Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: R. Sultan.

Introductions by Members

Hon. J. Horgan: Well, people will notice the absence of the Attorney General today, who, because it’s his birthday, has been given dispensation to participate in question period virtually. I know all members would want to wish the Attorney a very happy, happy birthday.

We won’t be in here on Thursday when the member for Port Coquitlam celebrates his birthday, but it’s important that everyone know that he is much, much older than me as a result of that.

So two birthdays, one for the member for Vancouver–​Point Grey and one for the member for Port Coquitlam. Will the House join both of them — one getting not as old as the other one.

Mr. Speaker: I see we have a little visitor in the House, Minister.

Hon. M. Mungall: We do. Two years ago, right about at this time, I was cradling my brand-new baby in my arms. Here he is today, two years later. So we have another birthday in the House.

It also means that Zavier is formally aged out of being able to join me on the floor, so this is his last opportunity to say hello to everybody from the floor of the Legislature and to say thanks to everybody for being so wonderful in welcoming him to this place over the last couple of years. If everybody please could join me in wishing this little guy a very happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker: I think you can sneak him in again.

S. Cadieux: John and Kristina Duke and their adorable daughter Mila are joining us today virtually in anticipation of a statement I’ll be making a little later. If the House would please make them welcome.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

BILL 24 — MUNICIPALITIES ENABLING
AND VALIDATING (No. 4)
AMENDMENT ACT, 2020

Hon. S. Robinson presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Municipalities Enabling and Validating (No. 4) Amendment Act, 2020.

Hon. S. Robinson: I’m pleased to introduce Bill 24, the Municipalities Enabling and Validating (No. 4) Amendment Act, 2020. This bill seeks an amendment that is to validate and enable certain parcel taxes that were established by the Fraser Valley regional district with a procedural defect.

Since 2017, the regional district has applied parcel taxes on approximately 700 properties that will fund local water and sewage services used by those properties. While the regional district has the statutory authority to impose the taxes, due to an oversight, it did not establish a parcel tax review panel as required under the Local Government Act and the Community Charter. In addition, one of the bylaws did not fully comply with the statutory requirement to identify the parcel tax roll in the bylaw.

The proposed amendment will correct this oversight and validate the taxes imposed under these parcel tax bylaws from 2017 to 2020. The amendments also enable the imposition of parcel taxes, going forward, by allowing the regional district to retroactively establish the parcel tax review panel in accordance with the statutory requirements.

[10:10 a.m.]

The Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act has previously been used to validate similar procedural errors. MEVA’s purpose is to validate and enable local government actions and authorities in unique circumstances such as these or where the local government does not have their own source tools to address the issue.

The proposed validating and enabling amendments will ensure that past services are funded and that the regional district can continue to impose the taxes supporting the essential water and sewage services to the recipient properties.

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

Motion approved.

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

Bill 24, Municipalities Enabling and Validating (No. 4) 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)

KELOWNA FARMERS AND CRAFTERS MARKET

S. Thomson: Where is the best place to get breakfast on a Saturday morning and to shop for local produce and crafts? Well, the answer is the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market at the corner of Dilworth and Springfield, one of the largest farmers markets in British Columbia, with over 100 vendors and, in my view, one of the best farmers markets in B.C. Now, I might get a little bit of an argument on that point.

This year the Kelowna farmers market is celebrating its 25th year of operation. I was really looking forward to participating in the birthday celebration on June 20, but unfortunately, COVID-19 resulted in the planned party being cancelled. I must extend my congratulations to market coordinator Frances Callaghan and her team on getting the market open on April 4 with all of the appropriate health and safety protocols in place. Hopefully, we’re going to have the opportunity in the future to celebrate and recognize their 25 years of growth and success.

The market operates every Wednesday and Saturday at the Dilworth location and also has a satellite Sunday market in the downtown core in Kelowna. The Sunday market is a great complement to the expanded patio space, with the closure of traffic along Bernard Avenue downtown, a measure to support restaurants and local small businesses in that downtown core.

The market has a tremendous array of local farmers and crafters that provide a wonderful bounty of fruits, vegetables, meats, flowers and processed products from my friends Jim and Lorena Wood at Eastwood Organic, Penny Gamble and her family from Gamble Farms, Karma Gill and his Karma farm products, Zelaney Farms from Coldstream. The market creates such a wonderful opportunity for our local residents and all of our visitors to support our wonderful Okanagan farmers and processors.

I’d like to ask this House to recognize the great work of the team at the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market and also the leadership of the B.C. Association of Farmers Markets and farmers markets in communities all across the province.

Buy local, shop local, and support our small businesses here in B.C.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
IN ESQUIMALT-METCHOSIN AREA

M. Dean: I am so proud to rise today to express my congratulations and felicitations to all of the graduates from schools across Esquimalt-Metchosin this year, 2020.

I missed watching you all at your ceremonies and hearing what your hopes and dreams are. I know that you’ve worked hard, made sacrifices, had to balance many demands and have achieved a lot to be successful and reach this milestone. I also want to say thank you to everyone around you who has supported you through the years to reach this achievement.

My heart goes out to our graduating classes of 2020. While putting in the effort to be successful, you’ve been studying in the midst of one of the most stressful global events of our time. Thank you for doing your part to flatten the curve.

[10:15 a.m.]

Although your prom and festivities didn’t look the same, I know that you have been finding connections and celebrations and creating lasting memories. In Esquimalt, for example, the community organized a drive-by. I went down there to show my support and stood on the side of the road with many other people from the community. At first sight, it was actually really quite emotional. It was full of colour and sparkle and great joy and pride as well.

I know that other school communities found other ways to hold ceremonies to celebrate and honour their graduates. There were very special and safe events.

Let’s hold on to the positives and look to the future. I’m sure you will soar to wonderful new things. Graduates from Belmont, Royal Bay, Esquimalt High, Westshore learning and Victor Brodeur: I wish you all the very best and sincerely hope that you can fulfil your dreams.

JIM GOOD AND GOODSIR NATURE PARK

S. Bond: I am sure that every MLA in this Legislature has a place in their constituency that would be considered a hidden gem. That would certainly be the case for Goodsir Nature Park, which is located a short distance north of Prince George.

The creator of the nature park is Jim Good. Last year we celebrated 30 years since Jim founded Goodsir. He believes in following your dreams, and Jim did just that. His dream was to create a nature park that showcased a collection of Canada’s plant life.

Goodsir Nature Park spans 160 acres and features over 2,000 plant species, which Jim collected throughout his travels across Canada. There are groomed trails to view and learn about the plants, and each plant is carefully labelled and provides visitors with the name of the plant and where it can be found in Canada. One of the things that inspires me the most about the park is that each sign is handmade by Jim.

Over the years, Jim developed the trails, which feature the different species of trees and plants from across our country. He will likely tell you that his favourite spot is called Little Goodsir Lake, where, if you are lucky, you might see an eagle, a beaver or a muskrat, all in their natural habitat.

Jim began by homesteading on the property in the early 1980s, and he worked tirelessly to create the park. Jim wrote a declaration for Goodsir Nature Park. It says, in part: “Its purpose is to focus on all native plant life throughout Canada…. It was built on a janitor’s salary, and I believe it will stand the test of time for future generations to see.” I have visited Goodsir Nature Park many times, and each time I am moved by the passion and drive of Jim Good, which resulted in this amazing hidden gem.

Thank you, Jim, for giving us the incredible gift of Goodsir Nature Park. I, too, hope that it stands the test of time and gives future generations the enjoyment that my family has experienced.

RAJ ARNEJA AND BOOK ON ADOPTION

J. Sims: Love at First Sight: A Mother’s Journey to Adoption. Raj Arneja is a pillar in our community. She is a businesswoman, a philanthropist and, most recently, an author. Raj’s book is a celebration of motherhood through adoption. She wrote this book with the hope that it will inspire more people to adopt or change their perspective on adoption. “My children are my jaans, my lifelines, and my souls, and this is the story of how I found them,” says Raj.

After struggling with fertility issues for several years, Raj and her husband, Gurpreet, made the decision to embark on a journey that would change their lives forever, the journey to adopt. In 1992, with a suitcase full of pink and white, Raj headed to India to find her daughter and bring her home. After weeks of searching and a pilgrimage to the top of Hin Konsaib, Raj’s prayers were answered. She had a message that a baby had been abandoned at a private hospital in Delhi. Three months later Raj and her son Kabir were reunited with her family in Canada.

Four years later Raj and Kabir returned to India on a journey to complete their family. Kirti was born and became theirs.

Before returning to Canada, Gurpreet and Raj visited the Golden Temple with their new family. In the book, Raj says that bringing Kabir and Kirti to the temple was her most spiritual and most moving moment ever. “I couldn’t have been more thankful than I was at that moment in my life. I had everything. My family was complete.”

[10:20 a.m.]

A pillar of the community, a businesswoman, a philanthropist, an author, a mother and my dear friend.

Thank you, Raj Arneja, for sharing your journey about completing your family. It is beautiful, it is courageous, it is uplifting, and it is filled with a love only a mother can express.

MILA DUKE AND
DRAVET SYNDROME TREATMENT

S. Cadieux: Rare diseases affect a small percentage of the population, and it’s estimated that there are approximately 7,000 rare diseases. Rare diseases have many different causes. Most are believed to be genetic, caused by deviations in chromosomes or genes. Even though researchers have made exceptional progress in learning how to diagnose, treat and prevent several of these rare diseases, many still have no treatment.

Dravet syndrome is a rare genetic form of epilepsy that affects 1 in about 15,000 individuals. Individuals with Dravet syndrome experience frequent and prolonged seizures that start during infancy, delayed speech and language issues, sleeping difficulties, chronic infections and more. Mila Duke, a very young constituent of mine, is one of the few Canadians who has been diagnosed with Dravet syndrome. This beautiful little toddler frequently has seizures which can last up to two hours and are life-threatening.

Fintepla, an FDA-approved anti-seizure therapy for patients two years and older, has been approved. Mila’s parents, John and Kristina Duke, are hopeful that Fintepla might help improve Mila’s quality of life. However, right now, we don’t know if Fintepla will be approved in Canada, and even if it is, the affordability of the anti-seizure therapy will likely be another hurdle, as it’s projected the average cost could be $96,000 a year.

A service dog, trained to predict and help manage seizures, might be helpful, so John and Kristina are working toward this. However, Mila’s young age makes her ineligible to get a dog from the only Canadian agency that trains dogs to handle seizures. Purchasing a dog from 4 Paws for Ability in Ohio will cost $17,000 U.S.

Friends have established a GoFundMe page to help raise the money for Mila. Anyone who’d like to support can visit www.gofundme.com/f/miracles-4-mila.

I don’t know who said this, but isn’t it true: “A disease may be rare, but hope should not be.”

MUSEUM PROJECT FOR NORTH VANCOUVER

B. Ma: Down in the bustling, vibrant shipyards district lies a poorly kept secret, stored behind high hoarding walls and construction lights. Lovingly refurbished and painted bright red, the No. 153 streetcar is the last of its kind, one of the 13 original streetcars that took 1.9 million people up Lonsdale, over to Capilano and into Lynn Valley a century ago. That’s per year, by the way.

Soon it will be viewable by the public. But for now, it hides in the dark as the walls, floors and ceilings go up all around it within a 16,000-square-foot, city-owned amenity space inside the new Promenade building across from the Lonsdale Quay Market and Polygon Gallery.

When the new museum of North Vancouver opens later this year, it will be more than simply a museum that serves the community. It will bring people together and build community, while connecting us to the past and encouraging us to contemplate what it all means for the future. There you will be able to find a curated and secure repository for the treasures and stories of our shared history, as it plays a vital role in education for youth and provides an interactive alternative to the classroom education model.

It will also serve as an exciting new venue for events in the lower Lonsdale area. We look forward to it contributing significantly to the tourism economy as we restart from the impacts of COVID-19, which I hope we will continue to do, if people stay vigilant in maintaining their distance from one another.

In a statement sent to me by the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, they said the following: “Stories are the threads that weave us together and form the fabric of community. Museums are where communities discover themselves and grow strong and resilient.”

What an exciting project for North Vancouver.

Oral Questions

IMPACT OF CHANGES TO
WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEM

A. Wilkinson: Sadly, for the second time in less than a month, 21 industry groups, representing the majority of employees in British Columbia, have written to this government saying that tens of thousands of small businesses are now seeing jobs put at risk.

They write: “We urged your government to do no harm and set aside any measures that increase costs, regulatory burden and uncertainty. But you’re ignoring the advice of B.C’s business leaders, owners, operators and those responsible for employing most British Columbians.”

[10:25 a.m.]

To the Premier, when will he stop ignoring this advice in the middle of this crisis and stop putting thousands of B.C. jobs at risk?

Hon. J. Horgan: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question.

I did receive a copy of a letter from a number of business groups, talking about legislation that’s currently before the House that will amend the Workers Compensation Act. We believe those changes are modest. We are certain that those changes will not lead to premium increases for businesses in the short term. What it will do is provide more assistance for injured workers — something that hasn’t happened in 20 years.

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Official Opposition on a supplemental.

A. Wilkinson: Well, the Premier continues to defy reality. Three weeks ago, he stubbornly refused to accept common sense on the issue of severance pay and finally beat a retreat when it became clear his position was completely untenable.

This time, the business community writes: “The government’s economic recovery plan is still unknown, and Bill 23 measures call into question the sincerity of your government’s commitment to listen to British Columbians, particularly small, medium and large business employers.”

Will the Premier stop ignoring these cries for help in the middle of the worst economic crisis in our history and withdraw Bill 23 before thousands of jobs are lost for no good reason?

Hon. J. Horgan: Well, I’m sure that the Leader of the Opposition knows that the Workers Compensation Act was brought in to find balance between workers and employers, to keep people out of court when there was an injury at the workplace. That protects workers, it protects businesses, and that grand compromise has been going on in British Columbia for a long, long time.

Over the previous 20 years of the Liberal government, their approach to workers compensation was to give back surplus premiums to businesses to the tune of $1.6 billion over the time of their government. At no time did they increase, in any way, benefits for workers.

So what we see with this act is a modest change, and it has been debated. I believe we’re going into committee stage on the bill. The member can certainly participate fully in that debate if he chooses to.

What we’ve done is increase benefits for workers without it having any cost to business. Premiums remain the same this year; premiums remain the same next year. There was a consultation with Mr. Parr. We looked at all of the recommendations Mr. Parr brought forward. Any recommendations that would have an adverse impact on business, we put to one side. But we’re not going to leave workers at risk. I appreciate the member from the other side understands this.

The economy is about people. If you write the cheque or you cash the cheque, you need to work together — business and workers. That’s what this bill will do. That’s what the Workers Compensation Act was designed to do.

J. Johal: The Premier speaks about modest changes, but these so-called modest changes have united 21 organizations, representing various sectors in our economy, representing hundreds of thousands of workers, and they’ve all united together.

The July 20 letter to the Labour Minister lays out the threat this government poses to economic recovery in stark terms. They write: “Instead of holding the line on further business costs and regulatory enactments, you are doubling down on increasing business costs and adding uncertainty to B.C.’s investment climate.”

To the Labour Minister: why is he putting workers at risk by doubling down on more red tape and regulations?

Hon. H. Bains: The member full well knows that for too many years, workers and their families have been complaining that the workers compensation system isn’t fair, isn’t working for them.

What we are doing is taking some important steps to modernize the Workers Compensation Act, ensuring that workers and their families get the support they need while keeping premiums low.

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

J. Johal: There’s enough uncertainty in the world today because of COVID. Economic recovery and how we handle economic recovery is so very important. But right now, it’s NDP policy that is concerning these businesses. Just three weeks ago, this very Labour Minister, once again, had to walk it back because these various business organizations spoke up. Not only does this government lack a business plan, but this Labour Minister’s policies are actually making things worse.

[10:30 a.m.]

Here’s another gem from the letter. “There was no consultation on Bill 23 measures in the context of COVID-19. It is ill-timed, ill-considered and ignores broad-based and repeated requests from the business community to do no harm.”

Again to the minister, why is he throwing an anchor instead of a lifeline to thousands of small businesses across B.C.?

Hon. H. Bains: It is amazing. One day they stand up here and say that we do too much consultation. On the other side, they stand up the next day to say we haven’t done enough.

We have consulted. Four different reports were commissioned; all of them were consulted. All of the stakeholders were consulted. Jeff Parr went out and consulted on exactly the changes that we are talking about here.

Let’s talk about some of those changes. Allowing WorkSafeBC to provide preventative medical treatment, which could save money, in the long term, for the system. Strengthen the ability of WorkSafeBC to investigate workplace safety infractions. Enhancing workers’ health and safety at workplaces. Giving injured workers and their families a greater voice through victim impact statements. These changes are modest, but they are important to support the workers who need help at the time when they need it.

At the same time, we are enhancing health and safety of workers at workplaces. I hope all of us can agree with that. Also, we expect no increase to premiums in the next two years as a result of this bill. In fact, businesses will continue to pay less than the actual cost rate, thanks to the ongoing subsidies.

REPORT ON BIODIVERSITY AND
PROTECTION OF OLD-GROWTH FORESTS

S. Furstenau: Yesterday the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources acknowledged: “There is a need for stronger steps to protect biodiversity and to support workers and communities dependent on the forest resource.” He promised that this government is taking a science-based approach to this issue.

Today I’d like to canvass, with the Minister of Environment, what the science is actually saying about this government’s current approach to old growth. Very recently, three independent scientists released a report titled A Last Stand for Biodiversity. Using the government’s own data, these researchers have analyzed the current state of old growth in British Columbia. What did they find? It’s that the current levels of protection for old forests in B.C. are so low that they actually don’t support biodiversity. The status quo “puts biodiversity, ecological integrity and resilience at high risk today.”

My question is to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. Does he agree that our current levels of old forest protection are inadequate to protect biodiversity in B.C., and if so, what is he doing to immediately improve the amount of old forest protection?

Hon. G. Heyman: Thank you to the Third Party House Leader for the question. I think it’s very clear from my colleague the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, both his activities and answer yesterday, that his focus on the important role of old forests for a multitude of values, including biodiversity, led him and led our government to appoint the panel to do the review.

As he answered yesterday, he is very much in the process of reviewing the report, which included a significant submission from the independent report by three forest researchers that the member references. I’ve engaged with the minister in discussion about the old-growth panel’s report, about the report of the independent scientists, about his thoughts going forward. I’ve joined the minister in meetings with concerned environmental organizations to talk about their ideas, as well as the review process that the minister is undertaking.

I’m confident that the minister’s response to these reports will be meaningful and will help us chart a path forward, along with the activities being undertaken in my ministry.

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

S. Furstenau: While all of this review and the panel are doing their work, unfortunately, old forests are disappearing, and they’re disappearing forever. Returning to the scientists’ report, they found, again using the government’s own data, that less than 1 percent of our total forest area in B.C. is made up of big-tree forests.

[10:35 a.m.]

These are the forests that people think of when they think about old growth. They are highly productive ecosystems. They produce majestic trees, and they provide unique, rare habitats, but they have almost vanished. To quote the authors: “These ecosystems are effectively the white rhino of old-growth forests. They are almost extinguished and will not recover from logging.” We don’t get a second chance at this. If this government is truly committed to protecting biodiversity, they will act to stop the bleed in these rare old forests.

My question is again to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. Will he work with his cabinet colleagues to put a moratorium on logging our last remaining, productive old growth in British Columbia?

Hon. G. Heyman: Our government is very committed to protecting biodiversity and to finding a way forward that is respectful of workers, of communities, of Indigenous nations and of the flora and fauna which provide such an important set of ecological services to all of us and which ensure that the water we drink, the air we breathe and the abundance of life around us maintain the biodiversity that is so critical for all of us going forward.

That’s why we’ve been reviewing and working with environmental groups and others on different ways to improve species at risk as we move toward legislation. We’re taking some significant policy measures, including consistent implementation of mitigating and offsetting measures for development activities as well as renewal of our approach to prioritizing and listing of species at risk.

We’re also working with the federal government and Indigenous Nations. We’ve protected rare inland temperate rainforest in the Darkwoods Conservation Area with the federal government and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Working with my colleague the Minister of Forests, we protected from further logging the Skagit Valley Donut Hole. We’ve also protected habitat for other species at risk by moratoria, set-asides and conservancies. My colleague the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, I know — because I talk to him on a regular basis — is applying himself to ensuring that the report is considered and implemented in a meaningful way, including measures that need to be taken in the short term, as well as measures in the long term.

He’s doing that in a way that is respectful of government-to-government relationships and true consultation. He’s doing that in a way that’s respectful of workers and communities. He’s doing that in a way that will guarantee that we have good protections and good protection of biodiversity and rare species, including old-growth forests, going forward.

IMPACT OF CHANGES TO
WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEM

P. Milobar: In the Labour Minister’s answers so far today, it feels like he’s just reading his answers from Hansard from three weeks ago, when he eventually walked back that failed plan for the business community as well. The reality is that the business community, including members of the Premier’s own task force, are pleading with this government to do no harm.

In fact, they sent a letter yesterday that was nine pages long. This is not just a quick little note that they scratched out with some objections. It’s nine pages. They write: “Simply put, now is not the time to add more costs and uncertainty to B.C.’s workers compensation system.”

Again to the Labour Minister, why is the Labour Minister so intent on adding costs and uncertainty, which will put thousands of jobs at risk, when the 21 signatories have very clearly signalled that that is exactly what will happen with Bill 23?

Hon. H. Bains: For the reasons that have been canvassed here, our approach has been very measured and follows significant review by Mr. Parr. We decided not to proceed with all of Mr. Parr’s recommendations. In fact, if we had, it would have cost $700 million to the WCB’s accident fund. Because of COVID-19, because of circumstances we are going through, we decided not to proceed with those recommendations. We put them aside.

As I said before, our approach is fair to businesses, who will not see an increase in their premiums in the short term as a result of this bill. Also, it’s fair to the workers, who have not seen any improvement to the workers compensation system in 20 years. In fact, striking the right balance, businesses will continue to receive a subsidy on their premiums, paying only $1.55 when the cost is $1.67.

[10:40 a.m.]

I stand with our decision to make long-overdue changes and modernize the workers compensation system, while keeping the premiums for the businesses low and stable.

P. Milobar: I’m assuming — and it wouldn’t surprise me — that the minister seems to think that because businesses’ remittances have gone down, they’re saving money. But the remittances have gone down because they don’t have employees working right now. They have no payroll to remit against. At a time when hundreds of thousands of British Columbians have lost their jobs, this government is making things worse.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the member for Kamloops–​North Thompson has the floor. Thank you.

P. Milobar: Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I seem to have struck a nerve there.

I quote about how they’re making things worse. Again, from the nine-page letter: “These added costs will impact businesses of all size and their ability to restart, rehire and contemplate new investment in the province. Ultimately, additional costs for Bill 23 will harm people from all walks of life who have lost or are on the brink of losing their livelihoods.”

This is the second time in three weeks that the minister is failing to listen to small businesses and putting their jobs at risk. Why does the minister insist on continuing down this path of added costs and uncertainty for business?

Hon. H. Bains: Let’s talk about who we are actually talking about here. These are our front-line workers. These are the people working in health care. These are the people that are working in the grocery stores, cleaners, construction workers, doctors, nurses, care aides. These are the people that they and all of us stand at seven o’clock every night and support them for the work that they do.

When those….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, the minister has the floor.

Hon. H. Bains: When it is to follow with our actions, they’re gone missing again — true to their form.

We’re proud of the work that we are doing, proud that we are taking a measured approach due to the circumstances that we have — support the workers, enhance their health and safety. At the same time, provide them support when they become sick or injured in the workplace. It’s a balanced approach, and it’s keeping businesses’ premiums low and stable.

I don’t know what else is what is called balanced. That exactly is a balanced approach.

S. Bond: Well, to be clear, this is a pattern for the Labour Minister. He rejected the request to extend the temporary layoff extension, and he was called out for it. Now job creators are saying, in a nine-page document: “There was no consultation in the context of COVID-19, calling into question the sincerity of your government’s commitment to listen. Minister, this has been a recurring challenge with your approach.”

To the Labour Minister, those aren’t my words; those are the words of job creators across the province. When is he going to stop being dismissive of small businesses and listen to their serious concerns?

Hon. H. Bains: When COVID-19 hit, we all understood that we needed to act quickly, and we did. The Minister of Finance came up with a $5 billion aid package — $1.8 billion to the businesses, $700 million in tax breaks to the property taxes for businesses.

Deferred taxes. WCB has allowed them to defer their premiums for six months without interest or penalty. They have waived premiums for certain employers as well. They are making decisions that the businesses will continue to get a subsidized rate. It costs $1.67, versus $1.55 that they continue to pay.

This is the right balance. We must improve the health and safety of the workplace. We also must support them when they are injured.

Mr. Speaker, what they’re talking about is if a nurse or a care aide contracted COVID-19…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: …at a workplace, she does not need support by improving the workers compensation system.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: That is exactly what we are doing — supporting those workers who are supporting us and risking their health right now. I hope they will get over this ideological block that they always have and support those workers who are supporting us in tough times right now.

[10:45 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: The member for Prince George–​Vale­mount on a supplemental.

S. Bond: Well, hundreds of employers across British Columbia are saying to this minister that they have concerns that they want him to listen to.

Let’s be clear. This government has not yet articulated a jobs plan. No economic recovery strategy. On top of that, we now have the Business Council, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Vancouver Board of Trade, the Retail Council, COFI, the tourism industry and many others all saying the same thing, that this Labour Minister is making things worse.

The bottom line is this bill. Again, I quote from their nine-page letter to the Labour Minister. “The bill calls into question whether you are interested in facilitating a lasting economic recovery for all British Columbians.”

Perhaps to the Premier, when is this government going to respond to these significant concerns and put forward a jobs plan instead of putting thousands of B.C. jobs at risk?

Hon. H. Bains: If we look at what’s in the bill that they are talking about — for example, diagnostic and preventative treatment before a WCB decision…. In some cases, workers may require diagnostic and preventative treatment before the WCB decides on their claim. Provide such health care services on a timely basis, including before a decision is made, because it could become a serious illness for that worker. Also, it could cost the system more money.

This one is striking the right balance by trying to help the worker, at the same time, when they need it and by keeping the premiums for the employers low.

M. de Jong: What the Labour Minister doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge is that the people responsible for employing the majority of British Columbians don’t see this as a balanced approach.

We were reminded yesterday just how fragile the public health situation is in B.C. and how we all have to conduct ourselves with that fragility in mind. But does the Labour Minister understand how fragile the economic situation is in British Columbia? Does he understand how many businesses are hanging on by their fingernails and how the decision about whether to rehire an employee or shut the doors forever is hanging in the balance?

Instead of offering a helping hand, he decides now, when those small, family-owned businesses are at their most vulnerable, to impose additional uncertainty, to impose additional costs. It has become a recurring theme with this Labour Minister.

Why does he insist on proceeding with changes that are, to quote those employers, “ill-timed and ill-considered” and ignore repeated requests from businesses to do no further harm?

Hon. H. Bains: I think our record is very clear. We have shown…. When businesses were going through tough times because of COVID-19, government acted — a $5 billion aid package, deferred taxes, cut taxes and $1.5 billion set aside for economic recovery. We fully understand the economic challenges that businesses are going through. That’s why all those support systems were in place in a timely fashion.

We need to understand that the workers also need support during these tough times. Their health and safety cannot be compromised. Their health and safety must be enhanced.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: They need support when they become sick in the workplace.

This system is 20 years old.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: They have not seen any improvements in 20 years.

Mr. Speaker: Minister.

[10:50 a.m.]

Hon. H. Bains: They need our support as well. That’s why we did not go with Mr. Parr’s recommendations. Those were costly. We know times are tough for businesses. That’s why we did not proceed with them.

What we are proceeding with is a measured approach where workers’ health and safety will be improved. They will get the support when they need it, when they are hurt or injured in the workplace, and, at the same time, keeping employer premiums stable and low.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Abbotsford West on a supplemental.

M. de Jong: What those employees want is a job to return to, and this minister is putting those jobs at risk. Here’s what he’s being told: “You are doubling down on increasing fixed and variable business costs and adding uncertainty to B.C.’s investment climate. Your bill will undermine employers trying to survive and rehire people.”

When is the last time we have seen groups representing the vast majority of workers, employees in British Columbia, come together to deliver this kind of condemnation of this Labour Minister? Well, actually, it was only two or three weeks ago.

What is it about the current situation, the current public health uncertainty and the current economic fragility that exists today that convinced this Labour Minister that now is the perfect time to introduce measures that will negatively impact businesses of all sizes and their ability to restart, rehire and make further investments in B.C. when we need it most?

Hon. H. Bains: If you take a look, the employers have been getting support from the government, from WorkSafeBC. They have allowed them to defer their premiums for six months. They will continue to get subsidized premiums, $1.67 cost to $1.55 as what they pay. They will continue to enjoy that subsidy as a result of the workers compensation accident fund.

At the same time, we must support the workers that we support at seven o’clock every day. I don’t know why they cannot stand up and say to those workers that we are showing that support with our actions in this House. They’re denying the support that they need, when they need the WCB system. They’re saying no to that.

We are proud of the work we are doing to support those workers’ health and safety at workplaces and, at the same time, keeping employers’ premiums low and stable. For once I’m asking that they will stand up and say to those workers in this province, who are an important cog in that wheel of our economy: “We support you. We support your health and safety.”

That’s what’s needed from all of us during the tough times that we’re going through. But no, true to their form, they show total disrespect to the workers. As a result, I’ve seen, in the last 12 to 16 years, total contempt towards the working people.

We are proud of the work that we are doing to support those workers, because they need our support, and, at the same time, supporting employers, keeping their premiums low and stable.

S. Cadieux: I’ll tell workers that I will stand up for their right to a job. Workers need jobs. The unemployment rate is at 13 percent, and 95 percent of the job losses have been in the private sector. They are struggling to recover, but instead of helping, this government is taking actions that, to quote business leaders and business owners, will undermine the employers trying to survive and rehire people. “Bill 23 is ill-timed, ill-considered and ignores broad-based and repeated requests from the business community to do no harm.”

To the Labour Minister, he has a choice. Will he choose to save thousands of jobs and pull this legislation?

Hon. H. Bains: That’s why, right from the beginning when this pandemic hit, government moved quickly. That’s why there’s $1.5 billion set aside to restart our economy. That’s why we did not shut the economy, as other jurisdictions did: so as to keep those people employed.

[10:55 a.m.]

They’re forgetting one key part of the economy: people. Those are the workers who help move that economy along. They need our support. They also need to make sure that their health and safety are protected, make sure that the worker who goes to work in the morning comes home safe and healthy.

That’s what we are doing. We’re proud of doing it. This is right thing to do, and it is the right time for it.

[End of question period.]

Petitions

Hon. M. Mungall: I’d like to present a petition today on behalf of my constituents in the Salmo area. They have a petition here wanting to reaffirm the priority need to replace Salmo Elementary School.

C. Oakes: I present a petition on behalf of all of the constituents of the affected area of Quesnel-Hydraulic Road. The petition has been forwarded by mail, and the Clerk’s office has it. The residents are asking for immediate steps to be taken to reopen the Quesnel-Hydraulic Road as a result of the slide this spring. The continued closure of this road is severely jeopardizing the safety and industry of the affected residents. All of the residents, 72 people, have signed the petition.