Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

NEONATAL CARE

M. Dean: Having a baby is a momentous event, not only for the mother, for everyone in the family. In B.C., there are approximately 45,000 births every year, and B.C. is a very safe place to give birth in hospital or at home. Women have access to a range of health care providers, including doctors, nurses and midwives, who work diligently to provide high-quality care for newborns and their moms. Some women also engage doulas. At times, a mother may need the care of a surgeon or pediatrician.

[L. Reid in the chair.]

Even so, we can always make improvements to make sure that parents and newborns in B.C. receive the very best possible care and achieve the very best outcomes, whatever the circumstances. In situations where there are issues and emergency or specialist interventions are required, moms and their babies rely on B.C. professionals to support them with what they need and to be able to build a healthy attachment.

Now, having worked with children and families for three decades, I know how important attachment is for healthy child development. Unfortunately, attachment can be impaired through life experiences, from the very early moments of life through childhood. Where a healthy attachment is formed, especially in a child’s formative months, that child will have the advantage and benefit of being able to form other healthy attachments throughout their life.

The neonatal period of birth to about one-month-old is a critical time to establish patterns of healthy bonding of the mom with her baby and attachment of the child to its mom and other family members. So care for babies in this period is given special attention.

Improvements that have developed in neonatal care have mostly, and until recently, focused on technological advancements. However, there has been a recent culture shift in neonatal care as doctors are starting to recognize some of the important foundational needs of babies to develop healthy attachments — for example, the importance of human touch for the well-being of babies. This is being implemented in neonatal intensive care units across B.C., which are incorporating human touch, hugs and skin-to-skin contact to their care models, along with the high-tech, life-saving interventions that are needed.

Let’s look at the Teck Acute Care Centre located on the campus of B.C. Children’s and Women’s Hospital. This centre opened in October of 2017 and is delivering a new and modern model of care.

[10:10 a.m.]

At the NICU in the centre, moms are kept together with their newborns in the same room. Can you believe that it’s the first NICU in North America where mom and baby will receive medical care in the same room from the same nurse?

Having your baby in the NICU is clearly a very stressful experience for both the parents and the baby. However, providing the opportunity for close contact between moms and all parents and their babies has a mitigating effect against the adversity of the circumstances.

Research has shown that close contact between mothers and newborns has a demonstrated impact on the health and development of babies. It decreases an infant’s pain. It helps brain development. It reduces anxiety, stress and the risk of depression in both mother and child. Ultimately, these protective factors will promote healthy child development and increase the chances of successful short- and long-term outcomes for the child, giving them a better chance of achieving their potential.

This evidence-based practice has also informed the development of a baby hugging program, launched by Island Health last year at Victoria General Hospital, in my constituency of Esquimalt-Metchosin. It’s a partnership with Huggies’ no baby unhugged program, and it was also expanded to Nanaimo General Hospital in January 2018. This is a volunteer program, and its success has been in helping ensure that all babies receive physical, human interaction should circumstances prevent a parent from being with their newborn, especially babies in the neonatal or pediatric intensive care units. Skin-to-skin contact is recommended for all new parents and babies. However, it’s especially important for vulnerable and premature babies.

In November 2017, the Ministry of Children and Family Development invested half a million dollars to increase the availability of the kangaroo mother care program in neonatal intensive care units. This program targets babies at risk of harm or neglect and promotes skin-to-skin contact between them and their parents. This helps to develop parental bonding, reduce stress and enhance the baby’s cognitive and emotional development. All of these factors will reduce the risk of the baby being harmed, neglected or apprehended.

In the summer of 2018, the B.C. Centre on Substance Use and Perinatal Services B.C. released new guidelines to help new moms and their babies overcome addiction to opioids alongside each other. One of their recommendations — you’ll notice the theme here — is to no longer separate a mother with addiction from her newborn immediately after birth. The new practice is to keep the baby’s crib next to the mom’s bed. As they are together, the mom can provide her baby with skin-to-skin care as well as breastfeeding. This week is National Breastfeeding Week, an opportunity for us to acknowledge the importance of breastfeeding for babies’ development.

This practice is called “rooming-in” and has been successfully adopted at B.C. Women’s families in recovery care unit. It was the first service in Canada to care for women who use substances and their babies in a single unit. The results? It has shown that babies need less morphine treatment, their length of stay is reduced, and both mom and baby have more positive outcomes. Rooming-in is also associated with fewer babies discharged to foster care.

N. Letnick: It’s nice to be back in the House after the summer break. Hopefully, everyone had a good and productive summer break with their constituents and some time with their families.

This is what this morning is all about, this five-minute response to the member for Esquimalt-Metchosin. I would like to say thank you for picking this topic. I was wondering, when the topic was presented as neonatal care, what particular angle the member would be going on. I was quite pleased with what I heard.

It’s been some time since I’ve been directly involved in neonatal care. My oldest daughter is 33 years old now. Times have changed a lot in those 33 years. She was born in a small rural hospital, and my wife was actually able to stay in the hospital for five days with Melanie. There were no complications. Actually, on the last day, they invited me to come in, and they served us a steak and wine dinner just before we left. It gave her time to relax for five days. Of course, that doesn’t happen anymore, as far as I know.

[10:15 a.m.]

This is something, obviously, that was tugging on my heart — trying to remember back when my first daughter was born. I have three children now and a grandchild. The experiences between the two, I would say, are quite different in delivery and in care afterwards. I think the theme of what we’re talking about here is how things change over time. Lots has been done, but there’s a lot more to do, right?

We have the example of kangaroo care, which the member has brought up. That’s a great example. I know the Minister of Health is really good at not getting into what happened before and what happens now, but kangaroo care was something that was brought in before. I’m sure it will spread out to the whole province with time because that is the best way to go. I agree with the member opposite. We need to move to a situation, to a paradigm, where we keep the mothers and babies together.

Not knowing which angle the member was going to take on this topic, I called my local hospital, and I said, “Could I get a tour of the new neonatal care unit at the Kelowna General Hospital?” That is the riding I represent, Kelowna–Lake Country. They were very gracious and accommodated me. I went up there.

I would say that the members for Kelowna-Mission and Kelowna West have a particular bond to this particular unit. It was, and still is, state of the art. They advocated really strongly, when the previous government invested several hundred millions of dollars to upgrade Kelowna General Hospital, that their neonatal care unit should be moved and expanded over to the new facility. At the time, the local district hospital board actually offered — and did fulfil that offer — to pay 100 percent of the capital for that new building, the new neonatal care facility. That’s how important the local community saw this particular facility. It paid 100 percent of the capital dollars towards it.

I thought, on behalf of the three local MLAs, it would be good to have a tour. As I went around looking at the neonatal care, I was struck by how homey it was, I would say, compared to some of the more traditional visions that people have of delivery rooms, where you have very sterile delivery rooms, of course. This was clean, but it had homey furniture. It had places for the partner to be there to help their spouse, not only during the delivery — I was there for my wife 33 years ago; I still have the claw marks to show for it — but also after the delivery to help with the care of the child and the spouse.

The other thing that really hit home, as the member has so eloquently said, is the need to make sure that we have that skin-to-skin contact, especially in cases where you have people that have experienced maybe drug and alcohol abuse. The baby, of course, is impacted by that. The challenge that we all face is that with that particular situation, it’s hard to keep staff and the mother always in contact with the baby. The babies tend to have a little more issues, with colic and other things.

They are looking for volunteers, they said. As soon as they looked at me…. Being a typical MLA, I said: “You’re looking for volunteers? To do what?” “Well, we want people to give hugging time.” It’s called the hugger program. “Hugger. How do I volunteer for being a hugger?” They said: “Here’s how you do it.” I immediately volunteered to be a hugger. I hope, assuming I pass the requirements, that I will be hugging babies in the very near future.

I would wish all the Members of the Legislative Assembly sign up as huggers in their local hospitals.

M. Dean: Thank you so much to the member for Kelowna–​Lake Country. Thank you for sharing your stories and recognizing change and progress as well.

As it is National Breastfeeding Week, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the importance of breastfeeding. Some of the success of these programs, like rooming-in, is also due to the support for breastfeeding wherever possible. It provides babies and mothers with the healthiest start in life.

In August 2018, MCFD and the Representative for Children and Youth released a joint special report to promote breastfeeding and stronger mother-baby bonding for newborns in government care. When a child is removed from its birth mother, the infant is generally deprived of their right to the nutritional benefits of breast milk, which can have a long-term impact on physical and cognitive development.

[10:20 a.m.]

The plan outlines guidelines for social workers to promote breastfeeding when infants are separated from birth moms. There are guidelines for social workers to find ways to make breast milk available to infants and also facilitate breastfeeding, even within the context of substance use. The report stresses the importance of trying to keep moms and their babies together — that theme. It recognizes the importance of maintaining parent-child contact to promote bonding and attachment. It’s especially important for Indigenous moms and babies, as 70 percent of infants in government care are Indigenous.

Promoting as much contact as possible will also enable moms and babies to promote cultural practices in child-rearing. Increasing access to breastfeeding is one way we can support family connections, keep infants with their parents and help reduce the number of children who come into care in the very first place.

Change has even come in this chamber. I was really, really pleased to be part of that decision. Changes to the rules that were made earlier this year mean that children — newborns to two years old — will be able to accompany a parent into this very chamber. Just imagine. In the weeks and months ahead, there may well be times that a member will be in here nursing her child. And that is just the way that it should be.

B.C.: A RESOURCE-BASED ECONOMY

B. Stewart: It gives me great pleasure to move a private member’s statement today for this House to recognize the importance of British Columbia, a resource-based economy. As British Columbia’s former special representative in Asia, I can tell you that our resources are a primary driver of our provincial economy, a valuable asset recognized throughout the world.

In 2016, British Columbia goods exports were $39.4 billion, an increase of 56.3 percent over 2009. While B.C.’s trade remains orientated to the United States at 51 percent — we’ll see how that changes with the new agreement signed last night — this is changing fast. The share to Asia-Pacific was up nearly 40 percent last year from around 25 percent in 2000. Of course, our top exports in 2017 were natural resources: wood products, pulp, paper, metallic minerals and energy. Those alone accounted for nearly 70 percent of B.C.’s total exports. Agriculture and fishing were also important, significant exports on top of those.

After hearing those facts, how could anyone not support our vital resource industries? They provide prosperity, good jobs, trade relationships and the ability to invest the return in vital services such as health care and education.

Our resource companies also lead the way in innovation, researching new methods for responsible extraction and product refinement and developing cutting-edge technology for carbon sequestration and other environmentally friendly techniques.

British Columbia can be a leader in every sector as a result of its resource industries. If later this week the LNG Canada decision goes through, think of the resulting profits that will allow us to be an even greater leader as to the benefits for B.C. taxpayers. Not quite as significant as they were under the previous government’s framework, but nonetheless, benefits will be provided to taxpayers — and quite significant ones, I might add.

LNG represents a generational opportunity for British Columbia’s economic future, an opportunity to further diversify our economy and keep it strong and growing. Rural communities across the province stand to gain and maintain thousands of jobs, support local businesses and sustain long-term economic ability and activity.

Getting to yes for this project has been a very long journey. It has taken many years. Detailed economic benefit agreements through consultation with First Nations — a project such as this does not happen overnight.

I want to take this opportunity to openly appreciate all of those members of the previous government who worked long hours on this to ensure that the decision made, rumoured on October 5 of this year, will be a positive one. Thank you for your service to this province.

[10:25 a.m.]

And thank you to all of those who have worked tirelessly on the attempts to secure projects in the national interest such as the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to help benefit or prevent the dangerous shipment of oil by rail, which, by the way, has increased 50 percent just during the third quarter of this last year. This pipeline will continue to help diversify our trade by shipping Canadian oil products and metallic minerals to world markets at market prices rather than at discounted rates to the U.S.

The resource economy will help sustain our financial health as we transition to sources of clean energy, such as ocean thermal, hydro, solar and natural gas. Currently our natural gas sector employs approximately 13,000 people and contributed $945 million in direct revenue to the province through royalties and land sales. In 2015, the oil and gas sector invested $4.9 billion in capital and operating activities in our province.

We are committed to ensuring that B.C.’s LNG facilities are the cleanest in the world. Natural gas is the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels and represents an efficient alternative to other energy sources like thermal coal. Building a clean LNG industry is key to that prosperity, for today as well as for tomorrow. But today, before any LNG Canada announcement, we’re still able to look at what our natural resource industry provides and be proud: a total of $2.513 billion in revenue in the 2017-2018 public accounts.

It’s not just about the revenue; it’s about the people. So 26,000 people are employed in the agricultural industry in this province, over 18,000 in forestry and logging and 2,300 in hunting and fishing, including the fish farmers who are now donating salmon to the Share society food bank in Port Moody, feeding 400 people per month, thanks to my colleague from Coquitlam–Burke Mountain. How many members of this House have taken the time to visit a fish farm to see the livelihoods supported by the industry?

B.C. also employs nearly 17,000 people in mining and 7,400 in oil and gas. Then there’s the spinoff employment. How many of our province’s 228,000 construction workers have a hand in natural resource projects? How many of the 174,000 manufacturing jobs are contributing to the natural resource operations? How many of the accounting and administrative staff in Vancouver office buildings are in the service of forest companies and mining operations?

People from downtown Vancouver to West Kelowna to smack dab in the middle of Kitimat play significant roles in every aspect of the resource-based industry — hundreds of thousands of hard-working British Columbians. Those are countless families from across the province with food on the table, a proud parent coming home from an honest day’s work, children with quality school supplies and healthy lunches. That’s why, when we get into government and public service, it’s to help people. Encouraging growth and sustainability within British Columbia’s resource sector does just that. It helps people.

J. Brar: I am very pleased to rise in this House today to provide my response to the private member’s statement made by the member for Kelowna West on the resource-based economy.

First of all, I really appreciate the member for highlighting the importance of the resource-based economy in the lives of the people of British Columbia. I agree with the member that British Columbia should be a leader in the resource-based economy. But let me say this to you, Member: under our government, British Columbia will be a leader in the resource-based economy.

British Columbia is building a strong, sustainable and innovative economy with the natural resource sector that is responsible and meets our environmental commitments. In B.C., we are fortunate to have a strong natural gas industry and a growing interest in our mining sector. The growth and diversification of the natural gas industry creates good, high-paying jobs for people of all backgrounds. We also have world-class mineral potential and infrastructure which are key drivers for new investments in long-term industry activity.

[10:30 a.m.]

As part of a new approach to natural gas development, the British Columbia government is overhauling the policy framework for future projects while ensuring those projects remain committed to B.C.’s climate targets. Under the new approach, all projects should generate a fair return for B.C.’s natural resources; guarantee jobs and training opportunities for British Columbians; respect and make partnerships with First Nations; protect B.C.’s air, land and water, including living up to the provincial climate commitment. This new approach is good for our province, good for people and good for our environment.

We also have a very strong and growing mining sector. British Columbia is the largest producer of copper and steelmaking coal in Canada. B.C. is also the second-largest producer of silver. Every day British Columbians use products that are made using these materials.

Our government is taking action to ensure we remain competitive as a mining jurisdiction. We established the Mining Jobs Task Force to develop recommendations on possible actions the government could take to bring more certainty to the mining sector and create good jobs for people today, tomorrow and beyond.

We know the B.C. mining sector provides jobs for more than 30,000 people in communities throughout the province and adds over $6 billion to B.C.’s GDP. After a temporary slowdown in 2014, British Columbia’s top mines are generating 54 percent more revenue than they did five years ago. Last year the province’s five large mines recovered all the losses they experienced over the previous four years. So we are on the right path.

We know that the industry requires certainty to continue to generate jobs and economic growth. We will continue to work to make sure that we help to create confidence and certainty. We are working hard to make life more affordable and have a resource-based economy to support our commitment to create jobs so life is more affordable. As part of our work to make life better for people, we are also working to enhance resource stewardship with First Nations and stakeholders.

To conclude, the key priority for our government is to build a strong and sustainable economy to make life better and more affordable for the people, an economy that benefits everyone. A resource-based economy supports our commitment to create good jobs so life is more affordable for the people of British Columbia.

B. Stewart: To the member for Surrey-Fleetwood, I just want to thank him for the acknowledgment about the importance of the resource-based economy. You know, really, British Columbia has been a resource-based economy since inception. There’s always been the give-and-take in terms of trying to make certain that when we develop something…. We don’t know everything going in.

The idea is that we want to incentivize people to doing more and setting better standards, whether it’s around the environment or the investment that they need to make in the communities, to help make the communities — that these people that work in our mines or work in forestry have a better lifestyle and opportunity to benefit from the extraction of those resources.

I think one of the things that has to be kept in mind that is really important is that it’s the costs that are layered on. Recently, through the budget that your government has introduced, there has been an employer health tax that, essentially, is going to bring about significant additional costs, not necessarily for the biggest companies but for the little people that are working in logging industries and some of the people that are doing prospecting.

I understand that fair share of the revenue is fairer, but the point about it is: how is this about making it more affordable for businesses? The carbon tax, which has been also been increased and not revenue-neutral anymore…. The fact is that the carbon tax was there to incentivize people to make decisions that were increasing investment in technology and being able to reduce our carbon footprint. Corporate income tax is another important part of the provincial revenue stream but also can be used as a disincentive to investing here.

[10:35 a.m.]

I think that, overall, affordability works both ways. The companies that provide these jobs, the people that are small businesses and private…. The people that make the effort to try to make certain that they’re contributing back to their community are given the incentive of being able to invest.

I look forward to further adjustments as you start to have the levers of government being able to influence what’s happening in the resource-based economy. After the past couple of years of wildfires, we have serious questions to ask about. What are the right things to do? Where do we make investments for those people that are so dependent on fibre in their communities?

I appreciate the time to speak on this important topic — British Columbia: a resource-based economy.

OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES

R. Singh: Drug-related overdoses and deaths have become a very serious concern. We’re losing four or more loved ones a day to overdose. The numbers are staggering, and the human impact is unspeakable.

Harm reduction is a practical approach to keeping people safe. The approach aims to protect people who are engaged in high-risk behaviour while at the same time supporting them towards treatment and recovery.

Overdose prevention sites are one of the strategies to help prevent and respond to overdoses. Overdose prevention sites are managed by health authorities in cooperation with community partners across the province. These designated spaces, which are integrated into existing social service or health care settings or in newly established locations, provide on-site monitoring for people at risk of overdose and allow for rapid response when an overdose occurs.

Overdose prevention services are uniquely positioned as a low-barrier point of introduction to health and/or social services for people with substance use issues. Each site provides various levels of services, including overdose prevention education and take-home naloxone training and distribution. Some sites may also distribute harm reduction supplies, offer safe disposal options and facilitate referrals to mental health and substance use services. Currently each British Columbia overdose prevention site offers drug-checking services.

At present, there are 21 sites providing overdose prevention services in B.C. In addition to stand-alone overdose prevention sites, there are other forms of overdose prevention services based in a wide range of settings. For example, in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, there are over 25 overdose prevention service sites that are based in house settings. OPSs have evolved to include several models, including mobile and housing-based facilities and sites, which support different demographic needs — for example, women-only sites as well.

Between January and June 2018, there were more than 346,000 visits to sites providing overdose prevention services or supervised consumption services. During this period, there were 2,016 overdoses survived, and there were zero deaths.

In my region of Surrey, there are two prevention sites operated by Lookout services. In Surrey, we know that overdose deaths have become more like a crisis. Talking to these agencies…. They appreciate how much the government and the community agencies are doing, coming together to prevent overdose deaths.

J. Thornthwaite: Thank you to the member for her comments on this very important topic — tragic topic. The B.C. Liberal caucus recognizes the value and importance of overdose prevention sites. It was under Premier Gordon Campbell when Insite, the first legal supervised drug injection site in North America, opened, and it was Minister Terry Lake who, in declaring a public health emergency in 2016, opened the door for resources allowing more overdose prevention sites to open and operate around the province.

[10:40 a.m.]

We have saved lives, but it’s not enough. There needs to be more attention and effort put into treatment and recovery. Continuing to pour money into harm reduction, including replacement therapies and drug-testing kits, helps save lives today but won’t end the cycle of addiction.

One model that I’ve studied in great detail is the so-called Portuguese model. In 2001, Portugal decriminalized the possession and consumption of certain levels of drugs, transferring the issue from the legal system to the health system. Portugal was successful, not because of decriminalization but because it is immediate: treatment and options that are made available to these citizens. They offer them hope to get off drugs and rid themselves of their addiction.

At UBCM, I heard from mayors and councillors across the province who are upset at the downloading of this crisis onto municipalities. Police resources are being stretched thin, and that’s not even touching on first responders, like paramedics and firefighters, who are on the front lines.

Recently there have been stories in the media about drug paraphernalia found outside local elementary schools and parks. Parents are understandably concerned. Incidents like this would not happen in Portugal. When someone is found using or in possession of drugs, they are referred to the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction. There they are assessed for a variety of factors, including family and social history and psychosocial status. The commission reviews individual cases, determines whether they are dependent on drugs and then refers them to treatment. The framework for Portugal’s approach is based on the idea that substance use should be stopped and that government can play a vital role in achieving that.

There will always be people who need drug replacement therapy, and we should continue to make that option available. Last spring I asked the minister how many people returned time and time again to a safe consumption site, sometimes on the same day. She did not know the answer. The government doesn’t even keep those records. Yet we do know from first responders that this does happen. They often revive the same person multiple times on the same day.

Our first responders need help in the crisis. Our citizens need help from their trauma, their pain. They need treatment options right away. That is the key to the success of the so-called Portuguese model.

Portugal invested in free treatment made available to everyone. They invested in treatment and recovery services that connected citizens with what they need. For those who say this is just too much money, consider how much it costs for one person to be in a hospital for one day. Consider the costs of all of those ambulances and naloxone kits. Consider the drugs of drug replacement therapy forever and nursing care, doctor care, social care, housing, the legal system, the cost of crime, the cost of prison, the cost of human suffering — that person not working, not being with their family, not contributing to society, not getting well.

When Dr. Goulão from Portugal’s commission for drug dissuasion visited Vancouver a year ago during the Recovery conference, he couldn’t believe what he saw, and our statistics show the rates of overdose and deaths have gone up since then. In 2016, there were 27 overdose deaths in Portugal. In B.C., 993 people died of overdoses in 2016 and 1,422 last year, and doctors say this year is going to be the same as last.

Is Portugal’s model something we should consider here? Maybe. But at least we should be trying, because what we are doing here in B.C. clearly isn’t working. Government needs to make mental health and addictions and treatment and recovery a priority and work together to give people hope and opportunity for their lives and their families. It takes some understanding, some empathy, but mostly, it takes political will.

R. Singh: I would like to thank the member for North Vancouver–Seymour for her comments. Overdose prevention sites are a community response to a community crisis. We know that we are in a state of crisis. That is happening not just in B.C. but all over Canada.

Despite persistent assertions that the sites encourage or perpetuate drug use, there is no evidence to support this claim. Vancouver’s Insite, the first overdose prevention site, which opened in 2003, has never had a fatal overdose, with more than three million injections. Nor have any overdose deaths occurred at any supervised consumption or overdose prevention services.

[10:45 a.m.]

There’s no treatment for addiction if the patient is dead. So I think that prevention…. We should have all kinds of treatment models. I totally agree with that. Being an alcohol and drug counsellor in my previous life, I’ve dealt with these cases on an everyday basis. But if we don’t have the person seeking the treatment alive, there’s no point in creating all these kinds of services.

There should be investment made in residential care, and I’m very glad that our minister and the B.C. government are very committed to this task. For the first time, we have a minister for addictions services, and she’s dealing with this crisis. As I mentioned before, between January and June 2018, this year, how many visits we had in these overdose prevention sites, how many lives we have changed and how many…. There have been zero deaths. That is the thing that we have to look for, and prevention, I think, is the key. The research shows that we should be putting more investment in prevention as well as in different resources.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

T. Stone: I’m pleased to rise today and speak to the topic of emergency management in British Columbia. I do so as someone who had the privilege of serving as minister responsible for emergency management B.C. for a couple of years, from July 30, 2015, to mid-July 2017.

During that time, I had the good fortune to work with some of the most dedicated public servants you’ll find anywhere in government. I came up close and personal with the massive threats that Mother Nature often has in store for us here in B.C. and the confidence-instilling work done by those in charge of related mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. I also transitioned quickly from being like most of us in our province, who perhaps take for granted all of the work going on behind the scenes to keep us safe, to someone who has had his eyes opened wide to just how intensely this work is being carried out with the utmost professionalism, dedication and selflessness.

Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility that begins with every individual. It is a responsibility that is also shared by every level of government. Emergency management British Columbia, or EMBC, is responsible to British Columbians for leading the management of provincial-level emergencies and disasters. Simply put, EMBC is an expert in managing the catastrophic disasters of provincial significance and impacts such as earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, landslides, windstorms, drought, environmental incidents and events requiring support for search and rescue operators across British Columbia.

EMBC also works with other authorities to mitigate and manage emergencies within their areas of jurisdiction. These other authorities include local governments, First Nations, provincial ministries, federal departments, industry and non-government organizations and lots of volunteers. Additionally, EMBC engages provincial, national and international partners to enhance collective emergency preparedness.

We are so well served by the folks at EMBC, who often lead the country in emergency protocol best practices, who are always on the lookout for emerging technologies and who drive hard to insist that decision-makers and citizens alike embrace real-world, real-time disaster scenario training.

For example, EMBC continues to plan and prepare for a catastrophic earthquake in our province. This includes releasing the B.C. Earthquake Immediate Response Plan, the province’s first-ever plan to guide efforts in the event of a major earthquake. It also includes provincial catastrophic exercise training, like Exercise Coastal Response. This was a massive multi-agency scenario which was executed in June of 2016. The lessons learned at events like these are used to further improve B.C.’s systems and planning.

Earthquake preparedness also includes an unrelenting focus on seismically upgrading B.C.’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals and schools. Billions more must be invested on top of the billions that have been invested to date. More must also be invested in flood mitigation and prevention, in partnership with communities and, of course, the federal government.

[10:50 a.m.]

The EMBC’s disaster financial assistance, or DFA, program helps individuals and local governments to recover from uninsurable disasters, and B.C. has one of the most effective disaster recovery programs in Canada and is proud of its consistent, timely response. This is the very least that can be done to assist British Columbians who have been impacted by a disaster.

Now, let me come back to what I believe to be the critical success factor for EMBC and, indeed, our province’s entire emergency preparedness framework, and that is the people who are at the heart of this work.

Both in 2017 and again this year, British Columbians were faced with historic flooding during the spring freshet, followed by unforgettable wildfire seasons so bad that a provincial state of emergency had to be declared two years in a row. Now, I know just how serious a situation this is, as the 2017 provincial state of emergency was declared under my direction as the minister responsible.

Often communities were still recovering from devastating floods only to then find themselves in the midst of a devastating wildfire, with very little, if any, time to regroup and rest — certainly, no time to catch their breath. Now, obviously, the same goes for the citizens of those communities, and the same goes for the hard-working women and men of emergency management B.C. and all partner agencies.

I’m thinking of the folks who work in EMBC’s central coordination group; the folks in the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre; the provincial regional emergency operations centres, like the PREOC headed by the incredible Pete Prendergast in Kamloops. I think of the folks that staff and run the local government emergency operation centres, like the one run by the Thompson-Nicola regional district or the one in the Cariboo regional district or the one in the regional district of Fraser–Fort George.

I think of all of the people that work within our partner provincial ministries — like Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health — and all of the First Nations emergency management organizations out there who step up in a big way. I’ll take this opportunity to plug the great work of the Tk’emlúps Indian Band in Kamloops in assisting emergency efforts, not just for First Nations peoples but for the broader communities around their community.

I think of the hard-working men and women in the B.C. Wildfire Service or with all kinds of partner agencies — like the United Way, the Canadian Red Cross, the SPCA — and the many, many other organizations, from food banks to churches to our universities, and, of course, the thousands of British Columbians who simply show up, show up to help their fellow citizens in need, people who volunteer countless hours to help make life just a little bit better for those facing disasters. For it is often in the midst of tragedy that people come together, driven by compassion for others.

J. Rice: Thank you to the member opposite. I, too, share the praise and recognition for all the hard-working staff at EMBC and the B.C. Wildfire Service and our partner agencies, like the NGOs that he mentioned. I have met Pete Prendergast, and I do agree that he is a real example of a leader in emergency preparedness in British Columbia.

As the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness, it’s my goal to ensure that all British Columbians are prepared for an emergency and to find ways to improve our emergency management system through collaboration, education and innovation.

For the second year in a row, British Columbians experienced the worst flood and wildfire seasons in the history of our province. Tackling these events was no small feat. It required collaboration, swift action and extensive resources. These disasters destroyed homes and infrastructure, challenged our communities and displaced thousands of people. The sheer devastation and destruction was heart-wrenching to see.

The worst flood in recent memory washed over and through the community of Grand Forks, damaging people’s homes, businesses, farmland and entire neighbourhoods. I was there on the ground after the first wave of flooding, with another expected crest on the way. The army was there, helping with sandbagging and other logistics. Once the threat of subsequent flooding subsided, the rapid assessment team quickly deployed, placing red, yellow, green notices on the doors and windows of businesses and homes to determine whether they were habitable or not.

[10:55 a.m.]

No cars were allowed downtown. The streets were lined with tiger dams, but small business owners and a few other people were gradually trickling back through the downtown core. They were swapping stories of the recent event and the level of damage they experienced. I heard things like, “It’s all gone,” or: “We were lucky.” I met a woman hanging a big poster outside her business that simply said, “Thank you,” in massive-sized letters.

At the height of flooding, over 1,600 addresses and 3,200 people were evacuated from their homes in the regional district of Kootenay-Boundary alone. It may take years to recover.

I also had the opportunity to visit the residents of Burns Lake and those along the Highway 16 Corridor during this year’s unprecedented wildfire season. If you’ve never been, the Dease Lake–Telegraph Creek area has some of the most stunning landscape in our province. I was doing a flyover shortly after the Alkali Lake wildfire ripped through the community of Telegraph Creek. Over 100 homes and seven culturally significant structures were ultimately lost.

Besides smoke, through the window of the helicopter I witnessed kilometres and kilometres of charred earth. It pained me to see such a big black scar through the Tahltan First Nation’s territory. At one point, I hadn’t realized that we were actually hovering over what was once a neighbourhood until I could make out the distinct rectangular outlines of the foundations of former homes. The blackened forest merged into the blackened neighbourhood. Everything was gone.

Now, our government is committed to ensuring that all British Columbians have the knowledge, skills, resources and supplies they need to prepare for, respond to and recover from an emergency. Let me give you an example of some of the work we’re doing at EMBC to help British Columbians prepare. We provide funding for the national disaster mitigation program. We provide funding for the community emergency preparedness fund and several other structural and non-structural flood mitigation projects throughout B.C. We also provide year-round emergency management training for local governments and First Nations in every region of our province.

It’s no secret that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of floods, wildfires and droughts in our province and that climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, not just in our province but around the globe. We’re also taking into account our changing climate in everything we do at Emergency Management B.C. and across government, including legislation, planning, education and mitigation projects.

Personal preparedness plays a critical role in how we’re able to respond to and recover from emergencies. Our government is committed to strengthening provincial preparedness through public education to ensure the public safety of British Columbians in the event of an emergency or disaster.

I believe we all have a role to play, because what we know is that when disaster strikes, it could take days for help to reach you. For those living down here on Vancouver Island, that might be even longer. We all need a minimum of three days of supplies, and ideally as much as seven. As part of our commitment to help British Columbians get prepared, we recently launched the new Partners in Preparedness program.

T. Stone: I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness, the member for North Coast, for her comments.

I think, when it comes to emergencies, being prepared for them as best as possible and responding to them when they do take place…. This is probably one of the few areas — certainly an important area — where there is no place for partisan politics. This is where we all come together to make sure that British Columbians have what they need in terms of those resources to best prepare and recover when disasters do strike.

I’m sure that the member opposite would share my view on this, that sometimes the best thing for elected officials to do is to simply stay out of the way and let the professionals, like the Pete Prendergasts of the world, who is a force of nature, do the work that they’re trained to do and that they do so exceptionally well.

My profound memories — not from this most recent fire season but the fire season prior, in 2017 — really helped shape my current views on emergency management in British Columbia. We had an emergency where there were, at its peak, almost 15,000 evacuees in the city of Kamloops from all points around the city of Kamloops, mostly from the Cariboo. We had an emergency social services reception centre that started at the university and then was moved downtown to our arena.

[11:00 a.m.]

Every local agency you can imagine was there and showed up to pitch in and to help out. There was an animal shelter. There was food coming in from all over the country. Local businesses were there to do what they could. Of course, thousands of Kamloopsians and residents from the surrounding area showed up to help.

There was even a story of a homeless individual who lives down by the river. Very few people know what his name is, but he actually showed up one day, and his job was to look after a large Great Dane that had shown up at the animal shelter. The veterinarians were thinking they were going to have to get some drugs into it to calm down. He walked over. He took that Great Dane, and he slept with that Great Dane in his tent for, I believe, three nights, which was one of the most touching stories amongst many stories from the response to the wildfire crisis in Kamloops.

Again, it really shows the power of the human spirit and the fact that we all play a role in looking after ourselves and in looking after each other.

[R. Chouhan in the chair.]

On that note, as I said earlier, emergency preparedness really is a shared responsibility that starts with each individual. At the end of the day, I’m also very proud to live in a community and live in a province where when your neighbours need you, you are there for them.

Hon. C. James: The House will now consider Motion 17 by the member for Port Moody–Coquitlam.

Deputy Speaker: Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed with Motion 17 without disturbing the priorities of the motions preceding it on the order paper.

Leave granted.

Private Members’ Motions

MOTION 17 — INNOVATION IN
CLEAN TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

R. Glumac: I’m happy to be here and to make the motion.

[Be it resolved that this House support innovation in the clean technology sector.]

Imagine, if you will, walking into a warehouse abuzz with activity. You’re surrounded by metal equipment like nothing you’ve ever seen before, precisely manufactured to 1/1000 of a centimetre. On your left, you see this long, cylindrical object. It’s a piston designed to move at an exactly calibrated speed. On your right, you see a massive futuristic-looking objected designed to inject superheated plasma. The people in the room are some of the smartest minds in the world, and they’ve been conducting experiments over the last few years in preparation for building a machine that will demonstrate something the world has not yet been able to harness — fusion energy.

This place exists today, right here in B.C. The company is called General Fusion, and it’s one example of the incredible innovation we’re nurturing here in this province in the clean tech sector. There are over 270 clean tech companies in B.C., and this represents 30 percent of Canada’s clean tech sector, generating almost $3 billion in annual revenue. Seven of these companies were on the 2018 Global Cleantech top-100 list, which represents the most innovative and promising ideas of clean tech in the world.

Our government supports this sector in many different ways. We have an innovative clean energy fund, a $40 million partnership with the federal government to support the development of pre-commercialization clean energy projects over the years. We have a $7½ million tax credit available through the B.C. small business venture capital tax program, specifically dedicated to stimulating investment in the clean technology sector.

B.C. also has recently invested $700,000 over the next three years in Alacrity Foundation’s clean tech scale-up program. This program guides growing clean tech companies in generating new international business opportunities. Our Crown corporation Innovate B.C. also provides funding through the Foresight Cleantech Accelerator, which helps to grow small and medium-sized businesses.

There’s also the clean growth program announced in this year’s budget, which directs a portion of B.C.’s carbon tax paid by industry into incentives that help to encourage them to transition to cleaner operations and emission reductions, and we are creating over 500 new clean tech–related spaces at Simon Fraser University and the University of Northern B.C.

[11:05 a.m.]

This is just a small sample of what our government is doing to help grow the clean tech sector, because we know that a robust clean tech sector is critical in helping us achieve our climate change goals. We’re currently consulting with the public, with researchers, with industry associations, with Indigenous groups and with our Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council on the best way of growing our clean economy, which will result in a renewed clean growth strategy this fall.

This growth will continue to produce some of the best-paying, long-term and sustainable jobs, which will help us to reduce carbon pollution and protect the environment for all British Columbians. Not only that, but it’s quite possible that one of these clean tech companies can revolutionize the way we do things in the world.

I also took a tour of a company called Carbon Engineering, in Squamish. They’re leading commercialization of a technology that captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, which can then be stored underground or converted into clean transportation fuels. They’re able to do this at a lower cost than any other existing technology.

It’s companies like this, and companies like General Fusion and many others, that may change the world. They may provide the solutions we need to reverse global warming, and they’re located right here in B.C. That’s why I call on the House to support innovation in the clean tech sector.

J. Sturdy: I am pleased to rise to speak to the motion, “Be it resolved that this House support innovation in the clean technology sector,” although I do believe that the motion could be improved to reflect all sectors across the economy. I’m glad that the member opposite brought this forward and mentioned two companies, including Carbon Engineering and General Fusion. When we were government, we supported those two industries and those two companies in a way that helped them move forward.

According to the 2016 KPMG report, B.C.’s clean tech sector accounts for 30 percent of Canada’s clean tech companies, producing almost $3 billion in revenue in 2017. Employee growth has been strong. The number of B.C.-based employees is up 35 percent. These are the numbers that, on this side of the House, we’re going to be watching to make sure that government maintains this trend and trajectory of job growth.

Clean tech extends across virtually all sectors, from recycling to energy generation, management, transportation, utilities monitoring, a range of resource sectors from agriculture to forestry to mining.

B.C. is a place of innovation. To see it in action, we need to look no further than West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. Squamish, which the member opposite did mention, has worked very hard to reinvent itself to attract clean tech companies. The redevelopment of the brownfield Squamish Oceanfront includes an educational hub for engineering and clean tech development, and also is the home of Carbon Engineering, a clean tech front-runner that’s already on site, already operating.

Carbon Engineering is a Virgin Earth prize competitor and finalist, and Carbon Engineering has, as the member mentioned, developed an atmospheric carbon capture process which can either store carbon or process it into a renewable diesel or gasoline transport fuel.

Whistler is seeing a pilot of hydrogen fuel cell bus fleets. We see electric-vehicle-charging infrastructure from one end of the corridor to the other.

In Pemberton, B.C. Passive House operates their main plant. They’re responsible…. They have the first registered passive house in Canada, and they specialize in prefabricated, panelized building systems that reduce energy demand in homes and commercial buildings.

From outdoor clothing gear to the science of developing emission-free snowmobiles, clean tech is impacting the choices people make and the impacts a sector can have on the environment. Traditional snowmobiles used across the province as workhorses and for sport won’t win any environmental awards, but clean technology is making a clean energy or emissions-free snowmobile possible. We all know that much of that is going to come from B.C.’s electricity, which is 98 percent from low-carbon hydroelectric plants.

[11:10 a.m.]

Whistler-Blackcomb, for example, in partnership with Innergex, owners of the Fitzsimmons Creek hydroelectric project, located right beneath the peak-to-peak gondola, sustainably puts back into the grid what Whistler-Blackcomb consumes on an annual basis.

West Vancouver–Sea to Sky is also one of the most intense areas of clean energy production in the province, with 14 projects throughout the riding, from Tipella Creek to Ashlu to Miller to Rutherford and to the most recent project, which I had the pleasure of attending just a couple of weeks ago. This was the commissioning of Innergex’s newest facility, located in the Upper Lillooet and the Boulder Creek, which will contribute 135 megawatts of capacity to the B.C. Hydro system.

Clean technology has been an important part of the restoration story, as well, of Britannia mine and Britannia Beach. The waters of Howe Sound suffered from acid rock drainage from old mining processes, but technology and innovation from mining have diverted and treated wastewater. Now the sound is experiencing a robust environmental recovery, while the mining museum itself is a wonder. I would encourage you to visit it to not only understand the history of mining but to get a glimpse into the future.

Companies like Sea to Sky Soils near Pemberton use a gore fabric technology as part of their composting program to create soils. They’re taking food waste and organics from the region and feeding them back into the food system to turn waste into nutrients. Agriculture has tremendous tech opportunities, be it in integrated pest management, automation, drone monitoring and electrification, just as some examples.

It’s a pleasure to speak to this issue.

A. Kang: “Be it resolved that this House support innovation in the clean technology sector.”

I would like to start off by recognizing the wonderful progress that British Columbia has made in positioning itself as a leader in fighting climate change. But there is much more we can do, and there’s much more to come.

While most of B.C.’s electricity generation comes from renewable resources, there is a need to diversify our electricity portfolio. As our province continues to grow, improving energy efficiency and reducing waste can have a tremendous impact on reducing our carbon footprint.

We must also turn our attention to other sectors that still rely heavily on fossil fuels, such as our transportation sector. It’s one of the largest sources of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in British Columbia, having a significant impact on our health and on our environment. This is why we should continue to support the electrification of our transportation.

In April 2018, the Minister of Energy helped transition more than 1,400 drivers into battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles through the clean energy vehicle program. As of that date, the clean energy vehicle program has delivered more than 4,700 new CEVs on the road and more than 1,300 residential and public charging stations, including 30 direct current fast-charging stations. I am so proud, so proud to say that the program has been extremely successful.

The clean energy vehicle program continues to accelerate our transition to a cleaner alternative in the transportation sector. Our government is committed to our clean energy and clean technology sector, and we encourage and incentivize our businesses and the brilliant minds in the sector to continue their innovation.

B.C. drivers who have made the transition over to clean energy vehicles will also be able to save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars annually on gasoline expenses. This is just one of the examples of an investment in clean technology that pays for itself. Families will also save more every month on electricity bills when technologies are available to improve energy efficiency.

The debate on climate change is often presented as a dichotomy. We can either support our businesses, or we can protect our environment. The clean technology sector, however, shows the false premise of the dichotomy — that our government can support both our businesses and protect our environment at the same time. The development of clean technologies can be our most powerful weapon in battling against climate change.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology for his commitment in supporting the entrepreneurs at all stages of company growth, from start-up to long-established firms. Working closely with the federal government and the Alacrity Foundation, which works to promote technological entrepreneurship and facilitate regionalized investment opportunities, the minister has provided the cleantech scale-up program with more than $787,000, helping promising clean tech companies throughout British Columbia get investment-ready and sell to new markets.

[11:15 a.m.]

With these efforts, B.C. is now a preferred location for new and emerging technologies, attracting investments from all over the world to our province. Mitsubishi, Caterpillar and other companies have invested $18 million U.S. in MineSense, one of Vancouver’s top clean tech companies. These companies are creating new, highly skilled tech jobs for our region.

To keep up with the new demand for highly skilled tech workers, the Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology has also announced investments to develop future tech talent. These investments include scholarships that attract and retain our best graduate students — $10.5 million for co-op opportunities and entrepreneur training and $102 million to fund 75 research projects. By 2023, there will be 1,000 additional tech grads in that year.

My hometown, Burnaby, has always been a hub of technological advancement and innovation, proudly contributing to B.C.’s diverse economy and supplying good jobs for people throughout the province. I would like to take a moment to recognize the innovative business with a laboratory in Burnaby, Canfor Pulp Innovation, which is transforming pulp by-products into biofuel. We can already see the returns on our investments in our economies in the quality of our environment and the quality of life for British Columbians.

With that, I urge this House to continue to support innovation in the clean technology sector.

J. Yap: I’m pleased to rise in the House to speak on this motion to support innovation in the clean tech sector.

It’s a great opportunity to share some of the good things our province has already been doing in this regard and to look ahead to further developments in this exciting field. I’m proud to say that our former B.C. Liberal government really helped to build and support the clean energy industry in this province.

Personally, it was a privilege to be a part of this work in my previous roles as Minster of State for Climate Action and Parliamentary Secretary for Clean Technology. We wanted to be leaders in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and put forward a number of energy-friendly policies that were embraced by many British Columbians.

We introduced North America’s first revenue-neutral carbon tax and garnered international accolades for our leadership on that front. One of those accolades included the Momentum for Change Award, which was handed out at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties Low-Emissions Solutions Conference in Morocco. We also launched the B.C. tech strategy, which had a significant impact on clean tech growth.

Here are some of the impressive accomplishments that we saw under our previous B.C. Liberal government. From 2010 to 2016, the number of clean tech companies rose 35 percent. The number of B.C.-based employees increased by 20 percent. Average wages went up 24 percent. The amount of equity raised went up 25 percent. We also saw a 3.5 percent increase in B.C.’s high-tech GDP in 2016 to nearly $14.6 billion.

In 2016, GDP rose in both the high-tech manufacturing and services sectors. In 2016, we also saw a 9.2 percent jump in revenue from our province’s high-tech sector to $28.9 billion, the highest level ever recorded. Revenue grew in both the manufacturing and service sectors with a 6.2 percent increase for manufacturing and a 9.7 percent increase for services.

We also championed a liquefied natural gas, LNG, industry for British Columbia. With climate change being a global issue, we envisioned a future where we could supply growing markets with the cleanest burning fossil fuel. With a potential positive final investment decision looming, I couldn’t be prouder that our former government laid the foundation for it and fought as hard as we did, even in the face of skepticism from some folks.

[11:20 a.m.]

Meanwhile, our former government also introduced the clean energy vehicle program, which is still in place today. It offers a number of incentives to British Columbians, in the hopes that they will choose clean, green vehicles to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It has been great to see so many people take up this program. I believe that the interest continues to grow.

At the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler, I was particularly pleased to see the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. host a Green Ride-and-Drive event for attendees. It helped local and provincial officials get a chance to experience electric vehicles firsthand, if they hadn’t already had that opportunity at some point. I learned that B.C. has the highest per-capita EV adoption rate in Canada, which is fantastic news.

We know there’s more work to be done in getting more British Columbians interested in this mode of transportation and in seeking out new opportunities for charging stations throughout the province, particularly in more rural areas. It’s my hope that we’ll see the current government continue the work that we started to get more British Columbians thinking about what sort of future they want for their children and grandchildren and how clean tech and innovation might contribute to that bright future.

B. D’Eith: Clean technology, or clean tech, in simple terms, involves optimizing efficiency for use of natural resources while decreasing the impact on the environment. This sounds great, but why should we support innovation in the clean tech sector? There are six reasons I could really come up with, but one is that it’s the right thing to do. Climate change is already having a significant impact on global ecosystems, economies and communities. With temperatures rising, we’re seeing warmer winters, floods and drought, and we’ve been witnessing increased flooding and wildfire activity in British Columbia.

If we’re going to meet our climate change goals, then every resource needs to be brought to bear. That includes developing greener and cleaner technologies to make sure that we can reduce our carbon footprint and maximize the use of our world’s scarce natural resources. Yes, B.C. doesn’t contribute as much carbon emissions on a global scale, but imagine if we could develop technologies for processing infrastructure, energy production and industries that are not only good for the environment but are cost-effective.

Other companies would use those technologies, help reduce carbon emissions globally and use their resources less wastefully. We can truly act locally and impact globally. In fact, British Columbia is already a leader in the clean tech development area. We have more than 270 clean tech companies in British Columbia, and these organizations are recognized throughout the world for their leadership in the industry.

The reach of this industry is significant. B.C.’s clean tech companies sell a great deal of products and services to consumers outside of the province. It’s mostly to the U.S., but it’s growing into Europe and Asia. British Columbia’s clean technology exports are built on a solid foundation of global recognition for leadership in areas like the fuel cell industry, clean transportation, energy management and efficiencies, renewable energy technology and water and waste resource management technologies.

Of course, for our companies, clean tech can be transformative. It can not only make their processes more efficient than traditional methods of production but also be better for the planet. Technology and innovation are benefiting our traditional and resource-based sectors throughout the province, helping streamline operations, reduce environmental impacts and maintain competitiveness.

The reality is that clean tech is everywhere now. It’s integrated into forestry, mining, agriculture, communications and infrastructure development. B.C. tech companies like LlamaZOO, Pani Energy and Ecoation are all having a huge impact on our mining, energy and agrifoods sectors. Research and development coming from companies like Canfor to transfer pulp by-products into biofuel is just as innovative as any tech company’s.

The fourth reason is that technology jobs are generally higher paid. The average wages for technology jobs are about 85 percent higher than B.C.’s average wage. These are good, family-supporting jobs throughout the province that we can depend on. We can not only develop our own tech companies; we can bring international tech companies into B.C. Fortinet, Microsoft and Amazon are all bringing operations into B.C. That will create thousands of new jobs for B.C.’ers.

Another big reason is, simply, investment dollars. Investing in B.C. clean tech start-ups and existing companies can generate a lot of investment in our province. Motorola acquired B.C.-based Avigilon for $1 billion. Mitsubishi, Caterpillar and others invested $18 million U.S. in Vancouver’s top clean tech company, MineSense.

[11:25 a.m.]

Another reason is the reality that clean tech is big business. The clean technology sector — including power generation, energy efficiency, transportation and industry processes that create green benefits — has grown steadily and is considered to have a $3 trillion-per-year global impact, creating a great opportunity for investment.

So six reasons. It’s the right thing to do. It will help fulfil our climate change…. Secondly, we can show leadership by acting locally and impacting globally. Our companies and industries can become more competitive through clean tech innovation. We can build domestic companies and encourage international companies to locate in B.C., creating high-paid, clean tech jobs. Supporting the clean tech sector will lead to more investment in British Columbia companies and technology. Finally, we can be on the forefront of a $3-trillion-per-year global industry.

D. Davies: On behalf of my constituents of Peace River North, I first want to start by welcoming back everybody into the House from their summers, and I hope everybody is well rested up as we move into this fall session.

I want to thank the member for Port Moody–Coquitlam for presenting the following motion for debate: “Be it resolved that this House support innovation in the clean technology sector.” As a member representing northeastern British Columbia, which is home to our province’s energy sector, I thought I should provide our region’s unique perspective.

Of all the many blessings that our province has to offer, clean, reliable and renewable hydroelectric power is one of the most important. Site C is a prime example of this. Last year, in fact, our province was immersed in a deep debate on whether or not to proceed with the Site C project.

Following a review of the project by the B.C. Utilities Commission, the government made the right choice to proceed with the Site C project. Why, Mr. Speaker? Well, Site C is a product of the clean technology sector in British Columbia. Jurisdictions all over the world envy this province because Site C will provide clean and renewable energy for British Columbians for generations to come.

During the debate last year, Mark Jaccard, at the school of resource and environmental management at Simon Fraser, said this about Site C: “In the case of our 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas reduction targets, such evidence shows that we must substantially increase our generation of dependable electricity. If the Site C dam is built, and we are true to our climate goals, all of its electricity will be used in B.C. soon after its completion.”

Now that the decision has been made to proceed with Site C, we are beginning to reap the spinoffs and the benefits from its construction. I can see that firsthand when I drive through my community. In fact, it includes a 50-unit apartment building that is being built in tandem with Site C in Fort St. John. Speaking of technology, this apartment has been designed to Passive House standards — energy efficiency, including highly insulated walls, high-performance windows, orientation of the building. This building will be the largest passive house building in British Columbia.

Forty units will be made available for rent by B.C. Hydro for employees during the construction while the other ten units will be immediately available for the community’s use. But eventually, all 50 units will be turned over to the community for low- and moderate-income families when this construction is done. This is a prime example of all the benefits that the development of the natural resources can provide to all of us British Columbians.

Like most people in this province, we are anxiously awaiting a positive announcement with respect to the final investment decision for LNG Canada in Kitimat, of course, as well as all the other LNG projects that are in our province. Thanks to the strictest standards set out in legislation by the previous government, the LNG industry in British Columbia will be the cleanest in the world. Furthermore, LNG will wean off large carbon emitters, like China and India, from their dependence on coal.

For those of us who live in rural B.C. and coastal British Columbia, we know that projects like Site C and LNG are the only way that we can create jobs and opportunity as well as a clean tech future for our province. While some members of this House would rather see a Tesla gigafactory built in Kitimat instead of LNG, I can assure this House that such a prospect has about as much chance as explaining thunder to goats.

In conclusion, projects such as Site C and LNG in Canada are prime examples of how the clean technology will benefit all British Columbians, including goats.

[11:30 a.m.]

J. Routledge: Clean technology plays a huge role in Burnaby’s economy, the community that I represent.

The member for Port Moody–Coquitlam has already so eloquently described the potential that is General Fusion. Let me simply add that General Fusion is a world leader, it’s Canadian, and it’s located in Burnaby. Then there’s Inventys, a local company that, as was described to me, pulls carbon out of the air. Can you imagine? If this takes off, we stand a chance of actually starting to reverse the effects of climate change.

There’s Ballard, which produces and sells to the world clean hydrogen fuel cells for cars, buses and ships and is headquartered in Burnaby. There’s Parkland Fuel. Now, you might find it peculiar that I would mention an oil refinery in a debate about the importance of clean technology. But you might also be surprised to know that they are active partners in the B.C. Bioenergy Network. They are investing in projects to turn wood waste into green energy and preparing for the day when they can shift their feedstock from fossil fuels to renewable biosources.

So far, I’ve only talked about the Burnaby-based industries that are directly engaged in developing the new technologies that will significantly reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, but there are many more state-of-the-art, high-tech companies doing business in Burnaby. They, too, are clean tech, and they are developing innovations that will change the way we interact, improve our health outcomes and make us safer.

There’s D-Wave, the first company in the world to sell quantum computers. They tell me that NASA is one of their biggest customers. And Amgen, a worldwide biotech company with a custom-built, state-of-the-art research lab in Burnaby, where scientists work to discover and develop pioneering medical treatments.

Stemcell, another worldwide biotech company, is bringing 675 high-performing jobs to Burnaby. And Fortinet, a cybersecurity company in the process of expanding its operation into Burnaby and bringing another 1,000 jobs.

High-tech business in Burnaby is booming. In fact, when Japanese gaming giant Capcom announced it was closing its Burnaby studio and laying off 158 employees, other local companies immediately stepped up to say they’d hire them. Burnaby has developed an international reputation as a desirable location for high-tech companies, and this was no accident. Burnaby has a long-established economic development strategy that purposely sets out to attract high-tech, clean tech industries to our city.

Our local post-secondary institutions play an important role. BCIT has a School of Energy dedicated to developing alternative sources of energy, including biofuels. BCIT also provides the largest number of graduates from computing programs anywhere in the province. The faculty of applied sciences at Simon Fraser University is a high-tech hub. SFU applied science has more than 3,000 undergrad students, 400 grad students and 100 faculty members.

Attracting highly skilled workers, or keeping them, is not without its challenges. Last year I had the opportunity to visit D-Wave to see their tiny but mighty computers with my own eyes. I asked the D-Wave leadership what their biggest challenge was. What did they need to flourish as a company? They didn’t miss a beat. What they said was affordable housing and child care. Burnaby is central to one of the most attractive urban areas in the world, but if highly skilled, uniquely skilled workers can’t afford to live here, they will find another tech hub in another attractive area in another part of the world to call home.

To conclude, this government’s efforts to make life more affordable, to create quality child care for all, to cool the overheated housing market, are key to sustaining and expanding an already booming clean tech industry, and the future of the planet just might depend on it.

M. Hunt: I am speaking to the resolution: “Be it resolved that this House support innovation in the clean technology….”

[11:35 a.m.]

I find this a most interesting resolution. You would think that we haven’t been doing that, that this is something new. But I find it interesting as I’ve been listening to the speakers on this. All of the speakers have been referring to projects and companies that have been here at least for the last year, which means that our side of the House can take credit for absolutely everything that has just been referred to about clean tech and clean energy.

As a matter of fact, I guess…. In the midst of this, we also have to ask the question: what is clean technology? What is clean energy? I simply use the example of what we’ve done in Surrey. In Surrey, we are taking the organic waste from our residences and our businesses, putting that into a digester, and in fact, we’re taking the methane from that. That is now driving our trucks and vehicles and heating homes. We are, in fact, the first closed loop when it comes to the whole issue of organics and waste.

When the hon. member who was just before me, from Burnaby, is saying, “Where are these people going to go for affordable housing?” well, I’ll tell you. They can come to Surrey. We’re even taking our waste and making clean energy out of that.

Again, we’re talking about what is clean and what is dirty. When we’ve listened to the debates over the last year or two or three or four, you would think that hydroelectric power…. Everywhere else in the world, it’s clean energy, but somehow it seems that in B.C., it’s not so clean. Listening to the debates, you would almost think it was dirty. But we’re very happy and very pleased with the current government, that they have continued with Site C and that we’re in fact moving forward with that good, clean energy in the province of British Columbia.

When we look back at the previous government — that is, our government — and when we look at the B.C. clean technology report, we have over 200 clean technology firms, which the members opposite have been bragging about. This is absolutely wonderful, because we were part of creating those clean clusters. We, in fact, have 25 percent to 30 percent of Canada’s clean tech companies right here in B.C. because of the previous government’s policies on this.

When we look at our climate leadership plan, where 100 percent of British Columbia’s supply of electricity in our integrated grid is coming from either renewable or clean sources, that brings me, of course, back to beautiful Surrey, where we have Endurance Wind Power. There are some people that suggest that the only really clean power is either wind or solar.

Well, we have that in Surrey, with Endurance Wind Power, which was founded in 2007 in the beautiful city of Surrey, specializing in small and medium wind turbines. As a matter of fact, they expanded to the U.K. In fact, 90 percent of the sales were in the U.K. In 2014, they won the award for having the world’s largest installed base of 50- to 100-kilowatt turbines. The only problem is, unfortunately, that they went bankrupt. They filed for bankruptcy in October of 2016 because the U.K. removed their subsidies for clean energy.

One of the things we have to be careful of, in the midst of all this, is watching out for government subsidies. As governments change, as they do, through elections and those sorts of things, we have changes in philosophy, changes in policy, changes in subsidies and where those dollars are going. As we support the clean energy sector and the clean technology sector completely and absolutely, we always have to be careful of how we deal with government subsidies to promote these and to see the development of these industries. If we cut off those subsidies, we can also kill them. Be careful how we’re investing our dollars.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the absolute pleasure of bragging on the wonderful work that our government did on clean energy and clean technology.

J. Brar: It’s a really nice wit I see, quite an exchange there from the member for Surrey-Cloverdale.

I’m very pleased to rise in this House today to respond to the motion introduced by the member for Port Moody–​Coquitlam. The motion reads as follows: “Be it resolved that this House support innovation in the clean technology sector.”

[11:40 a.m.]

Before I continue my written speech, I would like to divert from that because, in listening to this debate, I got some extra energy. I would like to respond to some of the comments made by the members from the other side. What I see is that the members on the other side are kind of declaring victory on LNG and on the energy sector because we are expecting good news in the coming days on LNG. That’s understandable. I do agree that the previous administration did some good work on LNG. [Applause.]

You can clap for this one, because the next part is different.

The reality is that the previous administration promised to the people of British Columbia — and I would like to remind them — that $100 billion in revenue will come out of LNG. They promised mega-LNG projects in the province of British Columbia, and they promised 100,000 jobs out of LNG projects, and they promised debt-free B.C.

Guess what. Nothing happened. We have more debt than it was at that time. Now we’re expecting good news because we have done some good work, and they want to take the credit. That’s what this whole debate is. I’m very pleased to tell what we’re going to do, and we are making progress on this file finally, which the previous administration had difficulty to do. Well, they did do some good work, as I said earlier.

Our government strongly believes that growing B.C.’s already strong technology and innovation sector will help create more good jobs for people throughout the province and further strengthen our diverse economy. Our government continues to pursue the commitment in the B.C. tech strategy and has been working with the sector in advance of launching a new tech strategy next year.

Our Crown corporation…. Innovate B.C.’s mandate is to advance commercialization in B.C. by providing B.C. entrepreneurs the business-development support they need at all stages of company growth, whether it’s new start-ups or long-established firms. B.C.’s tech sector is a top provincial performer, with more than 10,000 companies employing 106,000 people right here in the province of British Columbia.

The average wage for technology jobs is around 85 percent higher than B.C.’s average wage. These are good jobs, family-supporting jobs, that people throughout the province can depend on. The tech sector is one of the largest drivers of the B.C. economy, with companies gaining global recognition, creating jobs and contributing significantly in the province’s GDP.

By focusing our support for technology and innovation, we are helping advance every sector in all parts of the province to build a strong, sustainable and innovative economy that works for everyone. Our government is working to establish B.C. as a preferred location for new and emerging technologies and to attract investment to our province.

International companies, finally, are now making investment in B.C. For example, Fortinet, a large expansion in Burnaby, is adding 1,000 new tech jobs in digital security. Similarly, Amazon is expanding its B.C. footprint by adding 1,000 new jobs — Vancouver-based, highly skilled tech jobs — by 2020 and another 3,000 jobs by 2022.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Our government has also established the B.C. tech fund to attract new investments and to grow our economy. This $100 million B.C. tech fund is a catalyst for economic growth, investment and jobs for the province and a key part of our strategy for growing B.C.’s tech sector. It demonstrates the province’s strong support for technology and innovation and a venture capital environment that fosters growth for B.C. businesses. The funds benefit B.C. tech companies by making more early-stages capital available to them.

[11:45 a.m.]

J. Tegart: I rise today to speak on the motion on the floor, and I thank the member opposite for bringing this motion forward, because building a sustainable future begins with clean technologies and power. B.C. is a recognized leader in research and for developing and growing innovative technology companies. It’s a destination for technology investment.

In my riding, we have an abundance of clean tech projects, producers and educators. One of the newer clean tech projects being developed is the Upper Nicola solar project. Recently the Upper Nicola Band voted in favour of designating 400 acres of reserve land for development of a solar farm; 172 of 186 votes cast were in favour of opening the land to development. This allows the band’s development corporation to enter into a 99-year lease agreement on the parcel to construct the project. Band members have noted that this project will not only create jobs but will be a source of local pride for their community.

We also have the Merritt green energy project. In southwest Merritt sits a giant $130 million newly built biomass generator. Biomass generators burn scrap lumber, forest debris, certain crops, manure and some types of waste residues. They are renewable sources of fuel, to provide this energy, because waste residues will always exist, particularly in terms of scrap wood, mill residues and forest resources.

With large-scale wildfires becoming more common during summers in British Columbia, biomass plants like the one in Merritt will simultaneously help combat forest debris that would otherwise turn into fire fodder, while providing much-needed power for the community. The 40 megawatt plant will generate 285,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year — enough to power about 40,000 homes per year.

There have been several hurdles for the Merritt green energy project, but they’ve overcome them. Just like the people that make up the community of Merritt, this project has demonstrated resiliency at every turn and has pushed through each trial presented to it.

I want to talk a little bit about Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. Members of this House know that clean tech doesn’t just develop itself. In order to have a bright future in our province, we need to support the next generation of innovators. It is for this reason that members of this House must continue to make education a priority, as seen in the development and funding support given to the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt.

Recently the Centre of Excellence in Sustainability was opened on campus. The $10 million expansion covers 20,000 square feet and features a full-sized gymnasium, a clean energy lab powered by geothermal energy, a greenhouse and a culinary arts kitchen. One of the features of the clean energy lab is the mechanical room, which is powered by the building’s solar rooftop. The rooftop itself serves as a teaching component for solar and geothermal. With the recent announcement of the Upper Nicola solar project and with the Lower Nicola Indian Band School, which is powered by solar, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology has positioned itself well as a way of teaching students solar technologies.

Another interesting project in my riding is happening at Highland Valley Copper. I recently met with Highland Valley Copper to discuss a pilot project they are instituting at the mine site in the very near future: autonomous haul trucks. The trucks, which are the size of your house, will be outfitted to run autonomously in and out of the pit. I’ll be watching with great interest to see how this new technology will work, as resource companies look at innovation and look towards their future.

In conclusion, to say we live in interesting times is an understatement. As leaders in our ridings and in our province, it is critical that we continue to advocate on both sides of this House for new and innovative technology. I look forward to working with the innovators to support and encourage this exciting industry.

[11:50 a.m.]

R. Leonard: I’m very pleased, on this first day of the fall session, to speak to the resolution from the member for Port Moody–Coquitlam in support of clean technology innovation. It shows we care about the future. It’s time for a new generation of thinkers to take on the challenges that have come from the unintended consequences of the choices of previous generations.

I speak particularly with respect to agriculture. Back in 1950, with the daunting challenges of a burgeoning global population, the world embraced a new way of doing agriculture to feed the world. It was dubbed the green revolution, but that name doesn’t reflect our understanding of “green” today.

One of its cornerstones has been the use of chemical solutions to overcome the bane to agriculture: weeds and pests. It’s a way that has come to be challenged. It’s an expensive route to take, and it has been shown to have dire consequences for the environment.

New systems had to take root. Enter clean technology. It’s one thing to say no to the industry addiction to pesticides and herbicides. It’s another thing to find successful alternatives. But the demand has driven innovation in clean technologies that support effective, economical and environmentally sound, sustainable agricultural practices that do not rely on ever-increasing chemical inputs to grow food for the globe.

In B.C., we can proudly turn to a number of innovations that have been developed to support agriculture and are gaining attention worldwide. These technological innovations are helping streamline farm operations, reduce environmental impacts and remain competitive in a highly competitive global marketplace.

One 2018 award-winning North Vancouver company teamed up with two Dutch firms to develop robots with sensors and artificial intelligence to work in greenhouses. Another B.C. firm is named in the Global Cleantech Group’s top-100 list this year. It uses technology in orchards to provide details to guide growers’ responses to the challenges of insects, disease and plant health conditions.

British Columbia has a lot of potential to grow the agrifood sector. Clean technology can facilitate that growth. In my own community, Island Coastal Economic Trust, with capital provided by the province of B.C., recognizes the importance of agricultural innovation. It is funding a local agrifood innovation strategy led by the Comox Valley Economic Development Society.

Clean tech innovation is being embraced worldwide. Helping the local agricultural sector tap into it will mean growth as it is better able to compete. It can access digitization, automation, production supply chains, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer demand. This strategy will open the doors for ag tech start-ups and the agricultural sector as a whole to enhance and create new sustainable ag food opportunities right in the Comox Valley.

During the recent Select Standing Committee on Agriculture consultations investigating small-scale meat processing, interest was expressed in using technology to help support and expand the industry into more rural and remote communities. Given that wages for technology jobs tend to be better-paying than the B.C. average, supporting clean tech makes sense as we work to make life more affordable with good-paying jobs in communities throughout B.C.

Supporting young British Columbians to enter the field is critical to the success of this sector, which is one of the largest drivers of the B.C. economy. It’s so valuable for students to hear about our government’s investments: investments in scholarships to attract and retain the best grad students and to inspire women to participate in science- and tech-based professions and the investment of $10.5 million for my favourite co-ops and entrepreneurial training for hands-on experience. And then there’s the $102 million in funding for 75 research projects.

It’s exciting to see our government’s investments to support the next generation to meet our unfolding and very real 21st-century challenges. I particularly look forward to seeing the continuing cultivation of clean technology innovation to grow our life-sustaining agrifoods sector.

R. Leonard moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

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 11:55 a.m.