Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

BUILDING A GREEN ECONOMY

K. Greene: What if I told you that necessity is the mother of invention? I see heads nodding, because it’s true.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Humans are at their most creative and most innovative when faced with a difficult problem, and when that problem is a matter of survival…. Well, our global community moved mountains to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, create a COVID vaccine, understanding masking and distancing and fixing those tough supply chain issues so people could get essentials.

Climate change is also a global threat to our collective well-being. We know that it’s caused by human activity, we know that it’s getting worse, and we know that the leading edge is already upon us. Climate change is a threat multiplier, making natural disasters so much worse — wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, drought — but climate change is also an opportunity multiplier. In a Forbes’ article on green economy, Nick Grewal notes that green is good for business and change is going to happen whether we like it or not.

Within the change that is already underway, there is opportunity not just to boost GDP but also to improve the lives of workers, create a stable economy and adapt to and mitigate climate change. It’s a win for investors, for workers, and for our planet.

[10:05 a.m.]

At a CPABC event I attended, the accounting professionals there highlighted the importance of ESG — environmental, social and governance — and the development of IFRS ESG reporting standards. The world’s leading business organizations see the writing on the wall, and there’s trillions of dollars of capital flowing into the green economy in the coming years.

There was a misconception that there’s an economic trade-off between doing things the way we are today and doing things and transitioning things into a green economy. Study after study shows that this simply isn’t true. Even excluding the direct costs of climate change, which are astronomical, a recent Oxford study shows that transitioning to a decarbonized economy by 2050 will save the world $12 trillion. We could also have healthier lives, better work and sustainable communities.

Being at the forefront of change, adapting and innovating will create a better future for everyone. That’s why our groundbreaking CleanBC plan is so important, as well as focus on the triple bottom line, while we’re growing our economy.

ESG and sustainable development goals aren’t nice-to-haves. They are necessities, and they are driving innovation. We’re making investments to build our green economy in communities, large and small, all across B.C.

The innovative clean energy fund — it’s the ICE fund because it’s so cool — just invested $7 million in seven B.C. clean tech companies that are helping B.C. transition to a low-carbon economy, while creating new job opportunities in developing technology.

These funds are going to support B.C.’s blue economy, creating jobs, building a sustainable ocean economy, and cutting the cost of ocean research and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, Open Ocean Robotics in Victoria develops uncrewed, solar-powered surface vehicles and data analytics platforms to monitor marine environments and provide instant ocean data to researchers on land.

Water treatment has wide applications for use. B.C. companies Pani Energy and Axine Water are receiving ICE grants to support development of their water treatment solutions. Other ICE grant recipients are working on technologies to support agriculture, which is critically important for food security in a changing climate.

Ecoaction Innovation in North Vancouver and Terramera in Vancouver are each tackling challenges in greenhouse and soil-based agriculture respectively.

South Island Prosperity Partnership’s Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies, or COAST, received $2 million to serve as a catalyst and cluster facilitator for the blue economy up and down British Columbia’s coast.

COAST is filling a gap in the west coast ocean marine industry by connecting emerging technologies to large industry players like shipping, shipbuilding, and defence and aerospace. The ICE fund is part of CleanBC, the province’s pathway to a more prosperous, balanced and sustainable future.

CleanBC guides government’s commitment to climate action to meet B.C.’s emissions targets and build a cleaner, stronger economy for everyone.

Another CleanBC program that is generating jobs and growing our green economy is the CleanBC plastics fund, which supports new plastic waste reduction projects across the province and promotes the development of a circular economy in B.C.

It includes projects for the recycling and remanufacturing of recycled plastics, and the fund’s scope was expanded to include businesses that support plastic waste reduction through business models that support reuse, refill, sharing or repairing opportunities.

Previous recipients include Plascon Plastics, which created the first child-safe cannabis container made from 100 percent recycled plastic. These containers demonstrate how products made from post-consumer recycled plastics are comparable to those made with virgin plastics, and it’s a complementary product to our growing cannabis industry.

The CleanBC communities fund supports communities in achieving one or more of four outcomes: renewable energy, clean transportation, building efficiency and clean energy.

One of the funded projects is an affordable housing and community redevelopment project in Lower Kanaka — the Kanaka Bar Indian Band energy self-sufficient affordable housing development.

This development will use a combination of solar ground units and wind towers to create a sustainable energy supply for space and water heating. Once completed, the development’s housing and community amenity spaces will have a resilient source of clean energy available for community members and Kanaka Bar residents, regardless of age or background.

A circular economy is one that keeps materials at their highest and best use, so that the value of that material is retained for the longest period of time. It also closes the loop by diverting waste back into inputs for new products. In agriculture, that’s known as composting. The organics infrastructure program closes the loop on food waste, transforming waste into compost.

[10:10 a.m.]

Two complementary projects, led by the regional district of Central Kootenay, will provide processing capacity for food waste for the first time in the regional district.

Green jobs are across industries — tech, plastics, renewable energy, circular economy, ocean economy — and they’re good-paying, sustainable jobs to support families and communities for decades to come. They’re all across this beautiful province and offer the generational opportunity to create a better future for our children.

R. Merrifield: I thank the member opposite for the statement.

I also appreciate that everyone in this House can agree that climate change is an important issue that must be taken seriously and acted upon. It is essential that we continue to lower our emissions while building a stronger economy and attracting investment. British Columbia has a great, green economy before it — one that is built on sustainability, well-paying jobs and responsible resource development.

This is a green economy which includes world-class, clean, liquefied natural gas, which is actually produced at 60 percent lower emissions than anywhere else in the world. It includes mining of critical minerals needed for electrical vehicles and future technology. It also includes pursuit of commitments made to Indigenous peoples, such as economic reconciliation.

I am optimistic that B.C. has great potential to reach. However, under the current approach, getting there seems to be increasingly impossible. It’s important to note that our province is missing its carbon emission targets. The 2022 climate change accountability report projects that B.C. will miss the overall 2025 emissions targets by 15 percent and the 2030 targets by 3 percent. The 2030 targets for the building and community sector will be missed by at least 35 percent.

A major obstacle to meeting our climate targets is the shortage of hydro power to electrify net-zero LNG projects. According to a new report published by Richard McCandless, an intervener at the B.C. Utilities Commission, our province doesn’t have anywhere near the electrification capacity to meet the increased demands. The report says B.C. Hydro is planning to increase its output by 3,800 gigawatt hours, but the six LNG projects currently proposed will require 18,500 gigawatt hours.

Without generating much more hydroelectric or other forms of clean power, the math of net zero does not add up. This means that LNG projects will be powered by natural gas, delayed or outright cancelled. These are also the future of our mining projects, which won’t be able to proceed because they cannot meet our necessary emission targets without hydroelectricity. We can’t afford for these projects to fail to proceed.

Countries around the world are looking for a safe, transitional fuel source, and we can be a leader in this transition by providing clean and ethical LNG. Climate change is a global issue, and we here in B.C. have an obligation to produce low-emitting LNG that can replace heavy-emitting, coal-fired plants in Asia. LNG produced in our province is among the lowest-emitting in the world and has the highest social and environmental standards. We should be proud of this.

LNG is also a crucial component of economic reconciliation with First Nations. After months of delay, I was glad to hear that the Cedar LNG project will be moving forward, finally. This is a great step towards building B.C.’s green economy and economic reconciliation.

Yet there continue to be Indigenous LNG partnerships awaiting approval, such as the Tilbury LNG project in Delta. Indigenous people want to contribute to clean energy projects like LNG, so that they can be full partners in the economic development of B.C. We must give them every opportunity to do so.

The shortage of electrification capacity will be further amplified by the province’s plan that requires 90 percent of all new light vehicles sold in B.C. to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030. B.C. Hydro estimates that by 2030 there will be 350,000 electric vehicles on B.C. roads, consuming about 1,050 gigawatts annually.

The increase in electric vehicles on the road all around the world presents an incredible economic opportunity for our province if we are bold enough to seize it. British Columbia is lucky to be bountiful with critical minerals, such as copper and lithium, required for electric car batteries.

[10:15 a.m.]

Our high social and environmental standards are attractive to investors. However, red tape and permit delays can disincentivize investment. We need faster permit approval rates since, as it is currently, mining permits can take over a decade to acquire.

We don’t have ten years to wait. The transition to electric cars is happening now, and we must embrace that opportunity. British Columbia will not achieve a green economy tomorrow if we can’t approve and power the clean projects of today. It’s time for our government to recognize that.

K. Greene: It is beyond a doubt that we need to achieve the emissions targets as set out in CleanBC. We will grow our green economy here in B.C., and we will all benefit from the global transition that is already underway.

A green economy and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. In fact, sustainable investment is shown to have a larger GDP multiplier than traditional industries, from a study undertaken by the International Monetary Fund. That’s before consideration of the benefits of protecting biodiversity, public health and climate impacts on GDP.

CleanBC is the roadmap for how we grow our green economy and reap the benefits for all British Columbians. The recently announced new energy action framework will ensure we meet our climate commitments and create new opportunities for green jobs. Under this framework, the province will establish a clean energy and major projects office to fast-track investments in clean energy and technology and create good, sustainable jobs in the transition to a cleaner economy.

It’s important to be able to move nimbly to seize opportunities for leading-edge green investment. Other jurisdictions are seeing the substantial benefits that come with transitioning to a sustainable economy. We are currently well recognized as being a good location for green investments, and we need to sustain that advantage in the face of increasing competition.

Under the new energy action framework, we’ll also create a B.C. Hydro task force to accelerate the electrification of B.C.’s economy by powering more homes, businesses and industries with renewable energy. The future of decarbonization of our economy will be through electrification. We have the clear advantage of a near-zero carbon emissions electrical grid with hydroelectric power.

Our future economy is for everyone. That’s why we’re making sure that we’re offering training that will match skills to future opportunities. Whether that’s ensuring underrepresented people have opportunities in tech or opening up more seats in EV maintenance training, we’re making sure that all British Columbians can achieve their potential and benefit from a growing green economy.

We are at the right time and place to unlock the green economy and benefit communities, large and small, across this province. Green innovation is here to stay, and B.C. is poised to take full advantage of a changing world. CleanBC is our plan to create good jobs that people and communities can count on, now and for their grandkids. The old dichotomy was wrong. We don’t have to choose between today and tomorrow. With a green economy, we can have both.

CONSTRUCTION AND SKILLED TRADES

G. Kyllo: The importance of British Columbia’s construction and skilled-trades sector cannot be understated. The critical work undertaken by workers, employers and all their stakeholders builds the critical infrastructure — the hospitals, the schools and homes — that people in B.C. so desperately need.

I thank all members of this House, and I hope that they all understand and would agree that it’s in the best interests of all British Columbians for government to listen to those in the construction and skilled-s sectors and to find innovative ways to make it easier, not harder, to fill our skilled labour gaps. More carrot, less stick.

I rise today to remind my colleagues here that this is not the case currently. Beginning December 1 of 2023, phase 1 of the government’s compulsory trades program or skilled trades certification kicks in.

Phase 1 includes a variety of regulations imposed on employers and employees in the construction and skilled-trades sectors, including introducing a prescribed supervisor ratio of two apprentices per one journeyman for the following ten trades: construction electrician, industrial electrician, power line technician, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, gas fitter A and B, steam fitter-pipefitter, heavy-duty-equipment technician, sheet metal worker, automotive service technician and autobody and collision technician.

[10:20 a.m.]

Now, I’m troubled, along with many in the industry, about the program’s impact on the availability of tradespeople in B.C. The policy, which sets new conditions and regulations, is going to have a negative and unintended consequence on industries that are vital to our economy and society. Those aspiring to work in the trades from rural and smaller communities may have to leave their communities to access training seats or apprenticeships, if they’re indeed even available.

I’m hearing from constituents in Salmon Arm and contractors from around the province that are raising alarm bells as there appears not to be enough journeypersons in the province to meet the requirements for the government’s new ratio. For example, I spoke to a contractor only a few weeks ago who told me that should the compulsory trades program legislation kick in today, you’d have to lay off five people in order to satisfy the 2-to-1 trades-training ratio. He stated that there simply are not enough journeypersons in the province available for him to be able to meet the 2-to-1 ratio.

The reality is that although this is intended to increase and provide additional opportunities for trades training in the province, which is definitely an admirable effort and something that we would support, the challenge is that by bringing in the requirement of the 2-to-1 trades-training ratio without having enough journeypersons available, it will likely result in apprentices having to be laid off because a company can no longer meet that ratio requirement.

Now, this highlights the lack of planning and foresight on the part of government. Let me remind members and British Columbians that we have not seen a plan to increase the number of trades-training seats in B.C.

These new regulations set restrictions on our industry without a proper plan on how to mitigate the side effects and consequences. We saw this with the recent strata legislation that only led to even more people being kicked out of their homes as a result of the lack of consultation to listen to those impacted by the legislation. This was also the case with Bill 36, where we now see hundreds of doctors, nurses and others in the health care sector speak up about the negative impact of last-minute legislation.

The list goes on, but the point that I’m trying to make is that this trend needs to stop. We need more time to properly scrutinize and debate important legislation so that we can actually fix problems instead of making them worse.

It’s unbelievable that during a time when we’re facing a housing supply crisis, the very people who have the skills to build those homes are facing yet more red tape and barriers. This could impact worker availability, which would also potentially create further issues for a government that already struggles to deliver projects on time and on budget. There’s already a massive backlog in the sector as we face a shortage of electricians and of heating and air-conditioning tradespersons — where we have projects that are put on hold until there are people available.

Instead of addressing the lack of seats and supports for tradespeople, more layers of red tape have been added. Making matters worse, businesses are now hearing from newly hired enforcement officers who are leaving businesses scrambling at the last minute as they’re facing layoffs, cost overruns or closures when this compulsory trades program kicks in.

I’ve heard from forestry and mining sectors who are deeply concerned about how this could potentially impact their business, their ability to keep going at a time when labour is increasingly difficult to find and the cost of goods is increasing. More bureaucratic red tape is only making things worse. And with this sector, specifically, the heavy-duty-equipment technician program for the mandatory certification is what’s going to negatively impact those two specific industries.

While there have been pressures put on the skilled trades sector, the government has not made it clear what it is doing to ease the burden or what kind of support it will offer. The last-minute budget made no mention of what the plan is to meet demand or make available all the journeymen and tradespeople needed to meet these requirements.

The introduction of the mandatory skills trades program later this year is going to have negative, unintended consequences on industries that need more support and resources and less red tape. These new changes require more resources, such as more journeymen, than we have currently available in our province.

Businesses, workers and my colleagues on this side of the House are all wondering: what is government’s plan to ensure that construction and skilled trades sectors will not face layoffs, shutdowns or cost overruns as a result of the legislation that they are now raising the alarm bells about?

[10:25 a.m.]

In speaking to a number of trades-training colleges around the province, they’ve indicated that there’s inadequate funding and that, in many cases, the trades-training programs are a loss. They actually cost additional dollars, and they’re having to subsidize them through other operations.

It appears that if we want to encourage colleges to increase the number of trades-training seats, funding needs to be increased, especially for the trades-training sector.

M. Starchuk: Thank you to the member opposite for putting up the statement of construction and skilled trade. Before I start, I just want to make sure that we understand that inside of the legislation, sections 33 and 34 actually allow for those exemptions. So when we’re talking about ratios, there is language in there that can be utilized to address some of those issues that were brought up.

April is Construction and Skilled Trades Month, and the province is raising awareness about the job opportunities for people in the building trades, with 85,000 new job openings expected over the next decade. Proclaiming April as Construction and Skilled Trades Month highlights the importance of people who work in the construction trades and help make, build and maintain local communities in the province. Construction and skilled trades jobs are in demand, and government is investing in trades education and support for workers in the skilled trades.

The Skilled Trades B.C. Act, passed in the spring of 2022, established a made-in-B.C. system to support and train apprentices and modernize the Crown agency responsible for trades training. The new legislation replaced the Industry Training Authority Act and transformed the industry training authority into SkilledTradesBC, the modernized Crown agency responsible for skilled trades training in British Columbia.

The renewed focus on SkilledTradesBC reflects the expanded responsibilities associated with skilled trades certification and a new focus on supporting apprentices and trainees throughout their training journey. Skilled­TradesBC will remain the authority on trades training in B.C., with enhanced and streamlined services to help apprentices navigate training and access to get support.

SkilledTradesBC delivers preapprentice trades-training programs, including for women, Indigenous peoples and other equity-seeking groups, to reduce barriers and help people secure employment in the trades. The programs provide individualized and group services and support hands-on training, exploration training and industry certification training. These programs help increase opportunities to enter an apprenticeship training program and earn certification to become a journeyperson.

Construction is B.C.’s fourth-largest industry and employed over 216,000 workers in 2021. Between 2022 and 2032, the construction industry will post 72,700 job openings and account for more than 7 percent of the total job openings in the province of B.C.

SkilledTradesBC manages more than 100 trades programs in B.C., 49 of which are red seal programs. Skilled­TradesBC funds approximately 27,000 apprenticeship and foundation training seats at public and private institutions annually.

In 2022, the B.C. employer training grant approved more than $500,000 in grants to support 100 employers in the construction and trade sector to train 516 participants. In the trades alone, we expect 85,000 job openings, with more workers retiring than entering the trade occupations.

Tradespeople are critical to B.C.’s economic growth. Tradespeople are building our homes, our bridges, our schools and, of course, our hospitals. I am so happy to say that this year the building of that hospital that’s coming to a constituency near me is set to happen.

Tradespeople fix our cars. They keep our lights on. They keep our water flowing. I had the opportunity to tour KPU to watch what I call the magicians of the world, the electricians. You walk over to the side, they flick a switch, and it becomes bright inside of the room.

[10:30 a.m.]

We want tradespeople to count on having good, family-supporting, steady work by ensuring that they have the certified skills that they need to be first in line for these job openings. The ministry supports skills-training and education programs that prepare people for those good jobs all across the economy. Through SkilledTradesBC, we’re investing in Indigenous skills training, improving opportunities for apprenticeship leading to rewarding and good-paying careers in the trades.

Lastly, the number of Indigenous apprentices has increased to over 3,200 from 600 over the last ten years.

G. Kyllo: No one was asking for this. No one in the industry has been asking for government’s new compulsory trades-training program, and no one has indicated that this is what is going to actually drive construction and the skilled-trades sector in our province. Yet the government is able to defend decisions that will have negative consequences, as we did see with Bill 36, the aforementioned strata legislation and now the compulsory trades-training program.

We must ensure that tradespersons who have been working for decades can continue doing what they love. We can ensure that the trucking industry can carry on their businesses without increased costs, that the construction sector can continue to have the labourers and the necessary skilled tradespersons in order to complete the construction of housing that is so desperately needed in our province, and they can responsibly grow their operations while providing the work that our housing infrastructure projects are so badly in need of.

We know that this is not the case. The base of communication, the unpragmatic 2-to-1 journeyman-to-apprenticeship ratio and all of the red tape that comes along with government’s new mandatory trades program pose an unnecessary threat to skills and construction in B.C. It begs the question: on top of existing cost overruns, community benefits agreements and delays, how many government projects are we going to see delayed? And how many government projects are we going to see over budget on account, yet again, of this new compulsory trades-training program?

The member opposite referenced the construction of a hospital. I would remind members back home of the significant cost overruns that were established with the Cowichan District Hospital in Duncan: $455 million over budget, and they’re just getting started on construction now. Vancouver Island Health Authority indicated the cost overruns were largely attributed to a shortage of skilled workers.

The challenges in the short- and immediate-term compulsory trades-training programs will largely not encourage or entice more workers in this province to actually undertake those programs. The colleges and universities that are providing these very important programs are underfunded. They do not have sufficient dollars to be creating more programs. In addition, the workers that are in need of this very important skills trades training are not provided the necessary supports in order to provide that opportunity.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, their report on the program and this is one the government themselves have cited in the past: “It is expected that without sufficient programs in place to address barriers, some workers will be disproportionately and negatively affected by mandatory certification.”

INCLUSIVE CARE

K. Paddon: It is a privilege to rise today to discuss inclusive care and to share some information with folks, which is my primary goal with this statement, so buckle up.

In 2021, I stood to speak on the topic of gendered health, outlining some of the obstacles and the biases that might impact a person’s access to health care based on their gender. So I’m excited to rise again today for a bit of a follow-up and expansion on that topic.

We know that, unfortunately, gender can have a significant impact on how one moves around our society — what one has access to, how safe one feels or how safe one is, what opportunities may be available and even how much a person might be paying for items like shampoo and razors. In 2023, it seems ridiculous, right? But there it is.

[10:35 a.m.]

We also know that systems meant for everyone are not immune to the gendered results to access and that accessing things like health care is different for women, non-binary, trans and two-spirit people.

This can also be said for racialized people, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and other marginalized groups.

The reality of intersectionality means that, for people belonging to multiple groups, access may be further impacted, and their experience in these systems will be different. The most recent example of this is, undoubtedly, the change that happened when we acknowledged that we have to be able to offer services that meet people where they’re at and that are person-centered. It was an important change.

One of the gender-related big changes — and I know we talk about this, and everyone probably heard about it all weekend — is that as of April 1, people will benefit from improved access to contraceptives as the province implements a universal coverage plan, making them free for all people residing in B.C. This includes all birth control methods currently listed as regular PharmaCare benefits as well as several that have been added to regular benefits that will be 100 percent paid for by B.C. Pharmacare.

B.C. is the first jurisdiction in Canada to provide free prescription contraception to all residents, and we know that that’s about more than a pill. Contraceptives available for free include birth control pills, hormonal injection, implant and hormonal and copper intrauterine devices or IUDs, with zero out-of-pocket cost.

Access is key to this plan as well. In 2023, pharmacists will be able to prescribe some medications independently, and this will include some forms of contraception and medication to treat minor ailments. This means you’ll be able to access care faster, when you need it. This will be great for people in rural and remote communities who have challenges accessing a hospital or those without a family doctor. This is in addition to the work we know is being done in period poverty and access to menstrual products — an ongoing piece of work across our communities and our province.

Another example of how access to inclusive care and health is being addressed is the delivery of equitable and accessible care, surgical planning and peer and community support for trans people across our province.

In 2018, we brought gender-affirming care for trans people closer to home. Previous to this, transgender people approved for genital surgery had to travel to Montreal. After this, genital surgery became available in British Columbia. Other forms of gender-affirming chest and breast surgeries were almost exclusively available in Vancouver or Victoria. We expanded access to those, as well, with physicians in the Interior, the North and the Lower Mainland.

It is also important to share that as of February 16, 2023, we made some pathways and practice changes. In line with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care, version 8 is being implemented in B.C., related to gender-affirming surgical care. Some of these include requiring only one letter of recommendation, instead of two, for genital surgery; only six months of hormone therapy are required to access genital surgery or gonadectomy; and congruent living is no longer a requirement to access genital surgery. These changes will help reduce wait times for surgical care planning.

There is so much work yet to do, but we know that each step taken towards access, equity and inclusion in health care makes us stronger. Together with B.C.’s health care practitioners and experts, and with expertise from here and across Canada and around the world, we continue to take on this work as we move forward together.

Real world actions, like government creating the First Nations Health Authority to when we make cancer care more equitable for people living in rural and remote communities by having a plan that includes increased funding to support expenses related to travelling for cancer care and also more cancer centres, added throughout the province, to bring treatment closer to home for people — these are just examples of the work done by government that is happening to not only acknowledge the barriers to inclusive care but to take steps to address the issue head-on.

In September 2017, the province expanded the publicly funded HPV vaccine program in B.C. through a school-based program to include grade 6 children. In December 2017, in partnership with First Nations Health Authority, Métis Nation B.C., B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and B.C. Cancer, the province announced an Indigenous cancer strategy to improve cancer care and supports for Indigenous peoples across B.C.

[10:40 a.m.]

In December 2021, the province launched the first at-home HPV cervix screening pilot. Hon. Speaker, I’ll be talking about that in the three-minute section. Stay tuned.

The health HR strategy is increasing the number of family doctors. It has a focus to retain, to redesign, to recruit and to train. It’s expanding pharmacists’, paramedics’ and first responders’ scopes of practice and recognizing credentials for foreign-trained workers.

It’s new programs to train health care workers, free education to become a health care assistant, and increased spots for future doctors. It’s developing a pool of nurses ready to travel to rural and remote places; scaling up virtual care; building a second medical school; making the health care system culturally safer with systemwide reforms; and making sure, like I said, that family doctors have the supports they need to start and maintain their practices.

There’s more work to come. That’s a little snapshot.

S. Bond: Thank you to the member opposite for raising this series of important topics for discussion in the House today. I appreciate the opportunity to respond, and I agree that this is something that we, as elected officials, not only need to be thinking about but acting on.

Every day we need to work to ensure that our system serves all British Columbians with respect and dignity. Everyone who seeks care in our province deserves to feel safe, supported and heard — and, importantly, to get access to the help that they need. Unfortunately, we know that this is not currently the case for everyone in our province.

The ever-growing health care crisis has stretched our system beyond anything we have ever seen before. The health care workers, nurses, doctors, specialists, techs and other health care professionals have reached the point of burnout. They are exhausted. Many have told us they are suffering moral distress, unable to provide the care they passionately want to deliver.

Our system has been barely treading water for the past three years. We have not yet been able to improve critical issues, and others have worsened. Health care inequality remains a major barrier in B.C. We cannot truly provide inclusive care until we address the root causes of that inequity. We know that racism and discrimination exist in our society and in our province. If we want to address the issues, we must first acknowledge their presence and then work to break the cycle of discrimination.

Inclusive care means that regardless of your race or ethnicity, your sexual orientation or gender identity, your age or religion, any physical or intellectual disabilities that you may have, you deserve care that demonstrates you are supported and that your best interest is at the heart of the care you receive.

What do we need to do? We need to ensure that practitioners and health care workers have the education and tools they need. This must include updating terminology and best practices and ensuring that our health care spaces are safe and comfortable for everyone to be able to express their needs and get access to the best medical advice and assistance.

Much work is being done to create the inclusive care system we all want to see in British Columbia. Take, for example, the work done by Island Health to create a toolkit for ensuring inclusive and gender-affirming care for LGBTQ2+ seniors. The toolkit was developed following a review of international and national research and input from local focus groups. It includes information and ideas adapted from a wide variety of resources.

The toolkit was created after acknowledging that changes need to be made in a number of areas to improve the experience of LGBTQ2+ seniors accessing Island Health services. Program leaders are encouraged to use this change toolkit to review and/or modify existing policies, practices and programs and to guide them in the development of new ones, with the goal of improving care for all seniors in Island Health.

As noted, there is much work underway, yet there’s much more to be done. A true commitment to gender equality and inclusivity requires more than saying the right words. We need meaningful action to ensure not just that Indigenous British Columbians and people of colour, women and gender-diverse people have the full opportunity to participate in our society but also that they have the quality care that they need and deserve.

[10:45 a.m.]

When you need care in our province, no one should feel shunned or made to feel like their concerns do not matter. No one should feel unsafe being themselves or like they have been forgotten or ignored. All they should have to think about is getting well. It’s our responsibility, as leaders, to make sure that the system gets better for them.

While the member’s comments focused on inclusive care, it’s important to reflect on the current state of our health care system. Few would disagree that we need to have a system that meets the needs of all British Columbians, but today we have a full-blown crisis on our hands: closed ERs, overcrowded hospitals, burned-out and exhausted health care professionals doing absolutely everything they can to keep the system operating. More urgent action must be taken to retain, recruit, train and provide the kinds of workplaces that enable the inclusive, high-quality care that we are talking about today.

Equity and inclusivity are about recognizing and accommodating people’s differences to ensure that every individual has what they need to thrive. I know that that is what our dedicated and passionate health care professionals want to do. So let’s give them the support, resources and tools they need to ensure that they can provide inclusive, person-centred care in British Columbia.

K. Paddon: Thank you to the member for their comments. We all know that part of inclusive care means….

We’re having conversations about a range of issues. Today we’re going to have, really, some great information, I think, about something that doesn’t get talked about a lot in mixed company, let’s say. I think that’s how someone put it to me. I would like to talk about things that happen with our cervix, for those of us who have one.

Many of us have heard the terms “Pap test” or “Pap smear” or “cervical exam.” A Pap test is designed to find abnormal cells in the cervix before they become cancer. It’s free, and it can be done by a health care provider at a clinic or an office. Anyone with a cervix, including women and transgender people aged 25 to 69, according to B.C. Cancer, should be screened.

What not everybody knows is that this is a difficult test for some people, not because it is necessarily painful, although there may be some discomfort for some people, but because it’s internal. It’s invasive. I think we all need to talk about that.

I’m going to see some heads nodding along when what I mention is…. Everybody who has had one of these tests understands what I mean when I say: “Okay, just scooch a little bit.” It’s a test that is…. You’re working very closely with your health care practitioner.

The reason I mention it is because there are feelings involved in that. Not everybody is coming to that situation with the same life experiences. This can be difficult for people, maybe, who are in transition, maybe people who are non-binary as well as survivors of gender-based violence, sexual assault. This can be something that is avoided, but it is so important.

One of the things that I’m very excited about is the work being done around HPV. We know that the best way to eliminate cervical cancer is to make sure that people are screening and being vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. The majority of cervical cancers are caused by HPV.

Now there is a pilot program happening, the cervix self-screening pilot, which detects high-risk HPV types that can cause cervical cancer. You can complete a cervix self-screening instead of a Pap test. This, like I said, is a pilot.

Cervix self-screening is quick, painless, and you can do it yourself from the comfort of your home or at your local health clinic. The test involves turning a small swab inside your vagina, and then you either mail it or give it to your health care provider.

The pilot is currently available to eligible participants in the Tri-Cities, Belcarra, Anmore, New Westminster, lower Sunshine Coast, Pemberton and Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. And I think that it’s a very critical piece that I just want to share a little bit of information about today, because in the ten-year cancer action plan, we want to secure a cancer-free future for people, including the elimination of cervical cancer in B.C.

SUPPORTING FOREST WORKERS
AND THEIR COMMUNITIES

M. Bernier: It’s a real honour and privilege to stand up today to talk about the importance of supporting B.C.’s forestry workers and the communities that depend on them here in the province of British Columbia.

[10:50 a.m.]

We need to remember that these communities, many of them, were built because of the resource sector. Industries like forestry exist because of that. They were built…. Some of them started, like, over 100 years ago in the province, as we were thriving at that time, building a forestry sector.

We know now, though, that we really need to put focus back on our resource sector, sectors like forestry, as we’re watching communities that are being hollowed out, as industries are facing a number of challenges that are leading to more and more mill closures and curtailments around our province, leading to job losses and people, unfortunately, being forced to leave some of these towns and places that they call home.

Recently, I took an opportunity while we weren’t sitting here for the week to tour around the province to some communities, to look at those forestry-dependent communities, to see firsthand what they were facing and, in some cases, what was working and wasn’t working for some of these communities. I got to see, actually, some success stories, operations that are doing well.

I was able to tour down and see Structurlam, a great facility in Okanagan Falls — continually innovating, looking at ways to stay operational, promoting and producing high-quality mass timber. I want to thank them for the tour that they gave myself and the member for Penticton, who joined me. They were able to explain the operations and how the value-added sector was working for them — more importantly, how being a major employer in a small community like Okanagan Falls, employing 300 people and making sure that they were stressing the role that they play in that community and how right now, being operational, we hope that continues.

But it was a reminder that they gave to me that they can only exist if we continue to allow for permits to be accessible for the primary companies to stay operational. This is not about one sector, value-added versus primary. It’s about looking at the entire chain in the forestry sector that will stay resilient and prosperous only if we give it the attention that is needed right now, as they’re struggling.

So that brings me, on the flip side, while I was doing my tours, having the privilege to go to Merritt with the member for Fraser-Nicola and the member for Vancouver-Langara. We sat down and met with Aspen Planers, the company, members from the United Steelworkers, who I want to thank. We had the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with them on the streets in Merritt, to try to remind government and the public of the importance of the forestry sector and the impact it has on communities, especially right now, where we see employers who are struggling to work, who want to work.

We need to remember that we used to have a thriving forestry sector. With the closures and curtailments right now that are affecting companies, I think it’s important that we remember that this is affecting families. This is affecting people. These are jobs. These are communities.

You know, I think it’s important that we highlight the fact that since 2017, 13,400 manufacturing jobs have been lost in the province of British Columbia. More recently, in January alone, we’ve seen a 12 percent decline in forestry jobs, a 7 percent decline in the wood manufacturing jobs, a 15 percent decline in the pulp and paper sector. Again, these stats, I guess, are important to show the crisis that the forestry sector is seeing right now, but we should never use those stats to hide the fact that these are people, these are jobs, and these are families that are affected around the province.

I had the privilege of meeting recently with the Truck Loggers Association, as well. That reminded me of the stress that is being faced right here on Vancouver Island, with thousands and thousands of people who have been struggling to understand what the future holds for them in the forestry sector. What the comments came to me are: there are opportunities here in British Columbia. We don’t want to see a managed decline of a sector. We want to see clear vision and leadership to show these families, the corporations, the small mom-and-pop companies that there is a future, still, for forestry in British Columbia.

[10:55 a.m.]

Sadly, many are losing faith, and that’s not fair to these people. We need to be showing that, yes, there are challenges right now in the industry, but that we’re willing to take those challenges and take them head-on.

One of the ways that can happen is by giving certainty, ensuring that we know what the plan is and making sure that we know that permits, when applied for, will have some chance of being approved so that companies can continue to invest here in British Columbia, rather than what we’re seeing right now, where they’re moving that investment to other jurisdictions like Alberta and the United States.

Again, we need to be reminding ourselves that it’s not just what we’re hearing about the supports for value-added, which, I will acknowledge, are important. But if we don’t have your primaries, if we don’t have Western Forest Products, the Canfors, the West Frasers, the Dunkleys…. If we don’t have these large companies that actually are employing thousands of people, who are keeping our communities vibrant, our value-added sector will suffer as well, because we all rely on this.

Are there challenges right now? Absolutely. Are there pressures in the forestry crisis? Absolutely. But we need to ensure that our focus is on the forestry workers and these communities that rely on them.

In a few moments, after the member opposite speaks, I will take an opportunity to highlight some of the factors in the forestry sector, the impacts they have on some of our smaller communities.

D. Routley: Thank you to the member previous for his statement. As a former tree planter, logger and sawmill worker, my heart goes out to affected workers and their families dealing with curtailments caused by challenges in the forest sector.

[J. Tegart in the chair.]

I’m very proud of the forest industry, and I want all British Columbians to feel proud of a sector that will be managed sustainably and continue to provide thriving communities with services that we all depend on. Our government is committed to supporting workers impacted by these challenges through skills training, short-term employment opportunities, employment assistance and retirement transition support for workers who are 55 years or older.

Forestry is and will remain a foundation of the B.C. economy. The sector continues to provide good, family-supporting jobs for over 55,000 workers in communities across the province, but we know the industry and forest communities are facing challenges.

Lumber prices have plummeted compared to a year ago, causing many sawmills to scale back production, and the annual allowable cut has declined due to the end of the beetle-kill harvest and unprecedented wildfires across the province. Our government is committed to supporting forest workers impacted by these challenges, as well as supporting good, long-term jobs in the sector.

We are involved in a paradigm shift, from simply viewing our forests as an economic tool or asset to the full value of ecological qualities that are represented. The old-growth strategic review identified two million hectares of land that will be protected in partnership with First Nations, and First Nations and local communities are leading landscape planning tables that take a comprehensive view of the landscape and an inclusive view in how to manage that.

We are recognizing that there’s change afoot in the industry, and we’re supporting communities and workers who are being affected by that. In terms of value-added, that sector of the forest economy is being supported by a new category of timber sales called category value-added. This will have a value-added focus and will ensure that those operations that rely on competitive access to fibre will continue to have that access.

The B.C. manufacturing jobs fund is $180 million, $90 million of which is targeted at rural communities. This will support communities that have been impacted by these challenges in the forest industry and support the continued development of high-value industrial and manufacturing projects that should provide clean, inclusive growth to those areas affected by economic impacts or downturns and should create thousands of stable, good-paying jobs.

[11:00 a.m.]

I chair the Forest Worker Supports and Community Resiliency council, which helps manage and shape several programs in four different ministries that support forest workers and their communities. The forest employment program provided $27 million in funding and supported 317 projects developing rural business and community recovery. The enhanced community rapid response team worker transition effort is a group of people who go into communities that have been affected by curtailments or decisions like these, and they work with local government, industry and the unions in order to provide support for those families.

The rural economic diversification and infrastructure program develops economic capacity and economic development, particularly in forest-impacted communities. The industry innovation program is a high-value industrial and manufacturing program that supports projects driving clean and inclusive growth and creates well-paying job opportunities for local workers. The bridging to retirement program — for some workers over 55 who want to retire and make room for younger workers: that’s $80 million of support for communities.

It is the experience that I have in the forest industry that makes me proud of what British Columbia has as its core resource industry. It is the commitment of our government to support communities that are in transition. We all know that change is coming. We don’t want to punt it down the road. We want to deal with it directly while there’s still an industry to develop again.

We are proud of the industry, and we continue to provide support to the workers and their communities.

M. Bernier: I appreciate the member opposite for his comments. One of the things that I think it’s important to highlight, though, through this is that when we’re talking to families, when we’re talking to workers, when we’re talking to communities, they’re not looking for transitional support. What they want is their jobs to stay. They want the mills to stay open.

It’s cold comfort to many when the advice that they’re given is: “Here’s a bridging-to-retirement plan.” They say: “I didn’t want to bridge to retirement. I’m fourth generation in the forestry sector. I had a life plan of working until I was 65. I was hoping my son or daughter would also be able to work in this mill in this small community. It’s something that, for four generations, we’ve done.”

The last thing somebody wants to hear when they’re 40 or 50 years old — and, maybe, they’ve worked 20 or 25 years in the forestry sector — is: “Don’t worry. We’re going to have a transition plan to retrain you for another sector.” That is not what they’re looking for, and a lot of this can be avoided.

When we look at the uncertainty that’s out there right now — the member opposite talked about world markets, declines and changes in stumpage, or changes in the board feet costs around North America — here’s one of the biggest challenges we’re facing. It has been over two years, in some jurisdictions in this province, that there has even been a timber sale. It’s really hard for a company to even be operational if they can’t access the timber or the fibre, which is putting a lot of these communities and these jobs at risk.

A case in point in my own riding, the community of Chetwynd. Two weeks from now on a Friday, the last log will be going through that mill; 150 direct jobs, an estimated 300 to 400 jobs that are going to be affected in this community because of that.

We look at the community of Mackenzie. We look at the community of Houston. We look at the impacts in Prince George. We look at the impacts in Terrace, in Merritt — you name it. Around the province right now, we have families that are struggling to know what the future holds.

It is really unfortunate when the message we have to give them is: “Don’t worry. The government plan is to transition you to something else.” That is not what they want. They want supports; they want certainty. We need to give them hope that forestry will continue in B.C.

[11:05 a.m.]

Hon. N. Sharma: Hon. Speaker, I ask that the House consider proceeding with Motion 32 on the order paper, standing in the name of the member for Vancouver–​West End.

Deputy Speaker: Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed to Motion 32 without disturbing the priorities of the motions preceding it on the order paper. If any member is opposed to the request for leave, please indicate now.

Leave granted.

Private Members’ Motions

MOTION 32 — VIOLENCE AGAINST
DRAG ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS

S. Chandra Herbert:  

[Be it resolved that this House condemns violence and intimidation of artists and performers in the drag community.]

I’ve moved this motion because we have seen too much of this. We’ve seen people targeted in their communities across B.C., and indeed across North America, whether it was in Nelson, Coquitlam, I think this weekend in Kelowna, North Vancouver, Duncan, Vancouver, in my own community of the West End.

Really, the list is too long to go on with, where because somebody has decided to express themselves, decided to show up in drag as a performer, they’ve been targeted. They’ve been told that they can’t perform, that they can’t be themselves. Indeed, we’ve had people show up outside these venues to try to hate them out through screams and intimidation, hon. Speaker.

“I am what I am.
I am this own special creation,
so come take a look.
Give me the hook or the ovation.
It’s my world that I want
to have a little pride in —
my world, and it’s not a place
I have to hide in.
Life’s not worth a damn
till you can say:
“I am what I am.”

Maybe I’ll sing a little bit later, but I’ve got to warm up. That’s from La Cage aux Folles, which was 1982, one of the first musicals to ever feature a gay relationship. Now, many will remember the Robin Williams movie that came later, but it was also a movie back in the 1970s, before I was born — a hit movie, I might add.

Now, why was it at a hit, and why do people perform drag? I think they’re both, in some ways, the same. It’s because of expression. It’s because in the beauty of the movie, the characters were able to find a way to express themselves that they couldn’t because of hatred that had been directed towards them.

I was first in drag, I should say, probably when I was a four- or five-year-old. Kids like to dress up. We like to perform. I think I first saw drag in a Shakespeare play. A man dressed up as a woman pretending to be a man, I think, is how I remember it. Shakespeare can be confusing sometimes. Sometimes it’s a triple or quadruple play in back of play.

Drag is something that goes back beyond history. Really, it’s us having fun. I’m wearing drag right now, of a sort. Really, it’s a uniform to signify something else. Now, I dressed in drag for high school in grade 12. I must say that for me, that was an accomplishment because I’d been called a girly man, a girly boy, targeted with misogyny and sexism, because that’s a lot of what this is.

It’s targeting men because they seem too much like women, and “If you’re a man, and you don’t like women, we’ll attack you for being too much like a woman” — another weird, confusing thing that shouldn’t exist, but unfortunately, it does.

I did it as a way to push back against the haters who would come after me, and to say: “I’m not afraid of you anymore. I’m embracing all I am, and if you want to call me whatever you want to call me, too bad for you, because I am quite comfortable with who I am.”

That’s indeed what Chris Bolton, also known as Conni Smudge, was doing when they went to Coquitlam to be all they could be. And you know, the thing that those haters came to say was a horrible thing that they should never have done: they read The Itsy Bitsy Spider to children in a library. They read Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in a library — for shame. It seemed so ridiculous that anyone would have a problem with that.

I’ve got to say, our neighbours just to the south of us seem to be having a great deal of problems with that, and we’re seeing it bleed across the border here, which is why we’ve got this motion here today. Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Missouri, Kentucky, Oklahoma — you go on and on. They’ve even suggested that you should go to jail for up to ten years, in Arizona, if you performed in drag. Can you believe that? Lock you up for performing in some costume? Wow.

[11:10 a.m.]

Well, we’ve seen it here in this province before. ted northe, who passed away back in 2014, stood up in drag in 1958 to protest against homophobia — organized discrimination, legalized hatred — in our province, by showing up in drag outside the courthouse, holding a sign saying: “I am a human.”

In the end, that’s what this is about: being able to be so wonderfully human in our diversity, without other people stepping in to try and shame us for who we are, trying to beat up and use violence to intimidate. No, this is about being able to be all we are.

It took a long time, but leaders like ted northe, who started the court system that celebrated its coronation the other weekend…. They stood, and they changed the law. They showed we are human. They said: “No more hatred. No more discrimination. No more targeting people because they are a little different. Let’s embrace love and diversity.”

I’m glad to join with, hopefully, all members in this House to move this motion and support it.

R. Merrifield: Let me say it very clearly: violence during peaceful protest is wrong. Any violence and intimidation towards drag artists and performers is wrong and must be condemned in the strongest terms — full stop. All members of this House can agree on that.

In light of horrible incidents towards the drag community, it is clear that there is still so much more to do to ensure everyone in British Columbia is treated with dignity and respect. Violent protests are not acceptable. We all have the right to express our views and debate or protest against those views with which we don’t agree. Violence against others is never the answer, ever.

These events have been plagued with intimidation and violence throughout B.C., in communities such as Nelson, Victoria and Vancouver either having violence break out or being forced to cancel them out of fear. No community should need to fear violence for simply holding an event in a province as rich and diverse as British Columbia. No British Columbian should fear taking their child to a library because of dangerous protests outside the entrance. No British Columbian should fear violence for holding a view or position in opposition to their neighbour. This is not the British Columbia that we want for our kids.

We teach our kids to always be themselves: “Don’t give into peer pressure to be someone you aren’t.” I used to teach my kids when they were younger, you know, when they would be called a name…. I would ask them: “Well, if I called you a banana, would that make you a banana?”

We teach our kids to be tolerant of those that are different from them, to respect each other and learn from each other. We teach our kids to stand up for what they believe in, to be the voice for those that may not be able to speak for themselves.

We live in a country where we are protected by laws and where we can live without fear, but this cannot be said by every member of our communities. Last week I was privileged to attend the Transgender Day of Visibility flag raising here at the Legislature. It serves as an excellent reminder of just some of the many adversities faced by those that are simply trying to be themselves and are not treated with dignity and respect. For the sake of our constituents and the rights of human beings as a whole, we must continue to deliberate and strengthen our laws so that they can be as protective, strong and inclusive as possible.

Unfortunately, we face a public safety crisis in this province, and not enough is being done to fix it. We could be debating motions like this every hour of every day for any number of communities that have faced horrible violence in the last five years. Motions are just words unless action is taken, and this government doesn’t have a good track record on taking action. They have no trouble with motions, words, social media posts, even attacks on the other side, but not actions.

British Columbians facing violence in their streets need more than flowery words on Twitter and clever motions in this place. We must encourage meaningful dialogue amongst those who disagree with one another. We must make sure that those that target a community with violence, like the drag community or the LGBTQ2+ community, face legal consequences. This is our job in this place.

[11:15 a.m.]

That is why our communities elect us to serve them here. For the sake of upholding basic human rights, it is incredibly important that we ensure the government follows through on motions like this one and takes meaningful action and can provide results for British Columbians.

Democracy loses when we shout instead of listen, when we use culture wars to silence opposition instead of exercising empathy and love. Love must win.

I encourage this House to use this motion as an opportunity to reach out and hear the voices across B.C., advocate for those that can’t always speak for themselves and use the power given to them by British Columbians to influence positive and real change in legislation to ensure everyone is free from the fear of facing violence in their community. Violence is wrong.

H. Yao: Thank you for the opportunity to stand up and speak in support of the motion by the member for Vancouver–West End: ‘Be it resolved that this House condemns violence and intimidation of artists and performers in the drag community.”

For starters, I want to humbly express the fact that I, too, am in need to learn from my colleagues and everyone else in the community as we come together and help our community support the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Let us come together and learn how to be an ally to the fight for the most basic human rights that the majority of us take for granted.

People in the community continue to face stigma and discrimination, which puts people at risk for much higher rates of violence, poverty, mental health issues and other complex challenges. For people of colour and Indigenous people, this issue is further amplified.

With permission, I would like to share an incident in Richmond. Imagine that a basic right we all take for granted in this chamber is somehow no longer accessible to us. Imagine that a person in a position of authority, whom we trust, chooses to exercise personal bias to deny us the very basic right.

To start the story, I attended an event held by youth in a Richmond school, as a guest speaker. After my boring speech, I took a seat by the entrance of the library. I quickly noted outside the library there was a young BIPOC individual who was crying. Their peers surrounded the individual and attempted to comfort the individual. I decided to approach in an attempt to find out what happened. The young person’s situation was both shocking and shook me to the core.

The person self-identified as transgender. For over one hour, the young person was in need to use a washroom, but couldn’t. The young person’s previous attempt to use the school’s all-gender washroom was stopped and prevented by school staff. I learned that the school staff denied the young person’s right to access a washroom by telling the individual to use the regular washroom like everyone else. The young person couldn’t leave the school without giving up their spot in the activity. Without a safe and accessible facility, that young person struggled with both the biological stress and mental frustration.

I had to step in. I escorted the young person straight to the all-gender washroom in the very same school. Despite the fact that school staff saw us walking straight to the all-gender washroom, the staff decided not to stop us this time.

I further shared the frustration which the Richmond school board, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to Richmond school trustees for taking time out of their busy schedule and listening. Their unwavering determination to address the issue was much appreciated and needed.

Drag performers are skilled artists and performers that contribute so much to our B.C. arts and cultural scene. The violence, hate and intimidation that drag performers have to face in B.C. is unacceptable. Such actions of violence and intimidation against drag performers comes from a place of misunderstanding and hate. Current themes include homophobic and transphobic language, in addition to statements condemning SOGI 123. We must all work together to form inclusivity, kindness and acceptance.

Our government continues to work hard to advance human rights and the rights and freedom of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Only by working together can we make B.C. a place where people are truly free to be who they are.

The trans flag flew for the first time on the B.C. Legislature lawn. The flag-raising event was attended and supported by both B.C. NDP caucus representatives and B.C. Liberal caucus representatives.

The provincial government also reworded 1,300 incidences of gendered language in regulation across government to reflect British Columbia’s diversity. These changes were made to ensure that all British Columbians have equal access to government services, no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, race or cultural beliefs.

[11:20 a.m.]

Our government also re-established a Human Rights Commission to ensure a spectrum of gender identity is included on B.C. identification cards. Now British Columbians can choose the third option in the gender field on a B.C.-issued ID. Our government moved to ensure publicly funded surgery is available in B.C., making us the first province in western Canada to offer these essential procedures.

All 60 schools and several First Nations and independent schools are part of the B.C. SOGI Educator Network to help schools be more inclusive for students. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the University of Victoria for establishing the first largest Transgender Archives in the world.

Although it is important to remember how far we have come, we must also acknowledge that there’s much more work to do. For people to feel safe, we must come and stand together to amplify the voices and take steps to help our neighbours, friends and colleagues to be safe from violence.

K. Kirkpatrick: When I was a kid growing up in Edmonton, we had absolutely some of the funkiest bars and theatres in all of Canada. I think that might still be the case. We were so cool in Edmonton that we were able to attract some of the coolest performers in North America. I was so lucky to see Harris Glenn Milstead twice, better known to the world as Divine.

Divine was one of the most famous drag queens in the world and set the stage for performers like RuPaul. Those evenings I had were so fun — the music, the dancing, the laughter. You couldn’t help but have a smile on your face when you left and a love of Divine. It just made me so happy. But I guess in my naivety, I could never imagine that anyone would think differently.

Today a 10-foot-high statue of Divine stands at the American Museum of Visionary Art in Baltimore. Her cult sensation movie, which you must see, called Pink Flamingos is in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

I do want to give a shout-out, as well, to Conni Smudge, who has made some wonderful videos across the North Shore, has videos of her reading wonderful children’s stories and I know has been at the North Vancouver City Library.

But ongoing intimidation and violence directed towards drag performers goes against the very values of diversity and inclusion we claim as a society to hold near. Unfortunately, attacks and threats have occurred far too often here in British Columbia.

Earlier this month the Nelson Public Library scheduled a family-friendly drag storytime event that models inclusiveness, kindness and acceptance, while promoting a love of reading. But it had to be cancelled after the staff and storytellers were threatened and intimidated online.

In June of last year, organizers of a drag show at a Victoria cafe were also inundated with homophobic and transphobic phone calls. I was proud that the Leader of the Opposition was the first B.C. politician to speak out and condemn this hate.

Last summer anti-gay protesters waved rainbow swastikas at a Richmond drag queen storytime, knocking over children in the process. I don’t get it. It just makes no sense to me.

These are just some of the examples showing the unacceptable levels of discrimination, harassment and violence toward drag performers, which are rooted in homophobia and transphobia.

In March, a Statistics Canada report showed that the 423 hate crimes targeting a sexual orientation recorded in 2021 rose above the previous peak of 265 in 2019. Such attacks are absolutely unacceptable, and we have to work together as a society to reject them and ensure that all communities are protected and treated with dignity and respect.

Drag performance has been an important part of our culture, providing a platform for self-expression, creativity and activism. In ancient Western cultures, women often were not allowed to perform on stage or to become actors, so it was normal — in fact, it was respected — for men to dress as women to perform. Remember the movie Shakespeare in Love. Didn’t we all love that movie?

[11:25 a.m.]

In addition to its cultural and social significance, drag performance has also contributed to popular culture. Many famous performers, from RuPaul and, again, Divine, have become icons of drag, bringing their unique styles and personalities to mainstream audiences through film, television and other media.

Its impact can be felt not only by the LGBT community but in popular culture, as well, where it comes to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.

We must address the underlying attitudes that fuel these attacks. This includes education and awareness campaigns to promote understanding.

Now, it’s funny how Divine has stayed with me for so many years. She left an impression on me that was positive, and she really helped me in a tough time in my young life. I felt, and I mean this quite sincerely…. To me, she represented the freedom to be yourself, not to worry about stereotypes and to do things that made others happy. She referred to herself as the most beautiful 300-pound woman in the world. She celebrated everything unique and special about us.

I recently walked into a funky-looking store. I couldn’t believe the thrill when I saw posters, coffee mugs and other memorabilia with Divine on them. It brought back such happy feelings. I had to buy a mug, and she now joins me every day for my morning coffee.

S. Chant: Thank you for the opportunity to rise today and speak to the motion: “Be it resolved that this House condemn violence and intimidation of artists and performers in the drag community.”

I’m speaking from the unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ people, the Esquimalt and the Songhees.

I work, live and learn in my beautiful riding of North Vancouver–Seymour, situated in the unceded territory of the Coast Salish, specifically, the Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations.

I find it remarkable in this day and age that this topic remains one that needs to be restated. Yet clearly it does, in light of the events of the past year. Violence, hate and intimidation should have no place in our current state, but it has reared its ugly head once again, in the most benign of places: community centres and libraries.

Drag storytimes are wonderful events full of colour, whimsy and drama — just what children enjoy most, as do many adults. Children are enraptured by the theatre of it, captured by the stories, entranced by the voices that vary with each character. Sometimes there are crafts, sometimes there are songs — all activities that stimulate the imagination of kids and grownups alike.

Drag storytime has been going on for a while, both in B.C. and across North America. It’s a family-friendly event, demonstrates inclusiveness, kindness and acceptance, allowing people to explore their own beliefs about drag and dispelling fears and myths.

Unfortunately, those fears seem to be driving a group of protesters who not only attack the drag performers on social media but arrive at events disrupting, at the expense of families. These protests generate discomfort, fear and anxiety for those that want to attend, which is completely counter to the intent of the activities. I find it difficult to recognize value in these negative events.

Even though pro-drag supporters and police have also attended to try and abate the anticipated efforts of the anti-drag contingent, families with storytelling-aged children will still be reluctant to stay in such a volatile environment. In other circumstances, support staff have been intimidated and harassed to the point that a library event has been cancelled, which is really disappointing and discouraging to organizers, performers and participants, all of whom look forward to fun, entertaining and thought-provoking presentations.

It’s important to recognize that drag performers are skilled artists, and they contribute significantly to the arts and cultural fabric of British Columbia. Just like any other performer, they should be able to provide entertainment in a safe, respectful environment that appreciates their contributions and enjoys their performances. Consider original Shakespeare, pantomimes, Cabaret, La Cage aux Folles, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hairspray, Mrs. Brown and Dame Edna.

In our current landscape, we should be revelling in our diversity, in our ability to be inclusive, in our understanding and acceptance of the marvellous variation in cultures, religions and ethnicities that is British Columbia. Yet there is an underlying presence of fear, homophobia, transphobia and vitriol aimed at people who have chosen alternate sexual orientations or gender identities. This is all grounded in fear, perhaps of the unknown.

[11:30 a.m.]

As a member of this House, and as a community member that has been in service all of my life with the goal of making things better for the folks around me, I believe we can all contribute towards calming the fear, stemming the anxiety and enhancing the understanding of each other.

Next time there’s an opportunity to attend a drag event, go and see what it’s about. Enjoy the showmanship and the talent, whether it’s at your local library or as a storytelling or at a local cabaret as a song, dance and humour. There’s no need for intimidation, violence and hate, because there’s nothing to be frightened of.

M. Bernier: I’m glad to rise and support the motion that has been put forward today by the member for Vancouver–West End.

I say this in a weird way, I think, that it’s unfortunate that we even have to have this motion brought forward today. Of course, everybody in this House agrees that violence and intimidation have no place in our communities and in our society. We’re all committed to the idea of creating a safer, more inclusive British Columbia for everybody.

It’s incredibly disturbing to hear the stories that we are seeing more frequently in our media about people being harassed and threatened simply for being themselves — for being who they are. As a society, everybody is entitled to their opinions, but those opinions also have to be recognized in a non-violent, non-hatred way. People have to be able to coexist, but we also have to love and support each other.

When we look at the violence on our streets that’s happening right now across British Columbia, across all sectors, it’s important, I think, not just through this motion, that we talk about making sure that we work collectively in this House to condemn it and to try to come up with supports to end this. We need to create a positive change.

When I sat on the other side of the House, I was proud that we took action on a part of this issue, anyway, to begin working on bringing SOGI supports and anti-bullying policies into our schools. Thankfully, those policies are still in place today.

I think, when we look at our upcoming generations, it’s about education. It’s ensuring that we instil in them tolerance and the education of what we want society to look like. Education is absolutely foundational when it comes to building a more welcoming and informed society.

On September 8, 2016, I announced that explicit references to sexual orientation and gender identity were being added to anti-bullying policies that school districts and independent schools are required to have in place. I thank them for the work that they did. That’s still in place. Our government also worked with the ARC Foundation of Vancouver, working together to provide schools with additional resources and tools to support LGB — capital T today — Q2+ students. We continue with that work.

As I said, every British Columbian deserves to be welcomed. A lot of these supports were brought into place because of the high level of bullying and intimidation that was happening in our schools. We’re unfortunately seeing it in society outside of our schools. We need to remember that we need to have those supports. As many people have said today, this comes with understanding. This comes with education of who we are and supporting people for who they are.

All British Columbians, particularly vulnerable people and members of marginalized groups, must and should be able to live their lives without fear of harm. That’s why we’ve called on government for years to establish a dedicated hate crime hotline. It’s why we’ve publicly condemned things like conversion therapy, homophobia and transphobia in all forms.

We’ve called on government to ensure that local police forces have sufficient resources to respond quickly to and to fully investigate hate crimes and racist incidents. We have to also ensure that the Attorney General’s Crown Prosecution Service treats such incidents as a priority for charge determinations and prosecutions.

[11:35 a.m.]

There are too many people right now in our province who are living daily in fear because of the violence that’s happening on our streets. That’s not acceptable. It doesn’t matter what group you represent or that you identify with. Criminality has to be charged as criminality. People need to be held accountable.

I’m glad that we’re standing in the House today and condemning violence. We know that words are not enough. We need actions. We need supports. If we truly, as we’re talking about today, all agree upon that, then this is a start to make that become a reality.

J. Sims: It is a pleasure today to rise and speak in supporting the motion that has been brought to us: “Be it resolved that this House condemn violence and intimidation of artists and performers in the drag community.”

Many people have said before me, and I agree with them, that we had hoped that in 2023 we would not be discussing, or having the need to debate, this motion in this chamber, but here we are.

What really warms my heart is that we have so much agreement that everyone of us in this House condemns any kind of intimidation and violence — full stop. In this case today, we are talking about the 2SLGBTQ+ community. They’ve had a history of intimidation and violence directed against them. I can remember, and it seems like yesterday, not so long ago, when you could say…. We talk about what’s happening in the States right now with the libraries and books.

We had the same things happening right here in British Columbia, where certain books — same mom, same dad — were not allowed into our libraries — in one school district, not all, the one that I represent today, along with some of my other colleagues. I can remember, in those days, wondering what could be more harmful to a society as a whole than to start banning books. especially banning books that were teaching about who we are, but it happened.

I’m so glad that we are way beyond that right now. At the same time, it’s very hurtful. You could say it brings back lots of memories when we recently viewed the violence that was directed — quite ugly it was — against the drag community, the artists who were reading books to kids.

Now I want all of us to just imagine that for a moment. You’re all dressed up, you’re reading to kids, and that invites violence from people. Because of that, it is so good to have everybody in this House condemn that outright.

I will say that, living in Canada — even having experienced my own journey as a new immigrant, starting off in England — it is very, very hard when people pick on you, even with words, because you look different. I was nine and didn’t speak a word of English. As a matter of fact, I was the only, I would say, non-English — I’ll use that phrase — in that classroom on that first day. It took a while for the class to include me in things, but it happened.

I think for the LGBTQ community, it has been a long journey. I think this was a shocker that reading books to kids was going to be inviting that kind of violence.

So many of my friends have made reference to Shake­speare, to theatre. You know, I grew up in England, and we went to pantomimes. In many of those pantomimes, it was men who were dressed up as women. We all laughed, and we all enjoyed those pantomimes.

[11:40 a.m.]

What’s really important in this is that for the drag community, their performances are just as artistic, just as valued and just as connected to who they are as other artists. I think it is calling for that respect for art and for the drag community at the same time.

This topic — we could all wax eloquent all day, but today I want to celebrate one of those rare moments that we cherish in this House: when we all agree that this violence, no matter who it is directed against, is not acceptable.

D. Davies: I’m pleased to speak to this motion on violence against drag artists and performers. Again, as everybody else has stated, it is quite surprising that we are, and it’s sad that we have to be here to condone these actions, in fact. Everyone in our province deserves the right to feel safe in their communities, and drag artists are no different.

Canada has seen a rise in aggression toward drag artists and the LGBTQ2S+ community, as they have also become targets of online threats and hate. No one should have to face any amount of harassment for being who they are and celebrating it.

It is of utmost importance that this House support all groups no matter how they identify, and to continue to support them.

Just last week we marked the Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness of the discrimination they continue to face. The Legislature hosted an event on Thursday, where we raised the transgender flag on the lawn to show this House’s support.

This is an important way to highlight the province’s efforts to support transgender people and all the members of the LGBTQ2S+ community and their right to be seen and respected.

This flag-raising event highlighted that we as MLAs in this place are allies to this community, but there is always more work to be done to end discrimination that individuals frequently face. On that particular day, as we celebrated the achievements and increasing visibility of trans people in B.C., we also acknowledged that many still face severe discrimination, stigma and systemic inequality.

In fact, trans people are disproportionately overrepresented when it comes to poverty, with many living in poverty at elevated rates. According to the 2021 Canadian census, transgender individuals were overrepresented in populations experiencing homelessness compared to cisgender individuals.

The Transgender Day of Visibility also lends well to highlighting topics that we are canvassing today, condemning violence and intimidation of drag artists and the LGBTQ2S+ community, as these individuals are often disproportionately affected by discrimination because of how they identify.

Recently across Canada, we have seen a rise in disturbing incidents at drag storytime events, where these artists and attendees are subject to protests, threats and online harassment. The artists who host these events and those who wish to attend them are accosted by protesters who are spewing hateful speech.

Many LGBTQ2S+ individuals and organizations continue to host events, and we will stand up to the hate. However, there are genuine concerns that these protests may turn violent.

As hate crime rates have seen a significant uptick over these recent years, it is now more important than ever that we do what we can to promote inclusivity and condemn such hateful words and actions.

As a former school teacher myself, I understand the importance of children and individuals having a safe space to learn in a positive environment. When I was teaching, it was integral that students felt comfortable in their learning environment, and that still holds true today.

[11:45 a.m.]

Drag storytime at public libraries provides an opportunity for people to interact with drag artists and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and to do so in a safe environment away from stereotypes, transphobic rhetoric and hate. It is unacceptable that these events are being bombarded with this hateful rhetoric.

Homophobia and transphobia have no place in our province. Members of the LGBTQ2S+ community have the right to feel safe wherever they choose to go.

While acceptance has improved over the years, these waves of protests should be concerning to us. Our caucus strongly condemns any form of hate facing drag artists in British Columbia.

In this House, it’s important that we all do what we can to ensure that these individuals feel safe across the province. The public, us in this House, the police, the justice system must take any kinds of violence or threat seriously and do our part in supporting their interests.

K. Paddon: Thank you to my colleague for bringing forward this motion: “Be it resolved that this House condemns violence and intimidation of artists and performers in the drag community.”

I wasn’t going to stand to speak to this motion today. I’m grateful for the privilege to be able to do so, but my main concern was twofold. One was to be able to do it in a way that truly honoured people of my community and the people who do call me ally.

The second was to do it in a way that didn’t lead with anger. I must confess that is the predominant feeling here: anger born out of protection, an instinct to protect; anger born out of the harm that I’ve heard directly from my community, from members of the 2SLGBTQ community, from drag performers, from youth in my community.

I’m very honoured to stand here and just talk about a few things that some of my colleagues may not have canvassed yet. I do really value their words.

I do want to say to the member for West Vancouver–Capilano, I love the joy they brought to their conversation there. So thank you for that.

I think that one of the things that might be confusing is that when we hear the anger, the vitriol, the yelling, the noise that would attack or intimidate drag performers in our community, it’s often because it’s being equated with transgenderism. There’s no inherent connection there.

That being said, we do know, as other members have mentioned, that the transgender community receives a very specific kind of attack, and that has now been shared with drag performers.

The tools of shame and hurt in order to control and to censor are not new ones, although we have seen a fairly recent resurgence and rise in the violence, be that verbal or physical, and the societal attacks on drag performers. I know in Chilliwack-Kent, in February, there was an event. It was a student-led event. It was fantastic that they organized it. It’s called Glow Up. It was a dance and creative showcase.

One of the things that the students did was that they did invite a drag performer. I think they were emceeing and performing. Their name is Hailey Adler, and they’re fantastic. They do a lot for our community and in our community to raise money and really make sure that we have opportunities for inclusive events.

The backlash that came out of that was what spurred this conversation on. It was equating it not only to transgenderism but misequating that to predation and grooming and sexualization. I think that’s one of the areas where the anger comes from.

I had the opportunity to speak with Hailey and just thank them, because I knew that it was going to be hard in our community. And even they said it: this is kind of new again. It’s disappointing when we see it.

[11:50 a.m.]

I absolutely support the motion today. I know that an additional reason I do that is because….

The member for Peace River South talked about anti-bullying and the actions that have been brought into schools. All I can think is: are the voices who are doing this, who are being disgusting, saying disgusting things about other human beings, misequating and attributing behaviour and actions in a way meant to induce shame, which we know is an excellent mechanism for control — did they graduate before that? Because that would make them not relevant in the schools today.

Maybe, I hope we’re not seeing it in the school today.

Part of the reason I ran originally, as well, was because I was sick of explaining to the kids what the grownups were doing. And I am so, so happy that those in this room have stood and supported.

I would encourage people not only to speak out against violence generally, but specifically where it’s targeting other human beings based on, first of all, a protected area, and second of all, an artistic expression that is very valuable in our society.

I just want to remind drag performers out there that…. And Bob Dylan, Madonna and even the Beatles, in 1964, on the grounds that those groups negatively influenced, have been banned. So just keep doing what you’re doing.

E. Sturko: I’d like to join my colleagues in collectively condemning hate and intolerance in this province, and we stand together against discrimination in all its forms. We want to also recognize the rights of drag performers and other 2SLGBTQI folks to gather, exercising the right to freedom of expression and the right to lawful assembly.

In Canada and in British Columbia, a right to be free from discrimination based on age, disability, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and expression are codified, not only by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms but also in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the B.C. human rights code.

Certainly, with respect to the rights of 2SLGBTQI peo­ple, public awareness and political pressure have sparked through community activism and protest. They were a catalyst to change, particularly change within the public acceptance of 2SLGBTQI folks as equals in society, de­serv­ing of health, happiness and opportunity.

However, it was, in fact, legislative challenges and change which have helped to solidify 2SLGBTQI rights. Douglas v. Canada, in 1992, was the successful lawsuit against the military that resulted in the end of its discriminatory practice against gays and lesbians.

Egan v. Canada, in 1995, stands today as landmark Supreme Court legislation that established that sexual orientation does constitute a prohibited basis under section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Halpern v. Canada, in 2003, was the landmark court decision in the Court of Appeal of Ontario that found that the common-law definition of marriage violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, paving the way for the Civil Marriage Act.

Although the rights of all people are enshrined in law, there has been a rise in instances of hate-motivated activity, crime, harassment and intimidation, not only against the 2SLGBTQI community but against Indigenous folks and people of colour in British Columbia.

On January 30, 2023, an example of this behaviour was observed by the public after a video of an attack on a gay couple riding the Vancouver SkyTrain was uploaded to social media and then covered by local news.

Reports from Stats Canada and from B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner have confirmed that hate-related incidents rose exponentially over the past several years. And according to Stats Canada, B.C. saw one of the largest increases in hate crimes being reported to police. Yet they also found that our legal system can’t properly address hate crimes because of problems from the police reporting stage, all the way through the court process.

Addressing gaps in B.C.’s court systems, creating new training programs for police and Crown prosecutors to investigate and prosecute hate-motivated incidents and looking at new provincial statutes to address hate-motivated crime are all legislative measures that the current government could take to help reduce hate in British Columbia. However, there was no funding to address hate in the 2023 provincial budget.

[11:55 a.m.]

This government has passed bills to make British Columbia’s legislation gender-neutral, but where is the legislation or funding to protect British Columbians from rising hate? Standing as an ally is important, but 2SLGBTQI people need more than flag raisings and participation in parades and protests.

As a member of the 2SLGBTQI community and as a member of this House, I condemn all forms of hate and intolerance. But I recognize that we need to act as legislators in this chamber and design legislation and provincial statutes and fund programs in our justice system that will truly protect our communities from hate. This is our job.

B. D’Eith: I rise today in support of the motion that was brought forward by the member for Vancouver–West End in regards to violence against drag artists and performers.

As Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film, I’m very proud that drag performance art and programs have received funding through the B.C. Arts Council. Arts communities have actually worked very hard to promote equity, diversity and inclusion, referred to as EDI, in the sector.

The B.C. Arts Council has not only recognized the value of EDI efforts but has also taken significant steps towards systemic changes within arts funding to ensure that diverse and underrepresented communities are included in programs and operating funds, including working towards true and meaningful reconciliation with First Nations.

Now, the fact is that drag has actually been an art form that’s been around for a very long time, some say as far back as the Greeks. But as we’ve heard today, Shakespearean theatre was certainly one where it’s recognized.

In the 17th century, women were not allowed to perform in Shakespeare’s productions, so men would play the parts. It was during this…. There is some controversy over the term “drag,” but one of the more accepted versions is that the male actors’ dresses dragged behind them; hence, drag.

This tradition continued throughout the decades and the years but only became individualized when female impersonation became part of American vaudeville performances in the 20th century. In fact, during the 1930s, female impersonation and drag became intertwined with gay culture.

Of course, during that time, the broader society continued to criminalize gay culture, and there were many police crackdowns on gay bars. The response was for the drag scene to move underground.

The gay community continued to flourish despite all of this. In fact, at that time, it was illegal for them to even be served alcohol in bars or even to dance together.

Of course, drag as an art form exploded in modern times, largely due to RuPaul, arguably the most famous drag queen in the world today. RuPaul’s very popular Drag Raceactually changed the history of drag, let’s say.

Unfortunately, the art form has come under attack by right-wing activists and politicians who cast a false light on drag. Much of this has started in the States, but it’s come into Canada. It’s really unfortunate.

Some of the members talked about Conni Smudge, a performer. In January 2023, in Coquitlam at the public library, there was a planned event. There was a large anti-drag protest that happened, and it was there to intimidate. Of course, Conni met the protest with love and called for inclusion. To her, the show must go on, and it did.

Of course, other events…. March 11 in Nelson, they had to cancel due to intimidation online. Police are investigating these hate-motivated incidents.

In Victoria and Kitsilano, this happened as well. It’s not clear what’s happening as far as organization, but it’s clear the common themes include homophobic and transphobic language and statements condemning SOGI 123.

We all — in fact, everyone who’s spoken today — cele­brate the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and recognize that this community has fought hard for basic human rights that many of us take for granted.

No one should ever be targeted for violence or oppression. We all agree on that. But the reality is that the community does continue to face stigma and discrimination, and that puts people at greater risk for violence, poverty, mental health issues and other complex challenges.

[12:00 p.m.]

The recent attacks on the drag community are another example of this discrimination. We have to make sure that these rights that have been so hard-fought-for are not eroded.

We can see this happening in the U.S., particularly around women’s rights recently. We really have to continue that fight so that drag events can continue. They are events that are inclusive, they have kindness, and they are all about a model of inclusiveness. We should encourage them.

The member for Kelowna-Mission did bring up a couple of items about action. When she attended the event with the transgender flag, that was the first time any government in British Columbia had raised that flag.

We’ve ensured that 60 school districts and First Nations have the SOGI education network. We have gender language in regulations and many other services.

B. D’Eith moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. N. Sharma moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Deputy Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 12:01 p.m.