Second Session, 41st Parliament (2017)
OFFICIAL REPORT
OF DEBATES
(HANSARD)
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Morning Sitting
Issue No. 62
ISSN 1499-2175
The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.
The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2017
The House met at 10:05 a.m.
[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]
Routine Business
Prayers.
Introductions by Members
S. Chandra Herbert: It gives me great pleasure to welcome ChrŸs Tei to the House. ChrŸs has been here on numerous occasions to advocate for human rights, for transgender and gender diverse people. She is the executive director of the Rainbow Health Cooperative. She worked hard to help bring forward recommendations that led to the creation of Trans Care B.C. and is just an all-around wonderful person who brings a great support to so many in this province.
I know she’s a constituent of the Premier, so I get to bring greetings on behalf of the Premier. I welcome ChrŸs to the House. Would everybody join me in welcoming her.
A. Weaver: It gives me great pleasure to introduce a friend and colleague, Prof. Aaron Devor from the University of Victoria. Professor Devor holds the world’s only research chair in transgender studies and has been studying and teaching about transgender topics for more than 35 years. He’s a national award–winning teacher and an internationally regarded scholar. Dr. Devor is the founder and academic director of the world’s largest transgender archives, also at the University of Victoria. Would the House please join me in welcoming Dr. Devor.
M. Stilwell: I’m proud to introduce Sharon Doty in the House today. Sharon is the president of PFLAG Canada’s Victoria chapter. As a national non-profit organization, PFLAG provides support, education and resources on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. In advocating for a more accepting Canadian society, PFLAG assists in the recognition and the growth of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, intersex, queer and questioning persons, as well as their families and their friends, with diverse cultures and societies.
Sharon came to this group as a parent in 2006, seeking to support her two children who were both part of the rainbow community. Sharon has actively participated in supportive learning through education seminars around the region and works toward ensuring that her children and her grandchildren will benefit from having a more accepting society. I ask that the House please help make Sharon feel very welcome.
Hon. H. Bains: It is my pleasure to introduce to the House — I just noticed in the gallery — my good friend, a lifelong workers advocate, area director of Unifor, Gavin McGarrigle. Please give him a warm welcome.
Hon. J. Sims: I’d like to introduce Ronda Richardson in the House today. Ronda is part of the exceptional corporate services division team within the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, and she is also a resident in the Premier’s constituency. May I ask that all here in the House make her most welcome.
Hon. L. Beare: It is my pleasure to welcome some very special guests sitting in the gallery today. Joining us for question period are athletes from Team B.C. who represented our province at two major multisporting games. These athletes made B.C. proud at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Toronto and in the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.
With us is Lara Mussell Savage, Team B.C.’s chef de mission from ISPARC, the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreational Council. We also have Rick Brant, an athlete at the games and ISPARC’s executive director. Sitting with them is Michelle Collens, an assistant chef de mission for Team B.C. at the 2017 Canada Summer Games. I ask that all members recognize the accomplishments of these incredible individuals and please make them feel welcome.
Statements
LEGION OF HONOUR AWARD FOR
NORTH VANCOUVER
VETERANS
B. Ma: I am pleased to be able to share with the House today that just prior to Remembrance Day this year, two longtime North Vancouver residents in their 90s, Mr. Virgil Billesberger of the Calgary Highlanders and another humble and private resident who prefers to not be named, were awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour.
This medal has been France’s highest award for military merit since the days of Napoleon Bonaparte, and they have been awarded to Mr. Billesberger and his veteran colleague in recognition of their participation in the 1944 campaign to liberate France. Both men continue to live in North Vancouver with their spouses. I ask the House to join me in recognizing them for their military service.
Introductions by Members
A. Olsen: I won’t make a habit of introducing people who’ve already been introduced, but I do feel like I need to acknowledge some former colleagues of mine, Rick Brant and Lara Mussell Savage, working in the Aboriginal sports community. I was honoured to work with the former organization, Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Association of B.C.
As well, I believe I’m speaking to an alumni of the 2009 Canada Summer Games where I was a Team B.C. communications person, so I’d like to say hello to Michelle. Would the House please make them feel welcome again. HÍSW̱ḴE.
D. Routley: I hate to reintroduce a person in the gallery, but Rick Brant…. I must say to the House, just for everyone’s knowledge, that the 2008 Indigenous Games in Cowichan were essentially held together by Rick and delivered by Rick, and it was one of the best episodes of those games ever put on. So thanks on behalf of all of the people of Cowichan to Rick Brant.
Introduction and
First Reading of Bills
BILL M210 — INTERPRETATION
AMENDMENT ACT,
2017
L. Larson presented a bill intituled Interpretation Amendment Act, 2017.
L. Larson: I move that a bill, Interpretation Amendment Act, 2017, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and now read a first time.
Twice a year the changing of our clocks forward or back one hour creates a flurry of articles and discussion. Studies continue to be published about the negative impacts on our health that have documented an increase in both heart attacks and car accidents in the days immediately following the time shift. Studies have also identified losses to the economy from a lack of productivity directly related to this time shift.
The practice of moving our clocks forward and back began in 1918, as a way to use less coal during the First World War. It was phased out after the Second World War and then uniformly reinstated across North America in the 1960s.
The city of Grand Forks introduced a resolution at the 2017 Union of B.C. Municipalities annual convention to eliminate daylight savings time, which was endorsed by the membership. A subsequent on-line survey showed that 85 percent of responders were supportive of the elimination of daylight savings time.
The elimination of daylight savings time requires changes to the Interpretation Act, as set out in this bill. This bill will also make consequential amendments to the Community Charter, Election Act, Local Government Act, Vancouver Charter and Wildfire Act or any other act, regulation, rule, order, bylaw, agreement or other instrument or document referring to Pacific Daylight Time.
It will be 100 years, in the spring of 2018, since the time shift was introduced. I believe it’s the time to end it.
Mr. Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.
Motion approved.
L. Larson: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.
Bill M210, Interpretation 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)
RICHMOND HOSPITAL
L. Reid: From the Province newspaper of July 30, 1960, page 15: “Health Minister Eric Martin said Friday that approval-in-principle has been given to the Richmond Hospital Society for a new hospital. The announcement came following a ten-year campaign on the part of Richmond municipal authorities and the society. The original request was for a 100-bed hospital, but the population growth in the last ten years means the municipality will probably seek at least 200 beds.”
The society had made repeated representations on the need for a hospital on the grounds that Richmond’s 38,000 residents back in the day could not be satisfactorily served by Vancouver institutions. A proposed site for the hospital had already been set aside by Richmond council in a 65-acre section bought by the municipality from the B.C. Turf and Country Club between No. 3 Road and Gilbert. “‘It’s wonderful news,’ said the secretary. ‘We have felt all along that Richmond should have its own hospital with its own doctors treating its own people.’ Reeve Henry Anderson said work would start immediately when the hospital was given the right-of-way.”
Today Richmond Hospital contains approximately 200 in-patient beds. The hospital’s original structure, the north tower, was built in 1964. It housed 100 in-patient beds as well as surgical suites, medical imaging and pharmacy. Richmond’s population was 38,000 when Richmond Hospital first opened. Today, the city’s population sits at 210,000. Expansion of our hospital has not kept up, as Richmond has among the lowest number of beds per capita in the country. Richmond Hospital offers a full range of medical and surgical services to patients across the continuum, from prenatal to palliative. Our services have evolved to include many specialized programs. However, our facilities have not.
As the mom of a 13-year-old son, we have utilized the services of Richmond Hospital more times than I can count. I am grateful for the care and professionalism the staff bring to their job. Special thanks to Dr. Matthew Kwok, emergency room doctor.
To conclude, in the Vancouver Sun on February 28, 1966, Health Minister Eric Martin announced the completion of Richmond General Hospital with these words, and this is the comment for the Health Minister across the way: “This is the 43rd new hospital I have opened since I first became Health Minister.” No pressure, Minister, but step lively.
OCEAN ANCHORAGES
D. Routley: I rise to speak of ocean anchorages. Ocean anchorages are essentially the parking lot of our ports. Our port authorities have enormous power, protected from any political jurisdiction, federal, provincial or local. That protection was put in place to protect them from interference, but in fact, what has developed has been a gap in jurisdiction. We need to have some sort of public interest input into the operations of these port authorities.
What is happening in the constituency I represented up and down the coast of B.C. is that inefficiencies in the shipping systems of North America are being downloaded onto the people of the coast as ships park not for hours, not for days, not for weeks but sometimes for many months on end, waiting for a space in the port. This is something that needs all jurisdictions to participate in solving — local jurisdictions in approving operations on port facilities that are within their grasp and provincial and federal authorities using and coordinating their pressure to get these shipping companies to either pay up or stop downloading those costs onto our residents.
This is something that, if we put a charge on these ships…. Currently, they park for free. We’re the only jurisdiction. The Washington state governor will be here today, and he will confirm that they are charged in Washington so that this doesn’t happen. What we need to do is put a charge for parking so that there will be pressure on the port to move things quickly so that the port will put pressure on the railways to provide the cars so that the system can flow the way it was meant to do.
It’s important that all companies that operate in B.C. be responsible for their effect on the environment and our society. When we see these ships running all night long with generators, spewing emissions, this is damaging. I hope all of us can commit to stopping it.
WHISTLER COMMUNITY SERVICES
RE-USE-IT
CENTRE
J. Sturdy: I would like to take the time to acknowledge the great work done by Whistler Community Services and their social venture enterprise that funds community programming through recycling.
In 1989, Whistler Community Services first established a Christmas hamper and food bank program to fill a social gap in a growing community. After identifying another community need in the late ’90s, the resort municipality of Whistler asked the society to develop a thrift store to recycle useful products otherwise bound for the dump. By operating the store and keeping goods out of the landfill, the society would hopefully generate a profit which would be used to fund social service programming. In 2000, the Whistler Re-Use-It Centre in Function Junction was born, and the success was remarkable.
Whether you’re new to town and need another winter layer, need some kitchen equipment or are looking for used sporting goods, the Re-Use-It Centre is the place with the best deals in town. It has been so successful that Whistler Community Services expanded the Re-Use-it Centre to include the Re-Build-It Centre, as well as bottle and electronic recycling centres.
Altogether, these businesses generate the majority of funding required to run their social service programming, which includes a counselling assistance program, a parent-and-infant drop-in, a survival guide program for young adults arriving in Whistler and a greenhouse growing program, as well as an outreach worker.
In the 2016 fiscal year, the Re-Use-It Centre received the equivalent of 46,437 garbage-sized bags of donations. Collectively, the program kept 8.4 million kilos of otherwise useful products out of the landfill in 2016 alone, through 82,885 paying customers generating $1.5 million in revenue.
Whistler Community Services is a model of valuable social programming, funded through enterprising non-profits, and I ask this House to recognize them for the great work they’re doing for the community of Whistler.
BURNABY ROTARY CLUB
WINTER COATS
PROGRAM
A. Kang: I rise today to remind everyone that winter is coming, and I would like to recognize the Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown for its efforts in preparing our children and youth for the winter.
Each year the Rotary Club provides less fortunate children and youth with coats for winter. Last year the Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown delivered 1,700 new coats to local Burnaby schools for children in need, as well as over 2,000 used coats to various non-profit organizations for individuals in their programs.
As the winter gets colder, our community is really mobilizing our resources to help our people get through the winter. Suppliers such as Army and Navy give the Rotary Club a discounted rate for the new Coats for Kids. Burnaby-based company Zeemac, which specializes in fleet services, has also donated a truck for the delivery of coats for kids.
Regardless of what role we play, we can all do something to help. This is another example of our community coming together and taking care of each other. If you would like to take part in this worthwhile cause, you may make a donation by cash or cheque for the purchase of new coats for kids or drop off new or gently used coats at any Burnaby MLA community offices, as well as many other Burnaby locations. Just make sure that each coat is waterproof, has a hood and has a good working zipper. The Rotary Club will make sure that the secondhand coats are dry cleaned before handing them out.
This year’s organizer, Ernie Kashima, will recall the smiles on our children’s faces as they pick out their favourite coats. These smiles and knowing that the children will stay warm this winter makes all the hard work worth it. They also remind us to put service above self — also the motto of the Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown. The coats may warm our arms and legs, but the Rotary Club’s kindness and your kindness also warms our hearts.
SAMANTHA FAZIO AND
ACTION ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF
WOMEN
J. Thornthwaite: I’d like to introduce you to a very special woman in my life, who at the age of 19 years old I would consider exceptionally wise beyond her age. Her name is Samantha Fazio. Despite experiencing sexual violence in her young life, she does not see herself as a victim. Samantha sees herself as a survivor.
In addition to her many friends, a very important figure in Samantha’s support network has been her father. Having male support is one of the most important things in overcoming the trauma of abuse, and far too many women don’t have the support or feel like they have it.
Samantha has risen above adversity and now speaks out about her abuse in the hopes it helps others. She is an accomplished artist, and her artwork showcases both her struggles and her empowerment. She has even started two small businesses. Check out unleashart.net, which she uses as a platform to support WAVAW, Women Against Violence Against Women.
But Samantha’s main message is for men. She says every woman knows a survivor, but it’s much harder to find a man who knows an abuser. While it’s not easy for men to challenge other men, we need to encourage adult men to do their part and speak out if not for the victims of abuse, then about the boys who are peripherally exposed to the abuse of women by other men in their lives. What are we teaching them when we don’t speak up?
Last weekend I was at a dinner party with a group of 50-plus women and their partners. We discussed the #metoo movement, and shockingly, every single one of the women shared a troubling personal story about abuse, harassment or worse.
Did they speak out about it when it happened? No. Did they report it? No. Did I? No. The shared sentiment amongst the women was that no one would believe us if we did. But people did believe Samantha, and she spoke out, and she is brave. For some reason, in 2017, stigmas are being lifted, and people are talking about sexual violence. Will this make a difference? I hope so. And I hope the survivors are supported.
But I also know this: violence against women is a societal issue, and the end to violence against women starts and ends with all of us, including all men in this House. The Me Too movement is not just Samantha’s issue. It’s not just a women’s issue. It’s a man issue. I’d like everyone to support Samantha with her bravery.
INDIAN ARM
AND PLAY BY HIRO
KANAGAWA
R. Glumac: Long ago a ship sailed its way into the calm, clear waters of a scenic inlet for the very first time. On the shores of this inlet were the Tsleil-Waututh people, who had lived in this place for thousands of years. The white settlers, when they decided to name this place, didn’t take on the name given by the people that lived there for so long. Instead, they called it Indian Arm.
Indian Arm is also the name of a play written by Hiro Kanagawa. He’s a constituent in Port Moody. I recently had the opportunity to meet Hiro and congratulate him on his incredible accomplishment. His play recently won the Governor General’s Literary Award. It’s loosely based on a Norwegian play called Little Eyolf. Eyolf is a Norwegian word for wolf, and the Tsleil-Waututh people, who lived on the shores of Indian Arm, are known as the Children of the Wolf.
This play tells the story of a couple with an adopted First Nations son, who lived in a cabin on the shores just north of Deep Cove. It touches upon serious topics such as residential school abuses, old leases on unceded First Nations territory and reconnecting to First Nations roots amidst incredible personal tragedy.
This play contributes in a very meaningful way to a dialogue about our shared history. Its success is an affirmation of the importance of the themes it tackles, in particular the relationship between First Nations and the dominant white culture. My congratulations again to Hiro Kanagawa on this well-deserved national recognition. His incredible talents are helping to ensure that Canada, B.C. and, indeed, Port Moody are uniquely poised to lead the way in showing the world how First Nations and settlers’ communities can reconcile and move forward together toward a brighter future for us all.
Oral Questions
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND
MASSEY TUNNEL
REPLACEMENT
J. Johal: There’s rising frustration among commuters in the Lower Mainland. Thousands of people are stuck in gridlock on our major corridors, but instead of action we have seen nothing but delay and consultation paralysis from the Minister of Transportation. Widening of the No. 1 towards Chilliwack was pulled from the budget, and the work done on the George Massey Tunnel replacement is now just a 600,000-tonne pile of sand that taunts commuters as they idle in traffic.
On behalf of my constituents and British Columbians across the Lower Mainland, will the minister stop studying everything to death and get on with these much-needed projects?
Hon. C. Trevena: I’ve got to say that the members opposite are the reason that we find ourselves here today. If the previous government hadn’t gone against the wishes of the mayors in the region and tried to force the project through, showing themselves to be completely out of touch…. Even the former Transportation Minister has said that there was “too much political calculation” when they were working with the mayors and that they need to stop telling the local communities and regions what’s best for them.
We are listening to the local communities. We are listening to the mayors. We are doing a study. We will move on a congestion problem when we get the right answer.
Mr. Speaker: Richmond-Queensborough on a supplemental.
J. Johal: The only jobs program the NDP has introduced so far has been hiring more consultants so that they can kick the can down the road so they don’t have to make any major policy decisions. I want to remind the minister of the exhaustive environmental assessments that were done: 145 technical and scientific reports, 14,000 pages of information pertaining to this project; three rounds of public engagement, with 3,000 members of the public; and 110 meetings each with the communities of Richmond and Delta.
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members, if we may hear the question.
J. Johal: The minister doesn’t seem to grasp the frustration of those stuck in traffic as well. I have a letter from Ron Hopkins, who writes about Highway 1 lane-widening to “express my frustration that this project seems to be on hold again with the new provincial government.” I raised in this House the email I received from Chris about “how infuriating this is, day after day, to have time with my family stolen from me.”
To the minister responsible for this consultation paralysis, what does she have to say to Ron and Chris, who are mired in traffic while she kicks the can down the road on these critical projects?
Hon. C. Trevena: We are committed to fixing the bottlenecks in this province. We’re fixing to do it properly, with full consultation.
I’ve got to say, hearing time and time again that we have congestion…. We’ve had congestion growing for 16 years. We didn’t see much action then. It took the very last couple of years for anything to happen. We want to make sure that we are consulting properly with all communities in the affected areas to ensure that we get the right solution for the future of this province.
Mr. Speaker: Richmond-Queensborough on a second supplemental.
J. Johal: That answer isn’t good enough for the thousands of people stuck in traffic, and it’s not good enough for employers either.
In my community, London Drugs found the minister’s decision to cancel the George Massey replacement project “extremely damaging.” As a direct result of this minister’s consultation paralysis, London Drugs may have to move their western Canada head office and distribution hub not only out of Richmond but out of the Lower Mainland in general. London Drugs is already losing its employees who are no longer willing to commute through the tunnel, and a relocation would mean the loss of 700 jobs.
Does the minister appreciate the human and the economic costs of her consultation paralysis, and when is she going to get on with building that bridge?
Hon. C. Trevena: The member is quoting from various people. I’d like to quote what his own mayor said about the lack of his consultation. Mayor Brodie said, when we announced that we were going to be having this: “We have been trying to constructively comment on this proposal from the first day it was announced.”
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members, if we may hear the response.
Hon. C. Trevena: “We have been disregarded and ignored in the questions that we have asked. I think that it’s absolutely critical to the future of our city that there’s a re-examination of the project. It’s so important in so many different ways.”
We are re-examining the project. We will move when we have done a thorough re-examination.
I. Paton: Again, the minister just doesn’t seem to understand the urgency of this situation. Perhaps she will be interested in a review that was actually discussed at Delta council last night.
I have here the results of a review of bridge traffic volumes under this minister. Recent traffic counts for the George Massey Tunnel indicate that there are now over 94,000 trips through the tunnel on weekdays. Morning and evening rush hours at the George Massey Tunnel and the Alex Fraser Bridge now typically last between seven to nine hours combined per day, making it more difficult for commuters to avoid being stuck in daily congestion. Traffic on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges has also increased by close to one-third. And fittingly, today…
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
I. Paton: …our Washington state visitors are now finding it much, much easier to cross the U.S. border into Canada than it is to get over the Fraser River into Vancouver.
To the minister responsible for parking lots on our major routes, when will she stop kicking the can down the road, when will this sham review be completed, and will she commit to a specific date when construction of a tunnel replacement will begin?
Hon. C. Trevena: Well, I’m very pleased that the member opposite referred to the increased traffic on the Port Mann and the Golden Ears bridges. That has come as a direct result of this government making life more affordable for people.
People living south of Fraser and north of Fraser have saved $1,500 minimum a year by being able to not have to pay tolls.
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Minister.
Hon. C. Trevena: And businesses are saving at least $4,000 a year, which they can put back into investing in their business and in the future of this province.
We are making the choices that are important for people in British Columbia, to make life more affordable for people of British Columbia and to make our services work.
Mr. Speaker: The member for Delta South on a supplemental.
I. Paton: This is no laughing matter. This is not like when the NDP’s junior partner got stuck for a few minutes in the security line at the airport last weekend.
The new report goes on to warn that the morning and afternoon rush hours will start to blend together if action isn’t taken soon. To quote from the report once again: “Removal of the bridge tolls has not improved the congestion at the George Massey Tunnel or the Alex Fraser Bridge. Without significant improvements to the tunnel crossing, economic growth and regional livability will be constrained by congestion and increased travel times.”
The question to the minister is this. To the minister who cancelled the fix to B.C.’s biggest bottleneck, is 24-hour congestion and constrained growth and livability going to be her legacy?
Hon. C. Trevena: As I said, we acknowledge that there is a problem on the Highway 99 corridor. We are going to be doing something about it.
I’ve got say that we have actually brought some unanimity to the elected officials in the Lower Mainland, most of whom opposed the ten-lane bridge. But now we have unanimity. Everybody appreciates the fact that we are doing the review.
I would like to quote the member’s own mayor, Mayor Jackson, who wrote to me earlier this month and said: “I was very pleased to hear that a professional consultant has been hired to lead the independent technical review of the George Massey Tunnel crossing, and the review is expected to be completed in spring 2018. As you know, the city of Delta is fully supportive of the province’s approach to this matter.”
Mr. Speaker, we are going to continue with what we’re doing.
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
SITE C POWER PROJECT COSTS
AND ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY
A. Weaver: I see the members on the opposite side here are somewhat troubled about question period and are a little feisty today.
I’d like to take us back, hon. Speaker. I’d like to take us back to the previous decade, when Site C was advanced to stage 3 of the approval process. Its price tag then was somewhere between $5 billion and $6.6 billion.
Let’s now fast-forward to 2011. The price tag now was $7.9 billion. Two years later now in 2013, the price tag was $8.3 billion. Then the price tag grew to $8.9 billion, accompanying a year-long delay in the construction schedule.
Now the B.C. Utilities Commission says this: “Given the nature of this type of project and what has occurred to date, total cost for the project may be in excess of $10 billion, and there are significant risks that could lead to further budget overruns.” The cost, they found, could end up being $12 billion — and this only two years into a nine-year project.
My question….
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
A. Weaver: My question, if I’m allowed to actually ask it over the heckling from opposite, is this. It’s to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Will the minister stop the Site C project…?
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
The question, please.
A. Weaver: I’ll try again.
Will the minister stop Site C before it gets any worse and protect British Columbians from a project that already shows signs of having costs that will spiral completely out of control?
Hon. M. Mungall: Thank you to the member for the question. I find the question very interesting because I think it highlights exactly why this project should have gone to the B.C. Utilities Commission right from the very get-go. The fact that the official opposition, when they were in government, chose not to do that…. I’ve said it before, and let me say it again: it was the wrong choice.
This government has righted that wrong. We have finally gone to the B.C. Utilities Commission, and we were able to get answers to the questions that British Columbians had, questions that I’m sure the Leader of the Third Party had as well. This government is taking all of that information into consideration as we deliberate on this very important issue for British Columbians, and we’ll be working and making a decision in the best interests of British Columbians.
A. Weaver: Thank you to the minister for the response.
In contrast to the grim picture of ballooning Site C construction costs, let’s now take a look at the renewable energy sector. Wind, solar and geothermal power have become cheaper and scaled up faster than anyone predicted. The cost of wind power has decreased by 90 percent since the 1980s. In the last eight years alone….
Interjections.
A. Weaver: I know that members opposite don’t like to hear data, but if you could let me actually get it through, we’d be actually all benefiting from this.
In the last eight years alone, costs for wind power have declined by 66 percent, and the costs are predicted to continue to fall. Bloomberg, for example, predicts that onshore wind costs will fall by 47 percent by 2040 and offshore costs will fall by 71 percent.
Now, I get that they’re feisty opposite because they don’t like the real data. They’re just living in an ideological world of mysterious data.
Solar energy tells a similar story.
Mr. Speaker: Member, the question, please.
A. Weaver: Thanks. If I could actually ask the question….
Solar energy tells a similar story. Costs have decreased by 68 percent since 2009, and they’re projected to decrease by a further 27 percent in the next five years. We have a window of opportunity now to harness renewables and build power that puts us on the cutting edge of innovation and provides local jobs and benefits.
Mr. Speaker: Member, the question please.
A. Weaver: My question, if I can get it above this background of raucous Liberal members, to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is this: are you prepared to forgo this generational opportunity to harness renewables by continuing in the B.C. Liberal footsteps with building a doomed megaproject?
Hon. M. Mungall: It’s clear that members opposite sure are feisty today. I’m glad that the member did get his question in.
He will note that part of my mandate letter is to build that road map into the future in terms of B.C.’s energy policy, looking specifically at our opportunities — our tremendous opportunities — at renewables.
But for today, we have to address this issue of Site C. No decision has been made, but we are in the decision-making process, and we take it very seriously. This is a very important decision for British Columbians well into the future, and that’s why we have ensured that we’re doing our due diligence by starting with the B.C. Utilities Commission.
We’re looking at the information that they brought forward as well as the incredible amount of information that has come out over the years about Site C, and we will be making a decision that works for British Columbians today and into future generations.
SOFTWOOD LUMBER NEGOTIATIONS
AND TRADE WITH
U.S.
T. Wat: My questions today are for the Minister of State for Trade. Our relationship with our friends and neighbours in the United States is a long one, but the single most important trade issue facing our province is rising U.S. protectionism, particularly the 60,000 British Columbians who depend on forestry.
To the Minister of State for Trade, can he tell this House what he has done to combat these protectionist measures, and specifically, what was the outcome of his meeting with Forestry Innovation Investment on September 21?
Hon. D. Donaldson: Thank you very much for the question. The softwood lumber agreement is a high priority for this government. In fact, the Premier, within 30 days of becoming Premier, travelled to Ottawa and then to Washington to meet with the Commerce Secretary, something that never happened under the previous government. I’m very happy about that.
Since then, we’ve been in negotiations with the federal government about the outcomes of the softwood lumber agreement. We maintain, and are very strong in our commitment with them, that the duties that have been imposed are unwarranted, unfair and unjust, and we’ve been active with the B.C. lumber council in initiating an appeal process for the unfair duties that were allotted by the U.S. government.
Mr. Speaker: Richmond North Centre on a supplemental.
T. Wat: I’m not sure why we have a Minister of State for Trade if he cannot answer a basic question. Let me try it once more. British Columbians are counting on us to do whatever….
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members, we shall hear the question.
T. Wat: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
British Columbians are counting on us to do whatever we can to protect jobs. On our side of the House, we always support fair and open trade with the United States, because it benefits both nations.
Again to the Minister of State for Trade. I see from his calendar that he has weekly briefings. What is his plan to protect our interests as a world leader in international trade?
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
Hon. G. Chow: You know, the member opposite was representing a government and overseeing the loss of 30,000 jobs in the forestry sector. When they were in government, they oversaw 100 mills close. That is their legacy. I’m just elected since May, and our Premier has gone to Washington to fight for the forestry workers.
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
Hon. G. Chow: I think the Premier would be the best person to represent us, and he did.
The previous government’s Premier didn’t actually do anything about this file until the election came. I am very appreciative of the Forests Minister trying to help out. He just came back from a trade mission to Asia. That really says all about how much we value trade in the lumber sector.
Of course, you know the unfair treatment we are facing with the U.S. courts. We have confidence the courts will be siding with us, because it’s an unfair imposition on the trade agreement.
I think that the opposite member speaks for herself. The most important thing for me is that in her government, they oversaw the loss of 30,000 good jobs in forestry.
REVIEW OF FERRY SYSTEM
M. Stilwell: In the Minister of Transportation’s mandate letter, the Premier directed her to conduct a comprehensive operations review of B.C. Ferries. Now, the minister has said one thing regarding the much-anticipated operational review, but the Premier has said something quite different. When asked about the scope of the operational review, the minister said it’s not going to be a governance review; it’s an operations review. However, the Premier was asked if governance was part of the review, and he said everything’s on the table. Everything.
It appears that there needs to be some clarity between the two. So to the minister, who’s right — her or her boss?
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: I’m waiting for quiet.
Minister of Transportation.
Hon. C. Trevena: There’s obviously a lot of anticipation about this. I’ve got to say I find it very funny and very ironic that members from the opposition have the temerity to ask anything about B.C. Ferries after what they did for 16 years — 16 years in which they tore up what everybody had seen for generations as the marine highway, 16 years where we saw the fares go up by about 140 percent, 16 years where the communities were isolated and families had to leave their homes. That side of the House has no ground to be asking anything about B.C. Ferries.
Mr. Speaker: Parksville-Qualicum on a supplemental.
M. Stilwell: That’s quite the detour that the minister is taking to get to the actual answer to the question.
In 2015, the Premier said that he would bring B.C. Ferries back into the Ministry of Transportation. Now we know that the Premier wants the review to include governance, but the minister has taken that off the table. Then to top it all off, even though she’s had the mandate letter in her hands for four months, she hasn’t even finalized the scope or the terms of reference for the review.
How long will it take the minister and the Premier to come to some kind of agreement for the terms of reference, and will she commit to taking those terms of reference and making them public?
Hon. C. Trevena: On one hand, the opposition is outraged that I have the audacity to do a review about something; on the other, they’re urging me to get on with doing a review. I wish they’d make their minds up.
This is an opposition that for 16 years killed our coastal communities by mishandling the ferry file year after year after year. They have suddenly found the light, and certain members of the leadership campaign…
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
Hon. C. Trevena: …have said: “Oh, we better reduce fares. Oh, maybe we should have a free fare for seniors all week.”
They had the chance to fix B.C. Ferries for 16 years. They did nothing. We’re going to work on it.
J. Yap: It’s fair to say that the minister has found herself in trouble from her inability to answer questions about her own ministry’s reviews. First, it was the Massey Tunnel replacement project, a project which she says is going to continue in some form without a single nickel budgeted for it. Now we hear that the minister and the Premier are not on the same page when it comes to her review of B.C. Ferries. Perhaps they’re too busy coming up with another secret gimmick to fool British Columbians with instead of focusing on governing.
It seems this minister has trouble with….
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members, if we may hear the question.
J. Yap: Thank you, Speaker.
It seems the minister has trouble drafting terms of reference. Will these be drawn on the back of a napkin just like the Massey review?
Hon. C. Trevena: I wish that the opposition had spent as much time on B.C. Ferries when they were government as they are doing now that they’re in opposition. It would have meant that coastal communities would be thriving now. We would be seeing that people would be able to travel and be able to afford to live in their communities.
The question is whether the Premier and I are on the same page. Of course we are.
[End of question period.]
Orders of the Day
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, according to a motion agreed to yesterday, the proceedings of this House will now be suspended in order to welcome the Hon. Jay Inslee, governor of the state of Washington, to address the assembly.
The House stands in recess. Please remain in your seats.
[See appendix.]The House recessed from 10:59 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]
Hon. M. Farnworth: I move the House do now adjourn and inform members that there is a reception for the governor in the rotunda.
Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.
Motion approved.
Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.
The House adjourned at 11:41 a.m.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, please join me in welcoming the First Lady of the State of Washington, Mrs. Trudi Inslee, to the chamber. [Applause.]
Hon. Members, please welcome Gov. Jay Inslee to the Assembly. [Applause.]
Address by the
Hon. Jay Inslee,
Governor, State of Washington
Hon. J. Inslee: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, the general assembly, Mr. Premier of British Columbia, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Third Party and all hon. members.
It is a tremendous personal and professional pleasure to be given this high honour of this invitation. It is always a high honour to be in this province and also on the traditional territories of the Esquimalt and the Songhees First Nations.
I would like to acknowledge my wife’s presence. Trudi is here today. We are celebrating. August 28, 1972, was the day we started our honeymoon in Victoria, British Columbia, so I can tell you that we attribute a significant part of our marital success to British Columbia. I just want you to know that.
I want to thank you for allowing my son Connor to start the Race to Alaska last summer from Victoria harbour. He has yet to win Swiftsure, but he’s not going to give up trying, so I want to thank you for allowing our family to enjoy your beautiful province.
Now Victoria is where I’ve been granted this tremendous privilege to walk through the golden gates. When other Washington governors have been given this chance, I knew they felt the same excitement that I do, of this honour, to see another historic legislative body in action. They recognized — what I think we all recognize, if we take a moment to think about it — what an opportunity it is to observe the traditions of democracy that have shined so brightly through generations in these halls and in my legislative chamber as well.
I do believe if everyone had a chance to witness the work you do and the work my legislature does, they would have a greater respect for the process of democracy, and that would be a good thing.
It’s important to say that, I think, right now, because with everything happening in our White House in Washington, D.C., I know that many nations have questioned our nation’s leadership on some very important issues and have questioned whether my nation will remain a shining city on the hill, as we’ve always thought of our nation as providing leadership for the world.
I think people have questioned whether we will continue our long tradition of being a beacon of hope for those in homelands around the world. They’ve questioned whether we will remain a country of openness and opportunity, of inclusion and innovation, of equality and environmental stewardship.
Today let me say this: our nation and my state will never surrender the principles that gave us what we are today, which is the State of Washington…. [Applause.]
We have a long tradition of democracy, but we have so much to share. You might cheer for the Whitecaps while we cheer for the Sounders. You might sing O Canada while we serenade “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” But we have so many numerous shared interests and, more importantly, I think, shared values that cross this imaginary border. I was just talking about with the Premier that this is an imaginary line that we need to get over, so to speak, because we have great work to do together.
I want to pause just a moment to thank you for investing in the capital regional district’s wastewater treatment project. In doing so, you’re helping water quality in the Salish Sea. Thank you for what you’ve done. I saw the construction coming in. We appreciate it. Thank you for what you’re doing there.
Every time I visit Vancouver, B.C., I think that it’s one the most beautiful cities in the world. This is an opinion I share with folks when we talk about it. Frankly, you’ve done some things in your planning process and some of your transportation process that really have created some beautiful metropolitan areas in your province. There are things that we need to look at, how you’ve accomplished that, frankly. I was looking at some of the things you’ve done in Vancouver, B.C. the other day, thinking that maybe we can share some of those ideas on my side of the border.
On both sides of our border, we can step outside, and we can look around — whether the weather cooperates or not — and marvel at the natural beauty that surrounds us. That breathtaking scenery plays a major role in our tourism and outdoor recreation industries. I can tell you that your Premier and myself, as governor, share the view that each province and state is the most beautiful place in our respective nations. I can tell you that.
It is part of what draws our talent to our province and our state, and I think this is something that is forgotten all too often. People ask why my state has been so successful in the high-tech industry and all the innovative industries that surround that. I’ll answer, which is true, that it’s one of the best places to recruit talent in the world today because it is such a beautiful place to live. When we want to recruit someone from Boston or Los Angeles in high tech, we love the fact that they love living in Washington state. I know the same is true in British Columbia.
I look at environmental stewardship as an economic asset and an economic growth strategy, and we intend to follow that in my state. I know that you share that view here in British Columbia.
We share the commitment to fostering innovation. It’s what we do in my state. We live and breathe innovation. It’s in our bones. We invent. We create. We build. We invented the first commercially successful jet airliner. We do some pretty good software. We even invented the $4 cup of coffee in the State of Washington.
Interjection.
Hon. J. Inslee: And $5 in Canada. I hear that.
We want to keep this going, and there are things we can work on together to keep this innovation tradition going on both sides of this border. That’s why I’m so happy about the creation of the Cascadia innovation corridor. This special partnership is allowing us to move forward on a number of shared visions, including in the technology, health care and transportation sectors. We share a memorandum of understanding between the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and the B.C. Cancer Agency to undertake mutual efforts in the fight against cancer.
On transportation. We began a feasibility study for a new ultra-high-speed rail line from Portland to Seattle to Vancouver, B.C., that could promote economic integration, enable affordable housing, help clean our air and reduce traffic. Now, the initial ridership and revenue numbers from the study should be coming back in a few weeks. I’m excited about the prospect of a train that can reduce the travel time from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C., from three hours to less than one. We’re good enough to do this. It is time for us to start serious efforts in doing this, not just for the economic reasons but for someday having, essentially, a Subway Series for NHL franchises. We can have a great project there.
I’m excited about the prospect of a new seaplane service between South Lake Union in Seattle and Coal Harbour in Vancouver. Premier Horgan and I agree that this could be a game changer in cross-border collaboration and improved connectivity. We’ve asked the Prime Minister for his assistance in getting it across the finish line. We just heard some good news about this today, and I look forward to that service.
In addition to sharing an innovative spirit, my state and this province share the understanding that society is stronger when we build it on a basis on inclusion rather than exclusion. I’m proud that we were one of the several states to join the lawsuit to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. They are not a danger. They are dreamers. I’m proud that Washington state…. [Applause.]
It’s interesting that dreams are appreciated on both sides of this border, actually.
I’m proud that our state actually led the charge against the President’s illegal and immoral ban on immigrants and refugees from a number of Muslim-majority countries. This ban was perplexing given that our country is rooted in the very principles of liberty and opportunity, and it certainly was not consistent with the values of my state. Let me be clear. No matter your country of origin, your religious beliefs or your immigration status, we treat everyone in Washington state with dignity and respect.
My state and this province also share many challenges — affordable housing and homelessness, the opioid epidemic, income inequality and, certainly, climate change. Today I’m here in the hope that together we will usher in a new era, one that moves past polluting fossil fuels and embraces a clean energy future.
There is no doubt in my mind that clean energy technologies open the door to economic prosperity, but they are also key to our strategy not just to mitigate but to defeat climate change. And we must be victorious in the fight against climate change, because without victory, there is no survival. There is no plan B. This is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It is what, I suggest, legislators on both sides of this border…. If we are remembered for anything 100 years from now, this is what we will be judged on. It is time for us to rise to that challenge. It poses an existential threat to your province, and it poses an existential threat to my state.
I know we all enjoy quoting Winston Churchill for so many attributes — courage, optimism and his great humility. He once wrote: “What is the use of living if it be not to strive for noble causes to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?”
As my family grows, with more and more beautiful grandchildren…. I have declared them by executive order the most beautiful grandchildren in the State of Washington. You should know that. The older I get, the more I think about these terms — what it’s going to mean to live in our Pacific Northwest for my grandkids and yours. I just don’t want my grandkids having to experience routinely deadly forest fires, flooding where that becomes the norm rather than the exception, a world without salmon in its rivers or iconic orcas in the Salish Sea. That is a future that is a real possibility if we are not successful in our mutual efforts.
My state is fortunate to have distinguished leaders to our north who recognize the importance of this problem. Our hats are off to British Columbia for your leadership in this regard. You are helping lead the world in this regard. From the south, I just want to tell you that you’re doing some great work here, and I personally appreciate it on behalf of my state and my grandchildren. I want you to know that we intend to join you in every single effort to succeed in this mutual endeavour.
Just last week I went to Bonn to reassure global leaders of our country’s commitment to acting on climate change and ocean acidification. There, environmental dignitaries from Canada and Mexico joined forces with the United States Climate Alliance. This alliance consists of 15 states, and it created the North American climate leadership dialogue. The dialogue will address topics such as zero-emission vehicles, clean power and carbon pricing.
It is not the only cross-border collaboration on climate. We have the west coast electric highway, a robust system of electric vehicle charging stations spanning from B.C. to B.C. — British Columbia to Baja California. We also have the Pacific Coast Collaborative, a group of west coast states and British Columbia dedicated to forming a united direction for Pacific North America, including on climate change.
I do think it’s important to note, given the language coming out of the White House, that this coalition that I’ve helped form represents 40 percent of the United States economy. It is not a small effort. If we were a separate nation — and I’m not suggesting that at the moment — this group would be the third-largest economy in the world today. We went to Bonn to let the world know that we’re still in, and we are in big-time in Washington state.
We should be undaunted in this regard. I want to assure this assembly that no matter who is in the White House, it won’t affect Washington state’s relationship with Canada or British Columbia.
It cannot stop us from moving forward on climate change. It cannot stop us from establishing global and subnational coalitions. It cannot stop individual states from capping carbon. It cannot stop our businesses from inventing new and creative solutions.
I’ve seen the fruit of this work already. When I was in Bonn…. It’s interesting. I walked in. There were big tents there where the meeting was. I walked in, and I passed these shiny BMW electric cars that were parked outside. I was excited because I realized that the carbon fibre that forms the lightweight body of these cars is made — where? — in Moses Lake, Washington. We’re growing jobs by the bushel-full in this effort. My hope is we’re going to support these types of innovations and forge ahead, and I know British Columbia is going to continue to be a great leader in this journey.
Now, to illustrate our bond, I do want to note the Peace Arch. Nearly a century it has stood on the border. We know it came…. I’m told — I hope this is accurate — that Sam Hill, an American, originally had this idea to commemorate not war victories but this great relationship. He got his wish — a 67-foot-tall monument which reads, as you know: “May these gates never be closed.”
That is the special relationship between our two communities. It means we are stronger when we collaborate, that we are stronger when we celebrate this amazing and rich history that we share, that we are stronger when we see ourselves as one Pacific Northwest region and share an optimism about our future. As that strength grows, may we never lose sight of who we are or the values that we hold dear. We’re Washingtonians and British Columbians. We’re friends and partners today and always.
Thank you for this great privilege. Good luck. [Applause.]
Mr. Speaker: Thank you very much, Governor.
I now recognize the hon. Premier of the province of British Columbia.
Hon. J. Horgan: I want to thank the governor for his thoughtful remarks this morning. I want to formally welcome him to British Columbia, to our Legislature, and First Lady Trudi Inslee. Welcome to this great and spectacular institution in the most spectacular province, as we’ve now all agreed, in the Confederation of Canada.
It’s a great honour to have you here to address our Legislative Assembly, here on the Songhees and Esquimalt traditional territories, for the first time since 1984. For those of you who are unaware of this, that was the year I was married. It was the year I graduated as an undergrad. The member from West Vancouver was three years old, the member for Burnaby-Lougheed was one year old, and the member for North Vancouver–Lonsdale was not yet born.
Despite the long trip between governors, the relationship between British Columbians and Washingtonians has never been stronger than it is today. Although this is a historic visit, without any doubt, it portends a stronger future, and that, of course, is why we are all here.
The rich tradition and history of trade go back long before the artificial border was realized. Our Indigenous peoples on both sides of the Salish Sea have been trading for thousands of years. Of course, even today tribal journeys take place between Indigenous people on the central coast, up as far as Alaska and down through Puget Sound, continuing bonds that have lived for millennia. I believe it’s that strength, the Indigenous strength of our two nations, that will hold us together as we go forward.
We’re joined by land, water and air. Our coastlines are rich with sea abundance. Our mighty, iconic salmon and orcas playing and hunting up and down our coast bring people from around the world and also bring joy to those who have lived here for many, many years.
Another example of the ties and the bonds between us, of course, is the mighty Columbia River. Not only does it start in Canada, wind through Washington state and find its way to the Pacific Ocean, but it is also a symbol of our two nations working together. The Columbia River treaty, signed in 1964, embodies the cooperation of our two nations, and it lives as a symbol of how, working together, we can achieve great and extraordinary things.
I want to commend the governor for his outstanding leadership when it comes to fighting climate change. We had an opportunity to have a brief discussion before coming into the chamber this morning about the governor’s recent visit to Bonn. Our member for Vancouver-Fraserview was also there on behalf of the people of British Columbia, talking about the challenge of our time, ensuring that action continues to be taken to stem the rise of climate pollution and that our children and our grandchildren have a world that they can live in, a world that they can prosper in and a world that will flourish long after we’re gone.
The governor’s comments about the importance of this were not overstated. I believe all members of this House, over the past ten years, with…. The introduction of carbon pricing for the first time in Canada by those on the other side was a landmark for our province and one that now we all share, working together, 87 members of this place, to ensure that we reduce emissions, that we reduce our impact on our air, water and land and that future generations have the abundance and prosperity we have all enjoyed.
Other initiatives. The governor mentioned the Cascadia innovation corridor, building stronger bonds between our two nations and, most importantly, our province and our state. We need to improve our transportation links. There are 13 highway crossings, four rail lines and three ferry routes.
The governor came over on the Coho ferry today. I worked on the Coho ferry in the 1970s. I used to tie it up on the other side of the Inner Harbour, and it was a delight to have someone excited about their trip on the Coho. Just yesterday Washington State Ferries was beset with some fairly strong seas. Those of us who take B.C. Ferries, particularly this past weekend, know what that’s all about. Although the Salish Sea looks spectacular on a beautiful summer day, it can be very difficult in November and December.
The governor talked about the Sounders and the Whitecaps. That’s critically important, of course. I would love to see an NHL franchise in Washington state, but what both of us lamented today was the absence of the Grizzlies and the SuperSonics. Both of us are hoopaholics, basketball fans. To not have NBA basketball in the Pacific Northwest, whether it be in Vancouver or Seattle, is, I believe, a crime that needs to be addressed.
I’ve talked to the Attorney General about this. He’s going to collaborate with members on the other side to see what we can do. At 6 foot 7, although he’s not a basketball fan, he does understand the importance of it to me and the governor. We’ll see what we can do about getting a new bill in before the end of day today.
On the economic front, we’ve seen the $5 cup of coffee. That was with the exchange rate, Governor. I think it was $4 to you, $5 to us. There has also been extraordinary collaboration in the tech sector across the border. Amazon just announced another 1,000 jobs in Vancouver two weeks ago. Microsoft continues to expand here in British Columbia, founded, of course, in Washington state. These high-tech jobs and these high-tech giants are an opportunity for new start-ups, as well, on both sides of the border. That’s why we’ve seen such red-hot development in our tech sector.
We need to manage that growth by ensuring that we have linkages beyond those 13 highways, four rail crossings and three ferry routes. That’s why I’m so excited to have had the opportunity to convince the Prime Minister, although no convincing was necessary, last week that we need to ensure that we can expand the harbour flights from Vancouver to Seattle so that we can continue to move, as they call it, the nerd bird between Seattle and Vancouver and so that we can have our high-tech employees going back and forth across the border, sharing experience, sharing opportunity and, of course, growing our economies.
These relationships, whether it be on natural resources, skilled workers, innovations in the economy, are the ties that bind us as nations. The governor, again, did not overstate the relationship between our two jurisdictions. We share so much in common, and we have so much opportunity ahead of us.
It is truly my privilege and an honour to have had Governor Inslee address us here today. I know that all members of this House have a deep and abiding understanding of the importance of our relationship, our trading relationship, with the United States. And during these difficult times…. We did discuss softwood lumber and NAFTA and a range of other trade issues before coming to the chamber today.
To have a partner and to have an ally in Washington state who is committed to ensuring that our mutual interests are met through trading relationships, through diplomatic relationships, through the cultural, social and, of course, the very important sport exchanges between our two jurisdictions will endure our time in this Legislature and will be, in my hope and will and prayer, in the interests of all British Columbians going forward.
Thank you very much, hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to speak again.
Governor Inslee, Trudi, thank you so much for coming to Victoria. I hope that the tea we had — a pale substitute for high tea at the Empress — was not so bad in the Premier’s office.
R. Coleman: First of all, thank you, Governor and Trudi, for coming here today to speak to us and address our assembly. It reminds me of what a great relationship we’ve had.
I’m one of those Canadians that had a father born in the United States and a mother born in Canada, so that border is even more blurred for my family and my ancestors. I would suggest, though, Governor, that perhaps we could have a bipartisan committee rather than have me debate with you which one of my grandchildren is better looking than yours.
On behalf of the opposition, we welcome you to British Columbia, and we look forward to the continued relationship as we meet again on the traditional territories of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.
We have a really long and standing relationship with Washington state and British Columbia. Having been, actually, a Seahawks season ticket holder for over 15 years at one point in my life, there is one other sport you guys didn’t mention. There were a couple of disappointing plays last night that I’m sure you’re aware of, but they are really liked in British Columbia, Governor, as well as your baseball team.
We share a history and a geography. We’ve been built by the resource centre and immigration. That’s why our citizens in our countries deserve access from people from outside our countries to come and help build the future for the United States and for Canada. Because that’s what built us in the first place. So the decision to move to not allow that would be a shame for any country — both, either or ours.
We have a shared history, as I said. We have a shared border. I represented a riding for many years that had a border at the Aldergrove border crossing that’s been expanded in cooperation with the U.S. to move goods and services and people efficiently.
We have a desire to see our tech sectors grow, creating jobs for the next generation, as well as our resource sector and working together, particularly on the environment and to push back on climate change.
These shared experiences allow us to find ways to work together. And as we do that, we need to do a couple of things. We need to ensure that our relationship is such that we continue to move goods and services across our borders in a trade relationship that isn’t one of protectionism, but one that actually protects the millions of jobs in British Columbia and the millions of jobs that are represented in over 60 percent of the states in the United States of America because of the trade between our two countries.
I’m proud of the partnership our successive B.C. governments have had in British Columbia with Washington state. I enjoyed a couple of joint cabinet meetings with our former government in the U.S., in your state. Also, that opportunity let us learn more and share the perspectives that led to some of the things that we’ve accomplished as governments over the years.
We have the first enhanced driver’s licence in North America and across the country, and that was because of cooperation between the province and the State of Washington.
Shortly you’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Congratulations. We do it at a different time. I’ve never been able to figure that one out. However, Governor, that means people from your state will enjoy recreation and opportunities in Canada over the next four or five days, in British Columbia, as they celebrate Thanksgiving. And we, of course, will go south to do the same — visit relatives and friends — at Christmas. To have that border move efficiently just gives us more time to enjoy what we want to enjoy and see our loved ones.
I’m proud of the climate change piece that we worked on. It’s a piece of work, as you mentioned, that has to continue. We have a memorandum of understanding and participation in Western Climate Initiative with you, which was very much the leadership and the support for electric cars, with the leadership of Washington state at that table.
We’ve been members of the Pacific Coast Collaborative from Alaska to California, and we will continue, I know, under this Premier, producing agreements that continue to lead the way in addressing climate change.
Last summer our government signed an agreement to create Cascadia innovation corridor, again with your state government, to promote regional economic opportunities in the tech sector. That’s really something to be proud of — that two jurisdictions in two different countries can cooperate and collaborate at such a high level.
We do have moments of disagreements. That happens between friends. But we’ve been able to put aside those things that could divide us and to focus on our shared values. I would be remiss, as a former Minister of Forests in this province, in not thanking you personally and thanking the legislators that were there back in ’05 and ’06. When we were having difficulty negotiating a new softwood lumber agreement, they stepped up and helped us in Washington, D.C., in a cooperative relationship between both sides of the border and with your industry which, really, was the other catalyst to help people get to the table to make an agreement.
As you said last year, Governor: “We have a rich history together and have proven that we are stronger when we collaborate. Through talent, transportation and innovation, we will strengthen our economies and promote prosperity for the entire region.” I couldn’t agree more.
So I welcome you, Governor, to the Legislature. Thank you for your friendship of Washington as we work together to make sure both of us — albeit without the one division about which kids look better — build a future of improving the climate and the environment for the next generation to come — our grandchildren, their children and their children.
A. Weaver: Thank you, Governor Inslee. We’re honoured to have you address the B.C. Legislature today.
My colleagues in the B.C. Green Party and I greatly appreciate your thoughtful words and, in particular, we greatly appreciate your continued climate leadership south of the border.
We know how challenging and, frankly, at times frustrating it can be to work on this issue amongst those vested in the status quo, unable to recognize the economic opportunities that are presenting themselves. We commend your leadership and your perseverance on this file.
Our jurisdictions share a wealth of renewable natural resources that position us uniquely qualified to rise to the challenges climate change will bring. And we possess, as you note, the natural beauty that allows us to attract the best and brightest in the world, by offering them the greatest place in the world to live.
As governor, you’ve recognized this. By already working to attract and expand carbon fibre manufacturing at Moses Lake in rural Washington, by bringing this energy-intensive manufacturing facility for BMW’s i-series electric vehicles close to the production of cheap renewable energy, Washington is capitalizing on the emerging 21st century economy. And what’s more, at the same time, you’re reducing transmission line energy loss.
Your government is illustrating that acting on climate change drives innovation, jobs and prosperity for all. With an economy that grew 2½ times the national rate last year, Washington was named the No. 1 place in America to do business in 2017. This was achieved while simultaneously demonstrating international leadership on the biggest challenge facing humanity.
I hope your demonstrated success reassures British Columbians, as we make bold choices of our own in the years ahead. Not only is it possible for governments to drastically reduce carbon emissions, but doing so spawns innovation, economic growth and job creation.
Finally, when reviewing your book Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean Energy Economy, I was reminded of president John F. Kennedy’s quote that I often use when talking about climate change. In 1962, when President Kennedy announced that America would send a man to the moon by the end of the decade, he said this: “We must be bold.” He further said: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade…not because it’s easy but because it’s hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because the challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one…we intend to win.”
The time to be bold is upon us.
With that, I thank you for giving us so much to aspire to.
Mr. Speaker: Governor Inslee, on behalf of the members of this House, please accept our appreciation for addressing the assembly today. We have been truly honoured to welcome you to British Columbia. [Applause.]
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