Fourth Session, 42nd Parliament (2023)
OFFICIAL REPORT
OF DEBATES
(HANSARD)
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Morning Sitting
Issue No. 287
ISSN 1499-2175
The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.
The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023
The House met at 10:05 a.m.
[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]
Routine Business
Prayers and reflections: Hon. S. Malcolmson.
Introductions by Members
Hon. A. Dix: Bonne Journée de la francophonie, Monsieur l’Orateur. Happy B.C. Francophonie Day.
Aujourd’hui nous célébrerons la Journée de la francophonie. Today we celebrate B.C.’s Francophonie Day.
I’d like to introduce guests who are joining us to celebrate today and, of course, invite all members of the House to join us at noon for our common celebration with them.
I wanted to introduce:
Claudya Leclerc, présidente du Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique; Sophie Audet, who’s also with the Conseil jeunesse.
Paul Mulangu; Brian Conway, the president of RésoSanté.
François Clavel, président de l’Association francophone du centre de l’île; Michèle Clavel, who is the partner of François; Marie Dussault.
Mylène Letellier.
Jacky Essombe.
Aboubacar Cisse — who, interestingly, is here with Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George; and Diamondra Rakotoarijaona, who is also with Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George.
We wish them all welcome today. It’s an exciting day. It’s always exciting to have people from Prince George, always exciting to celebrate B.C.’s Francophonie community.
P. Milobar: She doesn’t get down here very often; however, when she does, it always seems to coincide with a protest. I guess it’s no surprise that there’s a protest slated for this afternoon, out front.
Will the House please make welcome my wife, Lianne, who has come down to see the proceedings today.
Hon. D. Coulter: In the House today is component 12 of the BCGEU. They’re the administrative professionals executive. They represent 14,000 administrative professionals, which include people from every ministry across the province. Part of what they’re here in Victoria doing is planning Administrative Professionals Day, April 26.
Joining us we have DJ Pohl, Dawn Dreher, Cynthia Unrau, Faith Johnston, Annette Schonewille, Tahnee Trusler, Tori Reid, Liam Smith, Leslie Schulze, Bob Kary, Kathleen Dow, Andrew Robinson, Christine Crawford, Clint Casselman, Lori Isaac, Hayley Wright and Matt Damario.
Would the House please join me in welcoming component 12.
N. Letnick: I’d like to join the Minister of Health, le ministre responsable des affaires francophones, to welcome all our French-speaking people. There’s over 300,000 francophones and francophiles in British Columbia, coming from places all around the world.
We’ve had the pleasure, the minister and I, to entertain, talk with and listen to people who are advocating for improvements for services in French in British Columbia.
Puis, ça me fait grand plaisir d’être avec vous aujourd’hui.
I will take up the minister’s invitation to be there at noon today.
I hope all our colleagues will join me in welcoming our French friends by saying bienvenue when I ask them to do so.
So now, one, two, three:
Some Hon. Members: Bienvenue.
Hon. P. Alexis: It is my pleasure to welcome, from Australia, the Nuffield Australia farming scholars, led by Jodie Redcliffe. There are 26 joining us today in the chambers. So a long, long way to come.
Please welcome our guests from Australia. Thank you so much.
C. Oakes: As we celebrate extraordinary women this week, and all times, joining us today is Kate Cox. She is the CEO of the Barkerville Heritage Trust. Kate recently won the Business Woman of the Year for the B.C. Tourism and Hospitality Conference that took place on March 2 in Prince George. We’re so proud of Kate. She came in at a very challenging time as the CEO, running a fantastic heritage site in the province.
Just as a reminder to everyone in this House, the Barkerville Historic Town and Park summer season is June 3 to September 10. Come join us — 125 heritage buildings, a living testament to B.C.’s golden era. You’re all invited.
Would the House also please help us recognize Kate Cox for her extraordinary work.
Hon. M. Dean: First thing this morning I had a wonderful meeting with members of the BCGEU component 6, executive members of the social, information and health services component 6. They’re joining us here today in the gallery.
We have Judy Fox-McGuire, Kayla Woodruff, Kevin Ball, Mona Dykes, Andrea Mitchell, Desiree Cabecinha, Anna Depretto, Teri Goodrick, Sonja Haigh, Karen Kenney, Terri Lyn Kibbe, Jeremy Leveque, Lisa McDonald, Souie Gorup, Falon Renshaw, Ryan Todd, Jessie Peden and Mike Eso. Would the House please make them all very welcome.
Hon. J. Whiteside: Joining us in the gallery today, for their very first time, are the wonderful staff from the deputy minister’s office of Mental Health and Addictions: Holly Wiman, Sara Turner, Tamara Casanova and Naoko Gadd.
Yesterday was International Women’s Day, a day to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women. I want to say that I am so grateful for this team of amazing women and for the support that they bring to the minister’s office. The work that they do in the public service is, of course, very important in supporting the work that we do in the Legislature.
Would the House please join me in making them welcome.
Hon. G. Lore: Up in the gallery is Jan Bate. Jan is the executive director of the Cowichan Women Against Violence. She joined this morning to be with the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity and the Minister of Housing for really important announcements on supports for women’s transition and second-stage homes. Jan is also a friend, and I’m really grateful for the work she does with CWAVS. Will the House please join me in making her welcome.
S. Furstenau: In the gallery is Sean Hearn. Sean is a friend. I got to know him when he was the lawyer for the Shawnigan Residents Association in our efforts to protect our watershed. He has heroic status in Shawnigan Lake, and he continues to do incredible work, particularly representing that important pillar of democracy, journalism.
I’m so delighted to see him here. I am happy that he proposed some legislation that I will be presenting later today.
Will the House please make Sean most welcome.
Introduction and
First Reading of Bills
BILL 15 — VITAL STATISTICS
AMENDMENT ACT,
2023
Hon. A. Dix presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2023.
Hon. A. Dix: I move that Bill 15, the Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2023, be introduced and read for a first time now.
B.C. is a gender-diverse province, and government is committed to modernizing the ways that we record gender. We have followed through on these commitments by carrying out systemic changes in recent years. This bill proposes to amend the Vital Statistics Act in two ways that will continue this approach.
The first amendment will remove the requirement for people 12 and older to obtain confirmation from a physician or psychologist when they apply to change the gender indicator on their birth registration and bring the legislation into alignment with the policy implemented last year.
The second proposed amendment would change the requirements in the act for information that must be included on a birth certificate. This change will align British Columbia with Ontario and Nova Scotia, which offer birth certificates without an indicator of gender.
The act currently provides that all birth certificates must include a sex designation. The gender F, X or M, from the person’s first registration, is automatically displayed on the birth certificate to fulfil that requirement. However, gender-diverse people may not recognize themselves in those choices. The amendments proposed in this bill would allow individuals to get birth certificates that do not display a gender.
Our government is committed to supporting the health and well-being of two-spirit, transgender, intersex, non-binary and gender-diverse people and to making B.C. a more inclusive province when it comes to gender identity.
I’m honoured to propose first reading.
Deputy Speaker: Members, the question is first reading.
Motion approved.
Hon. A. Dix: I move that Bill 15 be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.
Bill 15, Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2023, 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.
BILL 16 — SUPPLY ACT (No. 1), 2023
Hon. K. Conroy presented a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Supply Act (No. 1), 2023.
Hon. K. Conroy: I move that Bill 16, Supply Act (No. 1), 2023, be introduced and read a first time now.
Bill 16 provides interim supply for ministry operations and other appropriations for approximately the first three months of the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The bill also provides interim supply for a portion of government’s anticipated financing requirements for the ’23-24 fiscal year, including an amount equalling one-third of fiscal year ’23-24, estimated capital expenditures, loans, investments and other financing requirements, and the full amount of the year’s estimated disbursements for revenues collected on behalf of and transferred to specific programs and entities.
Deputy Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.
Motion approved.
Hon. K. Conroy: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for the second reading at the next sitting of the House.
Bill 16, Supply Act (No. 1), 2023, 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.
BILL M215 — NON-DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENTS
ACT
S. Furstenau presented a bill intituled Non-Disclosure Agreements Act.
S. Furstenau: I move that a bill intituled the Non-Disclosure Agreements Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now.
Too many British Columbians are faced with gag orders that allow instances of harm to be swept under the rug. It’s time for this practice to end. Non-disclosure agreements were designed to prohibit the sharing of trade secrets, but they’ve become tools to silence victims of workplace discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment, racism, ableism and other forms.
NDAs are exploitative and often require coercing the victim into signing. The misuse of non-disclosure agreements silences and isolates those who have been wronged, causing devastating lifelong effects on their mental health, career prospects and ability to maintain relationships. NDAs allow perpetrators of harm to continue without consequences.
The Non-Disclosure Agreements Act restricts the use and content of non-disclosure agreements relating to acts and allegations of discrimination and harassment. The bill sets out strict criteria that NDAs must meet in cases of discrimination and harassment, including requiring the victim to request an agreement without coercion or pressure, allowing them to access a lawyer before signing, allowing them to waive their agreement later and making NDAs time-limited.
Discrimination and harassment happen to all people across the province. It’s time that we as legislators create a framework for transparency that protects victims, not the wrongdoers. When people are allowed to speak their truth, it makes the world a safer, more inclusive place.
I call on this government to recognize the value of this work and hope to debate this bill at second reading.
Deputy Speaker: The question is first reading of the bill.
Motion approved.
S. Furstenau: I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.
Bill M215, Non-Disclosure Agreements Act, 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.
A. Olsen: I seek leave to make an introduction.
Leave granted.
Introductions by Members
A. Olsen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome to the chair for question period.
I’d like to introduce Eric Falkenberg-Poetz, Fran Pugh and Daniel Kenway, who are joining us in the legislative precinct this morning. They dropped off a petition with respect to the Saanich Inlet, which I will table after question period is over. Eric and Fran work on the Saanich Inlet Protection Society, and Daniel Kenway is a Willis Point resident.
Could the members of this House please make them feel very welcome.
Statements
(Standing Order 25B)
NOWRUZ CELEBRATIONS
K. Kirkpatrick: Aidé shomā mobarak. Happy Persian New Year. Happy Nowruz.
Today I wish to acknowledge Nowruz, the celebration of the beginning of the new year in the Persian calendar with commencement of spring and the new solar year.
Nowruz literally means “new day.” It’s an important occasion for many around the world to spend time reflecting on the values of peace, harmony, and reconciliation. It aligns with the spring equinox, signaling the return of sunshine, warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, birds and bees for those of us in the northern hemisphere.
Nowruz is celebrated by many in my riding across the North Shore and across British Columbia. For over 30 years, one of the largest celebrations, the Fire Festival, has been held at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver, attracting people from across the North Shore and all over Britain Columbia.
Nowruz is also a turning point in the year, where we carry the best of the past year while we set goals for a better new year. Nowruz gives inspirations of love, compassion, peace and happiness, while promising a new chapter of hope for prosperity and well-being.
Originally a Persian cultural feast, Nowruz has been celebrated for millennia by Iranians of all ethnic and religious groups. The celebration of Nowruz has now spread all around the world, and in 2010 Nowruz was recognized as the international day by the United Nations.
The spirit of Nowruz is all inclusive and singles out no one, and we need it today more than ever. Let us renew our faith and care for one another on this day. May this Nowruz and many Nowruzes to come lead us to a far better world in harmony, peace and towards the light.
WORLD KIDNEY DAY
H. Yao: Today, March 9, 2023, is World Kidney Day. This year’s theme is “Kidney health for all.” Chronic kidney disease is considered one of the non-communicable chronic diseases, which are known to be the leading cause of death and disabilities worldwide.
In the event of disruptive emergencies, interruption to the much needed, established and coordinated care and treatment for chronic diseases can have a devastating effect for this vulnerable population. When the health care system further experiences challenges, it can further exponentially compound stress and delay treatment for individuals.
British Columbians are experiencing multiple emergencies, with the strain on our health care system to address the challenges of COVID-19 and a toxic drug crisis. Extreme weather events are also adding additional layers of difficulty for individuals who need regular treatment and care for non-communicable diseases.
While the world is actively engaged on the four major non-communicable diseases — cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and respiratory — it is estimated 55 percent of global non-communicable diseases’ burden is attributed to diseases outside of this group, such as kidney disease. Worldwide, 850 million people are affected by chronic kidney disease.
As we prepare people and communities for further challenges, our work must also include supporting people with non-communicable diseases, such as kidney disease. Prevention, early detection and adaptive management strategies are key.
We must also continue to work towards equitable access to care for people. Educating the public on chronic disease awareness, prevention, early signs and emergency preparedness can also eliminate stigma and help save lives. And remember: we can care for our kidneys as well by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and drinking plenty of fluids, as well as getting routinely screened.
Together we can prepare for the unexpected and support people around us.
DON STIRLING
D. Davies: This Saturday many will come together to celebrate the incredible life of Don Stirling. It’s hard to find a starting point with Don’s involvement, as his accomplishments and involvement were many.
He has always been involved in sports, playing softball, golfing, badminton, hockey and almost every other sport that was available. Don coached his two boys, Shane and Dustin’s, softball team, youth bowling and badminton teams and coached early skiing.
Don was known throughout the region for his philanthropy and community involvement. He has supported a variety of organizations and initiatives, including the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation, the Northern Lights College Foundation and the North Peace Justice Society. He was the director of the Northern Lights College board and very active in the Fort St. John Petroleum Association, just to mention a few.
He also spent many years on the program advisory committee for instrumentation at BCIT, which helped develop and shape this trade in British Columbia.
In 1978, he founded Epscan Industries, a large electrical and instrumentation company based out of Fort St. John. Don was widely respected in the industry for his entrepreneurial spirit, his commitment to quality, being a great boss and, of course, his dedication to community.
Beyond all his other community involvement, Don was a respected master Mason, literally across Canada. He was raised to the degree of master Mason in the Fort St. John Lodge in 1986 and, some years later, became the master of the lodge and eventually the deputy district grand master of the Peace River district.
He also became a noble in the North Peace Shrine Club in 1992, where he was active with the clown unit and was known as Tex the Cowboy Clown, where he became very proficient at tying balloon animals for children. He would often be seen at community events, tying balloons or riding around in his Tin Lizzy mini car. You have to imagine this 6 foot 1, 250-pound Texan cowboy. It was amazing. Don was very engaged in all other branches of the Masonic order and even being the founder of some.
This is just a small snapshot of Don Stirling’s life, his story of love of family, hard work, determination and his commitment to community service.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
AND SUPPORT FOR
ANTI-RACISM
M. Elmore: Yesterday we celebrated International Women’s Day. This day has been recognized in countries around the world since 1911. We know the history of misogyny predates thousands of years, and the history of racism, white supremacy, colonization predates many centuries.
It’s a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, women like Baljit Sethi, a community advocate for refugee and immigration rights in B.C., who founded the Immigrant and Multicultural Services of Prince George; and Karen Joseph, co-founder and chief executive officer of Reconciliation Canada; and Hide Hyodo Shimizu, who was an activist and educator in Vancouver and one of the first Japanese-Canadian women to receive a teacher’s certificate.
These Indigenous and racialized women and so many more have helped to make British Columbia a more welcoming and inclusive place for everyone.
International Women’s Day is also a call to action to accelerate women’s equality. Just this past week the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner released its report following an inquiry into hate in B.C. during the COVID-19 pandemic that shone a light on racism and hate incidents that continue to impact Indigenous, Black and racialized people in B.C.
It’s exactly why having an independent human rights commissioner is so important.
Through our historic Anti-Racism Data Act, we’re taking an intersectional approach to dismantling systemic racism. We’re implementing this act in partnership with Indigenous, Black and people of colour so that together we can safely and securely collect data to shine a light on barriers people face when accessing government programs and services. Through the Resilience B.C. Anti-Racism Network, we’re investing in our communities, providing people with the tools they need to address hate in their communities and advanced anti-racism efforts.
Behind all this important work, we have so many strong, passionate Indigenous and racialized women breaking barriers, standing up for change and fighting for the rights of all people. I’m proud to be working with so many women who, every day, help to make life better for British Columbians. I’m proud to stand in solidarity with every member of this Legislature who shares that commitment.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak about the inspiring, powerful and good women of this province and to celebrate their accomplishments with all of you.
SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS
S. Furstenau: In my constituency, over 1,000 children are provided nutritious food by the generous staff and volunteers at Nourish Cowichan, which was founded in 2017 and led by my dear friend Fatima Da Silva.
Nourish Cowichan has rapidly expanded to meet the community’s need for affordable, accessible food. Today more than a dozen schools, three daycares and the maternity clinic at Cowichan District Hospital are served by the donor-funded non-profit, with several others on the wait-list.
Without a universal school food program in B.C., Nourish Cowichan and organizations like it across the province are filling a critical gap in our social safety net. During the pandemic, food bank usage went up by more than 20 percent and has only continued to grow amidst record-breaking inflation. To add to this, in B.C., one out of every three food bank users is a child. Our province needs a universal school food program to ensure that children from all income backgrounds have access to nutritious meals that allow them to thrive within and beyond the classroom.
Recently I met with the Single Mothers Alliance of B.C., which has been a strong advocate for this work. Their discussions with parents and caregivers throughout the province showed that overall “participants feel that a universal school food system would address a range of personal, financial and social needs for families.” They also expressed concerns about existing food programs that focus on children from low-income families. That can lead to feelings of shame that prevent those who are desperately in need of food from accessing it.
For too long, hunger has remained a problem in our schools. Community groups like Nourish have stepped up to care for our children. Amongst G7 nations, Canada is the only country without a national school food program. But B.C. has the opportunity to lead the way.
I’m asking the House to join me in supporting a universal school food program in B.C. that benefits our farmers, our families and the children of British Columbia.
JOURNÉE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE
K. Paddon: Chaque année, la Colombie-Britannique reconnaît et proclame le 20 mars Journée de la francophonie dans notre belle province.
As we do each year, B.C. recognizes and proclaims March 20 as la Journée de la francophonie in our belle province. By doing so, we join more than 80 other states and governments across five continents who also celebrate March 20 as la Journée internationale de la francophonie.
Le français est un océan à mille reflets, and that francophone diversity is very much reflected in this beautiful province of ours.
Les francophones de la Colombie-Britannique viennent de partout dans le monde, de toutes les régions du Canada et vivent dans toutes les régions de la province. N’oublions pas que de nombreux francophones sont aussi nés et ont grandi en Colombie-Britannique et qu’eux aussi vivent, travaillent et célèbrent en français tous les jours.
Francophones in B.C. come from all over the world and from all parts of Canada and live in all parts of our province. Let’s not forget that many francophones are also B.C.-born and -raised and that they, too, live, work and celebrate in French every day.
De Victoria à Campbell River, Powell River à Prince Rupert, Fort St John à Fernie, de Kelowna à Vancouver — et Chilliwack-Kent — et dans bien d’autres places, vous trouverez une présence francophone dynamique partout en Colombie-Britannique.
No matter where they come from or where they live in this province, the B.C. francophone community is a beautiful mosaic of cultures, traditions and values, all of which are proudly displayed in our schools, in our workplaces, in our places of worship and in our communities, festivals and events.
Durant l’heure du dîner aujourd’hui, nous célébrerons le rôle que la communauté francophone joue dans l’accueil des nouveaux arrivants francophones en Colombie-Britannique.
Over the lunch-hour today, we will honour and celebrate the work of the B.C. francophone community and the role it plays in welcoming francophone newcomers to B.C. for the benefit of all residents.
I invite all members to join us today in the Hall of Honour to acknowledge and celebrate la francophonie Britanno-colombienne.
Bonne journée de la francophonie à toutes et à tous.
[French text provided by K. Paddon.]
Hon. R. Kahlon: I seek leave to make an introduction.
Leave granted.
Introductions by Members
Hon. R. Kahlon: I have two sets of introductions.
First, I want to recognize Jan Bate, who’s here today, the executive director of Cowichan Women Against Violence Society. I want to thank her for the amazing work that she does day in and day out. I know it’s not easy work. We talked about some challenges that the community is facing, and many of these not-for-profit providers feel that personally. I want to thank her for the work she’s doing and welcome her to this place. Please join me in welcoming her.
I have a few friends who are visiting in town. I have my friends, Paulus Maas; Michele Sanders; Henri Sanders; Nicole Sanders; and Pim Sanders. They are here from the Netherlands, 36-hours of flying time to get here. They missed their flight in London. They ended up going to Mexico and then coming up and landing and then going to the Canucks game. One of them fell asleep, but I won’t name names.
I look forward to showing them around Victoria, showing them around. They’re going to go to Whistler and go skiing. Paulus is just an amazing friend. I’m just so grateful to be able to spend some time with them. Can the House please make my friends welcome today.
Oral Questions
CONDITIONS IN FOREST INDUSTRY
AND GOVERNMENT ACTION ON
ISSUES
M. Bernier: Frustration and anger is building as people grapple with the impacts of this NDP government’s neglect and failed forestry policies.
Despite the NDP promising in 2017 that there would never be a mill shut down under their watch, mills are actually closing or being curtailed right across this province right now. I’m now being also told that B.C. Timber Sales has not had a sale for over 450 days and counting, more proof that this Premier has actually no intention of supporting the forestry sector or the tens of thousands of jobs that forestry families depend on here in British Columbia.
To the Premier, how many more forestry-dependent families are going to lose their jobs because of this NDP’s delays and failed policies?
Hon. B. Bailey: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. The first thing I’d like to say is that I very much am thinking about those workers who have been impacted by mill curtailment. I’ll share with the House that I grew up in a forestry family, and I remember what it was like in the early ’80s, living in Nanaimo, when we had a mill curtailment at Harmac. It impacts individuals. It impacts families, and it impacts communities. It’s so important that we’re there for workers, and we are.
There are a number of supports we put in place in the circumstance of mill curtailment, and we have workers on the ground doing that work. It’s an opportunity for us to ensure that folks land on their feet. We’ve got a number of programs that are immediate and some that are long term, and both of those supports are being put in place currently.
M. Bernier: That answer is cold comfort to the families that are having a hard time putting food on the table right now because of mill closures and curtailments in British Columbia.
The closure of Aspen Planers in Merritt since last year has left workers without a job and a community in shock. Bryan Halford, the chair of the local United Steelworkers union, says there are permit applications sitting with this government right now for over a year that can be approved to put their workers back to work.
Instead of doing his job, though, and approving permits, the Minister of Forests actually blundered in a recent interview by saying: “In Merritt, I think the Weyerhaeuser sawmill is operating as normal.” Here’s the problem. There is no Weyerhaeuser mill in Merritt. In fact, it closed in the 1990s under the NDP government.
Again to the Premier, how many more forest-dependent communities and families are going to suffer before this Premier starts doing his job, approving permits and letting these mills open and get families back to work where they want to be?
Hon. B. Bailey: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. We know getting workers working is the most important thing. These workers matter to us deeply. When workers in the regions in British Columbia aren’t working, British Columbia is not working. We know that.
We have a number of programs we’ve put in place. Let me tell you about the manufacturing jobs fund, $180 million to drive well-paying manufacturing jobs into the regions. We know that we need value-added jobs. The other side talked about it for years. We’re doing that work.
Let me share with the member opposite an example of what that can look like. The Premier and myself and one of our colleagues went to Crofton recently. This is a great example of what value-add can look like.
Crofton Mill lost over 100 workers, but on our side of the House, we worked with that private sector company to ensure that they transition to value-add. They are now creating restaurant supplies that replace single-use plastics. I will tell the member on the other side of the House that every single one of those 100 employees is back working.
P. Milobar: Merritt is a long way from Crofton. The questions are about Merritt. What Merritt needs, the support they need from this government…. They need timber sales and they actually need permits so they can access fibre.
They don’t want to change careers. They’re generational, multigenerational, loggers and multigenerational millworkers that want to stay employed in the forest sector. That’s what this government seems to be disconnected with.
Forestry workers and contractors have been rallying in downtown Merritt and outside many ministry offices demanding immediate action. Shelley Stewart is a First Nations logging contractor and is just one of many that wants to get back to work. Under this NDP government, however, she has no work, and she’s had to lay off her crew of 30 people.
She says: “The permit delays are just one example of how the NDP government is ignoring the little guy. During action, it’s holding us back and hurting small businesses like mine, and that includes First Nations forestry operations. It’s time for them to prioritize our livelihoods.”
It’s time for the Premier to start taking some accountability for this. They’re failing miserably in getting permits approved. When will the logjam of permitting break?
Hon. B. Bailey: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Everyone agrees that we need to move past the boom-and-bust cycles that are too often leaving forestry workers and communities behind. That’s why we’re making important investments.
I’ll share one with the member opposite: B.C. Timber Sales, where we just launched a new program that will provide dedicated access to timber and accelerate the growth of value-added manufacturing.
Interjections.
Deputy Speaker: Members. Order.
Hon. B. Bailey: And what are people saying about that? Let’s hear not my thoughts but Joe Nemeth of Pulp and Paper Coalition, who said on January 19, in regards to timber supply: “This is a major positive step towards resolving the single biggest issue the B.C. forest sector is…facing: lack of economic fibre.”
It’s supported by the work of government and industry. They’ve completed, since the fall of last year, through the pulp fibre supply force. We understand these issues, and we’re addressing them.
P. Milobar: Well, perhaps the government didn’t hear my colleague’s first question, where he pointed out that it’s been 450-plus days since B.C. Timber Sales has sold anything. So there aren’t any sales happening with B.C. Timber Sales.
The reality is that this government’s inaction is having a devastating impact on all logging contractors out there, including First Nations contractors like Shelley Stewart. This is the time of year that they need to be logging to pay the bills. When Shelley and her crew are working, that means $200,000 a month in the Merritt area is going to fuel suppliers, suppliers like Lordco and other parts stores, to keep their operations running. Not only is that crew of 30 not working; it impacts all of those suppliers and their workforce as well.
What do we get from this government? Excuses and dragging of feet. Shelley says: “It’s a slap in the face that the NDP government is putting the brakes on forestry in this province. Their actions are coming at the expense of logging contractors like mine. This government needs to do their job so we can do ours.”
I’ll point out that in this year’s budget the revenue projections are the same as last year, a $1 billion decline. This government sat for the last 12 months doing nothing to help forestry, expecting a drop in revenues like that.
In Merritt, on March 17, there is going to be a big rally…
Deputy Speaker: Question, Member.
P. Milobar: …protesting this, trying to get action from the government. I know that government members…
Deputy Speaker: Is there a question, Member?
P. Milobar: …routinely like to go to protest rallies. So will anyone…?
Will any minister in this government commit to being in Merritt on March 17 to meet these people face to face, look them in the eye and tell them they’re actually doing all they can do to actually get their mills reopened again?
Hon. B. Bailey: We know that there are significant economic headwinds that the forestry sector is faced with today — the beetle kill, forest fires, softening of timber sales in the U.S., just to name a few.
Let me be very clear. This side of the House has nothing to learn about the forestry sector from that side of the House. The old government completely abandoned workers. They saw nearly 30,000 forestry jobs disappear under their watch.
I hear chirping on the other side. The member may not want to believe this, but don’t take my word for it. These numbers come directly from Statistics Canada. In 2001, when they came to power, the forestry sector provided good, family-supporting jobs to 85,000 workers in British Columbia. By the time they were done, there were 56,000 jobs left in the forestry sector. These are the facts.
Interjections.
Deputy Speaker: Leader, Members, we will listen to the question. We will listen to the answer.
HEATWAVE RESPONSE AND
PROVISION OF AIR
CONDITIONERS
S. Furstenau: In 2021, B.C. had the largest mass casualty event caused by weather, and 619 British Columbians died from heat-related deaths during the heat dome of 2021. Many of them were elderly, women, and many were disabled and poor.
This government promised to look into providing air conditioners as medical devices during extreme heat events, and now they’re three months late on their deadline to even announce their plans.
My question is to the Premier. Will he ensure that British Columbians have air conditioners, which are necessary, life-saving devices during heatwaves?
Hon. A. Dix: As the member will know, we’ve taken substantial action in response to the circumstances of the heat dome. The member will know that includes the launching of the B.C. Heat Alert and Response System, the release of the preparedness guide, the supporting of local authorities and First Nations by creating an extreme heat funding stream under the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund and providing guidance and funds for local authorities to open cooling centres.
As well, my ministry and the Ministry of Social Development are reviewing the very issues raised by the hon. member. This is substantial action in addition to the very significant action that has taken place in B.C.’s emergency health services.
We’re going to continue to do so. I would be happy to meet with the hon. member on this question to discuss the progress that we’ve made.
S. Furstenau: Substantial action is actually what Oregon did. After the devastating heat dome hit Oregon, the very next summer, the government provided air-conditioning units to low-income housing.
Heat alerts, preparedness guides, guidance and funds are important, but when there is another heat wave or a heat dome, for people who don’t have the ability to cool the air in their housing units and don’t have the ability to get somewhere that is cool, that will be cold comfort.
My question again is to the Premier. What has the Premier learned from the 2021 heat dome, and how will this government act differently to prevent mass casualties in the future?
Hon. A. Dix: My colleague the Minister of Social Development and myself are working and are focused on this important issue. The member will know that in times of crisis, crisis supplements are available to people.
In addition to that, we’re taking systematic action across a range of issues that I detailed to the hon. member earlier, including the issue that she has raised. These are fundamental issues that involve action for people. Those are crisis supplements and direct supports to local governments and organizations and others to ensure that cooling stations and other things are in place, action across the range of health services, but also broader services than that.
In communities, that will mean, I think, working closely with local governments to support all communities, especially communities that require, for example, supports with respect to greening neighborhoods and communities. This is an issue that the government, especially the Minister of Social Development and the Minister of Health, is working very closely on, and I look forward to continuing to work with all members of the House on this vital question to all British Columbians.
LABOUR DISPUTE IN
FRASER VALLEY TRANSIT
SYSTEM
M. de Jong: Well, if you’re looking to take a bus today in Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack or Hope, or the Fraser Valley connector that connects those communities, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. There are significant disruptions taking place.
If you’re one of the people or families that can’t afford to pay the highest gas prices in North America, your ability to get to work, to get to school or to get to a medical appointment has now been disrupted by job action. That’s the situation facing Samranjeet Singh. He’s a student stuck at home, can’t get to classes.
Last year, the government sat back and let a transit dispute on the Sea to Sky corridor go on for months and months and months, compromising people’s ability to get to work, to get to school or get to medical appointments.
Is the government going to sit idly by once again while this dispute continues, or will the Premier step in and ensure that people in the central and eastern Fraser Valley have the transit services they require?
If they need legal advice on the matter, they can ask one of the lawyers that’s gathering outside this afternoon in protest, the other labour fiasco that the government is dealing with right now.
Hon. H. Bains: I am fully aware of the situation that the member is describing between First Transit and CUPE Local 561, where the workers have decided to exercise their right to withdraw their services, which is allowed under the labour code.
This is a normal bargaining process, and I want to make it clear that this side of the House believes and supports free collective bargaining in this province.
Interjections.
Deputy Speaker: Members.
Hon. H. Bains: As such, we must respect the integrity of free collective bargaining.
Interjection.
Hon. H. Bains: The member knows fully well that the best collective agreement is negotiated at the bargaining table — not in this House, not outside here.
I encourage both parties to get back to the bargaining table. They have withdrawn their services for three days, I’m advised, and they are scheduled to go back to the bargaining table next week. I encourage them to stay at the bargaining table until their collective agreement is negotiated.
GOVERNMENT LAWYERS LABOUR DISPUTE
M. Lee: In view of the Minister of Labour’s last response and hiding behind negotiations here, let’s talk about another set of negotiations.
B.C. government lawyers are out in front of the Legislative Assembly today, on the Legislature lawns, protesting as negotiations have broken down. The NDP only have themselves to blame because they started off in bad faith, trying to force the lawyers to join a union that they didn’t want to join.
We’ve heard this story before with the NDP’s community rip-off agreements. You can only work on government projects if you join an NDP-approved union. It’s hypocritical, and it’s wrong.
Whether the NDP are shutting down Indigenous contractors like Jon Coleman of the Cowichan Tribes on public infrastructure projects or shutting lawyers out of negotiations, it’s clear the NDP don’t want to play by their own rules. As Gareth Morley says: “We want to talk to the government, but we’re not going to agree to a bill that takes away the ability of our members to decide what union they want to apply to.”
It’s clear that the NDP are playing politics instead of negotiating in good faith. When will the NDP drop their hypocrisy and work with the BCGLA to end this dispute?
Hon. K. Conroy: I thank the member for the question. We continue to support the B.C. Government Lawyers Association’s right to association, the right to collective bargain.
Interjections.
Deputy Speaker: Members.
Hon. K. Conroy: The legislation that we tabled creates a space for the association to bargain within the existing structure of the public sector, but it’s important to note that we’re not requiring them to do so. The legislation offers a benefit of component agreement which they will be able to use to negotiate for their own unique needs within the public service. It’s entirely up to the association if they would like to join.
If the association wants to challenge the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the designated bargaining unit model, government is prepared to fully participate and to jointly take all of the available steps to expediate the proceedings that have been adjourned.
Interjections.
Deputy Speaker: Let’s listen to the answer as we listened to the question.
IMPLEMENTATION OF
PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVING
TIME
T. Stone: Well, despite all the talk and big promises from the Premier, families are in for another rude and cruel awakening this Sunday. It’s déjà vu all over again. Yes, it’s that least wonderful time of the year, yet again, when we all lose one hour of precious sleep because the Premier couldn’t get the job done.
We all know….
Interjections.
Deputy Speaker: Members. Members.
Some order, please. Thank you.
The member for Kamloops–South Thompson has the floor.
T. Stone: The Premier could not get the job done.
We all know that there is nothing the Premier loves more than making big flashy announcements, but when it comes to results, he’s all talk and no clock. Instead of springing forward to act on permanent daylight savings time, the Premier is falling back on tired excuses. It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.
Is the Premier going to deliver real change, or is he going to keep sleeping on the job?
Hon. R. Kahlon: I can assure this member that no one in this House wants to see him with one hour less of sleep.
We know this is an important issue for many families. Certainly, I know when my son was younger, having that shift was a real challenge to adjust times.
We want to make sure that this gets done right. We want to make sure that it’s aligned with our jurisdictions on the west coast. We want to make sure that our business community is engaged and understands the implications of what this means. We’re doing that work.
We certainly hope that California, which is in the process of moving in this direction, goes in that direction so that we all can move collectively.
POLICE SERVICES IN SURREY
T. Halford: The Premier has been all over the map when it comes to the mess in Surrey regarding policing, and the results are terrible. First, the NDP recklessly approved the transition without actually doing a proper feasibility study. Then they delayed. They dragged their feet on making any kind of decision. Residents of Surrey are faced with a massive tax increase, the biggest the city has ever faced.
To add to the confusion, the Premier is now refusing to confirm whether infrastructure funding can be used to mitigate the NDP tax hike. When we say this, we have one minister saying one thing: “Probably yes, they can use that money.” Then we have the Premier now saying: “Probably no.” So which is it?
This Premier is still flip-flopping, and the residents of Surrey are paying the price. Will he take responsibility for the escalating costs and end this uncertainty now?
Hon. R. Kahlon: I know this issue has been canvassed at great length in this House. Right now the Solicitor General’s office is reviewing the information that’s been provided, to make a thoughtful decision on how we proceed. I know this side of the House is very proud of the $1 billion that is going to communities throughout this province. I appreciate that the member across the way is excited to find ways to spend the money he didn’t support, he didn’t actually vote for.
Now, the city of Surrey has themselves indicated that the taxation rate that they initially put out is coming down. We encourage them to continue to find ways to refine their numbers to give the public a correct justification of what they see as the pressures they’re facing. The infrastructure dollars are there. We continue to have conversations with Surrey about how we can continue to support the many infrastructure needs that they have.
GOVERNMENT ACTION ON TENT CITIES
K. Kirkpatrick: One of the very first promises made by this Premier after a man was murdered last year was to put an end to tent cities. But the province has now spent three-quarters of a million dollars towards Crab Park to make the tent city there permanent, instead of spending that money on getting these campers into real homes.
Permanent tent cities have become the norm for this Premier, as evidenced by his personal intervention as Attorney General when he sued to allow permanent tent cities at Beacon Hill Park. But the Premier recently suffered a humiliating setback in court at the B.C. Court of Appeal when they said no, that he could not do that.
Why is this Premier fighting for permanent tent cities instead of delivering the results that he has promised?
Hon. R. Kahlon: I thank the member for the question. We have said many times, the Premier has said many times, and I’ll reiterate this right now that we believe the encampments are not safe for the people that are living in the encampments, and they’re not safe for the community at large. We are working actively with our partners to find ways to get people into housing, get them out of the encampments. That is our goal.
The member mentioned Crab Park. We provided dollars to the city of Vancouver to support the community. They chose to have dollars available for providing sanitary services and other services for some of the folks that are at Crab Park.
I remind the member, and I know the member knows this, that these are our loved ones. These are people’s sons, they’re people’s daughters, and they have needs. They have supports that we must provide them.
I know that it’s not necessarily a comfortable place always for the opposition. The B.C. Liberal Party president is on the record as saying, when he’s talking about the most vulnerable people in this province: “We should focus on the 60 percent and essentially not bother with some demographics that will not likely or absolutely never support us,” you know, like “homeless people” or those that are “dependent on social services.” This is the president of the B.C. Liberal Party.
We’re going to continue to do what we need to do to ensure that people that are in encampments have the supports they need, get them into housing, get them out of encampments, because we know that’s the best way forward.
GOVERNMENT ACTION ON
DRUG TOXICITY
CRISIS
E. Sturko: The latest overdose figures released by the coroner’s office are devastating. The death rate in British Columbia has doubled since the public health emergency was declared in 2016, but instead of doubling our response to this crisis, the government has doubled delays.
The Clark and 1st Avenue housing treatment project in Vancouver was announced by this government in 2018. As advocate Guy Felicella says: “It’s vital to have this facility up and running.”
This facility has become emblematic of the NDP’s slow and deadly response to a crisis that is now claiming seven lives a day. But as is so often the case with this government, it was merely an announcement that resulted in nothing. The NDP budget confirmed the cost is up 400 percent and is delayed further until 2026. You know that that’s unacceptable when seven people are losing their lives every day.
How can the Premier justify these delays when timely and effective treatment and recovery options are urgently needed now?
Hon. R. Kahlon: Certainly, this side of the House knows that these services are needed urgently. The site, in particular, that’s being referenced was in the process of the city of Vancouver. The city made some changes to their bylaws which required further changes to the project. That work is happening right now with the city of Vancouver to make sure that we can adjust the project to fit within the changing bylaws, the laws that they’ve changed. We expect construction to start this fall.
[End of question period.]
T. Stone: I seek leave to move Motion No. 30 sitting in in my name on the order paper. This motion seeks to empower the Select Standing Committee on Health to examine the multiple sections in Bill 36, the Health Professions and Occupations Act, that remained uncanvassed due to the invocation of time allocation in the third session of the 42nd parliament.
Leave not granted.
Petitions
A. Olsen: It’s my pleasure to stand today and table a petition with 711 signatures. These are handwritten signatures, which means that there was an incredible amount of work that was done by our community. This is with respect to requesting that the B.C. Environment Minister require an environmental assessment for the Bamberton projects.
Orders of the Day
Deputy Speaker: Government House Leader.
Hon. R. Kahlon: Thank you so much, hon. Speaker. Well done on your first question period.
In the main House, I call second reading of Bill 10.
In Committee A, I call debate on the main estimates for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sports.
Deputy Speaker: If we can go where we need to go so we can get the business underway, I’d appreciate it. Thanks, Members.
We will take a short recess, Members.
The committee recessed from 11:09 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
[R. Leonard in the chair.]
Second Reading of Bills
BILL 10 — BUDGET MEASURES
IMPLEMENTATION ACT,
2023
Deputy Speaker: I call the House back to order. We are on second reading of Bill 10.
Hon. K. Conroy: I move that Bill 10, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2023, be read a second time.
Bill 10 consists of two parts. In part 1, the bill amends the Balanced Budget and Ministerial Accountability Act to include the 2025-26 fiscal year in the periods of fiscal years for which budget deficits are allowed to be forecast in the main estimates. This is consistent with similar amendments made over the past three years.
Budget 2023 includes a three-year fiscal plan extending to ’25-26, and it includes deficit forecasts for each of the three years of the fiscal plan. This proposed amendment ensures that the fiscal plan as presented in Budget 2023 is in line with legislation and ensures that the fiscal plan aligns with government’s commitment to view balanced-budget legislation every year and to make amendments if and when required.
Amendments are also proposed to the Members’ Remuneration and Pensions Act to suspend salary adjustments for members of the Legislative Assembly for fiscal years 2020-21 and ’23-24. The Legislative Assembly Management Committee made a decision in March 2020 to withhold the statutory increases to members’ salaries that were scheduled to come into effect on April 1, 2020. The committee made the same decision again in December 2022 with regard to member salary increases that were scheduled to come into effect on April 1, 2023. The proposed amendments give statutory effect to these two decisions of the committee.
Part 2 of Bill 10 amends several statutes to implement the tax measures in Budget 2023. Bill 10 amends the Income Tax Act to introduce a new income-tested renter’s tax credit for 2023 and subsequent tax years. The refundable tax credit will support renters by providing $400 annually to households that earn as much as $60,000.
We expect that 80 percent of renting households will get the credit to help make life a little easier in the face of today’s rising costs. Households that earn between $60,000 and $80,000 will receive a partial credit. The income threshold will be indexed to inflation each year to help keep pace with rising costs.
The Income Tax Act is also amended to allow income thresholds for the climate action tax credit to be set by regulation. This change is in addition to the increase in payment amounts starting July 2023. The income thresholds for the climate action tax credit are currently indexed to inflation. By making this change, government will be able to set these income thresholds to ensure that more British Columbians will receive the tax credit.
We know that the carbon tax is an important part of our CleanBC plan. It’s helping move B.C. to a cleaner, greener future and meet federal requirements. The climate action tax credit is an important part of this plan. It’s helping offset these carbon costs for British Columbians. Government plans to keep increasing these thresholds so that 80 percent of B.C. households will receive a full or partial credit by 2030.
The Income Tax Act is further amended to permanently increase the B.C. family benefit, starting in July 2023. Families with children will now receive higher benefit amounts to better keep pace with rising costs in the face of global inflation.
The bill extends two tax credits under the Income Tax Act. These are the farmers food donation tax credit, which is extended for three years, to the end of 2026. The extension affirms the government’s commitment to support B.C. agriculture while providing food banks with local, nutritious food. And the interactive digital media tax credit is extended for five years, to August 31, 2028. By extending the credit, the government ensures continued support for B.C.’s dynamic and growing tech and creative sectors.
The bill also includes several technical amendments. It amends the Income Tax Act to implement previously announced changes to the pre-certification rules under the production services tax credit, a change to support an industry critical to B.C.’s economy and minimize disruption from the pandemic. This change helps production companies receive the tax credit for labour costs incurred between July 2020 and February 21, 2022. This has already been administered by the Canada Revenue Agency.
The Income Tax Act is also amended to clarify certain terms and the application of federal provisions for provincial income tax purposes. This will also ensure that the province meets its obligations under the Canada-B.C. tax collection agreement. The act is further amended to modernize the language for assessing information held by other public bodies. This change will clarify the scope of this power and assist with the effective administration of the Income Tax Act.
Bill 10 amends the Carbon Tax Act to increase B.C.’s carbon tax rate by $15 per tonne annually, from 2023 to 2030. This change ensures the B.C. carbon tax is in line with annual increases required by the federal government. Bill 10 also amends the Carbon Tax Act to ensure the operations regulated under the new made-in-B.C. pricing system that capture, store or sequester their emissions can still be exempt from tax imposed under the act. Bill 10 amends the Carbon Tax Act to clarify the tax payable if fuel is not used for a purpose currently eligible for a partial exemption. This change will help support a reduced carbon tax for greenhouse growers.
Amendments are proposed to the Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act. These amendments to this act are required for B.C. to deliver on commitments made in the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030. Updates to the act will support the drafting of regulations needed in 2024 to implement the new made-in-B.C. industrial carbon pricing model. The new system will apply to industries such as mining, cement, pulp and paper, oil and gas and manufacturing.
Industrial operations will pay for the carbon emitted above a limit, helping incentivize reductions in emissions. Industrial operators that emit above their sector’s limit can pay their carbon obligation through a number of options. They can purchase carbon offsets generated and regulated under the act, they can purchase credits from other operators that have performed below the emission limit and earn credits, or they can pay a complete compliance charge priced at the same rate as the Carbon Tax Act.
The amendments also allow for smaller industrial facilities like many sawmills to opt into the B.C. carbon pricing model. Finally, the amendments create a more streamlined digital service option that will support better compliance and enforcement.
The bill amends the Provincial Sales Tax Act to make a minor temporary correction permanent. This will make sure that heated tobacco products continue to be subject to tobacco tax, as well as the base 7 percent provincial sales tax. The Provincial Sales Tax Act is also amended to clarify that the federal goods and services tax is not part of the taxable purchase price of goods brought into B.C. The bill also clarifies that the federal luxury tax is not part of the taxable purchase price or lease price of vehicles, boats and aircraft.
The bill amends several rules related to the collection obligations of online marketplace facilitators to make the rules more clear, simple and consistent. The bill also authorizes retroactive regulations to exempt automated external defibrillators from provincial sales tax. The Motor Fuel Tax Act and the Financial Administration Act are amended to ensure the correct calculation of interest on overdue payments under the international fuel tax agreement.
Bill 10 amends the Nisg̱a’a Final Agreement Act to enable the Nisg̱a’a Nation to establish property tax exemptions for Nisg̱a’a citizens for property on Nisg̱a’a lands. This flexibility will ensure the Nisg̱a’a Nation can broadly determine when and if it is appropriate for property taxation to apply to Nisg̱a’a citizens on Nisg̱a’a land. This measure is the result of collaborative engagement with the Nisg̱a’a Nation. It aligns with government’s reconciliation commitments to self-determination and inherent right of self-government under the Declaration Act action plan.
The bill also amends the Treaty First Nation Taxation Act to enable treaty First Nations to establish property tax exemptions for treaty First Nation members or constituents for property on their treaty lands. This will create the same flexibility for treaty First Nations to determine the application of property taxation to their members or constituents on their treaty lands. This measure was developed collaboratively with treaty First Nations. It’s an important step in the work on reconciliation.
Bill 10 amends the Property Transfer Tax Act and will help the purchasers of new, purpose-built rental buildings through an exemption on the 2 percent property transfer tax applying to residential properties over $3 million. Qualifying buildings will have to meet eligibility requirements, and it will apply to purchases on or after January 1, 2024.
The goal is to reduce any additional pressure on the rental market and ensure that additional costs are not downloaded to tenants. This amendment builds on the rental housing revitalization tax exemption as part of our 30-point housing plan, encouraging more rentals via property tax exemptions. It further encourages the construction of new, purpose-built rental buildings.
Bill 10 amends the Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act to clarify the definition of “corporate interest holder” in cases involving a receivership.
When a corporation owns a residential property that is subject to the speculation and vacancy tax, government looks at the interest holders of the corporation to determine potential tax rate and eligibility for exemptions. In cases where a receiver has been appointed to administer a corporation, that receiver will not be included among the corporate interest holders.
Bill 10 amends the Insurance Premium Tax Act and the Logging Tax Act to allow a fee to be charged to taxpayers to recover costs associated with out-of-province audits. These audits ensure compliance with and the fairness of our tax system. Auditors need to conduct audits of taxpayers who choose to keep their books and records outside of British Columbia. The Insurance Premium Tax Act and the Logging Tax Act are further amended to harmonize offences and penalties under these statutes with the Employer Health Tax Act. This will help with the administration of these taxes and encourage taxpayer compliance by ensuring that deterrents remain effective.
Bill 10 further amends the Insurance Premium Tax Act to improve tax administration by requiring filings and payments to be made electronically under the act.
Finally, Bill 10 amends numerous tax and revenue statutes to improve confidentiality. These changes will standardize the language and confidentiality provisions across tax statutes. Consequential amendments are also made to the confidentiality provisions in the income tax act and the Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act to update references and remove no longer needed provisions.
These changes are all part of this government’s work to take action on the issues that matter most to British Columbians. These changes increase access to support with costs in a time when people are facing increased costs because of inflation. These changes also help reduce barriers to supports and ensure that existing legislation is working for people in B.C.
T. Wat: I’m pleased today to provide remarks on Bill 10, the Budget Measures Implementation Act. All British Columbians and those in my constituency of Richmond North Centre deserve to know how the taxpayers’ money is being spent. There are too many challenges that impact daily life in B.C. today. This Budget Measures Implementation Act does not address those as comprehensively as it should.
Unfortunately, just like many others of this government’s announcements, the words, the packaging and the sentiment seemed all good. We are very skeptical about what the results are going to look like. British Columbians deserve results. Right now, they see no improvements on any of the critical issues that are on top of people’s minds.
Now, let’s begin with a few things that we were expecting the budget to adequately address. After six years of the NDP, we see terrible results that have left the province in multiple crises. Life is more unaffordable than ever before. In fact, with the highest gas prices and highest housing costs in North America, life has truly never been more expensive.
People are dying because they cannot access basic health care. One million British Columbians don’t even have access to a family doctor. Emergency rooms are shutting down, and the long-awaited hospitals, such as the one in Richmond, continue to face cost overruns and delays. This is the NDP’s seventh budget. While they say that the people who need help the most will benefit from it, there are clearly lots of gaps that we need to highlight and talk about.
In my constituency of Richmond North Centre, the housing crisis is felt by everyone. Whether you are a homeowner, a renter or someone looking for a place to call home, it is not easy. The NDP have completely abandoned their promise to build 114,000 affordable housing units over ten years. They have added 21 taxes or increased those taxes. This has given us the highest housing prices in North America and the highest rents in Canada.
We repeatedly warned that more taxes would not lead to more affordable housing. But this government refuses to listen — stone deaf. Only recently have they started to embrace the need for more supply.
The renter’s tax credit is a watered-down version of what the NDP promised, and it doesn’t go as far as it could have, had they acted sooner to make good on their promise to taxpayers of a $400 renters rebate. Today the Premier has given them a $400 tax credit. A measly $400 doesn’t do much to soften the blow for those who are even eligible for the credit. It won’t even cover a single month of the increase after six years of this NDP government.
When it comes to health care, I would like to give the government credit where it’s due for welcoming the move to provide free contraception. It’s unfortunate that it took seven budgets, this many years and multiple calls from the opposition, women and British Columbians to provide free contraception for those that need it. It’s years overdue, but we are pleased to finally see it in this budget.
When it comes to the health care crisis that has touched every corner of this province and every British Columbian, there’s nothing to suggest that more funding will lead to better results. The government is quick to put out announcements, play flashy ads and pick the most photogenic background for media coverage. The results and reality on the ground gives a completely different picture.
The B.C. Nurses Union supports the building of new infrastructure, but pointed out how the government has completely failed to address not just the growing need for new nurses but the existing need for — I quote the president of BCNU — “5,325 vacancies” in B.C.
Meena Brisard from the health employees union pointed out how, in 2020, “the NDP government made a commitment that they will fix seniors care, and we don’t see that money in the budget.” Where is the money?
The reality check is that hospitals are in total chaos, and emergency rooms are closing around the province. People are losing their lives because of ambulance delays.
People in Richmond, young families and many new immigrants, are forced to face the country’s worst walk-in clinic wait times, among many other horrible things. Understaffed urgent and primary care centres, delays for medical imaging, one million people wait-listed to see specialists — the list goes on and on.
British Columbians have been let down by another NDP budget that misses the mark, especially when it comes to our health care. I’m looking forward to explaining to my constituents in Richmond, in the next two weeks when we are having our break back into our constituency, why this government has failed on their commitments and why, under the Premier’s leadership, only $2 million have been spent on the Richmond Hospital rebuild project despite a total budget of $861 million.
How is this an example of an expedited effort by the government to give people access to the health care they deserve? How is only spending $2 million out of the $861 million an effective way of telling people that yes, we are working on the hospital build, and we want to get it done fast? Instead, just like the Cowichan district regional hospital project, we are far, far, way away from the end result.
The budget also fails to adequately address the surge in hate, especially anti-Asian hate in our cities following the pandemic. Under the Premier’s catch-and-release system, repeat offenders roam the streets while British Columbians have to walk in their own neighborhoods with the risk of being one of four people randomly attacked every day. It should be shameful that Vancouver has become the anti-Asian hate crime capital of North America.
Yesterday we all celebrated the progress and achievement of women all over the world. It’s International Women’s Day. Yet Asian women here are facing rising violence based on both their race and gender.
My colleagues and I have been calling for a racist incident hotline since 2020, but the NDP government has only made empty announcements for years. Under pressure, the NDP government made an announcement in April 2021 that they would do it, but it was yet another empty NDP announcement. They haven’t done anything for over 1,000 days. There’s no racist incident hotline.
People deserve to be safe from racist attacks. The Human Rights Commissioner has called out the NDP for their delay and lack of action, saying: “The ministry was unable to provide details, including when it would be operational, who would operate it and what funding would be allocated to it. This delay is unacceptable and leaves Asian women at risk of more violence and discrimination.”
The spending in the Premier’s office has reached a new record high of $16 million, nearly 80 percent higher than 2017. The NDP are adding another 11,303 new government workers. Total employment in the B.C. public sector has increased by nearly 128,000 positions under the NDP, or a 33 percent increase.
Despite the growth in government under the B.C. NDP and all this increase in percentages, the results keep getting worse. Clearly, the government’s mismanagement is not just evident in the House but also in the lack of results from the government’s continuous flooding of funds into problems. There seems to be no correlation. When will the Premier change his approach?
There’s nothing in the budget to talk about growing the economy, generating more revenues.
Deputy Speaker: Member, I’d just like to remind you that we are on Bill 10, the Budget Measures Implementation Act.
T. Wat: Thank you, Madam Speaker. That’s why it’s important to talk about how to implement the budget. It’s related to the budget and how we are going to implement it.
Deputy Speaker: Just to remind you that it is Bill 10, the Budget Measures Implementation Act.
T. Wat: Yes. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’m talking about how we are going to implement this budget. I’m trying to say that the budget, what kinds of issues that we see as opposition in the budget…. We need to implement it effectively.
I was saying that there’s nothing in the budget to talk about growing the economy, generating more revenues and supporting small business. My riding has hundreds of small and medium businesses, and they are looking for the implementation of this budget to help them grow their business.
They have suffered so much during the three years of the pandemic, yet they don’t see any implementation in this budget of how to help them not only get over the three-year pandemic but look forward on how to grow their business. Actually, there are a lot of comments from the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, the B.C. Business Council and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade about how they’re disappointed that they don’t find any meaningful steps in growing the economy.
There’s no plan on how the government expects to fund the world-class health care, education, public safety and quality of life that all British Columbians deserve. Yet again, despite record low results, taxpayer-supported debt is dramatically increasing to $100 billion, more than double the debt level when the NDP took office. Debt servicing costs will grow by $1.5 billion, meaning less money for health care, housing, crime and addiction treatment.
That’s why it’s important to talk about how to implement Budget 2023. We should have a comprehensive plan that props up British Columbians for success by approaching all issues that people face with a focus on the outcomes, not what it looks like on TV.
Budget 2023, when we are implementing it, provides funding towards decriminalization to “prepare for the change.” But all of this work was supposed to have been completed before implementation.
While it’s good to see this government allocate dollars for addiction treatment, we also note the government’s commitments are sorely lacking when compared against the plan proposed by the opposition. There’s no mention of eliminating fees for treatment, something that remains a huge barrier to many seeking care. Despite promising to expand the Red Fish Healing Centre in Coquitlam, there’s nothing in the capital plan for it. That’s why it’s important to know how to implement the budget. While people struggle to access mental health and addiction support, there’s no target to reduce wait times for care.
A slow rollout announcement is not good enough. People need help now. They need to know that when they pick up a phone and ask for help, it will be there for them today, not weeks or months from now.
All of this comes after the government pursued a plan of decriminalization that had little to no information for many that need it. I know of many young parents, families and communities that are concerned about the prevalence of drugs around them and how it impacts the safety of their loved ones. The government is spending $184 million over three years on the public supply of addictive drugs, nearly $100 million more than their prolific offender programs, totalling $87 million. Decriminalization is expected to cost a further $7 million.
That’s why it’s important to know how to implement the budget. Without a plan from the government for how to pay for all of this, while it abandons key industry in our rural regions, the fiscal future of B.C., as well as the other issues we face, seems to be in jeopardy.
The Finance Minister spent a fair bit of time outlining the immense challenges people are facing in her speech earlier on, but what is missing is an acknowledgment of this government’s failures to look after people after six years. Outcomes matter, and this government’s outcomes are terrible. If you asked anyone today whether they are better off after six years of the NDP, I imagine most, if not all, would say no.
Deputy Speaker: Member, I’d like to remind you again that it’s Bill 10 on the budget implementation measures.
T. Wat: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’m talking about the implementation of the budget and how it can be effectively implemented. That’s why I’m speaking on this Bill 10.
Seniors and those that are vulnerable are scared they won’t get the help they need in a medical emergency. People in Richmond, Vancouver and elsewhere are looking over their shoulder in their own neighbourhoods, fearing for their safety.
They are struggling to pay the bills as the cost of living soars. This government promised to make life affordable for people, but under the NDP’s watch, things have only gotten much, much worse. The young families looking to build a future in places like my constituency in Richmond can’t afford rent. They have given up even thinking about buying a house. Their grocery bills and fuel costs are staggering. They can’t get ahead, no matter how hard they try.
That’s why today, when we look at this government budget…. They should know how to implement a more effective budget that will relieve pressures. Measures that don’t go far enough…. They are half-measures as per usual.
[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]
The government simply won’t provide British Columbians with the support they need to not only stay above water at the end of each month but to have some hope for the future, some ability to save for a rainy day and relieve some of the pressures they are being burdened with. They are not seeing any improvement on the issues this government has said it is working on.
Meanwhile, the House is in complete mismanagement while the government fumbles back on giving the opposition proper opportunities to debate and can’t properly answer questions of accountability when in estimates.
This is a budget that is pessimistic and uninspiring. According to the NDP’s own budget documents and forecast, right now is as good as it gets. It’s only downhill from here. Do better.
Hon. M. Dean: I seek leave to make an introduction.
Leave granted.
Introductions by Members
Hon. M. Dean: As the MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin, I’m really excited to say that we have the Westshore Nature Buddies here in the gallery. Would everyone please make them very welcome.
T. Wat moved adjournment of debate.
Motion approved.
Committee of Supply (Section A), having reported progress, was granted leave to sit again.
Hon. B. Ma moved adjournment of the House.
Motion approved.
The House adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE
DOUGLAS FIR ROOM
Committee of Supply
ESTIMATES: MINISTRY OF
TOURISM, ARTS, CULTURE AND
SPORT
The House in Committee of Supply (Section A); H. Yao in the chair.
The committee met at 11:16 a.m.
The Chair: Good morning, Members. I call the Committee of Supply, Section A, to order.
We are meeting today to consider the estimates of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
On Vote 44: ministry operations, $176,229,000.
The Chair: Minister, do you have any opening remarks?
Hon. L. Popham: Thank you, Chair. I’m going to make this short. I like to get right into it.
I just, first off, would like to say that I’m really excited to be the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport since December. It was a big shift for me, coming from Agriculture after five years, but I am really thrilled to be here.
I have an exceptional team that supports me. A lot of them are here today. I have my deputy, Neilane Mayhew. I have four ADMs sitting with me today: Nick Grant, Kim Lacharite, Claire Avison, Alana Best. I have a host of others that are in the grandstands in the back.
I’m happy to be here. I’m not going to go on at length. I just want to get into the questions. I know we only have four hours, and we will be covering off quite an extensive amount of issues. So I think we’ll just start.
The Chair: Thank you, Minister.
I now recognize the member for Kelowna West. Would you like to make any opening remarks?
B. Stewart: Thank you very much, Chair. I look forward to working with the minister and her staff in terms of finding answers to how tourism will continue to be resilient. We will be able to deal with some of the issues about supply challenges. I’m looking forward to the remarks and her ideas. I know she’s very competent, and she, I’m sure, will do extremely well in this ministry.
With that, maybe we could start with a little bit about some of the questions that I have and that I know members of the public are wondering about.
Minister, I just wanted to find out about the fact…. If you can discuss the budgetary changes in the tourism sector strategy and the specific changes that you see happening with this budget.
Hon. L. Popham: Thank you for the question. I’m used to working with the critic across the way on other files, and so I think we’re going to have fun today.
The good news is that there has been over an $8 million increase in ministry operations. That is due to the following. There’s been almost a $4 million increase due to the shared recovery wage mandate. There has been an almost $3 million increase to the sport and creative division and management services that will support staffing and operational resources for the marquee sport events branch.
There’s been over a $1 million increase to Destination B.C., and that’s going to fund a budget lift as outlined in their performance-based funding model that’s established through a ministerial directive; a $127,000 increase to support the minister’s office resources and the addition of a Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, which, I think, is great news. More boots on the ground.
Then an $89,000 increase to the tourism sector strategy division to support the mountain resorts branch as part of the transformation of the permitting regime in the natural resources sector. That’s an overall overview, and if you want to get into the details, we can.
B. Stewart: Thanks very much for that summary. You mentioned something in your remarks there about a performance-based increase with Destination B.C.
Could you just elaborate and tell us how that works, knowing the current budget, I believe, was about $50 million-plus? If you could just kind of explain to myself and the members here how those measurements and metrics work.
Hon. L. Popham: Thanks for the question. The directive actually was that they would get up to a 2 percent lift based on performance metrics. Some of those performance metrics would be tallying up — for example, the overnight stays in British Columbia, the out-of-province stays, etc.
An independent review is done annually. If that review comes out positive, then they are in line for up to a 2 percent lift.
B. Stewart: Just further questions. That independent review — is that publicly available?
Hon. L. Popham: Yes, it is. We can share it with the member if he’d like.
B. Stewart: I want to talk a little bit, in tourism, just about resiliency. The report that the tourism industry task force provided to the minister at the time was talking about resiliency. Of course, that report is more than a couple of years old since the work was being done, but we do know the statistics. We know that there has been, for the most part, a varied recovery. It’s not there yet, and certain markets are still not open, as you and I have discussed.
I guess what I’m kind of wondering is what the minister and her ministry are doing to ensure the industry’s resiliency.
Hon. L. Popham: Great question. When I first became minister, I started to meet with our stakeholders. I know that the member is probably very familiar with them up in the Okanagan. The stories that I heard were varied, of course, as the member suggests.
There are some areas of the industry that have made really great gains over the last year, but there are some parts of it that are still struggling, for sure. Everybody is sort of in a different situation, and it was really great to be able to hear about the individual stories as we met with folks.
We are continuing to focus on the areas that need help. I’m sure the member noticed that we rolled out $30 million for various festivals and events a couple of weeks ago.
It was really clear that those specific areas of tourism were really still suffering. A lot of that had to do with trying to attract a live audience, and they just were not able to make the financials work to do some of the events that people were looking forward to. That program was rolled out a couple of weeks ago. My staff got right to it.
The applications are in process right now. I think we’re close to 1,900 applications, maybe. People knew about it from last year when that money got rolled out then. The ministry was in really great shape to be able to get those moving really quickly. We’re going to see that this is going to help festivals — music festivals, etc. — all over the province, to try and bring back some of the joy that people want to see.
We are continuing to focus on a lot of the areas that need help, continuing to focus on developing tourism infrastructure and experiences, rebuilding the business events and conference sector.
I’ve heard, loud and clear, that the conferences want to come back, but they’re not quite there yet. The member can probably look online to find this: if you go online with B.C. Place or PavCo, you can see the list of events that are coming up over the next six to 12 months. What’s coming here is pretty spectacular. We can get a more formalized list if the member would like.
Supporting the return of community events and festivals — that was the money that we just rolled out. We’re really focusing in on our responsibilities and what it means to B.C. to be hosting marquee events such as the FIFA World Cup. We have the Invictus Games coming, which everybody is very excited about, and of course the Grey Cup. We’re trying to figure out how to get the biggest bang for our buck, as a province, when we’re hosting those bigger events.
We’re also expanding marketing campaigns to bring back international visitors to B.C. I believe that the member is very interested in that. We’ve been hearing about the different types of international visitors that are coming. You’ll often see people coming in as couples or just individual families, but we really are seeing that we want to get an uptick on the large tours that come in. So we’re focusing on how we can support that.
B. Stewart: I wonder if I could just ask the ministry…. With the resiliency that is recommended there, a lot of these actions have to happen within other ministries, in the sense that they’re required to help in terms of their support. A good example would be, certainly, labour — some of the costs that are being passed on. From a cross-ministry perspective, how are the other ministries supporting the resiliency that you have?
You’ve talked about the events, how the ministry is supporting getting people back. That is really important. I know the ministry touched on the fact that the numbers are showing that the independent travellers are coming back, the ground travel. There is still that business part that is lagging.
I do want to compliment Destination B.C. and the people that I have been briefed by, in terms of their work, with more of a singular focus, which I think is good because tourism is one of those areas where anything kind of fits in. You’ve got to kind of say: “This is what we’re going to zero in on.”
Anyway, the resiliency part. From the variations of businesses and the challenges, what are other ministries providing to help support their resilient kind of needs?
Hon. L. Popham: The member is right. You do have to do a lot of work, cross-ministry, to try and hone in on the specifics of what can help us increase the numbers of tourists and make sure we’ve got the labour force in place to deal with them. The cross-ministry, cross-government work is something I take really seriously.
There’s a quote from the federal Tourism Minister. He said that every minister is a tourism minister. It really means…. What we try and do in our ministry is dependent on a lot of stuff that other ministers do.
Obviously, in working and having conversations with Transportation, we have heard some feedback around maybe some challenges of getting people from A to B, having people arrive in Vancouver, for example and wanting to get out into the Okanagan or the Cariboo, just some challenges around that. I’m still working with the Ministry of Transportation.
Labour is a big one. Coming from the Agriculture file…. I had a great relationship with the Mexican consulate. Those conversations will continue in this ministry on how we access labour outside of British Columbia, as well as working with the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills to make sure we also are growing our own labour force here.
It is challenging. There’s not any conversation that I’ve had, over the last two years even…. I’m sure the member has experienced the same thing. Labour is an issue. We don’t see people returning to the jobs in the same way, and we need to be able to figure that out.
It’s not a British Columbia problem. It’s a national problem, and it’s a North American problem. Labour is a challenge.
We’re working on that, working closely with organizations like the B.C. Restaurant Association. They just wrote to us about having a round table to talk specifically about labour. I’m very interested in that and very happy to have the critic join. I know that he is very interested in the labour issue as well.
B. Stewart: I guess, cross-ministry…. What I’m wondering about is…. Is the ministry aware that there is…? Besides the reports from the B.C. Restaurant Association about the challenges…. Is it being watched from the standpoint that closures, such as restaurants and other types of activities that have been shut down because they’re citing this long list of things…?
I know that the ministry is not responsible for the individual control over, whether it’s labour costs or other taxes and things like that. But these layered-on costs that have been identified in the restaurant association’s letter recently…. I guess what I’m wondering is: are they alive to the issue and understanding the solution that may be needed, even in the interim?
That’s what I think we’re…. We’re seeing closures here, even, in Victoria. I think the Oak Bay Group closed a restaurant just down in Oak Bay recently. I worry about whether, with the current inflationary trends and the labour supply, there’s going to be a cascading effect, and all of a sudden we’re going to be seeing that. That’s why I wonder if they’re supporting you and able to help out.
Hon. L. Popham: Thank you for the question. It’s a serious issue — very, very well aware of it. Of course, in the conversations I’m having with stakeholders, it’s a common thread. My deputy, my assistant deputies…. Everybody is hearing about the same thing.
We do know that we’ve got a…. I hate to overuse the word “resilient.” We have an extremely resilient sector, and folks that are putting their minds to it in different parts of the sector are coming forward with plans of their own that we absolutely support.
I had already mentioned Ian Tostenson. He would like to get people together in a round-table situation to start talking about that from his perspective and the restaurant perspective. We’re really happy to do that with him. Having a constructive conversation is great. This is not just a problem in British Columbia. We’re talking about that with our federal counterparts.
Again, it’s cross-government. As a government, we are investing enormous amounts right now to support our economy, and we will see that continue to play out.
I can say…. I do appreciate very much when the critic brings issues to my attention. We’ve had conversations, many conversations offline, and I hope that he will continue to do that. It’s helpful, coming from, obviously, the jurisdiction that he represents in the Okanagan but also just his experience in the wine industry, the restaurant industry, himself, and just the travels that he has done. So I appreciate that.
B. Stewart: I’m just wondering if the ministry could be, perhaps, maybe, more specific. Are there specific actions that they’re taking to address the systemic challenges that have been outlined by some of these organizations?
You referred to the B.C. Restaurant Association, which is one group, but I think that there are other groups, I’m sure, that you’re alive to. What are the things that your ministry is approaching, in terms of trying to find specific opportunities, so that, if asked that question, we can address it?
Hon. L. Popham: I do have a specific example that I can share with the member.
Last year, in response to the needs that were identified by the industry, our ministry provided approximately $1.3 million. That went towards go2HR. That was to hire five regional tourism HR specialists. We all know that labour is such a major problem. It went towards hiring five regional tourism HR specialists, and that was to support specifically the tourism and hospitality employers in the different regions.
Each HR specialist provides expert advice to employers on a wide range of HR matters, including workforce strategy, recruitment, onboarding, compensation, training, health and safety, and interpreting employment legislation. The HR specialists are improving the HR acumen of tourism employers across the province, which is an important step in ensuring that tourism jobs are attractive and competitive in a competitive market.
So we’re kind of honing in on the hiring skills that our regions have and the hiring challenges. On Vancouver Island, there’s going to be…. I think it’s a workshop at the end of March that will talk about positively impacting staff retention. So that’s another problem that we’re hearing about. You may be able to hire folks, but they’re not staying on the job long enough after the businesses and the stakeholders spend the time and invest the time in training them.
Those are really specific examples, but we’re doing things like that across the board.
The Chair: I ask the minister to move the motion.
Hon. L. Popham: Hon. Chair, I move that the committee rise and report progress and ask leave to sit again.
Motion approved.
The committee rose at 11:46 a.m.