Orders of the Day

Hon. L. Beare: I call continued debate and reply on the Speech from the Throne.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Throne Speech Debate

(continued)

R. Merrifield: As I got older, and as I have gotten older, I can now tell the difference between a cowboy and a pretender. Thank you to my step-grandfather. I can see the shirt that has a crease, those brand-new jeans, shiny belt buckles and new hats to boot. That’s a pretender. They might have the right idea about the gear, but none of the work or action of an actual cowboy.

Cowboys have boots worn in, callouses on their hands, dirt ground into their jeans that won’t come out, with a shirt that’s been washed 100 times until the plaid starts to bleed. They know how to get the work done. They know what it takes to break a horse and work on that ranch.

[10:55 a.m.]

This throne speech was creased, brand-new and shiny. But it doesn’t have the work. It’s a lot about talk and not about action. Talk is cheap. Action is everything.

If this throne speech was about action, well, we would see a lot more about the effects of the pandemic. The pandemic has been traumatic. Our society is grappling with so many different stressors all at the same time. It’s become almost unbearable.

The opioid deaths are just a symptom of much larger mental health issues. Our mental health has never been worse as a society. In fact, it suffered so horribly over the last two years, and the trauma has been so crippling, that over 60 percent of British Columbians admit that they have some form of mental health concern — 66 percent. And 25 percent of all British Columbians indicate that they are depressed.

If we look at these numbers in our youth, those numbers skyrocket. Suicidal ideations, eating disorders, depression and anxiety have become more and more commonplace among our youth. Why? They’ve missed their graduations, their first relationships, having a dance recital where their parents have actually been able to watch, their parents watching their basketball games or tournaments. They’ve become hermits in their homes or apartments or student residences. Zoomiversity, isolation, social distancing have taken the place of friendships, experiences and emergence. They’ve lost time.

A quote from CBC on November 27 says: “The pandemic, by forcing many of us into isolation and removing the activities we have used to mark time, has made some of us forget vast swaths of the last years. Months of monotonous routine have taken their toll on our memories.” And on our mental health.

Now, it’s one thing for me to sit there, in my mid-40s, and say I’ve lost two years. In fact, I wish I could lose a couple of years. It’s another for a 12-year-old, an 18-year-old, a 22-year-old. They’ve lost more than 10 percent of their lives. I have sat on the phone with my constituents begging for another psychiatrist who can help their child, begging for an hour of time.

We have a tsunami of mental health issues. This throne speech didn’t even touch them. It didn’t talk about our youth and the effects of this pandemic or how this NDP government was actually going to help. Talk is cheap to a weary and hopeless generation.

Meanwhile, the government’s lack of forewarning and clear direction has left many industries blindsided by restrictions without proper supports to help them to endure the challenges of this pandemic.

There are caterers in my riding who are no longer in the catering business. Why? Because they weren’t successful? Oh, no. They were very successful — in fact, some of the biggest that we had. Why are they no longer there? Because they couldn’t plan into the future. They cancelled over $500,000 of events that were going to happen this summer. Event rental companies were on their knees. These aren’t just events; these are jobs.

Here’s an email I received. He says: “I have been born and raised in Kelowna, and I’m a business owner here. I’m hoping that you can get some good news to me. I own a business in Kelowna. It includes event rentals. I don’t know what to do anymore because of the announcements that events and indoor events are continued as a mandated shutdown. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to tell my kids. They might not be getting Christmas or birthday presents this year, because there’s no guarantee that we’re going to be working.”

[11:00 a.m.]

These are dreams. These are aspirations. These are life savings of hard-working entrepreneurs. These represent the GDP of our area. People have been stressed by the uncertainty, fear, division, isolation — losing their friends, separated from their families, worried about their businesses and unable to plan for normalcy.

Why is this NDP government so reticent to show the science? In a panel discussion last spring, Dr. Tam said: “The greatest tragedy of the pandemic would be if we were to learn nothing from it.” I would ask: are we actually shoring up the cracks of the pandemic, the light that shines through?

Are we fixing the inequities that have been exacerbated by the greatest divides between the haves and the have-nots that have been created — that the kids whose parents can afford club sports can have their parents watch but not in school sports; that small business owners don’t have any more in reserves but are watching as large businesses thrive; that certain people lost hours, work and uncertainty, while others worked from the comfort of their homes?

I would be remiss if I discussed these aspects of mental health, business uncertainty, climate change, parenting, societal division in siloed conversation or as topics. The reality is that each of these are layered on to our capacities as humans. Each stressor is another weight on our shoulders that feels almost unbearable.

Take Brandon and Kylie, constituents that I met with after they had contacted my office, business owners that have been subjected to five different waves of restrictions and closures in the last two years.

Kylie said: “We are people. We are humans. We are business owners. We are parents. We are trying desperately to hang on, but we are tired, hurting, feeling alone and unsupported.” Then Brandon added — and this got to me: “Our mental health is at stake. So many times this last two years I thought about putting up the white flag and ending it all, but I need to be here for my family. Then who would be the voice to try and end all this madness?”

Are we back to normal now? When are all of the mandates and restrictions going to end, and why aren’t we focused on building future capacity and using all of the tools in the toolbelt? What are the other tools? Rapid tests. Other jurisdictions are using them like crazy. Where are the HEPA filters and upgraded ventilation systems in all of our schools? How about actually admitting that COVID is spread through aerosol and providing correct masks? How about some data? What are our numbers saying? Oh wait, they’re not accurate anymore. What about admitting that we actually have a nursing shortage?

B.C. has been given enough rapid tests to provide one for every person. Where are they? Who’s benefiting from them? Just another example of the haves and have-nots — those that have enough money to buy rapid tests and those that don’t. Please, prioritize them for all of our health care workers and front-line workers, but they should also be available for everyone.

Where’s the increased capacity in our health care system? We knew two years ago that our capacity was at stake. It was declared as our greatest fear — that our health care system would be overwhelmed. But instead of using the last two years to actually be upgrading our health care system, we’ve sat idly by and used one amazing tool, but only one, in our toolbelt. Meanwhile, the variants have kept adapting far faster than we have.

People don’t want talk. They want action. They don’t want divisive rhetoric and heavy hammers. They want timelines, transparency, certainty. They want to know when they can get back to normal. The success of our vaccination should be celebrated. B.C. rocked on that front, but we need to rock on every front.

What’s the result of just using one tool? The result is that we don’t have capacity in our cancer care. My constituent Katrina has been waiting since November with her cancer diagnosis to have it removed. She’s been cancelled three times.

[11:05 a.m.]

The result is that mammograms are now being booked nine months in advance because of the lack of clinicians in Kelowna’s radiology and testing diagnostics. The result of this government’s lack of planning and expansion of services is that orthopedic surgeons in Kelowna have the largest wait-list that they have ever had.

My constituent Brenda has had her hip surgery postponed for the last year and a half. I’ll read from her letter to me:

“I cannot understand the decision to categorize all hip replacements as non-urgent. For those of us that need hip replacement surgery, there is nothing non-urgent about it at all. Joint pain can be severe and unrelenting. It can limit the ability to walk, move, making day-to-day living unsafe. It can interrupt sleep and lead to depression and other health issues. Delaying hip replacement surgery, especially if there’s no new estimated timing for the surgery, can also impede the patient’s ability to schedule medical attention for other impending health issues. Mentally, it’s a disaster.”

What’s another result? Well, our ICU has no further surgical capacity, and my riding has the highest number of unattached patients in recorded history.

What is our shiny buckle, the shiny buckle of this throne speech? I don’t know. Could it be the primary physicians who are leaving our province; surgeons who are trying to keep up their skills by playing video games because they’re only getting one day in a month to actually operate, all the while trying to promote surgical capacity that could be used in exactly such a time as this? But it’s not, because this NDP government says no.

Our entire health care system is on its knees, and if it doesn’t implode, it is only because of the amazing hearts and commitment within those employees that are still there. To expect them to continue working at such reduced staffing levels is unrealistic — siloed, fractured, understaffed, exhausted. That’s not just nurses. That’s physicians, surgeons. They’re all leaving our health care system in droves.

I rise today in response to the throne speech as the representative of the constituents of Kelowna-Mission. I celebrate the amazing people that comprise my riding, and I stand today to voice their stories, represent their dreams and share their experiences, because it’s a privilege and an honour to do so. I celebrate their resilience and how they’ve tried to support each other over the course of the last year.

While I celebrate and laud this resilience, I wish it wasn’t necessary. I wish that the last year hadn’t been so hard for them. In fact, it’s with some disbelief that we are still here in this place in society. Instead of getting better, things have become so much worse.

In this throne speech was a shiny belt buckle on a cowboy that doesn’t do any work — lots of platitudes about how we’re moving forward but fails to recognize the work of where we are right now. We don’t need a new hat or a shiny belt buckle. We need a cowboy. Talk is cheap. Action is everything.

It doesn’t have to be this way. It could be a place where climate change is mitigated, prepared for and where peo­ple are protected, rather than a place where the lives of British Columbians are being lost while the CleanBC plan is still waiting on outcomes and KPIs to be written.

We could have a health care system that is working, where cancer outcomes are the best in Canada instead of the worst, where surgeries are done without waiting months or years and where everyone can have a family physician.

We could have a province that is using all the tools in the toolbelt to unite people and bring them together, where personal responsibility is encouraged and provided for to keep our vulnerable population safe, where we move into the next normal of society, where child care is available and affordable, where the cost of living isn’t skyrocketing to the highest it’s ever been, where hope is our narrative and where we are creating community again.

[11:10 a.m.]

It isn’t found in this throne speech or with this NDP government. This throne speech was no cowboy. It’s just more of a pretender — shiny, creased and without substance. Talk is cheap. Action is everything. We need action.

F. Donnelly: I’m pleased to rise today to speak about our government’s exciting plans to support people, businesses and communities, as outlined by the Lieutenant-Governor in her Speech from the Throne.

I acknowledge that I am on the traditional, unceded territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ-speaking people, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

The throne speech highlighted our government’s efforts to keep citizens safe, while working to put the pandemic behind us. We are carrying out the largest-ever immunization program in B.C.’s history. As the Premier said: “We can finally see the finish line in sight.”

I want to pay tribute to our provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and her entire team of public health officials, physicians, researchers and workers. Her team has worked tirelessly for two years to keep communities safe, especially those most vulnerable. Dr. Henry has guided us with steady determination during these difficult years.

I know how many British Columbians are tired of these restrictions brought on by the pandemic, and they want to put them behind us as soon as possible. However, recent polls confirm that an overwhelming majority of British Columbians want our government to continue working to keep people healthy and safe. This will continue to be our highest priority.

Commentators have noted that B.C., under Dr. Henry’s guidance, has pursued a balanced, science-based path through the pandemic. The threat of new variants means we must not let our guard down yet or give up on our layers of protection. Now that the lifting of some restrictions has begun, our government is seeing positive signs for recovery.

There is more we need to do. B.C. has delivered more direct help for people throughout the pandemic than any other province in Canada. However, many of our businesses have been hard hit, and we must help them to adapt so they can recover and flourish.

I recently spent a Saturday afternoon visiting businesses on Glen Drive, in my Coquitlam–Burke Mountain constituency. I always appreciate hearing what local business owners have to say. I spoke directly to owners and employees at a barber shop, several hair salons, a bubble tea cafe, a pharmacy, various restaurants and other businesses. An amazing group of young Coquitlam youth leaders joined me in wishing everyone a happy lunar new year and by handing out red envelopes and providing information about my office and about the supports and services available to businesses from our government.

The business owners told me the pandemic has presented incredible challenges, but they were able to step up to keep their workers and customers safe, while adapting to necessary changes. I want to thank them for their strength, determination and kindness.

B.C.’s latest labour market outlook forecasts more than one million job openings in the next decade. Our government’s record investments in infrastructure will help support a resilient economic recovery by putting people to work and helping businesses get their products to market.

[11:15 a.m.]

The throne speech also outlined our government’s plan to move child care into the Ministry of Education. This move will make child care a core service, available to every family that wants it, when they need it and at a price they can afford. It will help better prepare children to transition to the K-to-12 system and support our work with school districts and build a space-creation strategy based on regional and community needs. I’m pleased to see this initiative, which will build on work already completed or underway in my constituency.

Since 2017, the government of B.C. has invested more than $130 million to support Coquitlam school district students and staff with improved learning environments. These projects include a new Sheffield elementary school, with space for 430 students and expected occupancy in the fall of this year, plus a newly built extension to École Panorama Heights Elementary. The extension adds four classrooms and will create capacity for 100 more student spaces.

In addition, Smiling Creek Elementary was completed in 2018, providing room for 430 students, including 80 in kindergarten.

The highest education priority for my constituency is the approval of the new Burke Mountain middle and secondary schools. This huge project is currently moving through the funding approval process, with a projected opening date of September 2026.

I want to add that I have done a lot of work on this file. This is something that I heard clearly during the election. This is something that I moved on immediately once elected. We heard from the parents. We heard the concerns that they had. The building of the Burke Mountain secondary school is a critically important issue for many parents in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

Over the past year, I have been working closely with those parents. I held a community dialogue with them to hear their concerns and update them on what I have been doing as their provincial representative, as their MLA. I’ve also met with the school board and senior staff of school district 43.

I have met numerous times with the Minister of Education and her ministry officials. She knows and they know how important building these schools is to the students, parents and people of Coquitlam–Burke Mountain. Bringing more capacity to growing communities like Coquitlam will ensure families have the childcare and education resources they need for generations to come.

In the throne speech, we heard about our government’s plans to tackle rising housing prices and help people find safe, affordable homes. In the year ahead, the province will work with local governments to speed up approvals and seek new tools to curb speculation, thus moving more underutilized units into the market.

We’re making the largest investment in affordable housing in B.C.’s history, with 32,000 homes built or on the way already. Since 2017, 52,000 new rental homes have been registered in British Columbia. That’s more than the previous 15 years combined.

In my constituency, an example of this investment in affordable housing is the construction of a new rental housing project that will replace the aging Hoy Creek Housing Cooperative. This project will provide more affordable homes for people with low to middle incomes. The rental housing project will feature a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

[11:20 a.m.]

The Community Land Trust Foundation of B.C. will operate the new homes in partnership with the Hoy Creek Housing Cooperative. The foundation is receiving $14 million from our government’s Building B.C.: community housing fund. B.C. Housing will provide an annual subsidy to the foundation to support ongoing operations, including maintenance and repairs.

At the media announcement, along with me, were longtime residents of the Hoy Creek Co-op: Vince Montgomery, Bertha Hernandez, as well as co-op president Nathalie Barret and vice-president Antoinette Swaby. As well, Thom Armstrong, the CEO of the Community Land Trust, and Tiffany Duzita, executive director of the Community Land Trust group, were also there, as was the mayor of Coquitlam, Richard Stewart.

Affordable housing projects like this are long overdue and welcome news in Coquitlam and throughout the province. The construction of these homes will help ensure a supply of quality, affordable homes for individuals and families in Coquitlam so people can afford to live in our community.

In the throne speech, we all heard the Lieutenant-Governor remind us that the isolation and stress of the two years of the pandemic have taken an enormous toll on many people’s mental health. Our government has responded to this challenge by increasing funding for free and affordable counselling programs and making large investments in treatment and recovery.

B.C. is the first province in Canada to offer a prescribed safe supply, a critical step to prevent overdoses from toxic drugs. Work is underway to build a comprehensive system of treatment and care in B.C. where one did not exist just five years ago.

Last fall I was honoured to attend the official opening of the Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, a 105-bed centre located on səmiq̓wəʔelə, also known as the Riverview lands in Coquitlam. The Red Fish Healing Centre treats mental illness and addiction simultaneously. People will receive trauma-informed, culturally safe care that focuses on mental and physical wellness. The goal is to help with their recovery so they can gradually transition to care in their communities.

The centre also includes research, education and teaching spaces, where care providers will be able to work with researchers to build capacity within the program and around the province and ensure that new knowledge is put into practice.

Chief Ed Hall of the Kwikwetlem First Nation called the opening a special day for his community and said they are proud to have their language, culture and healing practices incorporated throughout the centre, including in the name and the use of traditional healing practices such as smudging and the display of the house post at the entrance.

We know from research that treating mental health and substance use together can make a huge difference for people living with addiction challenges. I’m grateful to the province, the Kwikwetlem First Nation and all the partners involved in bringing us this facility that will provide evidence-based care in a safe and inviting environment to the people of Coquitlam and the rest of British Columbia.

Another positive initiative announced in the throne speech is the establishment of the first Chinese-Canadian museum in Canada. This will serve as a gathering place for Chinese and other citizens to learn about and recognize our shared history. In recent years, British Columbians have come to realize that all Canadians have a story to share and all Canadians have made important contributions to our province.

Fifty-eight percent of the residents of my constituency of Coquitlam–Burke Mountain are part of a visible minority — 58 percent. The largest five groups are Chinese, West Asian, Korean, South Asian and Filipino.

[11:25 a.m.]

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with executives of the Tri-City Chinese Community Society. This group was established in 2002 and is a non-profit organization that strives to provide a welcoming community in the Coquitlam area. Over the past 20 years, they have carried out many projects, including fundraising for the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation and for evacuees impacted by last fall’s devastating floods. In addition, they have supported the local Stop Asian Hate campaign and produced Chinese entertainment programs.

Besides working for the Chinese community, they are also collaborating with the Tri-City Iranian Cultural Society and the Korean community. Their president, Linda Li, described their goal as follows: “The more the Chinese participate, the stronger the Chinese community will be in the Tri-Cities.” I look forward to continuing working with them and many others to build a more inclusive community in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

I was pleased to hear the throne speech acknowledge that stewardship and management of B.C.’s lands and wat­ers — or as I like to call them, watersheds — and natural resources are one of our government’s greatest responsibilities. It stated that the new ministry will enhance our ability to partner with First Nations and to achieve our objectives of economic recovery and environmental stewardship. B.C.’s commitment to reconciliation must come to life through the consultation, collaboration and co-management of watersheds envisioned in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

The creation of a new ministry comes from over one year of planning in which extensive consultation was conducted, led by my good friend the Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations, with First Nations, conservation organizations, industry and ministry staff to know where we were working well and where we needed improvement. To help achieve this goal, our government will also reform forestry legislation to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We will continue to take action on recommendations to protect old-growth forests.

Two of British Columbia’s class A provincial parks are partially located in my constituency of Coquitlam–Burke Mountain, so I am well aware of the increased importance of the recreational and conservation values that these and other parks bring to our residents and the important role they play in Indigenous cooperation and reconciliation.

Pinecone Burke Mountain Provincial Park was established in 1995. It is 38,000 hectares — nearly 100 times the size of Vancouver’s Stanley Park. The city of Coquitlam has described Pinecone Burke as having huge, huge potential for the city. It was identified in 2014 as a potential tourism draw for nature lovers and even international visitors. Its unique location, close to new neighbourhoods and the city centre, has inspired Coquitlam to look at developing a tourist-based vision for the park and the surrounding lands.

A management plan is finally being formulated for Pinecone Burke, and B.C. Parks and the Katzie First Nation have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the plan. The park includes part of the traditional territory of the nation and borders one of Katzie’s communities. Katzie First Nation members use the park extensively for its plant, fish and wildlife values.

In August last year, I and other members of this House were honoured to take a boat trip around Indian Arm, which was hosted by the Elders Council for Parks in B.C. and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Indian Arm Park was established in 1995 and has been renamed Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park in recognition of the Tsleil-Waututh people who have inhabited this area since time immemorial. The park contains a number of significant archeological sites and extends to over 6,000 hectares of mountainous terrain.

[11:30 a.m.]

During the boat trip, we were given a copy of Say Nuth Khaw Yum, Indian Arm, Provincial Park’s management plan, which was signed in 2010. Unfortunately, a lack of commitment by the previous government to implement the plan has resulted in the park not achieving its potential as a showcase for co-management and reconciliation. The plan outlines many opportunities to adopt a strong, nature-based strategy that can contribute to promoting solutions for issues such as climate change and the general well-being of park visitors.

Increased operational funding could also result in more representation of Indigenous culture in the park, increased visitor education and engagement and support for local Indigenous tourism ventures. Both Pinecone Burke and Say Nuth Khaw Yum provincial parks provide excellent potential for successfully carrying out the co-management of land, water and natural resources, as envisioned in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Last fall atmospheric rivers poured from the sky, devastating farmland, roads, bridges, train tracks and much more. It also impacted creeks and rivers where salmon spawn. While our government works to meet immediate needs now, we are also working with the federal government and local leaders on long-term solutions to build B.C. back better. This includes debris cleanup, housing solutions, rebuilding highways and repairing infrastructure like water treatment.

We appreciate the initial funding commitment from the federal government, and we continue to have active discussions with them regarding further needs to support people, communities and the province in recovery and rebuilding efforts, including around building back better. Recently the Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister and Minister Bibeau announced significant new supports to help farmers get back into production. I’d also like to thank them for providing those supports.

Beginning in June ’22, all future increases of B.C.’s minimum wage will be based on the rate of inflation. The exact amount will be announced in the coming weeks, to give employers time to prepare for the increase. We absolutely recognize the challenges businesses are facing right now, and we continue to support them in many ways as they keep their doors open and serve their communities during the pandemic. Many businesses, including small businesses, are already paying above minimum wage, but this step protects our most vulnerable workers. Now, as much as ever, B.C.’s lowest paid workers need our support.

Our government is building a future where child care is a core service, available to every family that wants it and at a price they can afford. Child care is part of a child’s learning journey, delivers important early learning opportunities and supports future educational successes. This move will help better prepare children to transition to the K-to-12 system and support our work with school district partners to build a space creation strategy based on regional and community needs to help make life easier for parents. The transition will be happening this spring, and I’ll be watching closely. I want to acknowledge the good work of the Minister of State for Child Care for her hard work on this file.

I’d like to summarize some of the key points in the throne speech.

[11:35 a.m.]

The throne speech highlights our government’s plans to support people, whether they are rebuilding after the fires and floods, or simply getting through this difficult wave of COVID-19. Keeping people healthy and safe through the rest of the pandemic and building a people-centred recovery will continue to be our government’s top priorities.

B.C. has one of the highest vaccination rates in North America and the strongest economic recovery in Canada, with more people working today than when the pandemic hit. That’s why our focus has been and will continue to be on investing to help make life better for people. In the year ahead, our government will continue to improve health care, fight climate change and help communities prepare for extreme weather, making every day more affordable and training people for the jobs of the future.

More B.C. families will have access to affordable housing and child care, as we are doubling the number of $10-​a-day spaces, cutting child care fees for many families in half and increasing the supply of homes for middle-class families. Regular and reliable increases to minimum wage will build on actions to bring down the cost of living, like eliminating MSP premiums and reducing ICBC rates by an average of almost $500 a year.

Our government knows we can’t cut our way to a better future. Building a stronger B.C. is not about pulling back; it’s about moving us forward together. We have been through a lot, and there is no doubt there will be more challenges ahead. But if we look out for one another, we have shown we can overcome anything that gets in our way.

P. Alexis: Thank you for the opportunity to rise today to respond to the throne speech.

Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that I am speaking to you from the traditional territories of the Lə­k̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ peoples of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge my communities of Abbotsford and Mission and all the people who have reached out to me across the province and around the world after my health scare in September. Your kind words and warm wishes truly helped the recovery process. I’m even back in the gym.

So 2021 proved to be a challenging year — an understatement. That’s all we hear, isn’t it. Here we are in a new year, and we’re still dealing with COVID-19 and the strains it has put many people under. I want to say thank you to the citizens of Mission and Abbotsford who have gone out to get vaccinated, worn masks, supported local businesses and each other through these trying times. Thank you for everything that you’ve done. It’s absolutely why we were able to relax some of the restrictions.

I’d also like to say thank you to my staff. Jo-Anne Chadwick is my full-time constituency assistant and friend, and I don’t know where I would be without her. She is truly a wonder woman, which is a thing in Mission, and I couldn’t do this job without her by my side or on the computer screen every day.

I would like to thank my outgoing constituency assistant, Seamus Heffernan, who left last month to work at UFV with student job placement. UFV gained a real asset. I would also like to thank Sophia Kreuzkamp, my part-time constituency assistant, for being with me right from the beginning — guiding, teaching and inspiring. I have a new CA that will be joining our team shortly, Janessa Doerkson, and I’m really looking forward to having Janessa on board. I know she’s as excited as I am. She’s probably watching right now.

In Victoria, I want to express my thanks to Patrick Vachon, my LA, who is at the ready to make changes to my calendar and who’s always checking on me to make sure I’m okay. So thank you for that, Patrick.

[11:40 a.m.]

Of course, thank you to Devon Leathwood, my RCO, who’s always there to provide additional information.

Thank you to my colleagues — in particular, to those of you from the Fraser Valley, as we’ve been through so much together. And a great big thank-you to the ministers, who absolutely rose to the occasion when we needed so much help.

Finally, thank you to my family and my extended family for being there for me. My youngest sister Alex was a nurse, and I always tease her that the reason she was born last was so that she could take care of the rest of us in our old age. We are so lucky to have her.

In the throne speech, the idea of being stronger together resonated with me. I mentioned before that 2021 was, indeed, one for the books, but what I have seen in my communities over this last year is that unbelievable strength as we have worked together. Abbotsford, led so expertly by Mayor Braun and his remarkable team, exemplifies the results of working together and lifting each other up.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mayor Horn.

You, too, have done a terrific job.

He’s probably watching too. So I’m glad I said that.

I just want to take a moment to touch on some of the challenges as a province and provide some local examples of how we have responded. We are people first, and people take care of people. That’s why I ran as an MLA.

I’m going to start with COVID. COVID has been a test on all of us, and I am incredibly proud of the work that Dr. Bonnie Henry has done, alongside the provincial health office and the Ministry of Health, with Minister Adrian Dix at the helm.

Dr. Henry has guided us through what could have been a much worse situation. We have continued to listen to the science with respect to mandates and rolled up our sleeves and rolled out the vaccination program. The vaccination program required terrific organization at every level. From the federal government all the way through to the health authorities across the province, we all worked together to ensure that our citizens were vaccinated. In my communities, I’ve heard of friends and families who have been supporting each other, transporting people to clinics or volunteering at the clinics themselves.

In Mission, the mayor even had a friendly competition going with other mayors across the region to see who could achieve the highest vaccination rate. Vaccinations brought hope and a feeling that by protecting ourselves, we would be protecting our most vulnerable citizens, doing the right thing for the greater good.

Speaking of doing the right thing, we also kept schools open, as we recognized that children were not thriving as much when they were at home. Principals and teachers have been incredible this last year, supporting their students through various iterations of delivery. I spoke to a local teacher who remarked that it lifted her up to hear children laughing in the classroom after resuming in-person lessons. It stuck with me — that something so ordinary, pre-COVID, could become so precious.

COVID also changed the way we think about workers — and not having them come into work sick. We knew that many people couldn’t afford to stay home but, of course, didn’t want to make others sick, so we implemented paid sick leave, and then it was made permanent this year. My communities are full of essential workers, and we need to take care of them just as they have taken care of us, especially when things were so scary in the beginning.

When it comes to our economy, B.C. has been leading the way in Canada. Our commitment to supporting people and communities now and into the future hasn’t changed. Earlier this month, we learned that there will be more than one million job openings into the next decade. This will create opportunities for people across British Columbia.

Consequently, we have created a new interactive career transition tool for WorkBC. Throughout this last year and prior to it, we have created more programs to help businesses, including training grants. We have been continuously consulting with business owners to identify where the gaps are and how we can keep businesses open during these unprecedented times, when we needed them the most.

In particular, in my communities, I want to thank the chamber of commerce and Community Futures on both sides of the river, who have really assisted businesses in providing information, links to resources and assistance for grant applications, as we have provided closure relief grants not once but twice.

[11:45 a.m.]

We also created program funding to help businesses shift to online sales to continue generating revenue. I spoke to many businesses in my community who moved to an online platform. Trendy or What Knot in Mission certainly saw an explosion of online sales throughout the pandemic after they converted to the new platform. I must say that both of my communities then ran very strong shop-local campaigns, and I want to thank the teams behind these campaigns for being so successful.

We also know that a strong economy must have affordable child care, as parents — and, in particular, women — go back into the workforce. We have seen the success in Mission of Heritage Park daycare as a prototype of $10-a-day child care, but we need more as our population, which primarily consists of families, has increased even more through COVID.

I have talked to our parents. The struggle is real. As your MLA, I am committed to assist. With the recent announcement on Friday regarding further supports for early childhood educators, I’m optimistic.

We know that during this pandemic, mental health has been at the forefront of issues that many people across the province and around the world have faced through isolation. Having to keep our contacts to a minimum has been extremely hard for families. We are social creatures, and we are meant to be with those that we care about.

Complex care has come to the forefront as an integral part of how we treat our most vulnerable, suffering from mental health and addiction issues. I was very happy to hear the announcement that Abbotsford has been chosen to offer this kind of care, which will make a difference to people suffering more than an addiction. With the purchase of the Red Lion Hotel, people will be able to receive the support that they require.

Across the province, the Lifeguard App is another tool in our toolbox to ensure a comprehensive response to the overdose crisis in British Columbia. The life-saving app can automatically connect you to emergency responders if you become unresponsive.

For many years, Mission and Abbotsford have shared an ACT team that provides person-centred, recovery-oriented outreach mental health services. This has become a vital part of our community for those who are struggling. I’ve heard from many family members and friends of those that are struggling that this program has made a difference for people reaching out for help when they might not otherwise call for it.

I remember Harm, one of Mission’s finest bylaw of­ficers, telling me this wonderful story of watching someone who had been helped move on to a new phase in life that included recovery, and that he was included in celebrating each milestone. Talk about lifting people up. We know that more needs to be done, and we can’t forget how far we’ve come.

I know that for me, getting out in nature has made a huge difference in my own mental health, and if there’s a silver lining to COVID, it’s that we realized how important nature was to us after all. I’m pleased that the throne speech takes steps the in protecting our surroundings more than ever.

Quoting the Premier, 2021 was “the year climate change landed on our doorsteps.” The year included a heat dome, forest fires and atmospheric rivers, which absolutely impacted the people of my riding. I have never seen such impact to residents, farmers and businesses that relied on our roads. As a community, we were reeling. Sometimes I felt we couldn’t take anything more, but each day, despite the devastation and the tears, we saw acts of kindness and selflessness over and over again.

I begin with the heroes of Barrowtown that I met when the Prime Minister came to see for himself what we were facing. These heroes sandbagged all night long, protecting the pumps from the rising waters — ordinary people doing extraordinary things. There were also farmers helping farmers move animals to higher ground. They shared their feed, and they shared their land.

There were people who brought supplies to people who had lost everything. Not only did they bring them food and goods; they helped them clean up and prepare for renewal. They’re still there and volunteering.

[11:50 a.m.]

Community hubs have popped up to support residents, like the Yarrow Food Hub and the Crossroads hub. They are not only providing food, but they’re also providing music and camaraderie. Sometimes just being in a place to talk and meet with others who are going through the same struggles makes an enormous difference. They are lifting each other up.

Another incredible example of people helping people is the business in Abbotsford that, despite losing so much from the floods, is donating 5 percent of each purchase of their Healthy Hooch Kombucha drinks back to the farmers hardest hit.

There were real pressures on our food banks, and I want to thank the volunteers who stepped up to ensure the new needs were met. I also want to thank all the people and businesses that contributed to the Red Cross, which received matching dollars from governments. One cheque alone was for almost $2 million. I was overwhelmed by the generosity.

As a government, I’m proud that we listened to the plights of the farmer and announced the recovery program two weeks ago. This unprecedented amount by both levels of government will go a long way in ensuring that farmers can begin again to feed the people of British Columbia.

There is still more to do, and I promise we will build back better. We will work with local governments, as they know their vulnerabilities, to ensure they can withstand what next weather event comes their way.

Finally, I want to speak about reconciliation, which features prominently in the throne speech.

I’m grateful to be part of a government that is committed to doing things differently, moving forward. The grief that we felt and continue to feel over the loss of children in residential schools was particularly hard, as Mission is home to one such school. I am proud, however, that Mission has begun the much-needed reconciliation, with the historic signing of an agreement returning land to Leq’á:mel, Matsqui and Sema:th First Nations. Mission is leading the way in the province, and I am so proud to call this community my home.

Thank you for allowing me to respond to the things that are important to me from the throne speech. Each day I wake up grateful for another day and grateful that I am where I am, representing the incredible and resilient people of Abbotsford-Mission.

Deputy Speaker: I notice the member for Parksville-Qualicum.

A. Walker: It is my absolute pleasure to respond to the throne speech.

Deputy Speaker: Please proceed. We have a very few minutes left.

A. Walker: Wonderful.

It’s a pleasure to stand here on the traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ-speaking people, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, in these absolutely glorious halls. Every day that I come to serve the people of my community in this place, I continue to reflect on the history of this land, of this building but also of the space that existed before this building took place, the traditional village site of the Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ people. It’s important that we always reflect on this as we stand in these chambers.

This work that we do as MLAs can only exist with the support of our families. I know back home, my wife, Karli, is likely watching this very important discussion and enjoying every minute of every speaker in this House. My children Addison and Claire — always in support of the work that I’m doing. On Family Day, spending time with them was such an important thing.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Noting the hour, I reserve my time, and I move adjournment of this debate.

A. Walker moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. H. Bains moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

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

The House adjourned at 11:54 a.m.