Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: L. Doerkson.

Introductions by Members

H. Sandhu: Today I’m excited to share that I have a special guest from Vernon joining us in the gallery, Dave MacKenzie. Dave is an amazing teacher at Lavington School, and Dave has been teaching for the last 28 years. Dave is also a local representative with the Vernon Teachers’ Association. He advocates for teachers, so that our kids can get the best possible learning experience, while these great teachers help our kids to shape their future.

Joining with Dave are the VPs of BCTF, to speak with the Minister of Education.

Would the House please join me to welcome Dave and the entire delegation in the House and to thank him for his incredible work — along with many other wonderful teachers.

Hon. R. Kahlon: We have with us today guests from Habitat for Humanity — Scott Fehrenbacher, CEO from Vancouver; Scott Dutchak, CEO from Victoria; Andrea Manifold, CEO from Okanagan; Elaine Pura, the ED for southeast B.C.; Jeff Krafta, the ED for mid–Vancouver Island; Alana Lavoie, national director of housing policy and government relations; and Jonathan Fehr, from Vancouver.

I’m hoping the House can please make them very welcome.

[10:05 a.m.]

S. Bond: I’m delighted today to welcome the advocacy committee delegation from the ALS Society.

We have with us today Wendy Toyer, the unbelievably hard-working executive director.

Dr. Andrew Eisen, who is the founder and honorary lifetime director.

Jim Williams, who is a director. He lost his dad to ALS.

Darryl Borsato and Chrissy Borsato. Darryl is living with ALS and has lost other family members.

Richard Poliquin, diagnosed with ALS in 2005.

Donna Bartel, ALS Society of British Columbia past president. She lost her mom to ALS.

Susan Brice, member of the ALS Society of British Columbia. She lost her husband to ALS. Obviously, she is also a former Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Stephanie Marshall-White, a member of the ALS Society of B.C., who lost her mother to ALS.

ALS is an absolutely devastating diagnosis for a person to receive. The life expectancy is often three to five years. There is so much more that we need to do. The Minister of Health and I have had conversations about speeding up the approval for drugs in British Columbia, making sure that we support as many people as possible. Obviously, critically important is that we move to having clinical trials in British Columbia.

Welcome to the delegation. I am so grateful for the work they do, every single day, to support families and people impacted by ALS.

Hon. A. Dix: I’d join the member for Prince George–​Valemount, who has introduced members of the delegation from the ALS Society of B.C. The society has done and is doing exceptional things. It’s work that we’re doing together, including members across party lines in this House, to support people living with ALS.

I want to welcome Wendy; I look forward to meeting her later this afternoon. I know she’s meeting with other members, including members on both sides of the House. I want to acknowledge, in particular, Darryl Borsato and Richard Poliquin, who are living with an ALS diagnosis, which is a very challenging thing, and who, while living with this diagnosis, are such strong advocates.

Obviously, all the people working with people with ALS do exceptional things. I look forward to meeting with them today. I look forward to the ongoing work we’re doing to make life better for people living with ALS, and also to the clinical trials needed to make a fundamental change and to give hope to everybody — families and those living with the diagnosis in B.C.

I ask the House to join me, and join the member, in making them welcome.

E. Sturko: I’d like to introduce a very large school group from Hazelgrove Elementary, in my riding. They’ll be visiting the Parliament Buildings today, travelling with their teacher AJ Dhaliwal. There are 33 grade five students that will be in the gallery over the next hour.

I would ask that the House please help me make them welcome.

Hon. J. Whiteside: Today we’re joined in the House by some of the team from the B.C. Teachers Federation. We all can remember a teacher who was really important in our lives. They do such important work in our province, providing inspiration and encouragement to kids. I’m really pleased that they’re here for meetings with various members of the House today.

Joining us are Carole Gordon, first vice-president; Robin Tosczak, second vice-president; Tammy Le, member and teacher-librarian from Surrey; Dave MacKenzie, member and president of the B.C. School Counsellors Association, as well as BCTF staff Anna Chudnovsky and Amy Smart.

Would the House please join me in making them very welcome.

R. Merrifield: Today in the House, I have my mom and dad. My dad taught me courage; my mom taught me to be strong. My dad taught me compassion; my mom taught me to be kind. My dad taught me to be almost funny; my mom taught me to be almost appropriate. My dad taught me to lead; my mom taught me how to support the cause. My dad taught me strategy, while my mom taught me solutions.

[10:10 a.m.]

My dad gave me my height, but my mom gave me my beauty. Both of them together taught me that family is paramount and that it’s what you make it, not just what you’re given.

Could everyone in the House join me in welcoming the best parents in the whole wide world, Bruce and Norma Merrifield.

Hon. B. Bailey: As Minister for JEDI, if I could just take a moment to wish everyone happy Star Wars Day. May your blasters shoot straight. May your loved ones know they are loved. And May the fourth be with you.

K. Paddon: I’m going to join my colleague, the member for Surrey South in welcoming the elementary students from Hazelgrove and, most specifically, one of my favourite students from Hazelgrove who is Drake Yugai, my nephew. I’m very lucky to get to be his aunt. He’s here with his mom, Kaleigh Yugai. I’m just very happy to have family on the precinct.

Thank you for being here.

Will the House join me.

T. Wat: I’m so happy to welcome two Richmond residents, Michael Friedman and Cathy Luu to our Legislature.

Michael has been a residential mortgage professional for 43 years, owning and operating a mortgage brokerage. He is currently a board member of Aspire Richmond, formerly known as Richmond Society for Community Living. He’s also a supporter of Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives Richmond Christmas fund, which has been helping many families and individuals in Richmond.

Cathy immigrated to Canada from Vietnam with her family 31 years ago. Cathy obtained her cosmetologist license as part of her continuing education. After working for others for a few years, Cathy opened her own salon and continues to succeed. Cathy and Michael are proud British Columbians and strong advocates for persons with disabilities.

Please join me in welcoming Michael and Cathy.

J. Rustad: It’s a great pleasure today to introduce a group that is here to witness question period today, but also to express interest and concern around Bill 36 in our health care system.

Today in the gallery we have a group of 29 mostly doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals. For sake of time, I won’t introduce all of the names, but I just want the House to welcome very much these health care professionals, these professionals that are providing for us every day across this province to make sure that our health care system is as good as it can be.

Will the House please make them welcome.

A. Olsen: I’d like to stand and introduce today a constituent of mine from the Saanich Peninsula, Reverend Mark Collins. Reverend Collins is a retired United Church minister and social worker living in Sidney. And for those of you who are from Surrey, you might recognize Reverend Collins. He’s been visiting us on a somewhat regular basis, more regular than many of our constituents do.

Could the House please make Reverend Collins welcome today.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS DAY

S. Bond: On May 4 we take the opportunity to reflect on the dedication and service of firefighters in our province and around the world. Today, on International Firefighters Day, we remember those firefighters who have paid the ultimate price and express our gratitude and support for those who continue to protect us every day.

Firefighters dedicate their lives to protecting people and property, and whether they are professional, volunteer, industrial or B.C. fire service firefighters, they are the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way so that we can be safe. They are the ones that run toward danger when we are running away. And for that, we are profoundly grateful.

We know that the job of a firefighter is so much more than responding to a fire call. WorkBC describes the duties of a firefighter this way: “Firefighters respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance such as automobile and industrial accidents, various types of medical emergencies, bomb threats, wildfires, floods as well as other serious situations, incidents and emergencies.”

[10:15 a.m.]

Firefighters are there for us at some of the most difficult times in our lives. We need to do our part to ensure that they have the support and resources they need, especially related to their physical and mental well-being. Recently there have been calls to consider the safety of the gear that firefighters wear, something all of us should be concerned about.

I want to challenge every member. The next time that you hear a siren in your community or wherever you are, take the time to remember that someone needs help and that firefighters and first responders are on their way. Think about the risk that they are taking and how desperately we want them to be safe in whatever situation they face. As the very proud mother of a professional firefighter, that is my hope and prayer every time I hear a siren.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSES

G. Chow: This week is Neighbourhood House Week, which celebrates and acknowledges the work that Neighbourhood Houses do in our communities.

You may ask: what is the difference between a Neighbourhood House and a city community centre? I would say, on one hand, there’s no difference. Both are gathering places for the community that are doing good. On the other hand, there is a difference, and it is in the programming, not unlike the difference between the city police and the RCMP, I suppose.

The Neighbourhood House is a community space that differs from a community centre due to the many programs and services, from low-cost to no-cost. The programs are responsive to the needs, trends, issues and wants of the community. The age range is from birth onward and inclusive to all.

In my riding of Vancouver-Fraserview, we have the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House that was established in 1977. Currently it serves around 7,700 indivi­duals with over 900 volunteers. The Neighbourhood House offers a variety of programs and services that support individuals and families, such as seniors’ wellness and youth leadership, pre-school and out-of-school care, parenting and family resource programs, settlement services for newcomers, food security, literacy, adult day programs, employment-related training, and more.

South Vancouver Neighbourhood House works in partnership with over 100 community agencies with programs that are placed in different locations according to where people form neighbourhoods and their needs. For example, a family drop-in program at an art centre near an elementary school, an adult day program in the local shopping mall, or a women’s group in the city community centre.

Neighbourhood Houses are like the thread sewn into a community quilt, bridging and connecting people from diverse communities, cultures, languages and age groups.

LYTTON FIRE RECOVERY PROCESS

J. Tegart: My hope was that 672 days after the community of Lytton burned to the ground, I would be standing here sharing with you the exciting news of residents rebuilding, the exciting news of businesses reopening and of health services returning, of people rejoicing about coming home.

Unfortunately that is not the story of Lytton today. It’s 672 days, and not a home rebuilt within the village or a business community re-established. I received word yesterday of another resident of Lytton that has passed away waiting to go home.

Six hundred and seventy-two days. Surely we can do better.

GRADUATES OF 2023 IN
VERNON-MONASHEE AREA

H. Sandhu: Today I want to extend my best wishes and congratulations to the 2023 grads from Vernon-Monashee, their families and their amazing teachers. Next month, on June 15, the first of the grad classes from Kalamalka Secondary and Charles Bloom will celebrate, and those from Clarence Fulton, W.L. Seaton, Vernon Christian School and Vernon Secondary will follow throughout June. Also, students from the Okanagan college and UBC are achieving great milestones.

[10:20 a.m.]

Dear grads, as you cross the stage this year, I hope you understand the diploma or degree you receive represents more than years of formal education. It represents the challenges you faced, the relationships you built, the skills you honed and the memories you made. Your efforts are an investment in yourself and in your future.

I hope you all remember this feeling of accomplishment in your upcoming ceremony and for the rest of your life. Let the feeling be light to guide you when things get difficult. You can do anything you set your mind to.

This graduation season I hope you take a moment to reflect on those that helped you to get to where you are: your families, your friends, guidance counsellors, coaches and, of course, your teachers.

The teachers, support staff and faculties in this province are strong symbols of strength. They have shown their dedication, patience, creativity, flexibility and ability to adapt to many challenges that come their way. I ask you all to reflect on and show gratitude to their contribution. I hope their display of dedication inspires you as you face challenges in the future.

You are our future and hope. It is a big world out there. Go out and seize it. Don’t let anybody or anything stop you from pursuing your goals.

Please join me to wish all the best and great success to all high school and post-secondary students from Vernon-Monashee and across the province.

RAVEN’S NEST
CHILD AND YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE

S. Furstenau: Raven’s Nest is a new child and youth advocacy centre under the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society in Duncan. Since opening its doors last spring, Raven’s Nest has supported over 40 survivors and witnesses of abuse under the age of 19 and their families as they navigate the criminal justice system.

From the time of disclosure to the closing of their court case, our systems require that young survivors recount the details of their assault several times to police, child protection workers, Crown prosecutors and in front of a judge. Raven’s Nest strives to support survivors by providing centralized services and advocating for the rights of children and youth to be at the centre of the justice process.

The team at Raven’s Nest empowers courageous young survivors and their caregivers with information and trauma-informed resources, supporting children and youth along their difficult journeys. Critically, Raven’s Nest has child-friendly facilities for police forensic interviews as well as a remote testimony room that is used to keep children and youth out of the courthouse and away from their abusers.

Child and youth advocacy centres across the province are working hard to ensure that young survivors’ needs are prioritized throughout their journey with the criminal justice system so that survivors and their families feel heard and know they are not alone. Increasing access to CYACs like Raven’s Nest is vital to meeting the needs of children in our communities and supporting them when they need it the most.

RED DRESS DAY AND ACTION FOR
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN, GIRLS AND TWO-SPIRIT PEOPLE

K. Paddon: May 5 is Red Dress Day and National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People. I spoke previously in this House about Red Dress Day, and today I want to take the time to focus on the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people that those red dresses represent.

Last month the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability released data which showed that we lost 184 women and girls to femicide last year. One in five of them were Indigenous, and most of them died at the hands of someone they knew.

To the women, girls and families who have been harmed, have faced loss and grief and who may be at risk, please know: you’re not alone.

We know that these harms are preventable. Ending this violence means confronting biases and stereotypes and speaking up when someone is being treated badly. It means offering help and support if someone is unsafe or at risk. It also means taking leadership on solutions.

This is why we’ve opened transition houses and safe homes for women and children fleeing violence and have provided funding for culturally responsive sexual assault services across the province. We implemented A Path Forward in response to the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls’ calls for justice, which includes funding for Indigenous-led anti-violence projects that expand safety planning in communities. We continue to work on our gender-based violence action plan. Comprehensive Indigenous consultation will be beginning shortly, because we know how important it is that we get this right.

We’re making progress, but there is still so much work to be done. Too many women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people have been lost to gender-based violence, and we will continue to work to tackle the root causes of violence in our communities.

[10:25 a.m.]

If you or someone you know is in danger, there are resources that can help. You can call or text 1-800-​563-​0808 or email VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca for immediate, confidential crisis and referral services.

Oral Questions

SERVICE MODELS FOR
CHILDREN WITH SUPPORT NEEDS

K. Falcon: After a year of hardship, anxiety and stress for parents of children with autism, this Premier announced a long-overdue reversal of the NDP’s planned attempt to strip individualized funding from parents and force them to transition to a hub model.

However, his actions are not matching his words. This Premier and his NDP government are continuing with their top-down approach and the hub model that parents soundly rejected.

Yesterday the First Nations Leadership Council wrote to the Premier to express what they say is their deep concern with the NDP decision to plunge forward with this discredited model. From the letter: “On April 28, 2023, we were suddenly informed that despite the explicit commitments made in November, the Ministry of Children and Family Development has progressed with its unilateral plan….”

This stubborn refusal by the NDP to reverse their policy will have disastrous consequences for parents with autistic kids right across the province. So my question is this: why has the Premier betrayed First Nations and parents of autistic kids across the province who campaigned for over a year to halt this damaging policy?

Hon. D. Eby: Thank you to the member for the question. Our government believes very strongly that every parent that has a kid that has special needs, needs to be supported in the services that are responsive to their child’s particular needs, what’s working for their kid. That’s why we committed to parents with individualized funding that they will be able to continue with the care arrangements they have put in place that are working for their child.

We also know there are a lot of kids that, for one reason or another, including that they don’t have a formal autism diagnosis, aren’t getting that care through the individualized model, which is why the Minister of Children and Family has been doing work to close that gap and to work with community.

We have redoubled our pledge to work with community and with First Nations on this work, and there have been a number of meetings to further that engagement, to make sure the model we come up with is evidence-based, is supportive of the unique needs of First Nations kids as well as kids generally that aren’t getting the support under the current system. We’re clear about that.

There is, however, a challenge, and that is we also have obligations to individual First Nations. So when they come to the minister and they say, “We want to work with you on developing something that works for our kids on nation,” they have that right to have that discussion with the minister, and that is a separate process from this broad provincial strategy that we’re pursuing.

We’re working with the First Nations Leadership Council to clarify that. We believe we have obligations to these individual nations to have those discussions. We hope we can clear all of this up, because we all have the same shared goal, which is making sure these kids have the supports they need.

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

K. Falcon: Well, the problem with that answer, Premier, is that’s diametrically opposite to what they’re actually saying in their letter.

I remind this House that it was only after a widespread backlash and the fierce resistance of parents from across the province that this government eventually backed down under pressure.

The problem we have here is we have the government saying, publicly, that they would reverse their policy and then, privately, we’re doing exactly the opposite. This is what else the First Nations Leadership Council wrote in their letter: “This is in direct violation of what was agreed to and perpetuates the approach that was explicitly rejected….”

This NDP decision to plunge forward with their discredited hub transition model is devastating for families, right across this province, with neurodiverse kids. And we’re not going to let this Premier or this government break the word they gave to parents with autistic kids.

My question is to the Premier. How can anyone have any trust in this Premier after he announced a reversal of the discredited hub model only to forge ahead with that model when the political heat had died down?

Hon. D. Eby: The member is simply not correct. We assured parents that have individualized funding they’re going to be able to continue with that funding, those supports that work for their kids.

[10:30 a.m.]

That is my commitment to them. It was one of the first actions I took after being sworn in as Premier, because it is important to me and it’s important to our government that parents, especially parents that have kids that have these unique needs, don’t face additional stress. It was clear they were under additional stress, when the whole plan was to provide additional supports to these kids that didn’t have the care, so reassuring those parents they will be able to continue with those care arrangements.

There are a huge number of families that are not covered under that system. Their kid doesn’t have that formal autism diagnosis. They are under as much stress. They are worried about care for their kids. We have to provide care for those kids, and we want to do it in a way that’s respectful of First Nations. We want to do it in a way that’s evidence-based and responsive to the needs of those families.

That’s why the minister committed. She’s been having meetings with parents, with key stakeholders and with First Nations on designing that system. Now there is a separate process. When a nation approaches the ministry and says, “We want to talk to you about how we deliver care to our kids in our community that we have jurisdiction over,” the minister, under our legislation, we believe, has an obligation to engage with that nation and find a path forward. We’re doing that work as well.

First of all, any parent that’s watching right now that has a kid with special needs like this: we are working to make sure, whether you have individualized funding, that that continues. If you don’t have access to that program, we know the stress you’re under, and we are working to deliver a model that will deliver care for you that’s evidence-based and looks after kids, because that’s what we want to prioritize here. That’s what we want to deliver for every parent in British Columbia.

RESIDENCE AND TRAVEL COSTS OF
VANCOUVER–WEST END MLA

T. Halford: In 2020, the Premier’s liaison for renters, the MLA for Vancouver–West End, relocated his primary residence from Vancouver to the Greater Victoria region on Vancouver Island. Since then, he has charged taxpayers for frequent day trips on Helijet and Harbour Air from his primary residence in Greater Victoria to his constituency in Vancouver.

My question is to the Premier. As Vancouver renters are facing the most expensive rents in the country, does the Premier think it’s appropriate for his liaison for renters, the MLA for Vancouver–West End, to expense the cost of frequently commuting from his primary residence in Greater Victoria to his constituency in Vancouver?

Hon. R. Kahlon: Certainly, the member will know that we take the use of public dollars and how they’re spent very seriously.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. R. Kahlon: I’ll take the member’s question on notice and report back to the House.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Surrey–White Rock, supplemental.

T. Halford: Taxpayers reasonably expect in this province for an MLA to travel from their constituency to work at the Legislature. But it isn’t reasonable for an MLA to feel entitled to move their primary residence to Greater Victoria and then….

Mr. Speaker: Member, the minister has taken that question on notice, so let’s have a new question.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Is it a new question?

T. Halford: It’s a new question.

Mr. Speaker: Okay, that’s fine then. Proceed.

T. Halford: The taxpayers of British Columbia deserve accountability. They expect the accountability from all of us in this Legislature. We have a duty to uphold that. Since relocating that primary residence to Greater Victoria, the taxpayers have absorbed $70,000 in expenses.

In the Premier’s decision to appoint this MLA as his liaison for renters, how could this Premier justify that?

Mr. Speaker: Member, it’s the same question.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, Members.

EDUCATION FUNDING

A. Olsen: During last fall’s legislative session, the now Minister for Post-Secondary Education said that our children are “the most precious resource we have.”

I agree with the minister on that, but this government’s actions do not reflect the rhetoric. The reality is that public schools in British Columbia have been chronically underfunded for years, with school boards across the province continuing to face budget shortfalls as a result of this government’s policies.

Vancouver school board is facing a $5.9 million shortfall this year, forcing the board to choose between actions like combining high school classes together, moving or discontinuing valuable educational programs or relocating students to cover the deficit.

[10:35 a.m.]

The much smaller Saanich school district is looking for $1.7 million, likely to be funded out of reserves.

This so-called progressive government promised to do better for our children than the 16 years that they complained about the previous government.

My question is to the Premier. Will he reverse the more than two decades of underfunding in our public education system?

Hon. R. Kahlon: I want to thank the member for his question. The member will know, and we have and numerous times in this House spoken about, the importance of education for our kids. I know the Minister of Education finds that the most important role she has, both as a mom as well as a Minister of Education, is making sure that all kids in our communities have the funding that’s needed.

The member will know that funding per student has gone up by 24 percent since 2017. That’s a significant increase in funding. We’ve seen significant funding for building new schools, making sure that we have educators available, and we’re going to continue to do that, because we know investments in our children are investments in the future.

Mr. Speaker: Member, supplemental.

A. Olsen: As we just heard in this response, the government has continually claimed that they fixed the problems in public education, but the reality many school districts are facing in this province reflect a completely different reality. It’s essentially an austerity system in our public education system.

We often hear about the record investments that have been made under this B.C. NDP government, but those are disingenuous. The court required many of those investments to be made.

A new agreement with teachers — an important investment, absolutely — does nothing to support replacing the aging tech and teaching materials that many of our school districts are facing and many other structural deficits that they’re facing every single budget year, including this year.

In 2018, this government’s review panel report recommended changes to the funding model. In the first couple of years, there was a flurry of activity, but in the last couple of years, there has been silence. Nothing in the minister’s mandate letter. Nothing in the service plan about those recommendations. It appears to not be a priority for this Premier.

The members of this government know we need to do better, given how frequently they eviscerated the official opposition now for underfunding education when they sat on this side of the House. The needs of students and teachers need to be put first.

We’ve seen this Premier roll out the Homes for People plan and the jobs for workers plan. When are we going to see a public education for students plan?

Hon. R. Kahlon: There was a lot there. I want to thank the member for the question.

Yes, we’re very proud of the Homes for People plan we’ve launched. We’re very proud of our future-ready plan that was announced just recently, making sure that all people in British Columbia — young, those that are transitioning in the workplace — have the opportunities to get the skills they need to be able to be competitive in the market.

I think it’s important for the member to know, which I’ve already highlighted, that we’ve increased the budget for education per-student funding by 24 percent since 2017. I’m glad he highlighted the agreement we had with teachers, because those investments are about making sure we support our educators to make sure that we are able to provide the highest level of education.

The member will also know that when we formed government, we were the second worst, when it came to funding, in the country. Now we are the second best. Our goal is always to continue to improve that.

IMPLEMENTATION OF
HEALTH PROFESSIONS LEGISLATION
AND CONSULTATION BY GOVERNMENT

J. Rustad: As I mentioned in my introduction, in the gallery today with the health care professionals that are here…. I just thought I would highlight some of the people that are here, that come as far away as Nelson, come from across the Lower Mainland, across the Island, that include many doctors, family doctors, radiologists, surgeons, naturopaths, other people — for example, traditional medicine — many nurses, occupational therapists, phys­ical therapists, and so many more. There are many outside as well.

They’ve all come here today because they have a concern with Bill 36. They have a concern with our health care system. They’re here today to express those concerns. In particular, they’re concerned about the privacy of individuals and their patients’ records.

[10:40 a.m.]

They’re concerned about the ability to be able to provide professional medical advice based on their experience. They’re concerned about, of course, the crisis in B.C.’s health care system. They think Bill 36 is a massive overreach by government that will only cause additional problems in our health care system.

I’ve asked the Minister of Health to pause the implementation of Bill 36 and to do a comprehensive engagement with the health care professionals across this province.

To the Premier: since the minister won’t commit to doing this, will you instruct the Minister of Health to stop the implementation of Bill 36 until a full and comprehensive engagement with health care professionals across B.C. has been undertaken?

Hon. A. Dix: Bill 36 represented the first major amendment to the Health Professions Act in three decades. In 2018, I asked for an investigation and review by world-leading expert Harry Cayton into the Health Professions Act. Subsequent to that, members of the New Democratic caucus, myself, members from the official opposition caucus, members of the Green caucus came together to review that report and to make recommendations, all of which were reflected in Bill 36.

That process involved extraordinary public engagement. More than 4,300 people participated in that public engagement, 71 percent of whom were health professionals. Subsequent to that, we had an engagement with First Nations because in the midst of that process, we had the In Plain Sight report, and we had a significant requirement under reconciliation to engage with First Nations.

Subsequent to that, we had a 47½-hour debate in this Legislature, the second-longest debate on any bill in this century.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, Members. Let’s hear the answer, please.

Minister will continue.

Hon. A. Dix: The legislation protects patients, em­powers patients, provides protection when people bring forward complaints, including supports. I’d just say to the members opposite that our focus — the focus of the committee, the focus of the opposition and the Green Party that worked on that committee — was protecting patients. That’s exactly what the legislation did.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, Members.

Members will come to order. Members.

Minister will continue.

Hon. A. Dix: I can tell you that the consultation we did, unprecedented in the history of the province, did not involve people yelling at each other.

I would say this. The concerns raised by the hon. member, including concerns about access to patient records, reflect areas that are absolutely unchanged from the present legislation. I suggest, in his decades in the Legislature, he might have raised those concerns if he’d had them at the time.

The fact of the matter is there is no change. When an independent investigator investigates, for example, a concern around sexual abuse, they have a right under limited circumstances to access patient records. That’s what it is now, and that’s what it will be after Bill 36 is proclaimed.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Nechako Lakes, supplemen­tal.

J. Rustad: I thank the minister for that answer. The engagement that he talks about, this broad engagement, did not include the full scope of what’s in Bill 36. That engagement with the opposition members did not include the full scope of what is in that bill.

There is a crisis in our health care system today. These professionals have taken time out of their profession, away from being able to provide the services. They have taken time away from their family. They’ve travelled across the province to be here to express their concern because they have a legitimate concern about our health care system in the province of British Columbia. They have a legitimate concern for their patients.

To me, to the thousands of people that signed the petition I will be introducing after question period today…. They have expressed these concerns. They want answers. They are angry. I can tell you the health professionals here want to be part of the answer. They want to be part of being able to provide better services. They don’t want this government to be making them an enemy.

[10:45 a.m.]

Two parts to this question. The first is an ask of the minister to meet with these health care professionals that are here, and the ones that are outside, to be able to answer questions they have around this. But most importantly, there is a large list of questions these health care providers have gone through. This is a very large bill. They have gone through it in detail. They’ve provided these questions to the minister.

I want to ask the Premier if he will commit today to asking his minister to answer these questions so these health care providers can be fully engaged and to pause going forward with Bill 36 until that full engagement can be had and we can assure the people in this province that our health care system will be improved and not damaged by Bill 36.

Mr. Speaker: People in the gallery, please be careful. Don’t make any responses to any questions or answers.

Hon. A. Dix: This piece of legislation, which reflects the recommendation of the In Plain Sight report and which reflects the recommendations of the all-party committee that reviewed it, takes a proactive approach to the elimination of discrimination in our health care system.

Anybody who read the In Plain Sight report and doesn’t think that action should be taken urgently…. This is action that’s been taken after five years of consultation of thousands of health professionals. My strong view is that a bill that empowers the public, that says when there’s a contrary action — not when there’s a complaint, when there’s a contrary action — there should be transparency for patients in our province…. That’s long overdue.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, Members.

Hon. A. Dix: When you have a bill that takes proactive action against discrimination after the In Plain Sight report, after significant consultation with First Nations under both the reconciliation provisions and the In Plain Sight working group….

It’s time to act against discrimination in health care. It’s time to act to protect patients. It’s time to act to bring the bill into the…. That is why we did five years of consultation.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, Members.

Hon. A. Dix: When we had those meetings together, the opposition parties and ourselves….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Hon. A. Dix: It wasn’t one side yelling at the other side, one side trying to prove that they can be more objectionable than another party. That’s what we did in B.C. We put together a system.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members will come to order. Members will come to order now.

Members, please.

The minister will conclude.

Hon. A. Dix: All of that consultation took place, I think, in an atmosphere of respect — five years of it, thousands of health professionals, full involvement of the opposition, full involvement of Indigenous people. We’re proud of the legislation, and we’re going to continue to work on its implementation.

Since we passed the bill, there have been more than 50 meetings with representative groups. We’re going to continue to do the work and continue to improve protections for patients and the regulation for health professionals in B.C.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Let’s listen to the question, please. Let’s hear the question.

CRIME IN COMMUNITIES
AND IMPACT ON BUSINESSES

R. Merrifield: Yesterday, while the Jobs Minister continued with more talk about more discussions about more meetings, small businesses endured another day of rampant crime and vandalism. Imagine being Nick Wei of Social Pets in Kelowna, waking up to destroyed windows and constant vandalism. Over 30 businesses along Pandosy Street in Kelowna recently suffered losses in the tens of thousands.

Will the minister stand up today, put an end to the empty talk, endless discussions and absolute rhetoric and actually take action to help small businesses in B.C.?

Hon. B. Bailey: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. There is no doubt that a number of businesses are faced with significant challenges. We’ve seen global inflation, seen tremendous economic uncertainty, and we have taken action to support small businesses.

[10:50 a.m.]

During the pandemic, we stood up almost half a billion — in fact, more than half a billion — dollars. That shows the priority that small businesses have to this government. It’s so important. When we put in programming for small businesses, the priority is to ensure that the programming is what they need, that it’s what they want and that it’s going to have impact.

A great example of this is when we worked with restaurants, talking to industry and working with the people that are impacted. We put in two supports that were very, very beneficial. One is ensuring that restaurants had access to wholesale pricing for liquor. That benefited every restaurant in our province. We also brought in a cap to fee-delivery services.

These are examples of working directly with industry to hear what’s important to them. We’re doing that work right now. We’ll be rolling out programming soon. Small businesses are deeply important to us.

RELEASE OF B.C. HOUSING AUDIT REPORT

P. Milobar: This government is developing quite a pattern of not wanting proper scrutiny and questioning of things they’re bringing forward. As we heard with Bill 36, 400 sections have closure brought on by this government, regardless of debate time leading up to that. In fact, our motion to refer those 400 sections to the Health Committee to have a proper review of those 400 sections was quashed by this government.

It’s not just these types of things that this government wants to quash. We heard two months ago that the B.C. Housing forensic audit had been completed — two months. As much as the government wants to try to say that they’re committed to full disclosure, it has been two months of redaction after redaction and no release and no release date.

Now, yesterday I asked the Premier if he would commit to releasing the report before his budget estimates start next week. Unfortunately, the Housing Minister answered and decided to deflect and use the same language again. No commitment — convenient, given that the Housing Minister’s budget estimates are now over.

The Premier full well knows that budget estimates would be the best way to have full transparency and full questioning of the forensic audit of B.C. Housing, especially given that he was the Housing Minister for the better part of two years. Will the Premier commit today to releasing the full, unredacted report, the forensic audit of B.C. Housing, in time for his estimates starting next week?

Hon. D. Eby: Two issues raised in the member’s question. I’ll take them both in order. One is on Bill 36. I understand the opposition now is taking the position that they weren’t involved in all of the engagement the Health Minister laid out over five years on developing this work. I’ll say this.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, please.

Hon. D. Eby: I don’t agree with the leader of the Conservative Party on his position, but at least I know what it is. When it comes to the opposition….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. D. Eby: The opposition wants to have it both ways on so many different issues. They need to take positions.

Now, on the issue of housing, where they also take multiple positions…. First of all, on the B.C. Housing audit: absolutely, I understand it’s important for the members to have a chance to ask questions on this report. We’ll release it. I committed to this House to table it in this place and to table as much of the report as the law allows us to provide to them and to the public and to have ample opportunity for them to ask questions about it. We have a really serious housing issue in this province.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. D. Eby: I think, on the theme of the opposition and housing and clarity of position, to have the opposition standing against basic ideas like allowing someone that has a single-family home to develop more than one unit on that property…. For them to stand up in opposition to that, the most affordable kind of housing that can be built, for them to oppose that, for them to vote against the housing targets before they voted for them….

The lack of clarity from this opposition on C-36, on housing, on so many issues, like addiction and mental health…. I look forward to them developing their policies so we can have a real debate in this place.

[10:55 a.m.]

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

P. Milobar: Let’s correct what the Premier was trying to convey to the public. There has been no ambiguity by us on Bill 36. We voted against Bill 36. There were 400 clauses that this government…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh.

P. Milobar: …invoked closure on. And news flash…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

P. Milobar: …for the Premier. The opposition was not part of the drafting of the actual legislation of Bill 36. The first time we saw it was when it came to this House.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Members, Members.

P. Milobar: Once again, the Premier is being evasive with his answer around the B.C. Housing audit. He just committed to tabling it in this House. The problem is he wouldn’t give a date. Well, it’s pretty simple. We have four sitting days left after today, and then it’s the fall.

The question was around tabling it so we could deal with it during budget estimates for the Premier that start next Wednesday. So will the Premier be releasing it on Monday next week, Tuesday next week, or is his intention to table it in this House but not until the fall?

Hon. D. Eby: Two issues raised by the member in that question. On the issue of tabling the audit, absolutely.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. D. Eby: The audit will be tabled in this House. I’ve committed to this House so the members will have the opportunity to ask questions about it this session.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, please.

Members, calm down. Calm down.

Hon. D. Eby: On the second….

Interjections.

Hon. D. Eby: I know the members don’t want me to get to the second issue, but I will get there. On the second question, the members did, in fact, vote against Bill 36, but of course that was after they voted for it at second reading.

[End of question period.]

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the question period is over. Members.

Members, come to order. Members, calm down. Let’s be respectful.

Petitions

I. Paton: I rise today to present a petition in regard to dredging issues in my riding of Delta South. Twenty million tonnes of sediment wash down the Fraser River annually. In my riding, at the end of the drainage journey, there are secondary channels, including Ladner Reach, Canoe Pass, that are home to fishing marinas, float home communities, recreational boating…

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Member.

I. Paton: …and commercial businesses who all use the river to maintain their way of life. Without dredging….

Mr. Speaker: Member, you have tabled the petition. That’s fine. Thank you.

I. Paton: The amount of sediment and dredging needs to be dealt with in my riding of Delta South immediately.

S. Furstenau: I rise to present a petition to protect the old growth, signed by more than 450 residents of the Kootenays, asking this government to implement the recommendations of the strategic review panel and protect all remaining old growth in B.C.

J. Rustad: I rise to present a petition — signatures of over 17,500 individuals across this province, many of them health care workers, expressing concern about Bill 36 and wanting to see Bill 36 repealed.