Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: D. Davies.

Introductions by Members

Hon. A. Dix: I have two sets of introductions today.

First of all, members will know that all members of the House are invited at noon to recognize Journey to Freedom Day in British Columbia and in Canada. It’s April 30. It recognizes both the contribution of Vietnamese Canadians to our life and the journey to freedom that so many Vietnamese Canadians went on, often by boat, in escaping Vietnam in the 1970s and ’80s.

We have lots of guests coming, and I encourage all members of the House to be part of what will be a very informative and moving ceremony at noon in the Hall of Honour.

[10:05 a.m.]

I want to introduce today Tammy Dao; Chrystal Phan, who’s a Victoria artist whose work will be recognized and who will speak today; Edison Tran; Tammy Trong; Teresa Toy Nguyen; Vanbe Nguyen; Vieng Phavongkham, who’s the president of the Laos Community Association of B.C.; Sarah Ens; and Trang Doan.

I wish the House to wish all of our guests who are coming welcome.

I also have a very special guest in the gallery today. My wife, Renée Sarojini Saklikar, is here. She, as many of you know, is a brilliant poet and a beautiful soulmate for me…. I’m getting heckled.

I was quoting the member for Peace River North’s statement, actually.

I’m pretty safe this time. I hope everyone wishes Renée welcome.

S. Furstenau: I’m delighted to introduce to the House today the team from Edison Motors. There’s a small sea of plaid up in the gallery today: Chace Barber, Eric Little, Ray Matkin, Rich Bosche, Aaron Porteous and Theron Groff.

Starting as a trucking company, they hauled logs, mining equipment and drilling rigs across B.C., Yukon and Alberta but soon grew frustrated with the lack of speed and accessibility to service new vehicles and ready-made electric trucks. They decided to rebuild older trucks, began designing their own electric truck and now are building diesel-electric retrofit kits for trucks.

They’re extraordinary innovators, small business people and real leaders in turning our economy into a clean energy one, right here in B.C.

Would the House please make the Edison Motors team most welcome.

Hon. M. Rankin: I’d like to introduce a group joining us in the gallery today from the ʔiiḥatisatḥ First Nation: Chief Simon John and Couns. David Miller, Chrissie John and Ashley John. They’re in Victoria today for government meetings.

I think all of us will know the Chief and his community from the national news recently. They kept us enthralled in their efforts to reunite the young orca calf, kʷiisaḥiʔis, the Brave Little Hunter, with the pod.

Will the House please join me in making them feel very welcome.

P. Milobar: Today we have several constituents of the member for Delta South, who is doing some other work today. He asked me if I would introduce the Camerons. We have Lynn, John, David and Lorelle Cameron from Delta South.

Will the House please make them welcome.

R. Parmar: Somewhere in the gallery, I have my friend Ryan Smith. Ryan is a TRU law student. We met about a year ago during my by-election, where he came and knocked on some doors in Langford.

Some of the members on this side of the House, and possibly others, will know Ryan’s grandfather very well. He comes from some political royalty, Brian Smith, who is the former Attorney General under the Bill Bennett and Vander Zalm governments.

Will the House please make Ryan, wherever he is, very welcome.

L. Doerkson: It is an absolute honour to introduce Beverly Marks in this House today. She is a CA in the constituency of Cariboo-Chilcotin. She works in the South Cariboo in the 100 Mile office. She is an absolute, tirelessly working hard constituency assistant, but she is a fierce advocate for the people of Cariboo-Chilcotin, and I thank her for that.

Thank you.

Make her welcome today.

Hon. B. Ma: It is my pleasure today to be able to introduce several members of EMCR’s GCPE team — government communications and public engagement team, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. We have Krystal Thompson, communications director; Aimee Har­per, communications manager; Dave Paulson, senior public affairs officer; Aaron Hinks, director; Meg Sequeira, public affairs officer; and Patrick Newman, communications coordinator.

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

[10:10 a.m.]

J. Rustad: I have a number of introductions. Due to the length of accolades of all these, I won’t mention all of them and their accolades, but I do want to highlight a few.

To start with, April Hutchinson has become one of the few outspoken Canadian athletes advocating for women’s safety and fairness in competition. In her pursuit of justice, she finds herself currently suspended from the Canadian Powerlifting Union for daring to speak out. Undeterred, she continues to fight, with the support of countless female athletes who share her belief in fair sport. Today happens to also be her birthday.

Also with her is Dr. Linda Blade. Dr. Linda Blade is a former Canadian track and field champion and NCAA All-American athlete. She’s grateful to the province of British Columbia for the many years of service granted to her as a high school champion in track and field in the late ’70s and later, as a national and international athlete who represented Canada throughout the 1980s.

The province of B.C. contributed substantially to her development as a sports scientist and coach as she earned a PhD in kinesiology at Simon Fraser University. All that funded learning and experience of both human biology and high-performance sports solidified her understanding of the fundamental truth that males and females are distinct in both form and of all ages.

Also with us is Kathleen Thomas, as well as Connie Polman Tuin and Maria Barwig, who is a mother and strongman competitor.

Laura Allan served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 15 years, dedicating a decade of her service to operating on submarines. She played a critical role in advancing the integration of women in submarine roles. In recognition of her pioneering efforts and dedication, the Canadian Armed Forces featured her in an article celebrating Women’s History Month, highlighting her as a trail-blazer and a source of inspiration.

With her as well is Megan Chandler. Megan is a 15-year-old softball player. She has been working hard to earn a female scholarship to university. She wants to see equal opportunity for biological women and girls in sports.

I’ve just got three more, if I may.

Lily Woodruff is a 15-year-old competitive rugby and baseball player. She has played A-ball for several years, won provincials and nationals in 2022, and competed in the Little League World Series. She wants a female scholarship to university.

Paige Hunter is a seasoned competitor in Olympic weightlifting.

Sophie Paridaen van Veen is assistant head coach for the Duncan Stingrays swim team and is also a competitive powerlifter.

Finally, Karen Strong is an Olympic coach from Duncan, B.C.

Would the House please make them all welcome.

Hon. D. Coulter: We have some folks from Chilliwack here. We have 23 grade 11s from Mount Cheam Christian School in the gallery.

I hope that the chamber can join me in welcoming them to the precinct.

K. Falcon: Today in the gallery, I’m pleased to welcome a number of distinguished guests. I’d like to very quickly identify them. We have got Bill Wang, Randy Sun, Abby Wang, Jerry Wang, Min Zhang, Grace Zhang, Richard Fan, Conor Yang, Eric Wan and Gordon Zhang.

I would ask that the House please make them welcome.

Tributes

MICHAEL LUNN AND FRED McEACHERN

D. Routley: I’d like the House to help me honour, on Red Shirt Day, the two victims of a tragic shooting at the Western Forest Products mill in Nanaimo ten years ago, Mike Lunn and Fred McEachern, and wish their families peace and comfort at this time.

Introductions by Members

A. Olsen: For the members in the House that joined Jason Goertzen, our chaplain of the Leading Influence Ministry, at the prayer breakfast a few weeks ago, Jason often introduces the members that are in attendance.

At this time, I had a young man who was at the table with me, Malachi Atkinson, stand in my place. People didn’t recognize me because it was he who stood in my place, and he’s here today.

Could the House please make Malachi feel very welcome.

[10:15 a.m.]

B. Banman: Behind every political party are those that work tirelessly in the background. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the president of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, Aisha Estey.

Would the House please make her feel very welcome.

G. Kyllo: I have three introductions to make today.

First is a good friend, Bonnie Gavin. Bonnie was for­merly a CA up in Cariboo-Chilcotin, but she moved down to Salmon Arm to take very good care of a good friend of mine, Lindsay Blackburn. Bonnie also provides support in my office and is now a legislative executive coordinator.

I hope the House would make Bonnie feel very welcome.

In addition, I’ve got Holly Cowan. Now, Holly Cowan was a former LA for George Abbott for, I think, going on 11 years. She has been looking after the office as the office manager, as our legislative executive coordinator, for the last 11 years since I was elected.

Holly and I spend so much time together that quite often at events people will ask: “Oh, is this your spouse?” I say, “No, Holly’s not my spouse, but she sure as heck bosses me around like a wife” — to which Holly quickly replies: “Yes, and he doesn’t listen, like a husband.”

Would the House please make Holly Cowan feel very welcome.

One final introduction, if I may, Greg McCune. Greg is a good friend, a five-term former councillor for Enderby, two-term former mayor. Greg has secured the nomination to succeed me in Shuswap. We were just at a home show this last weekend, with lots of folks coming by and shaking a lot of hands. I think Greg is probably almost better known than I am in the Shuswap.

It was interesting. We were just telling folks that came by: “We’re making it easy on the electorate. We’re just letting you know. Please just continue to vote for Greg on the ballot in the next provincial election.”

Hon. R. Kahlon: My colleague from Prince George intro­duced some guests yesterday, but I had the opportunity to meet with two councillors, Kyle Sampson and Garth Frizzell, today acting mayor Garth Frizzell.

I want to thank them for the work they’re doing, working collaboratively to address some housing challenges in the community. I really appreciate them and the team coming down to talk about some important topics.

Please can the House make them really welcome today.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

BILL M213 — CLEAN ENERGY
AMENDMENT ACT, 2024

S. Furstenau presented a bill intituled Clean Energy Amendment Act, 2024.

S. Furstenau: I move that a bill intituled the Clean Energy Amendment Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now.

Our climate crisis requires a transition to a clean energy future. A just transition means that all British Columbians are able to make choices that reflect their economic situation and their preferences.

For many British Columbians, their vehicles are a core part of their lives. Many people want or need a specific type of vehicle for work or for their lifestyle, which may not be available in electric form. For these people, the ability to retrofit an existing vehicle to an electric vehicle is important. For small and innovative businesses across the province such as Edison Motors, retrofitting vehicles to make them low- or zero-emissions is both environmentally friendly and good for the economy.

This is an example of the transition we should be seeking, one where innovation and ingenuity can help solve the climate crisis, while creating good, well-paid, local, secure jobs and helping people continue to enjoy the things that they love. Unfortunately, there isn’t currently a fair playing field for these vehicles. While new electric vehicles have access to a range of rebates and grants, people retrofitting their vehicles don’t. I know that this lack of fairness will be of concern to all members of this House.

Today I’m proud to introduce a bill that creates that fair playing field by ensuring that retrofitted vehicles are able to have access to the same incentive grants as electric vehicles, ensuring all zero-emission vehicles are treated the same way, and all British Columbians can afford to move to electric vehicles.

I call on this government to recognize the value of this work and hope to debate this bill at second reading.

The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.

Division has been called.

[10:20 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.]

Members, please get into your seats. The Clerks have to make sure that everybody is present.

Members, please get into your seats.

Members, is there an agreement to waive the time?

Leave granted.

The Speaker: Members, the question is the first reading of the bill intituled Clean Energy Amendment Act, 2024, tabled by the Leader of the Third Party.

First reading of Bill M213 approved unanimously on a division. [See Votes and Proceedings.]

The Speaker: Member.

S. Furstenau: Thank you, hon. Speaker, and thank you, House, for that show of support.

I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Bill M213, Clean Energy Amendment Act, 2024, 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.

BILL M214 — FAIRNESS IN WOMEN’S AND
GIRLS’ SPORTS ACT

J. Rustad presented a bill intituled Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act.

J. Rustad: I move a bill intituled Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act, of which notice has been given in my name on the order paper, be introduced and read a first time now.

It’s an honour to stand in this House to introduce the Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act. I’m proud to say before this House, the amazing women and girls who are here with us today, that this piece of legislation is not only the first of its kind in Canada, but it was an entirely female-led initiative from start to finish. The bill was written by women and girls for women and girls.

[10:30 a.m.]

This bill provides that sports and athletic teams and events and tournaments that are publicly funded must be classified by sex and limits participation to participants of the biological sex that corresponds to the sex classification. An exception is provided for female participation.

Maintaining opportunities for female athletes to dem­onstrate the strength, skills and athletic abilities and pro­viding them with the opportunity to obtain recognition and accolades, university scholarships and numerous other short- and long-term benefits that result from participating and competing in athletic endeavours in the prov­ince of British Columbia separate from their male counterparts is just common sense.

There are inherent differences between males and fe­males, ranging from chromosomal and hormonal differences to physiological differences. But more than the obvious differences….

Over time, women and girls have struggled to be identified as a person. They have struggled to have the right to vote, they have struggled to be allowed to be in certain places, and they have struggled to be paid fairly.

Here today, in 2024, in this Legislature, the necessity to move forward the bill is to make sure that, once again, women are treated fairly. For these reasons, the Conservative Party of British Columbia finds that requiring the designation of separate sex-specific athlete teams or sports is vital in order to maintain the fairness for women and girls’ athletic opportunities in British Columbia.

I would urge all members of this House to vote in support of this legislation. We all deserve to live our lives with integrity.

The Speaker: Members, the question is first reading of the bill.

Division has been called.

Is there an agreement to waive the time?

Leave not granted.

[10:35 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.]

First reading of Bill M214, Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act, negatived on the following division:

YEAS — 27
de Jong	Doerkson	Milobar
Stone	Falcon	Bond
Halford	Ross	Oakes
Bernier	Davies	Rustad
Banman	Morris	Kyllo
Shypitka	Sturko	Merrifield
Wat	Lee	Kirkpatrick
Stewart	Clovechok	Ashton
Sturdy	Letnick	Tegart
NAYS — 51
Chandra Herbert	Parmar	A. Singh
Babchuk	Coulter	Lore
Chow	Beare	Kang
Heyman	Osborne	Cullen
Bains	Malcolmson	Bailey
Brar	Routledge	Starchuk
Phillip	Yao	Leonard
R. Singh	Whiteside	Farnworth
Kahlon	Conroy	Sharma
Dix	Fleming	Dean
Rankin	Ralston	Alexis
Sims	Simons	Elmore
Glumac	Routley	Furstenau
Olsen	D’Eith	Donnelly
Greene	Anderson	Chant
Dykeman	Paddon	Begg
Walker	Robinson	Chen

[10:45 a.m.]

Statements
(Standing Order 25B)

WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT
AND SUPPORT FOR FIREFIGHTERS

T. Stone: Mr. Speaker, 2023 marks the most devastating fire season on record, with more than 2.84 million hectares of forested land burned across British Columbia. Tens of thousands of people across the province were forced to evacuate, and hundreds of homes and structures were lost or damaged. Year after year, families have to worry for their safety and question whether their house will be standing at the end of the summer.

In the Kamloops-Thompson-Shuswap area, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact these wildfires have had. Last year, there was unspeakable devastation in the North Shuswap. Recall the White Rock Lake fire in the summer of 2021, which damaged 29 properties. Places like Monte Lake and Paxton Valley have suffered immensely. These fires do more than damage properties. They devastate people’s lives, and they impose lasting damage to the broader communities.

Though it is only April 30, wildfire season has commenced. Just last week British Columbia witnessed 44 new fires, 41 of which are suspected to be caused by human activity.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary individuals fighting tirelessly on the front lines to safeguard our communities. These include brave firefighters, the B.C. Wildfire Service, first responders, volunteer fire departments and many others. Their courage and dedication do not go unnoticed. These individuals are true heroes.

We owe it to those on the ground to provide them with additional personnel and resources to combat wildfires effectively and swiftly. We must hit new fires faster and harder. As we face another wildfire season, we must adopt new, innovative technologies and a bold new approach that leverages local and Indigenous knowledge and re­sources, ensuring that our communities are not only protected but also resilient in the face of such challenges.

British Columbians can’t afford to wait any longer. It’s time for decisive action to protect our communities, environment and economy.

IMMIGRANT LINK SOCIETY AND
FOOD WASTE REDUCTION INITIATIVE

J. Routledge: Food Rescue Heroes, a film by BCIT media students, introduced me to the Immigrant Link Centre Society. They improve access to healthy food to 4,500 people facing financial challenges due to low family in­come, or because they are new immigrants or refugees or seniors, in more than 25 locations in the Lower Mainland every other week.

They do this by collecting and distributing surplus unsold food from grocery stores, food that is blemished or past its best-before date. They also provide volunteer opportunities, like picking up the food, sorting the food daily according to specific dietary needs and cultural appropriateness, and delivering it to those who need it.

In the words of ILCS, “We rise by lifting one another.” Food connects people to their communities, and volunteering in the food recovery program gives the gift of connection. It is estimated that 58 percent of all food produced in Canada is thrown away, so reducing avoidable food waste also reduces our demands on land, energy and water.

ILCS was started in 2016 by Igor Bjelac in an ESL class. The students were shown a documentary on food waste, and in the subsequent discussion, Igor and his friends talked about how expensive food was here in Canada. They made the connection between food waste and food insecurity. They started a weekly food drive outside their ESL class, and the rest is history.

Thank you, Zach Clarke, Liam Higgs, Lachlan Irvine and Riley Loong for choosing to tell the story of the food rescue heroes in your capstone film project, and for painting such a vivid picture of the value of their work. You, too, are heroes.

[10:50 a.m.]

FOREST INDUSTRY AND VALUE OF
FOREST RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY

M. Morris: For decades now, the value of B.C. forests has been recognized primarily as forest products. Today over 20 million hectares of forests have been clearcut, providing world-class forest products and good-paying jobs, bringing billions into the British Columbia economy, dollars that are no longer available as we now wait decades for our exhausted forests to regrow.

But what about the value of our wild harvest, protein from ungulates and other fish and wildlife species that reproduce each year? Based on domestic cattle prices, our ungulate herds of moose, elk and deer are worth billions. The variety of game birds and fish species that populate our forests are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The amount of meat and fish harvested is worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Our wild harvest also includes thousands of pounds of wild berries, mushrooms and other plant life, collectively worth millions of dollars annually.

What we don’t harvest and consume we watch, we smell, and we marvel at the wonders of our flora and fauna, spending millions of dollars in outdoor camping and hiking activities and showcasing British Columbia by attracting international attention in adventure tourism — again, worth millions of dollars.

Recently science has linked the loss of our forest canopies to increased frequency and magnitude of flooding and the dehydration of our forests, leading to increased wildfire risks and resulting in a net loss due to the billions of dollars in infrastructure losses, serious injury and, unfortunately, loss of life.

We have overlooked that it takes 80 years to more than a century to regrow our forest canopies and to partially restore lost biodiversity. We fail to calculate the value of evapotranspiration in cooling our forests and our prov­ince. We ignore the major role forests play in providing regional and continental rainfall. Over one harvest cycle, these other values collectively exceed the value of mere traditional forest products.

The future for our forests requires B.C. to recognize all the values of our forests and to find the right balance in resource development.

EARTH DAY CONTRIBUTIONS
BY RICHMOND VOLUNTEERS

H. Yao: On Saturday, April 27, though running a little late, I arrived at a KPU parking lot and was greeted by one of the event organizers, who informed me that the volunteers who had gathered to celebrate Earth Day had already departed for Alexandra Road in Richmond. Without delay, I hurried to the site.

The weather was wet, cold and miserable. While everyone had a desire to celebrate Earth Day by volunteering for the community, I feared adverse conditions might deter participation. However, to my complete surprise, upon arrival, I found over 30 volunteers, including school trustee Alice Wong, diligently picking up garbage.

I was truly impressed by the dedication of these young people who, despite the lousy conditions, had made their way out to celebrate Earth Day. I felt honoured to volunteer among such a dedicated group of people.

The third Our Clean Neighbourhood social media challenge was hosted by an organization called Dialogue Richmond.

This event was made possible thanks to the generous contribution of many community partners, businesses and local organizations, such as 6pack Beach, Anytime Fitness, Fitness World, Garry Point Fish ’N’ Chips, Kiehl’s Richmond Centre, Richmond Martial Arts, Steveston Museum post office, Takeya Sushi, Win Win Chick-N, Quilchena Elementary School and West Richmond Community Centre, providing over $2,700 in prizes and necessary tools for the cleanup.

Additionally, Richmond local residents also lent the organization supplies and equipment.

Dialogue Richmond was formed with the hope to foster inclusivity and respectful, meaningful and honest dialogue while combating disinformation, misinformation and discrimination. Humans of Richmond is one of the incredible projects that humanizes different individuals in our community by sharing their unique stories through social media. Dialogue Richmond is led by president Jonathan Chan, vice-president Amy Li and treasurer Vivian Chow.

Only by working together collaboratively, respectfully and honestly can we better our community together.

ACHIEVEMENTS BY
PEACE REGION ATHLETES

D. Davies: Today I rise in the House to celebrate several extraordinary accomplishments achieved by athletes and sports teams from across the Peace region over the last few months. I can only list a few because I’ve only got two minutes.

This April, three outstanding members of the Peace Rugby Club showcased their skills at the Tropical 7s in Florida, a prestigious international rugby festival.

[10:55 a.m.]

Adalyn Dutchak represented us brilliantly on the U16 girls team, while Waylon Fenton and Quentin Farquhar made us proud on the U18 boys team.

In February, 21 athletes from North Peace proudly represented the province and the region at the B.C. Winter Games. Among them, Tommy Rivers-Bowerman from Charlie Lake and Matthew Robinson from Fort St. John clinched the silver medal in the U14 karate male team competition. Additionally, Ava Kurjata earned a well-deserved bronze medal as part of the Cariboo northeast badminton team.

Finally, I am thrilled to announce that the Northern Lights College rodeo team, which is the only varsity rodeo team in British Columbia, based out of Dawson Creek, will compete next month at the Canadian Collegiate Rodeo finals in Alberta. Entering the championships as the top-ranked team, they are poised to make a strong bid for the national title, showcasing the high calibre of rodeo talent in British Columbia.

Two of our North Peace rodeo athletes are Shelby Corr from the Fort St. John–Montney area and Destiny Olinberger from Pink Mountain.

Each of these athletes and teams exemplifies the dedication, skill and sportsmanship that define the best of British Columbia. Their success brings immense pride to our community and region and inspires future generations of athletes across the province.

I want to thank all of those who support and believe in all of these remarkable individuals.

We look forward to cheering them on as they continue to achieve greatness and elevate the sporting spirit of British Columbia in their respective arenas.

NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
FOR WORKERS

B. Banman: On April 28, Canada’s National Day of Mourning, we solemnly remember and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives or endured injuries or suffered illnesses as a result of their work.

The figures provided by the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada paint a stark reality: 993 workplace fatalities in 2022, including 33 young workers aged 15 to 24. These numbers, however, only scratch the surface of the profound impact of work-related tragedies. Behind each of these statistics lies a human story, a life cut short, a family forever changed and a community left grieving.

It’s crucial to acknowledge that these statistics are not just numbers. They represent sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends and colleagues. They underscore the irreplaceable loss felt by loved ones and the enduring pain of those left behind.

Blue-collar labour and union shops are the backbone of our economy and the heartbeat of many communities across B.C. From mills to construction sites to factories, from farms to warehouses, B.C. workers perform physically demanding and sometimes dangerous tasks to build the things that drive the economy in our small towns and throughout our province.

As we reflect on this day, let us not only mourn the lives lost but also commit to workplace safety and the protection of workers. Let us advocate for the robust safety measures, comprehensive training programs and effective support systems to prevent future tragedies. Let us honour the memory of those we have lost by striving for a workplace where every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.

We must also be grateful for union and labour movement efforts that have increased safety and training for generations of workers. Blue-collar labour unions have kept miners, millworkers, and so many other hardworking British Columbians safe in their workplace, and for that we should all be grateful.

Today we must honour and recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every worker, especially hard-working British Columbians who shower at the end of the day in­stead of the beginning.

On the National Day of Mourning, let us unite in solidarity to remember, to mourn and to protect workers and strengthen blue-collar unions that safeguard workers’ rights in British Columbia.

Oral Questions

MANAGEMENT OF SAFE SUPPLY AND
DIVERSION TO ILLICIT MARKET

K. Falcon: This Premier’s dangerous experiment to de­criminalize and normalize the use of hard, dangerous drugs has devastated lives and shattered communities. British Columbians are now forced to make an unacceptable choice between sharing a hotel room with cockroaches or someone smoking fentanyl.

The Premier’s so-called safe supply program has been a gift to drug traffickers, flooding the market and slashing the street value of hydromorphone by 95 percent, all funded by taxpayers.

[11:00 a.m.]

These cheap taxpayer-funded drugs are marketed as safe for teenagers with online platforms like Reddit and Snapchat providing easy access to these highly addictive drugs.

My question to the Premier: when will the Premier protect our kids from his so-called safe supply drugs and end his entirely disastrous policy of taxpayer-funded drugs and decriminalization?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Thank you to the member for the question. I think it’s really important that we do take op­portunities to talk about child and youth mental health when we are in this place.

We, of course, are concerned about the state of child and youth mental health for kids in our communities and in our province. I want to assure the member that these are also issues that our health system, that doctors, that child and youth mental health clinicians are also very seized with and very concerned with, as they provide care for kids who need care and support.

Frankly, it doesn’t matter where prescription medications come from. Whether it’s from their parent’s medicine cabinet or from elsewhere, we do not want kids taking drugs. We do not want kids to get wrapped up in the illicit drug supply.

That is work that we do, again, with our child and youth mental health system, with our health system to ensure that we are addressing any concerns that have come forward with respect to issues around diversion. Our health system is on alert, and we have provisions in place to be monitoring very carefully what’s happening with our safer supply program.

We’ll continue to do that work.

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM
AND ONLINE SALE OF ILLICIT DRUGS

K. Falcon: Regardless, the issue is that British Colum­bians are now forced to make unacceptable choices between sharing hospital rooms with cockroaches or somebody smoking fentanyl.

Now, the Premier’s permissive drug policies…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

K. Falcon: …have normalized illicit drug use, letting the genie out of the bottle by ensuring there are no consequences to using dangerous drugs.

Shockingly, online platforms now sell illicit drugs like MDMA, ketamine and cocaine with a simple click, directly targeting B.C. Facebook users…

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member.

Members, please.

K. Falcon: … with flashy, enticing ads. These websites promise easy access to pills, marketed to youth with names like molly gummy bears, Blue Dolphin pill, Homer Simp­son pill and Mickey Mouse pill.

This nonsense is made possible only because there are little to no consequences under this reckless NDP decriminalization program. The Premier said that he would destigmatize drug use. Well, don’t worry, Premier. Mission accomplished.

My question is: with such deadly products targeted at youth and normalized here in British Columbia, when will the Premier recognize the damage of his policies and scrap this entire reckless decriminalization program?

Hon. J. Whiteside: I just want to assure British Columbians that, in fact, we have taken steps through our health care system to ensure, again, that we are supporting our health care providers, supporting our doctors and nurses, who are caring for people with substance use disorder to ensure that they are using their medications appropriately.

We’ll work to update the medication options so that physicians can more closely match the medications that people are needing. We are making witnessed dosing the default for new medications, a number of supports on that side.

What I would say again, to put this situation in context, is that we lost more than 2,500 British Columbians last year to a toxic drug supply that has amounts of fentanyl absolutely off the charts, contaminants that are creating all kinds of vicious secondary effects to people’s physical health.

[11:05 a.m.]

When we work with all of our partners across this space to try to come together to turn the dial on this crisis, what our law enforcement partners tell us is so important is that what they need to focus on is in consideration of the volume or potential volume to scale up diverted prescriptions or diverted safe supply, it pales — pales in comparison to what organized crime is doing in terms of fentanyl production, importation and exportation.

This is where we focus our efforts here in Vancouver. We have to get in between what organized crime is doing to our communities and kids. That is the focus of our agenda.

The Speaker: Please make sure questions and answers are brief.

E. Sturko: The minister’s right. We have lost more than 2,500 people in British Columbia last year to overdosing. Yet this government puts no focus on prevention, no overt warnings on the dangers of using drugs, whether they are illicit drugs or prescription drugs.

These publicly available online platforms make purchasing deadly illicit drugs as normal as shopping for online groceries. The websites list drugs such as ketamine; pressed Xanax tablets; cocaine, Off the Brick, superman — each with glossy photos and enticing descriptions. Shockingly, illicit cocaine is marketed as “safe supply.” The commercialization of cocaine has arrived, bolstered by the NDP government messaging about destigmatizing drugs and dangerously named safe supply.

My question: when will the Premier protect our youth from drugs and finally put an end to his failed decriminalization policies?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Thanks to the member for raising what, I think, we all agree is a really important issue with respect to how we talk with youth in these times, in the context of the toxic drug supply. That’s a very important issue; we agree on that.

That’s why we have a campaign that is targeted to pointing kids to the dangers of the illicit drug supply right now. That’s why we have helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca, and I would implore anyone who needs help to reach out to the supports that are available through that website.

It is imperative that we work upstream, that we work in a preventative way, which is why we have 35 Foundry sites. That’s why we just announced an additional eight integrated child and youth mental health teams. We have never seen the kind of investment we’re making in our youth, in supporting their mental health in these times. We’re going to continue to do that work.

E. Sturko: The minister mentions her website, and I wonder how many youth actually access that website, compared to this website. These digital drug dens are just a click away.

With the normalization of illicit drug use thriving under the NDP and the marketing that aggressively targets our youth, one of the Facebook ads features a double-points promo, promising double the rewards points on illicit drug purchases until May 3, turning addiction into a loyalty program, from molly gummy bears to LSD Oreo cookies. These drugs are peddled as candy. Decriminalizing and normalizing illicit drug use is a catastrophic NDP policy failure.

My question: when will the Premier wake up to the wave of addiction caused by his policies and scrap his decriminalization nightmare?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Frankly, the member is simply wrong to suggest that we support the marketing by organized crime that is preying on young people in our communities. To suggest that we’re not just as concerned is….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members. Shhh, Members.

Hon. J. Whiteside: Everybody in this House, every single person in this House, every single person across our health care system, across our child and youth mental health system, is concerned to ensure that we are providing as many supports as possible to children and youth.

That is why we are investing in all the upstream supports. It is why we are working with experts on how we best engage with youth and talk with youth. It’s why our health authorities have outreach workers working with street-entrenched youth, to try and connect them to services, to try and build trust. That’s the work that we have to come together to do.

We should all be together, in this House, against organized crime, who are preying on our young people. That’s the responsibility of every member in this House.

[11:10 a.m.]

ENDOMETRIOSIS DIAGNOSIS AND CARE

S. Furstenau: Endometriosis affects one in ten women around the globe and approximately one million people in Canada. There are many unknowns about the disease, but the personal experiences are undeniable. People with endometriosis have described their pain as excruciating and debilitating. They experience vomiting, fainting and chronic pain that takes them away from work and life.

People formally diagnosed with endometriosis have better physical and mental health outcomes with lower rates of depression and anxiety than those who go undiagnosed. Yet the rate of diagnosis in B.C., like many places around the world, is dismally low. The average length of time for a diagnosis is between seven and nine years. Many male doctors who have no direct experience of menstruation continue to dismiss and deny patients’ concerns and pain.

My question is to the Minister of Health. What is his government doing to improve the diagnosis and care for people with endometriosis?

Hon. A. Dix: Endometriosis is a terrible condition for many women in our communities. It’s critically important that we continue, through both our in-person and virtual platforms, to ensure better care for people.

Part of that is the recruitment of more family doctors and nurse practitioners. As the member knows, the vast majority of younger doctors in this day and age are women, not men, which in itself is an important improvement in service and understanding of this serious illness.

One of the key aspects of what we’re doing is expanding primary care for people and community. That means pri­mary care networks that involve team-based care, that involve doctors and nurses and nurse practitioners and others who provide support for people.

Equally we are engaged in a health human resources plan which significantly expands primary care for people and communities. Through the Provincial Health Services Authority and B.C. Women’s, we are continuing to ensure that that community of primary care, which is essential to dealing with something such as endometriosis, is strong and informed.

WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE AND STATUS REPORT

S. Furstenau: Thank you to the minister for the response.

Birth, death, menopause — these are a few of the guarantees for half the population. Yet menopause, like many issues related to women’s reproductive health, continues to be a hushed discussion. When women approach middle age, they are lurched into a world of sweat, pain and tears. Indeed, through every stage of life, experiences with menstruation, endometriosis and menopause are too often dismissed by much of the health care system.

People are taking to TikTok to raise awareness about the pain associated with the insertion of IUDs, and it sparked yet another discussion about the health system and how it dismisses and denies women’s pain. The provincial women’s health strategy was released in 2008 and the provincial health officer’s report on women’s health and well-being in 2011. Yet well over a decade later, we’ve seen no updates.

My question is to the Minister of Health. Will he commit to an updated report that shows where progress is happening and where it’s lacking when it comes to women’s health and well-being?

Hon. A. Dix: Yes. And further, I would say we have seen very significant progress in support for women’s health in the last number of years, progress that we’ve worked to­gether in the Legislature on, progress in terms of women’s access to reproductive choice in our province, progress in access to contraception, progress from the community on issues of support for women and menstruation products that came from the whole community and is transformative to the way people view our province.

So the answer is yes.

SAFE SUPPLY INITIATIVE
AND DRUG USE DEATHS

B. Banman: Yesterday on Connect FM, this NDP Premier chuckled at the idea that drug users and addicts re­quire hospitalization more often because they sometimes “break their legs.” I don’t find that funny, not one bit.

British Columbians expect a serious, measured ap­proach to addictions, and they’re not getting it from this NDP government. People getting hurt is not funny. Open drug use in parks and playgrounds is not funny. B.C. teens like Kamilah Sword in Port Coquitlam overdosing on NDP safe supply is not funny.

[11:15 a.m.]

My question to the Solicitor General: when will you admit that Kamilah Sword did not need to die, and when will you repeal your failed safe supply policy?

The Speaker: Through the Chair, Member.

Hon. J. Whiteside: I know that every single person in this House feels compassion and the grief that Mr. Sword and his family feel at the loss of Kamilah and the impact of what is a challenging time when it comes to child and youth mental health right now for kids.

That’s why we’re doing the work that is so necessary to do to provide supports to children and youth, working with our school system, working with our child and youth mental health system to provide those upstream supports that are absolutely critical, and intervening so that we catch problems before they turn into larger problems that result in challenges with addiction and more serious mental health issues.

We’re going to continue to do that work with all of our partners.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

MANAGEMENT OF SAFE SUPPLY AND
DIVERSION TO ILLICIT MARKET

B. Banman: This NDP government has been fundamentally unserious in its approach towards the drug and addiction crisis in British Columbia. This is not a compassionate government.

Just last week in a private meeting, Mayor Brad West told our team that while he has personally been in touch with Greg Sword, the father of Kamilah Sword, the local MLA for Port Coquitlam, B.C.’s Solicitor General, pawned Greg Sword off to constituency staff. He would not take a meeting.

Conservatives are asking for compassion and common sense.

Will this Solicitor General commit to cancelling safe supply and performing an audit to determine just how much money has been transferred from taxpayers to drug traffickers as a result of diverted safe supply?

Hon. J. Whiteside: Again, I find it important and necessary in this line of important discussion in the House that British Columbians expect us to be taking extremely seriously. When we consider the loss that our communities are experiencing, over 2,500 British Columbians last year, a toxic drug crisis that bedevils all of our authorities, all of our jurisdictions across the country where we see very high increases in mortality — next door in Alberta, for example.

Our physicians and nurses and outreach workers on the front lines who are doing this work, who are working with children and youth, are absolutely alive to all of the issues and concerns that the member raised with respect to how they need to be in a position to access pathways to care.

We have law enforcement very much on alert. We have our health system on alert around doing the very best that we can do to ensure that we have proper pathways to care for children and youth. We’re going to continue to do that work with our partners.

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PROGRAM
AND SAFE SUPPLY INITIATIVE

P. Milobar: Well, it’s very clear that with five months to go before an election, the Premier is suddenly concerned about what he has been hearing for the last 15 months of pressure across British Columbia from B.C. United to municipalities to other agencies. The Premier is now in full political control mode with the election on the horizon. Yet he refuses to end decriminalization despite the carnage in our streets and in our hospitals.

I wonder why, Mr. Speaker. It’s because he very clearly has a decrim caucus. His Minister of Mental Health and Addictions said on Friday she remains committed to “the original objectives of decriminalization.” And let’s take a look at what those objectives might be, because two years ago the Health Minister said: “We’re ready for decriminalization. We support that. We think it’s necessary. It’s fair to say that we don’t think 2½ grams is enough.”

They didn’t think 2½ grams was enough drugs to be flooding our streets with. No, they wanted it to even be more. Let’s be clear. NDP ministers of the decrim caucus want more decriminalization, not less.

Will the Premier finally say no to his decrim caucus and adopt B.C. United’s plan to scrap his failed decriminalization disaster today?

[11:20 a.m.]

Hon. M. Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. Decriminalization has never been about public drug use. We’ve never supported public drug use ever in this House. Decriminalization has been about saving lives, saving lives from the very beginning. Given what we’ve heard from the opposition in the past, I thought that’s what they believed as well. Clearly, things have changed.

Let’s go back to what the Leader of the Opposition said. “Some of the chiefs of police were supportive of decriminalization. What they are supportive of is not charging people for small amounts of drugs, and I agree with that.” Those are the words of the Leader of the Opposition.

That’s why when we brought in the changes that we did, we worked and consulted with police to ensure that we’re both on the same page. Those are the limits that were put in place. When it became clear that communities had concern about public drug use — which again, as I said, was never, ever condoned or anticipated or approved — we worked with local government, we worked with police to put in place the changes that were announced on Friday to ensure that we keep our communities safe, that public drug use is something that will not be tolerated.

T. Wat: This NDP caucus is openly proud of their pro-drug policies. The member for Richmond South Centre says: “One thing I do want to take a bit of pride in is the effort of working to decriminalize illicit drugs for personal usage.” That’s right. This NDP MLA for Richmond South Centre is proud of decriminalization of illicit drugs.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members, please.

T. Wat: So is his NDP colleague Richmond-Queensborough, who said: “Decriminalization works. Again, the facts are clear. Decriminalization works well.”

While the NDP celebrate their radical drug policies, our communities suffer from chaos and disorder. Will the Premier finally say no to his decrim caucus and adopt B.C. United’s plan…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

T. Wat: …to scrub his failed decriminalization disaster?

Hon. M. Farnworth: Again, I appreciate the question from the hon. member. She could not be more wrong in her comments.

We have never, ever supported open drug use. We have never, ever, or ever would, as any other member of this chamber would, encouraged the use of illegal drugs.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Oh, thank you, hon. Speaker.

Let me address that point right now, because I have heard that statement from members of the opposition on the other side, and that is an absolutely false statement. There is not and there will not be an overdose prevention site within the Richmond Hospital. Let’s be really clear about that. The member should take that message back to her constituents.

That’s a fact, hon. Member.

This has been about saving lives in a toxic drug crisis that has been plaguing this province, every other province, continent-wide and is, in fact, global. We are taking the steps required to keep communities safe, working with police, working with the UBCM, working with the public and addressing their concerns.

That’s what Friday’s announcement was all about. There will be further changes in future that help deal with the fight against organized crime and those who peddle and prey on the most vulnerable.

R. Merrifield: The NDP Premier’s decrim caucus is ag­gressively pushing for an expanded decriminalization and so-called safe supply.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Let’s hear the question, please.

[11:25 a.m.]

R. Merrifield: Look no further than the NDP’s latest anti-police, pro-decrim candidate, Christine Boyle, the Premier’s close friend and hand-picked candidate in Vancouver. This is what she says: “We are lobbying hard, loudly, almost unanimously, around safe supply, around decriminalization.”

Clearly, NDP radicals want to fast-track an expansion of the Premier’s disastrous decriminalization experiment.

Will the Premier finally say no to his decrim caucus and adopt B.C. United’s plan to scrap his failed decriminalization disaster?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I listen to the members opposite. On one day, you get one set of words from the Leader of the Opposition, saying: “End decrim.” Then previous comments from the Leader of the Opposition…. Again, I’ll repeat it, because they don’t seem to understand it.

I think the Conservatives, down the end, remember this quote from the Leader of the Opposition. “Some of the chiefs of police who are supportive of decriminalization — what they’re supportive of is not charging people for small amounts of drugs, and I agree with that.” Those are the very words of the Leader of the Opposition.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Then the member from South Surrey. “Does it mean that our party doesn’t support decrim or harm reduction? Absolutely not. We do with whole hearts. We want to save people.”

This side of the House knows what matters, which is saving lives. That’s what our policies are designed to do. We also know the importance of listening to the public and listening to police. That’s why we made the changes that we did on Friday.

I will tell you something else, hon. Speaker. When it comes to putting in place policies that are supporting police, this side has been doing it for the last seven years. Whether it’s hiring more RCMP officers than any other jurisdiction in the history of this province or this country, putting in place the tools that are needed, we have done that every single time, and we’ll continue to do that.

S. Bond: Well, the Solicitor General can bluster all he wants, but the words of the NDP decrim caucus show what this government truly believes.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

S. Bond: The member for Nanaimo–North Cowichan said: “Not a single life will be saved by cancelling decriminalization in this province, and it’s clear that we are turning the corner.” What is clear is the utter chaos and social disorder in our streets, in our hospitals, and a record 2,546 lives lost to the overdose crisis last year alone.

Will the Premier finally say no to his decrim caucus and adopt B.C. United’s plan to scrap his failed decriminalization disaster?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. I thought they believed that addiction was a health matter. That’s what we thought when they supported the all-party committee report in this House. Clearly, they’ve changed their mind. They’ve appeared to change their mind because of the actions of the QAnon caucus down at the other end of the aisle there.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Let’s be clear. Police have made it clear that addiction is a health issue, not a criminal issue. What they want are tools to help keep communities safe, to deal with public drug use, which is what the public was asking for, which is what communities were asking for. That’s what we introduced on Friday.

We are going to continue to engage and put in place pol­icies in terms of supports, treatments, new beds and mental health supports to ensure that those who want to recover are able to do that, because that’s what matters. That’s what this side of the House is all about: keeping communities safe and ensuring that people get healthy.

[11:30 a.m.]

[End of question period.]

Question of Privilege
(Reservation of Right)

H. Yao: I reserve my right to raise a question or point of privilege.

The Speaker: Thank you.