Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: M. Dykeman.

Introductions by Members

Hon. D. Coulter: As part of Science Meets Parliament today, I’m happy to host three associate and assistant professors and scientists from the program today for a brief shadow and tour and also a lunch.

We have Runa Das, associate professor in the college of interdisciplinary studies at Royal Roads University; Kimberly Thomson, assistant professor at Simon Fraser University, whose research focus includes children’s mental health promotion from a public policy lens; and Travis Salway, assistant professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University.

Would the House please make them feel welcome.

Hon. H. Bains: In the House today are some wonderful people from Surrey-Newton. They are here to watch question period and look around this beautiful building later on today and, hopefully, will drop by for a cup of tea in my office.

They are here to just watch what we do here. They are part of a walking group. They come and have coffee across the street from my office, and I go and listen to their very, very good stories.

They are Yvonne Brennan, Lucie Walker, Elaine Saunders, Joyce Doyle, Gail Carter, Donna Carlaw and Joan Danis. Please help me give them a very, very warm welcome.

Thank you for coming.

R. Merrifield: I’m thrilled, as the champion for the day on behalf of the B.C. United official opposition, to welcome to the House 31 individuals blazing trails as emerging leaders in the science community from across B.C. They are here with the Canadian Science Policy Centre to bring its federal program, Science Meets Parliament, to the Legislature.

Many members of our caucus will be meeting with these incredible scientists to promote dialogue and help strengthen the connections between B.C. scientific and political communities so they can learn about policy-making in the Legislative Assembly.

Would the House please join me in welcoming our Science Meets Parliament guests to the House.

K. Chen: Today we have about 150 members and friends from the North American Taiwanese Women’s Association, NATWA, visiting the Legislature from all over Canada and North America. Given their group size, they won’t join QP, but I do want to give a special thanks to our parliamentary education office, especially Sally Lee, for organizing their visit today.

I also want to thank Ms. Cecilia Chueh, 陳慧中老師, chén huì zhōng lǎo shī, for bringing these visitors, as we also shared how B.C. is special to Taiwanese Canadians.

We have four MLAs with a Taiwanese background. I am also honoured to be the first Taiwanese Canadian to be appointed to the B.C. cabinet, and the first one to retire too.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the contributions of many Taiwanese Canadians and also hope these friends from NATWA enjoy their visit.

[10:10 a.m.]

S. Chant: I, too, have had the opportunity to meet with a couple of our scientists, and I am just dumbstruck by the work and method that they bring to doing what they’re doing.

One of them, Paweena Sukhawathanakul, is working with the school systems in trying to integrate mental health as an ongoing component, as an expectation in the schools. We’ve been doing a lot of work in that area, and what she’s doing is looking at making it so that it’s just a given, just a part of being in schools, rather than a pilot here or what this school district is doing there. She’s doing amazing work.

Then we have Andrea Mellor. Now, it’s very complicated for me to try and explain. She’s a psychologist and is working towards understanding how to support our street-entrenched youths to try and get beyond where they’re at and try and make it so that they have a life beyond “Where’s the next meal?” or other things.

The work that they are doing is phenomenal. They’re both out of University of Victoria. I am delighted to have them with me today.

I hope this House can make them feel truly welcome and honour and respect the work that they are doing.

B. D’Eith: Today is one of my favourite days. It’s B.C. Book Day.

I wanted to mention that B.C. Book Day was actually established by former Speaker Linda Reid and the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. We’re really grateful for that. It’s a great day to celebrate publishing, magazines and the book industry in British Columbia.

I wanted to say we have got lots of folks in the precinct today. We’ve got Leslie Bootle, who’s the executive director of Books B.C.; Sylvia Skene, who’s the executive director of Magazines B.C.; Laraine Coates, who’s the director of marketing and business development at UBC Press and vice-chair of Books B.C.

We’ve got Don Gorman, who’s publisher of Rocky Mountain Books and chair of Books B.C.; and Brian Lam, publisher at Arsenal Pulp Press; Alina Cerminara, who’s the publisher at FOLKLIFE; Barb Risto, the publisher at INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine; Nina Wagner, who’s group VP of publishing and operations in Canada Wide Media and Alive Publishing Group.

Of course, we’ve got Prem Gill here, from Creative B.C.; Wendy Atkinson, who’s the publisher at Ronsdale Press; and Lora McKay, who is a senior director with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

As parliamentary secretary, I wanted to welcome you all to B.C. Book Day.

Thanks, everybody.

B. Anderson: Today I have a really special guest in the gallery, Cameron Wetter. He is a third-year political science student at UBC.

Cameron is from Nelson, and I am really delighted. This is his first time watching question period. He also worked at the Nelson and District Community Complex, where my mom works. She’s known Cameron for a really long time.

I’m really excited for him to get to see the proceedings in the House today. He’s also joining us for the lunch with scientists.

Can this whole House please make him feel very welcome.

S. Furstenau: I have some very special guests in the gallery today.

I’m really delighted to introduce Grace Garraway. Grace is a grade 10 student at Vic High, and she’s shadowing me today. Grace is interested in rowing. She likes to read true crime and hopes to be a pediatrician. It’s really great to meet Grace and to spend some time with her.

I also have another special guest, Gabe Luna, who is shadowing me today. Gabe is a UVic student. He’s studying creative writing and political science. He has taken peace and conflict and multimedia art courses and recovery advocacy. Gabe is a very special guest. I have known Gabe since he was a wee baby. His parents, John and Julie Luna, are two of my dearest and closest friends, and it’s such a delight to have Gabe here today.

With them is also a friend of mine, Naomi Devine. Naomi is a master communicator and strategist, but what impresses me most about Naomi is that she doesn’t do cold-water dipping. She goes swimming for half an hour or more in the ocean. I’m so impressed by that capacity to stay in cold water. I do not have it.

[10:15 a.m.]

A shout-out to the Science Meets Parliament group. I really enjoyed our conversation yesterday morning. I look forward to spending more time with them.

And it’s wonderful to see Mayor Silas White up in the gallery as well.

There are lots of friendly faces in the gallery today. Would the House make them all most welcome.

D. Routley: As a previous speaker noted, it is B.C. Book Day, and Gabriola Island is in the House.

I would like to welcome New Society Publishers. They’re a publishing house that helps build a just and ecologically sustainable society. New Society was the first carbon-neu­tral publishing house in North America. Joining us are publisher Julie Raddysh and sales manager EJ Hurst.

Let’s make them all welcome.

N. Simons: My friend from Cowichan Valley introduced the mayor of Gibsons, Silas White, here. Thank you for that.

It’s nice to see you, Silas.

Silas is also here as the publisher of Nightwood Editions, and he’s representing Douglas and McIntyre as well as Harbour Publishing. Sunshine Coast is well represented in this House.

Thank you, and let’s make Silas welcome.

H. Yao: I do have two introductions to make today.

Firstly, I want to wish Chi Yuen Young a happy 90th birthday. For anybody who’s been attending other community events and engaging our community in a suppor­tive way, we all know who he is. He’s the one who is 90 years old, still carries a lovely camera, always strikes up a joke and makes sure we are all entertained by his lovely presence and always sharing a photo with us.

The second introduction I would like to introduce is the B.C. Winter Games 2024. We know it has been quite a success in B.C., and we have quite a few constituents who are participating in the games. I would like to recognize many of them, and bear with me if I butcher anybody’s last name. We will try to send a proper spelling to Hansard.

We have Cynthia K.A. Wan Lei from badminton, Sora Murakami from figure skating, Haru Murakami from karate. We have Toshihide Uchiage, karate coach; Kira Hodge, ringette coach assistant; and Hamza Elburai, wheelchair basketball.

Thank you everybody, and please join us and congratulate everybody, every one of them.

S. Chandra Herbert: It gives me great pleasure to welcome Wendy Atkinson, a constituent of the West End, here. She’s the publisher of Ronsdale Press.

I would urge members to pick up Ronsdale Press’s books — great B.C. authors, great B.C. history, incredible stories — and thank Wendy for picking up the mantle of Ronsdale after Ron Hatch, who had long been the publisher and a constituent as well, passed away. Wendy has revitalized the publication house and is bringing great titles to our shelves, and I thank her for it.

A. Walker: I want to introduce to the House two incredible scientists that I met this morning through the Science Meets Parliament committee.

Nisha from TRU is doing some incredible work as far as trying to screen for breast cancer, as well as advanced cattle genomics.

Xuekui, all the way from the University of Victoria, is doing some incredible work right now trying to diagnose COPD for treatment, among other interesting things.

I thank them for coming and hope the House can make them feel very welcome.

J. Rice: I, too, have two scientists visiting today that I am struggling to connect with, so this is my shameless, shameless ask, because I’ve tried by email, and I had no responses.

I am booked all day, but if someone could take duty from 11 to 12 or sometime between 1:30 and 3 p.m. — 11 to 12 is preferable for my scientists, I believe — I could actually meet with them. If I don’t get to meet with them, I’m happy to introduce anyone here that’s interested to them, because they have really interesting research topics.

Kaylee Byers….

The Speaker: Member, no electronics.

J. Rice: Oh, okay.

Kaylee and Heather, I sincerely apologize.

Kaylee Byers…. Actually, I know people are interested in this topic. I know nothing about it, but it’s chronic wasting disease. Her research is around that.

[10:20 a.m.]

Then for Heather Palis, she’s actually looking at substance use disorder and the fact that so many of us, so many of our constituents, are suffering from this.

However, here I’m going to hypothesize what I think her hypotheses are. A lot of people are misdiagnosed. I don’t believe so many people spontaneously pop out with substance use disorder, that there are other co-morbid conditions. I want to give you one example. This is something I’m passionate about. Twenty-eight percent of people who are referred to a mood disorder clinic had undiagnosed ADHD. That’s what I was hoping to talk to her about.

Thank you. Make them feel welcome.

The Speaker: If any other scientist was not introduced, I introduce all of you.

Welcome. All of you are most welcome.

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

CHETWYND AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL
FOUNDATION AND FUNDRAISING

M. Bernier: This Saturday in Chetwynd, the hospital foundation will be holding their annual gala, and it will once again be a sold-out event.

In 2022, that saw their first attempt at a big fundraising event. That year they were able to raise enough money from community members and business supporters to purchase an ultrasound machine. This year, thanks to everyone involved, the plan is to try to raise enough money to purchase two ECG machines and a bladder scanner.

With all the challenges that Chetwynd has been facing in recruiting and retaining much-needed doctors and nurses, and the hospital being forced into ongoing diversions because of that, the passionate and concerned people in Chetwynd are not giving up. The community members keep stepping up and trying to manage what is at least in their control, which is staying positive and doing what they can to support and promote the much-needed health services in our region.

Foundation board members Melanie Maracle, Kelly Berg, Laura Howes, Janet Wark, Jackalynn Redenbach, Jen Parrish, Fiona Klassen and Kayla Strachan deserve a tremendous thank-you from all of us for devoting so much of their time supporting the hospital and doing all the hard work to hold fundraisers, like this weekend’s gala, in order to fill the gaps and bring in the much-needed equipment and supports all the people in Chetwynd and surrounding area need.

This will be an exciting event, titled the Gatsby Gala. I can tell you that the people in Chetwynd pull out all the stops and throw one of the best galas in the Peace region. It’s an event that I am again excited to be going to with my family.

I’m always proud to be supporting this important community group and the people who live in Chetwynd.

B.C. BOOK DAY

K. Paddon: I rise in the House today to recognize British Columbia’s tenth annual B.C. Book Day.

I know so many of us have memories of either being read to or reading the stories of this beautiful province. As part of B.C. Creative Industries Week, B.C. Book Day is an opportunity for British Columbians to celebrate the impact of the book publishing industry on the province and how it’s shaping B.C.’s creative landscape. It brings our stories, culture and literature to millions of readers at homes, in schools and around the world.

In B.C., we recognize the value, the immense transformative effect, of literature. Books expose us to diverse perspectives, experiences and ideas, fostering empathy, awareness and greater understanding. Books can also inspire personal growth, motivate us to set goals, expand our point of view and engage our critical thinking. All of this is often a catalyst for positive change and social connection that improves our quality of life.

B.C. has the second-largest English-language book publishing market in Canada. In 2022, this vital part of B.C.’s creative sector contributed $74 million to the GDP and provided 679 jobs, employing 3,288 people, including freelancers. In 2023, we announced $600,000 in funding for books and magazine publishers over three years as part of our historic $42 million for the creative sector.

[10:25 a.m.]

I know at home on my reading list, next comes Like Joyful Tears by David Starr, a Ronsdale Press selection.

Today, in honour of B.C. Book Day, I’d like everybody to join the hard-working people in the publishing industry in the rotunda, where they’re spotlighting many of B.C.’s talented writers, authors, as well as our dedicated editors and publishers. We have so much talent to be proud of in this province.

Can I please ask all the members of this House to join me in applauding British Columbians working in B.C.’s book industry.

Happy B.C. Book Day.

RICHMOND POVERTY REDUCTION
COALITION AND WORK OF DEIRDRE WHALEN

T. Wat: Today I rise to recognize and echo the persistent and commendable efforts of Deirdre Whalen, president of the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition.

Ms. Whalen’s recent correspondence with our government highlights urgent concerns that affect our constituents in Richmond and resonate across our province. Ms. Whalen has been a staunch advocate for providing free transit for youth between the ages of 13 and 18 to reduce barriers and enhance accessibility for our young residents. This initiative supports our shared vision for a sustainable, inclusive community where young people can thrive with­out the financial burden of transportation costs.

Ms. Whalen emphasized that such programs empower our youth, promoting independence and facilitating greater participation in educational and social activities. Furthermore, Ms. Whalen’s critique of the Childcare B.C. plan draws our attention to the pressing need for more effective and equitable child care solutions in Richmond.

Richmond lags behind in achieving the targets set by affordable child care, impacting families and caretakers who depend on these essential services. In light of this, it is imperative that we, as legislators, reassess our approaches and support initiatives like those proposed by the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition. Their recommendation calls for a more holistic and inclusive framework that truly addresses the need of our community, particularly our most vulnerable populations.

Let us take this moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of advocates like Deirdre Whalen. Their commitment to public welfare challenges us to match their passion with actionable policy that addres­ses these critical issues.

WATERSHED RESTORATION AND PROTECTION

F. Donnelly: Often in politics you get to work on the things you love, but as Parliamentary Secretary for Watershed Restoration, I’ve been working with First Nations and communities that want to restore watersheds and grow B.C.’s restoration economy.

Healthy watersheds support local economies and create resilient communities. Watersheds like the Fraser, Columbia, Skeena, Taku and the Cowichan produce clean, abun­dant water along with plants and animals we rely on for free until they don’t.

With increasing floods, wildfires and droughts, it’s time to protect the best and restore the rest. Investing in the watershed sector is not only necessary to support growing communities, but economically, B.C. could be a global leader in water solutions where global demand is predicted to reach $1.5 trillion by 2028.

Last year the B.C.–First Nations Water Table announced an unprecedented $100 million investment in healthy watersheds, and we invested $85 million for B.C.’s salmon restoration fund. This year in our budget we invested $103 million to help farmers retain water on their land. These investments demonstrate the tip of the iceberg in terms of opportunities in watershed restoration, Indigenous guardians, water tech and monitoring. But we need other partners at the table, like the federal government, private sector and philanthropy.

Many nations, municipalities and conservation organizations have been hard at it for years, advocating for and restoring watersheds like Cowichan Tribes, Polis, Watersheds B.C., B.C. freshwater legacy, PSF, First Nations Fisheries Council, the LFFA, UFFCA, the Nechako Watershed Roundtable, Watershed Watch, Redd Fish, Raincoast, Rivershed, Resilient Waters, and the list goes on.

Building a strong, water-secure future requires shared approaches to protecting and restoring watersheds. Let’s work together to advance a restoration economy.

[10:30 a.m.]

MOUNT BOUCHERIE BEARS ROBOTICS TEAM

B. Stewart: Last month I celebrated the Mount Bou­cherie Bears robotics team’s first-place finish at the Canadian Pacific Regionals here in Victoria, which earned them a spot in the championships in Houston, Texas.

After the impressive win at the Canadian Pacific Regionals, the team immediately returned to West Kelowna, where they immediately started fundraising on a campaign to cover their travel and expenses to Houston, Texas. Many families and friends donated to the GoFundMe website, while parents coordinated a comedy night fundraiser.

Our thanks go out to the many community and core sponsors, including On Side Restoration, Sundeck railings, Gorman Bros. Lumber and Emil Anderson Group, whose supports were instrumental.

Together with my colleague the MLA for Kelowna-Mission, we were honoured to play a role in helping these bright young minds reach Houston. Watching them, with great anticipation, compete at the first robotics competition last weekend was not just a privilege; it was an inspiring experience.

In Houston, the MBSS team showed remarkable ten­acity and skills. They engaged with many like-minded youth from across the world, all sharing a passion for science, technology, engineering, mathematics and future innovation. The MBSS robotics team, with teacher Mike Boulanger, stood as proud ambassadors for West Kelowna and western Canada, exemplifying gracious professionalism and immense pride.

Before leaving Houston, they were already making plans to grow the team through community outreach, setting their sights on returning to the world championships for years to come. Community support and sponsorship are vital to make their dreams come true. West Kelowna, let’s keep that dream alive.

For those that wish to help, please contact Mount Boucherie Secondary School for more information on how to contribute.

Go, Bears, go!

NORTH SHORE RESCUE
AND NEURODIVERGENCE INCLUSION

S. Chant: I want to acknowledge I am speaking on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, specifically the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, and I thank them for the opportunity to live and work here.

Additionally, I am fortunate to live, work and learn on the unceded territory of the səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations when I am in my riding of North Vancouver–Seymour.

Established in 1965, North Shore Rescue stands as one of Canada’s oldest search and rescue teams, providing invaluable support on the local mountains of North and West Vancouver and extending assistance throughout the province, the country and occasionally abroad. Under the leadership of Mike Danks, who is the chief of the North Van district fire service, North Shore Rescue volunteers are prepared to respond to emergencies anytime, anywhere, in any weather, a dedication showcased in their upcoming second season television series.

Over the years, North Shore Rescue has been involved in numerous call-outs pertaining to aiding the neurodivergent community, utilizing ground teams, advanced helicopter flight teams, trained search dogs and forward-looking infrared technology. These operations range from searches for missing individuals on local trails or urban areas to those in the back country, typically initiated due to elopement or accidental separation from groups.

The team’s commitment to readiness and inclusivity is evident in their ongoing efforts to develop inclusive outdoor safety search and rescue educational materials and a video with particular focus on the neurodivergent and developmentally disabled community that is set for release in September of 2024. North Shore Rescue’s journey towards inclusivity has involved formalized autism training, the creation of sensitivity kits for vehicles, revamped guidelines for neurodivergent individuals, specialized search protocols and the integration of new behaviour profiles into search management strategy.

Their dedication ensures that every individual, regardless of their neurodiversity, can be safely reunited with their families.

Gratitude is extended to all North Shore volunteers for their unwavering service.

Oral Questions

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM
AND ILLICIT DRUG USE IN
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

R. Merrifield: Well, the Premier and the Health Minister have consistently ignored the evidence presented in a leaked memo from Northern Health, as well as the courageous testimonials and voices of nurses. All of these sources reveal that the NDP policy directly supports illicit drug use within hospitals.

Now, a shocking second memo from Island Health has been leaked, dated March 12, 2024, directing acute care staff to not only accommodate but actively support drug use in health facilities.

[10:35 a.m.]

The guidelines in the memo are very clearly worded and are intended to facilitate illicit drug use in the hospital. Here’s what it says: “During admission, expectations, co-create a plan for substance use during admission.”

Why is the Premier actively facilitating open, illicit drug use in our hospitals, and when will he adopt B.C. United’s policy to end his failed and reckless decriminalization experiment?

Hon. A. Dix: The position of the government is that we’ll take all steps to protect all patients in our hospitals and provide them with a high quality of care. In order to support that, there will be one policy, across British Columbia, that lays out the expectations for everyone involved very clearly. Members of the House and others in British Columbia will see that policy soon.

We are working with nurses, health sciences professionals, health care workers and experts in the field to ensure that that protects health care workers, protects patients — all patients — and ensures that people get a high quality of care, including those who are in our hospitals dealing with substance use issues, and we’re going to continue to do so.

Part of that process, surely, is to engage with all patients entering hospital to ensure that they’re supported in every possible way. We’re going to continue to take the steps necessary to protect patients, to protect staff and to protect everyone who has to be, contrary to what they want, admitted into acute care hospitals.

The Speaker: Kelowna-Mission, supplemental.

R. Merrifield: Further study and more delay is not going to fix this. The second leaked internal memo is as shocking as the first, and it’s dated mere weeks ago. The memo instructs staff clearly: “Instead of requiring patients to stop using substances when they access care, staff must work collaboratively with patients.”

It goes further, telling staff to follow patient-identified, substance-use goals in the hospital; provide drug-testing strips; ensure the easy availability of supplies; regularly empty sharps disposal containers; and co-create a plan for substance use during admission.

This memo directly contradicts the Premier’s and the Health Minister’s denials and exposes their claims as false.

Why is the Premier refusing to even admit to the truth, and will he finally adopt B.C. United’s policy to end his disastrous decriminalization experiment?

Hon. A. Dix: We are very clear now that we need to act, in hospitals, in the interests of everybody. Everyone who goes to a hospital deserves the highest quality of care. Everybody who goes to a hospital needs to leave hospital healthier than they went in.

Everybody needs to be protected. That includes people who are in a hospital with no substance use issues at all, with very serious other concerns which you have to have to be admitted to an acute care hospital. It means nurses, doctors, health sciences professionals and health care workers, who work with all patients in our hospitals.

Of course, when people go into a hospital, we have to engage with them, with the health issues that they face. Staff will continue to do that, to provide the utmost possible care to everyone in our hospital.

Let me be clear to everybody. Nobody should have to face secondhand smoke in our hospital. That’s not allowed. It won’t be allowed. It isn’t allowed. Their interests need to be protected.

We have added very significant security staff. I know the opposition is against this.

Interjections.

Hon. A. Dix: Well, they’ve expressed that view in the House.

Some 320 relational security staff to support our health care workers, at the request and recommendation of the BCNU and the HEU and others, and we’ll continue to take those actions.

S. Bond: Well, first of all, let me make the record very clear. The minister knows that just as recently as yesterday, I asked him to make sure that nurses in Merritt and Quesnel had the security that they need and deserve. Let’s get the record straight about who supports what in this Legislature.

[10:40 a.m.]

We should also be clear. The minister stands up and says he’s doing everything possible. I asked him weeks ago to issue a directive to deal with the issue of illicit drug use in hospitals. He refused.

Just when you think it can’t get any worse, the leaked memo, the second one, exposes an even more dangerous directive. Nurses are now, shockingly, being instructed to teach patients how to inject illicit drugs directly into their intravenous lines. The Island Health directive explicitly states: “If a patient has an IV or catheter, provide education on injecting into lines.”

The minister can say it isn’t allowed. It is happening every single day in hospitals across the province.

When is this minister or this Premier going to do the right thing, listen to nurses and health care professionals and end this disastrous decriminalization?

Hon. A. Dix: I’ve been doing exactly that. It’s why…. We put in place the relational security model and added 320 relational security officers at the support and instigation of nurses in British Columbia who were opposed to a privatized model that had been put in place by the previous government.

We are working….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. A. Dix: I have been clear that the rules will be the same in every hospital in B.C. Included in that process are direct discussions we have had with nurses, with health science professionals, with health care workers, with doctors, with ambulance paramedics in B.C. over the last number of months, in the last number of weeks and in the last few days.

We are going to continue to take steps to ensure that the rules are understood, that the rules are applied and that protections for all patients that go in the hospital…. Every one of them deserves care and respect. Every one of them will be enforced and applied, and we’re going to continue to do that.

The Speaker: Prince George–Valemount, supplemental.

S. Bond: For the minister’s information, here’s what the current rules are telling nurses in British Columbia they have to do. Nurses are told to train patients on how to inject illicit drugs into their veins through IV lines. They are told to create a plan for substance use during admission. They are told to facilitate patient-identified substance use goals by providing burner kits with crack pipes and matches.

Does the minister actually think that nurses should be forced to endure daily exposure to aggressive and volatile behaviour and drug use that puts them and patients at risk? It’s time the minister listened to the nurses who are standing up across this province and begging him to do something.

It is time for this minister to acknowledge that those are the rules that are currently in place. He had the opportunity to issue a directive. He refused to do it, leaving our nurses and patients at risk in hospitals.

Will he get up today, do the right thing and end the decriminalization experiment?

Hon. A. Dix: Everyone who is admitted to an acute care hospital deserves the best possible care. Everyone needs to have their interests protected.

Many people, of course, the vast majority, enter with no substance abuse issues but serious health issues. Their interests need to be protected. If someone has a car accident and ends up in hospital, their interest needs to be protected. Everyone’s interests need to be protected. When students come into the hospital, their needs and their interests have to be understood by the care staff, and that will continue to happen.

I’ll tell you, hon. Speaker. Rules will be in place. Rules will be applied.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. A. Dix: What we’re doing and what the….

I know the hon. member for Prince George–Vale­mount meets with nurses. I meet with nurses. Again and again, I hear their views. I hear their passion for supporting their patients and the absolute need…. We have to support nurses and ensure that people are safe — and health sciences professionals and health care workers and ambulance paramedics and people who work in the community.

They all deserve our support and protection, and they will have it.

[10:45 a.m.]

BIOSOLIDS USE AND ORGANIC MATTER
RECYCLING REGULATION

A. Olsen: Yesterday was Earth Day. So it’s important that the Minister of Environment answer some questions about our environment.

In 2011, the current Minister of Environment wrote to the Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Commission, asking us to maintain a ban on the land application of biosolids within the capital regional district. I was a member of that commission. I was a commissioner on the commission that the minister wrote, encouraging…. I agreed with the minister, and my vote on the record reflects that.

There was strong evidence then, just as there is strong evidence now, that the accumulation of pharmaceuticals, personal care products and PFAS — perfluoroalkyls, polyfluoroalkyls — can accumulate and concentrate in bio­solids. PFAS are also known as forever chemicals. They’re dangerous to human health and the environment. Scientific evidence showed 13 years ago that we should be concerned, and the evidence has only strengthened on that matter.

Instead of updating the organic matter regulation, this Minister of Environment, in 2019, wrote to the CRD re­quiring them to consider the land application of biosolids. It’s unacceptable that the Minister of Environment permits the toxic material to be applied to lands across the province.

My question is to the Minister of Environment. Will he immediately update the organic matter regulation and require this to be before the end of this parliamentary session?

Hon. G. Heyman: Thank you to the member for the question.

There are a lot of complicated issues related to biosolids. As the member noted, he supported previous direction from the ministry for a number of reasons. One of which is that we want the most beneficial use. Another of which is that we want to ensure that we are not adding to greenhouse gas emissions by simply landfilling biosolids.

We are working with regional districts to find beneficial uses. We are also updating, on a regular basis, our information and data about the presence of contaminants of concern in biosolids and constantly updating our standards in that regard.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

A. Olsen: I didn’t say that I previously supported the ministry. What I said was….

I previously agreed with the minister when he was the executive director of the Sierra Club, when he was writing to the Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Commission, en­couraging us to maintain a ban on the land application of biosolids. That’s what I was supporting. It was the minister, in his former role, with his former belief that we should not be applying biosolids on the land.

The minister has been responsible for the Ministry of Environment for the past seven years, and he has been negligent in updating the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. In fact, we knew 13 years ago that the regulation was grossly inadequate. It remains the same today.

In 2011, we demanded the CRD and the province operate from the precautionary principle on biosolids. That’s basically what we’re requesting the Minister of Environment do now, more than a decade later. Instead, the minister has deployed the opposite approach, failing to modernize the OMR and failing to require the proper testing of that material.

He said to my colleague in budget estimates just last week that he was going to amend it so the director could require sampling. How is it that we’re not having basic sampling of this waste material?

My question is, again, to the Minister of Environment. Will he require the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation to be updated before this place adjourns and goes to another election and we go into another parliament where this Minister of Environment has failed to protect the interests of our environment and the citizens of British Columbia?

Hon. G. Heyman: What I would say to the member, and to all members of this House, is…. We are constantly updating our information base. We are constantly updating our regulations. We take the concerns of British Columbians in communities around the province very seriously. It is difficult to satisfy everyone.

The fact is, as a society, we produce contaminants. We need to address them in the best way possible. We need to ensure that we are protecting all of our communities against climate change and simply burying the problem.

[10:50 a.m.]

I receive regular reports from staff on their progress with the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. We are looking at it. As I mentioned earlier, we are reviewing the science and searching for more science on contaminants of emerging concern.

We’ll continue that work. That work will continue today, next week, and it will continue with governments in future mandates.

RECOGNITION OF ABORIGINAL TITLE
AND POTENTIAL COMPENSATION

J. Rustad: Now that Bill 25 is before the House, this bill sets out an unprecedented recognition of Aboriginal title underneath private land. That has never been done before. According to case law, recognition or alienation of Aboriginal title requires compensation.

My question, quite frankly, is to the Minister of Finance. Since there is going to be Aboriginal title recognized under private land, and there is undetermined Aboriginal title right across this province, how much is the minister putting aside, in the recognition of Aboriginal title, in all areas across this province that will be alienating private land?

Hon. M. Rankin: Thank you to my colleague for the question.

Yesterday’s historic recognition of Aboriginal title in Haida Gwaii was unprecedented. Never before has a bill been introduced to do what the courts have asked us to do. Never before in our history have we not responded to a court case but, rather, introduced a bill to address….

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member.

Also, Minister, this bill is in front of the House, so I don’t think we should be dealing with this in question period.

Member, if you have another question, we’ll take that.

J. Rustad: Hon. Speaker, the issue is not the bill that’s before the House. I respect your guidance on this. The issue is Aboriginal title being recognized and the fact that Aboriginal title could exist anywhere around this province.

The precedent has now been set. This is going to create a tremendous amount of liability for the province of British Columbia — for example, in downtown Vancouver or downtown Victoria, anywhere around the province.

The question around this: with this liability that is now being created, has the Minister of Finance put aside money in a budget associated with this, but more importantly, is this NDP government planning to do this onto taxpayers, or are they going to put that burden onto the landowners themselves?

Hon. M. Rankin: Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this question.

Yesterday’s introduction of Bill 25 was about the specific request that we settle a lawsuit in order to recognize Aboriginal title in British Columbia. There was no commensurate requirement for compensation sought during that time.

Under treaty, of course, we do have fiscal arrangements that the governments of Canada and British Columbia enter into and pass, by legislation at both the federal and provincial level, in which compensation going forward is the case. Redress is often requested, but that was not the subject of yesterday’s bill, and that will not be forthcoming as a consequence of Bill 25.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM
AND ILLICIT DRUG USE IN
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

E. Sturko: Just like the first leaked health authority memo, the memo from Island Health tells nurses, “Offer supplies, and ensure they are easily accessible,” actively promoting drug use within hospitals.

Moreover, acute care nurses who encounter patients using illicit substances are explicitly instructed to stand by and allow them to finish. A frustrated nurse highlights the NDP hypocrisy: “We are handing out supplies, and then we get mad…for smoking in the hospital. We give them the equipment.”

Why is the Premier distributing crack pipes and nee­dles, sponsoring drug use inside hospitals instead of ending his disastrous policy and protecting health care workers?

Hon. A. Dix: What we’re doing is taking specific actions to ensure that everybody in the hospital is safe and gets a high quality of care.

I would say this starts with, as well, people who enter the hospital who have no substance abuse issues. They deserve a high quality of care. They deserve to have a smoke-free environment. They deserve to be protected equally. Staff and their interests need to be protected as well.

[10:55 a.m.]

People who come into the hospital with addiction is­sues…. Of course, when anyone ever comes into the hospital with issues, we need health care professionals to know what those issues are, so that they can address those issues.

What we are doing, and what we’ll have in British Columbia, are clear rules everywhere. The rules are the same in Fort St. John as they are in Comox, as they are in Vancouver, as they are in Cranbrook, so that everybody understands what the rules are, that we will continue to support our staff through actions like the relational security measure and that people will know, for example, that it is not allowed to smoke in hospital, not allowed to do those things.

We will be very clear, and it is our absolute intention to continue to enforce that.

The Speaker: Surrey South, supplemental.

REPORT ON SAFE DRUG SUPPLY
AND DIVERSION TO ILLICIT MARKET

E. Sturko: Not everyone is getting high-quality care. Not everyone is safe in the hospital. The NDP have absolutely handcuffed the ability to deal with these problems through decriminalization.

Regardless of this minister saying that it’s not allowed, it is happening. The NDP’s failed decriminalization policy in our hospitals has been an unmitigated disaster, stripping police of their ability to do anything about the chaos. The Premier has turned hospitals and pharmacies into drug-dealing hot spots, and he has placed communities at risk.

Yesterday I raised that the NDP is concealing a secret report by Dr. Jonathan Caulkins. Additional information that we’ve received says that that report looks at the NDP’s legalization of hard drugs in British Columbia.

Will the Premier table Dr. Caulkins’s report today and end his failed experiment of taxpayer-funded drug trafficking and decriminalization?

Hon. A. Dix: Yesterday, numerous opposition members asserted that the Premier had commissioned such a report. He hadn’t. Presumably, they know that he hadn’t, because the question is framed differently today.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member.

Minister will continue.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. The minister has the floor.

Minister will continue.

Hon. A. Dix: The members of the House will know that Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, under her authority, is doing a review of these policies. A report was issued on February 1. She said very publicly at that time that there’d be a follow-up report in the next four or five months.

As part of that work, she commissioned Dr. Caulkins to do a paper on issues related to the economics of safe supply, which seems like a normal thing to do.

Dr. Caulkins — I wasn’t familiar with this work or this commissioning but do know…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Members.

Minister.

Hon. A. Dix: …that Dr. Henry commissioned this re­port. Her report will be coming out, it’s our expectation, in May or June. There will be appendices to that report, and this research paper will be provided as part of that.

She’s seeking this work because Dr. Henry reaches out to different opinions and wants different opinions on the subject to support her work that she does on behalf of the people of British Columbia, what you’d expect her to do. That’s why the report was commissioned. It will be made public at the time of Dr. Henry’s next report to the public on this issue.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM
AND COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUES

T. Wat: The NDP MLA for Richmond-Queensborough boasted just two weeks ago, “Decriminalization works,” but that’s not true. This NDP’s drug experiment has un­leashed crime, chaos and disorder. Police are now powerless because of this NDP legalized drug use in hospitals, in parks and on beaches.

Residents of Richmond reject the NDP’s reckless drug consumption sites and decriminalization policy.

Why won’t the Premier end his failed experiment and accept B.C. United’s plan to protect our community?

[11:00 a.m.]

Hon. J. Whiteside: Look, I think what all British Columbians agree on is that we need to move away from criminalizing people who are struggling with addictions. This is particularly critical at this time, given the devastating impacts of the toxic drug crisis, and decriminalization is a tool that helps us achieve that.

It is a tool that we put in place in concert with partners in law enforcement and health care and our municipal partners to achieve that end. It is a tool that had support from all members of this House, including the member who raised the question.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members will wait for their turn.

Minister….

Members. Members will come to order.

Member for Cariboo-Chilcotin, wait for your turn.

The minister will continue.

Hon. J. Whiteside: It is troubling to see members say one thing one day and another thing another day when it comes to this issue.

In a circumstance where we lost seven British Colum­bians yesterday, we will lose seven British Columbians today, and we will lose seven tomorrow, and that is because every single jurisdiction across the country, across the continent is dealing with a poisoned….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, it’s not very smart to interrupt others, please.

Member, it’s not funny either. Member for Skeena.

Next question. The minister will complete….

Hon. J. Whiteside: I will continue, potentially without interruption.

The question was asked about decriminalization. I un­derstand that British Columbians want us both to shift away from criminalizing people who are struggling with addictions who need to be connected to care and, at the same time, of course, they don’t want to give up their public spaces in that process.

The Speaker: Thank you.

Hon. J. Whiteside: We are taking action to ensure that we work with our policing partners so that they have the tools that they need and so that we work with our health care system to ensure that British Columbians have access to the care that they need.

That is why we have a record expansion of treatment services across the province. That is why we have introduced legislation around public use. That’s work that we will continue to do with our partners…

The Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

Hon. J. Whiteside: …to ensure that in the context of this public health emergency, we protect British Columbians.

The Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

The minister will take her seat.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM
AND GOVERNMENT ACTION ON ISSUES

P. Milobar: I guess I will have to combine two questions into one after that four-minute non-answer.

Let’s be clear. This government applied to the federal government for a decriminalization certificate before the committee had even been struck to talk about decriminalization. It was also part of their….

Now, I know this government has a problem following through on campaign promises, but decrim was actually in their 2020 campaign as well about fast-tracking decriminalization. This is all on the Premier and this government. Every single day the evidence keeps mounting and mounting about their failed decriminalization policies that they’ve put in place.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, let’s….

P. Milobar: They have not enacted the other things that they should have around safeguards, around making sure that health care workers felt safe, around making sure that people that share a two- or a four-bed ward in a hospital room aren’t having to endure meth, crack and fentanyl being smoked in their room or supplies being forced to be given out by health care professionals or having to watch addicts inject themselves with their own intravenous systems based on guidance by health care professionals on memos provided by health authorities.

We now have 205 health authorities providing that guidance, yet the minister wants to pretend it’s not actually happening. It is absolutely a failure in every single way.

Let’s look at these last few weeks in this session. The Land Act. B.C. United….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. All members. Members.

P. Milobar: The Government House Leader seems a little offended.

The Speaker: Members, shhh. Calm down.

Member, continue.

[11:05 a.m.]

P. Milobar: B.C. United puts pressure on the government about the Land Act. Poof! It magically disappears.

B.C. United is putting pressure on Bill 12. Just yesterday the Attorney General and Premier were adamant that Bill 12 was going to keep moving forward. Today, poof! It magically disappears.

The Speaker: Question.

P. Milobar: Well, B.C. United has been putting pressure on this government to end decriminalization today. If they won’t end it today, will they at least be consistent and end it tomorrow?

Hon. R. Kahlon: Speaking of pressure, first the Leader of the Opposition supports our initiatives to ensure their safety in Surrey, for Surrey police. Then the B.C. Conservatives come along and change the position.

Interjections.

Hon. R. Kahlon: Oh no, no. They were happy to talk about pressure a moment ago.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

Members will come to order now, and the House Leader will conclude his remarks.

Hon. R. Kahlon: I will conclude my remarks by saying this. The members are talking about pressure. We clearly know where the pressure is coming for them.

Every single day, our priority in this government is to support British Columbians — support people when they go to the hospital, ensure that we’re saving people’s lives, because we’re seeing far too many of our loved ones pass away from this overdose crisis.

It’s important work. We’re committed to making sure it’s happening in British Columbia. All of my colleagues on this side feel this pressure every single day, making sure our constituents know that we are going to continue to support them during these challenging times.

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

The Speaker: Members, I have the honour of tabling the B.C. Ombudsperson special report No. 56, systemic investigation update, Alone: The Prolonged and Repeated Isolation of Youth in Custody.

Petitions

S. Chant: I have the honour of presenting a petition to the assembly, from approximately 1,200 people across British Columbia, requesting to amend the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act to add an advanced request for MAiD option to part 2.1, “Advance directives.”

The signees recognize that this is also being dealt with at the federal level, but they just want to make sure that the province understands their concerns in this area.