Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: G. Lore.

[10:05 a.m.]

Tributes

GARY STEEVES

Hon. S. Malcolmson: I invite the House to recognize the legacy and the loss of my friend Gary Steeves.

I believe other colleagues will speak to his contribution to the labour movement, but I want to recognize his service under the Islands Trust Act. He served as an elected councillor with me on the Islands Trust Council executive for three terms — a strong defender of coastal communities, a strong, feisty advocate for human rights and social justice. I know his North Pender community is mourning.

I send my love to his partner in work and life, Marina Horvath. We are thinking of you, sending our love and grateful for Gary’s contribution to British Columbia.

Introductions by Members

G. Lore: I’m absolutely thrilled to rise today for my first introduction and to introduce my partner, Rob Lore, who sits in the gallery. Rob and I are tied to this building. We both served as legislative interns, though he five years before me. We were set up on a blind date 12 years ago by the director of parliamentary education, Karen Aitken.

He’s a keen observer of politics, has a nerdy interest in good public service and governance and has always had my back as I undertake the public side of this work. Today is also Rob’s 40th birthday.

Would the House join me in thanking him for being so wonderful and in wishing him a very happy birthday.

R. Singh: I would like to congratulate everybody on International Human Rights Day. This day is even more special for me because it’s the birthday of a very special person in our lives. My father, Dr. Raghbir Singh Sirijana, turns 81 today. He has instilled strong human rights and social justice values in both me and my sister. Would the House join me in wishing him a very, very happy birthday.

Tributes

ANTON KOLSTEE

Hon. B. Ma: I’d like to introduce the House to Mr. An­ton Kolstee.

Mr. Kolstee was born in Den Haag, in the Netherlands, and immigrated to Canada when he was seven years old. Following an exciting musical career and prior to suffering a debilitating heart attack in 1999, Mr. Kolstee was also a counsellor and a social studies teacher at Carson Graham Secondary. It is in this role that many of my constituents know him.

Sadly, Mr. Kolstee died earlier this week, when he passed away from COVID-19. In the wake of his pass­ing, countless community members, particularly Indigenous people with the Squamish Nation, have come forward to remember him fondly and to share how he impacted their lives.

They tell me that even before reconciliation was a common word spoken in schools, Mr. Kolstee reached out as a bridge-builder between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. He fostered relationships, spoke the language and created space for understanding. One Squamish Nation member told me that he always made her feel like she had a lot to be proud of because she was Indigenous.

I never knew Mr. Kolstee in life, but I mourn his loss today, along with so many others in the communities I serve.

Introductions by Members

D. Davies: I don’t often get the chance to do this, as we’re not sitting in December usually, but I want to wish my daughter, Hana, a very special 15th birthday today. I also want to wish my son a happy ninth birthday on December 5. These are my two motivating factors that keep me going every single day. Would the House please help me in wishing them both a very happy birthday.

[10:10 a.m.]

P. Milobar: We’re joined today by a former colleague of ours, a good friend of many in this House and someone who…. I learned very quickly in 2017 that you made sure, if you were on House duty, that you were here on time, or Mr. Eric Foster was in your office as our Whip making sure you understood the rules as they would apply.

An 11-year member of this House, served with great distinction for Vernon-Monashee for all those 11 years, and a former mayor as well. Would the House please welcome back again for a visit, Mr. Eric Foster.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

BILL M201 — ASSESSMENT
(SPLIT ASSESSMENT CLASSIFICATION)
AMENDMENT ACT, 2020

T. Stone presented a bill intituled Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2020.

T. Stone: I move that the bill intituled the Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2020, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now.

I’m pleased to introduce this bill today for a third time. As our urban centres grow, the resulting plans for significant densification are placing huge pressure on small businesses through dramatically increased property taxes based on the unused air space above their heads. This is resulting in the hollowing out of many neighbourhoods as an increasing number of small businesses make the painful decision to lay off their employees and close their doors.

The good news is that a working group, including a number of Metro Vancouver municipalities, came up with a solution. These local governments are supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including arts, culture, neighbourhood and small business organizations as well as supportive UBCM and B.C. Chamber resolutions.

The solution proposed includes two parts. First is the creation of a new commercial property subclass for the airspace above small businesses and other affected organizations. Secondly is maximum flexibility for local governments to set the property tax rate on the new subclass as they see fit, from $0 to just below the existing commercial property tax rate.

I’m proud that this bill provides for the exact solution that local governments have asked for. This is an optional tool that they can choose to use or not at a rate that they determine makes the most sense for each unique situation that they’re trying to address. We urge the government to call this bill for debate as small businesses, arts groups and charities are counting on the government to take swift action by empowering local governments to use this new tool as soon as possible.

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

Motion approved.

T. Stone: 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 M201, Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) 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.

BILL M202 — FOOD AND BEVERAGE
DELIVERY FEES CAP ACT

T. Halford presented a bill intituled Food and Beverage Delivery Fees Cap Act.

T. Halford: I move the bill entitled Food and Beverage Delivery Fees Cap Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read for a first time now.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult for small business, especially for those in the food and beverage sector. From family-owned and -operated to long-standing community favourites, all have been struggling to keep their doors open as the pandemic continues, especially into the Christmas season, which would normally be the busiest time of year.

In order to comply with orders from the provincial health officer, restaurants have had to reduce seating capacity, increase food delivery and takeout options and incur additional costs for PPE supplies or, in some cases, close their doors altogether. Taking action now to place a cap on fees that third-party delivery companies are permitted to charge restaurants is an immediate way to provide some relief to these struggling businesses. If passed, the legislation would regulate the cap on fees charged to restaurants by third-party apps like SkipTheDishes and Uber Eats. Currently these services charge as much as 30 percent for the delivery price.

Both parties committed to taking action on this issue during the election, and there is no reason this legislation couldn’t be implemented immediately. The time for action is now. We can no longer wait to make this important commitment a priority.

[10:15 a.m.]

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

Motion approved.

T. Halford: I move the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Bill M202, Food and Beverage Delivery Fees Cap Act, 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)

CARIBOO-CHILCOTIN COMMUNITY
RESPONSE TO COVID-19

L. Doerkson: I would like to acknowledge all of the hard work and resiliency of the people who live in my beautiful riding. On top of everything related to the pandemic, the challenges that we faced during flooding and wildfires in recent years have brought the best out of the people of Cariboo-Chilcotin.

In terms of COVID-19, people like Tammy Tugnum and Joy Hennig with the Cariboo Foundation Hospital Trust have used their imagination to reinvent their annual gala three times due to heavier health restrictions. It’s this kind of commitment and dedication to our community that will get us through the pandemic.

How about key volunteers like Court and Pauline Smith and Tim and Susan Rolph, along with so many of their board members and volunteers with the famous Williams Lake Stampede, who, working in partnership with our Williams Lake Rotary Club, led by Mike Austin and Guenter Weckerle, hosted two drive-through pancake breakfasts and a rib carbecue? Yes, I said carbecue. That raised a lot of funds for people who really need this money in our community right now.

How about the Williams Lake Stampeders hockey club, who have had an annual fundraiser, with Janna Gertzen and, of course, the Gertzen family leading the way and making this a massive success this year?

We all know that amateur sport has taken a beating during this pandemic, but the 100 Mile House Wranglers have had some very interesting barbecues with the Fun Chaser. Key volunteers — Donna Barnett, Tammy Mikkelsen, Renee LaRochelle, Kathy Reid, Wayne Sharon, Ken and Susan Fryer, Don Jones, Bill Harris, Maureen Pinkney and Dave Mingo — have all made a big difference in 100 Mile House. The list goes on.

I am very proud of the resiliency and the dedication of all of our community volunteers in the Cariboo-Chilcotin who are making a difference under extremely challenging times.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY AND
WORK OF COMOX VALLEY
COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTRE

R. Leonard: Today is Human Rights Day. Since 1948, it’s a day to hold up the rights of everyone to equality, justice and human dignity. This year’s theme: “Recover better — stand up for human rights.”

Human rights are foundational to our recovery efforts. The impacts of COVID-19 are unequally shared, and hatred and racism are on the rise. We know it’s time to address the failures that have been exposed and exploited by COVID-19.

Decades ago former B.C. MLA Rosemary Brown described her experiences as a Black immigrant with the quote: “Subtle and polite nature of Canada’s particular brand of racism.”

Today, in the crisis of the pandemic, we’ve seen and heard more acts of hatred and racism in our hometowns that we believed only happened somewhere else. Whether hatred and racism haunt our institutions and systems or are manifest by individual actions, hate and racism need to be named. They need to be acted upon.

The actions of the Comox Valley Community Justice Centre and executive director Bruce Curtis present some shining examples of such actions. They developed a critical incident response protocol with individuals, businesses and institutions signing on to work towards their own human rights policies and practices and to implement responses to racist, homophobic and hate-based incidents. The number of signatories continues to grow as the justice centre works to nurture a more inclusive and welcoming community.

[10:20 a.m.]

The centre also developed a program with trained facilitators for a short-term transformative dialogue with the parties, supporting people who have been verbally assaulted and filed a police report. The centre is finding ways to uphold the equal dignity and worth of every person every day, including Human Rights Day.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND COVID-19 IMPACT
ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE

S. Cadieux: Today I’m lucky enough to address this Legislature because of the basic rights afforded to me in the human rights declaration signed 72 years ago today. Today is International Human Rights Day, and this year we must focus to ensure that as the world recovers from COVID-19, human rights are given special consideration by governments as they allocate resources for recovery.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating not only for those in our communities but in communities around the world where individuals don’t have access to the same basic rights. As we speak, we see demonstrations around the world where people are still struggling for the rights we enjoy. Not only has this pandemic ravaged economies, but it’s had overwhelming impacts on society’s vulnerable populations.

The pandemic has adversely affected families with children with special needs. The report by the representative last week highlights the dire reality that B.C. children and youth with special needs are currently facing by not being able to access services and supports. It breaks my heart still to share that earlier this year Ariis Knight, a woman with cerebral palsy and a resident of South Surrey, died alone at Peace Arch Hospital, unable to properly communicate with hospital staff as her caregivers were prohibited from being with her due to the COVID visitation restrictions that didn’t respect her rights.

Though British Columbia has made significant progress in promoting equality and inclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that supports and services required by vulnerable populations are still too often an afterthought.

I pledge to continue advocating for governments at all levels to rebuild a stronger, more vibrant, more inclusive British Columbia, recognizing human rights protections not only in law but in practice.

COVID-19 IMPACT
ON RACIALIZED COMMUNITIES

R. Singh: Since February, COVID-19 has had a debilitating effect on our province. Everyone, regardless of who and where they are, has seen their lives transformed because of it, many turned upside down. Some communities, however, have been at an increased risk of infection, illness and worse.

Reports from different academics and researchers have found that Indigenous, Black and South Asian people, among several other people of colour, have a higher degree of susceptibility to this virus. A Statistics Canada report released just three weeks back found that places in B.C. with a higher density of visible minorities had morbidity rates that were nine to ten times higher than other communities, which implies that racialized communities have borne a disproportionate brunt of the pandemic.

The impact on women of colour has been especially severe, with sickness, unemployment and increased rates of domestic abuse. Many people from these communities are in essential professions, and many others are in occupations and life situations that require them to go to work, increasing chances of exposure. Racialized communities also disproportionately face housing and household income challenges, two other factors that researchers have found to be major contributors to an increased risk to the virus.

The inequality faced by these communities is not new, and it has been amplified by this pandemic. It has presented additional challenges to families that were already facing multiple barriers. I know that there is substantive work being done by community organizations, individuals and leaders throughout the province, and I also know there is a lot more that needs to be done.

Today I would like to request that all of us join in shining more light on this issue and working to make sure these disparities are overcome, not just during but also after the pandemic.

COVID-19 IMPACT
AND WORK OF FOOD BANKS

A. Olsen: This is a challenging time of year for many people. In addition, COVID-19 is stressing and stretching our social fabric in many previously unimaginable ways. Special legislative sessions to debate desperate financial measures, which were once an exception, in 2020 have become the norm.

[10:25 a.m.]

The gaps in government service delivery have been exposed. Systems we once perceived to be solid are proving fragile. In the game of partisan politics, the fragility is often blamed on decisions made long ago. Words are volleyed back and forth across the aisle. This chamber is the place we come together to embrace our shared responsibility, and the weight of that responsibility is heavy on us now.

We have been sobered with the fragility of our modern society, the life-sustaining ecosystems that we mine and harvest, the voracious, consumptive craving of our capitalist economy. Everything around us seems to be either breaking or broken.

I raise my hands in deep gratitude to our friends, family and neighbours on the front lines who do the valiant work. I imagine they care little about who is to blame. There is no good reason for the rates of homelessness, poverty and depression in our wealthy society. That is on all of us, on all sides of this chamber, to fix.

This past week British Columbians stepped up big-time to support food banks across our province. Millions of dollars were raised to provide the financial resources that are needed to fill the gaps. Food banks are one of those unfortunate realities that should not exist in a society so blessed with the riches we have. However, this holiday season they are necessary, and they can only do their important work with donations of non-perishable food items and money.

As we prepare to celebrate this holiday season, I raise my hands to the volunteers and staff of food banks across British Columbia. I ask that you please support your local food bank and know that I will be resolved to work in this House toward a future where food banks are no longer needed.

MORDEN COLLIERY
HISTORIC PROVINCIAL PARK

D. Routley: I’d like to speak to the House about a very special place in my constituency named Morden Colliery historical park. Now, about 50 members are rolling their eyes, which means I’ve got more than 40 fresh audience members to speak to about Morden Colliery park. I’ve even bored my dog to sleep.

Morden Colliery park is important because it is a historical park. It has an important construction history. It was one of the first reinforced concrete projects in North America, made possible only by the specialized cement mined out of where Butchart Gardens is now.

It has this important history in that aspect but also in the labour history of this province. It was built during the coal-mine strike in the Ladysmith, Nanaimo area some 106 years ago. Over 600 workers died in those coal mines. During that fight, they couldn’t work underground. So the company that built the colliery worked above ground. They invested in this revolutionary construction project and supported the community with employment. So it has a very important history for the families, the descendants of those….

Finally, after years and years of fighting for that mine and that park, our Minister of Environment — thank you very much — invested $1.4 million in saving that park. It is a testament to our shared commitment to our history, which is so important to keep our communities and their character alive.

I also want to thank the people involved. I want to thank HeritageWorks and Heritage Masonry, the people who did the Kinsol Trestle that many of you are familiar with, but three people in particular: Chris Scholberg, who was assigned from the city of Nanaimo to the Friends of the Morden Mine project, and Sandra Zuccolini-Larocque and Mike Larocque, who fought for this, who led the charge and who even parked their RV as security while the job was done.

It was a fantastic commitment by all involved, and I deeply thank them all — and the members of the House for listening.

Oral Questions

ELIGIBILITY FOR
B.C. RECOVERY BENEFIT

S. Bond: First he called an election during a pandemic. Then, on the campaign trail, the Premier promised British Columbians they would receive their recovery benefit money in the mail by Christmas.

[10:30 a.m.]

British Columbians took this Premier at his word. They made plans to pay their bills and budgeted for the holidays, expecting to see the money, but on Wednesday, many British Columbians found out that eligibility for this benefit is based on pre-pandemic, 2019 tax returns, even though pre-pandemic income isn’t an indication of a family’s current need.

To the Premier, what does he have to say to those families in British Columbia that are struggling after having lost a job, having lost their income, who are afraid for their families and now have discovered that they may not be eligible for a single dime of the recovery benefit money?

Hon. S. Robinson: I agree with the Leader of the Opposition. It’s been a very difficult year for British Columbians. It’s been a very difficult year for Canadians and for everyone around the world as a result of this pandemic.

We know that people have been hit hard. It is why we brought forward a workers benefit back in the spring. It is why we put together a Stronger B.C. plan in September, and it is why we brought forward this recovery benefit to help 3.7 million British Columbians. These are the ones that have been hardest hit. These are the ones that we are committed to continue to support, and I know that the members opposite, as well, feel committed to support those folks. This benefit is going to help 3.7 million British Columbians.

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

S. Bond: To the Finance Minister, British Columbians woke up on Wednesday after the announcement, many of them realizing that for the very direct support that was promised by this Premier during an election campaign, they may not be eligible because it is based on pre-pandemic circumstances. So the Finance Minister knows full well that many families won’t be able to make ends meet this holiday season, and everyone in the House is concerned about that.

What did the Finance Minister say that British Columbians would do with their benefit money? Getting, you know, “their $5 latte, because they haven’t been able to.”

Hundreds of thousands of British Columbians have lost income since the onset of the pandemic, not 2019. They have lost income. Many of them don’t know how they’re going to make their rent payment or how they’re going to feed their families. And this minister references a $5 latte, hardly on the minds of many British Columbians.

Again to the Premier, what does the Premier have to say about the people who were counting on the money that he promised them during an election campaign?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, it’s so interesting to hear the member opposite cherry-pick. What I said was it’s an opportunity for people to pay their bills, to help buy clothes for their kids, to help pay for groceries, to buy Christmas presents and perhaps even, yes, to treat themselves to a latte if they haven’t been able to do that. I think it’s really important to speak to the whole context.

I know that the members opposite are hearing from British Columbians about how hard it’s been. We’re hearing that too. We’re responding with a recovery benefit that we know 90 percent of adults in British Columbia are eligible for. Of that, 85 percent of those 90 percent are eligible for the full benefit. That’s going to make a significant difference for right now. People need help now, not necessarily in the future.

We have a vaccine on the horizon, which I know certainly helped me sort of get through the day yesterday. It’s been really hard on British Columbians. We’re going to continue to be there for British Columbia and for everybody here in this province, not just those at the top but for every British Columbian. This has been a very, very, very difficult time for so many. We’re going to keep doing what we need to do to help British Columbians get through this.

M. Bernier: Let’s be clear. To the minister, what hap­pened to 100 percent? The Premier made a promise — $1,000 in everyone’s account by Christmas. It looks like he’s going to break that promise.

[10:35 a.m.]

Many British Columbia families are expecting this money. They’re expecting help from this government and support before this holiday season. And why? Because the Premier made a promise on the fly. I think that’s why this is not going to happen. He’s just making it up as he goes.

A lot of families are going to notice, though. A lot of families are struggling. A lot of families are hurting, and a lot of families are looking for help from this government to fulfil a promise they made.

Can the Premier tell British Columbians who are counting on this money: will everyone still be getting the $1,000 that he promised?

Hon. S. Robinson: We promised to deliver a recovery benefit to those who needed it most. The numbers show that people with high incomes — people who, perhaps, can buy yachts — were far less impacted than middle- and lower-income earners. We know that those are the people who are most impacted. Our focus is on those who need it most, those who need help to pay their rent, which is why we were one of the few provinces that provided a rent supplement to help folks.

That is why we helped those folks. We knew that the people needed help. So we created programs throughout these nine months to make sure that people could pay for groceries, to make sure that they could pay their rent, to make sure that they could buy their children new running shoes that they outgrew. We’re going to keep doing that for the people who need it most in this province.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Peace River South on a supplemental.

M. Bernier: Well, the promise keeps changing day by day, it seems. The Premier said everybody would have $1,000 in their account — “direct deposit,” I believe, was his exact quote — by Christmas.

It’s clear this government does not actually understand what’s happening on the ground when the minister seems to highlight a $5 latte as being something that people are excited about getting if they get this money — if they get this money. Look, some people are just trying to survive.

In my riding, I know many people that were lucky enough to be working in 2019 who lost their job this year because of COVID and now, under these new rules, are going to get zero. How is that fair? How is that actually helping people right now that are in need? They’re trying to decide whether they can afford to pay their bills or buy a Christmas present for their child this year.

This is completely wrong. There are only 15 days left now until Christmas, which means 15 days left for this government and this Premier to come good on his election promise.

Again to the Premier, what does he tell the men and the women here in the province who believed him and hoped that they would be getting support this Christmas for themselves and their families?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, I’m very proud that applications will open on December 18. I think we all need to express a little bit of gratitude and appreciation to the public service that have been working diligently to develop this application process so that it is quick, so that it is efficient and so that people can start getting the supports that they need into their bank accounts ASAP.

We’re going to start seeing that roll out on December 18. Within a couple of days, people will see money in their bank accounts. That’s going to make a difference right now for people — not six months from now, like the members opposite would perhaps suggest, but right now. People are going to start to get the relief that they need because we’ve been responsive and we’re delivering.

RURAL DESIGNATION FOR
SOUTHERN GULF ISLAND COMMUNITIES

A. Olsen: The southern Gulf Islands, Saltspring Island and Juan de Fuca communities are rural, but because they are electoral areas within the capital regional district, they are deemed urban. The urban designation limits these communities from applying for important grants for rural communities outside the CRD.

For years, electoral area directors Dave Howe, Gary Holman and Mike Hicks have advocated for change. They could only be deemed rural, though — they were told — if they were included within the Island Coastal Economic Trust or ICET.

There has been an enormous amount of advocacy for change that should have been done long ago. The province has consulted with ICET for more than 3½ years. Wouldn’t you know it. On Sunday, September 20, on the eve of the snap election called, the B.C. NDP issued Order-in-Council 533 to pass a designation change for the ICET. However, the NDP made only a change to the Premier’s riding. Juan de Fuca was added while the Gulf Islands were left out.

[10:40 a.m.]

My question is to the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. Has the minister issued the second half of that pre-election order to change the urban designation of the Gulf Island communities in my riding?

Hon. R. Kahlon: I want to thank the member for the question, my first question in the Legislature. I appreciate him asking. I also appreciate his letter that came to me, I think, 30 minutes after I was sworn in as the minister for this file.

What I can commit to the member is that I’m happy to continue this conversation with him after this chamber rises today. It’s certainly something that we are reviewing right now. I’ve asked staff to get me a full briefing on that, and it’s scheduled for next week.

A. Olsen: I appreciate the invitation to have another conversation. The reality for the southern Gulf Island communities and for Saltspring Island is that they’ve been conversing about this with this government…. I’ve been conversing with this government, with successive ministers in that ministry, for the last 3½ years. The advocacy has been going on for more than seven years.

The idea that these communities in the southern Gulf Islands are anything but rural…. I know that many members across the way know very well how rural these communities are. To think that we would have to be continuing a conversation about whether or not these communities are rural is absurd. The reality here is that without this designation change, these communities do not get access to grants that they rightly deserve — for example, for COVID recovery.

These communities are tourism-based communities that have been hit so hard by COVID. They are in and having an existential crisis right now, this moment. We can continue to converse about this, or we can just do the order that needs to be done that was done easily.

In fact, what’s really crazy about this is that there was an act. There were words on paper. All they did was exclude the communities from my riding. This is excluding them from being able to apply for broadband access which is going to help diversify their economy. This is likely going to exclude them from applying for money that this government announced earlier this week for mental health and addictions treatment.

We’re done having a conversation in the southern Gulf Islands. We need action. My preference is that the minister put through the order to complement the Premier’s advantage that his communities got.

My question is to the minister. When is he going to do it?

Hon. R. Kahlon: Again, thank you to the member. As I said, I’m happy to have our first conversation, not a continued conversation.

What I would say to the member…. He raises concerns around tourism. I know that many people in the tourism industry have been greatly impacted by the challenges of the pandemic. We have $19.4 million available for tourism-dependent communities. I’m sure we can talk to the member, also, about how some of those communities can have access to that funding.

Again, to the issue that he raises, as I committed to him in the previous question, I’m certainly happy to meet with him. I look forward to my briefing with my new deputy minister as well, and we’ll get back to him shortly.

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES

T. Stone: Last March $1.5 billion in economic recovery supports for business was unanimously approved by this Legislature. The government then wasted six months of time before announcing $300 million in funding for the small and medium-sized business recovery grant a week before the recent snap election. Disappointingly, this government’s only grant program for small businesses is a red-tape disaster.

Among 18 eligibility requirements, businesses must be currently operating, have been in operation for at least three years, have had a revenue loss of 70 percent during March and April of 2020 and revenue losses of at least 50 percent every month since.

My question to the Premier is this. How many small business applications have actually been approved, and how many small businesses have actually received funding from this program to date?

[10:45 a.m.]

Hon. R. Kahlon: Thank you to the member for the question. No doubt, small businesses are hurting throughout the province. Some are doing well, but many are not. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to many small business owners over the last two weeks — in fact, even before that in my community.

One of the things that I think I’m particularly proud of is that we have one of the most comprehensive plans in all of Canada when it comes to supporting small businesses throughout this province. The member will know that we brought in tax credits for small businesses that were wanting to hire either new employees or also bring back employees. The member will also know that we brought in 25 percent property tax cuts.

When it comes to this, we’ve got 1,400 businesses that are in the process. But it’s important for the member to know this. The process was set up in a two-part process. First, it was to ensure…. We provided dollars to small businesses so that they can get a proper consultant to come in and give them advice on how they can become viable after COVID has passed. Also, to provide them up to $30,000, and up to $40,000 if they’re a tourism operator. So it is my hope that we will see many, many more small businesses apply.

I recently had a call with tourism operators, folks from ABLE-BC’s restaurant association. They wrote a letter to my office. We discussed how we can make this program more accessible to small businesses throughout this province. It was a very fruitful conversation. I appreciate the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture for being at that meeting and for being a strong advocate. I look forward to that dialogue that continues.

T. Stone: Again, $1½ billion of funding approved on March 23 of this year. The government sits on its duff, until six months later, before they finally announce a $300 million small and medium-sized recovery grant program specifically focused on small businesses one week before an election campaign.

We then get into a snap election campaign, and another two months of time is wasted. Now we’re sitting here just before Christmas, and he has the audacity to stand up and suggest that the 1,400 businesses which have applied for funding — that that’s good enough. These are businesses in every community around this province that are barely getting by. They’re not sure that they’re going to make it to the other side of Christmas, to the minister.

One thing that the minister could do is he could call the bill that we tabled in the House here today — which has been called, by the restaurants across the province, a critical lifeline — to cap delivery charges. We’ve suggested a recovery grant with a really simplified application process. We’ve suggested that the government return excess WorkSafeBC funding to small businesses. We’ve suggested that the government help with PPE costs.

In fact, we’ve suggested dozens of actions over the last eight months, and this government has failed to act. Not only has the government not taken any of our ideas, but the government has also taken all this time and has failed to figure out how to push these dollars out the door for small businesses in this particular granting question.

My follow-up question to the Premier is this. Small businesses across B.C. are hanging by a thread. They’re unsure whether they’re going to be in business only months from now. We’re talking about tens of thousands of mom-and-pop shops, little boutiques, restaurants and other shops in communities all over the province.

Will the Premier throw small businesses a lifeline? Will he finally step up and provide funding supports that are so desperately needed to ensure that these small businesses are still here in our communities only months from now?

Hon. R. Kahlon: Clearly somebody who’s running for leadership over there. Thank you for that speech.

We understand, on this side of the House, how businesses are impacted. My family ran a small restaurant here in Victoria for close to a decade, and it was a difficult time then. Imagine the challenge that businesses are facing right now.

I appreciate that the member now claims to want to run and lead the free enterprise coalition and that they propose bills that affect the marketplace. We have agreed…. We have committed, on this side of the House, to bring that legislation in. We will be doing consultation on that.

I know the Solicitor General, on that piece….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, order. Order, please.

Members. Come to order.

Hon. R. Kahlon: It didn’t take long….

Interjections.

[10:50 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: Minister, hold it.

Okay. Minister will continue.

Hon. R. Kahlon: I guess I hit a soft spot there. It didn’t take long for them to return to the ways that they normally are in this House.

I will say this. We know small businesses are greatly impacted.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s hear the answer, please.

Hon. R. Kahlon: We know that small businesses are impacted. Let me be clear to the members of the House. Our goal is to ensure as many small businesses get access to the grants as possible, but we want to do it in way that we can make sure that there’s public accountability in that measure. The conversation we had with tourism operators, members of ABLE-BC and many other stakeholders last week was about how we can find that, how we can find a way for more of their members to get access to these grants.

It was clear on that call that they were grateful for all the supports the province has already brought into place, and they wanted to find ways to have more of their members get access to those grants. I look forward to continuing that work.

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR TOURISM
INDUSTRY AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

T. Wat: The one sector that has been hardest hit by COVID-19 has been the tourism industry. The government has consistently only offered promises without actually delivering support. The industry, back in the summer, was asking for $680 million in aid, and the Premier ignored that request. Now the Premier has another report.

To the Premier, will he not just accept the recommendations but actually implement them immediately?

Hon. M. Mark: I’d like to thank the member for Richmond North Centre for the question.

There is no doubt that the tourism sector has been hit hard by COVID and that all of our constituencies have. To remind everyone in this chamber, because we started just a few days ago through the throne speech, all 87 of our ridings are being crushed by COVID.

Everyone is going day by day to get through — the good news that we heard from Dr. Bonnie Henry about the vaccine coming to our neighbourhoods and close to home. So when the member asks the question, “Have they been hit?” yes, they’ve been hit.

With the accusation that the report is just another report…. I received the report yesterday. The member’s referring to The Future of Travel: Positioning B.C. to Accelerate Recovery and Growth. It’s a task force that the government put together. They’ve met 11 times. They met in September.

The member opposite…. I appreciate the member opposite for heckling. This isn’t a time to heckle. I take this issue seriously. There are seven recommendations in here. I got the report yesterday, and as minister, I’m going to get to work to take action on the recommendations.

They want dedicated funding for tourism. We are going to move quickly, but they’re not decisions that I make alone. They’re decisions that I make with Finance. They’re decisions that I make with the Minister of Jobs and Economic Recovery. They’re decisions that we make with the Minister of Indigenous Relations. There is a call to action for funding dedicated to Indigenous tourism. I hope the members aren’t laughing about that.

I take this issue seriously. We’re going to move to work on an action plan. If that means, as the member opposite from Kamloops was talking about, that we need to make amendments to the small and medium-sized business recovery grant to make it more accessible, we’ll do so. We’re fully committed to taking action on moving forward so that all of our communities have the support that they need.

I just want to close by saying this isn’t the time…. The members opposite talk about partisanship. This is a very, very difficult time for everyone. Let’s not forget that we’re in the middle of a global pandemic.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members will come to order. We are wasting very precious time in question period, Members.

The member for Richmond North Centre on a supplemental.

[10:55 a.m.]

T. Wat: Just for the information of the newly appointed Tourism Minister, the tourism industry actually started talking to this government way back in the summer, in July. It’s because of the snap election that the Premier called for his self-serving agenda. That’s why requests have been put on hold. So I hope that the minister will study the file and get up to speed.

The tourism sector is being decimated, and the Premier pats himself on the back. It took more than ten months to get this report. The second wave is ripping the industry, and we have a government that wants to take another four months off of the job. We are talking about small family-owned businesses in every corner of the province. They don’t have four months to wait.

Again to the Premier, will he provide immediate support to the men and women working in the tourism sector who now face ruin?

Hon. M. Mark: Again, I’d like to thank the member for her advocacy. It is her job as the official opposition to advocate.

We will work together. This is not a report that’s going to sit on a shelf. The deadline was December 31. I received it on December 9, which was yesterday. I am committed to moving forward on the actions.

To make it political about whether I care, as an MLA, as well, about my small business operators and the tourism operators….

Interjection.

Hon. M. Mark: I know that I’m a member of cabinet, but we’re all MLAs who have constituencies with tourism and small business operators that are very deeply worried about keeping the lights on. They’re worried about keeping their employees on the payroll. To suggest that I don’t care about that is so irresponsible.

It’s ten months that we’ve been in the middle of a global pandemic. The member opposite threw out a whole bunch of numbers — four months here, ten months there. It’s been ten months that the public service has been working around the clock.

Interjections.

Hon. M. Mark: The members opposite can heckle all they want, but I’m acknowledging that the public service has been working around the clock for ten months. We rolled out money for destination development so that some of those small business operators could keep the lights on.

ACCESS TO SHELTERS BY
VULNERABLE PEOPLE DURING COVID-19

L. Doerkson: One of the unintended consequences of the pandemic regulations has been the capacity reduction of local shelters across British Columbia.

In Williams Lake, that leaves ten people with no place to lay their heads at night. I think of Amber who has no choice but to live outside in temperatures that are plunging to minus 20 and lower. Winter isn’t coming to the Cariboo or the Kootenays. Trust me. It’s here already. As a community, we’re looking for support from the province so that these people know that they’re not alone.

My question is to the Premier. What plans does he have to make sure that Amber and many like her don’t have to spend the night outdoors due to these pandemic regulations?

Hon. D. Eby: Thank you to the member for the question about such a vitally important issue — namely, the people, the men, the women who are living outside in our province. It’s an inexcusable situation, and it’s unfortunately due to a long-time underinvestment in affordable and supportive housing in our province.

Fortunately, we are turning that corner. We’re investing literally billions of dollars in housing. We’re housing thousands of people with modular housing that can be built very quickly. One of the things that I can commit to the member, if he’s interested, is a briefing for him, directly from B.C. Housing — not spin — about the work that B.C. Housing is doing in his community for people like his constituent that he told us about.

I want to recognize the impact that COVID has had on the availability of shelters because of social distancing requirements. It has meant that B.C. Housing has had to work extra hard to identify cold- and wet-weather shelter beds in many different communities. One of the areas where they need support, or government would welcome support, is in working with local government to identify spaces. This is an area where all MLAs can provide support, if they’re interested and able to do so, in working with local governments.

Thank you very much to the member for the question. This is a very serious human rights issue on Human Rights Day, and I’m grateful to him for raising it.

[11:00 a.m.]

COVID-19 RESPONSE AND
IMPACT ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE

P. Milobar: Let’s look at the week that has happened down in Victoria here and the days leading up to this session.

We have a government that has cut funds for families with children and youth with special needs.

We have a government and a Premier who have cut the funding for people with disability payments in half, under the guise of saying it’s not really a cut when we know that if they qualify for the $500 benefit and got their $300 a month over those three months, it would be $1,400. Instead, they will qualify for $950. That’s a $450 cut, any way you slice it, for people with disabilities, from this Premier.

Today nothing but platitudes about people in shelter spaces that are over capacity. It should have been well known leading into the colder seasons that this was going to happen, with no plan in place. No plan in place for tourism yet. No plans, period. Yet we stand here today, being called back to this Legislature, and the only piece of legislation this government wants to talk about is how to delay doing the work of the budget for two extra months, until May, which means no more supports for people until May of this coming year.

Again to the Premier, what is his plan to restore all of these cuts to our most vulnerable populations in British Columbia immediately, to make sure people have the supports across the board that have been taken away over this last week and a half by this government?

Hon. M. Farnworth: It’s my pleasure to rise and respond and answer a question about a government that is more committed to ensuring that people get the resources and the supports that they need than ever occurred during the 16 years that they sat on this side of the House.

Since the start of the pandemic, this government has worked day and night with the public service to ensure that supports are in place. To ensure that not only have rates been increased for those on social assistance, which never happened when that side was sitting over here…. It was frozen. To ensure the largest affordable housing program in the history of this province was undertaken. To ensure that right across this community, people are getting the housing and the supports that they need.

That’s what’s been taking place. That’s why this government is taking action. The $1,000 and the $500 for single people — the public knows that that money will be coming. The Premier has indicated it.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. M. Farnworth: It is a commitment that is being followed through by this government. And there will be more good news in the weeks and months ahead to ensure that British Columbians, as families, as individuals, get through this pandemic together. This province has got its act together, and that opposition doesn’t. That’s why they’re over there, and we’re over here.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Hon. M. Farnworth: I have a number of reports to table. Some may find these reports kind of interesting.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. All right, question period is over now. Let’s do other business.

Hon. M. Farnworth: On behalf of the Minister of Environment, I rise to table the Environmental Emergency Program 2019-2020 report.

On behalf of the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, I rise to table TogetherBC: British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy 2019 annual report.

The third report. On behalf of the Attorney General, I rise to table the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in B.C. interim report.