Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: T. Wat.

Mr. Speaker: Members, we will be doing the introductions. As you know, introductions are a very important part of our daily proceedings. But I want to caution members before we start that introductions are supposed to be very brief — not more than 30 seconds.

In the last few days, we have seen some introductions that became a two-minute statement and, in some cases, even a private member’s statement.

Please be careful. I don’t want to interject when you’re making introductions. So keep that in mind.

Introductions by Members

B. Banman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will keep this very brief.

It is my pleasure to introduce Travis Len McIntosh, one of the newest members of Abbotsford, who is the son of Dave and Gillian McIntosh. His mother got to meet him for the first time. She was the one that was induced and then put into coma due to COVID. I just want to say a very merry Christmas to the McIntosh family and wish his mother a speedy recovery.

I. Paton: This morning, the last day in the Legislature here in Victoria, I just want to do a shout-out to the great organizations in my riding of Delta South. We have the Ladner Business Association. We have the Tsawwassen Business Improvement Association. We have the Delta Chamber of Commerce and also the city of Delta.

The city of Delta has done some wonderful things during this COVID time with amending bylaws for small businesses and restaurants to be able to move out into their parking lots and put up tents to keep their businesses going. The Ladner Business Association and groups such as that have done an unbelievable job at this Christmas season. I’ve never seen so many beautiful lights in our trees throughout the villages of Ladner and Tsawwassen.

They also do such wonderful things during the year in our community — the Ladner Village Market, the annual car show, the Tour de Delta, the Tsawwassen Sun Festival and parade, the Ladner May Days and the Boundary Bay Airshow. Thank you so much to all the great groups that have helped us to get through this COVID area and helped to give our small businesses a fighting chance through these trying times in the last eight or nine months.

Hon. K. Chen: This morning I dropped by the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby’s outreach resource centre for their year-end Christmas outreach. It’s actually in the Speaker’s riding, so I brought greetings on your behalf.

I want to recognize all the non-profits and food banks in our community that have served so many families, including the Society to End Homelessness; North Burnaby Neighbourhood House; and Ryan’s Rainbow, where I volunteered, whenever I could, every Thursday since the beginning of the pandemic.

I’ve learned so much from them and also from the families they serve, as they share with me their stories. Together, we’re really like a big family here in Burnaby. Thank you to all the volunteers and groups out there across B.C. communities for supporting so many of our neighbours in need during this challenging time.

A. Mercier: I’d like to introduce my younger sister, Emily Mercier, who’s watching the proceedings virtually today.

[10:10 a.m.]

Emily has decided, at 27 years old, to finally move out of our parents’ house. She’s joined the RCMP, and she heads off to Depot on January 6.

Would the House please join me wishing her luck in her new career.

Hon. S. Robinson: Yesterday we forgot to wish one of our newer members of our caucus a happy birthday. The Minister for Municipal Affairs had a birthday yesterday, and today is her birthday in the House. Can everyone please join me in wishing her a belated happy birthday.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

CAPRICE WHITE ROCK THEATRE

T. Halford: One of my best childhood memories was going to see the movie E.T. It was at the Clova Theatre in Cloverdale, a small little theatre. The floors were sticky. The chairs were worn, but it was still majestic to me at the time. A lot of our theatres have been replaced by larger ones that have the technology to keep up with the movies, but a few of these gems still do exist, and one of those gems is in my riding. We had two; one closed down. The Rialto closed down about three months ago, but the Caprice is still there.

This is a theatre that has been owned, in the family, for over 24 years by the Manji family. They are struggling right now, and they are finding ways to keep open. One of those ways is offering popcorn. Every Friday and Saturday, the Manji family is opening their theatres, and they’re selling popcorn.

Last week my daughter and my house have instituted a have-fun Friday. Have-fun Friday is mandatory. Everybody is in the house. Phones are off. Takeout — usually her choice, which can be debatable sometimes, and a movie.

Last week I went and picked up popcorn at the Caprice, and I was proud to say it was lined up around the block. That made me so happy and proud of my community. I want to make sure that we’re all finding ways to support our local businesses, to make sure that they’re there for us tomorrow, but we need to be there for them today.

I want to thank the Manji family for being so creative, and I will be there tomorrow to get our popcorn.

FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD HAMPER
SERVICES IN NELSON-CRESTON AREA

B. Anderson: I would like to share the important work so many people are doing in communities across the Nelson-Creston riding to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food. We know this year has been hard on so many people in our community, and the holidays are an especially challenging time for our communities’ most vulnerable. I am grateful to share some of the inspiring work being done by organizations and individuals across my constituency to ensure everyone has access to good food this holiday season.

Some of these initiatives provide year-round support to community, while others step up for the holidays. These organizations provide a range of services such as hot lunch programs, Meals on Wheels for seniors, food bank services, community gardens, cooking programs, Harvest Share and holiday hampers.

In the expansive riding of Nelson-Creston, several organizations provide these important services, including: the Kaslo Food Cupboard, Salmo community service, the Creston Ministerial Association, Creston Valley Gleaners, Valley Community Services, East Shore food hamper program, the South Kootenay Lake Community Services Society, the Nelson Community Food Centre, Our Daily Bread, the Salvation Army, the West Kootenay EcoSociety and the Nelson Youth Centre. We’re truly blessed to have so many organizations supporting our communities.

In rural areas, we rely on the goodwill and neighbours helping neighbours. These initiatives rely on private donations, student-led projects, the generosity of local businesses and grants to be able to provide to those in need. Those are only a few of the very important initiatives that are happening across my constituency this holiday season.

Please join me in thanking all of the amazing volunteers and service providers who make sure that everyone has a joyful holiday season.

[10:15 a.m.]

WILDLIFE AND HABITAT RESTORATION
IN EAST KOOTENAYS

T. Shypitka: We as British Columbians put a value on our forests, minerals, oil and gas, but we put no value on perhaps our greatest resource of them all: our wildlife and habitat. There is no example of this that is more grossly obvious around our province than in my riding of Kootenay East.

At one time, the East Kootenays we were referred to as the Serengeti of North America, home to the most diverse populations of predator and prey on our continent, but no longer. We still have diversity. However, our population numbers have plummeted. So how do we prioritize wildlife and habitat in the province?

For starters, I want to celebrate all of our strong stewards of the land across the province. I’m talking about our regional biologists, our hunters, trappers, guide-outfitters and wildlife enthusiasts who all want the exact same thing, and that is to restore our wildlife populations and habitat to where they need to be in order to enjoy the beauty and recreation that we all deserve. In a concerted effort, these fine stewards will work with government and First Nations to make decisions that are specific to their regions of this massively diverse province in a way that is science-based and culturally practised for hundreds of years, if not thousands.

Finally, we need political will and an independent funding model dedicated to wildlife and habitat that will ensure that this priority will be with us for many generations to come.

In closing, I would like to say that this is not radical thinking. Many jurisdictions have done this with great success. However, to my knowledge, no government in our province’s history has ever been able to accomplish what I’m suggesting. I know we have enough bright minds in this House to do it. I invite this entire Legislature to open your ears and minds to this enormous issue and to please put wildlife and habitat high on your list of priorities in order for a stronger British Columbia now and in the future.

DISTRICT OF MISSION
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

P. Alexis: Today I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible volunteers from my riding of Abbotsford-Mission who have continued to support our community throughout the pandemic. For many, many years, the District of Mission Community Service Awards have recognized those who have demonstrated exemplary volunteer service within the Mission community. I can tell you that the volunteers that have stepped up during this difficult time have been outstanding.

Recently the district of Mission hosted a virtual celebration for the 2020 award recipients, which I had the privilege of participating in. I have actually been very fortunate to know many of them personally through a number of different events and organizations that I’ve worked on with them.

I hope that the House will indulge me as I read out their names: Rocky Blondin; Dr. Carol Pomeroy; the Stave Valley Salmonid Enhancement Society; Sebastien On­yemaobi; St. Joseph’s Food Bank and its volunteers; Simone Redburn; Brenda Davison; Jean-Pierre Maher; Mission Health Care Auxiliary Society, celebrating its 100th birthday; Jim Hinds; Dwight Elliott; Andrew Hale; Helen Yannacopoulos; John Glendon Flett, presented posthumously; Mission Community Services Society Food Centre and Christmas Bureau and its volunteers; Angel Elias; the Mennonite Central Committee thrift shop volunteers; Bert Pulles; Elke Katzenbach; Dr. Peter Robson; and, finally, Lloyd Rash and Ken Selvaraja, who were presented the Freeman of the City award this year.

I want to acknowledge all the volunteers in both communities of Abbotsford and Mission for their exemplary work throughout this entire certainly challenging time.

SERVICE OF LEGISLATURE STAFF
DURING COVID-19

S. Furstenau: Hon. Speaker, I’m delighted to see you in your role as Speaker. However, without you on the floor, we do not have the sharp eyes and witness reports that we have come to expect about the comings and goings of the smallest Legislative Assembly occupant, the mouse in the House. The mouse has much to report this year and would like her observations to be put on the record.

[10:20 a.m.]

The mouse has seen the Legislative Assembly Protective Services staff go above and beyond this year in their efforts to keep all of us safe and secure. The mouse has quietly observed the legislative librarians continue to dig through archives and records and keep all of our spirits afloat with books uploaded to our devices throughout this year.

In the dining room, where the mouse dare not go, chefs and servers have been perhaps less busy but no less cheerful and caring in their efforts to keep all of us fed.

In recognition of the rather challenging year it has been for IT and Hansard staff as they have risen again and again to every challenge, the mouse has made a commitment to chew through no wires whatsoever.

While the mouse recognizes that her relationship with facilities and cleaning staff is a strained one, she still re­ports her deep admiration for their extra efforts this year as they have focused their attention on keeping out an intruder even smaller and more invisible than herself.

The mouse has seen the Clerk’s office make this hybrid model work marvellously, but she does express her regrets that there are far fewer tasty crumbs in the building with so many of the MLAs beaming in virtually.

The mouse and I would like to thank everyone in the Legislative Assembly who has worked so hard and brought us through so well this very difficult year.

I wish for all of you a restful and peaceful break and a far less interesting 2021.

GURU NANAK’S FREE KITCHEN

A. Singh: Quite interesting, the mouse.

I’d like to speak on the tradition of giving. Gibran says: “There are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue. They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space. Through the hands of such as these, God speaks, and from behind their eyes. He smiles upon the earth.”

The people of Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen in Queensborough are people grown from this soil, a soil that breeds empathy and love. Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen is a site that was formed in 2007 by volunteers who wanted, needed to make a difference in their fellow humans in the Downtown Eastside.

Their motto is “Love all, feed all.” They feed an average of 4,000 hot, nutritious, vegetarian meals in the Downtown Eastside every month. Everything is donated by the community. The Sikh gurdwara in Queensborough generously shares its commercial kitchen with the volunteers so they can cook fresh meals every Saturday and every Sunday morning to be served in the Downtown Eastside later that day.

They gather food donations from several sources and help distribute thousands of pounds of free groceries to over 15 different shelters and organizations, including Indigenous-led organizations. Several hundred people now volunteer with the Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen — I volunteered with them as well — an amazing organization.

During the holiday season, they organize a toy drive. Last year they were able to get over 3,000 toys to kids in need over Christmas. They’re hoping to exceed that this year. They hold an annual school supply drive where they have been able to provide elementary school children in need with much-needed school supplies, including laptops.

Every Valentine’s Day they distribute care packages to shelters all over the Lower Mainland. Last year they were able to distribute about 1,200 care packages. Again, they hope to exceed that this year, all with volunteers and the care of the community.

Their mission. They’re a Sikh faith-led volunteer organization that works for the benefit of all communities that wants to enrich the lives of people through Guru Nanak’s teaching — honest living, sharing and selfless service.

Please stand with me in recognizing their courage, strength and generosity.

Oral Questions

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR DISABILITY
AND INCOME ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS

S. Bond: On Tuesday, Sam from Port Moody wrote an email to the Premier. This is what Sam wrote. “I had been observing how the NDP is handling the PWD rates clawback, and, Premier, you chose to make the harsh changes after the election by clawing back the PWD rates when these people are some of the most vulnerable people during the pandemic. It is incomprehensible”.

The Premier has, throughout the course of the last days, tried to dodge accountability by making the absolutely ridiculous claim that he is only one voice at the cabinet table.

Well, to the Premier, that’s simply not good enough. Will he stand up, do his job and end the clawback?

[10:25 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: Minister of Social Development and Po­verty Reduction.

Again, Members, I just want to give you a heads up. His Wi-fi may not work as we expect, so he’ll do his best.

Hon. N. Simons: Thank you from Tla’amin territory.

I appreciate the question from the Leader of the Opposition.

As we’ve said quite clearly, we are pleased that the recovery benefit, which is available to 3.7 million British Columbians…. To just review, the member should know that, in March, the province introduced the workers benefit, for which these individuals were not eligible. A supplement was put in place of $300 a month, and that was put in place for three months. It was renewed twice.

We have the new recovery benefit for which individuals on income assistance and disability assistance are eligible, as well as those receiving the seniors supplement. I would point out that by the end of March, all of these individuals will receive more money than they otherwise would have.

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

S. Bond: What the minister should know and be paying attention to are the voices of people in British Columbia, people with disabilities, low-income seniors. Frankly, they’re getting tired of listening to this minister give the same answer day after day after day.

Here’s what Sam had to say to the Premier. “Again, the focus is now, not what happened 16 years ago or two years ago. It is now, and we will be watching you to keep your word, because right now you don’t appear to be advocating. Instead you took action, clawing back PWD rates. This is the saddest decision this government has ever made.”

Will the minister, the Premier, somebody stand up and answer Sam’s concerns — Sam and thousands of other British Columbians like Sam? Will the Premier stand up and end the clawback today?

Hon. N. Simons: If the opposition wanted to ask a different question, they would get a different answer. But the question has been the same, and the answer has been clear. Individuals receiving income assistance and disability assistance are eligible for more money by the end of March.

If the member will just cast her mind back not that long ago, she’ll remember that her government was responsible for not just the clawbacks of the transportation supplement, maternity benefits, parental payments…. They made seniors apply for their CPP at age 60, causing them to lose significant amounts of income.

The province is committed to reducing poverty, and we’ve made important steps in that direction after years and years of inaction. I’m pleased. I think the member should remind all her constituents that they are eligible for this funding as part of the recovery benefit.

D. Davies: Jewelles Smith with the Council of Canadians with Disabilities said: “Cutting this $300 benefit in half and then eliminating it completely in three months is shocking and, frankly, quite cruel. We certainly did not expect the benefit to be cut before the pandemic was…over.”

To the Premier, will he end this clawback?

Hon. N. Simons: Thank you very much to the member for Peace River North. I can tell him quite clearly that the recovery benefit being available to 3.7 million British Columbians is a benefit that will benefit all our communities.

I expect that the member knows the story of how, in March, a workers benefit was established to which they were not eligible, and the recovery benefit is now made available to 3.7 million British Columbians.

[10:30 a.m.]

Let me give you an example. Maybe this will help the member for Peace River North understand. An individual would’ve received $900 under the current system. With the benefit, they will receive more, $950. But it’s even more significant for a single parent. Close to 20,000 single parents will receive $1,450 instead of $900. By my calculations, that’s $550 more.

I understand the member has his job to do, but the province is providing assistance to those most in need, and we will continue to do so.

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

D. Davies: The minister, I think, is the one that is doing the math wrong. Every other British Columbian and everybody that’s on social media — everyone who has been reaching out to myself, as well as, I’m sure, the minister — sees this in a very different picture. One of the words I hear: this now is Christmas clawback. That’s what this is, right before Christmas.

Government loves to go down memory lane recently. So let’s go down memory lane. On March 2, 2016, the now Premier had this to say. “I want to ask…. I want to plead with the Minister” — the then Minister of Social Development — “listen to the people you’re supposed to represent, not the spin doctors back at public affairs…it’s your decision. Do the right thing.”

Maybe the Premier…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

D. Davies: …will listen to his own advice, and he will do the right thing. Will he reverse this decision today?

Hon. N. Simons: I thank the member for his supplemental. I’m not travelling that far down memory lane — in fact, just to March of this year.

In March of this year, we instituted a workers benefit. That was made eligible to a certain number of people that did not include people on disability assistance or income assistance and did not reach to the seniors who were receiving the supplement. We instituted a $300-a-month supplement. That $300-a-month supplement was scheduled for three months. It was extended twice and continues until the end of this month.

We now have a recovery benefit, for which people on income assistance and disability assistance are eligible. I’m pleased to say that at the end of March, those on income assistance and disability assistance and, indeed, those receiving the seniors supplement will be eligible for more money than they otherwise would have.

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES

A. Olsen: As we move into the winter months, B.C. businesses are facing challenges like they’ve never seen before. It’s heartbreaking to see how many family-owned businesses, the entrepreneurs, the investors in the communities, are going to be closing their doors permanently. So far, this government, frankly, hasn’t acted quickly enough to throw the lifeline to these businesses. The programs that have been developed have been difficult to access, with a lot of red tape, and it’s unclear — the timeline — about when the money will flow.

Today’s fiscal update did not shed any light on the $300 million small business program that this government created back in September. This money is an essential lifeline for businesses and needs to be landing now to have the greatest impact.

My question to the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation: how many businesses have applied; how many have been found eligible and actually gotten out the door to help support small business owners through this winter?

Hon. R. Kahlon: I want to thank the member for his question. Of course, on this side of the House, we know that it’s a challenging time, not only for small businesses but for people throughout B.C. The member talks about one grant, but I think he has to also acknowledge the host of things that we’ve been doing as a government to support small businesses.

[10:35 a.m.]

Just recently a survey came out that two-thirds of all businesses in B.C. are functioning right now with supports from government. That’s a significant number. So 95 percent of jobs that we lost during COVID have come back. That’s something that was raised again by the Minister of Finance today in the economic update. And $470 million went to PST rebates. We’ve brought in tax credits for payroll for employers that want to either hire new employees or bring employees back. There’s a whole host of others.

I appreciate the member’s question. We also know how difficult of a time it is. We’ve been working for the last two weeks, since I’ve been named in this portfolio, with stakeholders, to find ways that more businesses can get access to this program. I appreciate the work of all of these associations with us, and there will be more to come shortly.

Mr. Speaker: The member for Saanich North and the Islands on a supplemental.

A. Olsen: I think what we’re trying to get to with the point of this question is some actual substance. Unfortunately, what we continue to get, and what we’ve got quite often in our responses in this session, is rhetoric.

We’re looking for the numbers. We want to know how much of the $300 million which we in this place have put forward to businesses has got to businesses. We want to know how many businesses have applied. We want to know how successful this program has been. Unfortunately, there was a missed opportunity this morning. The minister just missed another opportunity to highlight the success of this program if, indeed, this program has been successful.

It’s December. This program is now three months old. It’s been eight months since this House authorized the government to spend $1.5 billion. The only report that we’ve seen so far suggests that 500 businesses have applied, meaning that if they got the full subsidy, only $15 million of the $300 million, 5 percent, has actually been allocated. Those are old numbers. We’re just looking for new numbers.

My question, again, is to the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. When can we expect a full and comprehensive update about how this money that has been earmarked for small businesses has been spent, and when will we know how many businesses have actually been supported for these holidays?

Hon. R. Kahlon: I’ve already shared with the members that over 1,400 businesses have already come through the door. It’s important to note that the program was set up in a two-stage approach. First stage for these businesses was up to $2,000 for supports for them to build a financial plan for their own recovery, which has been well received by many businesses throughout B.C. The second stage was the financial supports.

The member has to acknowledge the amount of investment we’ve made to support businesses throughout B.C. It’s considerable. I mean, we’ve got $190 million in tax credits for them to bring back employees or hire new employees. A 25 percent property tax cut. That’s significant. Also, 65 percent of rent support from the federal government.

You know, even the restaurant sector — we know they were hurt. We took actions to expediate the patio licences.

Interjections.

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

Minister, continue.

Hon. R. Kahlon: It’s difficult to hear all the investments we’re making, but they should hear this. It’s important. It’s important because it’s a responsibility of all of us to make sure that businesses know that these supports are available for them.

We’ve been meeting with stakeholders in various sectors — the associations. They all agree that they’re going to work together to make sure every one of their members knows all the things that are available for them. I encourage all members of this House to reach out to small businesses in their communities, encourage them to apply for these supports. We want to help as many businesses as we can in this province.

BUDGET PROCESS CHANGES

M. de Jong: Well, the Finance Minister has been busy. In just three weeks, she has managed to violate her government’s commitment and legal obligations to First Nations, has created further uncertainty around the budget process by altering basic timing and reporting requirements, and today we are witnessing yet another blatant attempt at budgetary manipulation.

[10:40 a.m.]

The minister and her government are asking for authority to spend an additional $2 billion. It’s $2 billion the government doesn’t have. They’re going to have to borrow it. But to the point made by the member from Saanich, why did she purposely wait until the final hours of this legislative session to provide a fiscal update that includes information about matters that are directly relevant to the decision facing members of this chamber?

Her behaviour obligates me to ask this question: what is she trying to hide? Why is she trying to hide, and why is she taking a budget process that has been recognized across the nation for its openness, its transparency, its predictability and turning it into exactly the opposite?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, the member’s accusations are insulting at best. We have been transparent. We have brought in legislation. We have passed legislation. We’ll keep doing the work to take care of the people of this province.

COVID-19 IMPACT ON SERVICES FOR
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND YOUTH
AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

J. Tegart: In her report Left Out, the Representative for Children and Youth told the heartbreaking stories of parents of children and youth with special needs who have been supported by the province.

Pandemic support was stopped in the fall. Parents have struggled ever since, as the snap election meant no support. The representative was clear: the pandemic supports should be restored for a year. The government has refused.

To the Premier, will he immediately provide families of children and youth with special needs with the support they need and deserve?

Hon. M. Dean: I thank the member for the question. I really want to thank the families who took part in that report and shared their very powerful stories. I want to thank the Representative for Children and Youth, as well, for putting together such an informative and powerful report.

I share her concerns. My heart goes out to the families who are impacted. Daily life is tough and difficult and a struggle and a challenge, anyway, for many of these families. When the pandemic hit, of course, that made it even more difficult. The system has been fragmented for far too long. So the cracks in the system have been exposed with this pandemic.

We did step in. We did offer support, and we’re continuing to offer flexibility in the use of resources for respite, and families and people who serve families have told us that has been very welcome.

But the system needs a fix. We need to put children and youth at the centre of the system. In my mandate letter, the Premier has tasked me to do that. I’ve already instructed staff to get moving on this as quickly as we can and to strike an advisory panel.

CHILD CARE FUNDING

K. Kirkpatrick: Yesterday the government seemed surprised that they had promised parents an extra $250 million for child care in this fiscal year. The response from the Minister of Finance was “it would be an inappropriate place for those investments to be made.”

Moms and dads are feeling extra pressure this year and believe that government’s promise was not an empty one.

To the Premier, the promise was for $250 million in new funding this fiscal year for child care. Where is that money?

Hon. K. Chen: Again, as a parent myself with a young child, I know that parents in B.C. have been struggling during this pandemic, making the very tough decisions about whether to return to work, put their kids in child care and about the safety and the health of their children.

This is a challenging time for the sector as well. That is why our government has been working hard to make sure we have the support available, including our temporary emergency funding and all the other programs in place to support child care providers, to support early childhood educators and parents.

[10:45 a.m.]

The $250 million that the member opposite keeps quoting was from our platform commitment. The member opposite should know very well that we’re going through the budget process. There is a process to follow, and our government has been committed and has been working hard to make sure we bring an inclusive universal early learning and care system for all British Columbian families, when the other side of the government had neglected the crisis until 2017.

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES

T. Stone: The NDP promised that it would put small businesses at the front of B.C.’s economic recovery, and that simply hasn’t happened. The only thing that the small business community has seen from the NDP thus far, in terms of help, has been a single economic recovery grant program, which very few are applying for, because very few are eligible. It’s a red-tape disaster.

Now, if we want confirmation on this, you just have to look at the numbers. The Minister of Jobs has thrown out the number of 1,400 businesses that are in the process of applying for the small and medium-sized business recovery grant. That’s of an estimated 15,000 businesses that the government projected would be eligible for this benefit.

Now, I’ve asked these questions multiple times last week and this week. I asked them in supplementary estimates yesterday. I’ve asked them in question period. The member for Saanich North and the Islands has asked questions. We’re looking for detail.

I’m going to ask one more time. A question to the Premier would be this. Of the $300 million that’s in this grant program, exactly how many dollars have actually been allocated to those that are in the process of applying for this funding? I’d like the government to answer that in detail today.

Hon. R. Kahlon: There are a couple of….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Continue, Minister.

Hon. R. Kahlon: Thank you, hon. Speaker. The member wants to know how much money is allocated, and I’m going to tell the member that $300 million has been allocated.

The member also fails to acknowledge that we have one of the most comprehensive recovery plans in all of Canada.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s listen to the answer, please. There’s no point in asking questions if he can’t get the answer.

Continue, Minister.

Hon. R. Kahlon: We have one of the most comprehensive plans across the country — $470 million in PST rebates. The member failed to mention that in his remarks. And $300 million, of course, he mentioned, $190 million in tax credits for businesses that want to either hire someone new or bring employees back.

We know many sectors face different challenges. We know that the restaurant sector faces significant challenges. We accelerated permits so that they can allow more people to have patio space during the summer. We brought in wholesale prices for them so that they could see savings on liquor pricing.

This is not to even mention….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, please.

Carry on, Minister.

Hon. R. Kahlon: That’s not even mentioning all the supports that the federal government has put in place as well, hon. Member.

I would say that the stats were clear, and the Minister of Finance confirmed it today. Ninety-five percent of jobs that we lost pre-COVID have come back. We know, with the new COVID restrictions, that there are going to be some significant challenges for businesses over the holidays. We’re going to continue to work with them to ensure that we make this program as accessible as possible so that as many businesses as possible can get the supports they need. That’s our goal. We want to support as many businesses and people through this difficult time in this pandemic.

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR TOURISM
INDUSTRY AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

T. Wat: Yesterday we asked the minister a simple question, when will the tourism industry receive the financial support this government promised them, and what was her response? She used the pandemic as an excuse. What the minister doesn’t seem to understand is these businesses need help now because we are still in the middle of a global pandemic.

My question is to the Premier. I hope the Premier will answer this question. The Premier promised the tourism sector relief, and the Premier has failed to deliver it. Why has your government failed to keep its promise?

[10:50 a.m.]

Hon. M. Mark: I’d like to thank the member, again, for the question. The first week on the job I met with the chair of the task force that our government put into place. One of the key actions that we did was set aside $50 million to the task force. We have, in the middle of this pandemic, set aside $100 million for recovery to invest in infrastructure.

The most immediate focus right now is people’s safety, but when this pandemic is over, we need to return to the business of tourism being on the map for visitors to come to British Columbia. We want it to be safe.

For right now, we are working to implement the recommendations of the task force. I received it last week. I’ve met with the task force. There are seven recommendations. I am doing the work, following the process. The members opposite are maybe suggesting that I shouldn’t follow the rules. There are processes with public funds. You have to go through Treasury Board. There are processes.

The public service is working around the clock to deliver good news. Good news is coming. Good news is coming to the tourism sector. I thank the member opposite for the question, because tourism is vitally important to our province, and we are going to help.

GOVERNMENT ACTION ON OPIOID CRISIS

S. Cadieux: So far this year there have been 1,386 opioid deaths in British Columbia. They were brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. They won’t be there to celebrate Christmas with their families.

To the Premier, how can we all work together to ensure that next year fewer families have to face such a tragedy?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: I thank my colleague for sharing our deep concern about the tragic loss of life, something that had hit British Columbia hard and early compared to the rest of the country, and something that the pandemic has made worse in every single turn.

We extend our deep gratitude to the organizations on the front line, from paramedics to grassroots organizations to parent groups, that have been advocating and proposing such constructive solutions. I’m encouraged that some of the measures that my predecessor, the first Minister of Mental Health and Addictions across the country, brought in over the last three years had started to curve down the line of overdose deaths, but sadly, the pandemic has made everything worse.

So we have been working flat out. The mandate that the Premier has given me to build more treatment beds, to expand overdose prevention services, to work on prescription safe supply, to advocate to the federal government for the decriminalization of small amounts of illicit drugs — the personal possession — as a way to reduce stigma is going to help all of those pieces. But no one single measure will do the work that is necessary to save the lives that we are committed to saving.

I will note the new mental health and addictions treatment response centre that was established in Surrey, in the member’s riding. That’s just one example of when we work together and treat this crisis as the health care crisis that it is. Pulling together, with so much more work to do, we’re determined to save lives.

[End of question period.]

Petitions

Mr. Speaker: We have two petitions, the first one from the member for Saanich North and the Islands.

A. Olsen: I rise today to submit a petition with 124 signatures from concerned citizens in my riding with respect to the rules around driver’s licensing and the requirement of 80-year-old seniors in British Columbia to get a medical test every two years.

[10:55 a.m.]

Hon. N. Simons: I rise in the House today to present a petition from Pesticide Free Powell River, signed by well over 1,000 people locally and from afar, asking Western Forest Products, local governments and the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Environment to stop the use of pesticides in our forest industry.

I’ll be forwarding this petition to the Office of the Clerk.

Tabling Documents

Hon. S. Robinson: I have the honour to present the Fall 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update.

Hon. L. Beare: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

Hon. L. Beare: I see in the gallery with us today, Daniela Gardea, who, for those who may not know, is a senior ministerial adviser in Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. It will be her last question period today as she is retiring this week.

On behalf of the Minister of Finance; the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport; and myself, I want to thank her for all of her dedicated service to British Columbians and, on my behalf, for being our friend. We will miss you in this building.