Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: D. Davies.

Tributes

GARY STEEVES

Hon. G. Heyman: My old friend and my old co-worker Gary Steeves passed away last week. I first met Gary when we were both in our 30s. I met him at a union meeting in Terrace. Gary was addressing a roomful of young union activists, telling them that there was really no distinction between the importance of their union activism and their union goals and their political activity and engagement.

It was obvious, as I watched him with some fascination, that Gary was a great maritime storyteller. He had a way of communicating, and you could just tell that he loved people. Gary found a home in British Columbia and in the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union.

As I looked over many of the comments about Gary’s passing that showed up on social media, it’s obvious that so many people found him to be encouraging, to be engaging. He never talked down to union activists. He supported them; he gave them encouragement. His humour was always evident, and he always made all of us feel welcome.

[10:05 a.m.]

Gary and his wife, Marina, often opened their home to all kinds of people. I remember being at their house years ago with Larry Guno, who was at the time the MLA for Atlin and who was preparing to do some remarks on the amendments to the labour code, amendments that people in the labour movement found to be taking away rights and opportunities for working people. Larry wanted to understand what it meant in real terms, what it meant to workers on the shop floor, and Gary told exactly the kinds of stories that Larry could use in his bill debate.

Gary was also well known for his commitment to labour history and his knowledge of labour history. He took people on walking tours, whether it was in Vancouver or in the Maritimes. He told stories about the places and the people that made us appreciate the commitment, the sacrifice and the long history that was the building of a strong labour movement in British Columbia and elsewhere.

It was a pleasure to work with Gary. It was a pleasure, when I was president of the BCGEU, to have Gary work with me. He was a central figure in creating an organizing culture in the BCGEU and in the B.C. labour movement. When Gary came to my office, he’d be filled with ideas and energy and long-term plans. He brought excitement to his work, and he gave the benefits and rights of union representation to literally thousands of working people in British Columbia.

When he retired, he went on to work as an island trustee. In that role, he fought for environmental issues. He fought for community health issues and was engaged. He helped resolve a number of community differences and disputes.

Gary will be missed by everyone who knew him, not just in the labour movement but in the communities in which he lived and on the ferries on which he met and talked to people.

My condolences to his family, to his wife, Marina, to all of his many friends and colleagues, to those he helped and mentored and to all of those who may never have met him but who benefit in their daily working life from the work that Gary gave all of us.

Introductions by Members

E. Ross: There is little doubt that the ’80s produced the best music and the best movies of our generation. It also produced something very special to me back in 1986 — my first daughter, who turns 34 today. She was a gift to me and my wife, and she changed my trajectory in life. She gave me more focus, gave me more direction in terms of what I had to do as a father. She, in turn, gifted me and my wife with my first granddaughter, who is eight years old, as well.

Happy birthday to my daughter, Megan Ross, who turns 34 today. Happy birthday, Megan.

Please join me in wishing happy birthday to my daughter.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

SENIORS ACTIVITY CENTRE AND
MEAL PROGRAM IN WEST VANCOUVER

K. Kirkpatrick: I spoke recently to Adine Mees, the CEO of the West Vancouver Foundation. She told me about an extraordinary example of an organization that reinvented itself virtually overnight as a result of COVID.

Seniors rely on the West Vancouver Seniors Activity Centre as a place to gather, connect, take a class and access healthy meals through the Garden Side Café. But earlier this year, when COVID restrictions were being put in place, that all changed. When the centre had to close, it left many seniors in the community more vulnerable than ever.

The staff of the centre care deeply about their seniors. They called every one of their 6,761 seniors on their contact list to check in to make sure they were doing well. What they discovered is that the issue of seniors’ poverty and food insecurity had been an issue even long before the pandemic and that the pandemic had made it even worse.

What happened next was an incredible transformation of services. Overnight the café began offering free food to people and delivery food services. By May, this program was operating seven days a week. They added a night shift to keep up with the demand. By November, this program had delivered more than 22,000 meals to more than 350 seniors.

There was no funding for this program when it popped up overnight. Advisory members of the centre were personally paying for some of the meals that were being served. But through a coming together of the community, partners and individuals, the centre now is funded for the next 12 months to continue this program.

[10:10 a.m.]

Through the West Vancouver Foundation, up until December 31, the Ian and Rosemary Mottershead foundation will match donations up to $100,000 to help support what is now called the Feed the Need program. More information can be found on the website of the West Vancouver Foundation.

Thank you all very much. Happy holidays to everyone.

20th ANNIVERSARY OF
COASTAL FIRST NATIONS

J. Rice: The Coastal First Nations Great Bear initiative was envisioned two decades ago to assert First Nations leadership in creating a new conservation-based economy in the traditional territories of the north and central coasts and Haida Gwaii. Today the CFN alliance includes many First Nations I represent as MLA for North Coast — the Gitga’at, Gitxaala, Council of the Haida Nation, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Metlakatla, Nuxalk, Old Masset, Skidegate and Wuikinuxv.

In the 1990s, the impact of resource extraction industries such as industrial logging and commercial fishing had taken a toll on forest and ocean resources, and the region’s economy seriously declined. Jobs were becoming more scarce, and communities were struggling. A new approach was needed.

In the early 2000s, leaders from B.C.’s central and north coasts and Haida Gwaii came together to address these challenges and sign the declaration of First Nations of the North Pacific Coast. In 2003, a coast-wide alliance was officially born. Since that time, the CFN alliance has worked together to put in place a world-leading model of land and marine use planning that incorporates Indigenous values and ecosystem-based management and that combines First Nations traditional knowledge and modern science.

This year Coastal First Nations celebrates 20 years of this alliance. I’ve had the pleasure to virtually partake in the anniversary celebrations of their accomplishments.

They’ve established a network of coastal guardian watchmen who are the eyes and the ears and the protectors of the coastal territories. They supported renowned ecotourism operations, like Spirit Bear adventures and lodge in Klemtu, offering wildlife and cultural tours that showcase Kitasoo/Xai’xais culture. They’ve supported award-winning businesses, like Metlakatla-owned Coastal Shellfish in Prince Rupert. This fall the scallop hatchery and processing facility received the Vancity sustainability award at the B.C. Food and Beverage Awards.

These are some examples of the accomplishments of Coastal First Nations. There are many more examples of how the CFN have created a successful conservation economy that protects the environment and creates meaningful jobs for coastal peoples.

I invite all members to check out their 20th anniversary stories page to learn more at coastalfirstnations.ca or #CFNStrongerTogether on social media.

ADVOCACY WORK BY
KATHERINE McPARLAND

T. Stone: On Friday, December 11, a collection of people from all walks of life in Kamloops slept outside in cardboard boxes. They did this in order to shine a piercing light on what a young person living on the street experiences. The event, hosted by A Way Home Kamloops, was also a fundraiser in support of programs and initiatives that are focused on making the lives of at-risk youth better. Well over $100,000 was raised, double the original goal.

Unfortunately, the founder of A Way Home Kamloops was not there this year, for, sadly, on December 4, Katherine McParland passed away. Kamloops lost someone very special that day. Katherine was a force of personality, an endless well of energy and positivity. When she came to see you, as she so often did with me, you simply could not say no to her. She was a person of action who finished every sentence and every meeting by saying: “So what do we need to do to make this happen?”

She lived the very notion of paying it forward. She was an unrelenting advocate who devoted her life to those she sought to help. She led by example, using her actual experience as a young person who aged out of the foster care system and experienced resulting homelessness but then resolved to do all she could to help other young people stay off the streets and transition into a safe, healthy and supportive environment.

While her work often took her to provincial and national tables, such as co-founding the B.C. Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, sitting on the board of B.C. Housing, participating in the federal government’s Advisory Committee on Homelessness and speaking at countless conferences, she never ever wavered in her commitment to help those closest to home — like her work to set up safe suites, a program that provides housing for at-risk youth, with on-site counselling, life skills training and meal support, or her efforts that led to Kamloops being the first city in Canada to participate in a youth homeless count.

[10:15 a.m.]

Katherine, we are so very grateful to have known you. We are thankful for the lives you have saved and impacted for the better. Rest in peace, knowing that your work, your legacy and your dream to eliminate youth homelessness will endure.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Richmond South Centre.

RICHMOND SOUTH CENTRE NON-PROFIT
SECTOR RESPONSE TO COVID-19

H. Yao: Mr. Speaker, congratulations on getting elected to a position of such exceptional honour. I’m proud to be one of many witnesses to your historical success.

I acknowledge the fact that I’m speaking from the unceded territory of the Musqueam Coast Salish people. I thank them for allowing us to live, work and play in their territory.

I’m deeply grateful to the people of Richmond South Centre for trusting me to represent them. Richmond South Centre is not only geographically located in the heart of Richmond; it is also where the heart of Richmond resides. The majority of Richmond’s non-profit organizations and charities call Richmond South Centre home — organizations like Richmond Pathways Clubhouse; Richmond Society for Community Living; SUCCESS; Touchstone Family Association; Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives; Foundry Richmond; Chimo Community Services; and many more.

Due to the pandemic, the needs of the people of Richmond have grown exponentially in quality and complexity. British Columbians are experiencing unprecedented pressure during this challenging time. Throughout all of this, non-profit organizations and charities have continued to courageously serve our community. However, their ability to serve effectively has been hindered by limited fundraising opportunities and a reduction in the number of volunteers wanting to help during this pandemic.

Joyce Alisharan, president of Chimo Community Services, mentioned in a discussion the challenges they were facing on a number of fronts. That is why I eagerly volunteered to support their Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser. It is important, now more so than ever, to celebrate the unsung heroes who, without expectation of recognition or reward, work tirelessly to continue to support our community.

I know my esteemed colleagues in this chamber will find their own meaningful ways to support their local organizations during this very challenging time. I’d encourage my Richmond colleagues to also continue to connect with Chimo Community Services.

Lastly, I would like to thank all employees, volunteers and directors of non-profit organizations and charities for their continued support of Richmond residents.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to speak.

WORK OF SALVATION ARMY
IN KELOWNA AREA

B. Stewart: “I hear your SOS, your SOS. I will send out an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night. It’s true. I will rescue you.” These are some of the words from Lauren Daigle’s Help Rescue Christmas song from the Salvation Army TV commercial. This is the call of the Salvation Army — to provide hope and support for those in need.

In my riding and throughout Kelowna, we have seen countless examples of generosity this holiday season. From the kettle campaign outside local shops, with their new $5 tap feature, and other initiatives, the combined effort of toy drives and donations by local residents and businesses contributed $22,000 in donations in a single day to the west side Salvation Army, allowing them to purchase holiday gifts for others.

Earlier this month restaurants throughout West Kelowna and Peachland participated in Rudolph’s dine-out day. Residents went to the participating restaurants, ate and donated to the Salvation Army at the same time. Eleven local restaurants offered the option of adding a $5 fee to their bills in order to support local families. All the proceeds went towards the Salvation Army Christmas gifts of hope program, which ensures that children and teens throughout West Kelowna and Peachland wake up to something special on Christmas Day.

The community generosity is really awe-inspiring, especially since Kelowna was named as one of the nation’s top donating cities and especially during this difficult time, where the generosity is needed more than ever. People are struggling financially. To see those more fortunate really reach into their pockets and provide holiday-saving support is great.

[10:20 a.m.]

I applaud the Kelowna and West Kelowna chapters of the Salvation Army as well as those in every community in B.C. Your tireless efforts are more than needed and warranted this holiday season.

OVERDOSE RESPONSE
IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

R. Russell: One of the most indelibly memorable events from my campaign was a genuinely serendipitous opportunity to walk for a few kilometres with Kevin Redsky. Some of you will have heard of him. He is the champion of the Hope in the Darkness national walk for youth mental health. In 2018, they walked all across the country. This year he walked from Manitoba through Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.

We walked, and we talked about the importance of community-led safety nets and those kinds of safety nets composed of champions from faith-based communities, spiritual groups, the RCMP, social services, education and beyond. It was heartbreaking, and it was full of hope.

What I wanted to speak to you about today was not specifically around youth mental health but more the opioid crisis and our toxic drug supply. I wanted to clarify and reiterate how the needs in rural B.C. are different and read a brief excerpt from a report, ODAX 2019, from an event that was held in Kamloops last year. “While it is often stated that the majority of deaths are in urban centres of Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health, small and mid-sized communities have made up between 23 to 27 percent of all paramedic-attended overdose events occurring each year from 2016 to 2019, including 30 to 34 percent of all illicit drug toxicity deaths.”

Stigma and isolation are different in our rural communities in B.C. From the same report: “Seventy percent of deaths in small and mid-sized communities occurred in private residences while about half of deaths in urban areas were in private residences.” We know part of the solution: empowering our local communities to take leadership and to help build those social safety nets. I want to give a shout-out to groups like Moms Stop the Harm, which are active in Oliver, and champions like the Unity skate shop in Osoyoos.

I just wanted to reiterate that I’m thrilled to hear the announcement, last week, about funding for rural, remote and Indigenous communities to take action on this crisis in our communities. It’s good work, putting control back into their hands, and it makes me proud to be part of this House.

Oral Questions

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR DISABILITY
AND INCOME ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS

S. Bond: Yesterday we heard the Minister of Health admit that there has been a significant delay in sending out pandemic pay that was promised to front-line workers. He was actually forced to apologize for letting those workers down. He admitted that the government could and should have done a better job.

The Premier, in stark contrast, refused to admit that his government made a mistake in cutting assistance to more than 200,000 low-income seniors and disabled persons in British Columbia. The impact of that decision has caused anger, uncertainty and pain.

Will the Premier today do the right thing — stand up and end the clawback?

Hon. J. Horgan: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her new-found concern for vulnerable populations in British Columbia.

I went back to my office yesterday to confirm some data that I shared with the public yesterday. I just want to reiterate some of the points I made.

For the interests of those new members to the Liberal caucus, you’ll be interested to know that between 2001 and 2016, the B.C. Liberals increased contributions monthly to people with disabilities by $200. This government did that in two years, not 16 years. People new to the caucus will be interested to know that for people on income assistance, the B.C. Liberals increased that monthly stipend by $100 over 16 years. We increased it by $150 in two years.

[10:25 a.m.]

Members will be interested to know, also, that since the pandemic hit British Columbia, we have increased, annually, the contributions to people with disabilities and people on income assistance by $2,250. Yet somehow in their indignation, the B.C. Liberals find a place to say their $200 contribution to vulnerable populations over a decade and a half is superior to $2,250 in the past 12 months.

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

S. Bond: Well, we should be clear about the indignation. The indignation is coming from persons with disabilities, organizations and British Columbians who are being impacted by the decision that this Premier made not a year ago or two years ago or way, way back in the past.

The Premier can laugh. The bottom line is that the indignation that the opposition is expressing is the view of hundreds and hundreds of families that are being deeply impacted by the decision that this Premier made a week ago.

Let’s hear what it means to a parent like Scarlett Nelson, who said about the decision that this Premier made a week ago: “To take this away…. I’m going to have to go to the food bank twice a week again. I’m worried about January. It’s the hardest month for the whole year to manage.”

The government admitted that it could have done a better job in making sure that front-line workers got their promised pandemic pay. We agree.

Will the Premier stand up and make a similar admission — that, in fact, he made a mistake — and reassure families and parents like Scarlett that he will end the clawback?

Hon. J. Horgan: Certainly, Charlotte will be able to access the child opportunity benefit — $1,000 per child, another $800 for every subsequent child — a new program introduced by this government, not to the age of six but to the age of 18. That helps families.

Some of the Liberals on the other side weren’t here when the heartless group that ran this province up to 2016 eliminated the transportation subsidy for vulnerable populations, forcing them to stay at home rather than go out and interact in the community. We reinstated that transportation allowance.

We’ve increased the employment action tax credit. We did a host of other initiatives over the past 2½ years. And we’re just getting started, hon. Members. British Columbia now has a poverty reduction strategy.

It makes sense to normal people that if you want to dig yourself out of a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging. The Liberals never got that. The second thing you do is you build a comprehensive plan — not a month-by-month plan, not a politically motivated plan but one that will help people. That’s what we’re all about, and that’s what we’re doing.

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

S. Bond: Let’s talk about a month-by-month plan. Let’s talk about families who are worried they’re going to have to make a second trip to the food bank or won’t be able to afford a jacket for their child. That’s not about 16 years ago or five years ago; it’s about last week. It’s about one of the first actions that this newly elected Premier took. He can stand up and bluster and spin and do whatever he wants. We know that when he does that, he knows he is wrong.

This government made a mistake. They can characterize it however they want. They are cutting the supplement to low-income families and persons with disabilities.

To make matters even worse, yesterday the Premier stood up here in the Legislature and hinted: “By the way, we’ll go through the budget process. And you know what? We might just make it permanent.”

So here families sit. They sit worried and upset and frightened and angry at this Premier’s decision.

The Premier has an opportunity right now. He doesn’t have to wait for a budget process which, by the way, will take these families until May. He could stand up today, just like the Minister of Health did yesterday, admit he made a mistake and stop the clawback now.

[10:30 a.m.]

Hon. J. Horgan: I’ll just remind the member that the first thing this government did was bring forward a supply bill that will put $1,000 in the pockets of families — all families — and $500 in the pockets of individuals.

I appreciate that the member from Valemount is spiraling into the stratosphere.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. J. Horgan: Her party, when given the opportunity to help vulnerable people — not just for one month, not for just one year but for 16 years — increased disability pensions by $200.

The people you’re talking about right now, hon. Member, will have the same amount of money. In fact, they’ll have 50 bucks more in their pocket as a result of the COVID benefit and the COVID benefit supplement that we put in place.

Since the pandemic hit, $2,250 is going into the pocket of vulnerable populations. We had the support of the opposition at that time, as we should have. I cannot understand why the first piece of business for the new Leader of the Opposition is to play politics with an issue her party did nothing about — nothing about — for a decade and a half.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s have a question, and let’s have an answer.

D. Davies: Well, it’s quite clear that it is making the Premier very uncomfortable to answer these questions. All he’s been doing is reflecting everything that we’ve asked, and he’s not dealing with the issue. It is this Premier and this government that have done this clawback.

This is what Kier Gray has to say: “Slashing the COVID benefit in half when the pandemic is far from over will force disabled and impoverished people to make impossible choices between sanitizer and medication, masks and groceries.”

To the Premier, will he do the right thing today and reverse this decision?

Hon. N. Simons: I thank the member for Peace River North for the question.

People should know that when the workers benefit was established in March for a three-month period, people on income assistance, people on disability assistance and people receiving the seniors supplement were not eligible for that workers benefit. So the province instituted a $300-a-month supplement. That supplement was renewed, not once but twice, and it brings us to this month, where everyone I just mentioned will be getting a $300 supplement. In addition, the province instituted a recovery benefit, which is eligible. People on income assistance, disability assistance and the seniors supplement are eligible for that.

I urge people to ensure that they make their application. It will result in them receiving, actually, more money by the end of March than they otherwise would have.

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

D. Davies: I’m baffled by the responses that we’re getting from this government. So are British Columbians.

Viveca Ellis is the director of the B.C. Poverty Reduction Coalition. This is what Viveca has to say: “We’re dropping the poorest and most at-risk individuals further below the poverty line in January, in the middle of a pandemic. It’s not the kind of action that we need to see in British Columbia at this time.”

Mr. Premier, do the right thing, and reverse the decision. Will he do that today?

Hon. N. Simons: Thank you very much for the follow-up question. What the member should be telling constituents, as I have been, is that, in fact, they are eligible for more money than they would have been under the current system.

I sat in the opposition benches for, I think, 12 years, when we repeatedly asked the government to pay a little bit of attention to people living in poverty and to maybe make a plan to try to address the issues that we saw all around us for all those 12 years in opposition that I sat there. And it started before that.

As soon as we became government, we increased disability rates. We instituted a poverty reduction strategy, and we’ve continued to follow with that goal — to reduce poverty.

[10:35 a.m.]

As a reminder to the member for Peace River North and to his colleagues, our constituents are eligible to apply and are eligible to receive, in fact, more money by the end of March than they otherwise would have. For example, individuals will receive $50 more. Single parents will receive a considerable amount more — $500 more.

I think that it’s important to remind British Columbians that all 3.7 million British Columbians are eligible for this benefit. They should apply, and they will receive it.

COVID-19 RAPID TESTING PROGRAM
FOR LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITIES

R. Merrifield: The arrival of the vaccine yesterday brought a glimmer of hope, but health officials have been clear. The vaccine isn’t getting into long-term-care homes any time soon. That’s why the call for widespread use of rapid testing in long-term-care facilities is growing louder. As of yesterday, there were 1,305 active COVID cases in long-term-care homes. That number continues to increase.

Why is this so serious? Well, the COVID-19 mortality rate for those above 80 is 39 percent. A study done by Dr. Rohit Vijh of UBC showed that “every extra layer of protection can save lives.” Rapid testing is an additional step.

To the Premier, given that rapid tests are an additional level of protection, will he now act to protect our vulnerable seniors and mandate rapid testing in all long-term-care homes?

Hon. A. Dix: First of all, with respect to vaccines, the member suggests the vaccines will not be used to address the situation in long-term care. That’s not correct. The first doses of vaccines will be going to workers in long-term care.

One of the ideas is to bring tests to long-term care to stop new infections in long-term-care facilities. I think that makes sense. It’s guided by the science, and it’s guided by the provincial health officer. That doesn’t mean that the situation in long-term care is going to get immediately better right away, but every time we immunize someone, it makes things better.

As we discussed, rapid testing is not the answer in long-term care, although it has uses there. That’s why we are engaging right now in pilot projects in long-term care: (1) because there are insufficient numbers of rapid tests and (2) because rapid tests are insufficiently accurate with respect to asymptomatic cases. As the members know and as Dr. Henry has repeatedly explained, we are using rapid testing in British Columbia to help assist in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and pandemic.

I think it’s fair to say that this is not an ideological question. It’s not a question of one political policy against another. It’s a medical and health care question. I have taken the advice of people who are responsible, who do this in their lives, in terms of the advice with respect to testing. Their advice is to use rapid testing in the way that we’re using it in British Columbia.

I think I’d say that it’s important to have and continue to have this…. To suggest that, in any way, the situation in long-term care is not my first and foremost priority and the first and foremost priority of Dr. Henry and everyone else is incorrect. We’re taking every possible action to protect people in long-term care because we know, as the member suggests, the vulnerability of people in long-term care to COVID-19.

Mr. Speaker: Unfortunately, the audio was not very clear. Next time it will probably be working all right.

The member for Kelowna-Mission on a supplemental.

R. Merrifield: Well, I’ll try to respond to whatever I heard. I think I heard the minister say it wasn’t accurate, but it is 70 percent accurate. Isn’t 70 percent now better than 90 percent in three days, with 30 more exposures? The net present value of rapid tests does seem real.

I do agree with the minister when he said that it does not mean it’s going to get better right away in long-term-care facilities. I believe that’s what he said. The reality is that the B.C. government is already using rapid tests. It’s using them in First Nations and in rural B.C. populations. We’re also seeing them used for asymptomatic subjects at airports or on film sets.

The question is: why aren’t we doing the same for our most vulnerable populations, like seniors, students, their families, caregivers, teachers?

[10:40 a.m.]

Time magazine’s headline “How We Can Stop the Spread of COVID-19 by Christmas,” written by Harvard epidemiologist Michael Mina, says the number one way to stop the spread is routine widespread rapid testing.

Yes, there’s hope with a vaccine. But the next four months in long-term-care facilities are going to be rough, with some of the highest numbers of deaths we’ve seen so far.

Will the Premier do the right thing and implement the widespread use of rapid tests to protect our vulnerable populations of seniors and students?

Hon. A. Dix: The priority given to long-term care is reflected in our use of the vaccine, the Pfizer vaccine, which will be going to protect workers in long-term care. I think that’s an important consideration. It doesn’t resolve the question right away, but we are working to provide a ring fence around long-term care to protect residents, to protect staff, to protect everybody.

As I’ve noted, rapid testing has its uses, and we are using it in responding to COVID-19 in British Columbia. That advice is being driven by people who know this question, who know the appropriate uses of the testing. The tests that we have are not licensed in Canada for asymptomatic testing. They are not licensed in Canada because of limits to their accuracy. You make decisions in this pandemic to protect people, and you make them the best decisions based on the scientific evidence. That’s what’s happening in B.C.

The member refers to Michael Mina, who is an advocate for home tests. Well, there are no home tests licensed currently in Canada at all. So the approach we’re taking to rapid testing is to use it where it is helpful in preventing the spread of COVID-19. That’s what we’re doing. We’re following the science in order to do it. I think that’s the appropriate approach in B.C.

M. de Jong: I want to tell the Premier and the Minister of Health about Peter. Peter is 91 years old. He lives in a care facility in Langley. Last month an employee tested positive, and his home went on lockdown. I think the Premier and the minister know of when that happens. The senior residents of that home are isolated in their rooms for virtually all day, all night.

Jack lives in a care facility in Mission. The same thing happened. On Sunday, Jack turned 92. He didn’t see his wife, didn’t see any members of his family. In fact, he couldn’t even have a phone call with them because the staff in the facility were too busy dealing with the lockdown caused when COVID entered that care facility.

Jack is my dad. But this is happening everywhere. This is happening to thousands of people.

Look, rapid testing reduces the risk; it doesn’t eliminate the risk. We can’t eliminate the risk of transmission, but if we have a tool that will significantly reduce the risk of transmission to seniors living in care facilities, for heaven’s sakes, why aren’t we using it?

Hon. A. Dix: Well, I, first of all, want to express my solidarity with the member for Abbotsford West. It affects his family. It affects my family. It affects people across B.C. with family members and residents who are dealing with lockdowns in long-term care as a result of our outbreak response. It’s a very serious situation.

So he will understand that if the decision was made that rapid testing would assist in that, we would make that decision. That is not the evidence before us in B.C. Let’s be clear about that. It’s a question that Dr. Henry and that others have repeatedly answered in this respect.

You only do things and you only make an issue if they make things better. The evidence is, and he will know, that rapid testing is not licensed in Canada in asymptomatic cases. It’s important to note that.

[10:45 a.m.]

It’s important to note that there are issues, especially in respect to asymptomatic cases — not symptomatic but asymptomatic cases — with the accuracy of rapid testing. Inaccuracy in this area is a major problem, with respect to outbreaks.

We are using rapid testing, and we are looking at ways to use them to enforce our layers and enhance our layers of protection in long-term care. But this is not an ideological question, where the opposition argues one thing and someone else argues another. We are making decisions based on the best possible advice of our experts in the area, and our experts in the area, Dr. Henry and many others, have said that we are using rapid testing in the appropriate way, considering its limitations.

If the member thought for one second that we believed rapid testing would make things better in that way, then we would of course be using it, and we are, in a limited way, to see what more can be done.

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

M. de Jong: I’m not trying to advance ideology. I’m trying to advance common sense. The minister knows better than virtually anyone that we have entered the deadliest phase of this pandemic, and seniors, particularly seniors in care facilities, are going to bear the brunt of that risk in the weeks and months ahead.

There is a tool — not a perfect tool but a tool — called rapid testing that is being used at airports. It’s being used on movie sets, for heaven’s sakes. It’s being used in rural communities. It’s being utilized across Canada to reduce the risk.

I, quite frankly, do not understand the government’s, the minister’s, the Premier’s reluctance, refusal to deploy that tool in a way that will reduce the risk to seniors living in care facilities that have already suffered and for whom this tool will not only add an additional layer of protection but will improve their quality of life.

Hon. A. Dix: Again, to the member, I would say that the approach that we’re taking with respect to rapid testing is to use it in the areas in which it can be effective. As he knows, rapid testing in asymptomatic cases is not licensed for that, and there’s a reason for that.

You only add and implement things if it makes things better. In the judgment of all of our medical experts, that’s not the case. We are, in fact, using rapid testing in a selective way and in a very similar way to other jurisdictions in Canada.

We are going to continue to take absolutely every step we can to protect long-term care. This is the most important priority right now. It’s the reason why we need everybody in the community to engage in physical distancing and to not engage in gatherings over this holiday season. It’s the reason why our long-term care workers are working so hard, and we’re taking all the steps we’ve taken to protect long-term care. We’re going to continue to do that and take every step possible, including, where it’s helpful, where it makes things better, rapid testing, to do that.

We’re going to continue to do what we’ve done from the beginning in British Columbia: not make decisions based on what sounds good but on what’s based on the medical evidence led by the extraordinary public health team that is leading our response.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION
ON COVID-19 IN SCHOOLS

J. Tegart: British Columbians have trusted public health to share information. This has been a critical element in our COVID response so far, yet for months, parents, teachers and staff across the province have dealt with rising anxiety and concern related to COVID in our school system.

The government has ignored these concerns. An inadequate notification system that varies from school district to school district is clearly not working.

To the Premier, will he give parents the information they need on school exposures today?

[10:50 a.m.]

Hon. J. Whiteside: I’d like to thank the member for the question, my first in this House. I’d like to say that it is a tremendous honour to stand here in this House as the new Minister of Education.

I want to say that I know what an exceptionally challenging time this is for all of us in our communities and particularly for those who are on the front lines of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly folks in our education sector. I want to very much express our incredible gratitude for the exceptional work that is being done by teachers, by support staff, by administrators — of course, our rights holders — and by parents and kids to keep our schools safe.

We know that keeping kids safe in school is one of the most important things we can do throughout this pandemic. It’s important for children to have access to in-class learning. We’ve been working very hard with our partners over the course of the pandemic to ensure that there are robust safety plans in place and that we have robust lines of communication so that we’re communicating to the best of our ability the circumstances that are occurring in schools.

We are working on a regular basis — daily, in fact — with our partners to ensure that those communication lines, those notification systems, are in place. We’ve recently seen, in fact, in the Fraser Health Authority, changes to try and respond to what is absolutely, I can understand, terrific anxiety, particularly with parents in those areas where we’re seeing increased community transmission.

We’ll continue to work very hard with our partners in that regard.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Fraser-Nicola on a supplemental.

J. Tegart: Other provinces provide the daily number of new cases, how many are related to students and staff, how many schools have reported a case, how many are closed and even how many confirmed student or staff cases there are per school. In B.C., this government says it does not even know, and it is unable to provide a daily total number of in-school exposures.

Again to the Premier, we have anxious parents, students and staff. Will you ensure that every parent in the province has access to the information they need to know that their child is safe in school?

Hon. J. Whiteside: I do want to thank the member for a concern that we all share with respect to taking all steps that we possibly can to do our best to alleviate anxiety, to the greatest extent possible, during this unprecedented period that we’re all living through.

I know that we have seen increased case counts, increased transmission in communities, particularly in the Fraser Health region, and that has given rise to increased anxiety, absolutely. We’ve seen the provincial health officer direct her staff to form a rapid response team to better support health authorities and schools to work through responding to the need for information when we are seeing notifications.

We’ve seen developments in Fraser this week — the introduction of a new early notification system that we are monitoring very closely and that by all reports so far is helping to provide more information more quickly. Our approach to contact tracing, which has been such an important part of the COVID strategy, is aiding in that regard greatly. We have committed to hiring 1,200 new contact tracers; 1,100 of those are already in place and are working around the clock to support our ability to contact trace and to get information out to parents.

We will continue to work with our partners and continue to work to improve communications on the ground so that we can work to alleviate anxiety to the greatest degree that we can.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I have the honour to present the following reports — A Parent’s Duty: Government’s Obligation to Youth Transitioning into Adulthood, from the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, December 2020.

A second report — Modern Elections for Modern Times: 2019-20 Annual Report and 2020-21–2022-23 Service Plan, from Elections B.C.

[10:55 a.m.]

Motions Without Notice

MEMBERSHIP CHANGE
TO FINANCE COMMITTEE

Hon. M. Farnworth: I seek leave to move a motion to substitute a member on the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

Leave granted.

Hon. M. Farnworth: By leave, I move:

[That Mike Starchuk, MLA replace Rick Glumac, MLA as a Member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.]

Motion approved.