Routine Business

Prayers.

[10:05 a.m.]

Introductions by Members

Hon. J. Horgan: I guess it’s past Premiers week. Earlier in the week I had the opportunity to introduce someone who used to sit in this chair, and I get to do it again today. Joining us in the gallery is the former member for North Coast, the former minister of almost everything and the former — I think it was the 33rd — Premier of British Columbia, Dan Miller. Would the House please make him very, very welcome.

Hon. K. Conroy: I don’t think this has ever happened to me before. Coming from the Kootenays, we don’t get to introduce very many people. Today I have five people to introduce, so I’m quite excited.

The first person I’m going to introduce is Alex Atamanenko. He’s our former MP. He’s our neighbour that just lives up the road from us. He’s a great supporter and was an amazing MP. I think he’s really enjoying his retirement right now. With Alex is his brother, George Atamanenko, another great supporter of the party. He’s from Williams Lake. We’re really happy to have them both here in the House with us today.

Also joining is Dr. Marcia Braundy. Marcia is a great supporter from Winlaw. She’s also one of the first female journey carpenters in the province of B.C. She’s a really great, lifelong supporter of women in the trades. She was the creator of women in trades and technology for the university sector and just a really amazing woman. I’m really pleased to have her today.

Also in the gallery is our oldest granddaughter, Daira Batchelor. Some of you might remember Daira. She was at the swearing in, as a newborn, of her grandpa when he was sworn in. Then she terrorized many of us on this side of the floor as she toddled around the Legislature when I was first elected. Now here she is as a young woman of 17, and her granny is introducing her in the House once again. It’s great to have her here.

Last but not least — I think he’s one of my greatest supporters, and I think I’m quite safe in saying he’s the only spouse that really understands this job — is my husband, Ed. Please join me in welcoming them all.

N. Letnick: In the House today, we have a great friend from Kelowna–Lake Country, Geoff Ingram, who’s actually the son of two other great friends, Vivian and Richard. Would the House please make Geoff feel very welcome.

M. Polak: On behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, I have the pleasure of introducing Aletta Vanderheyden, who is senior consultant for communications and public affairs with Fraser Health. As the MLA liaison to all community MLA offices covered by Fraser Health, from Burnaby to Boston Bar, Aletta has assisted in connecting families and individuals to supports and assistance, where needed, for almost five years. She is devoted to the best possible outcomes for all those for whom we request assistance and to patients across the region. Would the House please make Aletta feel welcome.

B. D’Eith: I’d like to introduce some friends of mine: Melanie Van Dreck and her parents, Andy and Roberta Shepherd. Welcome to the House. Melanie is a volunteer in my community. I met her when she was a manager of our minor hockey team, when I was coaching. She subsequently was a volunteer on my campaign. I thank her very much. Of course, Andy makes the best apple pies in Maple Ridge. If your church or your son-in-law tell you any different, they can talk to me. Thank you very much and please welcome them.

J. Martin: Joining us in the gallery, all the way from California, are Tim Croisdale and his wife, Carlene. I first became acquainted with Tim back when he was a student of mine in the ’90s — or, as we refer to it on this side of the House, that dark and dismal decade of doom. Tim is an associate professor at Cal State in Sacramento. He’s currently on the lecture circuit in British Columbia, speaking on criminal justice and mental health — all the way from California. Please make them welcome.

[10:10 a.m.]

R. Kahlon: Climbing is now an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 games. One of the top training facilities is actually here, at the home of the Stelly’s Stingers. Next year there will be a youth world championship happening. Two athletes are here that will be competing next year. Coming to check out the facilities are 16-year-old Jani Zoraj from Croatia and 15-year-old Futaba Ito of Japan, who is currently the youth world climbing champion.

I hope they’ll have the same honour that the member for Parksville-Qualicum and I have had. When you get to represent your country, it’s quite a magical thing. I wish you luck in your endeavours.

D. Barnett: I, too, would like to welcome George Atamanenko here today. He comes from 150 Mile House, my riding, and he’s very, very involved in the history of the Cariboo-Chilcotin. He’s been a great advocate for the museum, for history, and he’s also a great supporter and great advocate in ensuring that health care is well and needed and taken care of in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. Welcome, George.

Hon. G. Heyman: It’s my pleasure today to introduce to members of this Legislature a number of hard-working administrative staff from B.C. Parks who are joining us from all over the province today. They’re executive assistants. They’re senior administrative personnel. They provide a wide range of assistance to the public, as well as to other staff and executives of the ministry, and they make sure that B.C. Parks operations run smoothly. They are, for many people in the public, the go-to people for answers.

We wouldn’t be able to function without devoted and professional staff like these in every area of British Columbia. So I wanted to take a minute to personally thank them on behalf of the ministry and the government for their hard work. I’m sure every member of this House will join me in thanking them. They’re Dianne Egan from Nelson, Christina Frank from Nanaimo, Suzy Garcia from Smithers, Heather Marzoff from Kamloops, Beth McGifford from Penticton, Jennifer Cardinal from Squamish, and Sarah Andrews and Melissa Quin, who are both here from Victoria. I know the House will join me in making them feel very, very welcome.

I have one more introduction, if I may. We are also joined by visitors from the B.C. Lung Association today. They are big advocates for air quality in this province. Some of their current priorities are reducing smoking, eliminating secondhand smoke and educating people about radon gas and the harm of wood-smoke pollution. They also happen, as the B.C. Lung Association, to be headquartered in my constituency of Vancouver-Fairview.

Will the House please join me in welcoming Scott McDonald, Wendy Mitchell, Dr. Peter Paré, Mike Ellis, Dr. Menn Biagtan, Kelly Ablog-Morrant and Christopher Lam.

Hon. J. Sims: It’s such a delight to be able to stand up in this House today and welcome three people who are very central to my life. They add a lot of joy. They inspire me. They give me reason to carry on doing what I do, whether I was teaching, then as a Member of Parliament and now here in the Legislature. Without their love and support, I could not carry on doing this work.

First, on the fifth of January, my beautiful great-granddaughter Alya joined us, and she added so much joy to all our lives. Then my granddaughter Emily is here with us today too. I can tell you when Emily came in…. I always thought having a child was delightful, but the birth of a grandchild takes you to whole new heights. Emily is here today and, of course, my daughter Keeran, who many, many years ago added a lot of joy. She’s our first-born. She is very passionate and strong-willed and, as the member from Nanaimo-Ladysmith knows, a very passionate advocate and quite outspoken.

[10:15 a.m.]

I also want to acknowledge someone who is not here, and that is my mother. My mother is 93. She is at home watching this on television. She’s the first. Without her, we would not be here, and I can say, from my mother to our beautiful Alya, that’s five generations of first-born women.

Please help me welcome these great women in my life.

Hon. C. Trevena: I noticed coming into the gallery this morning was Ernest Alfred, Hereditary Chief from the Lawit’sis First Nation. I apologize if I get the pronunciation of the First Nation wrong. I saw him come in with someone else. I apologize also because I didn’t actually recognize who he had come in with.

He was here in the House yesterday and observed question period. He told me yesterday that he’s an educator and, in many ways, found it quite disturbing. When people asked questions, he anticipated that they’d want to hear the answer and was distressed that they didn’t want to hear the answer.

I hope the House will make Ernest very welcome, along with his companion. And I hope the House will make sure that when we do get to question period, the questions and answers can be heard.

Hon. B. Ralston: I have two sets of introductions this morning.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to the House a former constituent of mine, a retired Surrey firefighter who has made many contributions to his community and continues to help the less fortunate. That’s Tim Bailey. He’s joined by Tara-Lynn Gray, who’s here for her first experience of viewing how our parliamentary system works or, maybe, sometimes doesn’t quite work all that well. Please join me in welcoming both of them. No applause? [Applause.]

I’m also delighted to welcome here representatives of the vibrant, dynamic and well-positioned-for-future-growth life sciences sector. Dr. Leslie Esford, who is the president, and Nancy Harrison, chair of the board of LifeSciences B.C., are here. They’re also joined by board members Scott Phillips, Dr. Pieter Cullis and Ali Ardakani. Please join me in welcoming them as well.

J. Rice: Today in the House, we have an important person to me, the rock in my life. Will the House make my wife Andrea Wilmot feel welcome.

A. Weaver: I waited as long as I could. There are 55 grade 5 students here in the precinct from Glenlyon Norfolk School in my riding. They will be here shortly in the gallery. They’re accompanied by three teachers: Ms. Wallace, Ms. Stark and Ms. Chisholm.

They’ll be very excited to hear the introduction of a bill, I hope, that was actually instrumental to some people in the school who, for many years, worked hard to try to raise awareness of the issue of shark fins in British Columbia — the consumption thereof — and the plight of sharks internationally.

In anticipation of them coming to the gallery, please make them feel very welcome.

Tributes

RON MITCHELL

G. Kyllo: It’s with a heavy heart that I stand here today to share with all of you some heartfelt words at the passing of my dear friend Ron Mitchell on October 19 at the age of 77.

Ron is survived by his loving wife, Rose, his partner in business and life for 55 years. Ron and Rose were inseparable and shared a love for one another that so many could only hope to experience.

Ron was a free-enterpriser, an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. In 1972, a small farming operation in the Fraser Valley would be his first business venture. In 1977, Ron and Rose founded Mitchell Tires in Richmond, establishing a legendary reputation for serving the farming community in the Fraser Valley. Honesty and integrity proved to be the hallmark of Mitchell Tires.

After selling Mitchell Tires in 1995, at a time when Ron and Rose could have easily entered early retirement, Ron had bigger plans. I can only imagine the excitement, drive and sense of adventure that Ron and Rose must have felt in making the decision to move to the Shuswap, establishing Spa Hills Farm, a chicken and cattle business on Yankee Flats Road, with their two sons, Josh and Jake. As the years progressed, so did their diversification and their business interests, with the founding of Spa Hills Custom Ride Restoration and Spa Hills Compost.

Ron was a key influencer within the Shuswap Vintage Car Club, hosting the annual chicken run at his farm for over 20 years. Ron also charioted me in every parade that I have attended in the Shuswap over the past four years, in Rose’s 1964 Ford Galaxy convertible.

Ron’s love of family was truly legendary. I know that his family are keenly aware of what an amazing life he helped to create for all of them.

[10:20 a.m.]

To Rose, Josh and De-Anna, Jake and Candace, and to Hanna, Tye, Caleb, Mariah, Leah and Isaac, please accept my heartfelt sympathies. I know you can take comfort in knowing that your lives were so positively impacted by such an amazing man.

Ron, I’ll miss you dearly and think of you often. Ron Mitchell, to a life well lived.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

BILL M207 — FISH AND SEAFOOD
AMENDMENT ACT, 2017

S. Furstenau presented a bill intituled Fish and Seafood Amendment Act, 2017.

S. Furstenau: I move that a bill intituled the Fish and Seafood Amendment Act, 2017, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and now read a first time.

I’m pleased to be introducing a bill intituled the Fish and Seafood Amendment Act, 2017. Sharks are critical to the health of ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity. Sadly, sharks are also particularly susceptible to decline due to overfishing. They are slow to reach reproductive maturity. They birth small litters and cannot rebuild their populations quickly once they are overfished.

The practice of shark finning — where a shark is caught, its fins cut off and the carcass dumped back into the water — causes tens of millions of sharks to die a slow and painful death each year. Data from federal and international agencies show a decline in shark populations worldwide. British Columbia is a market for shark fin, and this demand helps drive up the practice of shark finning. By impacting the demand for shark fins, British Columbia can help ensure that sharks do not become extinct as a result of this. To this end, this bill seeks to restrict the possession and distribution of shark fins.

I’d like to note that today is the ten-year anniversary of the U.S. release of the documentary Sharkwater, a film that brought this serious issue to the world’s attention. I’m honoured to be contributing to the efforts of Rob Stewart, who tragically lost his life while pursuing his passion to protect sharks.

Mr. Speaker: The question is first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

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

Bill M207, Fish and Seafood Amendment Act, 2017, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

KIDNEY DISEASE AWARENESS AND WORK
OF PAUL AND DIANE DUPERRON

S. Bond: On Sunday, October 29, Bill and I joined many Prince George residents who were determined to make every kilometre count at the tenth annual Kidney Walk. We would not have been there if it weren’t for the incredible work of two amazing people, Paul and Diane Duperron.

Paul was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease in 1985, and his condition deteriorated over the years. Paul and Diane started the Prince George chapter of the Kidney Foundation in 2006, the year before Paul started dialysis and the long wait for a kidney transplant. Paul finally got his match in 2011 but, sadly, had difficulty with his donor kidney right from the beginning. In fact, it failed in 2014.

Today Paul is back on the list waiting for another kidney. Despite the physical effects of dialysis, like lack of energy and tiredness, Paul continues to be grateful. He has said: “I still consider myself fortunate, since I’m among the healthier patients.”

Paul and Diane are the heart and soul of the Kidney Foundation in Prince George. Diane is the president of the Prince George chapter and is a northern regional director of the B.C. and Yukon branch, while Paul is a board member of the Prince George chapter and the secretary of the B.C. and Yukon branch. If that isn’t enough, they regularly deliver cookies, visit with kidney patients at the dialysis clinic and provide much-needed comfort and information.

Paul Duperron and many others like him would love to have a transplant. Transplants are called a gift of life. Paul and Diane believe that heroes aren’t born; they’re registered.

You, too, can save a life through organ donation. I want to encourage you to check out the Kidney Foundation campaign: “Saving lives through organ donation.” I know that Paul and Diane Duperron and thousands of families like them would be very grateful if you did.

[10:25 a.m.]

BURNABY LOCAL HERO AWARDS

A. Kang: It was Halloween this past Tuesday, and we saw many superheroes on the street. But those are not the only superheroes that we have. We have a few in Burnaby as well.

Since 1997, the city of Burnaby, a community made stronger by the services of its citizens, identifies and recognizes its local heroes. This year there were many individuals that were recognized. These individuals, of diverse interests and backgrounds, give back to the community in a wide variety of ways. The total number of local heroes, including the people being recognized this year, now stands at 261.

This year’s local heroes are Tazul Nisha Ali and Giovanna Lore, who have dedicated themselves to helping others, especially seniors; Joe Gallo, who is active in community donations and emergency preparedness; Delmer Rens and Daniella Revitt, who have been helping our school students succeed; and Bernie Richter, who played a pivotal role in helping the Burnaby Association for South East Side, otherwise known as BASES, open a thrift store for the public.

Honestly, a two-minute statement is far from enough to recognize our heroes’ services and outstanding contributions to our community. These heroes have done everything from preparing us for the winter to visiting isolated seniors in their homes. Regardless of what our heroes volunteer their time on, they always remember to bring their contagious smiles.

Our schools, libraries, recreation centres and community agencies also played an important role in helping spread the word of the Burnaby Local Hero Award. It shows how connected our community is. For those who took the time and initiative to put together nomination submissions this year, your efforts are also a form of community service and continue to inspire more people to give back to the community.

Raised in a family that strongly values community involvement and volunteerism, I would like to take a moment to congratulate the recipients of this year’s Burnaby Local Hero Award. Thank you so much. Your contributions and services are what make Burnaby great. Your love for the community, kindness and selflessness are what make our province, B.C., great.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

T. Wat: We have just wrapped up Manufacturing Month in B.C., a time to celebrate this key sector of our economy.

As part of Manufacturing Month, it was my pleasure, as an MLA and the Trade critic, to sit down with four representatives of the Canadian manufacturing industry — Ed Beange, president of Hansen Industries in Vancouver, which produces precision sheet metal and machined components; Allen Spear, president of Humble Manufacturing in Burnaby, which also fabricates precision sheet metal and building components; Rob McCurdy, CEO of Pinnacle Renewable Energy, which was founded in Quesnel and is now the longest established wood pallet producer in western Canada; and Andrew Elliott, president and CEO of Foley’s Chocolate and Candies, which manufactures delicious chocolate and candy treats for my own riding of Richmond North Centre.

They represent the great diversity that is found in B.C.’s manufacturing sector. I thank them for taking the time to speak with me about some of the challenges they face and some of the opportunities they see moving forward.

Manufacturing is the third-largest contributor to the provincial economy, generating $45.8 billion in sales. More than 66 percent of our province’s exports are manufactured goods, and the sector provides well-paying, high-skilled employment opportunities to more than 170,000 people across British Columbia.

With all this in mind, I ask all members of the House to join me in thanking B.C.’s manufacturers for their many positive contributions to our economy, and a big thank you to the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters organization for raising awareness about their important role.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF VOLUNTEERS

B. D’Eith: According to the 2017 Volunteer B.C. annual report, 1.5 million B.C. volunteers contribute 114 million hours a year to build better communities in British Columbia. Volunteerism is clearly a core component to a healthy British Columbia.

It’s no different in my community of Maple Ridge–Mission. Maple Ridge–Mission has a long history of volunteer work. Last year, for example, the Mission Hospital auxiliary had 150 volunteers, who donated 31,000 volunteer hours. The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services had 68 volunteers, who donated 6,200 hours of volunteer work.

[10:30 a.m.]

Mission Community Services had 7,100 hours and 50 active volunteers, plus another 30 in the Christmas Bureau. In the arts, the ACT Arts Centre had 180 volunteers, who gave 5,700 hours of volunteer work. The Friends in Need Food Bank had 14,000 hours donated in Maple Ridge. And in the RCMP community group, 100 volunteers donated 5,000 volunteer hours.

This is amazing, and this is just Maple Ridge and Mission. It’s amazing with the volunteers. These are just some examples. There are many more examples in my community and other communities. That’s what it’s really about — building communities.

When I came to Maple Ridge 15 years ago, I didn’t really know anybody. I volunteered to coach minor hockey, and I met other volunteers like Mel Vendrack, who’s in the audience today. These people became close family friends and helped me build relationships in the community. So it really is important. In fact, no one in this House would be sitting here without the amazing work that volunteers give us tirelessly for what they believe in.

I would like the whole House, if we could, to take a moment to thank the amazing volunteers in British Columbia who help to sustain our communities.

WATERSHED PROTECTION
AND COWICHAN WATERSHED BOARD

S. Furstenau: In B.C., we have two-tiered water. Victoria and Vancouver are in the top tier. These two regions own their watersheds and control what happens in them. These two regions have also proactively protected their watersheds, recognizing the direct correlation between intact forests and high-quality water.

But in many other parts of B.C., communities are struggling to protect their community watersheds and, ultimately, their drinking water. I hear from people all across the province who are concerned about activities that put their water at risk — clearcut logging, quarrying, mining, dumping, fracking. Yet we all know the importance of clean, safe water. Every community and every person depends on water for survival.

In the face of these challenges and recognizing the critical importance of our water, communities have started to come together to work on long-term protection. In the Cowichan Valley, we have the Cowichan Watershed Board. The mandate of the board is to provide leadership for sustainable water management. The 14-member Cowichan Watershed Board is co-chaired by Chief Seymour of the Cowichan Tribes and Chair Lefebure of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. This is one step in the Cowichan Valley’s reconciliation journey: working together to advocate for the well-being of the Cowichan watershed.

At a recent dinner in Vancouver, I was approached by two women from Reconciliation Canada who told me that they see the Cowichan Watershed Board and its co-governance model as a perfect initiative for bringing communities together and moving us along the journey of reconciliation. Cowichan has been identified by the Polis Project on Ecological Governance as a candidate for a watershed governance pilot project, in large part due to the work of the Cowichan Watershed Board and many others who are committed to a healthy future for our watershed and our community.

I am so impressed by the work of all these dedicated people, and I’ve learned since moving to Cowichan that water brings us together and keeps us connected. For this, I am truly grateful.

GURU NANAK GURPURAB

R. Singh: I want to greet all British Columbians with a happy Gurpurab on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Ji, the founder of Sikhism.

Guru Nanak was a great man who stood up against caste-based oppression and created a new faith that challenged the orthodoxy and dogma of the established religions. The new order that he established was based on the principles of equality and sharing. He not only questioned superstition but also encouraged people to indulge in dialogue to acquire new knowledge.

As a traveller, he went as far as the Middle East from his birthplace in India to spread the message of love and universal brotherhood. Through his revolutionary poetry, he countered the oppressors and enlightened ordinary folks about truth and equality. He also denounced discrimination against women and the so-called Untouchables in Indian society.

[10:35 a.m.]

He introduced progressive concepts like langar, the free communal kitchen, to end social discrimination against the poor and outcasts, and he had a huge following among workers and tillers. He gave the message to treat the earth as mother and water as father and taught everyone to share and to earn a livelihood through hard work.

Guru Nanak will always be a relevant figure while bigotry, social inequalities, gender bias and the degradation of the environment continue. We all need to learn from his philosophy to make this world a better place.

Oral Questions

GOVERNMENT HOUSING INITIATIVES

S. Sullivan: My question is about a campaign promise that was made — specifically, the promise to build 114,000 new homes for British Columbians over the next ten years. Now, if the government is serious about this commitment, this would mean about 41,900 homes built in the next three years. Tenders would have to have been issued and property purchased.

My question is to the Minister of Housing. What property has been sited to build these 41,900 new homes she and her government have promised over the next three years?

Hon. S. Robinson: I’m very proud to say in this House that we have started delivering on our campaign commitments. We’ve already made announcements for 2,000 modular units of housing throughout this province, and 600 of those will be in the member’s community of Vancouver. That community has stepped up big time and made sure that we are starting to deliver.

The previous government completely ignored the issue and suggested that people just leave the community of Vancouver and go up to Fort St. John. That’s not what we’re about. We are delivering on our commitment.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver–False Creek on a supplemental.

S. Sullivan: Two thousand modular units is a far cry from the 41,900 new homes she promised British Columbians. There does seem to be a theme in this government of delay, of broken promises. There seems to be a lot of reviews, a lot of: “We’ll do it in the future.”

The Premier said he had a plan to build 114,000 new homes. I have not seen anything to indicate there ever was a plan. The budget…. As the minister says, 2,000 modular homes — a far cry from what she’s promised. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says that we should budget $250,000 per unit. Ten-years cost for 114,000 units — $28.5 billion.

Now she has indicated by her answer that the sites aren’t there. The money is not there. Will the minister tell this House that she cannot answer questions about land location and cost because she knows this is yet another promise her government does not intend to keep?

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to remind the member opposite about all the public lands that their government sold because they didn’t care to make sure that we had opportunities to build housing for British Columbians. They didn’t care to preserve public assets to make sure that we had opportunities.

I’m here to tell everyone in the House that we are working together in partnership with so many across our province who are excited. At the UBCM, the communities were coming one after the other after the other, making sure that they were at the table with us.

The previous government preferred to tell local governments that they had no role. Well, they are excited to be working with us, and we look forward to delivering on our commitments.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver–False Creek on a second supplemental.

[10:40 a.m.]

S. Sullivan: I thank the minister for that response. I know it was not an answer, but I do credit her with at least attempting.

This government would need $28.5 billion plus over the next ten years to build the 114,000 units. On top of that, it would need $57 million a month or a total of $684 million a year. I have seen nothing of any of that in this budget. I’ve seen 2,000 modular homes.

Again to the minister. I understand she doesn’t want to admit to another broken promise, but people deserve answers. How can British Columbians take her seriously when it is so blatantly obvious there is no plan to build this promised housing?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, it looks like there wasn’t even a question in there, but I’m going to get up on my feet and remind this House…. I don’t think the member really looked at the budget very carefully. We’ve also committed $208 million for 1,700 units of affordable rental that, when the Liberals were in government, they chose to ignore.

Our government has made serious commitments. We are delivering. I want to point out again, because I don’t think the members opposite understand what partnership looks like, that our commitment is to work in partnership, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

D. Ashton: We all know how incredibly important affordable housing is to many of our citizens. I was ecstatic when the government recently announced $4.5 million in “new supportive housing” in Penticton. However, imagine my surprise when I reviewed the news release and the past government’s news release — this one from April — announcing the same project. It seems this government….

Interjections.

D. Ashton: I’ll say it again. It seems this government is so challenged to try to meet their impossible promise….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we shall hear the question.

D. Ashton: It seems this government is so challenged to meet their impossible promise, they are now counting units from the previous B.C. Liberal government’s record housing investments as their own.

My question to the minister: could she please tell this House how many units that were funded by the previous government have been reannounced by her or her government?

Hon. S. Robinson: It’s always a pleasure to get up on my feet and talk about housing. The previous government refused to actually address affordability. They would rather….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we shall hear the response.

Hon. S. Robinson: Our government is committed to making sure that British Columbians have the housing they need. We recognize that there has been a serious gap because the previous government ignored it.

We are working together with all the partners that are interested in working with us — the local governments that are putting up their land because the previous government sold land. They preferred to sell land so that it makes it more difficult for British Columbians. We’re committed to making sure that there’s a range of housing, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Penticton on a supplemental.

D. Ashton: To stay on track with their promise, this NDP government would need to complete 41,900 units in the next three years. The budget seems to only commit to 3,700, and it seems to include reannouncing projects and rolling out projects that were done by a previous government.

The minister has yet to explain how many tenders have gone out, how many bids have been received, the per-unit cost budget and when these units will actually be built. Again to the Minister of Housing, what is the government’s plan for land acquisition, for construction and for servicing these additional 41,900 units over the next three years?

Hon. S. Robinson: Again, I know the member opposite understands this. It’s important to have partnerships in order to make sure that we have housing that British Columbians need and that they work hard for.

[10:45 a.m.]

I find it really fascinating that members on the other side of the House think that government is going to and should…. We committed to work in partnership. I want to explain that word “partnership.” That means working with non-profits. That means working with co-ops. That means working with….

Interjections.

Hon. S. Robinson: I’m losing my voice, so I can’t shout.

Mr. Speaker: Members, order, please.

Hon. S. Robinson: I can’t shout anymore. I’m losing my voice.

That means working in partnership with the co-op sector, with the private sector, with the non-profit sector, with a faith-based sector. There are so many who are dying to work with a government that cares. The federal government is here as well. So are local governments. I’m very proud to work with all of those who are interested in making sure that there’s housing for British Columbians.

FOREIGN BUYER DATA AND
SPECULATION IN REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY

A. Weaver: Yesterday the government released property transfer tax data that clearly demonstrates the rising impact that foreign speculators are having on our housing market. Fully 5 percent of the homes in the capital regional district and Metro Vancouver, 10 percent in Burnaby — that’s a doubling in a year — and 11 percent in Richmond were purchased by foreign buyers in September alone. And that’s not counting all the transactions that were able to avoid paying property transfer tax and foreign buyers tax through creative measures.

Across every single community in Metro Vancouver, the percentage of transactions involving a foreign national is going up. These transactions have now an outsized impact on the entire market, contributing beyond their relative share to the price increases we’re seeing in our province. It’s essential that this government take action on the use of foreign money in our real estate sector, and this action must start now.

To the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, when will British Columbia start implementing policies that will ensure that our limited housing stock is used first as homes for British Columbians, not as a bank to account for foreign capital?

Hon. C. James: I’m proud to work with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. This is a tax issue, and I’m proud that we’re actually doing work in the Ministry of Finance on tax issues to come up with a comprehensive strategy that will address affordability in our province.

I appreciate the member’s question because what’s clear from the figures is that the previous government’s piecemeal approach did not work. You’re continuing to see foreign investment increase. We need to address the issues.

Right now, within my ministry, we’re actively examining all of the existing and new ideas for housing tax measures, including a speculation tax, including the foreign buyers tax. We’re rejecting the piecemeal approach because we know we have to address housing affordability in a long-term strategy. That’s what we’re focused on, and that’s what we’re going to do.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

If I may, before you continue, Member, remind all members that we have visitors in the gallery. I’m thinking it’s difficult for them to hear, and I’m especially reminded we have a wonderful group of young school students in the gallery.

A. Weaver: That was timely. That wonderful group are actually grade 5 students from Glenlyon Norfolk, a school in my riding. So welcome here, enjoying question period.

I appreciate the Minister of Finance rising in response to my question, but my question was to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about what is being done today, not what is going to be done hypothetically in February.

Look, the reality of the situation is this. The previous government brought us back in summer to implement — in a timely, urgent fashion — a foreign buyers tax. This was done despite the budget cycle, which was not occurring for another six months. So I don’t buy the minister’s argument.

[10:50 a.m.]

We’ve heard the government talk about speculation taxes. Yet there’s been no action. We’ve heard them talk about vacancy taxes. No action. We’ve heard them talk about Airbnb. No action. To be blunt, the government is acting like deer caught in headlights. This is the single biggest issue facing our province, and we are told week in and week out: “Wait and see.”

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

A. Weaver: I’ve got some cheerleaders on the opposite side today. It’s good.

The former Housing critic made it clear that tackling foreign speculation was the most important step that could be taken. There are plenty of actions that could be taken now to close loopholes. Sure, we’re tracking and collecting data and working with our federal partners. All could be done outside of the budget process.

My question to Municipal Affairs and Housing is: why has the government been silent on the foreign demand issues since taking over government?

Hon. C. James: Thanks to the member. In fact, you can check off a couple of those pieces. The work we’re doing with the federal government is already done. We included information-sharing in September. Those are exactly conversations that are going on. That’s a piece that’s happening now.

You can also check off, Member, the issue of closing the fixed-term loophole to be able to protect tenants from unfair landlords who were looking at year leases. You can also check off investing in the residential tenancy branch to protect tenants and support good landlords.

I would remind the member, as well, that in fact the information that came forward on the foreign buyers data showed very clearly that one measure simply doesn’t work. A comprehensive approach is needed. That is what we are looking at now to end speculation in the real estate market. I look forward to the member’s ideas so that we can put a plan together long term that is going to address affordability.

HOUSING SPECULATION TAX

J. Yap: The Minister of Housing has faced considerable criticism for seeming to be incapable of answering the most basic questions on her file. She has been asked when she plans to bring in the 2 percent speculation tax the NDP promised in their platform. Of course, she hasn’t had an answer. She never has an answer for any real questions. I will ask again about the timelines for the implementation of the tax. People need to know.

To the Minister of Housing, when will she put in place the 2 percent speculation tax her party ran on?

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to take a moment to thank my colleague the Minister of Finance, who has been very working diligently on analyzing the tax information and the tax structures that we need to do in order to address housing speculation. She’s doing a fine piece of work.

I want to just point out what Jill Atkey, the director of research and education for the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association, said. She said: “For a long time, we’ve had these stopgap measures within the housing system, so we’re kind of plugging holes as they appear without addressing the housing system as an actual system and coming up with a plan to assure affordability for a broad range of household types.”

That is exactly what we’re doing. We are working together, making sure that we address all aspects of the housing crisis, which is very different from what the previous government did, which was play Whac-a-Mole.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Richmond-Steveston on a supplemental.

J. Yap: That sounded like a stopgap answer. It was her leader, now the Premier, who introduced a bill to create a 2 percent speculation tax last year. It was her colleague the Attorney General who regularly boasted about easy solutions that could be implemented immediately. Instead, we have a minister who won’t even commit…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we should hear the question.

Member, please continue.

J. Yap: …to actions they campaigned on.

Will the Minister of Housing explain whether or not she intends to implement the exact plan they ran on, or is this simply another NDP broken promise?

[10:55 a.m.]

Hon. S. Robinson: So far today what we learned is that the B.C. Liberals don’t understand “partnership” and that they don’t understand “comprehensive.” That’s what we’re doing. We’re developing a comprehensive plan in partnership, and that’s what we’re going to be delivering on. I look forward to the members opposite supporting our plan in the times going forward.

I want to again thank the Minister of Finance for her hard work in making sure that we stop playing Whac-a-Mole and have a comprehensive plan going forward around tax structures that needs to happen in order to deal with speculation.

FOREIGN BUYER DATA AND
GOVERNMENT HOUSING INITIATIVES

A. Wilkinson: So far, from the Minister of Housing, we’ve heard that there’s going to be a comprehensive, holistic plan to develop partnerships to build a plan for a plan. Let’s get specific. Until this government was sworn in, there was a regular disclosure of the number of foreign buyers purchasing real estate in the British Columbia market. That stopped when members of this government were sworn in. Looking at the record, no less than the Attorney General said that those data were meaningless.

Well, now we find that under pressure, the Minister of Housing was found to say last week about these data releases: “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that just yet.” Let’s hear that answer again about the housing crisis in British Columbia. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that just yet,” she said. Now we find the data are suddenly being posted again.

Will this minister stand up in the House and say that these data will be published on a timely and regular basis so that British Columbians can know what’s going on in the housing market? Please give us an answer. Please.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we will at least start to hear the answer.

Hon. C. James: I’d just like to correct the member across the way. The foreign buyers data actually comes out of the Ministry of Finance. That’s where the information comes from. Staff in the ministry were looking at three-month data. We decided we wanted it to come out monthly. The data is out, and yes, it will be out every month.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Vancouver-Quilchena on a supplemental.

A. Wilkinson: Well, it’s clear that a very small subset of cabinet is authorized to give real answers, so I’m glad we finally got one.

Speaking of answers, here’s what the Premier had to say on September 7 about housing: “We’re coming up on challenges that the solutions we had hoped to implement are not as easy to do as we had first hoped.” Now, the Minister of Housing may find there is a pretty easy answer to her modular housing problem, because there are about 200 construction trailers sitting in the middle of the Terrace airport because they’re cancelling projects all over this province.

This government has presented no plan whatsoever to work with the private sector to increase the supply of housing, when everyone knows…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we shall hear the question.

A. Wilkinson: …the private sector is the part that builds the housing in our economy.

Can the minister…? Perhaps the minister will be allowed to answer a question, Mr. Premier. Oh, he’s jumping to his feet already. Can the minister, appointed by the Premier, explain why she has effectively excluded the private sector from her consultations on housing?

[11:00 a.m.]

Hon. J. Horgan: It’s good to be back in the House. I had other business yesterday in Vancouver, and I’ve found that the quality of the questions has not improved in my absence.

I’ve been trying to take inventory…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: …on what keeps the opposition busy these days, and it seems it’s following the headlines. I would have thought that the headline on today’s papers, “B.C. Liberals Bungle Site C, Put Ratepayers in Shock,” might have been the line of questioning they would have followed today. I would have thought that a modest amount of humility from that side of the House would have acknowledged that the housing crisis that we inherited was a result of their inaction. I would have thought…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: …that the B.C. Liberal opposition would have got comfortable in their role and would have been constructive in their questioning, but alas, we have to await constructive questions from the members from the Green caucus.

Mr. Speaker: Members, before we continue, I’m reminded that the youngsters from an elementary school left quickly. I’m hoping we’re not going to see more visitors from the gallery leave.

MASSEY TUNNEL REPLACEMENT PROJECT

J. Sturdy: Earlier this week the Minister of Transportation was asked, on multiple occasions, to provide an update on her review of the George Massey Tunnel replacement project. Not only was she unwilling — or, perhaps, unable — to answer the basic questions, but she was then contradicted by her own staff when they disclosed that a consultant had already been engaged and had begun work. Furthermore, we’re now told that the ministry had identified some two dozen people, or companies, and begun work with multiple agencies and groups. The minister chose not to share any of these important details with the House.

To the minister, it seems that she either has, at best, a tenuous grasp on what is happening in her ministry or purposefully chose to withhold information from this House. Can the minister please confirm that she instructed her staff to find a fix to a problem that she herself created in question period by not being up to date on a file that is critical to the lives and families of 80,000 daily commuters?

Hon. C. Trevena: I find it risible that the critic for my file says that we’re trying to fix things. What we’re trying to do is fix the mess that the opposition left us after they were in government. If the B.C. Liberals and the Premier of the former government, Christy Clark, hadn’t been so driven to have a vanity project….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Minister, if you might take your seat for a moment.

Minister, please continue.

Hon. C. Trevena: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If that side of the House, when they were in government, hadn’t been so driven to rush into a project without doing a fundamental technical review of all the issues, we would not be in this place.

We now have an expert who is looking at the technical problems. We are working, as the Minister of Housing said, in partnership with the local governments to make sure we get the best response for the people of B.C.

[11:05 a.m.]

We want to ensure that our infrastructure is done in the best way possible. We acknowledge that there is a problem on the Highway 99 corridor. What we want to do is get a result that will really help the people of B.C. and make sure that families can travel safely, can get home and not be dealing with the constant problems left over by that side of the House when they were government.

Mr. Speaker: The member for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky on a supplemental.

J. Sturdy: Well, I thank the minister for the response, if not an answer. I can assure the minister that no one is questioning the ability or competence of her ministry staff. However, it wouldn’t surprise her to know, I’m sure, that we find her grasp of this important file very much in question.

The Ministry of Transportation has, for over five years, conducted extensive due diligence on this project. There are over 1,000 pages of materials that are publicly available and posted on the ministry website alone.

My question to the minister is: did she at least review the information on the ministry’s own website before deciding to undertake this decidedly unnecessary review?

Hon. C. Trevena: I think that nobody questions the need for this review. This is something that is fundamental to make sure that, when we are spending billions of dollars of public money, we get it right. We know that there was much disagreement with that side of the House when their government approached this project. Apart from one mayor, there was absolute concern.

Even that mayor…. I have to say that Mayor Jackson, the mayor of Delta, has written to me saying: “Delta council is very supportive of the provincial government’s decision to undertake an independent review of this project. We appreciate it’s important to ensure any decision on the future of the crossing is based on the best available information.”

That’s what we’re doing. We’re getting the best available information to make sure we get the right decision.

[End of question period.]

Hon. K. Conroy: I seek leave to present a petition.

Leave granted.

Petitions

Hon. K. Conroy: It’s a petition from 420 residents of west Arrow Park asking for 24-hour ferry service to their community.

Tabling Documents

Mr. Speaker: I have the honour to present the annual report of the Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner for 2016.