Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

AVALANCHE CANADA

D. Clovechok: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to rise today to speak about an iconic Canadian service organization located right here in British Columbia. That is Avalanche Canada, or AvCan. The crew from AvCan is watching the live stream, so welcome to Gilles and everyone that’s online.

[10:05 a.m.]

AvCan is a non-government, non-profit, charitable organization and is Canada’s national avalanche safety organization. It’s based in my riding in the beautiful city of Revelstoke. They develop and deliver public avalanche forecasts and special public avalanche warnings, as well as world-class public safety programs for the mountainous regions in Canada. They also provide curriculum and support to instructors of recreational avalanche skills and training courses, deliver public avalanche awareness and education programs, encourage public avalanche research, provide curriculum to teachers and organizations and act as a central hub for avalanche information.

The organization was formed in 2004, after a report was prepared for the government of B.C. after 29 people were killed by avalanches in Canada during the winter of 2002 and 2003. This included seven high school students in the 2003 Connaught Creek avalanche.

AvCan is led by executive director Gilles Valade, who is one of the most impassioned and hard-working professionals I’ve had the pleasure to work with. It’s an organization critical not only to the safety of British Columbians but to the many thousands of visitors that enjoy our back country. AvCan is recognized internationally as a leader in public avalanche safety. They provide forecasts for 14 regions that total 330,000 square kilometres, 98 percent of which is in British Columbia. By comparison, the United States has 22 different avalanche centres providing forecasts for less than 200,000 square kilometres in total.

Current evidence indicates that due to COVID-19, there has been an increase in back-country recreation, and many of these users are inexperienced. It should be noted that because of this increase, search and rescue teams continue to have an unusually busy winter, making Avalanche Canada’s accident prevention programs even more important. Unfortunately, while the back country has been busier than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened an already downward trend in sponsorship for Avalanche Canada. Private businesses are no longer able to fund what is clearly a public service.

The federal government has recognized the importance of AvCan. In 2019, they provided a $25 million, one-time contribution that will help Avalanche Canada over 15 years. This funding, however, was conditioned on shared funding from the provinces. The approved business plan was based on AvCan’s receiving increased funding from B.C.

The funding from this province is expected to be proportionate to the level of services it receives from Avalanche Canada and an accurate reflection of the avalanche problem in B.C. More than 95 percent of AvCan’s forecast regions are in B.C., over 80 percent of AvCan’s entire budget is spent in B.C. and, tragically, 75 percent of all avalanche fatalities in Canada in the last 20 years occurred in B.C. So far this year, eight people have died in avalanches in Canada, all of them in British Columbia.

In 2019, the government promised $1 million every year for AvCan. Multiple times we’ve heard from this government a commitment to that funding, but the funds have yet to arrive. Although AvCan has a national and international recognition, they continue to struggle for recognition and support from the province that benefits the most: B.C.

Fifteen organizations representing “everyone who is anyone in this industry” have sent letters urging this government to financially support AvCan. It will come as a shock to most British Columbians that although B.C. receives most of AvCan’s products and services, the province of B.C. is lagging far behind in providing adequate funding. The Yukon, for example, provides $60,000 annually to AvCan, representing approximately $1.40 per resident, even though a significant portion of that funding is spent in B.C. Even Alberta, with its struggling economy, provides funding to Avalanche Canada in a multi-year commitment.

The province of B.C., on the other hand, usually provides $400,000 each year, representing just eight cents per resident. I say “usually” because this provincial funding is not guaranteed. Up to $250,000 of AvCan’s annual funding from B.C. comes in the form of community gaming grants, which means that AvCan has to re-apply every year for this grant.

This past year has added a level of uncertainty again. Instead of receiving a notification of community grant funding in November 2020, AvCan was notified that confirmation would not happen until February 2021, which created an unnecessary and unreasonable level of uncertainty for the organization’s operating budget.

[10:10 a.m.]

Just this past year alone, Avalanche Canada braced itself for $287,000 lost in funding, based on several programs. EMBC’s $500,000 grant in 2017 has now ended. EMBC’s $25,000 grant for Mountain Information Network has ended. Columbia Basin Trust has indicated their funding will not be renewed when it expires, as well as…. There are others. With $287,000 this year, the planned expansion of avalanche safety programs into underserved regions, including the Northern Rockies and Vancouver Island, cannot go ahead without more funding from B.C.

Avalanche Canada provides an essential service to the province. Our own government agencies, including B.C. Parks; B.C. Hydro; Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development; EMBC; the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure; hundreds of search-and-rescue volunteers and so many others all rely on AvCan’s daily forecasts as safety and risk management tools.

Several times, we’ve heard from this government that funding is coming. How many more tragedies and lost lives is it going to take to get the Premier Horgan’s attention before he makes good on his government’s commitment for the sustained and adequate funding that AvCan was promised.

Deputy Speaker: Member, I can appreciate the seriousness of the issue, but this is not a time for partisan attacks. This is not a time for naming of government officials. The member should know that by now. Thank you.

D. Clovechok: Duly noted, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker: The member for Nelson-Creston.

B. Anderson: Thank you, Speaker, and thank you to the member for highlighting the important work of Avalanche Canada. I would first like to provide condolences to the family and loved ones of a local snowmobiler, Joe LeBlanc, who was killed in an avalanche near Kaslo earlier this month. Joe was a search-and-rescue volunteer and an experienced back-country enthusiast. I would also like to extend my condolences and thanks to the Kaslo search-and-rescue team who responded to the avalanche.

One of the joys of living in or visiting B.C. is exploring the wonders of our mountainous back country. It is a great way to experience incredible natural beauty and get exercise. But travelling in the winter back country can include the risk of avalanches. Avalanches are the deadliest natural disaster in Canada, killing more people every year than all other natural disasters combined.

Michel Trudeau’s — the brother of our current Prime Minister’s — body lies to rest at the bottom of Kokanee Lake, after being pushed into the glacial lake by an avalanche over two decades ago. That same year, my friend’s aunt Mary Cowan was killed by an avalanche that took the lives of six people during a back-country ski adventure in Kokanee glacier provincial park. Our community loses people to the back-country avalanches every year.

Avalanches pose a real risk to winter back-country enthusiasts. Avalanche Canada provides resources that help to ensure that people are able to recreate safely. With our beautiful mountain ranges in B.C., we have approximately 80 percent of the avalanche risk terrain in Canada.

With COVID-19, people have been going outdoors in record numbers. I know our local stores that are selling outdoor recreation equipment have experienced a sharp increase in interest. It is extremely important that people have the information, training and skills to keep themselves and others safe in the back country.

The province appreciates Avalanche Canada’s continued support for back-country users through public avalanche forecasts and outreach, trip-planning tools, terrain models and world-class avalanche safety programs and courses. Avalanche Canada issues public information about risks and safety and the precautions that should be followed by back-country enthusiasts.

Avalanche Canada provides courses that teach people how to make terrain choices that are appropriate for the conditions. These courses provide students with a strong foundation in planning and decision-making in avalanche terrain. Their courses are important for any back-country recreationalist, whether they access their winter playground by ski, board, sled, snowshoe or climbing. These courses empower recreationists to enjoy Canada’s winter back country and to be safe from avalanches.

[10:15 a.m.]

The province provides $400,000 in annual funding, through various ministries, for the existing services provided by Avalanche Canada, including $150,000 from emergency management B.C. to support avalanche bulletins, $250,000 in community gaming grants through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for operational costs, and approximately $10,000 annually for special avalanche warning alerts. The province also supports search-and-rescue volunteers with avalanche training.

On their social media, Avalanche Canada reminds us that avalanche dangers rise with the heat, and there are more fatal avalanche accidents in March than any other month. In fact, nearly 30 percent of avalanche fatalities occur in the month of March. Three major factors contribute to this statistic, including a complex snowpack that’s developed during the winter, a destabilized snowpack due to warming temperatures and an increase in mountain accessibility that takes place in March.

To help keep Canadians safe, Avalanche Canada recently launched Avy Savvy, a new online tutorial geared to back-country beginners. The program is aimed at new users of the winter back country and provides solid introduction to avalanche safety. Avy Savvy is not a substitute for taking the avalanche skills training course, but it gives people an overview.

In close, as we look forward to spring, many of us will want to get a few more days of fun under our belts before the snow melts. I would like to remind everyone to please ensure they’re using the resources provided by Avalanche Canada to have fun and stay safe in the back country.

D. Clovechok: I’d like to thank the member for her response. The need for AvCan has never been greater. The funding issue and the shortfall from B.C. is nothing new, but here we are. The funding commitments that have been made have never been more crucial. Canada recognizes the need. Alberta recognizes the need. The Yukon recognizes the need. The many non-government donors recognize the need — and fund the need. But where is B.C.?

To put this into context, on Thursday, July 20, 2020, in the Committee of Supply, I had the opportunity to ask the Minister of Public Safety about the province’s commitment of $1 million in funding for AvCan that had been made when I asked the same funding issue in 2019. My ask was simple both times. As quoted from Hansard: “Will the minister commit to providing guaranteed annual funding so that AvCan does not have to wait for their gaming grant application?”

From the Minister of Public Safety, I heard: “I fully recognize the value of AvCan. I think they do a remarkable job. I did commit to go to Treasury Board. I went to Treasury Board. Was it successful this year? No. But I committed to trying to find a sustainable, long-term funding format for AvCan in the same way that we’ve done for search-and-rescue here in British Columbia.”

I also asked: “Would the minister commit to advocating for a one-time lump-sum grant that would eliminate the need for AvCan to apply annually for the community gaming grant, that way guaranteeing the resources like Alberta, that has given a three-year commitment to AvCan?”

His answer again: “I will continue to push for that.”

The minister is an honourable man, so I took him at his word. Yet it’s hard to understand why other provinces, a Canadian territory and multiple private donors have understood the importance of funding AvCan and have delivered, but not B.C.

Well, actions speak louder than words, and lives are at risk. It’s time for empty words and promises from B.C., to step up, and it’s long past….

Deputy Speaker: Member, Member.

D. Clovechok: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker: Excuse me, Member. It is quite possible to take strong policy positions on issues for your party without targeting a single member. I would recommend that the member, before getting up and giving another statement in the House, review the standing orders for private members’ statements.

I gave a warning earlier, and I’d hoped the member would take this to heart. It’s a time that we try to get the best out of all of ourselves and out of this chamber, without targeting individual members for denigration or attacks. Please take that to note, Member. We’re going to move on now.

[10:20 a.m.]

ACCESSIBILITY

D. Coulter: I’d like to first begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you today from the traditional unceded territory of the Stó:lō people and, in particular, that of the Halq’eméylem-speaking people.

It’s my pleasure to speak to this chamber about accessibility today. In his groundbreaking TED Talk about e-accessibility for people in the deaf community, Mohamed Jemni puts it succinctly: “The disability is not the problem; the accessibility is the problem.” At its core, accessibility is about removing barriers to provide equal access to social, political and economic life. We need to focus on removing the barriers people with disabilities experience in their daily lives, including physical, attitudinal and information barriers.

I can tell you that accessibility is a key priority for this government. As many of you likely know, our government has been working on developing accessibility legislation, set to be introduced this spring. Working on creating accessible, liveable communities throughout the province is something that our government really believes in and is something I personally value. I’m so grateful that the Premier put his trust in me to lead a part of this work.

As someone with a spinal cord injury who has been using a wheelchair for over 20 years now, I know firsthand how frustrating seemingly small barriers can be for people with disabilities. When I go to a new business, community centre or public space, I circle the building in my car, looking to see how accessible it is. Are there curb cuts? If so, where are they? Is there a ramp available? If so, what’s the gradient? Is there an accessible door? If not, will it be wide enough for my chair?

These are just a few of the questions that I ask myself every day. And while repeating this process, I, alongside other people with disabilities, am reminded of the multiple barriers — not only in the built environment — of a world that wasn’t built with us in mind. While I may have some lived experience as a person with a disability, I am by no means an expert on all of the barriers that people living with disabilities face on a day-to-day basis.

I believe that our government’s forthcoming accessibility legislation will be transformative for all British Columbians. Nearly 25 percent of people in our province are living with a disability, and as the population ages, we know that number is set to increase. The new accessibility legislation will seek to tackle barriers through the development of new accessibility standards that will benefit all British Columbians. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be directly involved in developing new guidelines, laws and policies that will shape the future of a more accessible British Columbia.

Nearly 7,000 people, including people with lived experience, service providers and small business owners, participated in the consultation process in 2019 to share their ideas about how we can best integrate accessibility into our daily lives. To create more inclusive, liveable communities, we need to look beyond our workplaces and homes. How can we make our small businesses more accessible? How can we improve the way we communicate or incorporate a more inclusive curriculum into our education systems?

Over two months, our dedicated ministry staff put in the time to connect with and listen to self-advocates, caregivers, supporting organizations, Indigenous communities and business groups to find out what government should be prioritizing when it comes to accessibility. Our approach, in lead-up to the introduction of this legislation and throughout the development of its implementation, will continue to be in line with the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

The principle of “Nothing about us without us” will continue to guide our process, meaning that people with disabilities will continue to be engaged in this process every step of the way. Our goal is to make real and significant changes to the way things are done in B.C. Accessibility doesn’t look the same for everyone. That’s why the voices of the people who are asking for changes must be front and centre throughout this process.

While this legislation will be transformative in building a British Columbia that works better for all of us, our government is already taking action to make our communities more accessible. Just one example close to home: the Ministry of Environment has demonstrated their leadership by implementing a series of changes to make B.C. parks and campgrounds more accessible. In my neighbouring riding of Chilliwack-Kent, Maple Bay campground in Cultus Lake Provincial Park now has accessible cabins. These newly constructed wheelchair-accessible cabins have leveled entryways and are close to the beach. Opportunities like this help more people with disabilities discover the beauty of B.C. parks, and I hope to check them out myself soon.

[10:25 a.m.]

The province is doing so much more. As part of our StrongerBC economic recovery plan, we’re committed to building a more inclusive economy that leaves no British Columbian behind. As part of this plan, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction announced $10 million in funding to support the local hiring of people with disabilities in non-profits and small businesses across the province.

Through the work experience opportunities grant, participants will receive a 12-week paid work experience opportunity. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted people with disabilities. That’s why paid work experience, through programs like this, will help employers hire new staff and give employees the experience and confidence they need to return to the workforce.

This pandemic has shown us how crucial government support is in making sure that people with disabilities and those facing multiple barriers receive the support that they need. While we are supporting initiatives to help with employment opportunities, we need to make sure that when people with disabilities re-enter the workforce, they are entering a place that is accessible, inclusive and suited to their specific abilities, and we need to make sure that our workplaces and communities receive the support they need to make this happen. Our accessibility legislation will help us get there.

As we move ahead with work on this important file, I’m looking forward to working across the aisle to build a more inclusive and accessible British Columbia.

S. Cadieux: Thank you to the member. I certainly agree with the member on pretty much everything that he spoke about today. I’m sure we’ve had many similar experiences as we both have navigated our adult lives with spinal cord injuries.

The reality is that nothing is spontaneous for people with disabilities. We are masters of planning and innovation. That’s what it takes to live in a world that was not built for you, and that is what we are trying to change. It is one of the highlights of my career here, I would say, that we can collectively and cooperatively recognize that this is something that needs to be done. The fact that all parties in this House have committed to accessibility legislation and understand the need means a great deal to me.

The UN position on “Nothing about us without us.” As I have learned it over the years and lived it over my advocacy career, the reality is that we’ve changed that somewhat. Now, really, that effort is “Nothing without us.” It isn’t about doing it for people with disabilities. It’s about ensuring people with disabilities are there to do it for themselves.

In British Columbia, not everybody is able to experience the province equally. What someone can accomplish without a second thought, like navigating a shared space like the Legislature, poses a significant challenge to other people. These vastly different experiences are reflected around us every day, often to the detriment of those who need them most. A narrowing sidewalk, a crowded bus, a high curb, an unmarked crosswalk on a busy street — all are obstacles that some won’t even notice.

The term “disability” is a wide umbrella. It covers a diverse group of individuals throughout our communities. They’re not always visible, not always physical, not always chronic. Likewise, barriers themselves are diverse and often hidden. They can be physical, financial, emotional, social, economic and others. Some must contend with disability from the beginning of their lives. Others are confronted with new challenges at a later age, and it’s often a difficult transition.

The current statistics suggest more than 20 percent of Canadians live with a disability. As we heard the member say, close to 25 percent in British Columbia recognize some form of disability in their lives. For many, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened that. They’re less likely to be employed, representing a vastly untapped labour market, and the pandemic has significantly compounded this.

We know that accessibility means different things to different people and that different people will need different things. People face real barriers purely as a result of their identity as well. One’s ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or upbringing can have serious ramifications on access of an individual or community. These things alone can be barriers, but they can also overlay and add complexity as it relates to people with disabilities and their inclusion in society.

[10:30 a.m.]

We have a lot of work to do. One of the things that I like to remind people of is…. I had a conversation recently with a hotelier. Brand-new hotel, beautiful facility with pretty good accessibility, but there were some problems, and I pointed them out. I asked: “Why? Why are these problems still here?” And he said: “Well, you know, disability is really not our market.” I said: “Well, what is your market?” And he said: “Business people.” I said: “Well, I travel for business four days a week.” And then he said: “Well, yes, but really, it’s an artsy community.” And I said: “Well, I’m the president of a theatre company that just toured a production across Canada.”

The reality is that people with disabilities are not a discrete group of people. They are 20 percent of every group of people, 20 percent of our population, and we are excluding their participation. We have work to do to help people understand that this is not something we do to be nice. This isn’t something we do for some. We do it for all. We have a lot of work to do, and collectively, I am confident we will get there together.

D. Coulter: I’d really like to thank the member for Surrey South for her speech. I can see that we will have an ally in passing this legislation.

This legislation that I keep referencing and am excited about will represent an important step towards the realization of a more accessible and inclusive province for the approximately 25 percent of British Columbians who live with a disability. I also believe that all British Columbians will benefit from this work, whether it’s as we travel, as we support our loved ones or as we age. In many ways, the passing of this legislation represents the end of the beginning. In order for our efforts to succeed, it’ll be important for us to continue to work in partnership with people with disabilities and the broader community as we work to develop accessibility standards that work for people.

The accessibility legislation will be informed by several key themes. One, breaking down barriers. We know we need to focus on removing the barriers people with disabilities experience in their daily lives, including physical, attitudinal and informational barriers. Two, advancing human rights. We want this legislation to reinforce and strengthen our commitment to the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples. Three, creating a culture of inclusion through education and awareness and ensuring social connectedness. Four, promoting fairness and equality through emphasizing diversity and equity. Embracing diversity makes us stronger as a society and also ensures that we’re equitable.

We know that there are many intersectional factors — gender, race, sexuality, indigeneity — that contribute to the barriers people experience. We need to ensure that we’re aware of these factors and work to address them. Our intention is to learn from and model other jurisdictions. We aim to promote a culture of change to work towards a more accessible B.C. It’s going to take time, and I look forward to carrying out this work with communities across the province.

We also know that government needs to lead the way and develop tools and supports that help both public and private organizations comply with standards. Though we hope everyone will willingly jump on board with making B.C. more accessible, we will be establishing a variety of compliance and enforcement mechanisms to ensure accountability.

I’m so excited to be part of this work, and I look forward to debating this important legislation in the months ahead.

Deputy Speaker: The member for Surrey–White Rock.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

T. Halford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that introduction. It felt like a hockey game there for a second.

I rise today to speak on the important issue of youth mental health. For many British Columbians, the last year has been the most challenging and difficult in our collective memory. Our communities, our province, and our world have changed drastically since the beginning of COVID-19. The global pandemic is something we are all feeling the effects of — most notably, the pandemic’s effect on the mental health and well-being of children and youth in British Columbia, and all of us in this House are deeply concerned. Children and young people in this province are facing increased isolation as a result of the pandemic. Evidence shows that physical distancing can have a significant impact on mental health, although many children and youth are still able to attend school in person, as my children do.

[10:35 a.m.]

The continuous isolation from friends, family and loved ones is significantly impacting the mental health of our young people. Kids haven’t been able to hug their grandparents in over a year, and that loss of contact and physical affection can be deeply impactful. Even in schools, students sit. They contribute for hours on end, but their interaction is minimized, for good reason. But these feelings of isolation can lead to effects that are very long-lasting. It’s undeniable that the negative impact on child and youth mental health is concerning, and we have a long way to go.

Now, my children, all three, go to elementary school in my riding. They have not been able to hug their grandparents or visit their grandparent’s home to play with the family pet. This is something I know that all members in this House…. They share very similar stories. I think it’s something that we all struggle with, but at the end of the day, we’re all trying to make sure that we are doing the best with what we have.

The disruption of routines has also caused a massive surge in mental health issues among youth, according to doctors and psychologists. Structure is incredibly important for young people, and a disruption in routine can sometimes be traumatic. Children and youth are also increasingly conscious and worried about their health and the health of their family members, beloved seniors, the financial repercussions of the pandemic for their families and the global effects of the pandemic itself. The research is clear. Children and youth can be expected to experience many health challenges during and after the pandemic, such as increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression and behavioural problems.

British Columbia’s mental health system was already stretched and underfunded before the pandemic. It is continuing to struggle. The extra demand resulting from the stresses of COVID-19 is just exasperating that problem. Many clinics, such as the Foundry, which offered walk-in support to youth before the pandemic, now require appointments. These necessary pandemic safety measures are causing longer wait-lists and more gaps in the immediate care for youth.

In May of 2020, only three months into the pandemic, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth confirmed that there were more than 2,500 youth in B.C. on the wait-lists. That number continues to grow today. Youth who are at risk of self-harm or other mental health challenges cannot afford to wait months. They need help today, and I think that’s something we all realize.

I’d like to echo the recent sentiments of my honourable colleague, the member for Saanich North and the Islands, when he eloquently stated in this House last week that when people have sought treatment for mental health conditions, they were undermined, belittled and taunted, but “as soon as their ailment was physical, they were put on life support.” I agree with the member that it is time for this government to treat the brain like it is truly part of the body and to value mental health as we do physical health.

By now, many of us have seen the advocacy of two parents who tragically lost their 16-year-old son from Victoria who had a history of struggling with mental health. On January 3, 2021, this teen left his home to walk along the E&N rail line, but he never returned. That very day his parents received a call about a psychiatric appointment to be scheduled in February. We all know that call was too late.

Since then, his parents have publicly advocated for greater youth mental health supports in B.C. I think we should applaud those parents today. This teenager was let down by our mental health system in B.C. This family was let down by our mental health system in B.C. The pandemic, which robbed this boy’s ability to see his grandparents, isolated him from friends, took a major toll on his health. His mental health was plagued by isolation, loneliness, a loss of routine and anxiety.

Sadly, this teenager’s challenges and his barriers to access mental health services are not unique, since children and youth trying to get their first visit with clinical or psychiatric mental health services face an average wait time of almost 55 days in B.C. When you are a young person in crisis, a two-month wait-list is two months too long.

[10:40 a.m.]

We need to properly address this to make sure that we are not speaking about other tragedies in this House. The importance of addressing mental health issues in early stages is undeniable. We need more services to make this a reality. Children and youth are moving through many physical and emotional and social changes, more than at any time in their lives.

I ask this House today, this government, this opposition, that we all make sure that we are making mental health for youth an absolute priority.

A. Singh: I thank my friend from Surrey–White Rock for those comments. This is such an unprecedented time, such a hard time for all of us, but I’m hopeful we’ll get through. This is my first time speaking in these halls, physically speaking here. Of course, I’ve been up there.

For me, it’s a bittersweet moment as a racialized person, as a person of colour — bitter in recognition of the storied history of these halls, of this province and the many oppressive things done to people in society that originated from these halls. I want to recognize that and recognize that history. And sweet because of all of the good that also originated from these halls and the sense of hope I feel and see with all of you, all of us working together, for all of the good that we still have to do for this province and for the people that we represent.

History is like that. My thoughts are with Andre and his family who are grieving. I have a 1½-year-old daughter. I can’t even conceive of that. After decades where mental health care was neglected, we know that things are not that great right now, but we’re trying to work to make it better. That is speaking of the good.

I’m proud to stand here today on this side, with the government that has a Minister of Mental Health and Addictions who gets up in the morning and goes to sleep every night, day in, day out, thinking about the work that needs to be done to help the countless number of people who desperately need our help still. This is no easy task. There are so many barriers to dealing with mental health and addictions — stigma and the fear of asking for help being a huge one. I know that well. I know that really well.

The hardest thing I ever did in my life was to reach out for help during my darkest times in the throes of alcoholism, when I was in the proverbial valley of the shadow of death. I was an adult. Reaching out as a youth must be so much harder. That’s why it’s so important that when you reach out, when they reach out, that there’s a hand there to clasp their hand. That moment of clarity comes really…. It’s fickle. It comes once — that moment of clarity when you have the strength to reach out — and it doesn’t last long. We need to make sure that the resources are there so that hand can be clasped.

That’s why this government and this minister have been working tirelessly for almost four years now, investing in mental health resources and resources for youth. This, after years, as I said, of neglect. We can still see the effects of that now. This government has been building a system of care from the ground up that focuses on early intervention and prevention. Since 2017, this government has invested almost $140 million in youth mental health services and has brought in new ways for young people to access care and skill them up in response to the pandemic.

Undoubtedly, this is an unprecedented time, something we hopefully will never see in our lifetimes again. We face new challenges. We’re trying to stand up to them. We’ve opened urgent primary care centres all over the province, where clinicians are available 365 days a year for same-day access. That includes mental health support. In addition to these supports, my friend spoke about the Foundry — amazing organization. As of 2020, there are nine Foundry centres operational across the province. There will be a total of 19 centres once complete. These offer not only in-person but also virtual supports as well.

The province has invested $5 million in virtual mental health services during COVID-19 to provide expanded services to British Columbians, with specific services for children and youth. My good friend works for the Foundry, so I have some familiarity with them. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with them on many occasions. What an amazing resource.

[10:45 a.m.]

They offer young people aged 12 to 24 health and wellness resources, services, supports online and through integrated services, drop-in counselling — not only for youth but also their caregivers — and peer support for youth and their caregivers. These are the kinds of missions and organizations we need to support.

We’ve invested a lot into youth mental health, and we’re going to continue to invest more. We’re continuing to work urgently to build a comprehensive system of care that works for everyone, with a strong focus on children and youth.

I’m going to end with this. It’s a quote from Gibran: “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. Though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts.”

I want to be able to have support and services so that when they do reach out, the hand is there for them.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member, and welcome.

T. Halford: I just want to start off and congratulate the member for Richmond-Queensborough for his first stand in the House. It was an eloquent one at that. Before we started here, I got to catch up with him and hear about his 16-month-old daughter, who he is very proud of. I’m sure she will be very proud to see him continue to rise in this House.

On reflection of the remarks, I think it’s important that we all realize — and all members on both sides of the House agree — that we must and we can do more than what we’re currently doing. The mental health crisis facing our children and youth in British Columbia, as the pandemic continues, remains strained.

Unfortunately, the expansions and the innovations are reactionary: reacting to the already pressing mental health crises that, again, are exasperated by this pandemic; reacting to the needs of children and youth who are desperate for care after months and years of facing barriers; reacting to the mental health emergency well underway here in B.C. These reactionary measures can often be too little and too late. We saw that. We’ve seen it, tragically.

When discussing youth mental health struggles, we must also consider a frequent intersecting factor. Youth substance and youth addiction…. Problematic youth substance use is not a new issue, and it continues to have a lack of access to appropriate services, which is concerning. The current youth substance use health system has been deemed inaccessible, difficult to navigate and lacklustre. These are terms used by the children and families in crisis seeking those services. So the action and service expansion we have seen from this government has clearly not been enough.

Children and youth in British Columbia are struggling. Some, tragically, have died. We can no longer wait for services from an overworked, reactionary system. The current mental health system in B.C. is failing. Children and youth are moving through many physical, emotional and social challenges, more than at any time in their lives. They have not developed the coping mechanisms and those experiences to get them through these times, and the pandemic adds another layer of complexity and additional challenges.

Again, Mr. Speaker, government, all leaders in this House, I ask you that we please make mental health a priority, going forward.

FOOD SECURITY

M. Dykeman: It’s a privilege to rise in this House virtually today from the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Matsqui, Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations to speak about a topic that affects everyone.

As agricultural advocate Brenda Schoepp said: “My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher, but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.” As a farmer myself, it’s an honour to speak today in this House about food security.

Although food security is such a broad topic, having so many prongs, it’s something that each one of us, whether a farmer or not, share in common. We all eat, and we all rely on availability of our food. So today I would like to discuss the importance of local food security, an issue that has really been pushed to the forefront with the challenges of COVID-19.

[10:50 a.m.]

Our world is a complex network of supply systems that we largely take for granted, which depend on the services of various transportation and logistics providers. The pandemic has highlighted the fragility of relying on supply systems, which require logistics, warehousing and packaging — to name a few components of this complex system — all of which must work in unison for each one of us to put food on our table.

What we saw was how vulnerable the system is to disasters of any kind and how quickly a disruption in any portion of the supply chain can lead to shortages of food or food insecurity, which the UN defines as “the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.” But we are fortunate that British Columbia has some of the most fertile soil in North America and a more favourable growing climate than much of our country. That is why investments in local B.C. farmers is such an important step in combating food insecurity.

Statistics Canada began monitoring household food insecurity in 2005 through the Canadian community health survey. The most recent national measure was taken in 2017 and ’18, in which one in eight households, about 12 percent, were food-insecure — amounting to over 4.4 million Canadians, including 1.2 million children — and living in homes that struggled to put food on the table, the largest number recorded since Canada first began monitoring food insecurity. Even more startlingly, in the first two months of the pandemic, that number grew by 39 percent, with one in seven people struggling with food insecurity, as reported by Stats Canada in December of 2020.

Unfortunately, food insecurity and other markers of social and economic disadvantage are closely related. In low-income households, lone-parent homes, renters and those who identify as Indigenous, Black and racialized households, food insecurity is most prevalent. Indigenous households report rates of food insecurity of approximately 28 percent. However, that number is an underestimation of the actual prevalence. The survey sample did not include people living on First Nations reserves, people in some remote northern areas or people who are homeless — specifically, the three groups at the highest risk of food insecurity. For an example, in Nunavut, approximately 57 percent of households are food-insecure.

Our situation in British Columbia, based on the same 2018-19 data, showed that here, 12.4 percent of our households are food-insecure, which translates to over 600,000 people in B.C. struggling to put food on the table. Over the last ten years, B.C. has imported about $2 billion worth of food each year. Over 98 percent of fruits consumed in B.C. come from international imports, and we are highly dependent on California for most of our fruits and vegetables.

Residents of Metro Vancouver consume about 2.5 million tonnes of food per year, accounting for approximately 53 percent of the total food supply in B.C. However, only about 14 percent of the food consumed in Metro Vancouver is produced locally. International and interprovincial imports account for over 73 percent of the food consumed in Metro Vancouver, highlighting our dependence on national and international transportation systems and the importance of the infrastructure that supports it.

Every day Metro Vancouver is only days away from empty grocery store shelves and hungry children, due to the next international, national or significant regional crisis. The probability of such events makes our food security an illusion, unless effective measures are put in place to produce enough food locally to offset such eventualities.

The average Canadian will pay an extra $695 for food this year, as the pandemic, wildfires and changing consumer habits drive up grocery bills. With the biggest increase ever predicated by an annual food price report, rising prices for bread, meat and vegetables are expected to lead to an overall food price increase of 3 to 5 percent, according to Canada’s food price report in 2021 — which, for an average family of four, translates to a grocery bill of $13,907.

[10:55 a.m.]

The stresses on our food system highlighted during this pandemic are why investment in good local production capacity is so vital. This is why support for farmers, who create robust, accessible food systems that increase local food production capacity right here at home, are integral to a resilient food security plan. In response to the very real challenges we face, the Metro Vancouver regional planning committee found that both self-sufficiency and resilience contribute to food security.

Our government also recognizes the benefits of self-sufficiency and has created programs like Buy B.C., investment in agro-innovation and investment in food hubs like the Plenty and Grace Food Hub and Innovation Centre by Langley farmer Lee Murphy, owner of Vista D’oro Farms and Winery and the Preservatory.

The B.C. Food Hub Network aims to foster growth and innovation in the processing sector through improved industry access to facilities, equipment, technology and technical services and business supports.

In conclusion, these are all important steps we’re taking to ensure a prosperous and strong agricultural sector that can contribute significantly to a reduction in food insecurity in B.C., while making life more affordable for everyone. Agriculture is a significant economic driver right across British Columbia. These are wise investments in the future of all British Columbia, socially and economically.

J. Sturdy: I’d like to thank the hon. member for raising what is a very important topic today and that is of food security. It is an interesting discussion of what actually constitutes the definition of food security. Clearly, food security to a vulnerable person living on the streets of the Downtown Eastside is certainly different from that of a suburban family, a rural resource worker or a farmer.

In the case that we’re talking about, actual food producers themselves, I am confident that farmers have quite different thoughts about what the term “food security” actually means to them. Growers face real risks: drought and floods and the impacts on the land base; the cost of animal feed; wildfires and the impact on feed supplies; market access; pandemic restrictions on agricultural workers; and, ultimately, the age-old question about the actual use of land contained within the agricultural land reserve.

Before we get into a discussion about what is permissible on the ALR these days, we do need to examine what actually constitutes so-called food security. There are different ways to define it. Looking at it as a grower, what is provincial food security as referenced by the member opposite? Based on the commodity production figures published by the Ministry of Ag a number of years ago, multiplied by the caloric value and divided by the population of B.C., it appears that we do produce enough calories to feed the population of this province.

It would, however, be quite a limited diet, one that would certainly not suit everyone. Just as an example, I personally do love my olive oil, and it’s something which we certainly won’t be producing domestically anytime soon.

Food security in British Columbia, with our diet of choice, does and always will depend on imports from other jurisdictions to keep us well-fed with the range of products that we like and in the off-season, when our production capacity of fresh products is greatly reduced, frankly. These are realities and are important considerations in the discussion of food security.

[N. Letnick in the chair.]

As you may be aware, I’ve long been a vegetable and berry grower, along with producing some proteins, and am required to make forecast choices at the beginning of the season if I am to be successful in getting product to market. This is an issue that every grower faces. Believe me, as an elected official, I have heard a great deal from growers ever since this current government was elected four years ago.

As the hon. member opposite is no doubt aware, agricultural producers have been consistently weighed down by increasing regulation and, frankly, a crushing tax burden. Under the current government, agricultural producers are losing ground. As producers who compete globally, we have very few protections for B.C. growers. We face some of the highest farmland costs relative to other jurisdictions, especially in the southern and most populated regions of the province. We face the highest level of taxation after 17 tax increases since this government was formed in 2017.

A particularly onerous and irksome challenge is the lack of recognition that agriculture is a highly labour-intensive business. With the employer health tax, this government seems to believe that big payroll equals big profit. I can tell the member — and she sure would know, if she’s a grower — that in the case of agriculture, this is simply not true. Agriculture is a razor-thin business and the employer health tax is an enormous burden for growers.

[11:00 a.m.]

Growers face some of the highest degree of land regulation that is highly restrictive to giving farmers and ranchers alternative sources of income. We support some of the highest environmental standards anywhere in the world, but that comes with a cost. We have the highest agricultural labour costs, some of them. We have the highest tax rates, the highest fuel costs in the world. Of course, we only get one crop off the field, versus our southern competition, which may get two, three or four crops. Yet we must compete in this uneven global market.

Despite the obstacles we face, some of which government has thrown in the way of agricultural producers in British Columbia…. Our farmers and ranchers have become some of the best in the business, despite these challenges. Why? Well, because we simply must be the best if we want to survive.

Before I conclude, I should mention that this current government has gone to great effort to reverse many of the progressive initiatives that had gone into improving a farmer’s ability to make a living on the land base within the agricultural land reserve. The focus should be on maintaining the agricultural capacity of the land, rather than restricting opportunities for farmers that have little or nothing to do with the land base. Ideology running amok seems to be the driver, not the health of our farmers.

In conclusion, I ask: does the member opposite agree that we should be doing all that we can to support farmers to be successful, to be multigenerational, to be supported to feed B.C. during this pandemic and beyond? If so, will the member commit to advocating for the changes needed to make B.C. growers more competitive?

M. Dykeman: Thank you to the member opposite for his comments. I appreciate his recognition of the importance of food security.

As I mentioned previously, agriculture is a significant economic driver right across British Columbia. Agriculture is very unique in that it has a much greater impact on reducing poverty and improving food security than any of the other sectors of the economy. I would like to share another important component of a strong and healthy food security plan and another way that support for agriculture is being demonstrated: agritechnology.

Agritech is the fusion of innovation and technology applied to the agriculture, food processing and seafood sectors. One of the most important ways that we can address food security is to support innovations that increase the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production. These improvements can also result in enhanced incomes and nutrition. By having the most diverse array of agricultural commodities in Canada, B.C. is perfectly positioned to benefit from a wide range of innovations, particularly those that can support regenerative agriculture, innovative, on-farm management practices that promote conservation and rehabilitation of farmland.

British Columbia is home to over 150 companies developing and producing world-class agriculture technology — or agritech. Investment in this area has significant potential to address production issues arising from a growing population, with increasing expectations for sustainability and traceability. B.C. is positioned to become a leader in the development of agritech. Our government recognizes the important role of agriculture and the role that agritech plays in both food security and a strong economic recovery.

Our government is committed to supporting agritech, as can be demonstrated by the recent agritech grant program, which provides $3 million to help B.C. agritech — agriculture and technology — companies scale up, expand and develop technologies to increase sustainable and regenerative food production in B.C. Programs like these support innovation in agriculture and have a measurable effect on increasing the innovation and infrastructure we need in our province to ensure a food-secure future for everyone in British Columbia.

Hon. J. Whiteside: Hon. Speaker, I ask that the House consider proceeding with Motion 5, standing in the name of the member for Vancouver-Langara.

N. Letnick: Hon. Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed with Motion 5 without disturbing the priorities of the motions preceding it on the order paper.

Leave granted.

[11:05 a.m.]

Private Members’ Motions

MOTION 5 — ECONOMIC RECOVERY
AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN

M. Lee: I rise in the House to move this motion:

[Be it resolved that this House recognize the importance of a comprehensive infrastructure plan to support British Columbia’s post-pandemic economic recovery.]

This past year has been one of immense turmoil and change. COVID-19 has impacted every sector of our economy, transportation included. Not only did the pandemic change the ways and how frequently we travel and commute around our province; it has also impacted industry operators like airports and motorcoach companies that play essential roles in our daily lives.

After months of advocacy from those in the industry and our B.C. Liberal caucus, the NDP finally delivered grants for bus companies and regional airports in need of support. This is a positive first step, but for our province to move forward with economic recovery, we need to do so much more. This government needs to develop a comprehensive plan to support and maintain our transportation networks and invest in our infrastructure so that these routes can continue to serve British Columbians both during COVID-19 and long into the future.

I wrote to the Minister of Transportation nearly two months ago asking for such a plan, but have yet to receive a reply. We’ve been in this pandemic for more than a year. The NDP government has had plenty of time to invest in transportation and infrastructure to keep our province running and aid in future recovery, yet until last week, the government had done nothing to address the growing challenges facing transportation in our province.

Not only will reliable, viable and sustainable transportation networks be essential for facilitating the trade and travel necessary for economic recovery, but investing in our infrastructure will also directly create jobs and stimulate the economy. We need this government to advocate for B.C.’s fair share of federal funding for well-targeted infrastructure projects that will enable safe, efficient and reliable transportation corridors and benefit our province for decades to come.

This plan must include projects like the Massey Tunnel replacement, which is a critical pathway for tens of thousands of daily commuters and an important trade route. It’s been 1,286 days since the NDP cancelled the replacement, leaving commuters stranded in the worst bottleneck in B.C. All we see from this government is more delay, including with the business case that it’s been sitting on, with no decision since last December.

There is the issue of the challenge of transportation access to the Royal Columbian Hospital, our province’s number one trauma hospital. The government’s delay tactics are evident here as well.

In December 2017, the government concluded consultations on the Brunette–Highway 1 interchange and related access improvements for New Westminster. Three-plus years later, it has not moved an inch.

These are not just Lower Mainland issues, but widespread ones across the province. There is the Taylor Bridge, a vital piece of infrastructure crossing the Peace River and linking Fort St. John and Dawson Creek. Millions of dollars worth of products, food, fuel and heavy equipment in northeastern B.C. are carried daily over this bridge. Despite its being in crucial need of replacement, it has yet to be included in this government’s ten-year capital improvement plan.

We also need to invest in our rural roads, throughout the province. They connect B.C., enable people to commute safely and, when it is safe to do so again, will enable tourists to explore our province once again. Many of our roads around B.C. are deteriorating and in need of significant repair, like the constant flooding and damage on Dog Creek Road near Williams Lake, or with the Quesnel-Hydraulic Road, which was impacted by a landslide last year.

On top of all this, we have the ongoing struggle with CBAs, which are discriminatory and have also repeatedly driven up the cost of projects while dragging down their scope and causing significant delays. This has been the case with Highway 1 expansions for Salmon Arm west, Chase Creek Road, Illecillewaet, and the Kicking Horse Canyon, along with the Pattullo Bridge replacement and the Broadway subway project.

This government needs to be doing more to invest in provincial infrastructure. It is absolutely essential to our economic recovery. We need this government to prove that they have a real vision for transportation, including in Metro Vancouver, with its population expected to grow by one million people over the next three decades, and in the Fraser Valley, with the much-needed expansion of Highway 1 beyond Langley to Chilliwack.

We need a plan that is going to maintain the long-term viability of our critical transportation routes from commuting and daily life, critical care access and facilitating trade, to eventually bringing visitors back to our province. We need safe, efficient and reliable transportation networks. It’s time that this government made it a priority.

[11:10 a.m.]

M. Starchuk: Before I start, thank you to the member opposite for the opportunity to respond.

I want to mention that I am speaking to you today from the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish people, specifically the Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations.

As we know, COVID-19 in these times has been difficult for all of us. We can finally see the glimmer of hope — the light at the end of the tunnel — that’s coming towards us.

When we take a look at what we’re doing as far as the economic development and the plans that have come in place, they’re very comprehensive and probably the most supportive in all of the country. When we take a look at what happened in B.C., we’ve created 26,600 jobs. Employment levels have risen to about 99.4 percent…. We’ve restarted the province to the point where we are amongst the highest-rated for provinces that we have.

We continue to make priority investments, right across the province, to help build and maintain a reliable and environmentally sound transportation system. I’d like to speak about some of those that come to my riding of Surrey-Cloverdale. When we talk about connecting communities with safe, effective, active transportation networks, they have to be the most affordable transportation options. That’s part of the foundational part of our government’s plan to build a better, cleaner province.

When we talk about transportation and how it affects the community, I want to make sure that we have that as part of our business plan that’s going and part of what we talk about as our economic recovery for small business. We want to make sure that the transportation hooks up those small businesses to the transportation networks that we’re building. We’ve got accounting firms in my riding that have helped out and reached out to over four businesses right now — small — that will benefit from this transportation network that will come in to solve what we’re having here.

When we talk about the infrastructure and the investments that are there to the community, let’s talk about the Pattullo Bridge. While it’s not connected to my riding in specific, it is connected to the Lower Mainland, Surrey and New Westminster. The new bridge, for those of you that have not driven over the old bridge, is a great improvement over what we’ll have in front of us today.

There will be more walking lanes, four lanes to travel back and forth. It’ll better connect the communities of Surrey and New Westminster, with these wider lanes that will make it safer to get across to the other side. Along with this, when we talk about a green network, we’re talking about high-quality walking and cycling paths that’ll connect the bridge and the wide-use paths that’ll be on either side of the bridge, separated from the traffic with barriers.

When we look forward at the infrastructure investments that are coming, we take a look at Surrey-Langley SkyTrain. It’s a priority for our government. No longer is it going to be a phased-in approach. It’s going to start from Surrey centre and move itself all the way to Langley. The jobs that this will create will be great for the area that we live in. There’ll be steady jobs, high-paying jobs, and those jobs will, in fact, help the small businesses that are in the community that we serve.

When we talk about the transportation that we have that’s here with regard to the routes that are there, the Pattullo Bridge project is going to also help with that access that the member opposite talked about with RCH. We talk about Highway 1 and the Fraser Valley and the future improvements that are there to get the work underway. Last year we completed the 216 exchange that was there, and now they’re planning to add HOV lanes in each direction of Highway 1 between 216 and 264.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind that the new Pattullo Bridge will be along the lines of what the government has done so that we’re not punishing the people of Surrey and New Westminster with tolls. This bridge will be provided to the people of Surrey and New Westminster — and others that are travelling through the city — at no cost. Tolls are not what we need to happen here. We need to have accessibility to these bridges.

These are some of the things that the current government is doing to address the issues around infrastructure investments for the province of B.C.

[11:15 a.m.]

I. Paton: I’ve been a resident in my riding of Delta South my entire life, and I still live on the farm that I was born and raised on. I’ve witnessed the construction of Highway 99 south to the U.S. border and Highway 17 south to Tsawwassen and the B.C. Ferries. I’ve even witnessed the toll booths that welcomed drivers to the entrance of the original Deas Island Tunnel. I can personally account for 62 years of ups and mostly downs of this dark, narrow tunnel lying at the bottom of the Fraser River.

How will our province recover from the enormous economic setback we’ve suffered due to COVID-19? Will our government, like a wise farmer, use attributes like creativity, innovation, common sense and integrity in its efforts to rebuild? It has a chance with one of the critical pieces of infrastructure that could play a key role in B.C.’s economic recovery.

Getting the George Massey Tunnel replacement project back underway would put thousands of people back to work. It would put a glimmer of hope in the eyes of some 85,000 commuters a day who are stuck in B.C.’s worst traffic bottleneck. It would bring relief to our trucking industry, which sees an incredible amount of time and money wasted as drivers creep along slowly and sit idle in gridlock. It would allow goods to move more quickly to the U.S. border, to the ferries and to our local container terminals and industrial parks south of the Fraser.

These improvements would have a profound impact on our economy at a time when we need it most as B.C. recovers from a pandemic that, like the Massey Tunnel traffic, has ground almost everything to a halt. Sadly, the plans for this project have also ground to a halt: more studies, more consultation, more opinions, as we continue to wait for the release of a business case for an entirely new replacement project.

Back in the middle of December, the government said it had that business case. Well, where is that business case? It’s 3½ years after this government cancelled our former government’s plan to replace the aging and seismically unsafe tunnel with a bridge, and virtually nothing has been done. Instead of sticking with the more innovative bridge plan, which would have fewer environmental impacts, the government seems intent on reliving the 1950s and plunking another concrete tube in the Fraser River. My constituents tell me they don’t have much hope that they’ll see a completed project any time soon.

Recently CKNW’s Lynda Steele pressed the Transportation Minister on a timeline for a new project. She asked the minister repeatedly, over and over, when shovels might be in the ground and when the new project will be completed and open. She asked the minister: “When are we going to see some movement? What happens next, and when?”

Ms. Steele obviously wasn’t impressed by the answer — or lack thereof — because she pressed on. “Define ‘soon’,” she said. “When are we going to hear something? Are we going to see shovels in the ground this year?” she said. Then she said: “I hate to keep pushing you on the timeline, but I know that commuters are saying: ‘I need to envision some relief sometime in the near future.’ If we’re going to hear something in the next couple of months, you’re not really committing to shovels in the ground. When can we actually expect to see construction?”

She went on to say: “Is it going to be five years? Is it going to be ten years before this tunnel is done and open?” Just as with the official opposition any time we press the issue, she mostly got a bunch of non-answers. However, near the end of the interview, the minister finally allowed that we will see a completed project within a decade.

A new bridge would nearly be done by now. It’s hard to fathom that we might now have to wait ten years for a solution. When it comes to shovel-ready infrastructure projects in this province, no project in the nation could fit this term better than the cancelled Massey Bridge project.

The minister made one other interesting comment during the interview. He said: “We have a budgeted replacement project in our capital plan.” The minister cannot point to it in the budget because it’s simply not there. This is what I was talking about off the top when I spoke about integrity. A farmer’s word is everything. Farmers pride themselves in being upfront with people. It’s not what we’re seeing in regard to this important infrastructure project.

Those living south of the Fraser are frustrated, and they need answers soon. They want real, honest answers about when this replacement project will get underway and when it will be done, once and for all. It’s clear that we cannot wait a decade for a new crossing. We need action now. It would be good for motorists; it would be good for our economy. Let’s expedite a solution to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel.

[11:20 a.m.]

H. Yao: Thank you for the opportunity to speak in the House, for the first time, and for the opportunity to respond to Vancouver-Langara’s motion. I do want to start by saying our government has done a fabulous job in preparing for economic recovery for 2021. The motion that was made was about economic recovery with infrastructure investment. If the House will entertain me, I’m going to break that into two components.

First is economic recovery. Recently I was actually visiting a local mall in my riding, Richmond South Centre, and have seen the vibrancy of the people already slowly coming back. It reminded me of the over 99 percent job recovery, already matching closer to a post-pandemic level. It also reminded us that our government introduced a COVID-19 recovery benefit to help us keep the economy moving. While many other provinces continue to close and open, close and open, B.C. was one of the champions who continues to maintain an open and consistent economy to ensure that our small and medium-sized businesses are ready to take advantage of the opportunity given to them when the vaccine rolls out.

Speaking of vaccine rollout, I’m very glad to be able to speak to you about my constituent who is 80 years old. This Friday, we may be able to assist him to book an appointment. Our vaccine rollout is actually ahead of schedule. All of British Columbia has spoken, and especially ones in the Richmond South Centre riding continue to remind me. We are looking for economic recovery, but based upon the opening of the economy. Vaccine rollout is a priority.

It isn’t some small project here and there, but it’s actually a lot of the B.C. economy returning to the previous normal. That is the reason why I’m so glad to be part of a government that focuses on the people, focuses on building small and medium-sized businesses through our small and medium-sized business grant, to allow us to continually push the economy forward and allowing small and medium-sized businesses to overcome the struggle being provided by the pandemic.

Pandemics will wrench into our expectation. The pandemic of this COVID-19 is unique and unprecedented for British Columbian history, but we are so proud to be part of a government that continuously allows B.C. to be a leader in many aspects. Especially, I want to thank British Columbians for being heroes, for being champions by following Dr. Bonnie Henry’s order. We understand, as some of the hon. members mentioned, that kids want to embrace their grandparents. We have people who want to say hi to one another, and we are all looking forward to a full economic recovery as we’re moving forward. The vaccine rollout will be key as we move towards an economic recovery and the recovery of British Columbia.

I also want to address, as we have been continuously talking about the Massey Tunnel replacement…. I heard many members mentioning integrity, common sense, that we should do things the right way. Yet it is the very government back then, the past government, talking about doing a bridge project even though the Mayors Council rejected it. It was the many environmental groups around the area who said it is not the right way to go. I’m not too sure whether common sense or integrity is there, but I do want to emphasize one thing: our government is talking about planning. Our government is doing studies. Our government is ready to introduce an infrastructure project that actually matches the need of the local people.

We’re talking about having a bunch of people who were talking about economic impacts and fewer economic impacts with the bridge, yet it is the third environmental group in Richmond that continues to remind me that if we do the bridge, it will actually create a safety issue and it will create an environmental issue for Richmond and the Fraser River south area.

I do want to take a moment and thank our government and remind all British Columbians that we are moving forward. We are not just thinking about simple projects, but we’re thinking comprehensively about how we can, as British Columbians, recover, open and welcome the world, coming to us through our tourism sector. Another great introduction by our government was the funding to support the tourism sector in our province.

In conclusion, I want to thank the member for bringing an important topic, talking about economic recovery, and welcome all the members to continue to support government pushing a healthy, comprehensive and well-thought-out economic recovery plan for both British Columbia, for all ridings and for Richmond South Centre. Thank you.

B. Banman: I just wanted to say how honoured I am to rise today and speak to this motion.

Infrastructure has always been one of the driving forces of our economy. It creates thousands of jobs, promotes urban and rural development, and promotes immigration to British Columbia as we develop the commuting and business infrastructure to meet our growing population and demographics.

[11:25 a.m.]

There is no doubt that investment in infrastructure will be one of the driving forces of our post-pandemic economic recovery. My concern is whether this is the right administration for the job. I think at this point, the members of this House are all too familiar with their track record.

The track record of this government and their infrastructure plans and commitments over the past four years that have been plagued with ballooning cost overruns, bungling delays and cancellations across the province. Beyond that, I feel a fundamental failure of this government has been their inability and unwillingness to inherit the province’s committed infrastructure plans from previous administrations, many of which came from extensive joint consultation with federal, provincial and municipal levels of government, as well as local stakeholders and First Nation groups — to pick up where they left off.

As the newly elected MLA for Abbotsford South, a municipal councillor and former mayor of the city of Abbotsford for many years, my constituents and I are all too familiar with this government’s history of killing plans they inherited, plans that would have resolved many of the commuting and congestion issues my constituents and British Columbians are experiencing today. Projects, as my colleague mentioned, like the bridge replacement for the George Massey Tunnel, a project this government was all too happy to axe, burning away millions in taxpayer dollars already invested, while bringing zip to the table, bringing nothing. There’s nothing to show for it.

Nowhere is this more apparent than our promised Highway 1 expansion in the Fraser Valley. Over the past few decades, more and more families have moved into the region and are forced to rely on Highway 1 to commute to and from the Fraser Valley. It has turned this mainstay of transportation into a commuting nightmare for years, Abbotsford commuters have battled bumper-to-bumper traffic and lengthy travel times along Highway 1 as they have lost valuable time with their families while being forced to sit idling in their vehicles, creating unnecessary pollution along one of the most congested roadways in the Lower Mainland, if not in Canada.

But it’s not just about commuters. A recent study by Jonathan Arnold, completed for the Business Council of B.C., estimates that gridlock accounts for $1.65 billion to $2.25 billion of lost economic opportunity, increasing gas costs, time loss, increasing CO₂. Truckers estimate 30 percent time loss per trip, costing them $750 million a year. This is not a problem that happened overnight, which is why the previous B.C. Liberal government put plans in motion to address this almost a decade ago, when it pledged to widen Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley to six lanes between Langley and Abbotsford as part of its provincial transportation plan B.C. on the Move way back in 2012, when I was the mayor.

In 2013, an agreement was reached by the previous government to expand Highway 1 to six lanes from 202 Street all the way to Whatcom Road exit in Abbotsford. Construction was set to start in 2017 on the first phase: a $113 million six-laning expansion from 216th to 264th. Unfortunately, the new administration took over. They quickly abandoned this plan, and here we are, four years later, still stuck in gridlock, for whatever reason. Whether it be spite, indifference to the concerns of the people of the Fraser Valley, or simply poor planning, there has been zero progress on this infrastructure.

[11:30 a.m.]

I hope this government will rethink their commitments to the people of the Fraser Valley and deliver on the Highway 1 expansion, which has been ignored for far too long.

B. Bailey: I thank the member for Vancouver-Langara for his motion and agree. Infrastructure planning and building is profoundly important to B.C.’s economy and to our communities, particularly during these trying times. A year ago, when COVID first began to significantly impact our lives, many hard-working British Columbians were unable to go to work. By providing one of the most supportive and comprehensive COVID-19 responses in Canada, our government is helping the people and businesses weather this pandemic. Transportation infrastructure has been instrumental in this.

Road construction continued with proper COVID safety protocols in place. Despite the large number of job losses in many parts of Canada, B.C. was able to create 26,600 jobs in February, and B.C. has the lowest unemployment rate among the four largest provinces, well below the national average.

Looking ahead, keeping our economy moving is an integral part of B.C.’s restart plan. I’d like to speak specifically about one of the major infrastructure projects: the Broadway subway project. Come 2025 the Broadway subway project will transform how people get around in this part of Vancouver — much-needed support for east to west travel. The Broadway subway project is a 5.7 kilometre extension of the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark station to Broadway and Arbutus. It will provide fast, frequent and convenient SkyTrain service to B.C.’s second-largest job centre, world-class health services and an emerging innovation and research hub and growing residential communities.

Seven hundred metres will be elevated, extending from VCC station to a tunnel portal near Great Northern Way. Six underground stations will connect communities and the region, including a direct underground connection to the Canada Line at Cambie Street. These six stations will connect businesses, jobs and communities at…. The first one on the east is Great Northern Way. This is the Great Northern Way–Emily Carr station on the east side of Thornton Street, just north of Great Northern Way Campus.

I just want to take a moment to speak about this campus and innovation tech hub, in case you’re not familiar. It’s a place that I’ve spent a lot of time at, and it’s a combination of some of the most excellent educational infrastructure in British Columbia and very many innovative companies. Emily Carr is there, the Centre for Digital Media, VCC, Langara Centre for Entertainment Arts. There are also vibrant tech and creative tech companies including Synacite, Samsung, Axiom Zen and Blackbird entertainment.

The tunnel began well over a year ago. I’ve been down to see it. It’s incredible to watch this project in action — thousands of tonnes of earth being moved. But back to the other stops along the way. The five other stops are: Mount Pleasant, Broadway–City Hall, Oak-VGH, South Granville and, finally, Arbutus. These stations will make it easier and more affordable to live, work, shop and access services along the Broadway corridor when the extension of the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark to Arbutus station is completed.

Each new station will be located underground, including station infrastructure such as platforms, up-and-down escalators and elevators, clear way-finding and passenger information, accessible services and public art. Stations will be integrated with the current streetscape along Broadway and include street furniture and bike parking. All stations will be accessible by bus, walking and cycling for a complete multi-nodal experience. The 99 B-line bus service will connect from Arbutus Street to the University of British Columbia. The project is on schedule for the new line to open in 2025.

This is about one of the major infrastructure projects that’s transforming our communities for the better, employing folks and creating connections and access. Access is important. It’s worth noting for this project, as with many others, that it’s being completed using a community benefit agreement.

[11:35 a.m.]

A CBA is used to ensure that locals, Indigenous People, women and other underrepresented groups who want to start or grow a career in the skilled trades have a chance to do so and that apprentices have more opportunities to work on site and to gain the experience that they need to move towards completing their certification.

The CBA ensures competitive, transparent wages and fair working conditions that foster a workplace free of discrimination and harassment, and provides equity training and Indigenous cultural competency training.

While this is an upfront cost on this project, a little under 4 percent, the long-term economic benefits of training the next generation of skilled workers and expanding the construction workforce far outweigh the cost.

J. Rustad: It is always an honour to have an opportunity to speak on behalf of my constituents in Nechako Lakes. I want to thank the member for Vancouver-Langara for bringing forward this motion, as it talks to some key issues, I think, for us as a province but also, certainly, for my riding. That is the economic recovery and the infrastructure plan that’s needed.

One of the members from Richmond talked about the need for a comprehensive and well-thought-out plan. Well, I would say that is exactly what’s needed, and that’s exactly, quite frankly, what is lacking, especially when you start thinking about the economic recovery. Rural resources are a key part of how our economy has recovered and will continue to recover. Whether it’s lumber or minerals, they’re all so critical to us as a society; agricultural products as well.

All of this depends on a good infrastructure network. All of this depends on our road network. When you look at the roads outside of the Lower Mainland that many members talk about, we have 58,000 kilometres of resource roads, forestry roads. Many of our products move down these roads to get to our markets, to be able to support the jobs, whether it’s in the Lower Mainland or in communities like mine, in Nechako Lakes.

What is the plan that we see for these roads? As the Auditor General pointed out, only between 14 and 20 percent of what is budgeted and what is asked for, for maintenance of these roads, is actually being delivered. Just think about that.

Every year these roads need work. Every year these roads need the kinds of investments to make sure that people can travel safely down these roads, whether it’s for tourism or for our resource sector, and they’re only getting 14 percent of what they need, by this government, without a comprehensive plan. It is absolutely shameful to think that is what this government is looking at, to such an important component of British Columbia and such an important component to our economy and our economic recovery.

Furthermore, because of these unfunded and because of this lack of things, we have…. About half of the high priority — these are critical components that could actually end up shutting down roads — that need repairs are taking two years or more to get done. In fact, there are 583 bridges and culverts that are in desperate need of being replaced and that aren’t even in the five-year plan. This is part of how we need to work, and this is, for my riding, how people get around.

You’ve got places like Madson Creek and Germansen Landing, where we see a lot of mineral activity, forestry activity. They’ve had such damage to the roads that they are often down to one lane, and quite frankly, if you don’t have a 4-by-4, you don’t even have a chance to get to your home and your community because of the lack of investment that is happening in these roads.

I’ve got constituents living out in Houston that have had their axle broken as they’re trying to drive down the road, because the potholes and the disrepair of the forest roads, of these resource roads, are so bad. They’re not getting the attention that’s needed. Down in the Cariboo there are areas that have been washed out and that are going to be years and years before they’re replaced, causing hours and hours of delays. This is, quite frankly, unacceptable when you look at this.

Where is this comprehensive plan? Where is this vision for a province where we can all be in this together, where we can all be able to provide the support that’s needed, both for communities and for people, for our resource sector, for tourism to build and move through? I mean, if you think about many of the communities, whether it’s Burns Lake or Houston, tourism is important. Tourism has taken a huge hit because of COVID-19, but we’re optimistic that that’s coming back.

[11:40 a.m.]

Even for the locals who want to go out now to visit lakes or to go out and do these kinds of activities, it’s becoming more and more difficult, simply because the access roads are not being maintained. I would think that this is a great motion to bring forward and a great opportunity to talk about some of these needs, but especially those components that are critical to our economy in terms of the resources, the resource sector, that are critical to tourism in the small communities and where people live and love to call home, like Nechako Lakes.

I look forward, one day, to seeing a plan that does come forward from this government addressing these kinds of issues, but unfortunately, I’m not awfully hopeful, because clearly this government has not made those critical components a priority, and quite frankly, as I’ve said, that’s shameful.

K. Greene: I come to you today from the traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam people and ask everyone to take a moment to reflect on the traditional territories you reside upon.

It would be understating the obvious to say that this has been a difficult year for everyone. Normal has been turned on its head, locally as well as globally. We need a plan in British Columbia to recover from the lasting impacts of the pandemic.

Our government has been supporting people and businesses throughout the pandemic, ensuring that a recovery period has a strong base on which to grow. As recently as February, our economy gained 26,600 jobs and is at 99.4 percent pre-pandemic employment. We’re going to continue to make investments in local communities across the province as we see, on the horizon, our post-pandemic future.

Infrastructure is an important part of B.C.’s post-pandemic recovery. Good infrastructure projects will not only promote economic recovery but also support social and environmental recovery as well. It’s so important to consider not just short-term economic impacts but long and lasting sustained and sustainable growth in the long term.

In Richmond, we anticipate the start of the Richmond Hospital acute care tower replacement project. When under construction, the project will employ hundreds of workers, including Richmond workers. These are good, quality jobs that will stimulate the local economy, but in the long run, the impact will be far greater. Richmond Hospital will be able to offer more services with the replaced and expanded tower, which means long-term employment for health care and support workers. The social impact will be significant as well, with Richmond residents well supported in their own community in their time of need.

The replacement tower will also improve the morale of our health care team at Richmond Hospital, who have been providing excellent health care despite the frequent challenges of delivering that care in a building that’s 55 years old. Projects like the Richmond Hospital acute care tower replacement will support us now and for years to come.

Rapid transit projects like SkyTrain extensions are another example of infrastructure that will support us post-pandemic. In the short run, hundreds of local workers will find good employment to support their families and, in turn, spend in the local economy, boosting that economic recovery.

But the magnitude of the project benefits will be appreciated in the long run when hundreds of thousands of people — workers, students, shoppers, visitors — have more route options and can get where they need to go quickly and affordably. Having a good transit alternative will get more people out of their cars and ease congestion on crowded routes. People will get home more quickly, benefiting the social fabric of our communities — more time with loved ones and more time to do the things that fill up our hearts.

The environmental benefit of rapid transit is critical for meeting the targets set out in CleanBC. It is imperative, as we face the coming crisis of climate change, that we find ways to rapidly reduce our carbon emissions. A major portion of GHGs are in transportation, so projects that enhance and expand our excellent transit system are going to play an important role in rising to the defining challenge of younger generations.

Transportation infrastructure projects are also including safe, fully separated, active transportation options that never would have been considered in years past. Accessibility for bicyclists and pedestrians means more low-carbon options for residents. An added benefit of these affordable low-carbon transportation options is better health of body and mind from exercise — a great example of the social benefit.

[11:45 a.m.]

Obviously, investing in other projects will be necessary to reduce GHGs and support our economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic. This is why we need to highlight the creation of a new centre for innovation and clean growth, which is an investment of $35 million, an exciting development as part of Stronger B.C. This centre will support good jobs and leverage the exceptional talent that we have here in British Columbia to grow the technology that will help us transition to a low-carbon future.

The projects that we undertake today will support long-term, economic, social and environmental targets. To do so means we are not just investing in economic recovery today but in stronger, sustainable communities for decades to come. Incorporating social and environmental lenses on pandemic recovery projects means a more robust recovery for everyone.

K. Kirkpatrick: I’m honoured to speak to the importance of smart infrastructure investment in the province of British Columbia. I’ve got a great interest in the benefits of smart transit planning.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us all. But governments should also seize this opportunity for pivoting and planning for the future to ensure our communities are resilient and productive. Infrastructure investment is important to stimulate economic recovery, and it provides a significant multiplier effect. It enhances accessibility, facilitates trade, improves mobility, generates job opportunities and boosts supply and overall economic productivity. It’s proven to be a very important tool for economic recovery.

As an MLA representing constituents from one of the North Shore ridings, I must say that a rapid transit plan for our region has been called for since pre-pandemic times to address our traffic congestion, and we need it now more than ever. When transportation options for the North Shore aren’t keeping pace with its exponential growth, it affects businesses, commuters and tourism. We need to improve, and we need to deliver transit options to residents to support communities moving forward as they look for reliable travel times and access to jobs on both sides of Burrard Inlet.

However, the NDP’s record for bringing in relief for commuters on the Lower Mainland has been a poor one. There are still 85,000 daily commuters waiting for this government to solve the province’s worst traffic bottleneck, the Massey Tunnel. Even with the approved Pattullo Bridge replacement project, it retained the width of a crossing at four lanes, and it came with a 7 percent cost increase that B.C. taxpayers will have to pay for — all thanks to this NDP government’s insiders-only union program, the community benefits agreement.

I hope the government can truly consider the importance of infrastructure investment and incorporate it into its economic recovery planning and policy initiatives. Not only does this planning need to be efficient and fair to workers, it should be more sustainable, livable and innovative.

I want to give you an example of how technology can help our infrastructure planning to be more than simply widening roads and building bridges. Those things are very, very important to infrastructure planning, but I’m excited about the potential of what we can look at in the future.

You’ve heard of the Internet of things, a network of connected smart devices providing and sharing rich data. Well, I had the great opportunity to visit the Department of Transportation in Denver, Colorado, where they’re investing infrastructure dollars on the Internet of roads, which turns a portion of roadway into a place where cars communicate with streetlights, with signs, with other Internet-connected things. It’s a project using fibre optics for short-range communication technology called V2X, which stands for vehicle-to-everything, to help the government resolve a limited transportation budget with a very quickly growing population.

There are many other regions looking into the future like this for their transportation planning. It works like a pair of walkie-talkies, with the vehicle driving in front automatically communicating to warn of approaching road issues such as collisions, icy roads and rock slides. It helps time traffic lights to ensure the best traffic flow and enhances road safety and traffic congestion. Ultimately, this will set up the network for the inevitable future of autonomous vehicles.

[11:50 a.m.]

If we aren’t paying attention to disruptive technologies in the auto sector, then we’re falling behind. This smart road technology is a step towards the real digital highway of the future and supporting and leveraging B.C.’s growing tech sector.

Many businesses have had to adapt and change their business models during this pandemic in order to survive, and government can’t leave them on their own. It has to play a role to put forward plans and invest in innovative programs that allow us to emerge from this pandemic better than before. This is the time to identify current and future needs and to think outside of the box to invest in infrastructure as part of a systemic and holistic approach for economic recovery.

R. Glumac: When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, what followed was like nothing we had ever seen before. In the two months after that, more jobs were lost than the total number of jobs lost in any post-World War II recession. Since April of last year, job growth has been recovering, and here in B.C., we’re on the right track to have the strongest economic recovery in Canada.

Robert Kavcic, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, has stated that B.C. continues to look like an out-performer. In February alone, we saw 26,000 new jobs created, and our employment levels returned to 99.4 percent of where they were before the pandemic. There is no doubt our economic recovery is leading the nation. We are achieving this by putting people first.

We have a comprehensive economic recovery plan, the scope of which would be impossible to talk about in a five-minute speech. Instead I’d like to take you on a little tour around the province to get a sense of some of the infrastructure projects that are currently getting started or are underway.

Let’s first go to Creston Valley and the town of Wynndel that’s receiving high-speed Internet as part of the connecting B.C. program. There’s $90 million being invested in improving high-speed Internet and cellular access across the province.

Next let’s go to Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm, which will see the construction of five new student housing buildings for Okanagan College. This $67 million project will increase student housing in this region by 260 percent.

Next to Richmond, which receives $1 million for upgrades to Alexandra Neighbourhood Park as part of a program to invest $30 million in small-scale infrastructure projects across the province. This project is just one of 63 infrastructure projects that have been approved so far.

Now to Invermere, where $1 million is going towards the expansion of a trail network between Invermere and Radium Hot Springs. This is one of 38 projects totalling $20 million dedicated to economic development and recovery in rural communities.

Next we go to Golden, B.C., where there’s funding for an erosion mitigation project, one of 60 projects across the province totalling over $20 million which are targeted to helping mitigate and address the effects of climate change.

Next to Naikoon Park in Haida Gwaii, which will now have electric vehicle charging stations, thanks to our $5 million program to fund infrastructure projects in 24 provincial parks. Incidentally, there are now more than 2,000 public charging stations across B.C.

Next off to Tofino, which will be seeing $38 million invested from the province and federal government to improve the safety of Highway 4 between Port Alberni and Tofino.

Where should we go to next? How about Kamloops, which will be seeing a $1 billion widening of Highway 1 between Kamloops and Alberta. That’s 330 kilometres of highway.

Over to Quesnel and a $100 million repair to a section of West Fraser Road that was washed out by a recent flood. Then to Trail and $30 million invested in building a new elementary school and child care centre, just one example of over $2 billion invested in school capital projects over the last three years.

[11:55 a.m.]

To New Westminster and a $1.5 billion investment to build a new acute care tower in Royal Columbian Hospital, which will increase the capacity of the hospital by 50 percent.

All these projects that I spoke about were announced in the last month. That’s one month. And there’s so much more coming. I haven’t even talked about the Pattullo Bridge or the Broadway subway project and so much more. It is this government, the NDP government, that will continue to make investments in the people of this province to grow a sustainable economy that leads the country.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

G. Kyllo: It is truly a privilege to rise in the House today and speak to the motion: “Be it resolved that this House recognize the importance of a comprehensive infrastructure plan to support British Columbia’s post-pandemic economic recovery.”

All members of this House will recognize the value of investing in our infrastructure: our roads, our bridges, our rail lines, our airports and our pipelines. Those very necessary infrastructures actually provide the goods and movements of services and products across both Canada, North America and around the globe.

But it’s the manner in which these projects are undertaken that I am most concerned about. This has to do with the manner in which this current government is moving forward with what they call their community benefits agreement. I think that there are very laudable goals of the government, but it’s the manner in which they’re trying to achieve them that is very concerning to me.

Some of the highlights of the CBAs include a targeted approach to maximizing apprenticeship opportunities; focusing on priority hiring and training of Indigenous peoples, and women; coordinating access to existing training programs; as well as priority hiring for qualified individuals. It goes on to indicate a hiring flexibility for contractors and wage alignment of prevailing industry rates to promote good wages for all employees.

Now, these are laudable goals, and these goals have largely been attained previously through project labour agreements — agreements that are inclusive of all workers across our province. Unfortunately, this administration has chosen, under their CBA, to exclude 85 percent of construction workers in our province. We must ask ourselves: why would government be motivated to actually not be inclusive, but instead to be discriminatory against a large portion of private sector employees in our province? These are very concerning, both to me and British Columbians.

Now, don’t take my word for it. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has indicated that under the CBAs, that the CBA amounts to what they identify as “conscription of B.C.’s construction workforce into a designated union.” They go on to say that this policy “contravenes the obligation of government for fair, open and transparent procurement” policies.

Again, as I mentioned, 15 percent of construction workers are actually unionized in this province. The other 85 percent are not. We must ask ourselves: why is government actually undertaking a new policy that excludes and discriminates against a large majority of construction workers in this province?

We’ve seen this movie before. Back in the 1990s, the Highway Constructors Limited, HCL, agreement was struck to build a Vancouver Island highway. We know what a mess that was. The project drove costs up over 37 percent. This goes back to the core of being respectful to taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker: Noting the hour, Member.

G. Kyllo: Mr. Speaker, I’ve got just a few more minutes. I’d like just a little bit more time, if I may.

We have a look at what the costs are, not just back in the ’90s, but currently, under the CBA. CFIB reporting that the Pattullo Bridge project will go over budget between $129 million to $259 million just on that project alone. That’s the equivalent of building four to ten new high schools around our province.

The Broadway SkyTrain station, estimated to be $255 million to $509 million of additional, unnecessary cost associated with CBAs, with little or no reported benefit. Illecillewaet project, a four-laning project east of Revelstoke, initially announced at a $35 million budget, was then reannounced by the NDP government at $62 million and came in at $84 million. This is for only 2.1 kilometres of highway infrastructure improvement.

[12:00 p.m.]

In my own backyard, in the community of Salmon Arm, is the Salmon Arm west highway construction project of 6.1 kilometres. I was very proud to stand with the former Minister of Transportation in Salmon Arm in 2016 and announce this project at $162.7 million. The project is now tagged $22 million higher, at $184.7 million, but the project has been cut in half. We’re getting half the project for $22 million more than was initially budgeted for that project.

It is offensive; it is discriminatory. I’m very concerned, as are many British Columbians, about the disrespect of tax dollars and the discriminatory nature of many of these policies that are being politically motivated by this government.

G. Kyllo moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. J. Whiteside moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 12:01 p.m.