Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: S. Malcolmson.

Introductions by Members

Hon. D. Eby: I’m pleased to rise to introduce guests from MoveUP who are here in the gallery today. I see some of them across from me here this morning. MoveUP represents more than 12,000 union members from public and private sector companies in western Canada. Certainly, ICBC is among them but not exclusively the members that they represent. They work with community groups to ensure that the public and elected government officials understand the value that unions bring to B.C.’s economy.

With us are today are David Black, Lori Mayhew, Annette Toth, Christy Slusarenko, Melissa Maher, Brenda Chu, Gunter Seifert, Colin Clark, Daniel Fung, Kim Chartier, Safar Alikhani, Hani Dakkak, Glenn Redding, Jen Anthony and Todd Haupmann. Would the House please join me in offering them a warm welcome to the House today.

M. Stilwell: Joining us in the House today are Mark Smith, board chairman, and Katie Bishop, board director, of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance. VIEA is a non-government, non-profit organization focused on economic development. I’m sure many members in the House are familiar with the annual Vancouver Island economic summit. It’s also behind the initiative of Island Good, which brands Island-produced goods.

I’m also happy to introduce representatives from Quality Foods: Noel Hayward, president and CEO; Bob McKitchie, marketing consultant; and Colin Johnston, the director of meats and delis. Quality Foods is one of the grocery stores that was on board with the Island Good initiative from the start.

Would the House please join me in extending a warm welcome to our guests.

T. Shypitka: It’s always exciting when I have some guests from the Kootenays show up, and today is a great day for me. We’ve got some folks here from the Kootenays — big political heavy hitters, I guess you might call them. In the gallery, we’ve got the mayor of Fernie, Ange Qualizza; we’ve got the CAO of Fernie, Michael Boronowski; and the CAO from Sparwood, Michele Schalekamp.

Also, somewhere roaming around in the precinct, we’ve got Mayor David Wilks from the city of Sparwood; Mike Sosnowski, the area A director for the RDEK; and Steve Fairbairn, councillor for the city of Elkford.

Would the House please give them a warm welcome.

Hon. B. Ralston: It gives me distinct pleasure to introduce to the House Adrien Sala, who is an MLA in Manitoba. He was first elected in the recent election, 2019, and is MLA for St. James in the heart of Winnipeg city. He’s the opposition critic for Manitoba Hydro; Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis; and Efficiency Manitoba. He’s also a songwriter and musician who has performed at local venues and festivals.

[10:10 a.m.]

He’s visiting the precinct this week to learn about the great work the government of British Columbia is doing through B.C. Hydro and our CleanBC programs to achieve our clean, sustainable energy objectives. Please join me in welcoming Adrien Sala.

Statements

B.C. WINTER GAMES
INDIGENOUS PIN DESIGN BY AIDYN ABEL

D. Davies: As you are all aware, Fort St. John has just completed hosting a very, very successful 2020 B.C. Winter Games. I’d like to thank the 2,000 volunteers and 1,500 athletes and all the sponsors that made the games such a success.

I’d like to introduce one young gentleman, nine-year-old Aidyn, who is a member of the West Moberly First Nations living in Fort St. John. During this year’s games, Pembina Pipeline had a competition with Indigenous communities of the area to create an Indigenous Winter Games pin, which I’m wearing here today. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to use props, but anyway….

They sent out a call to Indigenous communities for the youth to create and develop some artwork around this pin, and of course, Aidyn won the competition. After speaking with Aidyn and Pembina, we decided that I would bring a few of these pins back with a little write-up and some of the original artwork, and I’ll be providing those for the Premier, the minister of sport and our critic, the Leader of the Opposition, as well as the Third Party.

Would the House please give Aidyn a big round of applause for his accomplishment.

Introductions by Members

E. Ross: It’s a great pleasure to introduce three guests today from my constituency — one that used to be a constituency member but has moved to the region of the Kamloops twins. We all know the Kamloops twins there, the MLAs from the Kamloops area. He’s now a constituent.

Sid Peltier is an entrepreneur, semi-retired, but he was also a member of the Aboriginal Business Investment Council when I was the inaugural chair of the Aboriginal Business Investment Council. He’s a gentleman, and he’s actually applying to be a senator for this great country of Canada.

The other two guests are Barb Campbell, a great community member back in Kitimat, a huge volunteer. She’s all over the place in Kitimat. She’s here with her friend, Marika Czink.

Will the House please join me in welcoming my three guests to the Legislature.

S. Malcolmson: I want to reinforce the welcome to Vancouver Island Economic Alliance. They’re based in Nanaimo, doing groundbreaking work that benefits all the MLAs on all of Vancouver Island, working on developing innovative business cases, innovative forms of facilitating trade, reinforcing the markets for local foods and bringing all leaders on Vancouver Island together in a hugely successful economic summit that happens every fall. We’re grateful for their work and welcome them to the Legislature.

B. Ma: I believe he was already introduced by the Attorney General as part of the MoveUP delegation, but I would love to welcome Gunter Seifert here to the House today. He and his husband live in the riding I represent, known as North Vancouver–Lonsdale. Thank you so much for joining us here in the House today. Would the House please join me in welcoming him.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

BILL 13 — MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES
AMENDMENT ACT, 2020

Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2020.

Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

I’m pleased to introduce Bill 13, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2020. This bill amends the following statutes: the Adoption Act; the Assessment Act; the Building Act; the E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act; the Evidence Act; the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act; the Family Law Act; the Guide Dog and Service Dog Act; the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act; the Labour Mobility Act; the Land Owner Transparency Act; the Land Title Act; the Land Title and Survey Authority Act; the Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2018; the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 3), 2010; the Motor Vehicle Act; the New Relationship Trust Act; the Pharmaceutical Services Act; the Supreme Court Act; the Trespass Act; the Vital Statistics Act; and the Water Sustainability Act.

I will be pleased to elaborate on the nature of these amendments during second reading of this bill.

[10:15 a.m.]

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

Motion approved.

Hon. D. Eby: I move that this bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 13, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2020, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS AND BUSINESSES
IN WEST VANCOUVER–SEA TO SKY AREA

J. Sturdy: As you know, small business drives the economy of British Columbia. West Vancouver–Sea to Sky is no exception.

Last Friday I attended the 17th annual Small Business Awards in Vancouver with a table of guests from West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. This annual event celebrates and recognizes small business and presents best-of awards in eight different categories. West Vancouver–Sea to Sky was well represented, as it typically is. It is impressive to see such diversity, innovation and creativity in the region and from across the province.

There were ten companies from the communities of Whistler, Squamish and Bowen Island recognized as nominees during the awards review process. These nominees included: from Whistler, the Whistler Staging Co., The Velvet Underground, Sea to Sky Sourdough, Lighthouse Visionary Strategies, and Space coworking; from Squamish, Skin Focus and Squamish Water Kefir; from Bowen Island, Tell Your Friends Cafe.

The Squamish Connector and the Sḵwálwen Botanicals, both from Squamish, were nominees as well as top five finalists.

Transportation, food and beverage, health and wellness, retail, the sharing economy and consulting services were all represented.

As a small business owner myself, I know the commitment, the risks, the adaptability required and involved in running a small business. You may need to be a strategic planner, an accountant, an HR problem-solver and a plumber all on the same day. You need to be ready to deal with customers and banks and government bureaucracies or any one of a thousand other details.

I’m certain the House shares my respect for all small business risk-takers. I especially would like to recognize those entrepreneurs from West Vancouver–Sea to Sky.

You’re trail-blazers, innovators and, above all, doers. You enrich your neighbourhoods and fuel the economy of British Columbia. Thank you for your hard work.

Congratulations to all nominees, finalists and winners from across the province.

COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
FUNDRAISING WALK

M. Dean: February 22 is the Coldest Night of the Year, an opportunity to raise dollars for charities that serve hungry, homeless and hurting people in 136 communities across Canada through a friendly national walkathon.

This year our community held its first one on the West Shore. The walk started at Langford fire hall, with options of two, five and ten kilometres. Members of our community warmed up with a hot drink, Coldest Night of the Year toques and some exercises. Participants were walking this year to raise funds for two organizations who do so much for our community: Our Place Society and Pacific Centre Family Services Association.

Our Place offers some of greater Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens a home, nourishment and hope through living, sharing, learning and worshipping together. Our Place operates a therapeutic community in View Royal.

Pacific Centre Family Services Association has been promoting dignity and quality of life for families and individuals on the West Shore for more than 50 years through education, counselling and creative programming. They offer a wide range of vital services for people dealing with trauma, substance use, mental health issues and daily life challenges.

We are so grateful to Our Place and Pacific Centre Family Services Association for their incredible service over so many years.

Thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy to participate, organize and raise money for the Coldest Night of the Year. Thanks, especially, to the volunteers, donors, walkers, team captains and sponsors for their commitment to taking on poverty and homelessness and making a difference in our community.

ISLAND GOOD AND PROMOTION OF
LOCAL PRODUCTS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

M. Stilwell: Island shoppers don’t have to look far to find quality foods and products. A new initiative is making sure that they know how.

Island Good is a Vancouver Island initiative to promote locally made and grown products under a single brand. It’s the brain child of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, a non-profit focused on the economic vitality of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

[10:20 a.m.]

Realizing the Island was not producing the level of goods it needed for a stable economy, the team came up with the idea for Island Good, a brand that could encourage production and support the economy while also raising consumer awareness of local goods. The team believed that people wanted to buy local and that if shoppers could find those products easily, they would respond with their wallets.

The theory was put to the test, and over six months in 2018 across 45 grocery stores, retailers like Quality Foods could advertise the brand in flyers or use Island Good stickers to identify bulk products that came from local businesses. Producers could also include the label on their products. The result was beyond the alliance’s imagination, with the average increase of sales of 16.4 percent.

With early success, Island Good shows no signs of slowing down. Shoppers can find the brand in grocery stores and retail locations, and licensees range from producers of seafood to mattresses. Nanoose Edibles Farm, French Creek Seafood, Aux Box and Springford Farm are among the businesses in my region that have jumped on board. VIEA and Tourism Vancouver Island also now have a partnership to market Island Good in the tourism sector, recognizing that tourists also want to buy local.

I want to commend George Hanson, VIEA president, and the Island Good team for their work to launch this brand and support our economy.

The next time any of the members visit a local grocery store, I encourage you to keep an eye out for Island Good.

SQUAMISH NATION HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT IN VANCOUVER

B. Ma: With over 4,000 citizens, the Squamish Nation is made up of Coast Salish people who have lived in their territory in greater Vancouver, Howe Sound and the Squamish River watershed for at least 10,000 years, based on archaeological records. Five decades after the creation of the Indian reserve system by the federal government, 16 communities that were regarded as separate Indian bands united as the Squamish Nation on July 23, 1923, in what is known as the amalgamation.

Squamish territory measures 6,732 square kilometres. But after the Indian Act forced people onto reserves, the Squamish people were living in a number of Indian reserves encompassing 28.28 square kilometres, scattered from Vancouver to Gibsons Landing to the area north of Howe Sound. But they’ve been rebuilding. And in the words of Squamish Nation councillor Khelsilem, they are becoming powerful in their territory once more.

In addition to being a partner of the MST Development Corp., the nation itself is becoming one of the most powerful land developers in the Metro Vancouver region. Last year they announced their plans to build 6,000 new units in 11 towers on reserve land at the southern foot of Burrard Street Bridge, on False Creek. The vast majority of these new units will be purpose-built rental. Called Senakw, this development is a $3 billion development that will help the nation develop economically, with the intended revenue to pay for social services and housing. Some people are calling it the single largest development on First Nations land in Canada.

Then they created a not-for-profit housing society called Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society, which aims to bring many Squamish citizens home into their communities by building over 1,000 units of affordable and supportive non-market rental housing with rents tied to income.

Everyone in this House should have an understanding of what colonialism has done to Indigenous people like those who make up the Squamish Nation — stripped of their land, their language, their culture.

What Senakw and Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh represent is more than economic development. It’s a way forward and a way to bring people together so that they can heal in the love and support of their community, because Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh literally means “the Squamish are coming home.”

TRICIA DATENE

S. Furstenau: Each of us in this chamber will understand when I say that I could not do my job without my constituency staff, and my constituency assistant Tricia Datene is no exception. Tricia started as a volunteer in our office almost from the time we opened in 2017, and it became obvious very quickly that her skill set was precisely what we needed.

Tricia had retired from her career in social services and believed in social justice issues since she was a young woman. All of these experiences and a lifetime of many others have provided us with the most patient, caring and understanding person imaginable.

[10:25 a.m.]

A highly distressed constituent can walk into our office, and Tricia meets them with compassion and kindness. She’s able to work with people who are quick to anger and conflict because they don’t feel heard, and Tricia hears them. She sees the kindness in their core and treats them with the same respect that she treats everyone. She’s helped countless people in her calm and thoughtful way.

When I listen to her counsel constituents whose issues can range from not receiving a disability cheque to mental health challenges that lead to unimaginable outcomes, I’m amazed at her ability to absorb these sad tales and provide advice and guidance that at least provides hope and often helps to solve their immediate problem. Most baffling to me is that she has the incredible ability to leave the work at work.

She and I were talking about a particularly difficult file, and when I thanked her for her service, she said: “It is I who am grateful. I get to make a difference. I have a purpose.”

Well, Tricia, I am truly grateful, and you really are making a difference. Thank you for your service to so many Cowichan Valley constituents. I couldn’t do this job without you and all the members of the constituency office dream team.

WOUNDED WARRIORS FUNDRAISING RUN

S. Malcolmson: “Honour the fallen; help the living.” This is the mantra of Wounded Warriors, who are running through Bowser right now, and they’re heading this way. For life-changing PTSD and operational stress injury programs to help veterans, first responders and their families, Wounded Warriors are relay running the length of Vancouver Island right now. That’s 600 kilometres in eight days.

As families support injured veterans, armed forces and first responders, Wounded Warriors support both families and the injured.

This is an email I got from Nanaimo paramedic Mark Blachuras last night. He said:

“Last year, January, I took time off for an occupational stress injury I suffered after a young boy in Nanaimo was tragically killed after being run over by a large truck. CPR was performed on the scene. This tragedy struck the whole community, including my spouse.

“Although I could not imagine what the family was going through, it’s sometimes forgotten that we are affected by these events too. I presented with many symptoms that outline PTSD and was later diagnosed by a trauma therapist who specializes with first responders. I was in denial about my injury.

“By reaching out, I was able to get the help I needed, which has allowed me to go back to work and helped me cope with the tragic things I’ve experienced through my job.”

Runners started in Port Hardy on Saturday. Folks in Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Parksville and Lantzville can cheer them on today and Friday. Nanaimo’s legions and Serious Coffee host them Friday.

Check out woundedwarriors.ca. You can see when they’ll be in your town, and you can donate to their major fundraising effort that they are doing right now.

In Victoria, you can greet these fine runners on Sunday at 4:30, here behind the Legislature on Superior Street.

The front line keeps us safe every day. Please come out and support the Wounded Warriors as they finish their epic journey down Vancouver Island, and let them know that we have their backs too.

Oral Questions

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA STAFF
AND STUDENT SOCIETY
INVOLVEMENT IN PROTESTS

J. Johal: We know the Minister of Environment is good friends with foreign-funded agitators behind these illegal blockades. We know the Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink supports the illegal blockades and the shutdown of the resource sector. This week the member for Nanaimo added her voice to those who back the foreign-funded agitators. But there’s also public money being expended.

Can the Minister of Advanced Education confirm if she supports the University of Victoria staff who are organizing and advocating for these illegal protests?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: What’s insulting is that every day that side of the House is trying to smear members of this House who have been doing their job.

[10:30 a.m.]

What is insulting is an opposition that is trying to sow dissension and inflame a situation which all of us on this side of the House, provinces across the country and the federal government recognize is at a critical stage and are working to find solutions to get the blockades down. That’s what’s insulting.

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

J. Johal: I’ll remind the Solicitor General that this week an Ipsos-Reid poll came out, and 63 percent of Canadians want their government to show a backbone and do something about these blockades. Instead, that side of the House keeps playing footsie with agitators.

Let’s talk for a moment about their friends.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

J. Johal: Let’s talk about the NDP’s friends. We have UVic prof Seb Bonet, who helped organize the shutting down of government ministries. I have an email from him here. He says: “A whole bunch of us have committed to coordinating the shutdown of as many B.C. government ministries as we can.”

We have UVic professors cancelling classes and rescheduling mid-terms. I have an email here from a third-year poli-sci instructor, Dr. Glezos, who says: “Several students have been in touch with me about missing class tomorrow to participate in the rally at the Legislature building in support of the Wet’suwet’en. To ensure that anyone wishing to participate can, I will be cancelling class tomorrow.”

Other classes have been taking field trips to the blockades being funded by foreign money.

Does the Minister of Advanced Education believe this is an acceptable practice for a publicly funded institution?

Hon. J. Horgan: I appreciate that the member wants to sow further discontent in a situation that’s already very volatile.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: It has been our objective from the beginning to find a peaceful resolution. It has been our objective to acknowledge that dissent is part of a democratic society. But it is also important that lawlessness and unlawful behaviour be acknowledged and dealt with by appropriate authorities.

There was a time not that long ago that those on the other side of the House wanted the RCMP to be directed to take actions. We’re not going to do that. No other province across the country is directing law enforcement.

I’ve spent the past two weeks working with the Council of the Federation and Premiers of different political persuasions and different levels of understanding of the challenges of hereditary versus elected governance structures.

I thought, when members on that side of the House stood with us and members of the Third Party, unanimously supporting the declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples, that they wanted to join us in the future, not dwelling in the past — the good old days when they were in government, and they just directed people to do what they wanted them to do. We’re not going to do it.

M. Polak: I’m sorry if the government’s QP prep didn’t accurately target the angle we were going to take in question period today. Let me clarify what we’re asking about once again.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, unless we can properly listen to questions and properly listen to answers, we’re going to have to take a recess here. This is too much disorder.

M. Polak: The Premier mentions appropriate authorities. It would seem to me that if opposition has a question about the appropriate use of taxpayer-funded institutional activities like the University of Victoria, the appropriate authority to ask is the Minister of Advanced Education. So I’ll try again, and let’s be clear. That’s what this is about.

The mission statement of the University of Victoria Students Society says: “Our mission is to be a leader in providing high-quality accessible services, advocacy and events that enhance the student experience, and to build a campus community that embodies our values.”

[10:35 a.m.]

Now the student society is actively involved in the illegal protests here at the Legislature. They even enjoyed a movie-and-popcorn night last night, which I understand was powered by a generator. I’m curious what fuel they put in the generator.

Nevertheless, to the Minister of Advanced Education, does the Minister of Advanced Education support the use of student dues being there for the engagement in illegal activity?

Hon. J. Horgan: Here we go. Now the official opposition wants to ban popcorn and movies here in British Columbia. Unbelievable.

If they could take a pause in their campaign to sow discontent among British Columbians and try and work with us to unify people…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: …for a common purpose, for a better B.C., we’d all be better off. Leave the kids to figure it out themselves. Let’s focus on the issues of the day.

Mr. Speaker: The House Leader for the official opposition on a supplemental.

Interjections.

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

M. Polak: This really is disturbing that the answer you get is around whether or not they think we like movies and popcorn. The question, though, is a pretty serious one. If you’re a student at UVic, if you’re an undergrad at UVic, guess what. You’re required to pay student dues, and you’re trusting that your student dues are going to go for a legitimate purpose.

Interjections.

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

M. Polak: Is it the view of the Minister of Advanced Education that student dues being used to provide, for example, a tent outside for an illegal protest…? Does she think that that is an appropriate use of their student dues?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, this is not a productive use of question period.

Premier.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Interjections.

[Mr. Speaker rose.]

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, order, please. We’ll bypass the answer to that question. We’ll move on to the next question.

[Mr. Speaker resumed his seat.]

LNG CANADA PROJECT AND
GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP
WITH WET’SUWET’EN NATION

A. Olsen: Last night we heard news that the federal and provincial governments will be meeting with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs. We can all agree that that’s a positive development for all Canadians.

We have to be honest about how we got here. The people in this chamber today are not responsible for 150 years of colonial policies designed to undermine and exclude Indigenous people. But they are responsible for their votes to continue that legacy.

This time last year nearly every member of this chamber voted to provide the ignition point for this conflict. Bill 10 handed billions of taxpayer dollars to LNG Canada, inducing their final investment decision. All members of this chamber, excluding the B.C. Green caucus, voted more than a dozen times, knowing full well of the long-standing rights and title challenges in that territory.

When the B.C. Green caucus was notified of the government’s intention to push forward on the project, I asked whether they had a plan to resolve the situation, the long-standing situation. I was told not to worry about it; it’s taken care of. Well, this does not appear taken care of, does it?

My question is to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Why did this government vote to advance LNG Canada before clarity around governance and reconciliation in the territory had been established?

Hon. S. Fraser: I thank the Leader of the Third Party for his question. I also want to thank him for his continued work on addressing reconciliation issues. I appreciate the question. However, we have secured meetings with the Office of Wet’suwet’en, the Hereditary Chiefs, beginning this afternoon and tomorrow.

[10:40 a.m.]

I believe that this is a hopeful sign. I’m an optimist, of course, but it is time that we pull together and not reflect on the past. We have decided that working with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, in cooperation to find a way forward, we’ll address the rights and title issues of the Wet’suwet’en people and do so with respect. That is what I’m focusing on.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Third Party on a supplemental.

ACTIVATION OF
ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

A. Olsen: It’s a difficult thing not to acknowledge the actions that got us here — over generations and decades, actually. Now that the on- and off-again talks are on again, it’s my sincere hope that the representatives are going to the Wet’suwet’en territory to sit at a table for as long as it takes for a good-faith solution to this Coastal GasLink conflict, and not just to deliver an ultimatum.

It has become painfully obvious to British Columbians and Canadians that this system is broken. It’s not serving anyone well in this country or province. This Legislature has had a Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs for the past 30 years. I’m on that committee. It exists in title only, because the government has not empowered it to be effective. That is a fitting symbol, I would say. We have a tool for all of us here to work together, across party lines, to find solutions to make the systemic changes that are needed to ensure that the people in this chamber don’t just continue the dysfunctional cycle that has been going on here for generations.

To the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, I’m calling on this government to immediately strike and rename the Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and empower it to better inform the decisions in this chamber. Will they do so?

Hon. J. Horgan: I thank the member for his question. He will know, as a new member of the House, that committees of this place are struck by consensus. The committee is going to be convened — all committees are going to be convened — and then we decide within this place what we charge those committees to do.

The member will also know that although it hasn’t received a lot of attention, earlier this week the First Nations Leadership Council was meeting with government officials to begin the work to put in place a workplan to implement the declaration act that was supported unanimously by all members of this House not two months ago.

Work is underway, government to government, and that work will then make its way to the committee so that all members can participate in that. The work has to be initiated before we can get to that step.

I thank the member for his thoughtful question. I can’t wait for the committee to be constituted and do its work.

PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT INCREASES
AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION

T. Stone: Last fall the Housing Minister rejected our proposed solution to address the challenge of skyrocketing property taxes on undeveloped airspace. She said at the time that she would instead “have a solution that works for everybody.” Well, we now have her plan.

The reviews are in, and they’re not very good. Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart had this to say: “This law fails to provide tax relief for small business and non-profits, and it could wind up costing them even more. There’s a huge gap between what we are asking for and what this is.”

My question to the Minister of Housing would be this. Will she scrap her bill, take the advice of the mayor of Vancouver, and adopt the solution that was not just developed but was proposed by a broad range of stakeholders?

Hon. S. Robinson: First of all, I want to certainly acknowledge that we have arrived in this place with stratospheric property taxes because of the rising value of land, because the previous government didn’t do what was asked of them. Again, we received a letter from the CFIB just a year and a half ago that said they’d been asking for ten years for someone to do something, and they failed. They absolutely failed.

I was very proud to get a working group underway. That working group came up with a number of solutions. They came up with about half a dozen different solutions. We are continuing to work with them, to work it through, to make sure that it works for everybody.

[10:45 a.m.]

The solution that was proposed is not actually keen for a number of communities. The community of Whistler, for example, is not interested in the proposal. There are other communities — I believe in the Cariboo, as well — that had some serious concerns about that proposal. We absolutely have lots of work to do. We are not backing away from that. We are prepared to continue working with local governments.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: However, in the meantime, businesses were struggling. They were struggling because they didn’t do their work.

We have a bill before the House. I hope they’ll join us in supporting it to make sure that businesses will finally get the support that they deserve.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Kamloops–South Thompson on a supplemental.

T. Stone: Well, the mayor of Vancouver actually had this to say with respect to there not being enough time. He said that on Monday the ministry had said there wasn’t enough time to address those issues for 2020 but that “we started talking about this with the province in late 2018. There has been time.” Those are the words of the mayor of Vancouver.

The proposed solution was actually a solution that the Intergovernmental Working Group developed. That was a working group that was convened by her ministry, and she has turned her back on the solution that they brought forward.

When I urged the minister to adopt my bill last fall, she had the gall to say: “Clearly, they’re not interested in hearing about what local governments have to say…. They don’t care what local governments have to say.” That’s what the minister said when we brought forward a solution. Here’s more of what Vancouver mayor Stewart had to say: “What scares me is how many businesses will go down before we get this fixed.”

Again, to the Minister of Housing, will she scrap her bill and call the private member’s bill that we have put forward that actually embodies the solution that local governments and all the other impacted stakeholders have been calling for?

Hon. S. Robinson: We have not backed away from anything. We are working very, very closely with local governments. In fact, I got off the phone today with the president of the UBCM, who was very clear and wants us to continue working with her, working with them and making sure it can address the issues.

There are absolutely communities that are very keen to do this work. I spoke with the mayor of Port Coquitlam. He’s excited to take a look at this opportunity to deliver relief to his community.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: Furthermore, staff did look at the opposition’s bill. We took a look at it because we like ideas, wherever they come from. They actually tell me, in looking at it and looking at the technical details, that it will not give relief to the small businesses that need it. In fact, it would impact the tax treatment of thousands of properties in British Columbia, and it would leave small businesses worse off because they’re proposing to give tax cuts to speculators and big developers who will benefit from their ideas.

J. Thornthwaite: Well, that’s not what this person I’m just going to quote said about your bill. Linda Buchanan is the mayor of the city of North Vancouver, and she had this to say. The proposed changes of your bill “won’t allow us to target businesses who are disproportionately being affected by property values and could even possibly result in tax relief for large international companies.” She goes on to say, “I’m disappointed the province hasn’t delivered…the solution recommended by the intergovernmental working group,” which was convened by your ministry.

When will the Housing Minister stop talking, actually listen to the mayors and adopt the solution laid out in our private member’s bill?

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to remind the chamber that it was our government that stepped up to give relief to small businesses, not theirs. They had a decade. The CFIB called them out, and we’re stepping up. Now, the other thing that I want to say….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. At very least, it is patently unfair that the public doesn’t have an opportunity to hear an answer from government. At least you could do that. Thank you.

[10:50 a.m.]

Hon. S. Robinson: Thank you very much, hon. Speaker.

This bill that is before the House — and I expect there will be some further debate — will be an opportunity for local governments to very, very carefully designate which properties need the greatest amount of relief. They have an opportunity to do that, and I look forward to the debate in the House on that as we go through second reading.

Again, I want to assure this chamber that this government is committed to working together with local governments, to working together with business, to making sure that we have a solution that works for everybody.

J. Thornthwaite: I sense a pattern here. The NDP loves to consult. They love their task forces like the MSP Task Force, the Small Business Task Force, the ride-sharing committees, the caribou task force, but they ignore everything they’re told by these experts.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

J. Thornthwaite: Mayor Buchanan was really clear, and I’ll quote her again: “I’m asking the province to reconsider their approach and work with cities toward a solution that will actually deliver results.”

So one more time, to the minister, when will she listen and deliver the solution that the mayors are asking for?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, we are working with municipalities on a permanent fix, because that’s what we all want. We all want a permanent fix. So we did an intermunicipal working committee with a handful of local governments in the Lower Mainland.

The members seem to forget that they also represent Whistler, that they represent the Cariboo, that they represent Fort St. John. But they want to take a look at how….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. S. Robinson: They want to understand how any tax changes will be implicated for those communities. I just spoke with the president of the UBCM, and she also wants us to proceed with caution. She wants us to make sure we consult with the UBCM. She wants to make sure and I want to make sure we consult with the business community.

And you know what? We’re doing that. But in order to get all that work done and give relief to businesses now for 2020, we want to be able to do that.

The only way to do that is with this interim solution. However, it’s up to local governments to work with us, but I’m committed to making sure there’s a tool that will work for small businesses. You know why, hon. Speaker? Because those people didn’t do it when they had the chance.

FOREST INDUSTRY TENURE TRANSFER
IN CLEARWATER AREA

P. Milobar: Last week when I raised questions on behalf of the residents, the contractors, the forest workers in Clearwater and the North Thompson valleys, the Forests Minister played a little cute with his wording of his answer.

Although it was technically correct that the paperwork had not crossed his desk, the people in the valley that have been impacted for the last nine months of inaction by this minister were not as impressed when, on Friday, the minister admitted on Kamloops radio stations that in fact, he’d been talking back and forth with his staff since early November — for four months — on this exact file. It doesn’t sound like he wasn’t aware of what was going on with the tenure transfer.

We then found out that Canfor has announced that if they don’t have an answer from this minister by tomorrow, the deal is off, and all bets are off on what happens in the North Thompson. We know the Indigenous community in the North Thompson is not happy either with these delays.

I’ll ask again today. It’s been nine months since this file started. It’s been four months since all sides submitted their proposal, which all sides…. By the mayor of Clearwater’s own words, none of them love; all can live with.

When is the minister going to actually do his job and get an answer for the people in the North Thompson Valley on what is happening with the tenure transfer, given that he’s had the file for four months?

[10:55 a.m.]

Hon. D. Donaldson: Thank you to the member for raising an important topic in this House. A decision on this important matter will be expected very soon. I can say to the communities, to the First Nations and to the workers that we take their concerns seriously.

But as late as ten days ago, the proponents were still amending their final draft to us. It’s incumbent upon our government and my ministry to do the due diligence on those amendments and make sure that our due diligence has been done.

Finally, it’s important to note that communities, workers and First Nations have input before the deal is closed, unlike what happened under the previous government.

Mr. Speaker: Kamloops–North Thompson on a supplemental.

P. Milobar: Well, let’s be very clear. The minister seems to be all over the map with his answers on this. Last week on Tuesday, he wasn’t even really aware of the proposal, the way they framed it up in this House. By Friday, he’d been working on it for four months. On Friday, he also said that there would be a decision this week. He also was aware last Friday that tomorrow is the deadline for Canfor. Now he just answered that sometime in the near future, there will be an answer.

Which is it, Minister? When will the people actually know what is going on, and when will you stop threatening the collapse of this deal by your lack of action?

Hon. D. Donaldson: Well, the week isn’t over yet.

I also want to remind the member….

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member.

Hon. D. Donaldson: I also want to remind the House and remind the member that their side voted against Bill 22, the very bill that gives public interest considerations to communities in this situation, unlike back in 2013…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Donaldson: …when Canfor and West Fraser did a timber swap of timber sales. Over 450 people lost their jobs. The member over there who was the local MLA said that one hour before the deal was done, the communities found out about it.

We’re determined to have public interest considerations. They voted against that.

RETIREMENT BRIDGING PROGRAM FOR
FOREST WORKERS

D. Barnett: When the NDP announced a retirement bridging program for forest workers, people were told that if they took the money, they couldn’t work in forestry for 18 months. Now, all of a sudden, the NDP have changed the parameters so that you’re not allowed to work at all for 18 months. My constituent Sandy Davidson wants to know: “How can the government change the parameters like that midway through?”

My question is to the minister. What’s going on, Minister?

Hon. H. Bains: Due to the fact of the pine beetle epidemic and unprecedented fires…. In 2015, that side of the House, when they were government, knew that 13 mills were going to go down, but they did nothing.

When those mills started to go down, we knew that we needed to act. We dedicated $69 million to help those workers….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: So $69 million for retraining, job placement and pension bridging.

I’m glad to say here today that 810 applications have been processed, and $6 million has been dedicated. There is another amount, $3 million, that is being processed, and 248 workers have actually benefited from the pension bridging plan.

There’s a lot more work to be done. We have boots on the ground. There are five offices open in all regions so the people can get help in and near their communities. There are another 600 workers who have contacted those offices.

[11:00 a.m.]

It is working. The workers are getting the help that they need, because we are committed to it. They deserve it. We’re going to continue to do that.

[End of question period.]