Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

B.C. FERRIES

J. Sturdy: Today I am pleased to speak about a service that is critical to the livelihoods of many British Columbians, B.C. Ferries.

[R. Leonard in the chair.]

B.C. Ferries is an essential service, or even a lifeline, that connects coastal communities and supports our provincial economy. British Columbians travel on B.C. Ferries for all sorts of reasons — for work, to visit loved ones, to access health care or other essential services, recreation, all sorts of reasons. Unfortunately, over the past number of years, we’ve seen the delivery of B.C. ferry service deteriorate significantly, causing uncertainty, frustration and inconvenience for countless British Columbians.

[10:05 a.m.]

The provincial government, which has taken ever-greater control of the organization through majority appointments to the authority board and the services board over the past number of years, unfortunately has failed to continue to provide a provincial funding contribution for B.C. Ferries in a sustainable way. In fact, the province has actually reduced the company’s revenue by about $15 million a year, through a reduction in revenues, undermining its fiscal stability.

The government’s recent $500 million bailout for B.C. Ferries has raised a number of questions — certainly more questions than answers. For example, the minister responsible had trouble trying to explain why half a billion dollars versus $200 million versus $300 million, and what the money will be spent on. That lack of answers was common to not just the opposition but the press.

You know, there are queries. There’s a lack of understanding on what this money is targeted for. The lack of transparency is concerning, and the lack of a plan is not particularly surprising. To date, we’re still looking for the terms and conditions sheet to be made available to the public so we better understand this. The fact that B.C. Ferries miraculously comes back to the commissioner with an updated ask for the B.C. ferry service of — how much? — $500 million…. Coincidence, you say? Well, perhaps.

The government’s record here of interfering with B.C. Ferries has simply led to worse service for British Columbians. The last six years have caused fundamental problems for the organization, culminating with an ex–NDP cabinet minister now actually running B.C. Ferries. It’s reminiscent of the government’s playbook from the ’90s, which resulted in the fast ferries debacle, where government insisted on boats….

Deputy Speaker: Member, please. This is a non-parti­san time.

J. Sturdy: B.C. Ferries built boats that to this day, 25 years later, are still sitting there tied up. In the last 25 years, nobody in the world has been able to figure out a use for them. That’s pretty astounding. Meanwhile, rising costs, an aging fleet and a workforce whose absenteeism levels are skyrocketing are just some of B.C. Ferries’ problems.

The cancellation of 15 projects over the last six years, the delay of mid-life upgrades for Coastal class ferries until the early 2030s, only adds to public concerns and does have knock-on effects.

One of the many projects that have been cancelled was the upgrade of the Langdale terminal. Langdale is one of the only major terminals where passengers are forced to walk onto the lower car deck, the same car deck where cars actually access the ferry. The project was to separate passengers from cars, like is common at most terminals. The federal government came to the table with the bulk of the funds. However, this project has been cancelled, as has been the right-sizing of the vessels on Horseshoe Bay.

It was supposed to be two smaller vessels that sailed on an hourly basis. It would have solved the marshalling problems and the overloads. It would have really solved a lot of problems for the people on the Sunshine Coast — and at Horseshoe Bay, because we see traffic backing all the way up onto the highway. Again, this project was on track for 2025 prior to 2017 but is now into the 2030s.

Even today B.C. Ferries is facing tough budgeting decisions. They’re predicting a $14 million hit to revenue in 2024, continued staffing increases and increased maintenance costs.

B.C. Ferries is one of the largest ferry operators in the world and historically considered one of the best. When the opposition sat on the other side of the House, we built a record of successfully transforming B.C. Ferries into an independent commercial organization, free from political interference. We ensured transparency, oversight of B.C. Ferries fares and core service levels through the B.C. ferries commissioner, which allowed the organization to access financial markets, build new ferries and upgrade terminals.

[10:10 a.m.]

Unfortunately, it is no longer the case that B.C. Ferries will continue to provide reliable and efficient transportation options that serve the needs of British Columbians. Instead, people are forced to deal with last-minute cancellations, high turnover rate at B.C. Ferries and confusion around funding. British Columbians have the right to demand better.

We need a public contribution, providing adequate and predictable funding to B.C. Ferries, ensuring transparency and accountability for using taxpayers’ dollars. We need B.C. Ferries to be an independent commercial operator, free from political interference. We must ensure that B.C. Ferries can continue providing essential services that connect coastal communities and support our provincial economies, but unfortunately, this doesn’t appear likely, going forward.

J. Rice: I thank the member opposite for his statement about B.C. Ferries.

This is such an important service to not only people on Vancouver Island but for coastal communities such as the ones that I live in and represent. We’ve had around 21 million passengers use this service since 2022, carrying more than nine million vehicles. Some of this can be accounted for by the Island here that we’re on; this being one of the most beautiful tourist destinations.

B.C. Ferries is also a necessary connector for people living on islands to get to the mainland, particularly in the North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii. For us up north, B.C. Ferries is not just a connector. It is a lifeline. We don’t consider ourselves very reliant. We can safely say for many of my communities that we’re very dependent, which is not a word a lot of people like to use, but that’s the reality.

This became really apparent during the 2014 ferry cuts, which resulted in completely severing the community of Sandspit on Haida Gwaii from the rest of Haida Gwaii. That was due to reducing the services by half, by 50 percent. To one person, this would seem like a minor inconvenience to have ferry sailings cut, but for my community, it was detrimental.

Sandspit is where the main airport is on Haida Gwaii, and it’s the access point to many recreation and food-harvesting sites, such as Gray Bay and Copper Bay. As well, it has its own school, so cutting the schedule in 2014 made it nearly impossible for any extracurricular activities for our children — so no school sports, no community events. None of that could continue for Sandspit children.

I also think about the crucial ferry from Prince Rupert to Skidegate, which is an important resource for all of Haida Gwaii. It’s how people get off the island to attend important medical trips, as well as how vital freight gets onto the island. With the 2014 ferry cuts, locals had to constantly battle with tourists, with the limited schedule. Normally, we would welcome tourists, but people were not able to get home for weeks at a time sometimes.

Thankfully, in 2019, through our support, B.C. Ferries added 2,700 round trips as well as reduced ferry fares by 15 percent on the smaller and the northern routes where some of those ferry-reliant and dependent communities are located. Restoring those sailings had a real impact for the people of Haida Gwaii. Even now, with the increased sailings, there are full ferries in the summertime, which just shows how much that support is needed. I’m relieved that we’re strong advocates for this service, and I’m happy about how hard we’ve been continuously working to make B.C. Ferries in service for people.

In 2020, we added $308 million in the safe restart funding to cover B.C. Ferries COVID-related operational losses, to protect the service and to limit the fare hikes that were on their way.

While we all know how frustrating sailing cancellations due to crew shortages can be for people, B.C. Ferries has and continues to hire more staff to ensure reliable service for our coastal communities, announcing recently that they have hired 500 new workers, which has an incredible impact for B.C. ferry users. Most recently, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced half a billion dollars in new funding for B.C. Ferries to lower fare increases.

[10:15 a.m.]

Without this intervention, B.C. Ferries’ suggested pressure on fares could have resulted in increases as high as over 10 percent. The member opposite talks about interfering. I think this is a really important, critical interference with how B.C. Ferries is operated, and I certainly welcome that interference.

That would have been devastating for my community, for the communities I represent up and down the coast and Haida Gwaii. So when I think of the people that use this service to access urgent and life-saving medical appointments, to visit their loved ones, to attend funerals, to attend births, even to just get to work, I think about how inaccessible this service would have become.

In actions like this, I can see that our government is committed to ensuring fares remain affordable and that we’re going to work hard to keep this service accessible to all people who rely on it.

J. Sturdy: Thank you to the member opposite for her comments. Just in response, a couple of things. The 2,700 sailings that were imposed on the corporation where it often had crew outnumbering the passengers, there was no compensation from government. That was just the ferry corporation that had to eat that. That’s part of the revenue reductions.

The 500 people that were hired this spring? Guess what. It happens every year. It’s a seasonal hiring. So nothing new. But I appreciate the comments.

The truth is that the service has been in decline, and the track record speaks for itself. The recent half-billion-dollar bailout that the member opposite just talked about is a prime example. We’ve certainly seen that just throwing money at a problem doesn’t necessarily provide a solution.

Traditionally, here’s the process. Traditionally, B.C. Ferries goes to the commissioner with a proposal for the next four-year performance term. The commissioner then spends six months assessing the proposal, with the help of qualified professionals, and issues a preliminary price cap. Almost inevitably, that price cap is less than what the company asked for.

That’s the commissioner’s job. They make the corporation go back and either sharpen its pencil or make a better case to the commissioner. And if the rate hikes that the commissioner sets for the next performance term are unpalatable to government, then the government can come up with more money to support the service.

Unfortunately, what’s happened here is this has turned it completely on its head. So before the commissioner even set the price cap, half a billion dollars gets dropped into the mix. And what do you know? There’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Miraculously, miraculously, B.C. Ferries comes back to the table before the price cap submission and amends their submission to the commissioner to match exactly what the profits dropped on the table.

This is not how you get value for taxpayers’ dollars. It’s like if you want to buy a house, you go and say, “Well, how much is it?” and the seller says: “Well, how much you got?” “Oh, $500 million is what I have.” “Well, that’s the price.” And pretty much, that’s exactly what’s happened. It’s not a coincidence. It’s just crazy times, frankly.

As a review for the House, just so everybody understands: $600 million in fares, give or take $80 million in catering revenue. The feds come up with a paltry $30 million, while they pay for the service in the Maritimes. The province comes up with about $170 million, plus social programs like TAP, for a total of about $200 million.

The province can get whatever it wants, can get what it pays for, can add sailings, add vessels. It just needs to work with the commissioner and the corporation to make it happen and be supportive of the corporation.

VAISAKHI, EID, EASTER

J. Sims: It’s a pleasure today to rise and speak, to celebrate. I often have to remind myself of how fortunate I am to live in a country as beautiful as Canada and a province that is so diverse, so inclusive — I know we have lots of work to do — but where we come together and celebrate. April is one of those months.

This is not about one side of the House or the other side of the House. This is about all of us. April is the month when we see the celebrations in our communities, right across, of Passover, of Easter, of Vaisakhi, of Eid ul-Fitr, of Ramadan.

[10:20 a.m.]

These are the activities that each and every one of us gets engaged in, in various ways, depending on where we live. They are all religious observances celebrated by different faiths and cultures. But the amazing thing is…. They also have very strong cultural significances, and we celebrate these across faiths and across cultures.

Today I want to highlight, for example, Passover, Pesach. Passover is celebrated annually in the spring, typically in March or April. It’s during Passover that Jewish families gather for a special meal called a Seder — by the way, that does include matzo, one of my favourite unleavened breads; wine; and other great foods — and these other gatherings.

It tells the story of the Exodus and emphasizes the themes of freedom, redemption and faith. Passover is also significant because it marks the beginnings of the agricultural season in ancient Israel. It’s the time when the barley crop is harvested, and it is celebrated as a time of renewal.

Today Passover continues to be celebrated by Jewish people around the world as a time to remember their ancestors’ struggles and to celebrate their freedoms. It is a time for reflection, for gratitude and for renewal. It is a reminder of the importance of faith, family and community.

Easter. Easter means different things for many of us. But let me remind all of us. It is a significant Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is one of the most important and oldest Christian holidays and is observed by millions of Christians around the world. It is a time of hope, renewal and new beginnings.

Many Christians attend church services, participate in Easter egg hunts and share festive meals with loved ones. In some cultures, Easter is celebrated with parades and with processions, like back home in England. Other traditions are, also, new Easter dresses and buying your Sunday best. I can remember how much I looked forward to those.

This holiday has roots in old celebrations of the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. Over time, these celebrations were integrated into other traditions. So the modern-day Easter holiday looks a little bit different. Family get-togethers; Easter egg hunts, especially now that I have a little one in the house again; decorating eggs; visiting farms to see the baby animals born in the spring. Easter is associated with the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

You’re beginning to see a common theme in all of these.

Now I want to talk about Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr. Ramadan is held in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. They fast for 29 or 30 days, and they break their fast in the evenings by enjoying Iftar. I’m sure many of you have had the opportunity to attend, if there are events in your communities. I know I have. We know we enjoy the food. I can tell you…. I think I’m a few pounds heavier by the end of the month. I’m not doing the fasting, but I’m surely enjoying the food with the families and in the communities.

Just last week we were hosted by the B.C. Muslim Association at an Iftar in Surrey. It was across parties, all levels of government getting together, once again, to highlight that none of these events is partisan.

Eid signifies the end of a period of spiritual focus and occurs at the end of Ramadan. It is also about gratitude and giving. Muslims are encouraged to donate to charity and to make sure that they’re thinking of those who are not so blessed. This contribution is given to the poor and needy, and they make a point of doing that.

Eid ul Fitr is a time to come together, as a community, with your family, with your friends, with your neighbours, with people you don’t know. This sense of community, together, is an essential aspect of Eid ul Fitr. It brings people together in the spirit of unity and compassion. It is a time of gratitude, giving, community, allowing Muslims to celebrate their achievements and share their blessings with those around them.

[10:25 a.m.]

I’m so looking forward to celebrating Eid. I can assure you that the celebration will go on for more than one day. It will be many celebrations with the Muslim community in Surrey, on April 30, with my Surrey and Delta colleagues, for the first time since 2019. This will be in services, back again.

Of course, let me get to Vaisakhi. As we know, Vaisakhi is being celebrated. Many of us were in Vancouver last weekend. All different parties, and many of my colleagues here, both sides of the House, were in the Vaisakhi Parade. The Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade was first held in 1979, but I’ll get to the parade a little bit later.

Vaisakhi is the largest festival celebrated in Punjab and other parts of Northern India. It marks the beginning of the harvest season, another solar new year and the Sikh New Year. It also has a holy significance, and I will be talking about more of that in a few minutes.

So till then, thank you, Madam Speaker.

K. Kirkpatrick: Thank you to the member for Surrey-Panorama for her words. I’m still learning, and learned from her words today.

Each spring, we feel a sense of renewal and hope as one season makes way for another. Spring is always associated with newness, with being fresh, with a new opportunity or a new beginning. So it is no wonder that springtime is a time for celebrations by cultures around the world. The pandemic put many of our celebrations on hold, so the excitement of coming together in all of our diverse communities this year is exciting.

As a province, we have many diverse cultures, traditions and religions. British Columbia is celebrating several important festivals in April. April 9 is Easter; Vaisakhi, April 14; and Eid, April 21. Each of these festivals has a unique significance, but they all share a common thread of bringing communities together in a spirit of unity and celebration and to celebrate hope for the future.

Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is a time for rejoicing, celebrating the triumph of life over death and remembering the values of love, forgiveness and compassion that lie at the heart of the Christian faith. Families often attend church services together, participate in egg hunts and share meals with loved ones.

Vaisakhi is a celebration of the spring harvest and the holiest celebration of the Sikh faith. It’s for renewal and celebrating the shared values of Sikhism, including seva, selfless service; simran, meditation; and kirtan, sacred music.

This past weekend, and after a three-year pandemic break, the Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade returned to Vancouver streets Saturday. I was there, along with many of my colleagues in this House, to join the celebration, starting at the KDS Ross Sikh Temple.

As well, the exciting Vancouver Vaisakhi celebrations, one of the most iconic Vaisakhi celebrations, takes place in Surrey, where the Khalsa Day Parade attracts more than 500,000 attendees and is recognized as the largest Vaisakhi celebration outside of India. This year, it will take place on Saturday, April 22, and I encourage all to join.

Eid refers to two festival celebrations for Muslims. The earlier, Eid ul Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month-long period of fasting, prayer and reflections. Families and communities come together to rejoice with food and drink, exchange gifts and donate to charity to help those in need.

These festivals may be different in their customs and practices, but they all share that theme of renewal, community and compassion. They remind us of the importance of coming together and celebrating our shared values, which make us who we are.

We are all born and tend to grow up in our own small worlds. In this province, we’re lucky to have the opportunity to make our worlds bigger. Learning about each other and about other religions and customs makes us more accepting and understanding of each other. It gives us context and helps to bring us together, and it makes us smarter.

[10:30 a.m.]

I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Christian, Sikh and Muslim communities. Your dedication and commitment to your communities is an inspiration to us all, and we’re grateful for the contributions that you make to our province every day. As we celebrate Vaisakhi, Eid and Easter, let us remember that we are so fortunate to live in this province that celebrates its multicultural heritage. Our differences make us stronger.

Celebrating other cultures can be a valuable, enriching experience, as it breaks down stereotypes and promotes the understanding of people from different backgrounds. We all have a responsibility to embrace the diversity and to learn from one another, so let’s commit to working together to build a province that is inclusive, welcoming and respectful of all cultures, religions and traditions. May these festivals bring you joy, peace and a renewed sense of community.

I look forward tonight to sharing Iftar. Happy Easter, and God bless you. May the spirit of Vaisakhi fill your heart with happiness and joy. Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones. And kosher and joyous Passover.

J. Sims: Vaisakhi is one of those critical festivals in northern India, in Punjab, as I said. It’s the harvest festival, and it’s also the beginning of the new year for the Sikhs. But it also has a religious significance.

In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh baptized the Khalsa. So in some parts of Canada, you will get the Khalsa Day parades rather than the Vaisakhi parades. But here in B.C., of course, we call them the Vaisakhi Day nagar kirtans. Processions and nagar kirtans are going to be taking place right across Canada and around the world. But in B.C., Vancouver, Khalsa Diwan Society had one of the first in B.C.

Khalsa Diwan Society, as we know, is a historical centrepiece for the Sikh community right here in Surrey, and I’m always in awe of the work they do in the community.

Surrey, as somebody said, will be having its iconic, in-person nagar kirtan this year. Kelowna is having one, Victoria, Abbotsford, you name it. Khalsa Day or Vaisakhi celebrations will be had right across. To the minister, I’m going to say this is not the day to get competitive. Every one of these celebrations is a very special celebration for every one of us, and I love the fact that we all participate.

You know what, Madam Speaker? We always talk about differences. But while there are differences in the way these celebrations are conducted, there also similarities. They celebrate the ending of something. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Vaisakhi celebrates the end of the harvest season in the Punjab region of India and the birth of the Khalsa. Easter celebrates the end of Lent. Passover marks the end of the Jewish exodus from Egypt.

There is symbolic food associated with these occasions. During Eid-ul-Fitr, Muslims often eat sweet dishes and biryanis and break their fast with dates. For Vaisakhi, my favourites are sarson ka saag, makki di roti, jalebis, kheer. You name it, all the food that they will be serving will be amazing. For Easter, we look at eggs, chocolate bunnies and also, of course, our traditional turkey dinners. Passover is characterized by matzah unleavened bread.

Family and community gatherings — every one of these celebrations includes these. Sharing of meals, attending religious services — these holidays are an opportunity for people to connect with their loved ones. They all hold cultural and religious significance for those who celebrate, and many join them. They are accompanied by rituals, prayers and good food.

Finally, every one of them is about renewal and birth. Eid, Vaisakhi, Easter and Passover all have an element of renewal or rebirth associated with them. Whether it’s the end of a long period of fasting or the celebration of a new year, these holidays often mark a fresh start and the new beginning for those who celebrate them.

Let us celebrate our diversity, and let us all send out positive messages.

[10:35 a.m.]

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

T. Shypitka: Today I rise to speak about the importance of wildlife management in British Columbia to ensure the protection of our wildlife populations. I got involved in politics because I care about my region and I want to fight for the concerns of the people in Kootenay East. One of the growing concerns ever since I came into this job has been wildlife management, and it will continue to be an issue unless we act on it to achieve the results and make a noticeable difference.

A major part of the issues has been the funding of the wildlife sector. It is a major problem that is unresolved, one that has been echoed to me by countless individuals in the Kootenays and throughout B.C. We have really fallen behind other jurisdictions with similar landscapes and wildlife populations when it comes to our funding model. Frankly, it is upsetting when you consider how vast and well respected our wildlife is on a world scale.

I am sure the four sides of this chamber can agree that we should be dedicating ourselves to protecting our wildlife populations and restoring the diverse ecosystems for which we are known across the world. Current practices, however, continue to put our wildlife in danger. Being one of our most precious resources here in B.C., we must do everything in our power to manage our populations effectively.

I have continuously brought up this topic in the Legislature and will continue to do so until my words are met with action. Wildlife management in the Kootenays and across the province has been a long-running concern for conservationists, including hunters, and their advocacy has not gone unheard.

I stand in this House today to urge my fellow members to seriously consider how damaging wildlife management practices can be if they are not based on science. Wildlife and habitat management is complex and depends almost entirely on up-to-date data and mapping. There are many resources we can draw from to get the information we need, and in some cases, it won’t cost the taxpayers a thing.

Recreation and hunting groups have all voiced their desire to be part of the solution. Species inventory counts, fencing construction, habitat reclamation work, disease-prevention programs — the list is long to what the boots-on-the-ground folks will do to protect our habitat and wildlife. Regional decision-making from a collection of local First Nation governments, biologists and key stakeholders needs to be recognized, as we understand the diversity that each region of our province brings.

Management includes numerous factors such as infectious disease. For example, interaction with domestic sheep and goats can cause pneumonia, the most prevalent and devastating disease syndrome for bighorn sheep. Bluetongue is another such disease but is not contagious. Chronic wasting disease, which is a prion disease, is on the doorstep of our provincial borders in the Kootenay riding that will decimate deer, elk and moose. There is no known vaccine or cure, and it could even contaminate our food supply.

Change in habitat quality and quantity is a direct result of climate change and other factors. Human disturbance and industrial activity need to be identified, and smarter land uses need to be implemented. Competition for resources with other species, such as grazing livestock and other wild animals, poor quality and low available availability of feed in many regions, due to forest in-growth and harsh winters, happen randomly. Volunteers in my riding, including myself, have engaged in important feeding programs.

Overpopulation — we need to know the numbers. Severe weather and, of course, predation, which may be the most controversial of all but absolutely needs to be implemented…. We need to understand the science so emotional-based decisions do not run our regulations. Predator management can bring in our local First Nation knowledge and can use our local resources, such as trappers, houndsmen, guides and hunters. We truly can work together in order to bring all species populations back up.

Just recently, in March, I introduced a bill to the House, the Wildlife Amendment Act (No. 2), 2023, that was aimed at laying the foundation for an independent and sustainable funding model for wildlife management. The goal behind this legislation would be to ensure the long-term sustainability of the province’s animal population. Since I first introduced this bill in June 2022 and renewed my call for it to be debated in November 2022 and again this past March, it has continued to gain support from numerous wildlife and habitat coalitions, conservationists and hunting groups across B.C.

The bill I have introduced proposes a funding model where revenue can be received from all levels of government, including municipal, regional, provincial, federal and Indigenous. Additionally, 100 percent of contributions from purchasing hunting licence fees and from other forms of stakeholder land use would be used only for wildlife and habitat management.

[10:40 a.m.]

This proposed funding model will ensure decisions on regulations are science-based and in the best interest of local wildlife and all of those who depend on our prov­ince’s natural environment.

Two years ago a provincewide coalition formed. The Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Coalition is a coalition of over 25 organizations, over 900 businesses and over 273,000 British Columbians. The partnership has committed to prioritizing the conservation of fish, wildlife and habitat provincially and supporting this by enshrining it into legislation, regulatory mechanisms, decision-making, independent science oversight, planning functions and establishing new, dedicated funding — such as my bill, the Wildlife Amendment Act (No. 2), 2023 — to restore fish, wildlife and habitat.

This coalition has pushed for legislation to protect fish, wildlife and habitat to integrate their needs and ensure that our laws and practices reflect the science that can ensure effective management of their homes. Groups such as the Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Coalition; Ducks Unlimited; Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C.; Hunters for B.C.; Wildsight and many others have indicated their support for the improvement that this new funding model can provide.

I sincerely hope this government listens to British Columbians and makes this a priority. Wildlife management decisions in British Columbia must be science-based and not political. We must ensure that future generations can enjoy the natural landscapes of British Columbia and all the incredible species that live within it.

A. Walker: I want to thank the member for Kootenay East for creating this opportunity to speak about wildlife in British Columbia. I think every member in this House would agree that our natural environment really shapes who we are. We are so fortunate in B.C. to have such a diverse geography and diverse habitat. It’s probably not only one of the most diverse provinces in the country but one of the most unique places in the world for the diversity of species that we have here.

As the member says, it has not been managed appropriately. We look back thousands of years and watch how Indigenous people managed the land-based resources. Pulling millions of sockeye and sockeye-equivalent from the Fraser River every year for thousands of years in a sustainable way is something that we should be able to learn from.

The management, and I was showing a member here, of Roosevelt elk here on Vancouver Island…. Driving up from my hometown of Victoria, on the highway, there must have been 40 of these magnificent animals on the side of the highway. This is a population that was nearly exterminated from most of the populated regions of the Island.

We can learn from our Indigenous past. We can learn, firsthand, from those that are in the hunting and guide-outfitting industries about what we need to be doing to manage this resource better. We, as a government, have been listening to all stakeholders, whether they are those that are in the resource sector, whether they are those in the tourism sector, whether they’re hunting and guide-outfitters or just British Columbians that love to get out in nature and see the natural beauty in our backyard.

The importance of wildlife is also beyond just economic values. When we talk about building soil and when we talk about maintaining habitat, that happens with these animals. As the member for Kootenay East says, we need to act on it, and we have been acting on it. The Together for Wildlife plan that was announced a couple of years ago is an incredible suite of tools that we, as government, and British Columbians are able to use to better manage resources in our province.

Just this last year there’s $10 million in funding for the types of studies that the member for Kootenay East had mentioned that we need. These are what we’re doing right now. Looking in region 4, Kootenay region — and these are, of course, all across the province — aerial inventories of wildlife management areas manage, monitor and get the science-based data that the member is asking for, with moose and caribou interactions. Bighorn sheep population assessments — a five-year study in region 4 to ensure that we are maintaining the populations in a sustainable way.

Grizzly bear coexistence solutions. A contractor was hired to ensure that the values on the land, whether they’re people’s personal property or agriculture, are not in conflict with our goals for natural preservation. The statistical tools for cougar populations…. I mean, there’s a whole series of investments just in region 4, where the member is from, let alone all of the other regions all across this province.

[10:45 a.m.]

The funding doesn’t just stop with $10 million a year and Together for Wildlife. The commitment of protecting 30 percent of our land base by 2030 to ensure that we’ve got these habitat corridors in our province is not only incredibly important but is leading the world in the way that we can manage a natural resource here in British Columbia and really show as an example across the country.

When the member says we need to invest in wildlife, I think back in budget estimates where we had an opportunity to make money available, $100 million to a non-profit society, to do exactly that — to invest in habitat, to restore wetlands, to ensure that there is space for nature. I was proud to be able to support that.

I know not every member in this House did support that investment into wildlife, but it is important that when opportunities come up to protect the natural environment, every member in this House does their part to do that. Hopefully, when other opportunities come up in the future, every member can join with us in that.

As well, with the preservation of old-growth forests, we as government have led the process to defer and are leading into the process of protecting up to two million, or even more than two million, hectares of old-growth forest, which preserves that integral ecosystem that, once it’s changed, takes not just generations but potentially 1,000 years to restore.

So the work that we’re doing in government right now is being recognized by environmental non-government organizations. It is being celebrated by British Columbians who value nature, just as we do. I hope that all members of this House can always join with us in doing what we can to protect nature and to leave a better world for our children.

T. Shypitka: Thank you to the member for recognizing some important elements of wildlife management such as diversity, tapping into our local First Nation knowledge, local stakeholders. Those are all key.

The member also mentioned plans such as the Together for Wildlife plan that came out, I believe it was, in November of 2018. That has some really good words behind it, but there’s no real actionable items to get us to where we need to go.

To help protect wildlife, it’s important to understand how species interact within their ecosystems and how they’re affected by environmental and human influences. This means understanding the science behind wildlife management and making informed decisions that are what is best for the animals and habitats that they live in. We need to shift our policies and focus on how they can help conservation.

My proposed bill has garnered support from wildlife and habitat coalitions and conservationists from around British Columbia for that very reason. The funding model is independent and would enable all contributions earned from purchasing licences and fees and from hunting as well as other forms of stakeholder land use to be used exclusively for wildlife and habitat management. This model ensures decisions on regulations are science-based and in the best interest of local wildlife and those who depend on our province’s natural environments.

We are currently putting our wildlife in danger. If we have any intentions to correct this path, we must do everything we can to manage their populations correctly. Without a significant shift in how we relate to and interact with wildlife, future generations will look back with stunned dismay at how our province took what we had for granted.

There are currently two private member bills that have been tabled that address wildlife and habitat here in this current session of the Legislature: mine, the Wildlife Amendment Act (No. 2), 2023, which I have highlighted here this morning; and the Wildlife Amendment Act, 2023, that has been tabled a couple times now from the Green member from Saanich North and the Islands.

I would like to make a proposition. I propose all four parties of this House adopt both these two bills for second reading and have a legitimate discussion on how these bills, if put into legislation, can radically shift how we protect our most precious resource here in B.C. This would be a very good message to all British Columbians on how true collaboration in the people’s House works.

We need some good news stories right now, and this would be a great example. If this House works together, we can protect our wildlife, enhance our land and rebuild their precious habitats.

TODAY’S OPPORTUNITIES
FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE

B. Anderson: Spring is a time full of possibilities, and nothing is more true for students graduating. I want to say congratulations to each and every one of our grads.

[10:50 a.m.]

I want to speak to those students that will be graduating from high school in the next few weeks. Last year at graduation ceremonies across my riding, I had a similar message for students that I want to reiterate today for students across British Columbia.

For some students, they sailed through high school, getting the grades they wanted, working hard on their sport of choice or their art of choice. For others of you, I know it was a bit more of a struggle.

Sometimes, as a society, we only celebrate the top of the class or those who excelled. But today I want to acknowledge the folks who persevered when simply getting up in the morning was a testament to your character. You deserve to celebrate just as much as anyone else. And let’s give our gratitude to our parents, guardians, siblings, aunties, uncles, grandparents, neighbours, teachers, administrators, support staff, janitors, volunteers, coaches, mentors, friends and the community as a whole who have been there along your journey, cheering you on.

Now, for some of you, you may know exactly what your next steps are. That is a gift, and that is wonderful. For other students, the journey ahead is less clear, and that’s okay too. Now is your time to explore, find out what you love, what you feel passionate about, what routines and rituals you want to embrace as you move forward on your own journey. Your future is bright, and there are so many opportunities across British Columbia for you.

Our government has been working hard to create opportunities for young people as well as people with a little more life experience who are looking at re-skilling, upskilling or changing their career trajectory. Our government is taking action to create jobs, train people to work in high-opportunity fields and support businesses to adapt and grow.

We are making sure people have the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow and creating more opportunities for people to get the education that they want. Whether you are looking to gain training for a job in the trades, in the health care sector, as an early childhood educator or are looking for a career in business or the arts, there are post-secondary opportunities across the province, including in rural B.C., for you.

I am proud to highlight the opportunities that we are creating for students in the Kootenays to pursue post-secondary education and training that will lead to fulfilling careers and contribute to the economic vitality of our region. We know that education is a key driver of economic diversification, and that is why our government is investing in post-secondary institutions across the province.

In the Kootenays, several post-secondary institutions are offering exciting opportunities for students who want to pursue a career in a variety of fields. Business in the trades is booming. At Selkirk College, they’re offering over a dozen different programs and training opportunities in the trades.

One of the programs I recently learned about is the plant operators course, which provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to operate and maintain a variety of industrial and community facilities. What is really wonderful about this program is that during the 18 weeks of instructional time, students travel to ten plant operations of various sizes through the West Kootenays. This program is designed to prepare students for a career in a variety of growing sectors where there is a high demand for skilled workers.

Another exciting opportunity at Selkirk College is the rural pre-med program. This program is specifically designed for students who want to pursue a career in a wide range of opportunities in the medical field and provides the foundational knowledge they need to succeed. The program includes hands-on training opportunities that are designed to prepare students for rewarding careers in health.

The geospatial technology integration in forestry and fisheries project at Selkirk College recently received $1 million from our government through the rural economic diversification and infrastructure program to deliver critical infrastructure, student internships and applied research expertise to support businesses and Indigenous partners in the forestry and fisheries sectors, including wildlife management and quantifying hydrological recovery.

[10:55 a.m.]

For those interested in the arts, the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute post-bachelor diploma program in art therapy is an excellent option. This program is designed for students who want to use the creative arts as a tool for healing. Graduates of this program will be well equipped to work in a variety of settings. The Kutenai Art Therapy Institute is currently exploring the possibility of having their program being accredited as a master’s in counselling.

For students who are interested in a career in business, the Kootenay Columbia College of Integrative Health Sciences recently received nearly $500,000 from our government to offer a digital business management training program that is designed to prepare students for careers in the fast-paced world of business. This program provides students with the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital economy, including marketing, social media management and e-commerce.

Finally, the health care assistant program at the College of the Rockies campus in Creston is an excellent option for students who want to pursue a career in health care. This program provides students with the skills they need to work as front-line health care providers, providing vital support for patients in a variety of health care settings.

I want to emphasize that our government is committed to creating opportunities for students across the province, including in rural areas like the Kootenays. We know that investing in education and training is essential for creating thriving communities and supporting economic diversification in rural British Columbia.

B. D’Eith: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

B. D’Eith: I just want to say welcome to the students of Wishart Elementary who are up in the gallery right now. They’re in the area of the Ministry of Child and Family Development. I just wanted to thank Shannon St. Jean and her grade five students for coming today.

Thank you so much.

Please make them welcome.

Debate Continued

C. Oakes: I wish to thank the member for Nelson-Creston for her comments and the work that she is doing. I wanted to take the time today to talk about the post-secondary sector and all of the opportunities that we have with students. I appreciate what the member has highlighted. I think it’s critically important for all of us to recognize that advanced education is going to be a paramount driver in the economic and social success of our communities right across this province.

I would also like to highlight that in review of discussions with post-secondary institutions across the province, one of the greatest challenges that we certainly hear is this uncertainty that is existing right now within the sector because of the funding formula review. That has been a significant challenge as we look at advancing education across the province.

I also wanted to take this opportunity this morning to talk about young people and to highlight their concerns that they have raised, because I think it’s important that we acknowledge and bring what they’re feeling forward. The challenges that British Columbians are facing are growing and sometimes disproportionately affecting the young people in our province. Young people have been speaking up and are hoping that the government is in fact listening.

A few of the concerns that I would like to bring forward today as we look at improving opportunities for a bright future is that students from across this province continue to raise the alarming increase in gender-based and sexualized violence on campuses. This is a serious concern that I hope all members of this Legislature will take seriously.

From the Alliance of B.C. Students, the Federation of B.C. Students, the AMS, the GSS and the list goes on, society member students have been calling on this government to provide the necessary resources to support campuses across this province, including in our rural communities that may not have the adequate resources that larger institutions have, and the necessary supports that we want to ensure that students feel safe.

We’re also hearing that students are calling on this government to implement the 11 minimum standards for safety on campuses across this province. Government’s continued response to this request has been a series of consultations dating back to 2017 — consultation after consultation — and what students are calling on is action. I hope that the government will be bringing action forward immediately.

[11:00 a.m.]

We know that 80 percent of the jobs in the future will require some kind of advanced education, so I think it’s critically important that we are ensuring that this sector thrives and that students are thriving.

[J. Tegart in the chair.]

Students have also wanted me to deliver today a message of the challenges that they’re facing around affordability. Inflation and cost pressures are making it difficult for students and young people to make ends meet, and the lack of hope for home ownership is leading to difficult choices for young people about their futures and their ability to stay in British Columbia. As rent continues to increase, housing costs for students and young adults have become a huge weight on their shoulders that has no end in sight.

This doesn’t really paint much of a bright future, and it’s time that this government realizes that and takes action. While so many students face so many uncertainties when it comes to the cost of living and life outside of school, we now have a large section of student athletes who are uncertain about their future when it comes to their place at school as well.

Just recently Simon Fraser University announced that it would be shutting down its football program, sparking shock, significant concern, and mental and emotional stress among students. This is one of Canada’s largest publicly funded research universities and a place where many in this chamber have received their education.

The government has been quiet, abandoning their responsibility around ensuring that policies on accountability are taking place, and abandoning sports and students in this process. More than 10,000 signatures, and counting, have been recorded on a petition to bring this team back. This announcement blindsided people in the football program and in the community and have left players with nowhere to go.

Their spring camp has just finished. As multiple players have expressed, there is not a lot of time for them to find a new school and take part in the recruiting process. For these players, this is the last season to play, and the abrupt ending has left them unsure if they’re even going to be able to play for a program. A significant part of the team and staff were under the impression that they had at least one more season to go.

Action is needed by this government. It’s not just about making announcements and warm congratulations. Action is required, and I’m calling on this government to do that.

B. Anderson: Hon. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Cariboo North for speaking on this.

The StrongerBC Future Ready plan will make post-secondary education and skills training more affordable and accessible, and it responds to the biggest challenge heard from businesses: the need for people. Budget 2023 invests $480 million over three years to support Future Ready’s work to break down barriers to post-secondary training so that more people can get the training they need for in-demand careers and so that employers can access the talent that they need. Our government is taking action and investing in people so that communities across B.C. can thrive.

We have made student loans interest-free, and we are doubling the financial assistance available to students. Students applying for financial assistance are automatically considered for the B.C. access grant, which provides up to $4,000 per year to students with middle and low incomes at B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions. This program, launched by our government, supports 40,000 students annually. The tuition waiver program, previously offered to former youth in care between the ages of 19 and 26, will now be made available to all B.C. former youth in care, at any age.

Our B.C. NDP government is investing in student housing as part of our Homes for B.C. This ten-year housing plan includes 8,000 new on-campus student beds, to be built by 2028.

[11:05 a.m.]

To our high school grads: no matter what path you take, I hope you find your courage and move through the world with kindness and gratitude. To the graduates of 2023, congratulations. You have a bright future ahead of you.

Hon. N. Sharma: I ask that the House consider proceeding with Motion 40 standing in the name of the member for Abbotsford South.

Deputy Speaker: Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed to Motion 40 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 not granted.

Private Members’ Motions

MOTION 3 — COVID-19 RESPONSE
AND PROTESTS

(continued)

Deputy Speaker: In accordance with Standing Order 25, we will resume debate on Motion 3 on the order paper.

I’ll read out Motion 3 on the order paper: “Be it resolved that one year after the anti-vaccine protests in Ottawa and communities including Victoria, South Surrey, Kelowna and Cranbrook, this House denounces the freedom convoy protests and affirms that public health orders, including vaccine requirements, have been an essential tool in B.C.’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

You’ve heard the motion. Seeing no speakers….

Recognizing the member for Peace River South.

M. Bernier: It’s an honour to rise and speak today. I just wanted to make sure that we were all understanding the motion or the direction that the member was putting forward. But I think if you look back at what’s happened over the last couple of years, the pressure that we’ve had on the people in Canada, in British Columbia and in our specific ridings….

I just want to thank all of the MLAs that are in the House here for the work that they’ve done, making sure that we’re listening to our constituents, the pressure that they’re under, and making sure that we’re supporting the direction and the ideas that people have in this province and the diversity that we have going forward.

I know in a riding like mine, over the last couple of years, it has been very, very stressful for everybody as we all try to make sure that we unite and that we come together to support each other, especially through COVID, through the pressures that we saw in our communities.

I just quickly wanted to stand up and acknowledge that. On behalf of everybody in this House, I want to thank everybody for the work that they’ve done, for the fact that we were working together to get through such a difficult time in our society over the last couple of years.

I know the Minister of Health…. He and I have spoken at many lengths over this, on how we tried to talk about our differences but that we support, where we can, each other as a society as we work through this process.

I just wanted to make sure that we were all understanding that we worked together to try to make sure that we were getting to the right place here in British Columbia.

[11:10 a.m.]

Deputy Speaker: Seeing no further speakers on Motion 3, I will now put the question, which is adoption of the motion.

Division has been called, and the division will be this evening at 6 p.m.

MOTION 20 — HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

(continued)

Deputy Speaker: Now we’ll move on to the next item of business, which is the motion: “Be it resolved that this House acknowledge that after six years, housing affordability for British Columbians has never been worse.”

P. Milobar: I’m happy to rise to this motion, albeit a bit of a surprise that we’re here today, but certainly one that’s of utmost importance to British Columbians as we’re looking at skyrocketing rents under this government’s failed housing plans over the last six years.

Certainly, when we think of the initial housing plan that was released, their vaunted 30-point plan that included 13 taxes being layered on housing and the cost impacts that has had across the spectrum of housing, it’s no wonder that this government in their throne speech and in their budget tried to distance themselves and walk away from that plan that was supposed to deliver 114,000 housing units in a ten-year period. We know it is actually only at about 7 percent of that number, despite the creative counting that we’ve seen out of this government over the last week or so around housing units and the double-counting and the reannouncements and the reannouncements of housing units overall.

The real problem, I think, is that in the world that the rest of the population of British Columbia lives in, outside of this government and this cabinet, they’re seeing really high rent increases. They’re seeing record-high rent increases. They’re seeing record-high housing prices. This government fails to ever recognized that.

They talk about how they brought in a rent cap, but they don’t talk about the fact that if you have to move from one apartment to another for work or because you’re a student and going back home for the summer and then going back to university, when you go to find that next apartment, they’re oftentimes $500 and $600 a month more expensive than when you left that community. When you try to move within a community, the same thing is happening.

What we’ve seen under this government is on average almost $5,000 a year more in rents being paid for people. In Victoria alone, in the building that I have an apartment in, a studio apartment that used to be $1,100 a month, in fact, after the last election in 2020, just went on for $2,000. That’s $900 a month more for a studio apartment in Victoria in the space of fall of 2020, early 2021 till now. When the government talks about these things, the reality is, as with most things, we’re not seeing the actual results match the rhetoric.

The results are what matter. The results are what people need to see. They need to see and feel the tangible results of a housing affordability crisis right now like we’ve never seen before — the highest rents in North America, the highest house prices in North America. In fact, the third most expensive jurisdiction in the world is British Columbia. That is hardly a success.

It’s not just in the metro areas. This is happening across the province regardless of the size of city or town that you may live in. It’s happening in regional districts. The simple fact is that this government has failed by every single measure on the housing affordability front. What did this Premier do after two years or so as the Housing Minister, 5½ years sitting at the table as the Attorney General, becoming the leader and the new Premier of this province — in a bit of a sham of a leadership race, but we’ll save that for another day?

What did this Premier do? He appointed a new, fresh Housing Minister, made it sound as if we’ve never had Housing Ministers before. Granted, we haven’t had a stand-alone ministry, but we’ve always had a Housing Minister.

[11:15 a.m.]

However, despite the Premier and a new minister, we had to go out and hire a third party, the former mayor of Victoria, to become the adviser, to actually write that housing plan. After six years, this government has essentially, by every way possible, indicated they don’t have a clue what they’re doing.

It has been a failure. They don’t know what to do. Their ideas have run dry. So we better go hire a consultant who will actually be the de facto, behind the scenes Minister of Housing because the Minister of Housing and the Premier don’t know how to implement things.

At least, when you actually look at those actions…. They’ve started to actually indicate, through their actions, that they truly don’t know what’s going on in the housing industry. They truly have overseen the highest rents and the highest rent increases that we’ve ever seen in British Columbia. The total lack of affordability, the lack of a plan moving forward, the fact that we’re going to have to wait for more and more detail…. Announcements with no detail do not actually accomplish a whole heck of a lot, except in this government’s mind.

Housing affordability is a real crisis in our communities. It’s a shame to see that this government continues to fumble along in the way they are when it comes to actually bringing meaningful change for people in British Columbia and helping them pay those monthly bills.

Thank you for this time.

G. Kyllo: It gives me great pride to rise in the House today to speak on an issue that is impacting British Columbians across our province.

For a government, a three-term government now, that ran on a platform of housing affordability…. I’ve got to say what an absolute failure in meeting their target of building 114,000 homes over ten years. In recent reporting, only 16,000 of those homes have actually been delivered upon. Think about that. So 5½ years into their term. And 114,000 homes. Only 16,000 homes have actually been delivered upon.

For young families in British Columbia, it has never been harder, and housing has never been more unaffordable, than it is today, both with purchasing a home but also just with respect to trying to find rental availability in this province. I know here in Victoria, rents have gone up significantly. I actually rent an apartment down here that I share with one of my colleagues. The rental on that unit, if it was coming available on the market today…. In less than six years, the rent has gone up by over 50 percent, a 50 percent increase.

We certainly appreciate and know the opportunities that exist for people wanting to move to British Columbia to raise their families and their children. But housing affordability has never been more unaffordable.

When we see the amount of money that was actually spent…. Just in the last month of this last fiscal, $2.71 billion was invested and rolled out in a whole bunch of different ministries. Yet when it comes to the investments in housing, government is sadly just failing in that opportunity.

We have seen market housing that has been, in essence, hijacked by B.C. Housing. Projects that were actually under construction a number of years ago, in a community in my riding, that were supposed to be market-built housing, but when B.C. Housing came forward with their plan, that housing was bought up and actually moved into the affordable housing program. Government is counting that towards achieving their totals.

In this particular development, there was no new housing that was actually undertaken. This housing was already in construction. At the end of the day, it got moved over into the affordable housing category. Again, government is actually chalking that up towards their totals.

We’ve seen, across many municipalities, housing…. The provision of housing in communities has not been a municipal requirement. The obligation and the requirement for affordable housing in B.C. was largely a federal government and a provincial government responsibility. But we have seen communities around the province now, as part of the participation in this program, start to assemble lands, waive DCC charges, waive future taxation. So it has been a tax shift. There has been a significant tax shift that is now being borne by small communities across the province.

I know in one of the communities in my riding, there were significant efforts in order to make an application for 36 units of affordable housing. Sadly, 3½ years into that program…. The property has finally, only just recently, been assembled. Here we are, 3½ years since the funding was provided to the community, and there’s still not any actual construction underway.

[11:20 a.m.]

Big on announcements. Little on delivery. It is causing significant challenges across B.C., especially for young families that are trying to find that place to raise their families.

With that, I’ll take my chair.

M. Bernier: It’s a privilege to stand up and speak to this motion that we have in the House today, talking about the unaffordability issues that we face right now in the province of British Columbia. You know, as a father of five children, I’ve been watching this play out personally, but it’s just a stark reminder for all of the families out there right now that the younger generation, how they’re struggling to get into the housing sector….

I mean, we don’t have to go any further than, you know, NDP now minister from Chilliwack who reminded everybody that, you know, we are the last generation that will be able to afford a home in this province. The odds are that the young people will never be able to do that, which, obviously, is an admittance, I would guess, with this present government, that we have never seen the prices as unaffordable as they are right now in the province of British Columbia.

We look at how we have the highest rents, the highest housing prices, just the cost for groceries, the costs for gas. You name it. Right now, in the province of British Columbia, individuals and families are struggling. You know, we look at thousands of dollars a month just to rent a small, little place now in downtown Vancouver or, frankly, almost anywhere in the Lower Mainland.

So when we’re seeing people struggling, as it is with almost every aspect of affordability, we can see the pressures, we can hear the pressures. I think all of us have had our emails in our offices inundated with people who are just looking for help, looking for understanding of what their future is going to hold in the province of British Columbia.

A colleague before me was talking, too, about an­nouncements. I think it’s important to remind people that these are actually re-announcements. This government seems to be wanting to be out there, constantly admitting that they’ve failed on delivering the promises that they’ve had on the housing file for the last six years under the former minister who was responsible for housing, who’s now the Premier of this province.

So if you can’t point to success on announcements, then just reword it a little bit and get out and re-announce the same projects, the same programs, to see if, maybe, under a different name or re-announcement with different people, you’ll somehow convince people that this is something new.

We look at the fact that there were 114,000 homes that were promised by this government over ten years. We’re now six — going on seven, I guess — years. I think the public has noticed now that not only has that been an utter failure, but this government actually has just walked back and is not even talking about it anymore, hoping that the failed promise will just go away into oblivion like all the other promises and hopefully the public will just forget going into the next election.

We’ve called on this House for the audit on B.C. Housing to be publicly released, unredacted, to the public. Obviously, when you look at the now Premier, when he had to go in and fire the entire board, let them go, at B.C. Housing, then a forensic audit, there’s a lot of discussion and, I’ll say, rumours out there of what that audit holds. Well, here’s an easy way to put all of that to rest. The government says: “Oh, there might be fearmongering. It’s all rumours.” But the government fails to actually put the audit out to the public so people can actually see firsthand what was talked about, what was discovered, what was inspected.

Again, we see the pressures that people are facing right now when it comes to unaffordability in the province of British Columbia.

[11:25 a.m.]

We’ve been calling on this government to look at supply, to look at supports, to look at the resources that are needed in all of our communities to ensure that we can get the market housing stock out there, the supportive housing stock, the rental housing.

Right now there’s a shortage in almost every aspect across every community in the province of British Columbia. This isn’t news. This is something we’re hearing about all the time. It’s not new. Government knows this, and it’s time that government steps up and actually starts delivering on at least even one of their promises to help when it comes to affordability in housing.

S. Bond: While we’ve certainly taken a circuitous route to getting to talking about the housing motion this morning, we’re very happy to actually have an opportunity to remind British Columbians what an abysmal failure the NDP have been in terms of making any progress on affordable housing in British Columbia. In fact, as my colleagues have pointed out, not once but twice in elections this government got up and made a promise to British Columbians that life would be more affordable under their government. Well, let’s look at what RBC Economics said about this government’s track record — they are setting a “grim new record.”

Imagine that. A grim new record. Why? Because owning a home in British Columbia has never, ever been less affordable, certainly not a record or an accomplishment that I think this government should be proud of. In fact, that’s probably why they’re not standing up today, actually, and having anything to say to British Columbians about how home ownership, the dream of owning a home in British Columbia, has in fact disappeared.

Let’s look at some of those broken promises. Well, in two consecutive elections, this government promised a $400 renters rebate. Now, one would think that if you can write it in a platform, you could actually figure out how to deliver it. Well, apparently that wasn’t the case, because it never materialized.

When you look at the promise of 114,000 affordable homes, let’s look at the results, the measurement. How many were opened? There were 11,000. What happened? The NDP had to then decide that they were going to actually try to refresh their housing strategy. But what it amounted to was the fact that this government had to admit that their housing strategy was a failure.

So let’s give it another try. Let’s look at some of the facts about housing in British Columbia. Under this government, it now requires a $268,000 income to afford a home in Vancouver — not my words, but actually according to RBC Economics.

Let’s look at what Canada Mortgage and Housing’s annual rental market report shows. Let’s look at this list of things that this government, under the current Premier, former Housing Minister, has managed to accomplish. Here is the list. British Columbia is the most expensive place to be a renter in the country. Let’s just hear that again: the most expensive place to be a renter in the country. That’s according to new federal data.

B.C. renters are worse off under this government. How much? They pay $4,332 more every year under this government. Vancouver has the least affordable rental market in the country. And that’s not all. We actually managed to get into the top four, because guess what? Victoria and Kelowna are No. 3 and No. 4.

Those are the outcomes coming from a government who, in two consecutive elections, had big glossy brochures. “We’re going to make life more affordable for British Columbians.” What have they done? They have stolen the dream of home ownership away from families in this province.

We also look at the average provincial rent for purpose-built rentals. Guess what? Since 2017, since the NDP have been government, it has gone up by $361 a month. What did we see recently? We actually saw the current Premier, former Housing Minister, confirm that the NDP’s ten-year housing plan disastrously failed. Let’s recall: 11,000 homes actually open. They were just halfway through. So what did we see? Well, we had another fancy press conference. What was it? It was supposedly a refresh.

[11:30 a.m.]

In fact, what it was, was this Premier admitting that after six years and two terms of this NDP government, what are the results? The absolute worst housing affordability not just in Canada but in North America. Way to go, to the government, especially in light of the fact that they made a promise to British Columbians that life would be more affordable. Nothing could be further from the truth.

T. Shypitka: It gives me great pleasure to rise and speak to the motion: “Be it resolved that this House acknowledge that after six years, housing affordability for British Columbians has never been worse.” And I concur.

Affordability issues are huge right across the province. We all know that. We’ve seen it. We’ve had recognition not only from this side of the House but on the other side of the House as well. Affordability hits us all, whether it’s the cost of bacon and eggs or gasoline prices, which we know are the highest in North America. Housing is perhaps the most devastating to us all. The fact that somebody could possibly own their own house is slowly going by the wayside.

When I first ran for provincial office in 2017, I remember when this non-income-tested policy came through. It was in the middle of the campaign, as a matter of fact. The NDP, the government that we see now, brought 114,000 affordable homes to their platform. This was essentially one of the cornerstones of their campaign back then. Affordability was a huge piece of the puzzle that they were going to solve.

I looked at that 114,000 affordable homes during a…. It was right in the middle of…. Actually, I was on my way to Fernie to talk to a bunch of groups in a political forum, and the NDP candidate at the time mentioned this 114,000 affordable homes policy that the NDP was going to have. I quickly put pen to paper and figured out what the cost of that would be — in the billions of dollars at the most conservative level. I thought: “How is this going to roll out?” I don’t think it took a rocket scientist to figure out that this was just unattainable the way the government was going to proceed with this.

We’re seeing the highest housing prices anywhere in North America, from Vancouver right straight through to Cranbrook. In 2017, my house was…. It’s a very modest place, a four-bedroom home. At that time, it was probably worth about $300,000 to $325,000. That same home today is worth at least $450,000. Maybe keeping up to the rest of the province. Now it’s probably not as expensive as perhaps the Health Minister’s home, but….

Interjection.

T. Shypitka: Oh, he rents. Well, the minister would know, then. His rent has probably gone up quite a bit in the last six years. As a matter of fact, I think that the average rent right now is about $4,000 more a year than it was back in 2017, somewhere around there. We’ll crunch the numbers.

The fact of the matter is this was a huge promise made by the NDP to solve the affordability issues in British Columbia. Instead, we’ve seen the exact opposite. What we’ve seen, and the statistics are clear, is it now requires $268,000 in income to afford a home in Vancouver. This is according to RBC Economics — $268,000 to afford a home in Vancouver. That’s what your income needs to be. Now I’m not too sure how many people right now make in excess of $268,000. But I would dare say it’s not a large percentage of the population.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. annual rental report shows that British Columbia is the most expensive place to be a renter in the country according to new federal data. B.C. renters are worse off under this government, paying — I was right — $4,332 more a year under the NDP. I said $4,000. It’s actually higher than that.

Vancouver has the least affordable rental market in the country, while Victoria and Kelowna are third and fourth. These aren’t lists you want to be on the top of. The vacancy rate is still at one of its lowest levels ever, at 1.3 for the province.

[11:35 a.m.]

Now when government came in, they talked about affordability issues and the housing issue in British Columbia, and they attacked the demand side of the economic equation — taxation, taxation, taxation — to cool the markets. It wasn’t till recently that the nickel dropped, and they said, “Well, maybe we should inject a little bit of supply into the equation here,” which is something this side of the House has been advocating for years.

The motion is well-supported here, I think. Absolutely on this side of the House, and it should be supported across the board. We need to identify…. We need to really crunch down on the numbers on affordability for housing here in the province. The government right now doesn’t have the answers. I don’t see any answers coming anytime soon.

R. Merrifield: It’s a pleasure for me to rise and speak for this motion, because after six years of this NDP government, housing has never been more expensive. All we have seen is lots of promises but horrible delivery.

In the housing plan released in 2017, the NDP were supposed to deliver that 114,000 homes, but so far they’ve delivered 11 percent of those. Well I don’t know what school you all went to, but in my schools that was a failing grade. It might be because they focused primarily on quelling demand rather than on stimulating supply. Out of the 31 measures that are in that plan, 13 of them were new taxes or fees and the rest of them were actually trying to answer the demand side.

Now the NDP don’t talk about their plan anymore, and they refuse to release their audit on the B.C. Housing organization. Any economist will tell you that when you tax something, it gets more expensive.

So while the NDP celebrate the fact that the 18,000 units were released into the rental market over the last six years, that’s only 3,000 units per year, which is a pittance compared to the actual rental units required. It just simply hasn’t made a dent in the rental numbers.

As my previous colleague just stated, we’ve got $4,332 additional for every single renter in the Vancouver area. We’re making number one, three and four on the CMHC list of least affordable places in Canada to live. My community is no stranger to that statistic, hitting that number four. It is absolutely abhorrent the way that we have neglected housing.

Meanwhile, every other unit gets more expensive with taxes and fees. What this government doesn’t realize are the unintended consequences of their actions. Seniors are being priced out of their homes. Young adults are no longer able to leave their parents. Families are being stagnated and not having kids because they can’t afford housing.

A recent meeting with an excellent economist and professor at UBC, for me, was really enlightening. I asked him what he would focus on in this next few years and what he would need to see in order to actually see a stable economy.

Unequivocally and without hesitation, he looked at me and he said: “Renee, somebody has to fix housing. Without housing, you won’t have a workforce. Without housing, you won’t have people able to live close to where they work. Without housing, you won’t be able to have families living close to where they work and to where their schools are. Thus you’ll have family degradation, parents working farther away from where their kids go to school and, ultimately, you actually experience worse health outcomes and face more poverty.”

I recently spoke to a constituent in his 70s who is no longer able to make his ends meet. His rent has almost doubled this last year, as his unit was turned into a seasonal rental, sending him looking for another rental home in town. He showed me his budget and he asked me: “Renee, find me where I could save some money.” I was absolutely filled with indignation knowing that society is asking him to subsist below any minimum income job.

I wish that this wasn’t so familiar. We just can’t afford housing anymore, and our society is literally imploding because of it.

[11:40 a.m.]

The number that RBC Economics came up with of $250,000 per year to qualify for an average home is only slightly less in the areas outside of Vancouver. That number is just below $200,000 for the Kelowna CMA, and that’s only if you could actually save up a down payment while paying for the exorbitant rental fees. It actually…. A recent study found that it would take 22 years to save for a 20 percent down payment currently.

Again, what has this NDP government given us? Well, Budget 2023 predicts housing starts are going to fall over the next three years. Think about that. We’ve got immigration numbers skyrocketing, and we actually have housing starts going down. That has been proven out in Q1 of this year. We have seen housing starts falling. We’re in trouble. What that signals is that things are going to get much worse under this NDP government.

I didn’t have time to talk about the lack of the renters rebate or how we’re going to have to fight through to actually get supply. It’s no wonder that people in Kelowna-Mission worry they’re going to lose housing and be pushed onto the streets.

M. Lee: I wish to join this debate this morning. Clearly, under this NDP government…. They failed on their ten-year housing plan. They have not met their targets, the promised 114,000 homes. As the member for Kelowna-Mission just referred to, they’ve only delivered on 11 percent of their plan.

This is the reason why this Premier, the MLA for Vancouver–Point Grey, has failed the Vancouver community. We’ve seen, in his role as Premier, as the Minister Responsible for Housing, over the six years of this NDP government….

Where are we now? Well, children like mine and their friends and their colleagues that work in Vancouver now need an income of $268,000 to afford a home in Vancouver. My son rents. He continues to rent, like many of his friends. The dream of building that future in Vancouver is just not there.

When the member for Kelowna-Mission refers to workforce housing, we know…. I know, as the member for Vancouver-Langara…. We talked about, before the pandemic, the challenges in emergency care at Vancouver General Hospital, where you would have an emergency room nurse and her colleagues move out to the Fraser Valley. They get the same pay out there, but they couldn’t afford the housing in Vancouver.

We know this happens, of course, with firefighters, police officers and others. They’re moving out of Vancouver. They can’t afford to live in Vancouver. That is hollowing out our communities.

We now have the least affordable rental markets in the country in Vancouver, where rents are now over $4,300 more a year under the NDP. This is an NDP government that said they would make life more affordable for British Columbians, and clearly, they have not. They’ve failed in that.

We know the opportunities to work for it on supply. It’s going to be critical to work with municipalities. The one-size-fits-all approach that this government is now turning their mind to, in terms of fourplexes…. It needs to be done in a smarter way, in a way that ensures that we are building the right level of densities and new housing around transit infrastructure, like the Canada Line, which runs right through Vancouver-Langara.

I can tell you. There are many parents I’m hearing from, and families, that are very concerned about that intersection between our community infrastructure and planning around transit, education, health care and housing.

We still have a government that has a real disconnect in the planning of our communities as we go forward. We know that causes a great challenge for that missing middle in Vancouver, where today the average price for a one bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $2,500 per month, and the average cost of a two bedroom apartment is $3,500 a month. I know what incomes my children are making right now, in their twenties, and that’s just not affordable.

[11:45 a.m.]

This is not a government that’s on the side of those younger British Columbians that are trying to make that future so that we can have a healthy and balanced community in Vancouver. This is also a government, of course, under the Premier, that blamed the rise in housing on foreign buyers, people of Chinese descent. This misguided interpretation of a very small set of data, prior to the pandemic, has continued to cause a lot of division within communities.

This is not a government that should be pointing fingers, as they always do, to shift the blame. It needs to accept responsibility for what it has done and for what it hasn’t been able to deliver on, the promises they made, whether it’s the $400 renters rebate or building those 114,000 homes, six years into a failed ten-year housing plan.

What does the Premier do? He changes the metrics. He changes the measures. This government is not delivering on results and making housing more affordable in British Columbia.

M. Morris: Who wants to build rental units in B.C.? A lot of folks I know, contractors and developers and whatnot, are asking that question.

We have some of the highest costs of doing anything in British Columbia, with the tax structure that we have, with the development costs that we have in British Columbia. It doesn’t matter where you go, whether it’s Prince George or whether it’s the Lower Mainland or whether it’s the southern Interior of the province.

I think a lot of these investors are looking at that. Why would I build an apartment building when the cost to build that building is so high, in the first place, and the rents, as a result of that, to recover all the costs, are going to be significantly higher?

We don’t live in an affordable province here in British Columbia. We live in an unaffordable part of Canada, here in British Columbia, because of all the costs that are attributable to it.

Then we look at all the complications that are reflective of our rental markets in B.C., with the increased complexities of dealing with the landlord and tenant disputes that we have. I’ve had constituents come to me. They find it impossible to fix up a building or to address some of the deficiencies that the tenants have caused — damaging the building that they’re in, selling drugs out of the building that they’re in, having criminal activities take place within that building itself. The dispute takes forever to get through the landlord-tenant dispute process. This discourages a lot of investors from getting into the rental market in the first place.

Not only do we have high development costs. We’ve got increased construction costs associated with the tax structure that we have. We have increases to the carbon tax in delivering a lot of the goods that we have and in operating the equipment that we use in building these new construction sites.

All these added costs have the developers and anybody that’s interested in developing rental properties in B.C. taking a second look at this. Is this something I really want to get into? It will take a year or two or longer to build once you get approved by the municipality. Oftentimes that process takes forever and a day, as well, to get through.

It’s pretty discouraging for somebody that wants to venture into that. Not sure how things are going to turn out, at the end of the day, with respect to the landlord-tenancy disputes, with respect to all the other pressures that landlords have, themselves, in order to put these buildings on the market. I don’t blame them. I hear all kinds of horror stories throughout my riding itself.

Rents are high. I’ve got a family member that’s renting a place out of Prince George. They’re paying close to $3,000 a month for a small structure to house their family, and $3,000 a month for rent is getting pretty significant in the Interior of the province.

We have added pressures in the Interior of the province, as well, with people moving from high-cost jurisdictions, like the Lower Mainland, into Prince George, into Mackenzie, into Fort St. James and into other jurisdictions. They know they can rent something there at a much cheaper rate than they can in the city or the Lower Mainland.

[11:50 a.m.]

That impacts the rental accommodation that we have in our smaller communities, making it almost impossible to find anything suitable because people are moving from other areas of the province to take advantage of the cheaper rent that we have.

This government has failed miserably on making life more affordable for British Columbians. In two terms of government, they have done nothing to make life easier for anybody in this province. It’s just going to get worse. When we look at the predictions we’ve seen with the various aspects that are taking place within the province here right now — with rental income, with development costs, with everything going up, with inflation, with taxes going up — everything is impacting the householders. It just makes it impossible to pay the rent that is required to have a return on investment for the developers we see out there.

Thank you very much for letting me have this opportunity.

E. Ross: It’s a pleasure to rise on behalf of Skeena to speak to Motion 20, Housing Affordability.

I think six or seven years ago we all agreed that supply was going to be the biggest part of the answer to housing affordability in B.C. Nobody disagreed with that. In fact, that was actually the basis of a promise to build 114,000 new housing units by the NDP government. That was a campaign promise made not once but twice.

Now we’re seeing the NDP government dropping the word “build.” They dropped that word: “build.” It’s not about building 114,000 new units anymore. It’s about creating, through policy, different units. According to the NDP, that was always the intention — to create these new units through policy. That’s news to the B.C. public.

We actually saw some acknowledgments given to one of the most dedicated reporters in this building, Vaughn Palmer, just recently, and he went through these numbers. Nobody can dispute a seasoned veteran like that, sitting in the gallery and talking about some of the campaign promises made not just by this party or this government but other governments as well. You can’t slip anything by him.

To quote what he said, he said: “Since the 2017 election, there have been 15,703 units completed through B.C. Housing.” Overall, that adds up to 40,000 units that the government considers directly funded or financed.

He also says: “In the total number of units added, the government also includes 600 secondary suites built thanks to the changes made in 2019 to the B.C. building code, 2,000 units entering the rental market due to changes preventing strata councils from restricting rentals, 11,000 created through federal rental financing and 20,000 units estimated to have come into the market thanks to the speculation and vacancy tax.” This is not building.

I think the other thing that all 87 MLAs can agree on in this House as well is that the promise of 114,000 units being built in B.C. is now off the table. We’re not going to achieve that. Now it’s an issue of policy. Given the time I’ve got to speak on this….

When we’re talking about this, there are a lot of factors that go into housing affordability. There are a lot of factors that go into affordability in general in B.C., whether you’re talking about seniors or young people trying to buy their first house.

But really, the central organization, in terms of making housing affordable, is B.C. Housing. That’s got to be the centrepiece in any government’s ambitions in relation to housing in B.C. — with a $2 billion budget of taxpayers’ dollars. Just before the Premier stepped down as Housing Minister, he ordered a forensic audit of B.C. Housing to undertake a risk-based analysis of cash outflows to selected housing providers, with a view to considering potential fraud risks.

[11:55 a.m.]

This is huge, $2 billion of taxpayers’ dollars. We expect that this audit will be released at some point. We don’t know when. But we also expect that audit to be redacted. But for those watching at home, even the terms of reference for this audit were redacted.

Just for everybody’s knowledge base here, including my own, because I went through a couple of forensic audits in my previous job as well, a forensic audit actually uncovers allegations of fraud and embezzlement and analyzes financial data for use in the courts.

We need to answer this, not just in relation to housing affordability. This actually speaks to transparency and accountability from the government. This is what this Legislature is for. This is what the MLAs are doing here in respect to their ridings. This is what the opposition is for. This is what this whole Westminster model is set up to do: to hold government accountable.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

I think that in this case here, given all the different speeches about affordability, we can’t ignore the fact that we haven’t seen this audit yet coming from this NDP government.

Noting the hour, I move adjournment of the debate.

Deputy Speaker: I think we were just finishing with your remarks at the five-minute mark, but did you have more to say, hon. Member? Were you hoping to continue?

E. Ross: I just finished mine.

Deputy Speaker: Okay.

E. Ross moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. R. Kahlon moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Deputy Speaker: This House is adjourned until 1:30 this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:56 a.m.