Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: A. Singh.

Introductions by Members

K. Chen: First, I just want to quickly say thanks for all the support that I’ve received from all the colleagues, the staff, the press gallery and friends yesterday. It really means a lot to me and my son, who also loves reading social media updates.

Today I actually want to share some really good news. Last week, we all know, our dear colleague and friend the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness welcomed her beautiful baby daughter, Azalea.

The same week, Friday, another friend and sister who also has a strong connection to this House and has done years of work in the community, Jasleen Arora, also welcomed her adorable, handsome baby boy, Jeevan Singh Arora, after 30 hours of labour and hard work. It is also worth noting that Jeevan is the fifth baby of our former child care team that has been very, very productive with babies. It actually started with the Attorney General’s baby boy.

I just want to wish all these moms and their growing families all the best.

Congratulations, Jasleen, her husband, Justin, and baby Jeevan.

Hon. H. Bains: In the House today are a number of executive members of the Health Sciences Association of B.C., who are here to meet with government representatives. I’m sure they will talk to the Minister of Health if they haven’t done that already.

The Health Sciences Association members are led by their president, Kane Tse. They represent about 20,000 members all across the province. They are engaged in health care, science and community service professions, over 250 hospitals. Imagine the kind of service that they provide. Any time we end up going to get health care services at any of the hospitals, these members are there to help us.

So please help me — first of all, thank you for all the good work that you do — give them a very warm welcome.

Hon. A. Kang: In the gallery today, I have two special guests from the district of Central Saanich: Mayor Ryan Windsor and also CAO Christine Culham. Central Saanich is located in the mid-section of Vancouver Island, Saanich Peninsula, and it is home to breathtaking beaches, rolling farmlands, wineries, restaurants, hotels and, of course, the world-famous Butchart Gardens.

My ministry remains committed to working with our local governments collaboratively and to addressing the communities’ top priorities and support the communities’ vibrant growth. I look forward to meeting with the mayor later today after question period.

Would the House please make Mayor Windsor and Christine very welcome.

A. Olsen: It’s an honour today to rise and introduce Gerry Taylor to this Legislative Assembly. Some people here may know Gerry from his time working in the provincial government. I am blessed as the representative for Saanich North and the Islands to have many current and former government leaders live in our community, retire in our community.

[10:10 a.m.]

Gerry was brought to British Columbia because of his love for fishing, something that we have in common. He has been working on environmental issues in British Columbia since the 1950s, starting as a hatchery technician at B.C. fish and wildlife and eventually becoming the deputy director, under the Wildlife Act, for fish habitat and fisheries.

It is such an honour to be able to have constituents like Gerry who can provide their wisdom to me and share their experiences. I’ve only been in this business for a very few short years, so it’s wonderful to have people who are willing to share their wisdom with me and help guide and direct the work that I do in this Legislative Assembly.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM to Gerry.

Could this House please make him feel very welcome.

Hon. A. Mercier: We’ve got a great group of young people up in the gallery today, Ms. Katie Glover’s political studies class from Brookswood Secondary, from back home in Langley. They’re with teacher Victoria Wiebe today because, unfortunately, Ms. Glover couldn’t make it. She’s on maternity leave after giving birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl, Elsie Glover.

Will the House please make the class welcome and please congratulate Katie on her new baby girl.

S. Furstenau: I have a very special guest that I’d like to introduce today. It’s my pleasure to introduce the hon. Jackson Kiswaga, a member of the Tanzanian Parliament.

He is here with a guest as well, Helen Nation, who has done work in Tanzania with her husband Bob to bring water projects to Tanzania. It’s been a real pleasure to meet and to get to know Jackson. I very much enjoyed hearing from him about Tanzania and the work as a parliamentarian.

Will the House please make him most welcome.

M. Dykeman: I just want to take a quick moment to introduce someone very special to the House. She’s joining the school group, but I’ve had the privilege of knowing this amazing young lady for over six years, through the farming community and through 4-H. I can’t even believe she’s in high school now. I swear she’s still just a couple of feet tall.

I’m wondering if the House could please help me make Victoria Baas feel very welcome to the precinct today. I’m absolutely thrilled to see her smiling face up there.

B. Anderson: Today I am delighted to be able to introduce into the House my mayor, Janice Morrison. Janice is the mayor of Nelson. We served together on council, but Janice and I go way back. Her husband, Mike Bonderoff, worked with my dad since I was six months old.

I am super grateful for Janice’s friendship and mentorship but also the incredible partnership that I get to have with the city of Nelson. We have a lot of tough issues that we have to tackle, but the best part is that the mayor and I get to tackle those together.

Will the House please welcome Janice Morrison, mayor of Nelson, here with us today.

D. Routley: I have two introductions.

First, I’d like to introduce to the House Ryan Alger and Kate Middleton Alger. They’ve recently moved from Alberta to B.C., and they’ve chosen Ladysmith as their home, and I thank them for that. For those of you who know how steep the hills are in Ladysmith, we are always relieved to tell people that you’re never over the hill in Ladysmith. So they’ve made a good choice.

The second introduction is a group of students from the classical conversation group from my riding.

Will the House please help me make them welcome.

Hon. G. Lore: I have a number of guests who are here and coming today. They are local housing advocates, folks who’ve come together to advocate for more and more diverse types of housing in our community.

I’m not sure if all of them have arrived, but I did want to take the opportunity to introduce Luna Morris, Rob Barry, Jack Sandor, Max Thompson, Jim Mayer, Irene Allen, Mark Edwardson, Jaron Butterworth, Samuel Holland, Izzy Adachi, Cord Corsee, Bridget Ryan and Torben Werner.

I also see in the gallery another key person for me. Erin Willis is my constituency assistant. She joined my office just about four months ago, and I’m incredibly grateful to have her.

Will the House please join me in making all of these guests feel very welcome.

[10:15 a.m.]

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

BILL M226 — NO NET LOSS OF
WETLAND ACT, 2023

J. Rustad presented a bill intituled No Net Loss of Wetland Act, 2023.

J. Rustad: I move a bill entitled No Net Loss of Wetland Act, 2023, of which notice will be given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now.

I’m pleased to stand in the House to reintroduce the No Net Loss of Wetland Act, which I first brought forward in May of 2018. Wetlands are an important part of how nature functions. Fish and wildlife habitat, organic carbon storage, water supply and purification, soil and water conservation, as well as tourism, heritage, recreation, education and science are all things — and more — in terms of the values of wetlands.

Occasionally, development can impact on the functions of wetlands, and this bill is designed that when a wetland is impacted, government will work with its partners to ensure that there is no net loss of wetland functions through investment or enhancements in other wetlands.

This is an initiative that was first undertaken by Ducks Unlimited, and I’m introducing this bill now in recognition of the great work that Ducks Unlimited has done for more than 50 years.

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

Motion approved.

Bill M226, No Net Loss of Wetland Act, 2023, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

ACTIVISM AGAINST
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

K. Kirkpatrick: As we commence the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence on November 25, the International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women is crucial to confront the stark reality of the situation today.

Data from Statistics Canada highlights the surge in calls to the Battered Women’s Support Services crisis line in Vancouver during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing the heightened vulnerability of women in times of crisis.

Additionally, in British Columbia last year, the rate of intimate-partner violence was 292 persons per 100,000 population. This year’s theme, “Unite: Invest to prevent violence against women and girls,” underscores the urgent need for substantial investment in prevention strategies to proactively address the rise of gender-based violence.

Our unity during these 16 days and beyond is not just symbolic — or should not be just symbolic. It’s a practical necessity as we confront the pervasive issue of violence against women globally.

Mr. Speaker, in all communities, I have heard from women that are saying there are simply not enough housing options for them, for women’s transition homes, safe places for them to leave and particularly to leave with their children. That means that victims of gender-based violence often stay with their perpetrators, because they don’t have anywhere safe to go.

If someone goes into a shelter or becomes homeless, MCFD also gets involved, and they run the risk of actually losing their children, if they try and leave a violent situation.

So education is our ally. We must teach our children about consent, respect and the importance of healthy relationships so we can break the cycle of violence.

NATIONAL ADDICTIONS AWARENESS WEEK

J. Sims: This week is National Addictions Awareness Week. Today and every day we remember those who have lost their lives due to drug overdose. We cannot forget that these are our brothers, fathers, uncles, sisters, sons, mothers, aunts, daughters, friends and co-workers.

We are also reminded that people are impacted by many forms of addictions in British Columbia. We see firsthand the deep pain — physical, mental and emotional — that lies behind addiction. Shame and stigma often stand in the way of people getting the help they require. We must continue to build a system of care to help them where and when they need it.

Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It impacts every member of this House, every family in British Columbia, every community, and we are committed to fighting the stigma of addiction together.

This year’s theme is “Inspiration, innovation and inclusion.” Inspiration comes from the courage of those facing addiction, the resilience of communities and the dedication of health care professionals.

[10:20 a.m.]

Innovation pushes us to find better ways to prevent and treat addiction. Inclusion means creating a safe space where people can seek help without judgment, breaking down barriers to treatment and valuing every person’s journey.

I want to do a shout-out to all the front-line care providers supporting those with addictions, especially those in Fraser Health, in my riding, Surrey-Panorama.

There are programs to create awareness, to educate around addiction and to deliver culturally appropriate supports for members of our diverse communities, including our South Asian community. There is concerned outreach in community groups with international students, as well as post-secondary institutions, to look at ways to share information and resources to support students.

I know that colleagues on both sides of the House have taken the time to listen to British Columbians who are making positive impacts across the province and supporting individuals dealing with addictions. Together, we can do this.

HOLODOMOR COMMEMORATION

T. Shypitka: Four years ago I was given a unique opportunity to work across party lines, with colleagues from the Green Party and the NDP, to bring recognition and, to some degree, solace to one of the darkest periods in our world history.

The Holodomor, or “death by hunger” in Ukrainian, refers to the starvation of millions of Ukrainians in 1932 and 1933. The Holodomor can be seen as a culmination of an assault by the Communist Party and Soviet state of the Ukrainian peasantry who resisted Soviet policies. This heinous act to curtail the cultural autonomy of Ukrainians through intimidation, arrest, imprisonment, starvation and execution was masterminded by Joseph Stalin and his totalitarian communist regime to eliminate the threat to Soviet ideological and state-building aspirations.

Painfully, today we see the reoccurring nightmare of another unprovoked assault by a different Soviet dictatorship. This is a violent and targeted attack against Ukrainian people.

As horror often repeats itself, I’m here to say, so do the kindness and support from this Legislature. For example, earlier this year this House worked together to bring support to Ukrainian refugees who fled their home country, not only with financial support but also by providing a B.C. driver’s licence test to be available in the Ukrainian language. Thank you for that. This may not seem like much to some, but to those who needed that support, it meant a lot.

I want to thank this entire Legislature once again for not only designating the fourth Saturday of November as Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day. Let us all take some time this Saturday to join Ukrainian people and communities around the world in remembering the victims of Holodomor and honouring the strength of survivors.

ACTIVISM AGAINST
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

K. Paddon: I’d like to start with a trigger warning, as today I’ll be speaking about gender-based violence. I want to honour that this is a painful and traumatic topic for so many and provide space for listeners to make the choice that supports their own well-being.

November 25 is International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women and marks the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. It is a time for people, organizations, communities and governments to share how they’re taking action to break the cycle of violence and provide safety and support for survivors.

Everyone should feel safe and secure in their own home and community. But gender-based violence too often impacts women, girls, two-spirit, transgender, non-binary and other gender-diverse people with devastating and long-lasting effects. Gender-based violence can happen to anyone. You are not alone.

Every day community organizations, advocacy groups, sexual assault centres, victim services and transition houses work tirelessly to support survivors and their communities with expertise and compassion. Thank you. I know you make all the difference in a seemingly im­pos­sible time. You are not alone.

Many communities will be having events and vigils during the 16 days of activism. I know groups and teams across B.C. are taking action to recognize and acknowledge the 16 days and the national day of remembrance. I encourage everyone to join in if they can and to help raise awareness. The message is: end gender-based violence. And a reminder. You are not alone.

For those who have experienced gender-based violence, for families and loved ones supporting victims and survivors and, also, for those who may be living in danger right now, we grieve with you. There are resources available. You are not alone.

[10:25 a.m.]

If you are in immediate danger or think someone else is, you can call 911. You can also call or text VictimLinkBC through its toll-free, 24-7, confidential, multilingual telephone service at 1-800-563-0808. VictimLink staff are there to provide immediate crisis support, information and referral services. You are not alone.

COWICHAN ESTUARY RESTORATION

S. Furstenau: Climate change will continue to deliver extremes — extreme heat, extreme drought, heavy rains, floods and wildfires. Our best ally in combating these extremes is nature.

We’ve degraded much of the nature in B.C. to the point where it can’t help us when we need it the most. An example of this is the Cowichan estuary. The partnership between the Nature Trust of B.C., Cowichan Tribes, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and the provincial and federal governments is focused on the restoration of the Cowichan estuary so it can more effectively cope with rising sea levels and improve conditions for the sea life that depends on the health of that estuary.

This project is one example of the restoration that needs to happen across B.C. Over the next two years, dikes that have been created to hold back the estuary water will be removed. This will allow for intertidal channels, salt marsh habitat and marine riparian habitats to be restored. The lands were purchased in 1990 by Nature Trust, with the intention of restoring this ecologically significant area.

There will be some loss of farmland for this restoration work. Of course, we have to be serious about protecting farmland, but the food security from the estuary is also critical. Young salmon start their lives in the estuary and return to spawn. Cowichan Elders have shared stories from generations before, a time when crabs and clams were abundant and bountiful in the estuary ecosystem.

B.C.’s estuaries make up less than 3 percent of B.C.’s coastline, yet they support 80 percent of coastal fish and wildlife. We have to be as serious about protecting these areas as we are about protecting farmland.

I celebrate the critical work of the Cowichan estuary restoration project, which will enhance resilience, for Cowichan and for B.C., for the future.

COMMUNITY SPACES IN PORT MOODY

R. Glumac: We’ve spent a bit of time in this House talking about housing — in fact, sometimes late into the evening. I wanted to spend a few minutes talking about community. It’s the things in our community — the people and the places where we come together — that truly make a home feel like a home.

Community is running into friends when you’re walking your dog in Bert Flinn Park in Port Moody, a park that was not always a park. People came together to try to protect that park, in fact, and voted out an entire city council to do that. Community is running along the Shoreline Trail and coming across a group of people looking up and talking about the herons’ nests that are up there. Community is a Sunday concert in Rocky Point Park.

You can also find this sense of community in our very own Brewers Row, a group of breweries located close to our Moody Centre SkyTrain station right across from Rocky Point Park. It’s often bustling with people, families and dogs. It’s an economic hub and a social hub of our city. You’ll find trivia nights, open-mic nights, weekly running groups, drag shows, yoga nights and some incredibly amazing food trucks.

I feel so fortunate to be able to represent such a dynamic and growing community. We know how important it is to build housing, but a home is truly a home when it’s embedded in a community where we feel connected with each other in the spaces outside of our homes. These places are important, too, and need to be appreciated, strength­ened and enhanced as we grow.

[10:30 a.m.]

Oral Questions

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON
CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
AND ENERGY COSTS AND SUPPLY

M. de Jong: For weeks now, the official opposition has been seeking real, actual relief for British Columbians who are facing dramatically increasing costs of living, including, unfortunately, the NDP government’s relentless, continued increases to the carbon tax. Those requests have been dismissed. They have been ignored.

Yesterday the official opposition received a copy of an internal memo sent by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. I know the minister will remember the memo. She sent it yesterday at 7:13 a.m. It’s from the minister, and I’ve sent a copy over to her just a few moments ago so she’d have it to reference.

It begins with the following line: “The Premier is looking for a big and shiny affordability measure.” It goes on to reveal plans to politically manipulate B.C. Hydro to stall collapsing support for CleanBC.

Can the Minister of Energy and Mines explain what exactly she meant by “big and shiny affordability measure”?

Hon. D. Eby: I wonder why the member of the opposition would be surprised that this side of the House is looking for every opportunity to support British Columbians. I make no apology for searching for affordability options for British Columbia, especially as we prepare our budget.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. D. Eby: Big affordability initiatives? Absolutely.

Let me tell you about the affordability initiatives that many British Columbians actually think are helpful and shiny. Reducing child care costs by up to $900 a month — that’s a big affordability announcement. Reducing….

The other side kept increasing ICBC rates over and over, and that minister lacked the political courage to even release a report with the recommendations for how to fix ICBC when he sat on this side of the House, the member for Abbotsford West, when he cut those pages out of the report about how to make ICBC more affordable for British Columbians.

And now he stands up and says: “Shame on you for trying to find more affordability options for British Colum­bians”?

Shame on you, Member.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Abbotsford West, supplemental.

M. de Jong: Well, it’ll be interesting to see if the Premier maintains his enthusiasm to defend the document.

The minister’s memo goes beyond just manipulating families with talks of something big and shiny, which…. By the way, families need something real and practical, not big and shiny.

In her memo, the minister proposes an order-in-council to gain — it’s the quote from the memo — “leverage with companies like Fortescue. You’re either going to pay B.C. Hydro $1 billion under the existing tariff or agree to scale down the size of your project.” Fortescue is the proponent of Project Coyote, a multi-billion-dollar green hydrogen and ammonia production facility located in Prince George.

Can the minister explain what appears to be a clear threat, and what does she mean when she says she wants to acquire leverage over Fortescue?

Mr. Speaker: Premier.

Hon. D. Eby: Well, hon. Chair, now we’re….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

The Premier has the floor.

Hon. D. Eby: These are the exact projects the members on the other side were railing against yesterday in our CleanBC plan. “How dare you? How dare you?”

A billion-dollar plant…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Eby: …for the member from Prince George’s community that is struggling economically.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Eby: They all stood up and said: “Abandon climate change.”

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Prince George–Valemount.

Members, please. No interruptions. Thank you.

Hon. D. Eby: Today, they’re supporting it, supposedly.

[10:35 a.m.]

Yesterday it was all about attacking our CleanBC plan that’s delivered record numbers of investment in this province from companies like Fortescue. I’ve met with the CEO. He flew to Prince George. He met with the mayor. He met with the First Nations. I love the project.

There is a huge challenge. They need 1,000 megawatts of power to do what they want to do, and it has to be clean energy. We have to do this work with Fortescue.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Eby: We have to do this work with hydrogen.

The other side got up yesterday, and they said: “We’re going to rewarm Christy Clark’s 2013 LNG plan.” Well, we’re moving in a different direction. They oppose it. We stand for climate action. We support the project, and we’re going to do the work.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s have the courtesy to hear each other, please.

Member for Abbotsford West, second supplemental.

M. de Jong: What has become abundantly clear is that the new direction involves threatening companies, threatening them — companies that have entered a regulatory process in good faith, that are part of an exercise, that want to invest but are now, according to the Minister of Energy and Mines own document, being confronted by this: “You’re either going to pay B.C. Hydro $1 billion or agree to scale down the size of your project.”

Isn’t that eerily familiar to what the B.C. Business Council economist Mr. Peacock said when he wrote that the government’s approach to climate change is to downsize the economy, to shrink the economy, make your project smaller?

We want to see people come to British Columbia and invest, and the Minister of Energy is developing strategies to threaten them. So the question…. To threaten them to downsize their project. She sent the memo. The Premier can try to cover as much as he wants.

What did she mean when she said to Fortescue, when she alluded to Fortescue, and said: “I’m going to either get them to pay $1 billion, or I’m going to tell them to downsize their project”?

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member, do you want to answer? If not, please, please stay quiet.

Premier.

Hon. D. Eby: The inconsistency from the other side of the House on climate action is unbelievable. This is the same group that literally yesterday said they would rip up the climate plan that delivered Canada’s first renewable diesel refinery, Canada’s first, in Prince George. They said they would rip up that plan. That was yesterday.

If you want to talk about threatening business, if you want to talk about threatening jobs, abandoning…

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member. Member. Take it easy.

Hon. D. Eby: …the CleanBC plan that has delivered lower emissions, record foreign direct investment, in­cluding….

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: You can ask another question after that.

Hon. D. Eby: Including the E-One Moli project in Maple Ridge, with a company that wouldn’t have come here under their watch, because they were only promoting LNG.

Fortescue. I’ve met with the CEO. He met with the mayor. He met with First Nations. We love the project. Here’s the challenge. They need 1,000 megawatts of clean power. How do we ensure that we deliver that without impacting rate affordability for British Columbians?

We need affordability. We need clean energy. We need jobs. And there’s only one party that’s going to deliver all those things. It’s this side of the House. That side of the House doesn’t like this project. They don’t like the clean diesel refinery. They don’t like CleanBC. They’d rip it all up. That’s not a surprise to anybody.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members. If the opposition wants to ask questions and answer themselves, that’s okay. We can arrange that. If not, let the other side answer. You will disagree with their answer; no doubt about it. But let’s have the courtesy to listen to that, please.

Member for Kootenay East.

T. Shypitka: Thank you, hon. Speaker. Well, this isn’t the time for deflection; this is the time for some answers and some straight-up ones from the minister. She’s got some explaining to do. Let’s look at the tactics that are being used right now by this government to adjudicate projects.

[10:40 a.m.]

Let’s be clear. The NDP is clearly picking winners and losers here because, according to the minister herself, in her own document, it says: “Right now we have no framework to adjudicate between projects fairly.”

The minister’s memo underlines how NDP manipulation has left B.C. Hydro woefully short of the power we need. We’ve been saying that for a long time now, and there is not enough electricity for industrial development. This NDP government were the ones that delayed and opposed Site C and shut down clean energy projects, mainly IPPs. Now they don’t have enough power, and now they’re in panic mode.

The minister writes that she wants to use a stick against companies and is intent on applying leverage against Fortescue’s Project Coyote project, to force them to scale down the size of their project. That’s clean and simple. The minister needs to respond.

Can the minister explain in her own words about using leverage and a stick against companies?

Hon. D. Eby: I have been very clear that there is a huge opportunity for British Columbia right now. We have clean, firm power that is in desire from a whole range of industries.

Now, the province of Quebec has been building in advance of demand. I think there’s an opportunity for us to do that too. So we have a task force working with B.C. Hydro to deliver more power at actually affordable rates for British Columbia.

That’s something that matters to us, and it didn’t matter to you when you did the IPP project.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Eby: In addition to that, we have a number of proposals coming forward to us that are looking at the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States and saying: “Look, we’re thinking about locating in the United States. What kind of support can you offer in British Columbia?” We’re working with the federal government with these companies.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Cariboo-Chilcotin. No.

Hon. D. Eby: But we need a framework to be able to determine which projects go ahead in terms of public support in that way. This is not an inconsequential thing. It resulted in a billion-dollar investment in Maple Ridge in the E-One Moli project. So when we get it right, there are good, family-supporting jobs, but it’s important to get it right. It is a fraught process. This is public money, and it is serious.

The need for a framework is an important thing, and I’m surprised the members oppose that. But of course, they oppose our entire clean economy agenda, where we’re reducing emissions and delivering jobs right across the province.

Mr. Speaker: Kootenay East, supplemental.

T. Shypitka: Well, we have all this power. If we’re so flush with power, why are we using sticks and leverages against companies? These are partners in British Columbia. Using a leverage and a stick against these companies who have entered a regulatory process, such as Project Coyote, in an environmental assessment process right now — in good faith, I might add — is just the kind of unpredictable and hostile environment that will drive more jobs out of B.C.

Here is yet another candid admission from the minister about the NDP’s cost B.C. framework that is in total shambles. The framework makes “most projects uneconomic to proceed.”

Can the minister explain? Here’s the opportunity for the minister to explain her own memo. Can the minister explain her own words about making most projects uneconomic?

Hon. D. Eby: November 2023, E-One Moli announces a $1 billion battery plant in Maple Ridge — 450 jobs.

January 2023, U.S. company Alkemy X invested $201 million in expanding visual effects operations in Vancouver.

September 2023, Canfor announced $200 million for a new high-efficiency facility in Houston, B.C.

June 2023, Massive Canada announced a $75 million new mass timber manufacturing facility in Williams Lake.

March 2023, DP World completed their $350 million Vancouver port expansion.

September 2022, San Group announced $23 million in the value-added division at Port Alberni.

April 2022, Wētā FX announced $201 million for their international visual effects office outside New Zealand.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Hon. D. Eby: August 2021, Hexagon Purus broke ground on a $237 million battery pack and hydrogen storage facility.

I could go on.

CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM AND
CHILDREN AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT
MINISTRY ACCOUNTABILITY

A. Olsen: Rest assured, the Premier will have his opportunity to continue, but on a different topic. Perhaps with all the exercise the Premier has been getting today, he will finally — finally — answer a question on behalf of the most vulnerable children in our province.

For years, we’ve heard tragic stories. We’ve read the Ministry of Children and Family Development audits and the damning reports from the Representative for Children and Youth. All have painted a picture of a broken child welfare system in British Columbia.

[10:45 a.m.]

This session I have clearly outlined the hypocrisy of this B.C. NDP government, who can’t even hold themselves to the same basic standards that their former leader, John Horgan, had when he demanded the minister protect children and not protect the institution. After hearing yet another tragic story in the Fraser Valley, reading another pathetic ministry audit, I’ve had enough, and for the first time, and only time, I call for the resignation or the firing of a cabinet minister.

There is another story, this time of a judge, Kimberley Arthur-Leung, who excoriated this ministry for failing to deliver the basic standards of social work while holding parents accountable. The judge called for “ethical, moral and legal consequences for the level of neglect.”

To the Premier: what more is there to say? How many more stories do we need to hear and read before this Premier will finally stand up, as he’s been doing all morning, and seriously take action for a serious problem?

Hon. M. Dean: Thank you to the member for the question. I absolutely understand his passion. I understand where the question is coming from.

When I hear of examples where basic practice and policy are not being followed, I also have the same response. I also ask those questions, and I give direction to staff to make sure that, actually, policies and procedures are being followed…

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. M. Dean: …and that I know there is good quality oversight of all of the practice of all of our front-line workers.

Having been a front-line worker myself, I know how important it is to follow basic practices and procedures to make sure that children are seen, that they are supported and that they receive…

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member.

Hon. M. Dean: …all of the services that they need.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Member, supplemental.

A. Olsen: Let the answer stand to provide the example of why we need a new Minister of Children and Family Development. When we are reduced to talking about the most basic level of service not being delivered over and over again — not one audit, not one report but multiple, over and over again — and then that’s the response…. It’s astonishing.

We have been raising policy, good policy ideas, policy ideas that aren’t necessarily ours — they’re shared by the social work community — that can improve the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

We suggested that instead of apprehending children and dooming them to this broken child welfare system this minister is managing, why not put the $135,000 into a fund, make it accessible by the family, get them food and clothing for daycare and other social services they need? Instead of having the social workers…. Why not have them support the family, not destroy them?

We made basic suggestions that social workers in this ministry be required to be members of the College of Social Workers. It protects them and the children from the broken, bureaucratic child welfare system. The B.C. NDP — they’re studying it. The report — unavailable.

It’s clear the Minister of Children and Family Development is totally incapable of the transformational change that her ministry needs. To the Premier….

One more chance to stand up and answer this question, Mr. Premier — one more chance.

When is he going to replace this Minister of Children and Family Development with a serious person, someone who is going to take the job seriously just like they did in the 1990s, maybe with someone from outside of government, and create a child welfare system in this province that we can be proud of?

Hon. M. Dean: Since 2017, we have been making very significant changes in the ministry. This chamber unanimously supported significant legislative change to support Indigenous child welfare jurisdiction.

We have also introduced historical legislation, leading the country to support young people who are leaving the care system and transitioning to adulthood. We have harmonized the rates for in-care and out-of-care, and we’re changing the whole of the in-care system. We’re working on the system and services to support children and youth with support needs.

We have the lowest number of children and youth in care in over 30 years. We have the lowest number of Indigenous children in care in over 20 years.

I know there is a lot more work to do, and I am absolutely determined to continue to make improvements and to change the child welfare system.

[10:50 a.m.]

POLICE SERVICES IN SURREY

J. Rustad: Today the city of Surrey is going to the people of Surrey with an ad campaign showing that this NDP’s Surrey police tax will cost Surrey residents $10,000 per homeowner over a ten-year period, with zero increase in public safety.

Conservatives have been clear. We support democracy. We support a referendum on policing in Surrey so that Surrey taxpayers can make an informed democratic decision. But unfortunately, instead, the Premier has come down on Surrey with an iron fist, and since then, the NDP has been trying to bully, belittle and diminish Mayor Brenda Locke and the Surrey taxpayers.

The question to the Minister of Public Safety: now that the city of Surrey has taken out advertisements to demonstrate how much this brutal NDP tax hike is costing everyday working homeowners, will you admit that this bullying approach has failed, restore democracy and hold a referendum?

Hon. R. Kahlon: Thanks to the member for the question. We have canvassed this issue extensively. This has been a topic in our region for five years now, where the decision, first by an elected council, was made to head towards a regional police service. I do believe the mayor was part of that original slate that ran on having Surrey police.

Now we’ve gone through an extensive review. The Solicitor General has done independent reviews on costing, and it was determined that in order to ensure safety of the public, the police transition needs to continue. That was what was determined.

I think it’s important that the city of Surrey, of course, can do what they believe they need to do. But when we have so many challenges in our communities — we’re struggling with housing; we’re struggling with so many things — surely….

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. R. Kahlon: If the member over there has a question…. I suspect the member should stand up and ask the question. This was asked by the B.C. Conservative Party.

If the mayor wants to address important issues in her community, like housing and other issues, what I would recommend is that instead of spending dollars on this, spend that money on infrastructure so we can get more housing built in our communities.

Mr. Speaker: Member, supplemental.

GOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICIES
AND ROLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR

J. Rustad: I’m sure the residents of Surrey would much rather be spending that $10,000 on that infrastructure as opposed to the NDP’s tax plan.

However, Surrey isn’t the only one suffering across this province. Families all across B.C. are being crushed by this unbelievable weight of the socialist NDP’s anti-homeowner agenda.

This NDP Premier says: “Government cannot rely on the private sector. Government needs to build middle-class housing.” He says that the NDP-built homes, the government-owned homes will be “privatization proof.” In other words, this anti-private-sector NDP plan will actually make it impossible for middle-class workers to own their own home — and build equity, for that matter.

I just want to point out that this approach has been tried in other jurisdictions. Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina, North Korea and even the old Soviet Union took this approach. The reality is….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, the member has the floor.

Please continue.

The member will continue.

J. Rustad: The reality is that socialism kills the middle class, as has been proven time and time again.

Why is this NDP Premier suggesting that the private sector has no role in building housing? Does he really believe that socialism this time could actually work?

Hon. R. Kahlon: I don’t know where to start. It’s not often that I’m lost for words in this place.

I spent the last few days defending our legislation to allow more private-sector homes to be built. I spent two days defending our position on enabling the private-sector to be able to build more housing. And today I’m being told that we’re destroying the private sector.

I don’t know. I don’t believe this is a serious question, but I will say….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Shhh, members. Members.

[10:55 a.m.]

Hon. R. Kahlon: Here’s what we have said consistently. I’ll say it again.

The private sector has a role to play in addressing the housing crisis. That’s why we’re legalizing housing with our legislation. That’s why we’re legalizing housing on single-family lots. That’s why we’re legalizing opportunities for homes near transit.

But we cannot address the housing crisis just by the private sector. There are certain segments of our population that the not-for-profit sector has to play a role in. We’ve said that from the beginning. We need everyone to be part of the solution.

Yes, the private sector has a very important role, and we need to support that. But the non-market housing sector must grow. That’s why we’re investing $7 billion in funding to build affordable housing. That’s why we have a half-a-billion-dollar rental protection fund to get more housing back into the non-market sector. It’s vitally important that we do that.

CARBON EMISSIONS FOR ENERGY PROJECTS

A. Walker: Yesterday in question period, I heard the Premier, as we all did, make statements defending the CleanBC plan and pointing out that 2022 was a record year for exports in British Columbia. The party was jubilant about the idea that we saw a record level of exports and pointed to that success as the CleanBC plan.

Members in this House know our largest export is energy products, and in 2022, we saw a massive increase — a doubling — of the value of coal exports in British Columbia. There is a lack of common sense when the Premier, in defending the CleanBC plan, points to a doubling of coal exports as a measure of success.

My question is to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. We will see, in the next couple of years, some significant energy projects come online: the Trans Mountain Pipeline in one year, LNG Canada two years from now. The Coastal GasLink pipeline is already completed.

The question to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation is: what are the total emissions that we will see in British Columbia…? Not in the downstream emissions. What are the emissions that we will see in British Columbia from these projects — for the pipeline, for the compressor stations and for the fuel we use to transfer this energy across the world?

Hon. G. Heyman: As the member knows, our CleanBC plan is modelled on a 40 percent reduction in emissions from the 2007 baseline by 2030. We’re working hard to meet that. That includes accounting for resource extraction and production in British Columbia. It includes, as the member should know, the emissions upstream and at the facility from LNG Canada phase 1, which was modelled within the plan.

In addition to that, we’re bringing in an emissions cap on the oil and gas sector to meet their sectoral target of 33 to 38 percent.

And the member should know that coal exports from British Columbia are metallurgical coal, among the least carbon-intensive coal in the world. It is used to make steel for things like wind turbines and many other facets of the clean economy.

Mr. Speaker: Member, supplemental.

A. Walker: I listened carefully, and I didn’t get an answer at all.

Yes, we’re exporting coal, and the party seems to be proud of this. That coal gets burned. Whether it’s used to create energy or used to create steel, it still represents significant emissions.

I’m not talking about the downstream emissions. We have seen in the 16 years of the B.C. Liberals, now B.C. United, the total emissions in British Columbia went down by 2.4 megatonnes. Under their watch, emissions went down. We have seen this government reduce emissions by 2.4 megatonnes. Exactly the same.

The question is not about all the great work that’s taking place. I asked very specifically, and I know the minister has the answer. What are the total emissions that these three massive industrial projects will have for British Columbia?

Hon. G. Heyman: Let me correct the member. Emissions went up in British Columbia from 2007 to 2017.

[11:00 a.m.]

When we introduced the CleanBC plan in 2018, they have gone down in absolute terms. They have gone down on per capita terms while our economy has grown, while our population has grown massively. It is significant — below when we took office, and below 2007.

Our efforts to reduce emissions further continue to ramp up. If the member wants exact numbers, I suggest the member access the CleanBC website, where we provide transparent information for all British Columbians.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

S. Furstenau: I rise to seek leave to table a letter from the Nature Trust of British Columbia.

Leave granted.

S. Furstenau: I’d like to enter into the record this letter from the Nature Trust of B.C. responding to comments made by the member for Nechako Lakes on October 5 of this year regarding land acquired by the Nature Trust in the Cowichan Valley, claiming the organization acted unlawfully, in breach of contract.

The letter seeks to correct the record, and that the claims that were made by the member are incorrect and unfounded and was sent to ministers on October 31, 2023.

Hon. L. Beare: I have the honour to present the annual report of the chief records officer.

Petitions

T. Shypitka: I rise to present a petition from 2,739 concerned citizens of East Kootenay and the province of British Columbia, that we have lost our right to accessible health care.

I want to thank and recognize these petitions, which were a culmination between the Triangle Women’s Institute of Grasmere and the Sparwood thrift shop, and respectfully request that the hon. House upgrade the East Kootenay Regional Hospital to fill the medical needs of East Kootenay residents requiring renal, cardiology and oncology, including radiation care and treatment. Until that time, the petitioners strongly recommend access to Lethbridge and Calgary hospitals be granted and available to patients of the East Kootenay.