Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: T. Stone.

[10:05 a.m.]

Introductions by Members

Hon. D. Eby: This may be more in the nature of a ministerial statement than an introduction, but there are some very special guests, to me, personally, in the House here today, Claudia Soto and Lulu Dosdodo.

The members here may recognize them from the Puerto Vallarta Amigos food truck. I know that this is not a partisan issue. The member for Kamloops–South Thompson and I share an affinity for the burritos from this particular food truck.

Now, Lulu and Allan Cerecedo own the food truck. Allan, while starting a business and working at the food truck, went to UVic, did his business admin degree and is now working at a local firm here in Victoria. Claudia, working full-time in the food truck, is also studying at UVic in the business administration program, with Lulu, and running the food truck throughout the pandemic. Just incredible stories about new arrivals in British Columbia from Mexico.

Would the House please join me in making them feel very welcome and thank them for the amazing food that they serve us.

R. Merrifield: Loyal friends are incredibly precious. Loyal political friends are precious and rare.

Rob Murphy is a brilliant communicator and political strategist working on all levels of government and campaigns and brings around all his positive focus while enjoying a great beer, scotch and cigar. While working with me might not have been his first choice, continuing on in this political journey has been. I’m so honoured to have him in the House today.

Would the House please join me in welcoming Rob Murphy.

D. Clovechok: Today in the gallery, I’ve got a very special person up there. She’s been my best friend for about 20 years. She’s my confidant. She’s my supporter in campaigns like none other. She’s my most valued critic, and she’s my mentor. She’s also a duly elected area F director for the regional district of East Kootenay and also the vice-chair of the regional district of East Kootenay.

I would ask this House to make my wife, Susan, feel very warm and welcome.

Hon. B. Ma: I’m very pleased today to be able to introduce somebody very special to me in my office, my administrative assistant, Sonja Leeuw. Sonja was hired in the middle of the pandemic, which is a difficult time for anybody to get up to speed in a new job, but she did it.

She works closely with my staff here and my staff in the constituency of North Vancouver–Lonsdale to coordinate my schedule and offer administrative support. My constituency assistants tell me that she’s professional, communicative, and they talk about how proactive she is as well. That’s good for me, because as everyone in the House knows, happy constituency assistants are very key to providing good service to our community.

Sonja does all of this while adapting to the unexpected challenges that life throws her as a working mother of four young children. Living in Duncan, she drives two hours each way to come here, to work here at the Legislature, and has had to save her kids, at the same time, from boo-boos and sniffles at schools, even having, once, to save her kids from a pine cone to the eye.

Despite all of this, she always makes sure that things are sorted for us here in the office, working flexibly from home and filling gaps to ensure that we keep on ticking. I’m so fortunate to have her working on my team. This is her first time witnessing proceedings live here in the chamber.

Would the House please join me in welcoming her to the gallery today.

Hon. M. Dean: It’s my pleasure today to introduce Miriam MacPhail to the House. Miriam is first and foremost a friend and a supporter, not only to myself but to all of the south Island MLAs.

[10:10 a.m.]

She’s also a graphic designer extraordinaire who helps me look my best on social media and in print. I’m so delighted that Miriam is in the House today.

I ask that everybody join me in making her very welcome.

J. Rustad: There are many, many forest workers and families who would like to be down in the Legislature this week, but due to challenges, it’s difficult for them to get here. A few have made their way down today to witness the proceedings, and I’d like to introduce them here today.

Rona Doucette, who represents Woss rural B.C. communities, is here in the gallery along with Henrie Machielsen from Campbell River, representing small businesses who rely on forestry, and Tamara Meggitt, who is representing forest families throughout B.C.

These people have been tirelessly working in the forest sector supporting their families, supporting their communities. They’re here to see the proceedings and to hear answers from the minister.

Would the House please make them welcome.

S. Furstenau: I’m so delighted to introduce Emma-Jane Burian and Grace Sinats, who are both in the gallery today.

Emma-Jane is doing a double major in political science and environmental studies at UVic. Most of her high school, she spent her time organizing climate justice events, and she received the 2020 Victoria Leadership Award for her work on flourishing and safe environments, something I think we can all recognize are essential in the times we’re in.

Grace is in grade 11 this year. She works part-time, and like Emma-Jane, Grace spends a great deal of time organizing for climate justice. Grace has done a TED Talk on how young voices build a strong democracy. I recommend it for anybody to watch.

This isn’t their first visit to the Legislature. It certainly won’t be their last. I hope one day soon to actually see them down in these seats, rather than up in the gallery.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY IN B.C.

T. Stone: There’s an image making the rounds on social media featuring a background of fire and flood with the words in bold letters: “B.C. strong, through hell and high water.” Powerful words summing up what most of us would agree has been one of the most difficult years in our province’s history.

Let’s not forget that for generations, this incredible province was built with grit and determination. A province that punched railroads through mountains. A province with some of the largest dams in the world. A province that knows how to build highways through dangerous, high mountain passes. A province truly like none other, so big and beautiful, yet different from one region to another, with mountains, glaciers, oceans, desert, plains and rich farmland all stitched together with beauty and ruggedness, a respect for the massive power of mother nature and brave people.

In the face of past daunting challenges, British Columbians have always met these challenges head on as one province, and we’ve always come through together with courage and with hopes of better days ahead. So here we are again in the aftermath of yet another massive disaster, one that has severed countless highways, caused unimaginable flood damage and, sadly, claimed lives.

There is, of course, understandable concern about the province’s critical transportation network, with movement from our coast and the Interior severely limited. But here’s the good news. Our province is home to many of the world’s finest highway engineers and road builders, and they’re unfazed by the task ahead. Let’s remember that the Coquihalla Highway, much of which was built during harsh winter conditions, was considered one of the greatest engineering marvels of its time.

With this in mind, we can and we will urgently rebuild these roads again quickly. We have travelled this road before.

To everyone who has stepped up this past week — first responders, local officials, road builders, emergency management personnel and the countless volunteers — thank you.

To everyone who will pull out the stops to rebuild our great province, thank you as well.

You have our gratitude, for you are proving once again that B.C. is indeed strong through hell and high water.

SHORE CLEANUP INITIATIVE BY
CAMPBELL RIVER TOUR OPERATORS

M. Babchuk: I’m excited to highlight a fantastic initiative that is taking place right now in Campbell River. I had the pleasure to visit the sorting site for a local clean coast, clean waters project.

[10:15 a.m.]

When I showed up at the New Wave Docks building, I was greeted by the smiling faces of a group of young people decked out in heavy-duty rain gear sorting through tons of debris that had been gathered through coastal shorelines in and around Campbell River and the Discovery Islands.

These young people have been working on this project since September, scouring hundreds of kilometres of coastline, collecting and removing debris. Once a week they head to the sorting site, where they separate garbage into recyclable and non-recyclable materials — ropes, fishing nets, chains. But what shocked me the most was the amount of Styrofoam, from itty-bitty pieces to great big slabs.

This project is the initiative of the Campbell River Association of Tour Operators. This group of local tour operators pivoted from their usual work when COVID-19 disrupted our tourism sector. They created employment opportunities for a bunch of committed youth, are cleaning up miles of our coastline and have demonstrated a huge amount of resiliency.

During my visit, the tour operators launched their grizzly meter, a sign that has since been erected in downtown Campbell River that shows just how much garbage has been collected over what length of shoreline. At the time of my visit in early November, they had traversed 250 kilometres and had collected over 50,000 pounds of garbage.

On any given day, in all kinds of weather, at least 12 young people, along with tour operators, are out there collecting sacks of debris and making a huge impact on cleaning up the coastline. I was so impressed by the dedication of this group. They’re enthusiastic to do the work. They are deeply invested in this project and passionate about the environment. It was inspirational.

I hope this chamber will join me in expressing my deepest appreciation for the job that they are doing.

B.C. COLLEGES

C. Oakes: I’m so proud to rise in the House today to discuss the important role that B.C. colleges play to the economic recovery in British Columbia.

B.C.’s colleges are the heart of our post-secondary education system. They serve people in communities all across this province. They work closely with major employers, stakeholders and government. They’re on the ground in our communities, understanding the existing gaps and labour market needs. If you are an employer that seeks some staffing, why not contact your local college to see if there’s training and employees that you can access?

One such program that I’m a strong advocate for is the dual credit program, which lets high school students take college trade courses while earning dual credits towards their high school graduation. The College of New Caledonia has been an influential supporter of students, and I’m so proud to work closely with CNC and to celebrate the work that they’ve accomplished in partnership with our school district to offer dual credit programs.

Now, I’ve seen the success of this program firsthand, and I feel there is great value in expanding these types of programs across British Columbia. I feel that the dual credit program could be expanded into health care, care aides, early childhood education foundation courses and could have a significant impact in each of our communities.

I would like to congratulate Dr. Dennis Johnson on becoming the eighth president of the College of New Caledonia. Dr. Johnson brings more than 30 years experience in the post-secondary sector, and we’re very pleased to have him in the North.

I would also like to recognize Dr. Johnson on his appointment yesterday as the board chair of B.C. Colleges. In Dr. Johnson’s words: “As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build new opportunities in a changed world, the province’s colleges are focused on ensuring students can access the training and applied education they need for better lives and stronger communities.”

I know that I join all members of this House in congratulating Dr. Johnson, thanking outboarding chair Sherri Bell, from Camosun College, and offering our support to all of our B.C. colleges, recognizing the critical role and impact they make in our communities.

MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGISTS

S. Chant: Today I rise to talk about the unseen workforce that does a great service in keeping our health delivery system moving. Usually I talk about the nurses, who are always there providing skilled care in both hospitals and homes. We talk about our first responders as well — ambulance, fire and police — who attend to scenes and sort things out.

We talk about those who keep our supply chain going — our farmers, our truckers and our grocery stores — or our volunteers, our service agencies, our churches, who reach out to provide care and support in so many ways. The list of people goes on, all of whom contribute towards managing and recovering from this thing we call COVID, amongst other things.

[10:20 a.m.]

Well, today I would like to talk about a different group of people, also important, especially when you’re in need of diagnostic services to ensure effective treatment, those folks who take you into their specialized area with mystical equipment and position you in such a way that a clear X-ray image can be taken of any affected area. These are our medical radiographic technicians, and just like many other health care roles, we don’t have enough of them. We don’t recognize their value and importance until we can’t get an appointment, urgent or otherwise.

Luckily, the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training and her staff have been busily at work, ensuring that we now have more training seats opening up for these important people. The two-year diploma program is available at BCIT, Camosun College and the College of New Caledonia.

Students are trained in areas of computed tomography — or CT, in our language — fluoroscopy, OR imaging, emergency trauma, interventional procedures and mammography. These programs include classroom learning, labs and clinical placements throughout B.C. and are a viable career choice for anyone with an interest in providing essential health care support.

Thank you to our MRTs for the specialized and important work that they do.

SOURCES FOUNDATION AND SUPPORT FOR
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS

T. Halford: On November 6, it was truly a Run for the Roses. The 25th anniversary gala for Sources Foundation was a truly special event. Over $300,000 was raised in support of mental health and wellness.

For over 40 years, Sources has been a pillar in many communities across this province. I know that all members of this House share stories of how Sources has impacted their constituents at their most vulnerable times.

The foundation is built upon a vision and a dream, a desire to ensure that no one slips through the cracks and that support is available within our communities. Their dream is to provide a legacy to ensure that the help we provide today plants a seed that continues to grow in the future, to make a difference for this generation and each generation to come. Whether it’s a senior experiencing social isolation, an individual or family who is struggling to complete their income tax return or a mom trying to access support in order to flee domestic violence, Sources is there.

I want to congratulate Sources CEO David Young and Sources Foundation president Bruce Hayne and the countless volunteers, sponsors, donors and board members that continue to make this event, this foundation, this organization a success year after year.

CHICO MENDES

M. Elmore: As we grapple with the impacts of climate change and many in British Columbia continue to struggle and brace with the devastation it has wrought, I recall the life of Chico Mendes.

Chico Mendes was an inspirational leader whose courage created systemic changes in the Amazon rainforest and around the world. He was a Brazilian rubber tapper who was able to organize and move the government into setting aside large tracts of the rainforest as reserves to protect it from destruction.

He was killed by a rancher’s son in 1988. He would have been 77 this December 15. He was one of 18 children who only learned to read and write when he was 18 years old. He was determined to learn more about why his and other families were kept poor and exploited. Through newspaper articles that spoke about social and political issues, he came to understand issues around unionization and human rights and learned lessons that helped shape his understanding of the struggles before his people.

Through his dedication and commitment to what is just, he was able to organize his fellow rubber tappers and others into fighting back against the destructive uses of the rainforest. They formed the Xapuri Rural Workers Union in their area and later expanded to other regions. They united with other unions and organizations. In 1977, at the age of 33 years old, he was elected as city councillor. He used his position to organize popular debates, peaceful protests and political participation.

He was called a threat to national security, arrested and tortured, but he persevered. A few years later he helped create the National Council of Rubber Tappers. Together with others, they discussed national problems of deforestation and exploitation. He was able to unite previously opposed groups like his fellow rubber tappers, Amazonian Indians and international environmental activists under common goals.

Chico Mendes lived a remarkable life and left us with a lasting legacy and lessons that surely serve us well to this day. Importantly, he also recognized that protecting the workers and the environment was more than just about that. I end with a quote from him: “At first, I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees. Then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I’m fighting for humanity.”

[10:25 a.m.]

Speaker’s Statement

RETIREMENT OF SUSAN SOURIAL

Mr. Speaker: Members, before we start question period, I have a special statement to make.

Hon. Members, when this House reconvenes in the new year, one of our esteemed Table Officers, Susan Sourial, will no longer be at the Table, as she will be embarking on her retirement.

Susan began her parliamentary career at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, where she primarily supported the work of parliamentary committees, 11 in total, over the course of 22 years of service to that institution. In 2011, Susan joined the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, first in committee research services, then as Committee Clerk and then in her current role of Clerk Assistant, Committees and Interparliamentary Relations. In the fall of 2011, we briefly loaned Susan to the Yukon Legislative Assembly to serve as the institution’s acting Deputy Clerk.

In a decade of service to our Legislative Assembly, Susan has supported the work of 17 committees, including select standing committees, special committees and the Legislative Assembly Management Committee, assisting these committees to fulfil their terms of reference from this House. Susan’s name is attached to over 20 committee reports. Susan has also served as a Table Officer, supporting hundreds of hours of proceedings of this House, Committees of the Whole and Committees of Supply. She was also an assistant editor of the fifth edition of Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia, published in 2020.

Many members of this House, past and present, have relied on Susan’s steady hand, her knowledge and her expertise as they navigated their work on parliamentary committees and as they navigated the procedures and practices of this House. Her dedication and service to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia have been most valued and appreciated, and I can say with certainty that they have made our institutions better.

It is my hope that in her next chapter, Susan will enjoy the simple things that bring her joy: biking, kayaking, being outdoors and reading.

Susan, on behalf of all members, I congratulate you on a remarkable career, one of steadfast servitude that has demonstrated exceptional dedication and integrity and one that has brought great honour to your profession. We wish you the very best in your retirement. [Applause.]

Oral Questions

COST OF LIVING
AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES

S. Bond: Every day British Columbians are waking up in our province and finding it harder to get by under this government. Despite two straight elections with big promises about affordability, life has never been more expensive than under the NDP. This government has no plan to put people’s worries at ease, and many families are actually asking themselves how they will continue to be able to afford to live in our province.

We have seen four straight months of high inflation. That’s because things like housing, gas and food are getting more expensive day after day, and with the latest climate disaster in our province, we’re already seeing the price of everything increase, because our supply chains have taken a significant and devastating blow.

Will the minister tell British Columbians exactly what this government is going to do to ensure that they can take care of their families? Tell them how they’re going to be able to continue to afford to pay for increasing gas and food and housing. British Columbians deserve that. This government promised it and has simply failed to deliver. Where’s the plan?

[10:30 a.m.]

Hon. S. Robinson: I can agree with the member that things have gotten more difficult since COVID, for sure. They certainly have.

I also want to remind the member — I want to remind everyone in this House, and I want to remind British Columbians — that when they sat over here, they gave tax breaks to the wealthiest 2 percent and made everyone else pay for it. I want to remind everybody what that meant for ordinary British Columbians.

What that meant was that their MSP health premiums doubled. So what did we do? We eliminated them. Hundreds of dollars in people’s pockets.

ICBC car insurance. When they were on this side of the House, it went up 30 percent. What do we have now? We actually have…. ICBC has a surplus. And not only that, it was able to give rebate cheques — not one but two.

We’ve also introduced the child opportunity benefit that provides up to $2,600 for families with two kids. That is making a difference and putting money into people’s pockets.

Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

S. Bond: The minister can stand up, and all of her colleagues can clap, but there are families today in British Columbia who want an answer from this minister and this government about exactly how they’re going to pay for their groceries tomorrow morning. That is on this government’s shoulders. This is a two-term government that made big glossy promises, big brochures about how life was going to get better. They have simply failed to deliver. British Columbians are struggling. That answer just doesn’t cut it.

The minister can try taking a victory lap all she wants, but let’s look at some of the numbers that British Columbians are facing. Does the minister know that since the pandemic started, the cost of getting chicken at the grocery store has gone up by 17 percent? For beef, it’s 20 percent. Housing prices are at an all-time high. In fact, the elusive dream of owning a home is disappearing. It takes 34 years in British Columbia to save for a down payment on a house if you live in Vancouver.

There has been no action whatsoever on tackling gas prices, despite getting promises three times from the Premier. Our supply chains have been so drastically impacted by the latest disaster that the Royal Bank of Canada said that things are going to continue to get worse.

British Columbians deserve a better answer than that. What they deserve is a plan. They deserve support and help — and this government to keep the promises it made during two election campaigns.

To the minister again, maybe this time she can look British Columbians in the eye and tell them how they’re going to pay for their groceries tomorrow.

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to thank the member for the question. I really think it’s absolutely fascinating to hear from this member their newfound interest in the struggles of ordinary people.

They made life so hard. They had a server wage in restaurants. We got rid of that. We increased the minimum wage.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. The member had already asked the question.

Hon. S. Robinson: In fact, wages are up 21 percent since we formed government. We made transit free for children. That makes a difference to families. You know what else we did? We took tolls off bridges.

Finally, what I want to say is: thank goodness it’s us on this side of the House and not the people over there.

COVID-19 RESPONSE AND
PAID SICK LEAVE

T. Stone: Not only has this government broken its promise on affordability, but they’re also breaking the Premier’s promise to not download costs onto small businesses, especially those that can least afford it. Now, we’re still in the pandemic, but in 39 days, the NDP are cutting sick leave funding for workers and businesses. They’re putting the entire cost on businesses that are, again, hanging by a thread.

[10:35 a.m.]

Yesterday in the Q2 report, the government confirmed that $310 million budgeted for sick leave will be unspent and returned to general revenue.

My question to the Minister of Labour is this. Instead of letting this $310 million sick pay funding expire in 39 days, will the Labour Minister today commit to extending government-paid sick leave so that it doesn’t expire at the end of the year?

Hon. S. Robinson: I think the fact…. In my Q2 report yesterday, what we saw around the sick pay was the fact that British Columbians recognize that you take sick time only when you need it.

We prepared, as part of our pandemic contingencies, to make sure that we had resources available to support British Columbians as we go through COVID, making sure that we had the resources to make sure that there was support so that workers didn’t have to go to work sick. I think that everyone in this House agrees how important that is.

What we saw was that British Columbians recognize that you only take sick time when you need it. I think that we can all be comforted by the fact that workers know what they need to do in order to keep themselves, to keep their colleagues and to keep their customers safe.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Kamloops–South Thompson, supplemental.

T. Stone: Well, we agreed that workers shouldn’t have to go to work if they’re sick. That’s why we supported the sick leave plan. But we’re also going to ensure that the Premier and that this government are held accountable for the commitments that were made to ensuring that the costs of sick leave were not going to be thrown entirely onto the shoulders of small businesses in this province.

Again, in only 39 days, employer-paid sick leave comes into effect, and workers and employees still have absolutely no idea what will be implemented. The Premier’s specific commitment around this was crystal-clear. He said that we are looking at how we can implement sick pay “in a seamless way without putting more burden on business at a time when business can least afford it.”

Government should do what we’ve been doing through this session. There’s been an extension of a variety of COVID measures. The government should be taking the opportunity immediately to eliminate all uncertainty, concern and anxiety out there with small businesses and workers, and they should roll over this program. They should roll over the $310 million available and continue the current government-funded program until businesses in this province are fully recovered.

Again, a very simple question. I’m looking for a straightforward answer from the Labour Minister. Will the Labour Minister extend the $310 million for government-paid sick leave that, if it isn’t extended, is going to expire in only 39 days?

Hon. H. Bains: I thank the member for his question.

Among many lessons that we learned during the pandemic, one was that workers were forced to go to work when they were sick. They brought the virus to the workplace. That virus spread among the workers, and in many cases, businesses had to be shut down. In Fraser Health alone, in April and May — two months — over 180 businesses were shut down.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: Some of them more than once. Those workers at workplaces, when they became sick, went home to live with their families and their communities….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, a question was asked. Let’s listen to the answer.

It’s okay. Let’s listen to the answer. Wait until he finishes.

Hon. H. Bains: It doesn’t surprise me that sometimes, when it even looks like something is a benefit to the workers, they light their hair on fire.

Let me tell you this. There are economic costs for not having paid sick leave in place.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. H. Bains: The seniors advocate, in her last report two or three weeks ago…. I urge all of you to read that. She said that the workers, because they didn’t have paid sick leave, came to work sick, and then they spread that to the patients and to the workers. Therefore, many deaths….

There’s a human cost. There’s an economic cost for not having paid sick days. We are going to do the right thing. We listen. We have consulted widely. And 60,000….

Interjections.

[10:40 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker: Order.

Hon. H. Bains: And 60,000 servers came back.

You know what? Both workers and businesses are worried. They’re concerned that people are going to work sick. We are going to make it right so that workers don’t have to choose to go to work sick or stay home and lose money.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Can we get to the next person?

COASTAL GASLINK COMPLIANCE WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

S. Furstenau: Coastal GasLink has been found to have violated multiple environmental requirements over the past year and a half. Over the course of constructing their natural gas pipeline in Wet’suwet’en territory, CGL’s failures to comply with environmental requirements have resulted in damaged habitat, eroded waterways and the contamination of watersheds with pollutants.

Inspections in late 2020 by the environmental assessment office found that Coastal GasLink activities are harming watersheds. In early 2021, independent erosion and sediment control auditors found that CGL was violating eight out of nine requirements. Coastal GasLink has failed to reclaim and restore the waterways that they have polluted.

The company’s infractions have impacted Indigenous rights as well. In July, Coastal GasLink was issued a warning after wrongly blocking a Wet’suwet’en woman from attempting to monitor pipeline construction in her territory.

My question is to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. On the one hand, the RCMP have eagerly enforced an injunction on behalf of CGL and this government’s fossil-fuel-expanding agenda. At the same time, there have been multiple instances of environmental violations on the CGL pipeline since construction began with little or no enforcement. What will the minister do to ensure timely enforcement of these environmental violations?

Hon. G. Heyman: Thank you to the member for the question.

Coastal GasLink, as part of its environmental assessment certificate, has to abide by a number of conditions. It has to continue to abide by those conditions. Staff and inspectors that are part of the environmental assessment office have regularly conducted inspections. They have issued orders. They have issued directions.

When they found those directions were not being complied with, they upped the level of inspection, and they have issued more orders and are now going through the process of considering the application of administrative penalties to make the point. We take the conditions on this certificate seriously.

I continue to be briefed by staff. But I don’t take over the role of staff in ensuring that an orderly application of orders and, ultimately, penalties, if required, are administered.

Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Third Party, supplemental.

STATUS OF COASTAL GASLINK PIPELINE
PROJECT ON WET’SUWET’EN LANDS
AND PRESS FREEDOM FOR JOURNALISTS

S. Furstenau: Administrative penalties but no police raids yet, I understand. It’s clear that this company has been harming the environment, and this government has abdicated its responsibility to the public interest. This abdication extends to basic Charter rights too.

Last week two journalists were illegally arrested when reporting in Wet’suwet’en territory. They were jailed for the entire weekend and only released yesterday. We’re now learning that the RCMP had been tracking these specific journalists, which makes it very hard to understand how the police were saying: “We didn’t know that they were journalists when we arrested them.”

Yesterday more than 40 news outlets and journalists signed a letter directed to the Minister of Public Safety of this House calling on him to uphold the rule of law and ensure that police actions are not infringing on press freedom.

This isn’t the first time this government has restricted press freedom. The summer enforcement of media exclusion zones at Fairy Creek was found to be unlawful. I think all of us, no matter where we stand on these issues, should be deeply concerned, because the role of the media and press freedom in democracy is essential. We don’t want to have these continuing stories where we are looking very much not like a democratic country in the way the press are being treated here.

[10:45 a.m.]

My question is to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Deputy Premier. He has said that press freedom is important, yet what we have seen in this province this year tells a very different story. What will he do to ensure that the Charter-protected freedom of the press, recently reiterated by Justice Thompson in a B.C. Supreme Court decision, is upheld in this province?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I thank the member for the question.

I have to take issue with a couple of points, the first being: government has not infringed on freedom of the press. Freedom of the press is a fundamental foundation of our democratic system in this province and in this country and continues to be so. We take that very seriously.

The second point that I would also make is that when it comes to the enforcement of a court-ordered injunction, that is done by the police. It is not directed by myself as Solicitor General, and as I have said before in this House, nor should it be.

What I can also tell the member is that when it came to the issue of the journalists, that went in the appropriate place in terms of the court, which issued a decision around bail and the undertaking, which the journalists agreed to do, and they were subsequently released. In other words, the judicial process worked appropriately, and that’s as it should be. Not being directed by politicians.

COVID-19 CIRCUIT BREAKER
RESTRICTIONS AND SUPPORT FOR
BUSINESSES IN NORTHERN B.C.

M. Bernier: Weeks ago the Premier said businesses impacted by the northern circuit breaker “still have opportunities to access provincial programs.” But here’s the problem. There are no programs right now. There’s nothing for them. They all closed. Once again from this government, false hope for people and businesses that are struggling.

The regional health restrictions…. The circuit breaker that’s been announced has now been extended indefinitely. That means no hope for many. The Premier said that this Minister of Jobs would be “observing the activities in the region.” What does that mean? We need people to not be observing. We need this minister to be doing his job. We need this minister to be supporting businesses who need help now.

A very simple question to the minister. Will the Minister of Jobs commit today to new circuit breaker programs for northern businesses that are struggling?

Hon. R. Kahlon: Certainly, it’s been highlighted that there are some businesses that, throughout the province, are still struggling throughout the pandemic. The members know, because we canvassed this yesterday as well as part of another debate, that the measures that have been put in place in Northern Health are similar to ones that were put into some of the Fraser Valley as well.

The major restriction that’s been put in place right now is that liquor can’t be served past ten o’clock. Restaurants can continue to function. Restaurants can continue to have people visiting them. Restaurants can continue to serve food past ten o’clock, but they cannot serve alcohol past ten.

We appreciate that has some impacts. We’ve also offset that impact by reducing liquor pricing for businesses by 20 percent. So they’re making more money on liquor sales now than they have ever made. They’ve been advocating for that for ten years. The members on the other side will know, because they knocked on their doors several times, asking for that. We have lowered their costs.

We know, because of the pandemic and the high case counts and the loss of life, that measures were needed to be put in place. That’s why they’re there — moderate measures. Certainly, our hope is that the vaccination rates continue to rise and that cases continue to fall so that we can relieve those moderate measures so that people can return to a normal which they’re comfortable with.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Peace River South, supplemental.

[10:50 a.m.]

M. Bernier: I’m trying to figure out why this minister wants to treat different parts of the province differently. The last time there was a circuit breaker announced, we made sure, unanimously in this House — we all got together to make sure — there were programs and supports for struggling employers and families. It was very easy to do. It was easy to do then.

Now we’ve announced another circuit breaker that is hurting families and employers, and this minister is sitting on his hands. He’s doing nothing to help them. Even yesterday in this House, he quoted that this is “certainly not a circuit breaker.” It’s almost like he’s trying to play a word game to avoid helping people. Exactly what Dr. Henry said when she announced these restrictions was: “It’s a circuit breaker.”

Is Dr. Henry right? Is it a circuit breaker? Is the minister right? This is not a circuit breaker. It doesn’t matter. The employers and the families are hurting and need help now. Even arts groups up in the region right now are seeing the curtain drop, and they’re losing another part of a busy time of year for them where they could be operating. To make it worse, the government has said now there’s no end date for this circuit breaker, no hope for these people.

The government has an opportunity. This Minister of Jobs has an opportunity today to give hope to these struggling people. Will he commit to stop just observing and actually do his job, introduce a circuit breaker program and help these struggling families and businesses?

Hon. R. Kahlon: I’d remind the member that we have provided the highest per-capita supports for people and businesses in the entire country. In fact….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Can we move on with the answer now?

Hon. R. Kahlon: I’ll say it again. We have provided the highest per-capita support for people and businesses in the country. In fact, the recent budget had additional supports. By the way, the members didn’t support it, didn’t support the additional measures that we put in place, which was a shame.

The member also is not clear. When he refers to the circuit breaker, which we put significant dollars on the table, was when businesses were….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. R. Kahlon: It was at a time when businesses were shut down. Businesses couldn’t serve patrons inside their establishment. They had only takeout. They couldn’t serve any alcohol. We had complete shutdowns. That’s when the historic amount of dollars, the $528 million that we supported, $22 million in grants directly going to the pockets of businesses in their communities…. So to compare the circuit breaker….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Continue.

Interjection.

Hon. R. Kahlon: The Leader of the Official Opposition loves to heckle. This is an important question. I’d like to provide the answer.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, it’s important that we listen to the minister now.

Hon. R. Kahlon: As I already have highlighted — I’ll say it again — the measures that we’ve put in place, the measures that the provincial health office has put in place are very moderate to ensure that case counts come down. The core point of what’s being done is to save lives.

Interjection.

Hon. R. Kahlon: The Leader of the Official Opposition is correct. We have supported them the entire way, and when we brought in a budget this year, the opposition wasn’t with us. They didn’t support the additional measures for communities. They did not vote in favour of that.

We continue to support businesses. Businesses can continue to operate. They can serve food. They just can’t serve alcohol past ten o’clock.

FOREST POLICY CHANGES
AND SUPPORT FOR FOREST WORKERS

J. Rustad: In the gallery today are hard-working men and women of the forest sector. They represent tens of thousands of workers across this province.

[10:55 a.m.]

Amanda Shortreed, who co-owns West-Pro Logging, writes that the minister’s deferral announcement has had immediate consequences. “Much to our shock and dismay, we found out one and a half weeks ago that much of our winter plan has now been deleted.” I’ve received hundreds of emails from across the province, as I know the minister has as well, of similar stories.

The government has already admitted that because of their policies, thousands of workers are going to be out of work.

Can the minister tell the people in the gallery if they will be one of them?

Hon. K. Conroy: I want to thank the member for the question.

I also want to welcome the families to the gallery here today. I understand their concerns. I do understand their concerns. I also went through the concerns of the forest industry back under the member’s government, when 30,000 people lost their jobs in the forest industry.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. K. Conroy: Under our watch…. We are ensuring there will be supports in place.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order.

Minister, continue.

Hon. K. Conroy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We do have a vision for forests in this province. Our vision ensures that workers and communities benefit from secure, innovative forestry jobs for generations to come. I want to make sure that we have a forest industry that is sustainable and resilient and that our kids and grandkids can not only work in today, if they so choose, but they can work in for generations to come.

We have to make changes in the forest industry, but we will be there to support families who are in forestry-dependent communities.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Nechako Lakes, supplemen­tal.

J. Rustad: According to Stats Canada, there were about 10,000 forestry job gains between 2009 and 2017, and they’ve all disappeared now under this government.

Quite frankly, that answer the minister just gave is cold comfort to the good, hard-working folks that are in the gallery here today.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Let’s listen to the question, please.

The member will continue.

J. Rustad: There are 13 families that rely on West-Pro Logging. As Amanda says: “The way in which this has been handled and implemented has been irresponsible, hasty and, quite frankly, shady. I don’t trust that you will be there to help anyone. I’m sad. I’m scared. I’m worried for my family and for the families that rely on us.”

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker. I doubt there are very many people on that side of the House that have ever signed the front side of a paycheque. I have. I can tell you that the stress that you go under in trying to make sure that you can provide for your workers and make sure that they have a job is enormous.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, please.

J. Rustad: Can the minister tell these families why she is so determined to put them out of work?

Hon. K. Conroy: I really want to acknowledge the workers in the gallery. I also want to say that I’m really quite concerned about the misinformation that is being spread by this member.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, order.

Hon. K. Conroy: Unlike the other side of the House here, we will be supporting workers. We will be supporting communities that will be impacted by these potential deferrals, deferrals that have not been made yet.

We will have a comprehensive suite of supports for people, including connecting workers with other employment opportunities, providing education and training opportunities.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members will be quiet now.

Hon. K. Conroy: Yes, funding those people that are interested in bridging to retirement, which was why we oversubscribed….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Order.

Minister.

Members, let’s show some respect to the families, please, and the workers. Listen to the answer.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Yes. Calm down. Calm down. Take a deep breath. It’s not the end of the world. Let’s listen to the answer.

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Sure enough, Member.

The minister will continue.

[11:00 a.m.]

Hon. K. Conroy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, we know that there is interest in bridging to retirement, because it was well subscribed in 2019 when we did the same program, when there was a turn in the industry.

We’re also supporting new infrastructure projects and innovation in rural communities so there are opportunities for employment. We are going to work in collaboration with local communities, with workers, with contractors and with industry to ensure we get this right, because this is critical for jobs today but also for jobs in the future.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Hon. M. Farnworth: It’s my pleasure to table the annual report of the gaming policy and enforcement branch.