Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: K. Kirkpatrick.

[10:05 a.m.]

Tributes

GLENN HENRY

E. Ross: Hemaaas, Musmagilth, Gukaloot.

Early this morning my wife lost her father. My children lost their grandfather. My grandchildren lost their great-grandfather. It’s suspected it was due to heart problems, but he was definitely battling dementia, which is a cruel condition for victims as well as their family and friends. Dementia has been described as the long goodbye.

Glenn Henry was born November 16, 1945, and passed away April 28, 2022, at 12:30 a.m. in Kitimat General Hospital.

Rest in peace, Glenn Henry.

Introductions by Members

L. Doerkson: I wanted to take a moment to introduce a friend of mine from Williams Lake, Massimo Calabrese, who is the vaccination kid from Williams Lake. He’s done great work in our community.

S. Chandra Herbert: I’m not sure if he’s tuned in yet, but I want to honour a constituent of mine, Don Hann. Don is finally retiring after 40 years of serving at the city hall child care centre, the city hall day care centre. He is believed to be the longest-serving man in a child care facility in Canada, but he’s also remarkable in that he started serving as a gay man in a child care facility at a time when stigma, homophobia and hatred targeted people like him.

He’s a remarkable man. He has served with the Gay Alliance Towards Equality, rallied here outside of the Legislature, in Vancouver and many other places for equality for gay people. I just want to honour him and his 40-year career and dedication to the children of this province.

S. Cadieux: I am pleased today to be able to welcome in the gallery a friend, Sharon Crowson. She’s a friend today. She was my constituency assistant from 2009 to 2018, and I am very happy to have her with us today.

As well, watching from back home in anticipation of a statement I’ll make later this morning, are my constituency assistants that are serving me well in South Surrey right now, Michelle Moore and Ekamjit Ghuman.

Will the House please make them all very welcome.

B. Banman: I just had the pleasure of meeting and greeting 40 students from an elementary school in my riding, Dormick Elementary. They are joined by four teachers: Ms. Illes, Mr. Hipwell, Ms. Riddell and Mrs. Donovan. They’re on their way here.

I hope they get here soon. They may get a chance to watch question period, and I promised them that we’d be on our best behaviour for them today.

Please, a warm round of applause for Dormick Elementary.

S. Furstenau: I’m delighted to introduce Brin Slydell. He’s in the gallery today. He’s shadowing me today. He’s a grade 11 student at Cowichan High. He loves to rock climb and is on the competitive team. He tells me that the access to Mount Prevost School is fantastic. He’s also part of the leadership group at his high school. He’s part of the St. John’s Ambulance brigade and has his first aid credentials.

He’s also part of a group of youth called CSIV. They stand for conflict resolution, sustainability, human rights and sustainable development, and there’s a lot of learning through play with younger people. He’s interested in studying psychology when he graduates.

Would the House please make this formidable, impressive young man most welcome.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

BILL 23 — MENTAL HEALTH
AMENDMENT ACT, 2022

Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Mental Health Amendment Act, 2022.

[10:10 a.m.]

Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

I am pleased to introduce amendments to the Mental Health Act.

Responding to reports and recommendations by the Representative for Children and Youth and the Ombudsperson, this bill will lay the foundation for an independent rights advice service for individuals who are involuntarily admitted to designated mental health facilities under the Mental Health Act. The role of the rights adviser will be to support involuntary patients and explain their rights under the Mental Health Act.

These amendments to the Mental Health Act will set out the patient’s right to speak with the rights adviser and specify when they must be informed of this right.

The bill will also set out the duties of rights advisers and the responsibilities of directors of designated mental health facilities to facilitate access to the service.

Finally, the amendments will grant authority to make a range of regulations respecting the rights advice service.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.

Motion approved.

Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill 23, Mental Health Amendment Act, 2022, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

DAY OF MOURNING FOR WORKERS

G. Kyllo: In 1991, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act, marking April 28 as a national day of mourning. The day of mourning has since spread to more than 100 countries and is recognized as International Workers Memorial Day.

On July 12 of last year, British Columbians were shocked and devastated when a catastrophic crane collapsed in downtown Kelowna, claiming the lives of five workers. This horrific tragedy was a grim reminder of the dangers British Columbians face every day as they head off to work. Last year alone, 161 people in B.C. died from work-related injuries or illnesses.

Today workplaces across this province and around the world will take a moment to remember and honour those who have lost their lives or have had their lives changed forever from injuries or illnesses sustained in the workplace. We remember the grief and loss of the families whose loved ones left for work one day, never to return home.

No worker should ever feel unsafe in their workplace, and while today is about remembering those who lost their lives, it is also about strengthening our resolve and commitment to build safer, healthier and more supportive workplaces each and every day. We must also ensure that our workplaces offer the proper care and services to employees when they are subject to a workplace injury or an illness.

It is the responsibility of all levels of government to ensure those supportive resources are available. Together, let’s build safer and more supportive workplaces for all British Columbians.

A. Mercier: Today is the National Day of Mourning. Today we reflect on the tragedy of lives lost and forever changed by workplace illness and injury.

Tragically, in 2021, 161 people died from work-related illnesses or injuries in British Columbia. That includes 53 workers who lost their battle with asbestosis and 46 who succumbed to other illnesses such as COVID-19. I just want to say that for many workers, particularly in the construction industry, asbestos exposure that happened decades ago is still a ticking time bomb and a cloud that hangs over their lives.

That number also includes 15 workers who died as a result of motor vehicle crashes and 47 others who suffered traumatic injuries, such as the horrific crane collapse in Kelowna, which claimed five lives and two brothers — one family that lost two sons. We just learned yesterday of the unfortunate passing of Lonnie Hryhroka on Vancouver Island, a logger and United Steelworker.

All of these deaths, all of them, were preventable. That makes it all the more tragic.

This year we’re marking a terrible anniversary, the 10th anniversary of the devastating sawmill explosions at the Babine Forest Products mill near Burns Lake and the Lakeland sawmill in Prince George. Four people were killed and 44 others were injured in those disasters, and our province was shaken to its core.

I offer my deepest condolences to all of those who have lost a loved one, colleague or a friend and to those who continue to suffer from illness or injury caused by work.

[10:15 a.m.]

I ask this House to join me in recommitting to workplace safety. Everyone has a role to play. Every worker who goes to work deserves and has the right to come home at the end of their shift.

YOM HASHOAH AND
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE

M. Lee: Today I rise to mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. We commemorate the heroes and righteous among nations who stood up to oppose the most vile hatred and oppression and remember the millions who were persecuted and killed during one of the most heinous acts in human history.

We make a solemn promise to never forget and never again allow such horrific actions to take place. This is a responsibility that we all must carry with us not only today, but every day, and one which we must be better at upholding. As soldiers, at this very moment, commit war crimes, once again, in Europe, and as right here in Canada, we see yet another year of record rises in anti-Semitism, we have to do better.

The Jewish community here in B.C. experienced an increase of 111 percent in anti-Semitic incidents between 2020 and 2021. Across Canada, the number of violent anti-Jewish hate crimes rose by 733 percent.

Declaring “never again” is not enough. Standing up against hatred, violence and anti-Semitism requires bra­very and a commitment to action. One thing that we should take action on here in B.C. is the adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, following the lead of the federal government, who is standing up to protect the Jewish community from this rising tide of hatred and discrimination.

I have previously stated in this Legislative Assembly my personal support for the adoption of this IHRA definition, and I continue to urge our provincial government to adopt this definition as it considers legislation to address hatred and racism.

As we reflect on those who risked their lives to save others from the Holocaust, demonstrating love and compassion in the face of darkness, their heroic actions are a reminder that we can and must always stand up for what is right. By carrying on that legacy of bravery and hope, we can honour the heroes and survivors and build a better and safer world for us all.

VOLUNTEERISM

B. Anderson:  

This week we celebrate. Celebrate who?
Incredible volunteers for all that they do.
When I started my list, it just kept growing.
Volunteers do so much, and it’s really showing.
Empathy and action is this year’s theme.
Volunteers bring heart and build the dream.
With compassion, they strengthen community.
Whether you’re young or classic, it’s a great opportunity.
Here is a huge shoutout to the generously hearted.
The list is long, so let’s get started.
Service clubs build community and pivot at the unplanned.
Rotary, the Lions and the Eagles all deserve a hand.
Some folks prefer to break a sweat and build trails,
while others bake bread or serve hot meals.
In rural areas, even our firefighters are volunteers.
They attend all sorts of calls and deserve our cheers.
If you like to shred the gnar, I have a job for you.
The Salmo Ski Hill relies on volunteers for all that they do too.
If you get lost, search and rescue has your back.
Just leave prepared and be sure you’re well packed.
If you’re a lover of music, poetry, books or art,
libraries and festivals are a great place to start.
Some folks give back to community by running their hall.
These centres bring folks together and are enjoyed by all.
Dr. Nick Sparrow is a KERPA volunteer star.
He attends critical 911 calls both near and far.
If championing the environment is more your style,
try deep canvassing with the EcoSociety and flash that smile.
Many volunteers want to help with cats and dogs.
Others work with sports teams to improve their odds.
The role of committees and boards is to oversee,
and political volunteers bring us to victory.
If the House could come together to give volunteers a clap,
I will sit down and call it a wrap.
The volunteers in our communities are certainly keepers.
But before I go, I would like to say thank you, hon. Speaker.

[10:20 a.m.]

WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY AND
DAY OF MOURNING FOR WORKERS

A. Olsen: On the National Day of Mourning, we re­member workers who have died, were injured or became ill from their job. We recommit to protecting workers and preventing further workplace tragedies.

This is also a day to ask ourselves: are we doing enough to improve health and safety in the workplace? Are we providing adequate care to those who have lost a loved one or fair compensation and effective rehabilitation to those who have suffered an injury or illness so they can return safely to their workplace and be productive in their employment?

I’ll never forget the conversations I had with an injured construction worker in the steam room at our local recreation centre. He shared with me that he was being pressured back to work by WorkSafeBC, even though he still had limited functionality in his hand. He was worried about his future, worried about the lack of strength in his hand and the vulnerability that that could create for him on the worksite.

There have been a number of reports recently about how to best reform WorkSafeBC to provide fair and just compensation to injured workers and greater accountability at WorkSafeBC. The most important for updating the Workers Compensation Act is the 2019 Patterson report, with 100 recommendations that require our im­mediate attention.

I know some members of this House have family members who have been impacted by workplace injury and illness, and we’ve all heard from constituents who are seeking fair and just compensation and greater accountability for WorkSafeBC.

Let’s take this opportunity to recommit to addressing the important recommendations in the Patterson report and meeting our responsibility to workers who’ve been disabled on the job.

CHINESE-CANADIAN SPRING SHOW
IN TRI-CITIES

F. Donnelly: Dàjiā hǎo. I recently hosted a video program celebrating the beginning of spring and featuring performances from talented members of the Chinese-Canadian community in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

Spring is an important time in Chinese culture, signifying new beginnings, new journeys and fresh ideas. Originally scheduled as a lunar new year event, we quickly pivoted because of COVID and created our spring show.

I’d like to thank those who made it possible: my co-host, Jean Liang, a well-known community volunteer in the Tri-Cities;Tri-City Chinese Community Society executive members Linda Li, Ernest Woo and Matthew Wong, who outlined their valuable volunteer work in the community; Golden Maple Arts and Culture Association dancers, led by teacher Yao and coordinator Jong — Tina Wong, Ming Jang, Linda Chu, Emily Soo and Hoy Ling; Golden Maple models, led by teacher Jane Soo — Amanda Yan, Fang Lin, Jean Leung, Cho Pe Pi, Fanny Chen, Anna Yoo, Diana Yan, Lily Lee, Shirlyn Lieu, Arahshi Chan, Lena Chen, Cathy Ye, Tintin Chen and Xiana Jo.

Special guests who sent a video message included the Premier of B.C., Kwikwetlem First Nation Chief Ed Hall, Members of Parliament Jagmeet Singh and Bonita Zarrillo and provincial members of Finance, Child Care, Trade, Infrastructure, and Advanced Education and Skills Training.

Thanks also to my constituency staff, Perisa Chan, Linda Asgeirsson and Kaitlyn Gorman, and to Geoff Scott and Hussein Alachfne of the Tri-Cities Community TV, who produced our 40-minute show. Many have already seen our bilingual program, but if you haven’t, please visit my Facebook page to view it.

I ask all members of the House to join me in thanking all those who made this show possible.

Xièxiè.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the Chair would like to thank the Members for Shuswap, Langley and Saanich North and the Islands for remembering all those workers who lost their lives while working or who were injured.

Let’s have a moment of silence in their memory.

[The House observed a moment of silence.]

Mr. Speaker: Thank you.

[10:25 a.m.]

Oral Questions

COST OF LIVING
AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES

M. Bernier: Alexander Kilpatrick is in his last year of medical residency, and his wife is a middle school teacher who is pregnant with their third child. They want to set up a family medical practice right here in Victoria but fear that they will have to leave town because they can no longer afford to live here.

“It’s scary looking at what the price points are for rentals and for owning a house here. Even for a family physician in the community, it’s a bit scary to look at not just the rental market but the longer term as well.”

What does the Finance Minister have to say to this family? They’re just trying to help address the doctor shortage. They want to stay here in Victoria. What is she going to do to help the Kilpatricks afford to live here?

Hon. S. Robinson: I appreciate the member highlighting this particular situation. It’s one that we are certainly seeing not just here in British Columbia. We’re seeing it right across Canada. We’re seeing it right around the globe. We are seeing people being more and more challenged as we see the inflation rate continue to rise.

What I also want to say to the member is that since 2017, we have been paying very particular attention on the housing file. We are continuing to work with local governments to get more product, and we have brought forward this $7 billion to build the kind of housing that British Columbians need. It’s a ten-year plan. We have over 32,000 homes right now being built, and people have been moving in. We’re going to continue to do that important work.

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

M. Bernier: Look, the NDP might mean well, but that does nothing for the one in five British Columbians right now that don’t have a family doctor. Here’s somebody trying to help this situation. Housing has never been more unaffordable, and now even a doctor and a schoolteacher can’t afford to live here.

Yet just this week the Minister of Finance admitted that not only will her cooling-off period idea do nothing — absolutely nothing — to address affordability; struggling homebuyers actually might risk losing their down payment or deposit. So NDP fees and penalties will not help young first-time homebuyers afford to get into a home.

When will the minister do actual constructive issues to help people deliver on real solutions so people like the Kilpatricks can afford to stay here, can afford to live in Victoria and can afford to open up a family practice to help people?

Hon. S. Robinson: You know, I’m listening very carefully to the member’s question. We have certainly inherited a challenging housing situation. We have been here for a number of years, working diligently on the housing file, which is why we brought forward $7 billion initially in 2017, and we were rolling out that kind of housing.

We’ve done more than that. We’ve started the Housing­Hub, and $2 billion is available for construction financing that is delivering thousands and thousands of homes for middle-income British Columbians.

If the previous government had started on that track, we wouldn’t be in this situation right now. I do think British Columbians appreciate that building housing does take time. It doesn’t happen overnight. We’ve been working diligently with local governments. We’re continuing to make progress on our collaboration with local governments to move more quickly.

Here in Victoria — I have to give them a shout-out — they are moving and changing how they are moving quickly to allow certain kinds of housing to be built with­out it getting caught up. We’re hearing other local governments here on the Island interested in following their lead. That’s making a difference.

It’s through collaboration with local governments. It’s working with B.C. Housing. It’s working collectively with the development community. They are very excited about what we are doing at the HousingHub, and there’s more that’s going to be coming online to help relieve some of this pressure.

[10:30 a.m.]

P. Milobar: Well, we’ve just heard how high rental costs and high inflation rates are impacting the ability to even open a family practice in Victoria. But now we also have a new report that says those same factors are going to dramatically impact low-income people in B.C. the most over this coming year and the next couple of years.

The average household this year will be facing an extra $2,000 a year in interest payments as interest rates start to rise. It has now been a week since the Premier said he had directed the Finance Minister to “bring forward initiatives to assist with inflation. We’ll see how that goes.”

Well, the people would like to know: what are these new initiatives, will they offset the new $2,000 a year that is going to impact people’s homes, and when will the public actually see these initiatives?

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, we’ve been reducing costs for average British Columbians since 2017. This isn’t a new action for us. We have been at it since we formed government.

We started with eliminating MSP. Remember that re­gressive tax that the folks on the other side doubled? The other thing we did is we brought forward the child opportunity benefit. That’s up to $2,600 a year for a family with two children. That’s making a difference for British Columbians every day.

We’ve lowered car insurance. Remember that dumpster fire that the other folks set on fire? We took care of that. Not only have we been able to give several rebates because it has been fixed, but people are paying, on average, $500 a year less on their car insurance.

Free transit for children. Again, that’s saving up to $650 a year for British Columbians. We reduced child care costs. By cutting fees by 50 percent by the end of this year for those children under the age of five, that is a huge, huge savings for British Columbians.

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

P. Milobar: Well, the minister fails to point out that since 2017, we now have well over 50 percent of the population of B.C. with less than $200 at the end of the month to pay their bills. That’s because the cost of living continues to skyrocket each and every month, with inflation at its highest level in over 30 years. Everything is costing more — gas, rent, groceries. The NDP have done absolutely nothing.

Now we know that extra $200 a month is going to be wiped out with this extra yearly cost in the new report. This is what the report says: “The bottom line is low-income Canadians will be most squeezed by rate and price hikes, a burden that will only grow heavier into 2023.” These people are trying to pay bills today. They’re trying to pay bills into 2023.

Is the minister going to reveal what initiatives she’s been directed to undertake by the Premier to address inflation, or is she going to continue to let low-income families suffer?

Hon. S. Robinson: I have to say it’s sort of surprising to hear the folks on the other side talk about low-income families when they kept minimum wage from growing, when they refused…. Even the seniors supplement — they did nothing with it for years. We have doubled it. We’ve increased social assistance rates.

I have to say, and the members opposite know, that these are global challenges. It’s not just here in B.C. It’s across Canada. It’s around the world. There are significant supply chain issues. And yes, we are concerned about how it’s affecting people here in British Columbia. There is no doubt about it. There is concern about the rising costs of necessities like food and housing. We know that it’s hardest on people who are already struggling to make ends meet.

The members opposite also know full well that the federal government and the Bank of Canada have the tools to impact inflation directly, but we’re going to keep doing what we can in order to help reduce costs for British Columbians.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS

A. Olsen: This B.C. NDP government hopes that corporations like Telus will step in and fix the growing pri­mary health care crisis through their efforts that they frame as social capitalism — really just profiteering from the delivery of health care.

Now let’s look at another crisis that’s facing British Columbians: housing. Renters are suffering. B.C. has the high­est rents in Canada. In Vancouver and Victoria, rent has jumped 20 percent just in the last six months. There is not enough supply, and what is available is excruciatingly expensive.

[10:35 a.m.]

I was stunned to find an article that assured me that if I can’t afford housing, I should just buy into a REIT. A REIT stands for real estate investment trust. It’s a corporation that owns and operates “income-producing real estate.” Articles pumping REITs state that shareholders can have all the profits of being a landlord without any of the inconveniences, such as “hard-to-please tenants.”

Here’s the kicker. Investors who purchased Canadian residential REITs since 2012 have received a 220 percent return.

To the Minister of Finance or the Minister of Housing, real estate investment trusts are generating huge returns for their shareholders by financializing our housing stock, making housing more and more unaffordable. What is this government doing to remedy this problem?

Hon. D. Eby: Thank you to the member for raising this important issue. We’ve seen really escalated REIT activity in the CRD, in the Victoria area. We expect to see that accelerating in different parts of the province.

REITs have unfair tax benefits that other British Columbians don’t enjoy when it comes to buying housing. These are tax benefits that are provided by the federal government. I’ve expressed my concern directly to the federal housing minister about this issue. He says that the federal government is going to be addressing that issue, and I encouraged them to do it quickly.

The financialization of our housing market — we know where that goes. We’ve seen it in 2008 in the United States, when investment in housing gets out of hand and it’s not adequately policed. What we need to be investing in is in the building of affordable housing, which is what our government is doing. We can’t have it undermined by federal tax benefits for these investment vehicles that make life less affordable for British Columbians.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Saanich North and the Islands, supplemental.

A. Olsen: It becomes problematic when we’re building more housing supply yet that housing supply is vulnerable to corporations purchasing it and driving the cost of rent up for British Columbians. Researchers at the University of Waterloo estimate that between 20 to 30 percent of Canada’s rental apartment market is owned by institutional landlords, REITs. They own nearly 200,000 rental units countrywide.

CBC’s The Fifth Estate reported on the devastating impact that REITs are having for renters. There was story after story of people losing their homes due to these corporations buying aging apartment blocks and renovicting them. One quote stuck with me, and it goes back to the so-called social capitalism that I raised yesterday in question period and this morning.

Michael Brooks, CEO of REALPAC, an association representing the largest institutional landlords across the country, was willing to be more honest about what the business model actually is: “Everyone in the private sector is self-interested in maintaining and growing their income, and they all want to be seen as contributing to the solution and not being part of the problem. However, they’ve got their own obligations. They’ve got their own investors, their own pensioners to fund. They’ve got to manage costs. Deeply affordable housing is a public good. The private sector is not primarily in the business of providing a public good.”

To the Minister of Housing, it is one step to talk to the federal government about changing the tax laws. What is this provincial government doing with the authorities that we have to ensure that REITs, as the minister said, do not continue to buy up rental blocks here in the greater Victoria area, the capital region, the Lower Mainland and across British Columbia?

Hon. D. Eby: In his preamble, the member made a number of assertions about the Minister of Health and Telus. I just want to remind the member and all members of this House that the Minister of Health has been on the front lines of ensuring our public health care system is protected from profiteering. He has been a champion. He has brought into force rules around private delivery of health care and charging additional fees that were not enforced before. I just wanted to address that issue.

I couldn’t agree more with the member’s concern about speculation, financialization of our housing market. It also complicates our job at the provincial level when we’re looking at partnering.

[10:40 a.m.]

Part of my mandate letter is to work with the non-profit housing associations to find opportunities to acquire privately owned rental housing, to ensure affordability and, where it needs to be redeveloped, that it’s redeveloped in a way that protects tenants and increases the number of units available on sites. That makes it harder for the province when we are competing with money from around the world.

We started this conversation in 2016 around international money coming into our housing market. I know the opposition at the time was concerned about it. They seem less interested now about speculation in the housing market than they used to be, but we remain concerned about it. It’s not just international money coming in through individual buyers; it’s money from across North America, through REITs. We need the federal government to step up on this, and we will continue to pressure them.

We’re also putting in place rules for landlords that operate in B.C., whether they’re REITs or anyone else, restricting their ability to evict people for renovictions, demovictions. We put an enforcement team in place at the residential tenancy branch to ensure the rules are followed, and we will keep doing that work to protect tenants.

SERVICE MODEL CHANGE FOR
CHILDREN WITH SUPPORT NEEDS
AND CONSULTATION PROCESS

T. Halford: B.C. Autism Advocacy has asked parents to describe how they felt about the NDP’s consultation on the autism funding clawback. “The most commonly submitted response from our survey about how parents and service providers felt about the information being given was ‘traumatizing,’ and the most commonly referred to word regarding your small table discussions was ‘gaslighting.’”

Instead of gaslighting service providers, caregivers and parents, will this minister actually listen to families and stop this clawback?

Hon. M. Dean: It is very important to be listening to families. I’ve been hearing from families for many years now — my ministry has for many years — that so many children have been left behind for too long. So we started a formal engagement across the province in 2019. We’ve continued that ever since, and we are continuing to speak to families. We will continue to engage with them and to work in partnership with families of all children and youth with support needs and with service providers and with community agencies and with communities and with Indigenous partners as well.

We are absolutely committed to working with everybody to make sure that we get this transformation right. We know that we need to build a system based on needs of children and youth across this province, and we need to be doing that to ensure that all children and youth with support needs across that diverse community are able to thrive.

Mr. Speaker: Surrey–White Rock, supplemental.

T. Halford: Parents have been trying to meet with this NDP government for six months, and this minister has not been listening. In fact, parents will be going to protest NDP offices tomorrow. I’ll read another quote: “Withholding information and not providing answers to our questions provides further damage, unnecessary stress and anxiety on families, caregivers, parents and children.”

When will this minister stop with the games and actually start listening to the families, to the parents of these children, and end this clawback?

Hon. M. Dean: Thank you for the question. We have been meeting with families. We’ve been hearing from families for years, telling us that for far too long, too many children have been left behind. We’ve done engagement with families. There’s a survey that’s open at the moment in five different languages. We’re finding different ways to engage with families and to listen to them. We’ll continue to do that.

I will be making sure that I’m available to speak to families, and I know that my staff has done so as well. I’ve continued to meet with advocacy groups and service groups over the last 18 months, since I have the honour of being in this position.

We need to make sure we’re getting the system right. We also have further opportunities, because the provincial rollout is in two years, so we will be implementing early implementation areas. That will give us further opportunity to engage with families and with service providers and with Indigenous communities and with community agencies and other partners to make sure that we are learning and that we are able to build a successful implementation of this new system.

[10:45 a.m.]

We need to deliver a system of services based on need so that children are not left behind, they’re able to meet their goals and milestones, and they’re able to fulfil their potential.

DEATH OF YOUTH IN CARE AND
OVERSIGHT OF CONTRACTED
CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

S. Bond: Even in this Legislature today, the minister did not listen to the words of parents. The words that parents used regarding this process is that they feel traumatized — it’s a very serious word — and that gaslighting is taking place. The minister needs to engage in a meaningful way with parents of children with autism.

Today I also want to raise another issue with this minister — a heartbreaking, horrific, tragic situation. Seventeen-year-old Traevon Chalifoux-Desjarlais died on Sep­tember 18, 2020, in a government-contracted care home. It took four days — four days — for Traevon to be found in the closet.

I’m not asking about the specific details of this horrific situation, but British Columbians do deserve detailed answers about this government’s lack of oversight of contracted services.

What specific changes have been implemented to ensure that this type of a horrific tragedy never happens again?

Hon. M. Dean: Thank you to the member for the question. I agree this is a tragic situation. My heart goes out to the family, and I send my condolences to everybody who knew this young man.

As the member acknowledges, it’s not possible for me to speak on particular situations of a unique individual. However, I can assure the member and this House that whenever a tragedy like this happens, the ministry does conduct a review, and our goal is always to make sure that children and youth are kept safe and are kept healthy.

When there is a review, if there are deficiencies, then an action plan is created, and that is monitored very closely by the provincial director of child welfare. Our aim is to make sure that all children and youth are able to stay safe and well cared for and healthy in our care.

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

S. Bond: Time is of the essence. It is incomprehensible to imagine how a family must feel when a 17-year-old is found dead in a closet. There have been reports this week that those charged with looking after Traevon were verbally abusive, neglectful, and that he was often left alone in a small bedroom for days at a time.

Kúkpi7 Judy Wilson of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs says: “There were warning signs — the failing audits. The ministry should have intervened with that agency and got things back on track. Those red flags were there. They could have saved his life if they intervened earlier.”

Again, I understand the process of review, but I also understand a 17-year-old young man was found dead in a contracted care home. That requires action now. What specific steps has the ministry taken or put in place to ensure that there is protection in place for British Columbia’s most vulnerable children?

Hon. M. Dean: Thank you to the member for the question, because this is absolutely critical. It’s very important that children and youth who are in our care receive the best care and are nurtured and supported to fulfil their potential and that they’re safe and that they’re healthy.

[10:50 a.m.]

We’ve known for many years that the system of in-care services has not been adequate — that we need to make sure that we transform the system so that when children and youth do come into the care system, they actually receive in-care services that meet their needs, that are designed to meet and respond to why they’ve come into care and are able to help them achieve their goals and help them to create a future for themselves that is healthy and that is safe.

We’ve been working with our partners. We’re going to transform the system across the whole of the province. We’re making sure that changes are considered and that all services delivered are putting the child and youth at the centre of their care. We’re making sure that all children and youth stay connected to their family, to their community and to their culture and making sure that we minimize any disruption in the system, because we’re continuing to care for vulnerable children and youth while we’re making this significant provincial change.

K. Kirkpatrick: Reviews are too late, and actions are overdue. This minister continues to have the same answer regardless of what the question is. Of course we want to have children at the centre, but this is about a systemic failure in the child welfare system under this government.

The independent Representative for Children and Youth says what happened to Traevon is a “canary in the coal mine” and that things are worse than ever. I will quote her: “We hear from youth living in group homes all the time, including where perpetrators of sexual abuse are housed with victims of sexual abuse. This is a system that continues to fail them.”

Can the minister tell the House why the system, after all the warnings and all the reports, continues to fail these vulnerable children?

Hon. M. Dean: It is really important to make sure that the system serves our vulnerable children and youth. We know that children and youth who are in the care system have been traumatized for some reason. We want to make sure that we put them at the centre and that we provide them with trauma-informed, nurturing, caring support and help launch them into a successful future where they’re able to thrive.

We know challenges with the in-care system have been building up over decades. This is something I know the Representative for Children and Youth has worked on in prior roles that she has had, and so have I. Now we have made considerable improvements over the last three years, and we are undertaking a provincial transformation that will make a difference to the lives of children and youth, because the home that they will be provided with, the care that they will be provided with, will actually be responsive to their needs.

What we’re doing is making sure that there are no new agencies added to the list of homes without the explicit approval of the provincial director of child welfare. We’ve taken steps and measures in terms of ensuring the quality in all of the homes that provide in-care services. We’re also really working very hard on making sure that children and youth are able to stay within family, within communities.

We have been increasing out-of-care placement, where significant action has been taken in relation to a child or youth. We’ve actually been able to go to their community and say: “Is there an auntie, is there a grandma, is there a friend of the family who is able to take care of this person while we build a safety plan?” We are making a difference in the lives of children and youth.

T. Stone: Well, the 2019 government response to the Auditor General report highlighted a review by Ernst and Young related to contracted care homes. Yet I have here a briefing note dated January 10, 2020, for the minister that says that there has been a lack of progress because “the Ernst and Young contract was cancelled due to the recent expenditure management initiative.” Later that year Traevon died in a government-contracted care home.

Now, the government response to the Auditor General report also said this: “As of June 2019, social workers have confirmed that each child and youth has been seen and their homes visited within the past three months as required by policy.”

[10:55 a.m.]

Yet here we have an audit, a copy of an audit that was conducted between October 2018 to July 2019, that proves that that simply was not true and that the government has actually failed to meet even this basic standard. Page 23 of the audit says: “The compliance rate for this measure was 7 percent.” And 30 percent of the time, there was actually zero contact for 12 months, which is in complete violation of the policy.

My question to the minister would be this. Can she tell this House and tell British Columbians why this Ernst and Young contract was cancelled in the first place, and can she explain how this government would allow — how she would allow, how her ministry would allow — a 7 percent compliance rate when it comes to vulnerable children?

Hon. M. Dean: Thank you for the question. I can reassure this House that work has continued. We’re working with partners. We’re working with youth organizations who represent children and youth who have been in care to make sure that we do continue this transformation of the in-care system. This work has already started, and it will continue.

As I said, we’re continuing to care for vulnerable children and youth, so we need to do this in an incremental way. We’re building services and working with the sector, working with partner agencies to make sure that when a child has to come into care, they’re brought into a home that’s meeting their needs and that the needs of that child and youth are actually put first in that placement.

Another transformation that my ministry is undertaking is with regard to the quality assurance system. We know what we need to be doing is monitoring outcomes and not looking at statistics and numbers and compliance. What is really important to us as a ministry is that we see that children are safe, that they’re developing, that they’re thriving, that their well-being is secured, that they’re connected to family and community and culture, that their cultural needs and spiritual needs are met.

That’s what we’re doing. We are actually redesigning our tools of how we evaluate services that are delivered to children and youth, so we’re focusing on those outcomes for those children and youth and that we’re able to launch them. If they have had to come into the care system, we can launch them into brighter and better futures.

[End of question period.]

Reports from Committees

REFORMING THE POLICE ACT
SPECIAL COMMITTEE

D. Routley: I have the honour to present the report of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act for the third session of the 42nd parliament entitled Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia.

I move that the report be taken and read as received.

Motion approved.

D. Routley: I ask leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the report.

Leave granted.

D. Routley: In moving the adoption of the report, I would like to make some comments.

The Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act was appointed to undertake a broad inquiry into policing and public safety amidst increasingly widespread awareness of systemic racism in policing, demand for improved police accountability and questions about the appropriateness of police responses to mental health, addictions and other complex social issues.

Over the past 15 months, the committee consulted widely and met with ministries, oversight agencies, statutory officers, local governments, community organizations and a range of experts. The committee also issued a survey to hear the personal and front-line experiences of British Columbians. In total, 411 individuals and organizations from across the province made submissions and presentations the committee, and over 1,400 individuals responded to the survey.

On behalf of the committee, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who took the time to participate. Your ideas and experiences highlighted the need for transformational change in policing and community safety in B.C. and directly informed the committee’s 11 key recommendations.

[11:00 a.m.]

Our report outlines a vision for policing and community safety that is rooted in decolonization, anti-racism, community and accountability. To achieve this vision, there will need to be major changes to the structure and delivery of police services, including provincial and regional policing, oversight, accountability, training and education, and response to mental health and complex social issues.

We recognize the challenging and essential work performed by police officers. Structures and systems are fragmented, and police have increasingly been tasked with responding to issues for which they are not the appropriate service provider.

Committee members agree that police should not be the primary or only first responders in these situations and emphasize the need for collaboration across police, health, mental health and social sectors to ensure a continuum of response and support, including appropriate first response.

Our recommendations aim to provide police officers with the tools and support they need to ensure British Columbians have equitable access to high-quality police and community safety services in every community across the province. An integral component of this will be addressing systemic racism in policing and the lack of trust between many individuals, communities and the police.

Police culture is at the core of the committee’s recommendations, and police education and training must be enhanced and standardized to shift this culture and rebuild trust in police and public safety.

Mandatory and ongoing anti-racism and cultural competency training must be delivered in a meaningful way. Disaggregated race-based and demographic information must be collected and reported, and police services must review and amend policies and procedures.

Further, Indigenous communities need to have direct input into the structure and governance of police services, including more self-administered police services.

Some of our recommendations can be immediately actioned, and others will take many years and successive parliaments. In reflecting on the enormity of this task, the committee recognizes the collaboration that brought us to our vision for community safety and policing.

To achieve the transformative change British Columbians have asked for, we encourage and call on all Members of the Legislative Assembly and government to continue in this spirit.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all committee members, especially the Deputy Chair, the member for Peace River North, for their support and work on this committee and for their thoughtful contributions and discussions during deliberations as we reflected on the large volume of powerful and emotional input that we received.

I think I can speak for all committee members when I say that serving on this committee has been a remarkable and meaningful experience for all of us. “Time flies when you’re having fun,” they say. At least that’s the rumour. I’ve been here in this building for 17 years. Committee work has always been my favourite aspect of service here. It is the best of what we do. I appreciate all of the members from all parties for their contributions. I think we had the perfect mix of people for the job. Thank you all very much.

As members of this House are likely aware, there is a considerable amount of work behind the scenes to support a committee of this scope. On behalf of the committee, I also would like to acknowledge and extend our appreciation to Legislative Assembly staff.

From the Parliamentary Committees Office, thank you to Karan Riarh, Katey Stickle, Mary Newell, Natalie Bea­ton, Jenny Byford, Jesse Gordon and Emma Curtis.

From IT, thank you to Darren Parfitt for keeping the lights on.

From Hansard Services, thank you to Mike Baer, Amanda Heffelfinger, Dwight Schmidt, Billy Young and the entire Hansard broadcasting, transcribing and publishing teams.

Mr. Speaker, we heard from many presenters, and the all-party committee members unanimously agreed to our recommendations that, we believe, reflect what we heard from presenters.

D. Davies: I want to thank the Chair of the committee, the MLA for Nanaimo–North Cowichan, for his leadership and work on this committee as well. It has been a great honour to serve as a member and the Deputy Chair of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act for the last 18 months.

[11:05 a.m.]

It has been challenging, but it has been very important work that this committee has done. Over the last year and a half we have heard hundreds of witness statements from people from all across the province of British Columbia — police agencies, social service providers, government agencies, municipalities, the general public, those with lived experience as well as diverse and marginalized populations.

I’m proud to have served on this committee and worked with the members. We have all worked very well together. I want to recognize the member for Surrey-Guildford for his two-minute statement yesterday, which I think really captured a lot of the collaboration that our committee has done.

We have undertaken this work that is meant to provide safety for all British Columbians across this province. We also recognize the tremendous impact that mental health and addictions has had on policing.

I would like to thank my fellow committee members. The Chair has already recognized them, as well, as well as the incredible staff, Karan and her team. You really get to know a lot of these people when you’re sitting for so many hours, and it gives you a whole new perspective of the legislative staff. Thank you, as well, for that — as well as Hansard and all the other people that make these committees really tick. Thank you.

I also want to thank everybody who took the time to share with us. More than 400 witness statements. That was a lot of people, a lot of communities, a lot of organizations. Detailing these incredibly personal and often emotional experiences was not easy, so I recognize all of those who have stepped forward and spoken candidly to shape meaningful change in our province.

I am proud of the resilience of this committee, as there have been countless challenges and extremely difficult moments, but we had a shared goal in mind. We were appointed at a moment in time when there is increased dialogue around systemic racism in policing, police accountability and questions about the appropriateness of police responding to mental health and addictions and other complex issues. We know that this isn’t the best response, but often in communities, it is the only response.

Over the last 18 months, it has become clear that transformative change is required to achieve a new vision of policing and community safety and, central to it, conversations and actions that focus on community and accountability to those communities.

The recommendations in this report are bold, very bold. But they have the best interests of British Columbians at the forefront. As the report states, this work is not done with just tabling this report. There are incredible challenges that we all know too well around mental health and addictions, challenges in the justice system. This work will be ongoing.

Finally, I’d like to thank all the incredible police officers across the province for their work during this incredibly challenging time. I’d also like to thank those that work with and help British Columbians that are struggling with mental health and addictions.

A. Olsen: Thank you to the Chair of the committee, the member for Nanaimo–North Cowichan, and also to the Deputy Chair, the member for Peace River North, for your comments and for this opportunity to say a few words about this really important work that I was fortunate enough to be able to be a part of.

Committee work is some of the most rewarding work in this assembly, and it’s work that is incredibly important, as it’s a way to bring in all of the multidimensional sides of the House. All of the skills and expertise that each of us individually brings to this Legislative Assembly can be brought together to inform and to make what are the important recommendations for government to undertake. It has been truly….

[11:10 a.m.]

As has been highlighted, we’re recommending transformational change in policing and public safety in this province. I believe that it’s been a transformational change for myself, as a member of it, and I certainly have a new appreciation for all of my colleagues that sat around the table and so openly and honestly debated and discussed and tested what we heard to ensure that the 11-plus recommendations — there are more than 11 recommendations, but there are 11 that we want to be very clear on — are brought forward to the minister.

In addition to thanking the incredible staff — Karan, for keeping us pointed in the right direction — thank you for being that really important force, and all of the staff who wrote the committee report and took everything and brought it in to what we see as basically a 100-page document.

I also want to raise my hands in gratitude to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for giving us a broad terms of reference, for allowing us, for giving the confidence of this assembly, to do the work and not restricting it, but to say: “Go in, dig down, find out what needs to be said and say it.”

I just really want to raise my hands to the Minister of Public Safety for giving us that broad terms of reference. The output is not going to be easy. It’s going to be difficult. We struggled with that difficulty. The recommendations that we make are not recommendations that we make lightly. They are recommendations from the people, the experts, the stakeholders, the survivors, the community leaders that we heard day in and day out, and I raise my hands to every one of them who participated in this really important process.

This is the first step of many steps forward in reforming policing in this province, to restoring transparency and accountability, restoring trust in policing, and a first step in that transformational change. I really encourage the government, whether it be this government or the next government and the next government…. This is going to take time to really embrace the collaboration that happened within the committee and to share this work with the committee.

I don’t think government needs to feel that the burden is going to be carried by just the cabinet or just whoever the governing party is. Share the work. Have an oversight committee. Carry it forward as a Legislative Assembly. That’s the way that we’re going to really have the most impactful transformational change and recognize that the burden should not be carried by any one political party in this province, any one Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. It should be carried by all of us equally. There are 87 shoulders in this place that can all carry that work together.

I thank you all for this opportunity to speak.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM.

R. Glumac: As a member of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act, I just wanted to take a moment to say a few words, because I believe that the work we have done here is incredible and historic.

I think most people, when they watch question period, think it’s just division, and it can become very toxic and all of that. But the work that we did here in the committee…. We came together with a common purpose to reform policing so that it better serves all people in B.C.

I’m very proud of that work. The recommendations that we made came after hearing input from over 400 organizations and individuals over the course of a year and a half. That speaks to, I think, the level of interest in this very important topic.

We took all of that. We worked together across all par­ties. We took all of that input, and we came forward with 11 bold and transformational recommendations. I’m very proud of the work that we did. I think it’s some of the most important work that I’ve done as an MLA.

I want to thank everyone that contributed to that, and the great guidance of the Chair and the vice-Chair, and members of all parties and everyone that contributed.

Mr. Speaker: The question is adoption of the report.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: The Chair would like to recognize the member for Surrey South for a personal statement.

[11:15 a.m.]

Personal Statements

SERVICE TO LEGISLATURE
AND MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION

S. Cadieux: I will take my place to make my statement.

It’s been a journey, Mr. Speaker: 13 years. I have a few things in reflection. I was the 88th woman elected to this Legislature. The first woman with a disability elected and to serve in cabinet. I’m proud of it, and I hope that it has allowed others to see themselves here.

During my tenure with Social Development, we changed income assistance policy, reforms that continue to lead the country on asset exemptions and annualized earning exemptions. And there’s much more left to do. At MCFD, we started the Youth Advisory Council, the YAC, and as recently as last week, youth from that group have reached out to me to share with me something about their lives or seek advice or assistance. So for all of the abuse I took here during my five years as minister, I must have done something right.

I put a focus on kids that were languishing in foster care, focused on finding them adoptive homes. We saw a record number of children find permanency. Nearly 1,400 youth over a three-year span. Forever families. It’s the best outcome we can work for.

I championed the single-parent employment initiative to help parents on income assistance get the training and, ultimately, employment to support their families. It’s the only program of its scale in this country.

I share these last few things because I’m proud of them, and because I will never accept the narrative that right-of-centre politicians don’t care about people. I do. People are the reason we all come here to serve.

Back in Surrey, I advocated hard and long for my ridings and saw 14 new and expanded schools — four more underway that have opened since 2017. I’m proud of that. I’m glad to see those investments continue.

I’m proud of the work that I was able to do for individual constituents to help them get the services and supports they needed. That’s the job of a local MLA.

I’ve been able to serve in government and in opposition. I have faced the worst of what this House can offer, and the best. I truly believe that we all come here with the right motives. Some may lose the plot along the way. Some may not have the necessary patience and persistence to get things done. But most can look back on their time here with pride.

This is a place steeped in tradition, and that’s important. But it can also stifle progress, and I hope that future legislators here will have the courage to make the nuanced changes to how this place works to ensure that everyone who is given the privilege to serve has the opportunity to feel that they can be heard and to leave with a sense of accomplishment.

I want to challenge all of the members of this place to be better — to do better. The push-and-pull in politics is necessary. Debate is necessary. Differentiation is necessary. But keep it about the policy. Debate the ideas. Champion the ideas. Don’t make it personal. It’s too easy, and frankly, it’s lazy. Don’t apply generalizations that result in character assassinations, because you are all better than that. I know you. These are divisive times. Let’s not be the ones dividing. Lead instead.

I haven’t had success in everything I’d hoped. Not, obviously, in any ministry post. Not as an individual who came here with dreams and aspirations. Equal pay legislation and accessible housing are still needed, and perhaps when, not if, future governments get these things done, you’ll remember my advocacy. Some days here were glorious. Some were soul crushing.

[11:20 a.m.]

I am ever-thankful for my colleagues, my friends, my family, the volunteers, and all of the amazing staff in our offices, in this Legislature, in the public service and, of course, most importantly, my husband, who has stood with me through these years. No one has success without a team.

I do want to mention and thank the Premier who first asked me to run, Gordon Campbell, for his encouragement and his trust, and the second, Christy Clark, who also gave me the opportunity to make change for our province. I wish my former colleague and new Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Falcon, every success. I know he will bring passion and strong leadership to this amazing team of MLAs, my colleagues.

Lastly, I was elected four times in three different ridings. I do believe that has to be a record. I want to thank the constituents of Surrey-Panorama, Surrey-Cloverdale and Surrey South for their trust in me over these years to represent them here in this place, to voice their concerns, to advocate for their needs, to share their stories. It has truly been an honour and a privilege.

When I started this journey in 2008 at a nomination meeting, I had flown home on a red-eye flight from Ottawa, where I was participating in the Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference. I was very tired, but I was ready for a new adventure. I didn’t know what it would entail. I had no idea what being an MLA really meant or how long it would be for, but I knew it wasn’t forever.

Now I am embarking on the next adventure in a role I feel I was destined for, as Canada’s first Chief Accessibility Officer. I’m excited, and I’m a bit overwhelmed at the good wishes I’ve been receiving. So I will say goodbye and thank you as I resign my seat as the MLA for Surrey South.

Tributes

STEPHANIE CADIEUX

Hon. S. Robinson: On behalf of the Premier and my colleagues in the B.C. NDP caucus, I’m proud to be able to stand and say a few words about the member for Surrey South as she prepares to leave this place.

The member was first elected for Surrey-Panorama in 2009 and then Surrey-Cloverdale in 2013 and then Surrey South — she’s a collector of Surreys — in 2017 and 2020. She has ably served as Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government, the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, the Minister of Social Development and the Minister of Children and Family Development. She also collects ministries.

In all of that time, she has served her constituents with grace, compassion and empathy. As minister, she has been diligent and focused. Yes, she has done some things right, and she has never lost the plot. As a minister, she was keen to serve all of B.C., keen to make things better for people. We may have differed on how that needed to be accomplished, but that’s just an example of how she never lost the plot. It really was about and has been about making life better for British Columbians.

[11:25 a.m.]

One of the many things that I have come to admire about the member is her focus on the issues that are important to her. She has been a tremendous advocate on women’s issues and on accessibility. She has been eager to serve, even as the member of the opposition, in that capacity. I can say how pleased I have been when she has reached out to me in my capacity in my various ministry roles to offer her service, to offer her knowledge, to offer her capacity to help make things better, even when she’s on the other side of the House. To me, that’s an example of never losing sight of the people of this province, and she has never, ever lost sight of that.

She’s made herself available in a non-partisan way. That, I think, is truly the gift that I want to acknowledge that the member for Surrey South has certainly reminded me of and, I know, other people on this side of the House.

I want to say a few words as she embarks on her new journey. I just want to say how so very pleased we all are — the Premier has acknowledged that as well — to see her become Canada’s first Chief Accessibility Officer. We know that she’ll bring her passion, her commitment, her grace and her energy and that she will make Canada better. She will definitely make B.C. better.

As a result of the work that we know she has ahead of her, which is going to be some heavy lifting, we will be more accessible, and we will be a more inclusive society. We look forward to seeing her do great things. We know that she’ll continue to make life better for British Columbians and for Canadians. And we know that she’ll make us all very, very proud.

S. Furstenau: As the member for Surrey South mentioned in her comments, politics can be divisive, and we have seen ourselves become increasingly in a divisive world of late. It can have the effect of dehumanizing peo­ple, particularly the people who serve in rooms just like this. We need very hard to push back against this. One person who has shown me how to push back against this is the member for Surrey South.

The seats in this building are filled with humans, peo­ple with families, people with friends, people who have made service the centre of their efforts. They have found ways to serve their communities. They’ve made sacrifices to be here.

The member for Surrey South is a person I have gotten to know over the last five years, a person who I consider a friend. We’ve served on several committees together, including the particularly gruelling and bonding Finance Committee, months of travelling around the province together. I learned firsthand during that committee how an ableist world fails people with disabilities, as we waited late one night for a taxi that could accommodate a wheelchair and found out that the town we were in did not have such a taxi. Her humour did not waver, which is one of the things I appreciate so much about her.

There are a few other things I have learned about her in the last five years, in addition to that great sense of humour. And she can be wickedly funny. She is committed to the work. She prepares for the meetings. She prepares for her work in this House. She prepares deeply and thoroughly. She reflects on the challenges that people in this province face, and as we heard today in her comments, she reflects on the many dimensions of the roles she has played and always strives to find ways to serve better.

I really like her. I really like the model she has shown, putting service to her community first. In the model she has shown, and in her comments today, the work we do in here should be focused on the policy and the efforts that we’re doing to serve, and we should not make it personal.

I wish her the very best in her new role, and I look forward to hearing about it in the years to come.

[11:30 a.m.]

S. Bond: I’m delighted to add to the comments of my colleagues today as we celebrate, we feel happy, and we feel sad about this moment in the Legislature. I do want to reflect on the fact that earlier today, our new leader, Kevin Falcon, spent time celebrating and recognizing Stephanie for her work. I have to admit I’m very glad that I’m still sitting in this chair for another few days, at least, because I get to make the remarks on behalf of the opposition. But I look forward to Kevin taking his place, hopefully very soon.

Some things are beyond partisan politics. I think you witnessed that here today. That includes recognizing MLAs who have served with distinction in this House, and that is exactly what the MLA — I’m having a hard time, Mr. Speaker, not saying “Steph,” so forgive me if that slips out — for Surrey South is. I’m very lucky because every single person in our caucus could stand up today and say exactly the things that have been said by the Finance Minister, the Leader of the Third Party and that I will share. There is a genuine, deep feeling of care and appreciation for someone who just made such an enormous difference for us as a team and in this parliament.

As you’ve heard, the MLA for Surrey South was elected in 2009, and she served in many capacities. In fact, while I understand the importance of the historic role that she had, it was a bit jarring to read on the legislative website that she is noted as being the first woman to use a wheelchair elected to the assembly and also to serve in cabinet. What I know about the MLA for Surrey South is that she did not let her injury or her wheelchair define her. Instead, it drove her to be a passionate advocate, to be tireless about inclusion and equity.

Can you think of a better role for someone who has spent her life’s work talking about inclusion and increasing the accessibility in our province and in our country than becoming Canada’s first Chief Accessibility Officer? I may not agree with everything the federal government does, but I can tell you that in this case, they made the right decision, from my perspective.

When she was appointed, the MLA for Surrey South was described as “a change leader, an advocate for diversity, accessibility and disability inclusion.” Her new role reflects decades of tireless work, including here in this House.

It’s hard to imagine that today is the last time, at least for now, that we will hear from the MLA for Surrey South. As she described her personal experiences here, all of us, and those of us who have known her well, know that she did both persevere and achieve in this place. There were soul-crushing days, and we felt them too.

Her legacy will live on, especially when we take the opportunity to reintroduce her equal pay legislation for the seventh time. Imagine the permanent legacy if the government today agreed to call the bill and we could unanimously pass this critical piece of legislation. That would be a legacy for the member for Surrey South.

[11:35 a.m.]

As the member for Surrey South leaves here to pursue the next chapter of her career, as you have heard today, we will be cheering her on. We will also be very respectful of the independent and non-partisan role that she is required to fulfil. But we will be supporting her efforts at the national level.

On behalf of our team, I would like to say to the member for Surrey South: thank you. Thank you for your mentorship, particularly of new MLAs. We heard stories last night about how much that has meant to the new MLAs who arrive, knowing that there was someone who cared and could walk alongside them. Thank you for your leadership on issues that were never easy, but always important, and your friendship. Whether you were a newbie or a veteran, we always knew that there was an open door, a place to be accepted and cared for.

Yes, I agree with the Leader of the Third Party that she is wickedly funny. She also has amazing touches. She is very good at hospitality, generosity. We have been the beneficiary of all of those things.

So to the member for Surrey South, we want you to know that we are very proud of you. We will miss you, but we know that this job was made for you. We will continue to cheer you on. I know this. I have every confidence, and all of our team does, that you will continue to make us proud. Thank you for your time in this Legislature. You have made a difference.

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, our special colleague and special friend Stephanie Cadieux.

[Applause.]