a riding that has both rural farmland and the urban communities Ladner and Tsawwassen, I feel this is a significant issue for my constituents. In Delta, we have 23,000 acres of land in the agricultural land reserve, and we can brag that we lead Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley with 76 percent of our agricultural land in Delta being actively farmed, which leads Metro Vancouver, Surrey, Cloverdale, etc., with the amount of land that we’re actively farming in Delta.

[3:35 p.m.]

We have opportunities in our community for young farmers, which is a passion for me. I’m seeing a change in the last 15 or 20 years. Young farmers are starting to stay with their families. Young farmers are starting to look at a brighter future for agriculture. Young farmers, boys and girls, are getting involved, becoming partners with their parents. We’re keeping family farms, and we’re seeing much more profitability in farming in Delta.

We’re also seeing young farmers thinking outside the box, which is very, very interesting for me. You know, in the good old days, you grew potatoes. You grew strawberries. You shipped them off to a processing plant, you sat back, and you hoped that a cheque or two would arrive in the mail in the middle of winter.

Now, with the rules that we’ve put in place for the agricultural land reserve, thinking outside the box, being able to do certain things as a non-farm use, has given young people the opportunity to take strawberries and put up a stand on their farm and create U-pick and sell strawberry ice cream and strawberry sundaes and create a little petting zoo and hay rides. The people are coming in droves to make use of thinking outside the box in agriculture, whether it’s the wine industry, whether you’re making blueberry juice, whether you’re selling strawberries.

Another is craft breweries. I’m happy to say that we have two farming families in Delta that, believe it or not, are growing organic potatoes, organic peas, and they’re also growing organic barley. When you’re going to make beer, you have to have barley, and you have to have hops. The next door neighbour, another farming family, is growing the hops, and together these families have made an application. Things have finally passed the last hurdle on Delta city council. This summer, they’re going to start building a craft brewery in Delta, and they will be making beer on this farm out of homegrown crops of hops and barley that are grown on Delta farms.

Another provincial pleasantry for agriculture in Delta was the building of the South Fraser Perimeter Road. The South Fraser Perimeter Road took up a bit of agricultural land as it was built to head off through Delta. You can come off the Tsawwassen ferry now, as you know. It is so much quicker to jump on the SFPR and get yourself up to Highway 1 up north of Cloverdale.

I spoke earlier of the Delta Agricultural Society and another institution called the Delta Farmers Institute. We negotiated with the provincial government. They kindly worked with us, with the gateway program, to provide $23 million to Delta to upgrade our irrigation system, which was so badly needed for the farmers in Delta.

If you understand the system, at a low-lying area like Delta, it’s basically based on the tides and gravity. The tide goes up. The water runs into our ditches. That’s our irrigation water. However, the salt water comes up. Because we’re so close to the ocean, we were getting much too much salt water into our ditches, and irrigation was becoming an impossibility.

A $23 million irrigation system was set up, much further up the Fraser River where there was less salinity. This system was brought forward by this government — $23 million — which has brought in a new pumping system that has forced water through a myriad of ditches and sloughs throughout Delta. The water is of much, much better levels of salt content, and the farmers are irrigating happily with it. The cranberry growers are flooding their fields of cranberries with it. We have a much better system with this new irrigation system.

We’ve seen that concerns of urban and rural residents can often be different. As members of the Legislative Assembly of B.C., we should work together to bridge that gap. Finding a balance is important. One region cannot grow without the other. We, as a province, should reflect on what we share in common — that is, living here in British Columbia, the best place on earth.

British Columbia has an abundance of natural resources, the bedrock of our success, without which we would struggle to find the very services that urban B.C. relies on. I’ve said this before in Delta, in campaign speeches. I look at our province, and I say: “We all have it fairly good here in Metro Vancouver, Victoria and places where there are lots of jobs.” We have restaurants. We have theatres. We have sports teams. We all have these wonderful things.

[3:40 p.m.]

We forget sometimes about the people that live all over this province: people that deserve good-paying jobs; people that deserve a nice holiday or vacation, just like the rest of us down in this part of British Columbia; people that live in small towns of 800 people at the very northernmost border of the Yukon; people in towns of 1,200 on the very east borders of B.C. and Alberta.

People in small towns rely on mining. They rely on forestry. They rely on transportation jobs. They rely on excavation. They rely on agriculture. They rely on building pipelines. They rely on building dams. These are the people we cannot forget about.

These are people that deserve to have what we have, down in this part of British Columbia, as well. They deserve a good-paying job. They deserve to have a nice truck and camper in their driveway and a nice holiday three or four times a year, just like the rest of us do in this part of the province.

We have a clean energy source that is the envy of the world, created by previous generations with the opportunity to transform our economy into the cleanest in the world.

When I was a young lad, my parents took us to see the building of the W.A.C. Bennett dam. It was a phenomenon — the W.A.C. Bennett dam being built. Back in those days, just like these days, there were opponents. There were people that said: “This is terrible. Why are we building the W.A.C. Bennett dam?” But it got done — and look how it has benefited our province — all those years ago. We need to look 100 years from now. We don’t need to look 10 years from now or 25 years from now. We’re building projects in this province, thinking about our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.

British Columbia is a place where we have the freedom to be ourselves, regardless if it is in our thriving urban communities or our strong rural communities. This province is built on all of our hard work, leading the country in jobs and economic growth — a financial foundation that is the envy of North America.

I believe our Minister of Finance just came back from meetings back east with other Ministers of Finance, and jokingly he said: “Other ministers are scratching their heads, going, ‘What in the world is going on in British Columbia since May 9?’”

Deputy Speaker: On the amendment, Member.

I. Paton: Thank you, sir.

Due to the strength of our rural and urban communities, the government anticipates a surplus larger than expected in February. This allows the government to propose changes that could benefit British Columbians.

Since the surplus size will not be confirmed by public accounts until July, it confirms the need to move our fixed election date to the fall so that British Columbians are fully informed of our province’s finances before a general election is held.

Whereas other provinces have structural deficits, this government has put forward five balanced budgets and created a structural surplus. Any government in Canada would gladly trade places with us. Our balance sheets are the envy of the nation.

These continued surpluses will allow the government to eliminate our operating debt by 2020, a whole year earlier than expected. This would be an accomplishment that has not been achieved under any government since 1976. The surpluses that this government has achieved cannot be taken for granted, though, and must be vigilantly watched so that they are not squandered.

With regards to our environment and agriculture. We must manage our economic success with an eye to the environment so that future successes do not come at the cost of prosperity today. That’s why our government is investing an additional $50 million for electric-vehicle-charging infrastructure across Metro Vancouver. These funds will go towards the installation of over 4,000 new charging stations.

In a world where British Columbia is rapidly switching to more efficient and electric vehicles, the Site C clean energy project will provide a new source of clean energy to power our collective futures. Site C — and the jobs and economic opportunity that come with it — is essential for the future of clean energy in British Columbia.

As a lifelong farmer, protecting our environment is particularly important to me. However, we must also be sure to preserve our farmland. My riding in south Delta was built by farmers, and farming remains an integral part of our community. That’s why I’m proud of our government’s commitment to double the Grow Local program and bring an additional 91,000 hectares of agricultural land into production by the year 2020.

In addition, last week’s throne speech committed to activating an all-party select standing committee to study new stewardship techniques for B.C. agricultural land.

[3:45 p.m.]

Protecting our Delta farmland remains one of my top priorities as an MLA, which is why I’m happy to support the measures taken by this government. As I said, my father was a chairman of the Agricultural Land Commission.

I mentioned the mitigation for the South Fraser Perimeter Road. I, as an MLA representing Delta South, will fight tooth and nail to preserve farmland and make farmers profitable in Delta. It’s very, very important that we never forget that if the farmer is making a good living and selling his product…. On the farms that will remain, the farmland will always be used. It’s important to keep the farmer healthy to preserve agricultural land in this province.

Transit. British Columbia’s transportation network is important to maintaining our province’s prosperity. In listening to the people of our province, our government is proposing changes to the tolling policy of our bridges. We’ve heard the concerns of the people who rely on toll bridges and roads, and we believe all communities should be treated equally.

This throne speech commits to eliminate tolls on the Port Mann Bridge as quickly as possible. I can speak on behalf of Delta and being on Delta council that the burden of people not wanting to pay tolls that are funneling through North Delta and Surrey to get onto the Alex Fraser Bridge or to go to the Pattullo Bridge…. This is going to be a wonderful announcement that will, hopefully, thin out the traffic and make traffic more accessible on all the different crossings, rather than people trying to avoid the toll on the Port Mann Bridge.

Our government will also ensure funding for the mayor’s plan to build transit and undertake feasibility studies to extend rapid transit across the Lower Mainland. My hope is that we will one day see rapid transit extend into south Delta, connecting our riding via rail to the Canada Line in Richmond and, one day, possibly connecting out to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

Another major government infrastructure accomplishment by our government is the B.C. Ferries. My riding is home to the Tsawwassen B.C. Ferries terminal and in many ways serves as a gateway to the Lower Mainland. Having achieved a solid financial footing, B.C. Ferries now has the means to transition their fleet from diesel power to liquefied natural gas. The new vessels that B.C. Ferries is procuring will also run on the more efficient and environmentally friendly LNG.

Altogether, our government is focused on driving transportation options forward across the province for B.C.’s future unified prosperity.

I’d like to speak a little bit now about a transportation issue in Delta: the new bridge replacement for the George Massey Tunnel. In last week’s throne speech, this government also confirmed again the importance of a new crossing between Richmond and Delta. For constituents of mine who travel through the tunnel every day during rush hour, this is a very important issue. The current tunnel is aging and seismically unsafe.

I cannot repeat that enough. Study after study is showing that the George Massey Tunnel is seismically unsafe and needs to be replaced within the next ten years. For the sake of alleviating congestion, protecting the environment and supporting the local economy, this project must continue.

Unfortunately, since the government of B.C. first announced the replacement project in 2012, a number of myths about the tunnel project have emerged. Some of the myths I’d like to speak about is that we don’t really need a bridge replacement. The George Massey Tunnel replacement and the bridge are very important to dealing with congestion, the safety of our fire department going into the tunnel to deal with fires where they can’t get in there with their vehicles…. We have great lineups of transportation vehicles, trucks carrying goods waiting in massively long lineups to get through the tunnel in the mornings to get to the south side, to get to the port, to get to Tilbury Industrial Park, to get to the U.S. border. That’s why it is very important to get on with our transportation.

In conclusion, I hope all members of this House can see past their partisan blinds that this Speech from the Throne goes beyond individual political stripes and sets out a plan based on all of our beliefs to help the people of British Columbia. I will be supporting this throne speech and encourage all members to do the same.

S. Furstenau: I rise today to speak in support of the amendment put forward by the Leader of the Official Opposition, that “Her Honour’s present government does not have the confidence of this House.”

[3:50 p.m.]

I did not anticipate that my maiden speech in this House would be to support an amendment to a throne speech, but I have learned over the past many years to roll with the punches, so to speak, and adapt as I’m going along.

I do want to start with some thank-yous to my incredible family, my campaign team and volunteers, to the supporters and the people of Cowichan Valley, who made it possible for me to be standing here today. I am deeply grateful.

I do not take this decision lightly to either second the amendment or stand and speak today. But ultimately, the question of confidence in this government is a question of trust. This throne speech was one of the most astonishing about-faces in Canadian political history.

This is a government that has for 16 years put money and power ahead of people. It has failed to invest in people and in our public institutions that enable a secure, stable environment for British Columbians and provide them with the means to live a healthy life.

For example, on education. This government has told an entire generation of children to wait until they have enough money to make necessary investments in education. As a teacher, I have direct experiences of classrooms where there wasn’t enough space for all the children to fit in the class. And there certainly wasn’t enough support for the many children with special needs that I had in my classes.

Without the tax cuts that this government imposed, they would have been able to make those investments for these last 16 years, and that generation of children wouldn’t have had the larger class sizes and the fewer resources that they had to deal with.

As recently as this past election campaign, we were criticized, even mocked, by B.C. Liberal candidates. We were told that we were naive and out of touch with reality, that B.C. couldn’t afford our promises, that our vision for B.C. wasn’t realistic. It’s more than surprising, then, to suddenly see this government embrace so many aspects of our vision and claim that it can all be done.

Actions speak louder than words. We have seen this government showing its priorities and its values through its actions for the last 16 years, and now this government has done an about-face and determined that we can, in fact, afford all these things.

To now put so many of the commitments outlined by the Greens and the B.C. NDP platforms into the throne speech to effectively buy our support after 16 years of intransigence on these issues is to demonstrate the same cynical approach to politics that puts the pursuit of power at all costs ahead of principle.

In the 2017 election, the B.C. Greens ran on a new vision for British Columbia that is guided by three core tenets. First, we believe that the highest end of government is to promote the health and well-being of the people of British Columbia.

Secondly, we believe that equity should be a fundamental value of government and that government should operate in the best interests of this generation and future generations.

Third, government should steward our public resources for the benefit of all British Columbians, not just for short-term gain or for the benefit of a privileged few.

Our vision is based on the conviction that government should make decisions based on principles and evidence, not political calculation and opportunism; that government should put people’s interests first, ahead of special interests and corporate donors.

Over the last few weeks, this government has shown that it is willing to abandon all pretence of its principles in the pursuit of holding onto power. It’s not just the astonishing about-face in the policies that make up the throne speech. We all have a right to change. Listening is a good thing.

Rather, it’s the actions that surround everything this government is doing in delaying the confidence vote and pushing for an election that nobody in B.C. wants right now. The motives, not the substance, are what concern me. For if the motives are simply about the pursuit of power at all costs, then one cannot have confidence that this government will stick to its new-found principles when the going gets tough.

[3:55 p.m.]

Principles shouldn’t change with the direction of political winds. That’s just jiggery-pokery. That was especially for brother Bill.

Sadly, this government has also shown that, all too often, it would rather put special interests ahead of people’s interests. The true test and the true opportunity that lies ahead of us will be when all of the proposed initiatives that the Liberals have put forward in their throne speech are put forward by the new government. The Liberals will then have a choice to make. Will they support the legislation, as they say they will do today? Or will they revert to the positions they’ve held for so many years and oppose it?

I want to trust the B.C. Liberals, but it will take more than words to make that happen. It will take action. I have a lot of experience with the words of this government, words that did not match the reality that I and my community were experiencing. I know this from personal experience in my community of Shawnigan.

We spent years fighting this government simply for the right to protect our water. My community has lost not only millions of dollars drained from the pockets of the people in Shawnigan and all through the Cowichan Valley. More importantly, we lost our trust in government. We lost our faith that government institutions were there to protect us as citizens.

For over four years we fought, all the while asking why the government didn’t protect us, why instead it seemed to be willing to imperil us. The entire process was weighted against us, against independent scientific evidence and against common sense. Yet as a community, we held fast to our own principles.

We stayed rooted in integrity, in honesty and in evidence, and after four years, we achieved the outcome we fought so hard for. The permit that had been issued by this government, a permit that allowed 5 million tonnes of contaminated soil at the headwaters of our drinking watershed, a permit that has already resulted in contaminants flowing into our drinking watershed from this site, has been cancelled.

However, the people in the community of Shawnigan, particularly the Shawnigan research group, continue to work hard and monitor this site. It came down to citizens doing the work that the government should have been doing: monitoring, ensuring our protection and ensuring that they hadn’t made a mistake, which ultimately they recognized they did.

It is with my community first and foremost in my mind as I support this amendment. The people of Shawnigan and people across B.C. have suffered under a government that puts political calculation ahead of principles, ignores evidence at will and puts special interests ahead of people’s interests. We have the opportunity today to put this kind of politics behind us, to put people back at the centre of B.C. politics, to make decisions based on evidence, not political calculation.

That’s why I’m excited to be at the beginning of this new era of B.C. politics. We can do so much better. We can govern with compassion and kindness. These are words and values that need to be far more prevalent in our political discourse. I believe this is possible. I believe all 87 MLAs are motivated to do their best for their communities, for their constituents and for the people of B.C. I also truly believe that it is time for a new approach, for new ideas and for a new government in B.C.

[4:00 p.m.]

T. Shypitka: I’ll be speaking against the amendment to the throne speech. Before I do that, I’d just like to thank some of those who helped me along the way.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the rock in my life, the one that keeps my family strong. That’s my wife, Carrie. I would like to thank my three children, Dustin, Allie and Adam. I would not have made it here without their love and their support. My mother, Lynne, and father, Keith, for all of their much-needed nervous support; and my brother, Brent, and his wife, Michelle.

To my campaign team, thank you very much for tirelessly working to support me and putting in so much of your valuable time. We had the best team, and it showed at the polls, most certainly. My campaign manager, Heather Smith, who did everything humanly possible to make our campaign as successful as it was. I’m so lucky to have her on my side. She’s one of the nicest ladies I’ve ever known. I could not have made this incredible journey without her.

A special thank-you to my predecessor, the hon. Bill Bennett. Kootenay Bill is a large influence in my life and is a major reason I got involved in government. As an MLA, Bill always told it like it was, and we respected him for it. His compassion, spirit and hard work served the people of Kootenay East for 16 years. Sometimes I get announced or introduced as the new MLA for Kootenay East, and people say: “Hey, you’re the new Bill Bennett.” I say: “Absolutely not a chance.” That mold was broken May 9. Bill was the best MLA that Kootenay East ever had. His reputation was an earned one for 16 years, and it’s far from me to effortlessly slide into that role.

I know it will take me an equal or even greater effort to measure up against the bar that Bill has set, and I welcome that, because that is what the constituents of Kootenay East deserve. I know that favourable remarks may not always come easy from the opposition in regards to Bill, but I would bet dollars to doughnuts that they all respect him for the advocacy that he made for Kootenay East. Thank you, Bill, for your years of service, and I hope you enjoy your not-so-quiet retirement.

I would also like to thank the city of Cranbrook, where I’m a city councillor and a regional director for the hospital board. I’m a director for the hospital board and the regional district. I’ve taken a leave from these positions, and my biggest regret is not fulfilling my elected duties to these boards in a full capacity. However, I feel my constituents will be better served with my new role.

I would also like to brag about one of my constituents, and that would be a lady by the name of Sophie Pierre. Sophie was involved in the formation of the Ktunaxa-Kinbasket Tribal Council; chief of the St. Mary’s Band, now known as Aq’am community, for 25 years. She served on the board of the College of the Rockies as well as receiving the Order of B.C. back in 1994. Sophie went on to be appointed as chief commissioner of the B.C. Treaty Commission in 2009. This year, Sophie was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada for her role in the B.C. treaty process and her commitment to the economic development of First Nations. We in the Kootenays are all proud of her, very much.

Now, her son Joe is the new chief of Aq’am, and he is a great guy. He’s a heck of a storyteller. I would like to say hi to Joe as well.

Part of the Aq’am community, and owned by the four Ktunaxa communities and the Shuswap Indian band, is a precious jewel of Kootenay East. That’s the St. Eugene hotel, golf course and casino. “The importance of St. Eugene to the Ktunaxa communities cannot be understated,” said Kathryn Teneese, who is the Ktunaxa Nation council chair. She also went on to say: “As a destination resort, golf course and casino, it is one of the largest employers in our region. More importantly, however, the resort serves as a reminder to the Ktunaxa Nation that through perseverance, strength and understanding, dark parts of our history can be turned into shining examples of economic cooperation and success.”

Finally, I’d like to thank the hard-working people who live, work and raise their families in the riding of Kootenay East for electing me to this House. Kootenay East is the gateway to the mountains as well as the welcoming committee to travellers coming from the east through Highway 395. We are the first place they see coming in and the last place they see going out. I can tell you they’re very happy with what they see.

I was born and raised in Cranbrook, where I saw a strong community fabric throughout the riding, which supports many local families and organizations. Simply put, the residents of Kootenay East are committed and compassionate about their community.

[4:05 p.m.]

One example of this support is our WHL team, the Kootenay Ice, Memorial Cup finalists three times, and winning the championship in 2002. We are one of the smallest populations in Canada to support a WHL team. That only comes from strong community support.

This team provides not only excitement to Cranbrook and the Elk Valley but local jobs in our community as well. Between the hotel usage from visiting teams to our fans watching the game at the rink or at the restaurants, this team helps create jobs and gives us an extra layer of livability. With new ownership now in place this year and our local fan base, I look forward to seeing a new season and to watching, with my family, our team develop young players for years to come.

My family has deep roots in the Kootenays, with members of my family living in the area for five generations. Through five generations, my family has relied on the plentiful natural resources that the Kootenay has to offer. Like my family, the hard-working people of Kootenay East managed to make a significant contribution to our province’s strong economy.

Our communities are dependent on our province’s rich resources that help drive our economy and provide jobs to our families. In particular, mining, forestry and agriculture make large contributions to our economy, and I’d like to give a shout-out to the members of the Kootenay Livestock Association, who advocate for a strong agriculture and ranching environment. I’d be remiss if I didn’t add in the names of Faye Street and Steve Street, as well as the new president of the KLA, Morgan Dilts, who are strong advocates, as well, for agriculture and ranching.

I would also like to add that tourism is hedging us away from natural resources, and communities such as Fernie are showing us great job creation revenues through tourism. These industries help us pay for health care, build schools and pave the roads we drive on every day. I look forward to representing a strong rural riding and fighting for jobs for the families of Kootenay East.

I also wholeheartedly support this throne speech, so I speak against this here today.

I had the pleasure, yesterday I believe, of listening to the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head speaking in the House. I think it was yesterday. A major theme that he touched on was that of trust and the lack of it that we had with this B.C. Liberal government. We heard, just moments before, the Leader of the Opposition speak to the same thing, and my colleague from across the floor from Cowichan Valley said the same thing. I find it ironic that the members opposite lecture this House on this topic.

Speaking of trust, and I think the Leader of the Opposition said this earlier, constituents from all over B.C. put trust in every single member that sits in this great place. Eighty-seven members have been afforded the greatest commodity anyone could accept, and that is trust — trust to govern, trust to legislate and make decisions on behalf of our constituents to ensure that all British Columbians are looked after.

Our constituents don’t care about the politics and some of the spin that we hear in this House as much as they care about working together and making it happen, and they trust us to do it. We have lots of trust in this House, on both sides, and it’s very humbling for me. If I may, I’m sure I can speak for every member present that we all take this very seriously.

A majority of British Columbians have trusted our government for 16 years, and that trust continued during this election when we received the most votes across the province and the most seats in the House.

When the member opposite for Oak Bay–Gordon Head talks about trust, how can people trust him and his party when all they talk about is doing politics differently but then sell their independent souls to the NDP? Just last week the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head said he would support a bill on campaign finance reform but then changed his mind to keep alive his blind faith in the Leader of the Opposition.

Well, let’s talk about which party British Columbians can trust to provide stability, trust to keep our province on the right path or trust to keep our triple-A credit rating alive. British Columbians can trust that our government will continue to work so that we have the lowest unemployment and youth unemployment in Canada. They can trust we will work day in and day out to have the number one economy in Canada. British Columbians can trust our side of the House to continue to grow our economy and stand up for well-paying jobs.

However, as usual, this election we listened to British Columbians. We heard that British Columbians want us to also focus on protecting our environment and strengthening our social programs.

[4:10 p.m.]

I am proud — I speak against the amendment — of the throne speech, which reflects on the lessons we learned from the voters of British Columbia. The folks on the other side of the aisle might not like it, but British Columbians want us to work across party lines, and the throne speech demonstrates that very clearly.

I will agree with the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head and state that trust is very important….

Interjection.

T. Shypitka: You’re welcome.

And the fact that we all sit in this place….

I’ll talk about forestry a little bit, because it’s a really important part of our economy in Kootenay East, as it is for most of rural B.C. Forestry really does put food on our table in rural ridings. Galloway Lumber is a prime example, and the Leader of the Opposition spoke to this the other day as well. He got one thing right. If he said one thing right yesterday — or, actually, all this week, as a matter of fact — it’s that he stated that the Nelson family is “just a hard-working family.” I would also like to add to that and say that they are very well respected and an integral part of their community.

With the protectionism coming from the government south of the border, our forestry sector is at risk. That’s why we will increase efforts to promote the use of B.C. wood abroad and fight for B.C. forest jobs. Until this issue with our American partners is resolved, we are committed to pre-purchasing B.C. wood for the construction of public housing right here at home.

Natural resources and clean energy. The families in my riding are compassionate and hard-working — people from communities such as Elkford and Sparwood. They know what puts food on their table and what keeps them up at night. Our families know that their livelihoods depend on natural resources and the jobs that come with their use. While many of the members opposite may not like it, we will continue to depend on those natural resources for years to come.

To help us transition, we will rely on clean energy projects to build a new resource future. Projects such as Site C are a monumental part of that transition and our province’s future.

Walking around Victoria, I see quite a few folks driving around in Teslas and Volts. Even the member for Oak Bay–Gordon Head drives a LEAF. I believe he does. I’m pleased to see that our throne speech includes an additional $50 million over the next five years towards the expansion of electric-vehicle-charging stations in the Lower Mainland. With more of these electric cars and charging stations being used in some parts of the province, we are going to need more electricity to power our transportation alone.

I am pleased to say that my oldest son, Dustin, works at the Site C dam as an electrician. Dustin went through our public school system, receiving a wonderful education which has allowed him to achieve his goals and thrive in an exciting career.

My son is just one example of a British Columbian that is engaged in prospering in our province’s economy. However, the members opposite want to hand a pink slip to my son and over 2,000 of his colleagues working on the Site C dam. Perhaps the members opposite should take a minute and consider their livelihoods or hard-working British Columbians when they oppose a project like Site C.

Families in my riding rely on resource jobs. That’s plain and simple. Last fall the Baldy Ridge project in Sparwood received an environmental assessment certificate. This project is an expansion of the current Teck Elkview Operations. This project will create approximately 1,600 person-years of direct on-site employment over the six-year construction period, around 4,000 person-years of total employment in B.C. in the Crowsnest Pass over the six-year construction period and roughly 31,000 person-years of direct on-site employment over the 29-year operation period.

This project required the concerted effort of three different ministries with the political will to provide long-term, well-paying jobs in my riding. My grandfather supported his family working for years in the mines. My grandfather owned one of the first sawmills in Cranbrook. I’m so proud to stand in this House and support resource jobs in my riding.

Our commitment to opening eight new mines by 2022 will ensure that rural families keep the jobs they need to provide for their families. To ensure that mining remains safe for our workers and our environment, we will invest $18 million to improve on our world-leading mine permitting oversight, compliance and enforcement process.

[4:15 p.m.]

We need a government that will get to yes on projects like Baldy Ridge and Site C so that hard-working British Columbians, families, can put food on their table and a roof over their head.

Social programs are another big one. However, the revenue from our natural resources helps pay for our province’s social programs. My wife, Carrie, works in the social services area, so we have firsthand knowledge of the difficulties that come with many programs.

I fully support the introduction of a new poverty reduction strategy with a focus on children. We will build on our success moving forward. We can continue to improve on the services that the most vulnerable in our society need most. We’re also increasing the social assistance rates by $100 per month and, further, determining a process for how we increase rates in the future. Our commitments in the throne speech provide us an opportunity to help those who need more in our province.

As far as mental health goes, there’s no safe area from this opioid crisis. It’s a tragic one, and I have met some friends that actually have been affected. That’s a concern for parents and families across this province. We are leading in our response to the opioid crisis, but we have to do more. We need to find innovative treatments that will help save lives, and we need to ensure that those who need access to harm reduction services receive the care they need, when they need it.

This crisis is not constrained by our provincial boundaries. That’s why we are working with the federal government to increase the number of RCMP dedicated to drug enforcement by 30 percent. We all know someone who has been affected by mental health illnesses, especially as we continue to raise awareness so that people can speak out. That’s why we will create a minister of state for mental health, addiction and recovery. This minister will represent the needs of those with mental health issues and addictions at the cabinet table.

Now, probably the largest issue in the Kootenay East area is that of wildlife and environmental protection. I had the pleasure of serving my community on the regional district of East Kootenay, and I’m proud to have been involved in many projects that improved the East Kootenays. In particular, we worked hard to consult with stakeholders, First Nations and accessed federal and provincial funds for trails and trail systems within our district. Families across the province enjoy hiking in our provincial parks and trails. Visiting our pristine provincial parks is an essential part of many family vacations. I’ll be going on one this weekend, I think.

Our province has the third-largest park system in North America, where families can enjoy each other’s company in the great outdoors. Our government created and funded the B.C. Parks future vision, and we are committed to providing an additional $50 million in funding, over five years, to B.C. Parks.

This investment will provide an additional 1,000 more campsites over the next five years, in addition to the 1,900 that have already been committed to, to be built; raise the standards of our park facilities; and create a youth rangers program for 250 youths, which will add staff in the parks between May and September. It will also provide additional park rangers, upgrades for accessibility requirements, upgrade trails, create First Nations cultural programs and provide Discover B.C. Parks education programs. Having visited many of the parks and trails across the province, I know how important it is that we protect our province’s natural environment so that future generations can enjoy them as we have.

I would like to add that a wildlife funding model will remain to be a priority, to address the issue of our declining ungulate population in Kootenay East as well as ensure that regional representation comes to the table to bring forward a science-based approach to this problem.

The rural dividend fund. Rural communities are a major part of the provincial economy, making oversized contributions to our provincial revenues, which help pay for the services we rely on. I touched on that a little earlier.

While many communities in my riding contain different sectors, the Kootenays still rely largely on the resource industry. To help diversify our economy, we are committing to doubling the rural economic dividend to $50 million. That’s an amazing amount of money, and it’s very well appreciated in the rural communities. Funding is available for several categories: community capacity-building, workforce development, community and economic development, and business sector development. This increased funding will help kick-start local projects in our communities that help diversify our economy so that more families can work and live in their communities.

[4:20 p.m.]

Health care is vital to our rural communities. In 2001, our regional hospital was identified as one of the worst rural hospitals in Canada. Since 2001, in the last 16 years, the province has invested millions of dollars into our hospital. Just this April our hospital completed $18 million in new upgrades. Now we have a new emergency department as well as ICU improvements. These include two trauma bays, seven redeveloped urgent care treatment bays, five fast-track examination spaces, one redeveloped airborne isolation room, one redeveloped decontamination room, one new procedure-gynecology room, one new secure room, one new quiet consult room, a renovated minor procedure room and triage area, a converted ambulance area and a total upgrade on the new electrical system.

Back in the ’90s when the NDP were in power, our hospital was so shoddy that our power source…. When the power kicked off, we would have to go down and actually put water on it to cool it down, with a hose. It was pretty barbaric.

By growing our economy, we can continue to invest in our strong health care system so we can pay for new doctors in my riding, where the community of Fernie is in need of a new family doctor.

Our throne speech commits to faster access to MRIs, which our regional hospital just received funding for; hip and knee procedures; 112 more family doctors; introducing wait-time guarantees. These investments will help ensure British Columbians remain the healthiest in the world. Mr. Speaker, this side of the House continues to prove why we are the only ones who invest in health care for our province.

Seniors — we have an aging population, especially in Kootenay East. British Columbia’s population continues to age, which increases the cost of our health care system. We have a responsibility to look after our aging loved ones, as they did for us. Many of us have aging parents, including myself, and we want to make sure they have the highest quality of care. That’s why we are adding 500 residential care beds with enforceable standards, doubling the home-renovation tax credit and creating a new respite tax credit. These investments will ensure that our seniors can age with dignity, whether that is at home or in a care facility.

A lot has been said about MSP. We listened to British Columbians in this election. We heard that people were happy with our strong economy, but they wanted us to continue to do more. As we continue to grow our economy and balance our budgets, we can afford to do more while still living within our means. That’s why we’re reducing the cost of MSP by 50 percent for households making up to $120,000 a year, saving B.C. families up to $900 a year. I know that $900 will go a long way for families in my riding.

We are committing to a review to consider how MSP can be eliminated as soon as possible. Every party in this House, and I’m sure many British Columbians, can agree we want to eliminate MSP so we can make life more affordable for British Columbians.

Child care and education. I have two young ones myself. One of the many pleasures of running for office is connecting with people at the doorstep. I had the opportunity to listen to rural British Columbians who were concerned about their jobs and our economy but also about their children’s future. A big part of that future is to ensure working parents have access to child care so their children receive the care they need.

We know that child care isn’t cheap, and we’ve taken steps to increase the number of child care spaces, but we recognize we can do more. New investments cannot wait. We need to help make life more affordable for British Columbians as soon as we can. That’s why we will invest $1 billion in child care and early childhood education over the next four years. This billion-dollar investment would be the single largest boost in our province’s history. It will lead to 60,000 new child care spaces across the province in addition to the 13,000 spaces already promised in our platform.

Families earning up to $60,000 a year will be eligible for full child care subsidies, and families earning up to $100,000 will be eligible for partial subsidies. There will also be $10 million in grants and bursaries for up to 4,000 people who plan on becoming early childhood educators. We are also committing to exploring partnerships with school districts to co-locate new spaces at elementary schools so these services are as effective as possible.

[4:25 p.m.]

Rural communities rely on our schools to help our children receive the education they deserve. My two youngest, Adam and Allie, are nine and 12 years old, so they are still going through our public school system. I’m proud of our government’s record on education, as our students lead the world in subjects like science, reading and math.

The next generation of British Columbians are finding new ways to innovate with the advancement of technology. That’s why we must find new ways to teach our children so they can continue to be innovative. And our commitment to convene with a new royal commission in education will do exactly that.

The royal commission will be responsible for providing advice on how to reduce conflict in the system and ensure student needs are always put first, how we train teachers, training methods, school funding mechanisms and testing the standards. We will also review the funding formula for school districts so rural communities that may face declining enrolment can continue to educate students in our smaller towns. These investments will ensure that British Columbian students remain world leaders in education outcomes.

In relation to housing, many areas of my riding contain housing that is affordable for British Columbians. However, there remain many challenges for people who hope to own a home. Our growing economy means more and more and more people are moving to our province. The demand on our housing stock continues to rise, and we must work towards increasing our supply so we can ensure housing remains affordable for British Columbians.

Serving in local government, I had the pleasure of working with my colleagues to speed up applications and permits for contract work, meaning a more efficient process for housing developments. Our government will work with our municipal partners to remove obstacles and barriers so we can speed up the construction of new housing across the province.

While I heard from many homeowners during the election, I also heard from renters. There are many unique challenges with renting in our province as well. We will work with the private sector to build 50,000 units of new housing across the province over ten years. These units will go into a new rent-to-own program that will be available to middle-class families. The program will help British Columbians grow their equity through their monthly rent payments until they are in a financial position to own their new home.

By working with our municipal partners and with programs like rent-to-own, we can work towards increasing the supply of housing in our province while keeping the dream of home ownership within the reach of middle-class British Columbians.

In closing, I would like to speak against the amendment to the throne speech because this throne speech is truly democracy in action. All three parties in this House went and presented their platforms to the people of British Columbia. Now the people have spoken, sending us back to this House with an unprecedented result. British Columbians expect us to work collaboratively and listen to each other’s ideas.

On this side of the House, we are ready to work together, across political and ideological lines, to provide British Columbians with a strong economy and improved social programs. The throne speech demonstrates that we are listening, as we offer the best commitments from all parties.

I’m honoured to serve my constituents in this House, and I look forward to working together with other members of this House as well. Before I quickly go, I would just like to do a little shout-out to some of the communities I may have missed, such as Jaffray, Baynes Lake, Grasmere and, of course, Moyie.

Hon. J. Rustad: It’s an honour to take my place in this throne speech debate. I’d like to start by recognizing, of course, the two First Nations in the area and their traditional territory. But I’d also like to start by thanking my constituents.

[4:30 p.m.]

It’s a tremendous honour to have the privilege of being down in the Legislature representing the good people of Nechako Lakes. They put their confidence in me to come forward and to do the best I can on their behalf, to do the best I can to find a way to bring balance to, obviously, a difficult situation that has arisen from this last election.

I also want to take a moment to thank my campaign team, the people that worked very hard so that we could make sure that Nechako Lakes’ interests were looked after and that our voice was heard in this Legislature. To my family, as well. To my wife: I love you, Kim. Our families put up with a lot in terms of us being away, the commitments that we have. I always am very appreciative of her love and support to allow me to be down here to do this job.

The throne speech that we heard laid out a vision, and it laid out a vision that was not just a B.C. Liberal vision. It laid out a vision that took ideas that we heard throughout the election, took thoughts that came from the majority of people around this province to bring together a way to be able to move forward in this Legislature, to be able to bring consistency, to be able to bring confidence and to be able to get rid of uncertainty.

I’m fascinated when I hear the opposition members talk about support and all the rest of these types of things that they have. I just want to point out some simple math — 60 percent of the people were not interested in an NDP budget, in an NDP throne speech and NDP ideas; 84 percent of the people were not interested in Green ideas. Yet somehow they think they can combine those two ideas, which the vast majority of the people in this province don’t want, and ignore the fact that there is a significant number of people in this province that like the ideas and thoughts that we wanted to bring forward.

They seem to ignore those sorts of ideas, and they feel they have a right to go forward and bring forward their version of what they want to see. Yet the intention of this Legislature is to try to work together to bring forward ideas that can work, particularly from an election that was this tight, which brought forward a minority government. I think our throne speech did that. It struck the right balance of the kind of ideas that represent all of British Columbia — not just the areas that elected those folks on the other side of the House but the entire area.

I mean, rural B.C., for the most part, is just not represented by those folks over there. They don’t understand it. It’s part of the real challenge that we’ve got, bridging that divide between rural and urban British Columbia, bridging the resource industries and the tech industries, bridging what has been tradition in our province with new thoughts and ideas, with green ideas, with being able to work in the environment and, at the same time, being able to have a healthy forest sector or a healthy natural gas sector and other resource sectors that we have in our province.

I had a real chuckle, actually, during the election. I want to share one comment that was made by the Green opponent who ran against me in that election, who said: “We just need to leave the coal in the hole and the gas in the ground and the oil in the sand and stop commercial harvesting of forestry and go back to more traditional ways, like horse logging and these types of things.” I mean, how out of touch can people be? Yet they think somehow that they could represent and properly bring forward policies and ideas that reflect the will of the entire province. It’s quite amazing.

What we did in bringing forward this was to make sure that we could bring forward ideas that brought that stability. Softwood lumber, for example, is an important component for our entire province. There are over 60,000 people directly employed, about 145,000 people directly and indirectly employed right across this province in our forest industry. They depend on making sure that we can do a good deal. We do a deal that takes our interests into consideration, and we take advantage of this window that we have with the Americans to get that negotiation done and bring stability.

Yet for the members opposite…. It was just the other day that the Leader of the Opposition — the person who would like to become the Premier of this province — asked a question about softwood lumber. That was the first time in over four years. They just absolutely ignore it, and I understand why they ignore it. It’s because the vast majority of the people that work in the forest industry didn’t vote for them, but that is not the way to be a leader. To be a leader, you have to be able to understand and reflect the issues that we have in this great province and what we need to be doing to be able to work and enhance and support the people in the province of British Columbia.

That stability, when you think about the throne speech, is why I support it. The amendment that was moved by the member opposite to try to bring down the throne speech — I get it — is politics.

[4:35 p.m.]

It’s not principles; it’s politics. Because if it were principles, they would be supporting the ideas that were in the throne speech.

It’s hard to believe, actually, speaking of principles, that the members opposite, particularly the Green members, when bringing forward a simple motion that had changed one or two words — a simple piece of legislation to give them full party status so that they could have the resources to be able to go through this particular session and be able to go through, obviously, whatever may come next — said they didn’t even want to see it. They didn’t even want to see the contents of a piece of legislation like that.

That is not demonstrating how a legislature can work effectively for the people of this province. That’s simply people playing politics and blinded by their own ideology, as opposed to understanding the message that voters have sent in this election.

Mr. Speaker, we have the strongest economy in Canada by far. That doesn’t come by chance. That comes with hard work. It comes with making difficult decisions. And it comes with laying a foundation that allows people to be able to invest and support our economy and to be able to build the kinds of futures that I think we all want.

It’s that economy, that strength, that has enabled us to be able to look at these kinds of investments that we talked about in the throne speech — whether it’s child care service expansion or whether it’s other types of social assistance, expanding the single-parent employment initiative, education investments, health investments. You can’t do that unless you have that strong economy. You think about what you need to focus on to be able to support the economy and move things forward.

When you don’t represent two-thirds of the province, it’s hard to imagine that you could even bring forward ideas that could possibly reflect what that economy is and how it needs to be strengthened in British Columbia.

I think about that particularly from a perspective of forestry and the file that I’ve had the honour to take on, in addition to my Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation file. When you look at what a simple policy that came out of the throne speech but has so much meat and intensity to it — something as simple as banning slash burning…. What that does is that changes how the forest industry now works and how they have to utilize fibre. It drives opportunity for secondary manufacturing. It drives a change in how we utilize fibre and how we make sure that we’re getting best value from it. It drives innovation in the forest industry, which creates jobs and supports our communities.

One-hundred-and forty communities in this province are dependent upon the forest industry — 140 communities in this province that the opposition has ignored. Yet when you look at what we brought forward in the throne speech, it’s those kinds of ideas that bring that kind of ability for us to be able to say that we understand and we know what we need to be thinking about and doing and how to do it in a way that is, of course, fiscally responsible for something like the forest industry.

In addition to that in the forest industry, making sure that as we go through the softwood lumber negotiations, we continue to expand our access to foreign markets, taking our wood out overseas and expanding…. In the 1990s, none of that happened under the NDP. Why? Because they never understood forestry. They never went about trying to actually expand markets and access and what we needed to do to diversify our markets.

We’ve gone now to the point where, I think, we’re up around $14 billion in exports on the forestry side. That kind of expansion, with about 35 percent of that now going into the Asian market, is tremendous diversification for British Columbia for that industry — an industry, by the way, that produces 35 percent of B.C.’s exports. Yet the members opposite hardly ever even talk about that here in the Legislature.

In addition to what we are doing around our wood abroad and what we’re trying to do there, we also know that if this dispute that we have with the Americans goes on…. I’m optimistic; I’m an optimist. I believe that we can solve this over the short term. But if it goes on, we’re going to need to do more to be able to support our forest industry while we fight to make sure we get the deal that we need for British Columbia — not doing what the members opposite suggested, which is to accept the first offer that came along, which would have put one in three workers out of work — a deal that makes sure that we have the autonomy and the ability to be able to strengthen our industry and work through.

[4:40 p.m.]

Part of that’s going to be, going forward, buying wood, pre-buying wood, for our industry, for our construction here, to make sure that we can support our mills and the people that depend upon those industries.

But we do face some challenges in the forest industry, despite the fact that since our jobs plan was in place, we have gained 10,000 jobs in our forest sector — more than any other jurisdiction in Canada. As a matter of fact, every other jurisdiction in Canada either lost jobs or was flat. Yet, in British Columbia, we were able to expand and have 10,000 new jobs in forestry.

But those challenges we face, particularly because of the epidemic of the pine beetle, something that…. I was working in the forest industry back in the ’90s when that started up, and the government of the day, which was the NDP, refused to take the steps that were needed to try to minimize that impact of that mountain pine beetle, and it devastated our timber supply. That’s a mantle that they will always have to wear, because they know it’s the truth. Everybody who was working in the industry knows it was the truth.

We, as a province, cannot be faced with that kind of irresponsible management of our forest industry, should they have the opportunity to form a government.

In addition to forestry…. We also know that the forest industry is a part of what we need to be doing with First Nations. It’s a part of how we need to work in finding reconciliation. If you want to work with First Nations, if you want to have that different relationship, you need to make sure that it’s based on economic development, that it’s based on respect and understanding and that there are ways that we can move forward that recognize the important role and the important components that First Nations bring, but recognize their traditional territories, their rights and title, and find ways to do that long-term reconciliation.

Sharing revenues on forestry. First Nations now control about 10 percent of what we cut in this province. Over the last number of years, we’ve shared about $440 million in forest revenue with First Nations — all around how we help to try to build and support First Nations as they build and support their own communities and economy.

Reconciliation in British Columbia needs to be a concerted effort. When the NDP were in power in the 1990s and the B.C. treaty process was going….

Interjections.

Hon. J. Rustad: Yes, I know the members opposite don’t like to hear about their record that you stand on, but it’s the truth. I know the truth hurts. But that’s okay. One day you’ll pick up a book and read about your history.

Regardless of that, during the 1990s, the NDP gutted the funding for the treaty process, setting it back by more than a decade. It was a brutal assault on what First Nations had seen as a hope for being able to find long-term reconciliation and addressing the types of issues that they had.

What we have done now is we’ve gone forward and said we’re supporting treaty. We’re trying to work through that with the nations that would like that. But treaty isn’t the answer for all nations. We need to find other ways to work together. We need to find ways to be able to reach long-term reconciliation.

We have now signed — over the past four years, when I’ve had the opportunity and the honour of being the minister responsible — more than 400 agreements. Those are agreements across forestry, across mining, across reconciliation, training — a wide range of things — all designed to help build and support First Nations so that they can play a major role going forward in our province and, quite frankly, be a true partner with British Columbia and Canada.

I think about that in particular because I know we’re coming up on the 150th anniversary of Canada. A 150th anniversary — that’s quite a remarkable achievement. But it pales in comparison to the thousands of years of First Nations history that came before us.

If we’re true to reconciliation, we need to find ways to be able to bring that forward so that our country does have that kind of partnership — not empty promises that we’ve heard from the members opposite about reinvigorating processes but real results. And real results are what we have done.

That is what we’re trying to do with the throne speech, and it’s what we have been trying to do over the years in the ministry. Those real results have made a huge difference. When I think about some of the people that I’ve met over time in this role — First Nations — and how they’ve seen their lives change through training…. Individuals have gone from living on the street to coming in, getting an education, being able to support their family, going and getting a job — getting a job because the resource sector is supported and the resource sector is growing in this province.

[4:45 p.m.]

First Nations live out across the province. They don’t live…. I mean, there’s a large number that do live in urban areas, but their home territories are typically out in rural areas of the province — once again, areas that they don’t represent. And you need to understand that the only way you can build economies for them and work with them in that is to understand that the resource sector has to be able to thrive. And not just about resources but also about the environment and about being respectful of the traditions in the territories, of course, that those activities are happening on.

It’s why we changed our environmental assessment process, why we include First Nations. It’s why we changed revenue-sharing. We changed the whole process of engagement and discussions with First Nations. All of that has been achieved in the last four years, and quite frankly, we’re proud of what we’ve been able to do with First Nations across this province.

For my riding, though…. It is a very rural riding: six mayors and councils — from Granisle to Burns Lake to Houston to Fraser Lake to Fort St. James to Vanderhoof — as well as many other smaller communities in other areas around. Myself, I live in Klukas Lake — not in an actual community but a little bit out of the beaten path, so to speak. They’re very dependent upon agriculture, forestry, mining and the kinds of opportunities that, quite frankly, we need to be thinking about and supporting.

They’re also very proud about the fact that not only do they live and turn those resources into revenue for the province, but they know that as a province, we are better off by having those healthy sectors. They recognize that as those revenues come in, it helps to pay for our health care and our education. It helps to pay for the kinds of investments that we’re talking about in the throne speech.

They also know that they want opportunities to be able to carry on with their lifestyle — hunting and fishing, going out and engaging in the outdoors, being able to have health care and services in their area. All of that comes with taking a balanced approach, which is what our throne speech does.

That is why members opposite should actually be thinking about: what are we bringing forward with this? How is it that we can shape this in a way that can continue that support for the province?

Things like the home-renovation tax credit — doubling that — and the respite care tax credit are things that are critical when you’re in small communities, because you don’t necessarily have the full range of services that you might have in urban areas. So those kinds of tax credits are very important — those kinds of concepts that are being brought forward.

Another component that I think about, coming from the area that I represent, is engineering. You think about the need for engineers. People come down to the Lower Mainland and train. We’ve got great educational facilities down here. But often, when people come down to train, they find employment or they go into relationships or whatever they may do, and they don’t end up going back up north. We need the training up north.

That’s why when the throne speech talks about having an engineering school in Prince George, it’s an important component that supports the whole north, because people can be trained in that north and stay in the north to be able to meet the demands that we have in growing our economy and supporting our people.

As the economy, of course, develops and as things go, people also want to have opportunities to be able to see diversification and potential so that their children and their grandchildren have that same sort of potential within those areas.

That’s one of the reasons why the rural dividend program is proposed to be doubled in the throne speech — $50 million a year to help with that diversification, help support the type of things that we want to see, like community capacity-building, workforce development, community and economic development, as well as business sector development. All of those things are important to be able to see the diversification, so not only can we have a strong resource sector, but we can see some growth and continued growth in those communities.

When you think about growth in the communities, it’s once again important to remember the differences between the vision that the NDP had — certainly in the ’90s and are bringing forward again — versus what we’re doing today. Unemployment in our area is around 6 percent. Unemployment under the NDP, in our area, back in the 1990s, was just over 18 percent — 18 percent unemployment. At a time when the rest of North America was experiencing phenomenal growth, we lagged behind and became a have-not province.

I know that the member opposite is shaking his head and smiling about the whole thing. He was there and part of the government of the day that actually created that.

[4:50 p.m.]

Interjections.

Hon. J. Rustad: Oh, smirking. Sorry, I forgot about that.

But having said that, we’re proud of the fact of what we’ve been able to achieve through our jobs plan. Whether it’s the 10,000 jobs in forestry or the 250,000 jobs that have been added in British Columbia, leading Canada in growth, lowest unemployment, all those sorts of things — they don’t come by chance. They come by design, as we try to support all areas of the province, as we try to be able to work together to be able to support those additional programs that we’d like to see.

Things like gaming grants. Just in the last few years, about $1.7 million in gaming grants have gone to various organizations and communities in my riding. I look at that, and that’s because we have the ability to afford to do those things, because we’ve been fiscally responsible and we’ve been able to do that reinvestment, just like when you hear the things that we’re putting forward with our throne speech. They are the kinds of things that we can afford to do now because of the surplus and because of the strength of our economy that we’ve helped to build.

Things like investing in First Nations with clean energy, the types of projects that we can do there with them and the types of agreements that we do in getting First Nations away from diesel, improving our environment, improving the quality of lives for First Nations, matching and exceeding the resources that are coming in from the federal government on these types of investments. It’s all about how we build that type of province that I think we can all be proud of.

But I think some of the other things that I’m probably most proud of when I think about the throne speech that came forward are, yes, the big issues of child care and expanding the ability in the Lower Mainland to move to electric vehicles; support of things like Site C that help to electrify our economy and continue with the kind of advantage that we have; and the support for things like our B.C. parks — increasing the money for the budget, hiring youth park staff. My brother, when he grew up, when he was a young person, went and had one of those jobs back in the ’70s, and it was good for him. It gave him a broad experience. It gave him a good education as part of that employment.

I think having an opportunity to be able to do these types of things, to expand the number of youth that are out working in the parks, is an important component. Increase the number of conservation officers, the wildlife management plan. Invest in our wildlife and recovery, the types of work that are in there. All of that is important components that reflect the fact that it represents the entire province, not just certain components, and that it represents what people have been talking about broadly across the province during this past election.

So for my riding, whether it’s the mills that are up and running, supporting families; whether it’s things like hay production and compression, exporting that to China, developing those markets; all of these things are about having choices for people to be able to live the lifestyles that they would like to live in this province, having choices to be able to have their kids either come into those businesses or expand to other types of things.

I think about mining. Particularly, when I think about the new mine, the Red Chris; the Brucejack, a new mine; the potential for the Blackwater project in my riding; the potential with AuRico Gold; all of these types of projects that are up in the north are done with a couple of things in mind.

First of all, we want to see jobs, and we want to see economic activity. But they’re done in a way that works with First Nations, that has First Nations supporting and benefiting these projects — actually coming to government and asking us to get going with these projects, getting them moved in because they want to see the benefits flowing for their communities, the type of employment that’s happening right across that and how they know that supports the whole region.

All of these things I find interesting, because the members opposite have seemed to be opposed all the way along the way. The member for Stikine, in a previous election, when we were talking about building the northwest transmission line, said that that was a waste of money and it should have been spent on reforestation. Yet from that transmission line, we’ve had communities that that have gone off of diesel. We’ve had the Forrest Kerr project be able to come on and supply clean energy for the northwest and for our economy. We’ve had the Red Chris mine that’s been built in his riding. Once again, we’ve got Brucejack that is being built. There are a number of other projects that are all in the area, and he said it was a waste of time.

[4:55 p.m.]

Is that the kind of attitude we can expect from an NDP government? I mean, maybe they’ll go back to trying to build power stations in Pakistan. I mean, it’s kind of crazy when you think about it, but that’s what they did in the 1990s, rather than investing in the important back grid of our province, which is B.C. Hydro, and what needs to be done there.

One other thing that I heard very clearly in my riding during the election is that people were concerned about things like child poverty, because they keep hearing from the opposition about child poverty issues. The members opposite, once again, are kind of smug and smiling about this sort of thing, but the fact is that child poverty rates have dropped by 50 percent. We’re back at levels that have not been seen since the early 1980s. And their record? Go back and look, Member.

I know you’re new to the Legislature and smiling and shaking your head. Under the NDP government, child poverty went up by 43 percent — a 43 percent increase. That came from the child first survey, not from us. Those numbers are out there. All you need to do is some research, Member, but I understand research can sometimes be difficult, because it’s nice to just drink Kool-Aid, isn’t it?

In any case, that type of improvement in things like child poverty is something to be proud of. Yes, there’s more that we need to do, and there’s more that we’re proposing to do. Through what you heard in the throne speech, these steps will be taken. But that drop in things like child poverty is an important component of why our economy is going so well. It means jobs have been created. It means people are working. It means people are being lifted out of poverty by our strong economy.

A 43 percent increase in the 1990s was for one reason and one reason only: failed policies and an economy that went from one of the leading in the country to last place. We can’t see that happen again in this province. We just can’t.

Some of the other components I think about…. The single-parent employment initiative. I talked about that a little bit earlier, how we’re planning to expand that particular program. I had an opportunity in Houston to visit some students that were taking some training, going into child care and a few other types of employment opportunities. There was a single mom there who came up to me and thanked me for the program, because without it, she had no chance to be able to improve her income, to be able to improve the quality of life for her and her family.

It’s something to be proud of — to take those kind of steps, to see the more than 5,000 parents that have gone in and done that. That’s all about the types of things that you need to do if you want to be able to improve the quality of life for people — reducing child poverty, reducing poverty in general and keeping our economy strong.

So when I hear the members opposite talk about wanting to vote down a throne speech, wanting to oppose things that they themselves think are good ideas simply because of ideology, simply because of politics and a desire for power, instead of trying to find ways to come together and work and make this Legislature function, it makes me sad. It does. It makes me sad because of the uncertainty it brings for those families, like that young lady in Houston that was taking that training program. It’s those types of things and those type of people that I know will be hurt from this uncertainty.

So I’m voting, and certainly proud of voting, for a throne speech, and will be voting against the amendment for the simple reason that, for the people in my riding and the people that I have been working with, for First Nations across this province, it’s very clear that what we have been able to do and provide has provided a huge foundation that any other jurisdiction in North America would love to have.

That foundation will allow us to be able to deliver on new programs and new ideas, forging out to be able to support families and support our entire province. That is something that we can be proud of. That’s something that I think the members opposite should really take a moment to think about — how they believe this province should really go in the future.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I thank you, and once again, I thank the people from Nechako Lakes for providing me with the opportunity to be here in this Legislature.

Hon. S. Bond: I’m very pleased to be able to stand in the House today and, obviously, respond to the throne speech and express my support for that — also, to react to the amendment that was made earlier today by the Leader of the Opposition.

[5:00 p.m.]

[G. Kyllo in the chair.]

Before I make my comments related directly to the throne speech and to the amendment, I want to assure the Leader of the Opposition about one thing. In his comments — which I think we listened to respectfully, which should be the practice in this House — he made reference to the fact that he believed that there were members on this side of the House who were sitting and listening “to an NDP throne speech being delivered” that they felt stood for a certain set of values, how had somehow abandoned those values for one fundamental principle, and that was clinging to power. “It doesn’t sit well on you, hon. Members,” he said.

I simply want to say, on behalf of the members on this side of the Legislature, that we stand united behind the core values and principles that we have and that in fact our throne speech reflected what I think British Columbians expect governments to do. That is to learn, to listen and to make changes.

I want to assure the Leader of the Opposition that this is hardly about clinging to power. It is about the appropriate process that should take place when, after an election, there is a party that gets 43 seats. There needs to be a demonstrated, visible, responsible, potential transition to power. That needs to take place in the Legislature, not as a result of a handshake in the hallway. We, as a team stand, united behind that and the vision for the throne speech. I wanted to reassure the Leader of the Opposition that we stand together.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that this is an incredible group of people that have been elected to the Legislature on both sides of the House. But I want to reflect that as an MLA who has been elected for the fifth time…. I can tell you that while I’ve stood in this House many times and responded to either the throne speech or a budget, every time I stand and speak in this Legislature I am reminded about what an honour and responsibility come with being elected as an MLA.

I want to congratulate every single MLA that was elected or re-elected and, in particular, to welcome those who are serving in this place for the first time. I can remember the first time that I realized that I had a key to the Parliament Buildings. It was incredible then. It’s just as incredible and remains that way today. Congratulations to each member of this Legislature, because your constituents have placed their faith and trust in you.

I think one of the things they expect from us is a sense that it’s not about who cares the most. So often, even in the comments that have been made regarding the throne speech, it’s about one side doesn’t care and the other side does. Nothing could be further from the truth. People who stand for public office, who take the risk of putting their name on a ballot, in my view, do that for the right reasons. What differs is our view about how you get to an outcome. How do you solve those complex issues? It’s not about who cares most.

Today we’ve heard a lot about…. We heard today from the Leader of the Opposition: “The challenge we have now is that there is a genuine desire to work together.” Well, I think British Columbians are asking themselves the question: how on earth could that be demonstrated when, in good faith, the government brought to this House a throne speech that reflects values that all of us agree are important, yet without even reading the bills, they were rejected out of hand? I’m not sure how the comments about “there’s a genuine desire to work together….”

Apparently the genuine desire to work together depends on which side of the House you’re going to have your seat on. I think British Columbians expect more than that. I want, as all of the speakers today…. You know, it’s usually us who are being accused of sort of not getting up and speaking on a regular basis. I actually miss hearing my colleagues on the other side.

[5:05 p.m.]

Usually there are some pretty feisty things, pretty feisty speeches. They bring perspective to this place. So I have to admit that we would have loved to have heard each member of the opposite side stand up and explain to their constituents why bills were rejected out of hand, for example — all of those things. I think it would have made a much more legitimate and fulsome debate for British Columbians to actually sit at home and watch.

I want to start with one of the most important things. I want to express my gratitude to the people who help all of us be here. To my husband, Bill, to my children — Chris, my daughter-in-law, Cristina, and my incredible grandsons, Caleb and Cooper, and my daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Trevor — I simply could not be more grateful for your ongoing support.

All of us recognize this, especially those of us who have been here — for me, now more than 16 years. They have a great deal of patience and understanding, especially when I miss those special days. Today is Caleb’s sports day. I got some wonderful pictures of the things that he was busy doing while we’re here debating this incredibly important…. And at this important time in British Columbia…. I’m very grateful for the photos and messages that I get regularly when I am here. I want to thank them for providing the care and support that any MLA needs.

There were certainly a couple of firsts for me in this campaign. This was the first time that my daughter and her husband were not able to be in Prince George. They live and work in Melbourne, Australia, but thank goodness for technology. It almost felt like they were there. It was also the first time in a campaign that one of my grandsons could actually read the election signs. So Caleb and Cooper, I want to thank you for enthusiastically shouting out my name every single time they saw a sign — and there were a lot of them — that had my name on it. It made those very long days a lot of fun.

I want to thank the members of the bigger Bond family, the hard-working team of volunteers that support me, not just during an election but for all of the days in between. When my grandsons came to a meeting one day and met so many of our volunteers, one of them asked me: “Grandma, is this the bigger Bond family?” From that moment on, I could think of no better way to describe them. So to the bigger Bond family, every single one of you, I am grateful for your continued support, your friendship and putting your lives on hold for me.

It’s always dangerous to name names with a group that big, but I do want to say to my campaign manager, for three of five provincial campaigns, a very special thank-you. Les Waldie, you have been an inspiration to work with. Your integrity, your values and your hard work pushed me to work harder every single day. Thank you for the countless hours spent working so hard to ensure that I would be returned to office for a fifth consecutive term. Carol, thank you for sharing Les with our team for so many years. We simply could not have done it without you, without both of you, and I will always be grateful.

I also want to recognize the incredible staff that I had the privilege of working with, both in Prince George and, of course, in Victoria. To Dorothy, Krystine and Tegan at home, and Amanda, Izak, Suneil, Carlie and Kent in Victoria, thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of our region and our province. You are all difference-makers.

The reason I’m here today to respond to the throne speech is because of the constituents I am so proud to represent. I want to thank them for their continued faith in me. I love where I live and the people who make it so wonderful. They make me want to work harder to ensure that their voices are heard and that the things that matter to them matter in this place.

My riding of Prince George–Valemount is one of the most beautiful in the province. In many ways, it reflects the diversity of our province. It has both a rural and urban component. The village of Valemount is an incredible community nestled in the Cariboo, Monashee and Rocky Mountains. It is home to Mount Robson and the Cranberry Marsh.

[5:10 p.m.]

Just a couple of weekends ago the first-ever Valemount Craft Beer Experience was held on the same day that hundreds of mountain bikers converged to take advantage of the trail system that the community has worked so hard to develop.What a fantastic job people like Michael at Three Ranges brewery, Curtis at VARDA and the Visit Valemount team did. The community was so full. It was so great to see and be a part of.

Together with mayor and council and other levels of government, including the regional district and province of British Columbia, we have worked to develop a plan for a world-class destination resort. Not bad for a community with a population of over 1,000 people. Valemount glacier development will provide jobs, grow the economy and feature some of the best skiing in North America.

I am so proud that the team includes Chief Nathan Matthew and the Simpcw First Nation — that we have worked so hard to bring this project as far as it has. It will be a major asset for the Robson Valley and for the province.

I’m also honoured to represent the village of McBride. Facing challenges on a number of fronts, the community was devastated when a recent fire destroyed the mill which was a major employer in the community. Dozens of families suddenly faced with no employment and mill owners wanting to do everything they could to support those families and their long-term employment options.

Working closely with the mayor, a newly elected council, the support agencies and the community and region, we brought together a transition team that included provincial resources and other organizations, other levels of government, to ensure that immediate care — our first concern was for those families — and that a short-term and long-term plan for recovery and growth is being created.

This is another example of how when tough things happen, people step up. I’m committed to working alongside this community as it looks to the future and the opportunities that are being identified.

You see, the challenges and the opportunities differ if you live in Prince George or Valemount, McBride, Dunster, Dome Creek or, yes, Crescent Spur. And although these days in this House and in this province are filled with uncertainty, of this I am certain. Wherever you live in my riding or in this province, there are important issues that matter to all of us, issues that British Columbians expect us to work on in a constructive, thoughtful and respectful way.

It also means we need to recognize that while our geography may differentiate us — and the election results certainly demonstrated that — all of us want a British Columbia that provides the very best opportunities for our children and our grandchildren.

As I said earlier, what differs is the path that allows us to deliver that outcome for the incredible citizens of this province. And that is why the throne speech matters. The throne speech allows the government to lay out its vision, its plan for the province. And it provides opposition MLAs with a chance to debate, consider and, yes, to propose alternative views and options. In my view, it is a critical part of the democratic process.

There’s no rule or practice that when a government presents its throne speech, it can’t reflect new actions that come as a result of messages received from British Columbians. In fact, I think that’s what British Columbians expect of their government. In presenting our throne speech, we have laid out a plan that builds on the economic success that our province is currently experiencing and reflects what British Columbians told us and told me and my colleagues and, I’m sure, the members opposite, on the doorsteps.

[5:15 p.m.]

What they said was: “We want you to find more balance. We do want you to maintain a strong focus on growing the economy and creating jobs, but you need to invest more in social services and pay more attention to the environment.”

The good news is that we are in a stronger financial position than anticipated due to accelerated economic growth.

Now, we’ve had comments throughout the day from people who are suggesting: “Well, why on earth didn’t you know that? Why didn’t you make commitments to spend that money?” It’s because one of our core principles…. Despite what the Leader of the Opposition said about us abandoning our core principles, one of our core principles is making sure that we have a fiscally prudent, disciplined approach to spending in British Columbia. Now, with accelerated growth in the economy and an additional budget surplus, it is the perfect opportunity for us to reflect in a throne speech, in the actions that we intend to take, that we can do more.

That’s what British Columbians asked us to do. Do more. They didn’t ask us to do that without thinking about the economic impacts, thinking about balancing budgets. Those balanced budgets matter.

We are in the position in British Columbia…. I think it’s important, you know — criticism today about: “Why on earth were these things rushed out the door?” Well, I can tell you, should there be a transition of power in British Columbia, I think it’s absolutely essential that British Columbians know the state of the books when that transition takes place. I can assure you that the members in my constituency will be watching to see how that surplus is spent, to look at what else needs to be done to pay for the promises that have been made.

Today we laid out for British Columbians — and I am positive that at some point in public accounts, it will be confirmed — that there’s a pretty healthy balance sheet in this province. One of the things that I know matters to the people where I live…. All of us have to look at how we’re going to bridge that divide, because all you had to do….

One of the things that made me the most sad on the night of the election was the very graphic portrayal of the division of our province. I think that calls all of us and asks all of us to look at how we do business differently. While we hear that’s an important commitment from the members opposite, the first chance there is to demonstrate that we recognize there’s a divide and that changes need to be made and that we need to do things differently — dismissed out of hand.

While that may be a tactic in this place today, I know that British Columbians will stop and look at that. I, and I’m sure the members opposite and my colleagues, have certainly heard a lot from people around British Columbia about what they think about what’s transpiring in the House today and yesterday and the day before, on both sides of the House.

We can afford to make additional investments. From my perspective, that is a core value for us. Are we in a position to make changes to address the concerns expressed by British Columbians? Absolutely we are, but it does not mean that we will abandon those important principles that have led to British Columbia being an economic leader in the country.

Now, we can have a debate in this House all day long. People are going to talk about: “Well, that’s not….” Well, maybe what we should do is actually rely on words and reports and response from people other than the people sitting in the Legislature. These are simply the facts. Since the launch of the jobs plan in 2011, our province has moved from fourth place to first place in economic growth. We now lead the country.

Whether it’s comfortable or not for the members opposite, we have moved from ninth place in job creation to first place — once again leading the country. With 250,000 jobs created, and 88 percent of those…. We certainly heard a lot of this through the campaign. You know, all we need to do is ask the members opposite to go look at Stats Canada. It isn’t me as the Minister of Jobs pulling a number out of thin air.

[5:20 p.m.]

We’ve created 250,000 jobs in British Columbia since the jobs plan was created; 88 percent of those are full-time jobs. Now, is there more work to be done? Of course there is. No one has suggested that we should simply abandon the plan and look at one sector over another. And to suggest that we haven’t paid attention…. All the members opposite need to do is go and take a look at the jobs plan. It includes technology, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, all of those things that are helping British Columbia at a time when there is a cyclical downturn in the resource-based economy.

It is prudent to have created a plan that looked at how British Columbia would weather those very difficult times, particularly in the parts of the province where I live. Maybe that’s why the jobs plan and the discussion that we had during the campaign resonated so much with men and women who work in resource-based industries. Without fail, through the cyclical times that will come and will go, they are concerned about being able to have a job to feed and care for their families.

I urge the members opposite…. When they stand and talk about simply, “Let’s just wrap it up on Site C; let’s not contemplate responsible economic development,” please know that you are talking to men and women who pour their hearts and souls into building British Columbia and, in fact, generating the majority of revenue that drives the economy of British Columbia.

Before we think about simply talking about doing things like that, I urge the members opposite to sit down with the men and women that I have sat down with who are concerned today about their futures. That matters to me, it matters to this government, and it should matter to the members opposite. It will be more difficult for them because their elected representation does not reflect the diversity of this province. So we all have our work cut out for us.

We have also gone from the fourth-lowest to the second-lowest unemployment rate in Canada, at 5.6 percent. As my colleague and friend who spoke before me pointed out, while we may not want to characterize it as back in the 1990s, please don’t be dismissive of something that was unbelievably difficult where I live.

Today in my community, we grapple when the unemployment rate looks at 6 percent or 7 percent. Where I live — and this is relevant — when this opposition was in government, the unemployment rate was nearly 18 percent. That’s not me. In fact, I challenge….

One of my colleagues, one of the members of the opposition that I work with, is looking at me quizzically. I was actually corrected during the campaign because I cited that number as just over 16 percent, only to read in the newspaper the next day that I had actually underestimated the unemployment rate at that time in in my community and pointing out to me that it was nearly 18 percent.

People were leaving British Columbia. People were closing their businesses. There was a commentary where I live that said: “Would the last person leaving please turn out the lights.”

Today British Columbia has the leading economy in the country, and today the fiscal plan that we laid out demonstrates that. It is because British Columbians worked very hard. We had a plan. We put that plan in place. There is more work to be done.

We have to recognize the place that we stand in, in Canada today. I’ve said this in this House before, so the members opposite won’t be surprised, but one of the things that compelled me to run in the first place — it seems like a very long time ago now — was when British Columbia was determined to have have-not status. What happened was that we went from first to worst in the country — first to worst. That’s not good enough for British Columbia.

[5:25 p.m.]

So yes, 16 years of hard work on behalf of British Columbians, alongside of British Columbians, to see British Columbia be restored to its place of leadership economically in this country. There is much at stake. It’s not about votes in this House, about who is going to say what and how soon we can transition. This is about the future of British Columbia and the opportunity for us to continue to lead the country. That takes hard work.

Today in British Columbia, there are more people working than ever before. Not my words — the statistics. More than 2.4 million British Columbians are employed today. Those are record levels of employment.

One of the things that I know was discussed by everyone in the campaign was the issue of youth unemployment, people talking about the fact that it’s too high. Of course, it’s too high. But let’s put that in context. British Columbians deserve that. Let’s have the facts on the table. We’ve laid out the fiscal book so that people can see where the province is. Let’s look at the youth unemployment rate.

It stands today at 9.7 percent in British Columbia. Now, I can tell you that since the jobs plan was introduced in 2011, British Columbia has created the most youth jobs in the country. No one said that it’s time to stop and that we should celebrate that; there is more work to be done. But we need to put it in the context of the information that comes out in the Labour Force Survey provided by Stats Canada — not by me, the Minister of Jobs. We simply have to look at where we stand compared to every other jurisdiction. That’s what’s at risk.

There is more work to be done. In fact, that’s why we set four new goals when we look at the importance of the jobs plan for British Columbians. Over the next five years, we want to have the most diversified economy in the country. We’re well on our way, but there is more work to be done. We need to embrace things like the clean energy sector. We need to look at technology. We need to expand our interests in agriculture. All of those things are components of the jobs plan, but we recognize that in order to have a strong and growing economy in the future, we have to continue to diversify.

Today is an opportunity for us to stand up before British Columbians and demonstrate that not just this side of the House but every single elected MLA, who their constituents had faith in, has the responsibility to try to figure out how to make this work. We’ve laid out our plan. That’s the job of the government in this House, and if there is to be a transition of power, it should take place following an appropriate process in this House.

We’ve laid out our plan. We’ve recognized the need to change directions, to make sure we listen to British Columbians, but we need to do that in the context of the progress that’s been made, recognizing the importance of trying to bridge that gap that exists between rural and urban British Columbia. We need to do it in a spirit that is respectful and thoughtful.

We have the opportunity to do that by looking at the throne speech, by looking at supporting that, by making sure British Columbians see this place as a place where there can be respectful, thoughtful dialogue, where the government can reflect the messages that the electorate gave to it, and we can lay that out.

I hope that we can demonstrate to British Columbians, in the words of the Leader of the Opposition, that now more than ever, we have to find a way. There is a collective will to work together. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to demonstrate that, starting tomorrow, by supporting the plan and the vision of the government of British Columbia.

[5:30 p.m.]

Hon. C. Oakes: It is truly an honour for me to stand in this House today to make my response to the throne speech.

It is a privilege to represent the remarkable, resilient and talented people of Cariboo North. I want to thank you so much for your support and your belief in me. And I would like to recognize the First Nations in our region as well as the elected officials for your abilities to work collaboratively and for your support.

I would like to take a moment to thank all of the many volunteers, who have worked tirelessly in Cariboo North, for your support, for your encouragement, for your friendship over my last four years as an MLA and during the election. I am truly humbled by your incredible support.

I would like to take a moment to single out a particular volunteer: Carol Pitkin. Carol contributes so much to our community, whether it’s her role in supporting the Quesnel Downtown Association, or Rotary or so many of our local community events. Carol continues to leave an incredible, strong legacy in our community.

I am grateful to have amazing staff, both in the Cariboo and in Victoria, and I wish to thank you so much for your incredible commitment to constituents and to our ministry. You lead with compassion and dedication, and I appreciate it. Happy birthday, Kirby.

I would also like to thank my family for your continued support. In fact, first, I would like to say welcome to all of the new members in this House, and I want to thank all the families of the members of this House, because I know how difficult it can be during elections or time when we’re in Victoria and families are back home.

My family has this tradition that goes back generations. On Father’s Day, our family gathers to celebrate together and to share valued memories. This year we celebrated on the Oakes homestead. The Oakes family lived in Vancouver, on Rupert and Boundary, during the Great Depression. My great-grandfather was an incredibly talented blacksmith but, like so many families at that time, found it very difficult to access work.

The government of the day had this program. It was a railway grant, and it provided an opportunity for families to move to have access to work. So my family moved to the Cariboo in 1933 on this grant, to the community of Moose Heights.

As I walked through the homestead this year with my grandmother Olive, who is truly one of the most amazing people I know, we shared how fortunate our family has been to have had this opportunity to create a new beginning for our family and how, generations later, our tradition on Father’s Day of coming together reminds us of our humble beginnings and of the tremendous opportunities that we have been provided.

I share this story as it is why I’m so incredibly proud of programs like the single-parent initiative that we are presenting to this House today in an expanded format. I understand firsthand how the support of a government to help families get a job can create a legacy that can last generations.

My brother is an avid hockey fan, like so many of you in this House, and he had a very interesting reflection after this election. He had this comment on election night that I truly reached the NHL of politics.

I studied political science in university. While I know my parents would have preferred me to study business or accounting, this political science degree and my incredible appreciation for democracy and parliamentary procedure have been especially significant during this 41st parliament. It is my long-held value of the importance of respecting our traditions, our parliamentary conventions and standing orders. I respect the rules of this House. They are the tenets, the foundations of democracy. You chip away at that, and what other freedoms are you willing to chip away at?

[5:35 p.m.]

One only needs to look around the globe or at history to understand the consequences of not respecting parliamentary processes. This also provides me with a significant appreciation for the importance of legislation that we bring forward in this House.

In this throne speech, our government presents to British Columbians campaign finance reform. Earlier this week we presented a substantive piece of legislation, Bill 3, Election Amendment Act, 2017. This builds on the important pieces of legislation that I’ve had the opportunity to bring forward in this House as Minister of Community — the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, the Local Elections Statutes Act — a white paper on expense limits and a committee made up of members from both sides of this House who travelled across the province, consulted with citizens across British Columbia.

It is work that we continue to work on in response to what we’ve heard from British Columbians. Legislation is an important part of governing in this House, and it requires stability to achieve this. The elements of this are why I support the throne speech.

This throne speech will support our region and our province by creating diversity in our economy, creating jobs, while at the same time providing support to those who are vulnerable in our society, ensuring that we’re taking care of our seniors, who helped build our province.

This throne speech is an investment in our most valuable provincial resource: our people. Our discipline and focus on strong fiscal management has provided us with better than forecasted results. There is no doubt that our economic plan is working.

Today our government presented a fiscal update that shows updated real GDP growth in 2016 — received in June from the Economic Forecast Council — and shows B.C.’s economy grew by 3.7 percent. This is the highest rate among the provinces for the second year in a row and some of the fastest growth in more than 20 years. The growing economy created 73,300 jobs in 2016, including 38,500 full-time positions. This matters to British Columbians.

The fiscal update also shows that B.C. has been able to invest $1.9 billion in new spending in 2016 and 2017: $758 million to fund housing initiatives, $486 million to increase health care spending, $256 million to increase educational spending, $137 million to increase social service spending, cutting MSP premiums in half and a record level of capital investment. This matters to British Columbians. It’s taken a significant amount of work.

B.C.’s strong economy means that we have the ability to fund the new promises that we have put forward in the throne speech, which we believe are supported by the majority of British Columbians. It brings in new investments in social services like child care, early childhood education, social assistance and mental health services. It does so while committed to continued balanced budgets and economic growth, staying true to our government’s principled approach to living within our means and ensuring we don’t leave future generations with the bill for today’s spending. Along those lines, we remain committed to paying off our operating debt now one year earlier than anticipated.

This economic growth has resulted in our government making over $100 million in investments in Cariboo North in 2016-2017 alone. I have been so blessed to have worked hard with many organizations and individuals to identify ways to grow our economy.

Over 18 months, I led, on the ground, an unprecedented pilot by our government to look at how communities in transition can create new opportunities. We were fortunate to have ministries from across government come to our region and listen to First Nations, elected officials, organizations and individuals on opportunities for agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining, small business and social enterprise. We came together with opportunities that we are hopeful can create an additional 2,600 jobs in our region.

[5:40 p.m.]

Doubling the rural dividend program, in this throne speech, will matter to Cariboo North.

I want to make a special recognition today of the Southern Dakehl Nation Alliance for their incredible leadership during this process. I’m so proud and humbled to work with you. I know that the work that you will do will provide jobs not just in your community but all communities in British Columbia. And it will be critical to the success of Cariboo North.

I want to thank the amazing public servants who worked so diligently to ensure these opportunities are moved forward. I go to work every day so incredibly proud to represent you and to work on these important initiatives. When we can empower communities, entrepreneurs and individuals, we’re able to maximize the best use of resources we have, so British Columbians can benefit from the enhanced programs and services that we’ve outlined in this throne speech.

As the Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, I’m proud of our record on designing services with British Columbians in mind, because enhancing access to programs and services is what red-tape reduction is all about. It’s about listening to ideas from British Columbians on what government can do to make their lives easier. It means fast, easy access to services and simplified processes that save time and money for citizens and businesses.

For example, until recently individuals with international qualifications as power engineers could not be certified in British Columbia without completing duplicate training and experience. Amendments to regulations now enable a process for recognizing international qualifications and introduce permits for industries using boilers. In the region I live in, with two pulp mills, this is important for job creation.

Red-tape reduction is also about impacting people’s lives. Did you know that 50 percent of British Columbians believe that they have registered a decision on organ donation, but in fact, only 21 percent have? With more than 600 people desperately waiting for organ donation in British Columbia, an easy and clear way to register is essential. Now, every British Columbian visiting an ICBC driver licensing office will be asked to register their decision about organ donation.

Last year at four driver licensing offices, staff provided information about organ donation to customers and encouraged them to register their decision. Since then, over 15,000 customers registered their decision on organ donation. Based on the success of this pilot program, ICBC and B.C. Transplant have expanded this partnership to all ICBC driver licensing offices across the province.

The province entered into a partnership with B.C. Transplant in 2015, enabling people to also sign up at all 62 Service B.C. locations throughout British Columbia. In 2016, a record number of more than 83,000 British Columbians registered to be organ donors, an increase of 85 percent over the previous year.

By streamlining processes, improving access and putting citizens’ needs first, we’re making life better for all British Columbians. And for my dear friend Eileen Salmons, in Quesnel, having had access to a lung transplant made a huge impact. Eileen, I’m thinking of you, and I’m praying for a healthy recovery.

We’re also supporting small businesses. For example, small businesses in 83 communities throughout B.C. are benefiting from the mobile business licence program. The province’s mobile business licence program allows mobile businesses, like construction, electrical and gas fitting companies, to operate in more than one municipality by purchasing a singular licence, rather than the headache of obtaining non-resident licences in each municipality they serve. This has been an effective cost-saving support to so many small businesses.

One of the other great programs we support that helps entrepreneurs with red tape is BizPaL. BizPaL helps entrepreneurs hit the ground running by guiding them through the permitting and licensing process of starting a business. BizPaL is a web-based service that makes it easier and faster for businesses to identify federal, provincial and local government permits and licences to start and grow businesses in their community; 130 communities throughout the province have access to these helpful services. These programs are helping small businesses that are making a real difference in communities across the province.

[5:45 p.m.]

Businesses like the Dutchman’s Caterers in Langley, a small business that, during a massive windstorm, still managed to cater for two weddings. They cooked by flashlight, using only gas stoves. I know there are stories of success and entrepreneurial small businesses in every single riding in British Columbia.

Today in the House, we heard the member for Nanaimo–North Cowichan talk about the importance of the arts, and he proudly talked about the Gabriola festival. I share this passion for the arts. In this throne speech, we are doubling funding for the B.C. Arts Council, helping build capacity in creativity and innovation. I’m hoping that the constituents of Nanaimo–North Cowichan will contact their MLA and encourage him to vote against the amendment and to support our throne speech the government has presented that will double arts funding.

The Arts Council does fantastic work in a variety of areas, and I can’t give adequate treatment to them all. I’m incredibly proud of the work our government has done to develop the creative economy sector in British Columbia. This most recent investment, outlined in the government’s throne speech, continues to build on this record and where we are heading as a province. I believe investing in the arts will help build innovative, entrepreneurial, productive communities and individuals. Providing young people with access to creative outlets will help ensure our next generation is able to think outside the box, providing us with a competitive advantage in the global economy and on the global stage.

Everything starts with creative people. We want to continue to build and foster that talent across this province. I truly believe that this approach is what will support our success in the 21st-century economy.

One only needs to look at the tremendous success in the technology sector and the film sector in British Columbia to understand the value of fostering the arts, and look at the amazing creative small businesses across this province.

For businesses, the economic potential in the creative sector makes the decision our government has made to invest in this area a logical one. It is about transformational leadership, climate leadership, creating the innovators and the scientists that will cure cancer and improving outcomes for health around the globe.

I am so proud that our education system has outcomes that are leading in the world. I know that the royal commission on education and our review of our rural and urban funding formula will ensure that we continue to have these incredible outcomes.

Did you know that British Columbia has more artists per capita than any other province in Canada? In my own riding of Cariboo North, the arts are an intrinsic part of our history and our economy and will continue to be our future.

Some may think of the Cariboo only for our natural resource economy, but I’m proud to showcase other aspects of our amazing region, like Barkerville Historic Town site, one of British Columbia’s cultural gems. Barkerville has historical significance as the heart of the gold rush. At one time, it was the largest city north of San Francisco and west of Chicago. Barkerville was also the birthplace of the Cariboo historical art society.

I’m pleased to be attending Canada Day in Barkerville this year, the first place to celebrate Dominion Day in Canada. The ceremony is a wonderful reflection of our history. In fact, I would like to invite all members of this House, and those who may be watching at home, to ensure that you put Barkerville Historic Town on your bucket list as a place to visit this year.

Recently I had the opportunity to be in Barkerville for the unveiling of the A.Y. Jackson painting on loan — one of the many artists of significance who have been inspired by the Cariboo, its people and its landscape.

Other artists such as C.S. Wing and C.D. Hoy have collections of photographs that tell a remarkable story about the life in the Cariboo in the late 1800s, and these photographs have travelled around the globe. These photographs and artists provide an opportunity for us to enhance important partnerships and relationships with trade partners.

I’m also pleased to be travelling to Horsefly this weekend for Canada 150, celebrating in this incredibly beautiful region in the province of British Columbia.

[5:50 p.m.]

The Horsefly community is particularly full of not only just talented artists but talented musicians and artisans.

In 2015, Horsefly’s very own Pharis and Jason Romero earned four Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for their album A Wanderer I’ll Stay, an album that would then go on to win Traditional Roots Album of the Year at the 2016 Juno Awards. The talented husband-and-wife duo not only craft music; they craft the instruments they use as well. Pharis and Jason handmake banjos and ukuleles which are, in themselves, a work of art.

Sadly, the shop where they crafted and sold their instruments burned down to the ground last year in a fire, but in true resilient fashion, with the help of the community, the pair has, fortunately, rebuilt their shop and businesses. J. Romero Banjo is up and running once again. It’s also interesting to note that the Barkerville Brewery crafted a special brew out of the ashes in support of these talented musicians and artisans. A selection of their gorgeous work can be seen online at romerobanjos.com.

Our region has also earned a reputation as a hub for festivals, and over the next few months the Cariboo will be home to some significant ones. During the third week of July, I look forward to celebrating one of the largest free family festivals in British Columbia, the annual Billy Barker Days Festival.

With over 100 events, this festival draws people from all over and is an important economic driver for our region. In its 44th year, this festival relies heavily on the volunteers each year. These remarkable volunteers contribute so much year-round to ensure we have a festival that can be enjoyed by all. I want to thank the dedicated volunteers. And I’d like to take a moment to recognize a dear friend and mentor, Sandy Robertson, who recently passed away and did so much for the festival.

Not only do festivals help showcase local talent and creativity, but they’re an important economic driver in our communities. That is why I’m so proud to support this throne speech and encourage all members of the House, because investments in things like the arts play a critical part in growing our economy.

In August, Wells will host ArtsWells. This award-winning festival of all things art draws artists and guests from across the Pacific Northwest to Wells, a town long known for its arts and culture. Today ArtsWells features over 100 musical performances across 12 stages, more than 20 workshops, a variety of kids’ activities, screenings of independent films, literary performances, local artisans, and so much more.

This fun and diverse event is put on by Island Mountain Arts, a charitable, non-profit organization that for more than 40 years has been providing artistic experiences for all ages. Overall, Island Mountain Arts does so much to promote the arts in the heart of the Cariboo. Doubling investment in this throne speech of the B.C. arts foundation will support important organizations like Island Mountain Arts. I encourage anyone who is watching at home that if you believe the arts are important, please encourage your MLAs to support this throne speech.

Arts can help communicate different parts of our region’s history. For close to 14 years, the Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation has been working to create memorials for each of Canada’s fallen soldiers. Founded by Wells resident Mark Norman, the foundation aims to tell soldiers’ personal stories, sharing their lives and their hopes and their goals. While many of these fallen heroes were born and raised in our communities, they’ll never return. Instead, in over 500 communities, the foundation now ensures these soldiers are remembered through oak-framed prints that feature a photograph and biography.

Jake’s Gift is another project that uses art to preserve and tell the stories of war. Created by Vancouver- and Wells-based performer and playwright Julia Mackey, who also stars in the production, this drama follows a Canadian World War II veteran who returns to Normandy for the 60th anniversary of D-Day and must work through his past.

Terry Nichols, who has followed a similar theme of using creative expression to communicate challenging lessons with her new children’s book, My Sheep Story. The House may recognize the names of Paul and Terry Nichols, two well-known Kersley citizens who recently received the provincial Medal of Good Citizenship. They have done fantastic work raising awareness about the challenges Canadian soldiers often face when transitioning back to everyday life through the Communities for Veterans program.

[5:55 p.m.]

In April 2015, Paul and Terry set out from Victoria to ride across Canada on horseback to share stories, raise awareness and help connect veterans to their communities. Terry’s book, My Sheep Story, was published after she told the story hundreds of times while on this trip. It provides an educational resource for children, helping them understand how veterans feel when they return home to their communities. After reading My Sheep Story, students from Kersley Elementary School, along with their teacher, Sarah Guest, were so inspired that they fundraised to recognize Gulf War and Afghanistan veterans at the cenotaph in Quesnel.

I am so proud of both Paul and Terry for the impactful work they do, and I’m so proud of my young constituents for their caring and engagement in our community.

I encourage the members of the House, if you care about arts and culture, to vote for this throne speech.

The arts have helped us work through other difficult topics, like bullying. While serving as the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, I was proud to be able to fund the development of a new opera called Stick Boy, which used the arts to help tackle difficult conversations around bullying. Creative expression and the arts can help young people build self-confidence and manage anxiety, something worth investing in and worth promoting.

I always appreciate the opportunity to speak about my community in this House and to share with my colleagues why the Cariboo is such a special place. It really is an honour to represent such distinct, caring and talented communities. I’d once again like to thank the people who make up these communities for giving me the honour of continuing to represent them in this chamber.

However, these stories I’ve shared speak beyond my community and beyond my riding. They are just some examples of the ways in which creativity and the arts can positively impact communities wherever they are. The Cariboo is much more than a cluster of resource-based communities. It’s a thriving region with a strong creative sector, a sector that contributes to tourism growth and plays a critical role in diversifying our community.

As we look forward to the future, it’s vital that we continue to consider the economy of the future and the skills of our young people that we’ll need in an evolving world. That’s why I humbly ask members from both sides of the House to consider the fact that this throne speech is much more than growing the economy. It’s about creativity. It’s about ensuring that we have the services for all members of our community.

Art is a vital part of building vibrant, healthy, livable communities. As seen with Kersley Elementary and My Sheep Story, creative expression resonates with people. It brings them together and helps connect communities. So while there is an obvious economic case to be made for continuing to encourage investments and expansion in our creative sector and creative industries, the value of arts can’t be measured in strictly economic terms, nor should it be.

I again turn back to the comment the member for Nanaimo–North Cowichan made earlier today about the importance of arts. I proudly stand and raise that. The member opposite asked for a tripartite support of the arts, and that is exactly what I am offering to members of the House today. I’m offering the opportunity to support this throne speech, to support the elements in this throne speech that will help support communities across British Columbia and the individuals that we care about.

As MLA for Cariboo North, I am incredibly proud to support this throne speech, and I hope members of the House will continue to do the same.

J. Yap: It’s an honour and a privilege, and my pleasure, to rise today and take my place in the debate to speak on the amendment — I will be speaking against it — and to speak in support of the speech from the throne.

[6:00 p.m.]

First of all, I would like to begin with some words of thanks. I would like to thank my family for continuing this journey with me. I thank my wife, Suzanne, daughter, Lisa, and her brand-new husband, Seungjoo Kee. They were just married last weekend, Mr. Speaker, as you may have heard, and it was wonderful. Those of you who are connected to me through Facebook may have seen some of the photos. I’m still enjoying that experience. And my son, Michael. I want to really thank them, because we’ve travelled this road for a long time together, and without their love and support I would not have made it this far.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

I’m grateful to my support staff and the volunteers that have helped me so much over these years and, certainly, during the recent election. I thank Paige Robertson and PoWah Ng, my constituency assistants. They do a great job representing me when I’m required to be here in the capital or am otherwise unavailable.

I would like to thank Ray Holme, Michael Chu, Bruce Rozenhart, Helen Quan, George Ing, Loren Slye, Amy Huang, Bobby Wong, Cindy Chan, Mimi Chan, Fred Scott, Siu-Wan Ng, Gent Ng, Erich Harvey, Laura Chen, Sara Glenn, Rob Heyman, Debbi-Jo Matias and, last but not least, my campaign manager, Dan Baxter. All of us have people that do the work, put in the time, give the energy that helps us become elected, and these are some of the people that I’m grateful to.

I want to thank my constituents in the great riding of Richmond-Steveston for giving me the honour of serving them for a fourth term as their MLA. It is a tremendous duty that I accept with humility and with the knowledge that it is, as always, my foremost duty to represent them with respect and principle.

I am privileged to represent the riding of Richmond-Steveston. I know that every member here feels that they represent the best riding in the province, but I’m convinced that I represent the best riding in the province. It includes the historic fishing village of Steveston, just an amazing community with such great community spirit and a real sense of history, and a great history — first, of fishing, over 100 years ago, canning — and today, a great destination to visit and to live and play and raise a family.

We, of course, are famous for having our July 1 Steveston Salmon Festival parade. This year will be the 72nd edition. It certainly lives up to its billing as the biggest little birthday party in Canada. For those of you who might be in the general area in between your commitments, I invite all members to come out and check out, on July 1, the Steveston Salmon Festival, right in the heart of Steveston.

Now, during the election, I heard from so many of my constituents out and about in the community or knocking on doors — the many thousands of doors that we knocked on. I talked to the constituents and got some very valuable feedback, and I’m grateful to those who gave some time to engage in great conversations with me. I received important feedback.

For 16 years, our government has provided strong, principled leadership. The recent election rewarded us for that leadership with the largest number of seats in this House and the renewed chance to govern. But the voters also delivered a second message to us, clear instructions to us in this House that we must continue to reach across boundaries. We must seek to work together while remaining true to our core principles to provide strong, stable economic growth, and we must also look to improve our comprehensive and extensive social programs and an expansion to our world-leading environmental protections.

The Speech from the Throne provides us with a renewed plan that meets the requirements of British Columbians. Whether you live in rural B.C. or in one of our urban centres, this throne speech will meet your needs and continue to make our province the great place that it is to live, work, play and raise a family.

[6:05 p.m.]

It makes record investments in health care, education and infrastructure, enhancing programs that British Columbians wish to see expanded and will most certainly benefit from. It builds on key infrastructure and enables renters to achieve that dream of home ownership. It ensures that we will continue to have a strong and diverse economy and that we will protect one of the most beautiful and unique ecosystems with an environmental strategy that is second to none.

We have spent 16 years and four majority mandates governing our beautiful province. British Columbians expect and deserve a government that collaborates across the aisle and outside the chamber while ensuring that our Legislative Assembly functions in a fashion that respects the dignity, the rules and traditions that our constitution has laid out to ensure a fair and democratic government and Legislature.

A stable government with experienced and visionary leadership does not rely on unprincipled floor crosses or the destruction of parliamentary rules. If a government is to change, it must occur publicly and with due process, not in secret backroom deals. Our respect for the rules of our parliamentary democracy is what provides order and ensures fairness for all.

It’s unfortunate to see that the NDP were so anxious to seize power of government that they have chosen to forge what we believe is an unstable pact with the members of the Green Party — one that has already, seemingly, been subject to change and alteration, before the Legislature had even been reconvened. This backroom deal would give only the slightest of majorities in this chamber and leaves many questions as to the preservation of our democracy and the workability of such a limited government.

Members on this side of the House recognize that the needs of British Columbia and the people that live in our great province are unique in many ways. In order to better serve this province and our changing needs, we are proposing to work together on a number of measures, from both sides of the House, that will ensure that British Columbians will have a stable government that they can count on, starting with a ban on corporate, big labour union and third-party donations, which will remove big money and external influence from our politics.

This would also include a ban on donations from outside B.C., including federal parties, and a maximum donation limit. With these reforms, we will end the perception that democracy in B.C. can be bought and paid for or influenced by outside forces.

Our electoral system has been heavily scrutinized in recent years. We held referendums on electoral reform in 2005 and 2009 — both times of particular importance to me because I was either a candidate or seeking re-election as a member of this assembly.

The discussion around electoral system is a key facet of our democracy, and renewing a healthy debate on our system is important. That’s why we have committed to a third referendum on electoral reform. As before, our third referendum will develop a clear question which reflects the needs of all British Columbia, protecting key populations and ensuring that rural areas are ensured fair and clear representation in our assembly.

A successful government must also have clear and defined goals. One of the goals that members on this side of the House believe in is that we must do what we can to ensure that our children have the best supports and the greatest opportunities to succeed. As a parent — and perhaps one day, if we’re so blessed, a grandparent — I understand the vital role that child care plays in Richmond and around the province.

However, there is a delicate balance that we must achieve and maintain to ensure that child care programs are within our fiscal means while simultaneously easing the increasing financial and time pressures on parents. I heard this from parents while door-knocking — about the need for us to make the commitment, make the investment in more child care. So we listened.

[6:10 p.m.]

Members on this side of the House understand that in order to provide B.C. families with the supports they need, investments must be made as soon as possible. This is why, with the confidence of this House, the B.C. government will amend the 2017 budget to make a $1 billion investment in child care and early childhood education over the next four years, the single-largest increase in provincial history. This vital investment will follow the principles we have maintained as a government across all programs, delivering the highest quality of care with shortened wait-lists and affordable costs.

Our investment will enable the creation of 73,000 new child care spaces. That’s 60,000 of these beyond those promised in our most recent platform. We will provide fully subsidized child care for those families earning up to $60,000 and partially subsidized care for those families earning up to $100,000. These subsidies will ensure that an additional 150,000 children in our province receive child care, enabling parents to return to the workforce with confidence.

In order to meet this need, we will provide $10 million in grants to provide 4,000 new early childhood educators. We will further explore partnerships to co-locate new child care spaces in elementary schools, to provide parents with convenient options and prime facilities.

For children in government care, we will provide a basic income support for young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who are transitioning out of care, in addition to free tuition so that they have more opportunities to excel and further their academic careers. Lastly, we will also fully implement Grand Chief Ed John’s recommendation on indigenous child welfare to ensure that we are providing the best services available to those who are in government care.

Education is a vital component of a government’s legacy. A skilled and educated populace is of the utmost importance in the 21st century. In British Columbia, our students are leading the world in reading, science and math. We’re hiring thousands of teachers across every district to ensure continued success.

However, we understand that some school districts are facing a variety of challenges. In order to support our teachers and students, we will review our funding formula so that we’re able to meet the needs of school districts with declining enrolment while keeping up with the demands of those in faster-growing areas.

Our government will also convene a royal commission on education, the first in three decades, with the sole purpose of finding the best ways to improve and shape our education system. The royal commission will provide advice on reducing conflict and will put students’ needs first. We will be reviewing the best ways to provide access to training materials and education for teachers, as well as a review to ensure that our current teaching methods are meeting the needs of B.C. students.

The commission will further reassess school funding mechanisms to provide British Columbians with the confidence that our education system stands ready to meet any challenges the future brings. Finally, we will review our testing methods and standards to ensure that they are accurate and effective.

We know that support for education does not end in elementary or secondary school. We will need to do our best to support our post-secondary sector so that they can meet the challenges of our growing economy. We have provided opportunities, and we will continue to do so. We will provide 2,000 new seats for STEM — or science, technology, engineering and mathematics — graduates across B.C., and we will fully fund adult basic education and ESL to ensure that everyone can contribute to their best ability.

Our government has long strived to keep taxes and fees the lowest in Canada. Our strong provincial finances have enabled us to take a key step, ensuring that British Columbians have more money in their pockets. With the confidence of the House, we will reduce MSP by 50 percent for those families that make up to $120,000, saving those families as much as $900 per year.

In order to better serve the people of British Columbia, we will also create a review that ensures that the transition to fully eliminate health care premiums for everyone happens smoothly and swiftly.

[6:15 p.m.]

Our health care outcomes are the best in the country and some of the best in the OECD, but we believe that we can always improve.

The people of this province have already witnessed record investments in health care, including new and expanded hospitals in every region of the province to accommodate growth. With the confidence of this House, we will take further steps to improve health outcomes by providing greater access to procedures like MRIs, hip and knee procedures. We will provide 112 more family doctors and will increase access by introducing wait-time guarantees.

In doing so, we’ll be able to better serve populations like our seniors — seniors who have spent their lives building and investing in our province. Members on this side of the House believe that seniors deserve the best care available, and we are committed to giving seniors the retirement they deserve.

With that being said, we will add 500 residential care beds with enforceable standards. We will also double the home-renovation tax credit so that seniors can stay in their homes as long as they want to. We will also create a new respite tax credit to ease the financial burden on seniors.

Housing has been an issue across many communities, including my riding. This was a major topic of discussions on the doorsteps with my constituents. We will do our best to make sure that housing is affordable for all British Columbians. We have already taken action, such as the foreign buyer tax and the HOME partnership, which have had real impact, but we can do more. With the confidence of the House, we will work with local governments and the private sector to increase the supply of family and starter housing, particularly for middle-income earners, especially among key corridors such as transit lines.

We will also continue to work and support municipalities to remove backlogs and obstacles, to encourage and speed up the construction of new housing supply, especially for families. We will also work with the private sector to build 50,000 new housing units across the province over the next decade, with each of them going into a new and groundbreaking rent-to-own program available to middle-class families. This program will allow middle-class renters to grow equity through their monthly rent payments until they are in a position to own the home.

Renters are also a major portion of British Columbian communities. Our government will increase protection for renters, starting by prohibiting landlords from skirting rent control protections when leases expire, and we will make sure tenants rights are protected.

Finally, we will conduct a housing summit in fall 2017 to take advantage of the best ideas and policies that are out there.

British Columbia has connected and livable communities, delivered over decades of strong investment in infrastructure and transit. We will continue to work with mayors in Metro Vancouver to create transit expansions to serve the communities that seek to grow. We will remove tolls on the Port Mann Bridge as soon as possible and work to remove them on the Golden Ears Bridge.

For my part, as Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform, I’ve been active on this file since the B.C. liquor policy review was launched in 2013. After extensive public consultations that were held provincewide, I submitted a report that took into account 65 stakeholder meetings and 188 stakeholder submissions. In addition, thousands of British Columbians provided their insights on line or sent us their comments via email.

In the end, the B.C. liquor policy review made 73 recommendations to modernize B.C.’s liquor laws. The goal was to bring convenience, choice and selection to consumers but also to do it in a socially responsible way. We are now at the stage where 90 percent of my recommendations have been implemented.

Changes to the liquor landscape have been nothing less than transformative in supporting B.C. manufacturers. We are supporting our award-winning B.C. wine industry by allowing B.C. wines on shelves in grocery stores, for example. So far 21 grocery stores around the province provide this convenience to consumers, who can pick up their favourite bottle from the B.C. wine aisle while filling their grocery cart with groceries.

[6:20 p.m.]

I’m pleased that just in the last week, the very first grocery store in Richmond opened with B.C. wine on shelves — or rather, the wine-on-shelves section opened in a grocery store.

The liquor policy reforms are boosting towards making our hospitality industry more competitive and increasing consumer convenience, all with health and public safety kept in mind. Now, for example, any business can apply for a liquor licence. Consumers can access liquor, as I mentioned, in grocery stores. And pubs and restaurants may alter their liquor prices throughout the course of the day to host happy hours.

We are also helping to boost our fast-growing craft brewing industry by allowing them to showcase their products at the closest B.C. Liquor Store even before they’ve proven themselves in the larger marketplace. In addition, craft brewers can grow their businesses and produce more beer without being worried about a large jump in the amount of markup they have to pay if they go over a certain production amount. That markup is now gradual.

More than 350 pubs and legions now allow kids up until 10 p.m. so that families can have brunch together at a local pub and enjoy a meal together.

Furthermore, the changes support our province’s ongoing work with liquor manufacturers, industry associations and businesses to reduce red tape, increase flexibility and provide new opportunities by creating a new graduated markup scale and new provisions to increase cash flow for craft brewers; creating a new interprovincial trade agreement so vintners can list their wines with distributors in Quebec and Ontario.

Like allowing manufacturers to sell liquor at artisan and farmers markets, which has been very successful. Like allowing event organizers to apply on line for a single special-event permit that covers multiple events over several days. Like permitting full-service liquor stores to relocate throughout the province, provided they’re not within one kilometre of an existing full-service liquor store.

Like allowing retailers to charge for liquor samples to recoup the cost of sampling higher-end product. Like implementing a new on-line application process to significantly simplify the process for licensing and special events. Like permitting two manufacturers or agents to provide samples in a liquor store at the same time.

Like allowing eateries to operate a licensed patio even if the establishment has no interior licensed areas. And like permitting licensees to store liquor in secure off-site locations and transfer small amounts of liquor between different establishments.

These are just a few highlights of the reforms that have helped contribute to B.C.’s phenomenal hospitality and tourist sector, boosting our provincial economy.

Another major draw for tourists is B.C.’s beautiful back country, forests and parks, all of which are threatened by climate change. One of the most important issues we face on a global scale is climate change.

Despite opposition at the time, we were the first North American jurisdiction to put a price on carbon. Last year we received an award, accepted by the hon. Minister of Environment, from the United Nations for our groundbreaking work on battling climate change.

Our federal government has been clear that we will see a federal price of $50 per tonne by 2022, in keeping with the pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and climate change. In order to meet the federal government’s goal, we will raise the carbon tax by $5 per year starting in 2019, bringing it to the federally mandated target by 2022. This will prevent sticker shock, as this corresponds to 1.1 percent per litre of gasoline and will allow British Columbians time to adjust.

For all future increases, we will ensure that our key principle of the carbon tax is maintained, and that is of revenue neutrality. All future carbon tax increases will see the PST reduced by a corresponding amount.

We will also prevent economic impact by creating a strategy to ensure energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries can remain competitive.

[6:25 p.m.]

We have a unique and rare opportunity to electrify our economy through our already utilized sources of hydro, but further expanding to new sources such as wind and solar power.

The Site C clean energy project is a generational opportunity to power the future. We will continue to ensure that the thousands of jobs that Site C has created will provide for families and will build for the future. While we explore new and existing options, we’ll work to reduce emissions in industries that are heavy emitters.

Now, 61 percent of our emissions as a province come from Metro Vancouver — and a third of that from the transportation sector. We’ll commit to an ambitious target of emissions-free non-commercial vehicles by 2035, moving the timeline by 15 years.

This will be a commitment of $50 million to fund electric-vehicle-charging infrastructure in Metro Vancouver. That’s 4,321 new charging stations in addition to the existing 1,200 already available, making B.C. a national leader with a total of 5,521 stations supporting 380,000 electric vehicles by 2025.

People across the world are seeing the wonderful opportunities that British Columbia presents, and they are creating new and prosperous lives for themselves and their families here. This creates a further need for more services. Our economy — as it has grown, so has our ability to make needed key investments. That’s why we maintain our clear focus, creating jobs and ensuring a strong B.C. so people who come here and contribute to our society can take part in our communities, our workforce and build a bright future.

But we must not ignore those who do not receive the full benefit of our society and economy. We have worked hard to manage a 50 percent reduction in child poverty, but we must and we will do more.

If we gain the confidence of this House, we will increase social assistance rates by $100 a month and we will rethink our strategy on increases by recommending a process for annual increases. This ensures that social assistance rates will never leave a British Columbian behind and that they can receive the helping hand that they need.

For those who rely on disability assistance, we will index the annual rate increase at CPI going forward, ensuring that the most vulnerable are receiving the support that they need.

We’ve heard about the massively successful single-parent employment initiative, which has provided assistance to over 5,000 single parents, and this will be expanded to the low-income families in transition, or LIFT, program. This new and vastly expanded program will provide temporary assistance to low-income, single working parents. It will enable better employment opportunities for those parents to take time away from their current job or reduce their hours without financial penalty. It will also assist in training, child care and transit costs while they upgrade or expand their skills.

We are a leader in North America in our response to the opioid crisis. But we can and must do more. We will work with all levels of government, especially Ottawa, to ensure that treatment is as effective as possible. We will increase the number of RCMP officers dedicated to drug enforcement by 30 percent and use every dollar from the sale of legal cannabis for drug education, prevention and treatment.

We will further expand our response to the opioid crisis by naming a minister of state for mental health, addiction and recovery to ensure that cabinet has a strong focus and a voice at the table.

Our government has demonstrated strong and principled leadership for 16 years. We have grown, and we have listened. We are embracing ideas and policies from across the political spectrum and from every party in this House. We can work with other parties, should they wish to do so. We’ve demonstrated that.

We can provide stable leadership for British Columbia. On behalf of my constituents in Richmond-Steveston, I support the Speech from the Throne without amendment and urge all members of this House to also support it.

[6:30 p.m.]

Hon. D. Barnett: I rise today to speak against the amendment.

Before I begin to speak on the speech itself, I would like to mention some very important people. Firstly, I would like to thank the great people of the Cariboo-Chilcotin for once again placing their faith in me and returning me to this House as their MLA. I would like to thank my immediate and extended family. Without their support and confidence, I wouldn’t be here.

Of course, there the unsung heroes that I would like to thank. From the election campaign, I would like to thank my dedicated and wonderful volunteers, such as Bill Carruthers, Guenter Weckerle, Bryan Withage and Karen Robertson in Williams Lake; Sandy Lee, Louise Mayes and Ken Greenal in 100 Mile House; and all the great constituents who have helped me to get to this place.

I would like to mention my constituency assistants, Bev Marks and Jenny Huffmann, and my staff here in Victoria, Lisa Johnson and Andrew Ives. Our caucus staff are invaluable as well. Melissa Nowakowski, Primrose Carson and Lorne Mayencourt have all been invaluable to me in my time here — as well as Christie Howatson and Kevin Dixon.

The Clerk’s office is always there when we need them, and they work tirelessly to ensure this place runs smoothly — occasionally, despite the people in it. Legislature security deserves our thanks for their constant vigilance and their friendliness. The House staff always ensures that we have everything we need in the chamber, such as the great water. All of these people ensure that we as MLAs have the tools we need to represent the people who have elected us, and they deserve our heartfelt thanks. Ministry staff in the Cariboo-Chilcotin are invaluable to my constituents.

I would also like to thank my colleagues here in the House. Our province needs a diverse set of voices and outlooks, and we certainly represent the best that British Columbia has to offer. I would like to thank the Premier for placing her faith in me as the representative for my wonderful constituents and as the Minister of State for Rural Economic Development.

My constituency is one of the most unique in British Columbia. It is very diverse and large, spanning over 44,000 hectares. It includes three First Nations languages — Shuswap, Tsilhqot’in and Carrier. My constituency has more wetlands with Ducks Unlimited than any other region in British Columbia, ensuring that our great landscapes and wetlands are protected. It is a pleasure to be able to work with a government that shares my priorities in this area — this throne speech — despite a lot of punditry and opinions to the opposite.

We have stood firm behind our core principles with this throne speech. Our plan to put British Columbians first not only reflects what my constituents in the Cariboo-Chilcotin want; it will help our communities and our economy grow even stronger. During my time as MLA, it has been my pleasure to be part of that growth and change, and this throne speech reflects that.

We stand by our principle of growing the economy to be able to invest more in British Columbians. B.C. has the strongest economy in Canada. For the previous two years, we have led Canada in economic growth. Now both the Economic Forecast Council and RBC have revised their projections to say that B.C. will once again lead the country in economic growth.

That is what gives us the ability to spend at a higher rate than we had planned when we tabled our 2017 budget. Our financial strength is enviable across the nation, and we did not get there by accident. It took discipline, hard work and prudence.

[6:35 p.m.]

Now, as a result of our diligence, we are the only government in Canada that has far more revenue than we’d planned for, just like we are the only government in Canada that has a triple-A credit rating. These two things are significantly connected. Without our triple-A credit rating, we would spend billions more on debt-servicing — billions of dollars that we are free to spend on programs and services that would have instead gone to banks and agencies in other jurisdictions.

While British Columbia is a leader on many fronts, we can take a cue from other provinces and implement reform on political fundraising. We recognize that we can take another look at the issue of political and democratic reform. That is why we will pursue reforms.

We will ban corporate, union and third-party donations, including donations in kind to political parties; impose maximum donation limits for individuals; ban foreign donations; ban donations to third parties from any entity that accepts foreign donations; ban funding from a federal political party to a provincial party; restrict third-party financial influence on elections; and ban loans to parties by organizations other than Canadian chartered banks or credit unions. And we will apply these reforms to local government candidates and political parties.

The biggest shame on this legislation is that despite the strong measures inside it, the leader of the Green Party also voted against it. Barely a week ago he said of our plan to ban corporate and union donations: “We are glad that the Premier was going to put that in her throne speech. Obviously, we were negotiating that, and this is no surprise to me. She may try to pass the bill before the throne speech is called for a vote. I just hope that regardless, we all vote and support it. This is about getting good policy through.”

I wonder what happened. Perhaps the leader of the Green Party isn’t ready yet to work across the aisle. Despite his claims that he wants a collaborative Legislature, he simply wants to attack our efforts to cooperate. Perhaps he has been bullied by the NDP into supporting them at every turn rather than just on their agreed-upon policies. It will be interesting to see whether they can manage to actually remain distinct or if he’s just going to be another NDP vote on everything.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

On our side of the House, we were prepared to together pursue these reforms to guarantee that this House maintains the trust necessary from the citizens of our province. So it is truly a shame that members opposite were more interested in pursuing power than collaboration.

In fact, the leader of the Green Party has contradicted himself many times in the past few weeks. Despite claiming he wants to reach across party lines, he’s made it clear that he won’t consider truly collaborating with our government. During the election he campaigned on massive new education promises, and he claimed that he would balance the budget despite billions upon billions of new spending.

The no team did show their interest and concerns in rural B.C. during the election. The leader of the NDP spent half an hour in my riding with a handful of special invited guests and arrived on his adventure tourism bus and left. The leader of the Green Party — I have to give him credit; he actually visited a rural community — went to the Peace region and told the workers on Site C that all 2,000 of them should get pink slips. The Green Party leader told the people who work in the LNG industry that their industry was nonexistent. There are many in my region that disagree.

Our commitment to child care is building on our previous work. In Williams Lake, we were able to invest $500,000 toward 55 daycare spaces at the new Kidcare Daycare facility. Our funding was part of a massive community involvement.

[6:40 p.m.]

The Women’s Contact centre saw a need for new spaces and urged our provincial government to provide the funding. There was cooperation from the school district, which provided the land for the new facility; the Northern Development Initiative Trust, which is funded by the province; the Cariboo regional district; the city of Williams Lake; and many community sponsors. They all worked together to ensure that a great facility is built for everyone in the community. It will not only serve 300 families; it also created 22 new jobs for the community.

We have invested millions in child care over the past few years creating tens of thousands of spaces. But with that work, it’s obvious that there is always more to do. Thanks to our fiscal prudence and careful planning, we have the funds to make it happen. That is why we will amend the 2017 budget to include $1 billion in investment in child care and early child care education over the next four years — the single largest boost in B.C.’s history.

Our investment will create 73,000 spaces in the next four years, with 60,000 of them in addition to those promised in our platform — a 50 percent increase. What’s more, we will help lower- and middle-income families pay for child care, with families earning up to $60,000 to be eligible for full child care subsidies and families earning up to $100,000 to be eligible for partial subsidies, covering an additional 150,000 children.

Our health care in B.C. is the best in Canada. We have the best outcomes because our government has taken action to increase investment in the programs that matter. Our strong economy means that we can continue to improve our world-leading health care system.

Since 2001, we have invested $12 billion in health facilities, including 30 completed major capital health projects. We already are making record investments in health care, which include new hospitals in every region of the province, like our commitment for a new hospital in Williams Lake. The redevelopment, which comes from our strong fiscal planning and the resources it frees up, is much needed in Williams Lake. Our hospital was built in 1963 and needs to be updated to match the needs of the community.

As our revenue increases and our surpluses grow, we can put those government surpluses to work investing more in the health care programs that British Columbia wants.

Some examples of the health care programs that we will expand include faster access to MRIs and hip and knee procedures, shortening wait times and getting more surgeries completed; 112 more family doctors across British Columbia, ensuring that people all over the province will have access to a family doctor; introduce wait-time guarantees so that people can have certainty as they await treatment.

We also make investments in seniors care. Seniors built our province, and the care we provide to our parents and grandparents is how we are judged as a society. Our health care system is of primary importance to our province’s senior citizens, and as a senior, I can verify that.

We remain committed to increasing the number of residential care beds by 500 and ensuring that measurable daily care hour standards are enforced and monitored in every organization.

In my own community, we have been experiencing the benefits of our record investments in seniors care. We recently built and opened 14 long-term-care beds in 100 Mile House, and we are building a new 70-bed, long-term-care facility in Williams Lake, a P3 project.

We are doubling the home renovation tax credit to help families who care for their aging seniors at home. This will enable seniors who want to live at home to stay at home as long as they want. And we are creating a respite tax credit for families who care for family members with disabilities.

Our parents and grandparents worked hard to build our province, and now we must work hard to provide the services and care they need most. The government introduced an age-friendly program here a few years ago. My community of 100 Mile took advantage of the funding and the support, and we have a wonderful age-friendly program that has helped seniors in many ways.

[6:45 p.m.]

Our government has put a great deal of funding into infrastructure in rural communities. As our economy has grown, we have made the investments to enable the growth and allow industries to flourish in every corner of the province. In my riding alone, we have invested over $10 million over the last four years in clean water and sewer infrastructure funding for my communities. One example is the $1.96 million for a water system in 100 Mile House.

To accommodate growth in industries in my region and regions north, such as oil and gas, mining and tourism, we started the Cariboo connector project to widen Highway 97 to four lanes between Cache Creek and Prince George.

We have and are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on this project and in the Cariboo region, including $200 million, Highway 97 four-laning Cariboo connector, phase 3; $47 million for the four-laning Williams Lake to Lexington Road with the support of the local First Nations group, the Williams Lake Indian Band; $7.8 million, Highway 97 four-laning from Quartz Road to Dragon Lake Road; $4 million, Highway 97 resurfacing Cottonwood River Bridge to Naver Creek; $6.9 million, Highway 20 resurfacing Bella Coola, Anahim Lake, Towdystan and side roads; $7 million, Highway 24 resurfacing Lone Butte to Bridge Lake North Road; $17 million, Highway 97 four-laning Carson Road to Toop-Fox Road.

This is only in the Cariboo, and the job creation and the safety it is providing for my constituents and for those that travel on a daily basis could not happen without a government that has good strong financial fiscal management.

My community has worked hard to form agreements with First Nations. The Northern Secwepemc Treaty is moving forward. We have an agreement-in-principle that was negotiated between the NStQ First Nations, which are the Canim Lake First Nation, Canoe Creek–Dog Creek First Nation, Soda Creek First Nation and Williams Lake First Nation. In the ongoing discussions on land use, we need to be transparent in our discussions and move this treaty process forward quickly to include public information and to help those impacted by mitigation and compensation.

We need to work to finalize the Deni accord, but we must have the federal government at the table. We must ensure that the private land owners get consideration and compensation, as they deserve, from the negotiations. I have strong working relations with our First Nations, and the province has signed many benefit-sharing agreements in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

Tourism is also a key economic driver in British Columbia and in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. Working together with First Nations leaders, the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association and other operators, our committee worked closely together with B.C. Ferries, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Jobs, and we have a new ferry coming in 2018 to increase the capacity for tourism opportunities from Port Hardy to Bella Coola. This new service will provide access for visitors to the unique and unparalleled beauty of the Great Rainforest and create additional interest in tourism along the midcoast and through the Cariboo-Chilcotin for years to come.

The Cariboo has so much to offer in tourism. We are the home of the world-famous Williams Lake Stampede, something that many are envious of. I invite you to come this weekend to the stampede. We have also created additional tourism opportunities in my region by creating the new off-road vehicle trail fund. Projects supported by the new fund will be in line with the B.C. trails strategy, which guides the province as it works to sustain a network of environmentally responsible back-country trails. B.C. developed the strategy in consultation with First Nations, local and regional governments, recreational organizations and industries.

[6:50 p.m.]

B.C.’s recreation sites and trails receive about 9.7 million visitors each year and contribute $112 million to the provincial GDP. B.C.’s recreation sites and trails support 2,700 full-time jobs in rural and remote locations in British Columbia.

My role as Minister of Rural Economic Development is key to our strategy of building a nation-leading economy. Our rural economic development strategy outlines the province’s three-pronged approach to build, strengthen and diversify rural communities. By investing $3.6 billion in economic development activities targeting rural communities, this strategy supports key initiatives, including capital investments, improving connectivity and transportation infrastructure, providing close-to-home skills training, increased economic competitiveness, attracting new investment, expanding opportunities for youth and partnering with aboriginal communities.

This strategy has been informed by the dedicated work of the rural advisory council. I continue to be impressed by the insight and advice from members representing regions from across the province. British Columbia’s rural communities are the backbone of our province. They have made significant contributions to B.C.’s economy, especially in the natural resource sectors like forestry, agriculture, mining, oil and gas.

In this throne speech, we have announced further funding to the rural dividend fund, increasing it from $25 million per year to $50 million per year — $200 million over four years, adding another further funding for small, rural communities to help them continue to grow and create economic development. And 311 projects have already been awarded funding through the first year. In addition, five projects were funded through special circumstances.

British Columbia saw the strongest economic growth among the provinces last year and some of the fastest job growth in more than 20 years. This level of economic activity helped provide the means to make key investments in services that matter most to people and ensures that we have the resources to continue and enhance those investments.

B.C.’s strong economy means we have the ability to fund the new promises we’ve put forward in the throne speech, which we believe are supported by the majority of British Columbians. In the past month alone, B.C. added over 12,000 new jobs and continues to have one of Canada’s lowest overall unemployment rates at 5.6 percent, including Canada’s lowest youth unemployment rate at 9.7 percent.

Since the launch of the jobs plan, a total of over 250,000 new jobs have been added. B.C. is first in job creation and youth job creation, and the first in the reduction of our unemployment rate and youth unemployment rate. In 2016, B.C. added nearly 100,000 jobs, and the province set a new record for employment levels, with nearly 2.5 million British Columbians working.

We know that when rural economies are strong, all of B.C. benefits. This is why our government has taken action with immediate investments and a long-term plan. We are investing in our rural communities so that British Columbians in all regions of the province have the opportunity for good-paying jobs and a high quality of life in their communities.

Provincial investments in infrastructure, information technology and housing are the building blocks for long-term prosperity in rural B.C., creating vibrant and attractive places to live, work and visit. Investments that build capacity in rural communities are the foundation for future growth, economic certainty and opportunity for all British Columbians.

And we must not forget agriculture. The cattle industry is one of the most important in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. It’s a proud part of our heritage, and we are a key supplier of first-class beef to markets across Canada and around the world. That is why….

Mr. Speaker: Member.

Hon. D. Barnett: Yes?

Mr. Speaker: Noting the hour…. There’s about five minutes left in your speaking time, so I’ll seek the indulgence of the House to allow you to complete and then move adjournment, rather than — unless you want to adjourn and finish tomorrow. But I’ll seek the indulgence to allow you to finish.

Hon. D. Barnett: Mr. Speaker, I move adjournment of the debate, and I would like to reserve my right to continue at the next sitting of the House.

Hon. D. Barnett moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. T. Stone moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

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

The House adjourned at 6:55 p.m.