The House met at 1:33 p.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: Bowinn Ma.

Introductions by Members

Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat: I’m very pleased to introduce three people today in the gallery: my spouse, Doug Morgan; Bill Routley; and Sandy MacDonald, who is Bill’s spouse.

Bill Routley is the former member for Cowichan Valley and my former boss, and he’s also known as Brother Bill in the House. He’s also shared with me all about the jiggery-pokery that happens around this place.

Can the House join me in welcoming my guests.

[1:35 p.m.]

Peter Milobar: I am sure everyone in this chamber agrees with me that November 18 was a very momentous date in B.C. this year. That would be for the reason that my wife, Lianne, and myself welcomed our third grandchild, granddaughter Ellie Marie Janowsky, to join us all in British Columbia. She’s healthy and happy and full of sass, like her mom and her grandmas and everyone else that I seem to know in my life. Her older sister, Zoey, is doting on her like crazy.

Would the House please welcome Ellie Marie Janowsky to B.C.

Hon. Josie Osborne: It’s my pleasure today to introduce three representatives from the Hospital Employees Union who are joining us in the gallery. They are President Lynn Bueckert, Barb Nederpel, and the coordinator of policy and planning, Caelie Frampton.

The Hospital Employees Union is the biggest health care union here in the province, with more than 60,000 members. Since 1944, the HEU has advocated strongly for their members and for public health care.

I am incredibly grateful for the work they do and the advocacy that they provide. I would ask the House to please help me make them very welcome today.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: Well, we have a lot to be proud of in this province, but I’m especially proud today to welcome the 2025 B.C. Men’s Curling champions to the building. The team plays out of the fantastic Victoria Curling Club, and they have done us so proud.

Team de Jong is now heading to Kelowna, where they’re going to participate in Montana’s Brier, to take on all the other great teams across this nation and do us proud, wearing their B.C. colours, starting February 28. The team comprises skip, Cameron de Jong; third, Alex Horvath; second, Corey Chester; lead, Brayden Carpenter; and fifth; Paul Cseke.

I know many British Columbians will be there to pack the stadium, to cheer them on, and I hope you’ll all join me in wishing them the best as they take on the best of Canada.

John Rustad: I have a couple of introductions. I first also want to congratulate the curling team. I very much look forward to watching some of the curling in Kelowna.

From my riding, I would like to introduce Chief Wilf Adam. He is here, with the delegation from Lake Babine Nation, for discussions with the government. I very much appreciate the opportunity to be able to see him and talk to him from time to time, on what Lake Babine Nation is up to. Would the House please make him welcome.

The second introduction: Sebastian Zein is here. He’s an individual I’ve worked with for many years. He’s been instrumental in many things that I’ve been involved in. He has a keen interest in politics as well as a very good business mind. Would the House please make him welcome.

Hon. George Chow: Today I have the honour to introduce several members of my ministry’s leadership team, from the corporate information and records management office, who are here today to watch question period. In the gallery, we have Mary LaBoucane, Elizabeth Vander Beesen, Alexandra Khan, Terrell Les Strange, Jeff Barber, Bruce Schinkelwitz, Trevor Youdale, Tammy Blair and Mario Miniaci. I want to thank them for all the work they do on behalf of British Columbians.

Would the House please make them all feel very welcome.

Sheldon Clare: I would like to acknowledge my senior constituency assistant, Adam Schaan, who joins us today in the House. Adam previously held the position of CA, having worked with a predecessor of mine, MLA Bob Simpson. Adam brings broad political experience to my staff, having collaborated over the past 20 years with the NDP, the Greens, independents and Conservatives.

Would the House please make him feel very welcome.

[1:40 p.m.]

Hon. Lana Popham: What a pleasure it is to rise for the first time, coming back to do the work that we need to do.

I wanted to point out that one of these curlers, up in front of us, is second skip, Corey Chester. He is my constituent. I know this could reach thousands of viewers, but I do think he’s my favourite constituent. Good luck.

It is also my pleasure as Minister of Agriculture and Food to welcome two members of B.C. Dairy to the chamber: Dylan Kruger, director of public affairs, and Jeremy Dunn, general manager. When I get up in the morning, I am an early bird. I pour my cup of coffee. I go to the fridge, get my milk. I am always reminded that our dairy farmers have been up hours before us, making sure that our milk supply is secure. We thank them for that.

I also would like to mention that there could be no better moment right now than to support supply management.

Hon. Christine Boyle: I also just want to share a warm welcome to Chief Wilf Adam, as well as other hereditary and elected leaders and staff here visiting from Lake Babine First Nation, a strong partner. We had good conversations just this morning and grateful to have them in this room as a partner in this province. I ask the House to join in a welcome.

Donegal Wilson: I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Mayor Everett Baker from the beautiful city of Grand Forks, who’s come here to join us today. I’m not sure where he is, but I would like to welcome him. Thank you. Please make him feel welcome.

Hon. Randene Neill: It’s my pleasure to introduce the following guests to the chamber today. From Kaska, Harlan Schilling, Chief of the Daylu Dena Council, and Michelle Miller. From Taku River Tlingit First Nation, spokesperson Charmaine Thom and Charles Pugh. From the Tahltan First Nation, Rob McPhee.

Everyone in the House, please join me in welcoming them here today.

Hon. Ravi Parmar: I wanted to join the member across the way in welcoming a good friend and partner, the Mayor of Grand Forks, here to Victoria, here to the House. I understand that he’s going to be meeting with the Premier, or has met with the Premier today, as well as some other colleagues. He’s a great partner. I’m looking forward to working with him on forestry issues. Will the House join me in welcoming the Mayor of Grand Forks, Everett Baker, to the House today.

Larry Neufeld: I’d like the House to join me in welcoming my beautiful bride, Tammy Neufeld, and my constituency assistant, Heather Lowery, to the House.

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: I’d like everybody to please join me in welcoming Matthew Kloepper and Jacob Kloepper from my riding in Prince Rupert, as well as Georgia Riddell and Joshua McLeod, my two constituency advisers in my office.

Hon. Bowinn Ma: I was also going to stand up to introduce Mayor Everett Baker, but that seems covered already.

I’d also like to acknowledge Chief Harlan Schilling of Daylu Dena First Nation. Thank you so much for coming down here from Lower Post.

I also understand that Robert Phillips of the First Nations Summit is also here in the building today with Kevin Scott of Resolve Canada.

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

Steve Morissette: It’s my pleasure today to introduce my two rockstar constituency advisers here from the beautiful city of Castlegar. They’re up here in the gallery. Please join me in welcoming them.

David Williams: At this time, I would like to thank my spouse, Denise Fisher, for attending today.

The Speaker: Why are you so reluctant?

Awesome. Thank you.

[1:45 p.m.]

Steve Morissette: My apologies. First time jitters. That was Sarah Brownlee and Angelika Brunner.

The Speaker: Anyone else? Now is the time.

Jennifer Blatherwick: I’m afraid…. This is my inexperience. I’m a very new MLA. I may not actually recognize my constituents. They have just emailed me that they are in the House. I would like all of you to welcome Dr. Howard and Ms. Carolyn Maugham, who are my constituents. And if they could wave.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

Bill 2 — Acting Conflict of
Interest Commissioner
Continuation Act

Hon. Niki Sharma presented a message from His Honour the Administrator: a bill intituled Acting Conflict of Interest Commissioner Continuation Act.

Hon. Niki Sharma: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

I’m pleased to introduce the Acting Conflict of Interest Commissioner Continuation Act. This bill will enable the acting Conflict of Interest Commissioner’s term to continue until the next Conflict of Interest Commissioner can be appointed for a five-year term.

The commissioner serves a vital role in promoting public confidence in elected public officials as they conduct their business. The proposed legislation will ensure that there is no vacancy in this important office.

The Speaker: Members, on the first reading of the bill .

Motion approved.

Hon. Niki Sharma: 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.

Motion approved.

Bill 3 — Protected Areas of
British Columbia Amendment Act

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson presented a message from His Honour the Administrator: a bill intituled Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act.

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: I move that the bill be introduced and read a first time now.

This bill contains amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act. These amendments continue the legislative work needed to maintain and improve the B.C. protected areas system. This work includes adding lands to existing parks, updating and improving legal descriptions, and completing necessary administrative changes.

These amendments will add approximately 143 hectares to three parks and also remove approximately one hectare of land from one of those same parks. The bill also allows for the transfer of Kilby Park to the administration of the heritage branch of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. This bill also contains amendments to rename two parks to include their Indigenous place name.

On an administrative note, I want to point out to all the members that copies of the new official plans referenced in the bill will be posted on the B.C. Parks website for public and member review.

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

Motion approved.

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: 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.

Motion approved.

Members’ Statements

Bill Brassington and Legacy
of Social Justice Work

Janet Routledge: I rise to honour the memory of Bill Brassington. He was my life partner, my soulmate, for almost 50 years. This is the first speech I’ve given in this chamber without his support.

[1:50 p.m.]

I’ve tested every speech on him first, and he’d time it and give me feedback. He’d encourage me to be brave, to speak truth to power, to use every opportunity to share our understanding of what the world is and what the world could be. He’d encourage me to use my voice in the B.C. Legislature to give voice to those who are shut out from the halls of power, and then he’d watch me on the legislative channel giving that speech.

Over the last few months, so many people have shared their Brassington stories. They describe him as a gentleman. They remember him for his quiet competence, intelligence, wit, kindness, loyalty and the high standards he set for himself. Be it learning to golf or to fly a plane, or be it defending workers’ rights, he put his all into everything he undertook.

He’s remembered as a role model. Bill was a founding member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and was instrumental in turning a loose alliance of staff associations into an effective labour union.

Bill was deeply moved by what he witnessed during a solidarity tour to Nicaragua in 1985, and it motivated him to help found CoDevelopment Canada so unions in B.C. could support unions in the global south and together raise the living standards of all workers to their mutual benefit.

Bill believed that politics matters, that we advance social justice by actively working to elect governments that share our values. He put up lawn signs, attended conventions, sat on executives, recruited volunteers at every level of government.

Bill was 15 years older than me. We both knew I would probably outlive him, but it’s really hard to accept that this evening I won’t be able to call him to find out how he thought I did today.

Cow Moose Sign Project

Lorne Doerkson: You will see their signs all over the province, places that you wouldn’t even expect to: an image of a cow moose with a snow-covered nose. The image has become well known in many parts of the province as an initiative continues to expand.

The Cow Moose Sign Project started in 2014 by Dan and Vivian Simmons of Williams Lake, with the intention of protecting cow and calf moose. Dan and Vivian continue to educate the public, through groups and schools, and actively promote the protection and the respect of cow moose.

It has been a struggle, but the tenacity of this amazing couple has them winning the battle. They’ve changed hunting protocols and have changed the opinions of thousands of residents. They have saved countless numbers of cow and calf moose from harvest.

In 2022, a victory for these animals occurred when, after eight years, the cow-calf-moose-only season was cancelled, along with 121 cow-calf, limited-entry hunting tags being removed from the regulations.

This project has the partnership of more than 60 First Nations that have worked with the conservation service, signing MOUs to protect these incredible animals. Tremendous support has been given by the Guide to Outfitters Association of B.C., B.C. Trappers Association, Hunters for B.C., Alberta Professional Outfitters Society and so many businesses throughout the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

A special thanks to the late Rodger Stewart of the government of British Columbia for recognizing the importance of this campaign.

They do all of this work for no other reason than a love of wildlife. The effort that Dan and Vivian Simmons have put forth is nothing less than staggering. They are truly great British Columbians.

I ask this whole House to give these icons of British Columbia a tremendous thank-you.

North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce

Susie Chant: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to highlight an invaluable asset serving North Vancouver, the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.

To begin, I acknowledge that I’m speaking from the ancestral lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, the Esquimalt and the Songhees.

Additionally, I have the privilege of representing North Vancouver–Seymour, which is located on the traditional lands of the səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh peoples.

[1:55 p.m.]

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in numerous events organized by the chamber, all aimed at fostering connections, promoting business growth and addressing key community issues.

The women in business event, held on International Women’s Day, brought together a diverse group of women to celebrate and support each other.

A meet-and-greet at a local restaurant featuring Minister Kahlon and chamber leaders, including CEO Patrick Stafford-Smith, facilitated a meaningful discussion on housing challenges within our community.

Business after 5 at the Woods Spirit Co, a local distillery, provided an evening of networking, while the walk and talk event at Seylynn Park and Spirit Trail encouraged engagement between businesses and residents.

The chamber’s Seaspan shipyards tour generated great excitement, and the attendees observed the near-complete joint support and supply vessel for the Canadian navy and learned about the vital role of shipbuilding in our local economy, employing over 4,800 tradespeople and professionals.

The recent senior care services round table at the Sunrise in Lonsdale Square provided a critical platform for service providers to discuss industry challenges.

Most recently the chamber swiftly convened business leaders, along with the provincial and federal representatives, to address economic and tariff concerns. Their responsiveness and dedication continue to benefit our entire community, and I am grateful for their ongoing efforts.

Heritage Week Events in Surrey

Elenore Sturko: It’s great to be back in the B.C. Legislature with an opportunity to highlight an exciting event that celebrates Surrey’s rich history.

This Saturday, February 22, during Heritage Week, the Surrey Historical Society is hosting Pastimes in Past Times at the Cloverdale United Church. The event is a tribute to how community members spent their leisure time before the advent of television and modern entertainment. It’s an opportunity for us to step back in time and appreciate the games, sports, hobbies and activities enjoyed by previous generations.

The event will feature interactive areas where children can play and games from the past so that adults can revisit the entertainments of their childhood and their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. The gathering will not only educate but also engage our community in understanding, experiencing and maybe even developing a fondness for pastimes of past times.

The event will also feature displays of posters, artifacts and memorabilia and offer a visual journey through time. There’s also going to be a trivia contest and refreshments to enjoy.

Cloverdale United Church, with its own deep historical roots, serves as the perfect venue for this event because Cloverdale United Church is designated a heritage building. In the heart of Cloverdale, it was built in 1950, 75 years ago, and this year will mark the founding of the United Church of Canada, over 100 years ago in 1925.

I wish to thank the Surrey Historical Society and the Cloverdale United Church for hosting the event. I hope that each of you join us to learn, laugh and connect with our past. Please mark your calendars for this Saturday, February 22, one to five, at the Cloverdale United Church. Let’s together to appreciate pastimes in past times — I dare you to say it five times fast, Mr. Speaker — and keep our vibrant history alive.

Respectful Dialogue

Amshen / Joan Phillip: Today I want to speak about the importance of decorum in this House. We are here to serve the people of British Columbia, and every word we speak in this chamber sends a message to our constituents, including the most vulnerable members of our communities who rely on us to stand up for their rights and dignity.

When I listen to some of the issues raised in this House, I hear anger, and what’s really underneath anger is hurt. We’re all in this together, and our constituents deserve leadership that resolves issues in a professional and positive manner.

Let us use this chamber as a model of respectful dialogue. When we speak with civility, we demonstrate to the people that their concerns are met with thoughtful consideration. Every respectful conversation we have here is a promise to our communities that we are committed to lifting them up.

[2:00 p.m.]

Before I conclude, I’d like to give a shout-out to community leaders who model these values, like the public and government affairs director at the Salvation Army, who is soon to retire, for her tireless dedication and hard work serving our communities. Your commitment shines as an example to us all.

I urge us all to remember the faces behind the issues: the mothers, the children, the seniors, and every person who looks to us for hope and guidance. Let us ensure our debates are a space of mutual respect, reflecting the best of who we are as leaders.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM

Robin Sharpe

Sheldon Clare: I rise today to pay tribute in memory of Robin Sharpe, former mayor of the district of Wells and a prominent resident and leader in the Cariboo for nearly four decades.

Robin came to the Cariboo in 1986 after completing a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management from Simon Fraser University, taking up work with B.C. Parks, and over time, as manager of visitor services at Barkerville Historic Town and Park.

Robin was a pioneer in his own right, being elected to the first district of Wells council in 1997 and appointed the first CEO of the Barkerville Heritage Trust in 2005. While retirement from the Barkerville Historic Trust came in 2010, Robin did not rest easy, rolling up his sleeves and successfully running for office in 2011, this time for mayor of the district of Wells. Robin ultimately served two terms in the mayor’s chair.

Over the years, Robin took a leadership role in the region, acting as the committee chair for the Wells-Barkerville chapter of Ducks Unlimited Canada, president and treasurer of the Wells curling club, director and treasurer of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, member of the Cariboo-Chilcotin regional advisory committee for the Northern Development Initiative Trust, member of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition, and member of the Gold Rush Trail marketing board.

The legacy of Robin’s tireless efforts for Barkerville, the district of Wells and the Cariboo is significant. I would like to extend my condolences to Robin’s family and friends, as well as the constituents of the district of Wells and the team at the Barkerville Heritage Trust.

Robin will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

The Speaker: We will be starting the question period soon. Just a guide and encouragement to all members: if you can ask a short question and a short answer, then we will cover much wider and more ground.

Oral Questions

Management of Safe Supply and
Diversion to Illicit Market and
Role of Pharmacies

John Rustad: Let me start by reading some quotes with regards to safe supply and the diversion into criminals’ hands.

On March 12, 2024, the Government House Leader said that widespread diversion was “simply not true.” In February of this year, the Premier questioned this, saying: “If it is happening….” In February of 2024, the provincial health officer said: “Diversion is not in itself good or bad, or right or wrong.” The government’s own leaked report has shown that this information, these statements, are false.

Will the Premier stop gaslighting the public? Will he admit his government has been misleading the public on this? And will he enact a public inquiry into the safe supply scandal?

Hon. David Eby: We’ve lost 16,000 people in this province to the toxic drug crisis since it was declared. These are fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers and colleagues and friends. The consistent message that has come to us from people who have lost loved ones is do whatever you can to try to help keep people alive and get them into treatment so they can rebuild their lives.

[2:05 p.m.]

It’s advice from family and friends like that that resulted in the prescribed alternatives program that gets a nurse or a doctor between someone struggling with addiction and a predatory drug dealer. We know it has saved lives. We know it has stabilized lives. The Conservatives know that too, and their spokesperson has supported the program in principle.

But that doesn’t mean that we tolerate diversion. We have taken steps with police — this is how the opposition knows about the issue with these pharmacies — to investigate bad pharmacies, to ensure that that information is shared with police for prosecutions, to address issues of diversion.

Now the Health Minister has made an important, but difficult, announcement to move to an exclusively witnessed program, which we know is going to make it harder for some people to access this program that we know can save lives, but which we have to do to address the issue of diversion.

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

John Rustad: It’s true that 16,328 people have lost their lives to overdose. That’s true. But it’s also true that the safe supply program has put 22,416,000 doses into British Columbia and an unknown number of those into the hands of criminal activity. The report by this government shows that those are the facts.

These drugs, of course, are also not safe. They are actually very dangerous drugs as well. The report clearly shows that this has been going on for years. The police reports have shown that this diverted supply into the hands of criminals has been going on for years. Yet, as given in those quotes, this has been denied by this government.

The real question that the public is asking is who knew in advance how bad this situation was? When did they know about it? Quite frankly, the taxpayers want to know how much of their money was wasted on drugs getting into criminals’ hands.

This is why the Premier must call a public inquiry and get answers to the public, who demand to know how this government has been mistreating this file.

Hon. David Eby: The risk of pharmacies diverting opioids existed before the prescribed alternatives program. It exists after. The entity within the Ministry of Health that was set up….

Interjection.

The Speaker: Members, the Premier has the floor.

Hon. David Eby: The entity within the Ministry of Health that was set up to investigate pharmacies was set up in 2014 by the B.C. Liberal government because of issues related to the diversion of opioids. So ensuring that that agency had the authority, was focusing on pharmacies and the issue and the risk of diversion, was a priority for us. We ensured that they had the resources to do that.

It resulted in a very significant investigation, which they were briefing police on. That’s how the opposition knows about this. It has resulted in criminal investigations that are ongoing with the College of Pharmacists to shut down bad actors and the unfortunate and difficult but necessary decision to move to a witnessed-only program, which we know will compromise the access of people who need this program to stay alive. But we have to do it to ensure that we are addressing the risk of diversion.

Elenore Sturko: The Premier and his government want you to believe that this is a problem with bad pharmacies, that it’s bad actors. But this isn’t a problem with bad pharmacies; this is a problem with bad policy. The bad actors are members of this government and bureaucrats working under the supervision of this Premier, who have been gaslighting British Columbians for more than two years.

After years of downplaying and denying the significant diversion of so-called safe supply, the government’s own leaked presentation reports that their publicly funded drug trafficking is widespread. Taxpayer-funded safe supply went from prescribing 577,000 pills in 2020 to more than 22 million pills and fentanyl patches in the last two years. This is increasing the risk of population-level harms, with unknown quantities being trafficked provincially, nationally and internationally.

The public has a right to know how this could happen. Now that the Premier recognizes that his experiment has failed, when will he call a public inquiry?

[2:10 p.m.]

Hon. David Eby: I think it’s important to be clear. I canvassed this with the member for Surrey-Cloverdale extensively in the estimates debates before the election. I acknowledge the risk of diversion is a serious issue. We were taking steps to ensure diversion, if it was taking place, was being addressed. It resulted in dedicating a team within the Ministry of Health to investigate pharmacies, which is what the opposition has become aware of. It has led to criminal investigations. It is a serious matter.

But on the issue of prescribed alternatives, I won’t let the member shrink from her own record, because it’s important to recognize that there’s not a division in this House about the need for this program. February 17, on CKNW, the member said: “Conservatives, we know that there’s a role for these drugs to be used to help people, to be titrated to other medications, to stabilize people.” Well, I agree entirely.

The unfortunate thing is that some people are going to lose access to this program because of a difficult decision to move to witnessed ingestion only. That’s an unfortunate thing, but it’s a necessary thing to address the issue of diversion.

The Speaker: Surrey-Cloverdale, supplemental.

Elenore Sturko: More gaslighting from a Premier who fails to recognize his own failed experiment. For sure, there is a role for prescribed alternatives for drugs to help titrate and stabilize, but we’re talking about a government program that has dumped millions of pills into the hands of criminals and drug traffickers

I first raised the issue of diversion in this chamber on February 9, 2023. That’s more than two years ago. Two years of flooding this province with hydromorphone, a highly addictive opioid five times more powerful than morphine. Two years of fueling the fentanyl trade with program participants trading their dillies for street drugs. Two years of taxpayer dollars being used to enrich criminal organizations, putting money into the hands of drug dealers that have killed 49,000 Canadians.

British Columbians have the right to know: how did this happen? When will the Premier call for a public inquiry?

Hon. David Eby: I’m sure the member didn’t do it intentionally, but she conflated the toxic street drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil with the prescribed alternative program supervised by nurses and doctors.

We’ve lost more than 16,000 people in the toxic drug crisis. The prescribed alternative program — what I understood the member previously supported, when she said: “The government has introduced a safe supply where they’re giving hydromorphone and other drugs. Slow-release morphine, they give it to individuals to help them get off illicit drugs, and that we need to continue exploring.” Or when she said: “This government was said to be exploring options for pharmaceutical alternatives to illicit drugs, and that’s what they should be doing.” That’s October 26, 2023. As recently as February, in support of the program.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Shhh, shhh. Member.

Hon. David Eby: It’s an important program to save lives.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Hon. David Eby: But that doesn’t mean that we tolerate….

The Speaker: The Premier will continue.

Hon. David Eby: It doesn’t mean that we tolerate diversion. To prevent diversion, we have to take the unfortunate but necessary step of moving to a…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Hon. David Eby: …witnessed-only program, which will restrict access to the program for some people who are struggling with addiction, especially in rural areas. But we have to take that step in order to ensure that the public is protected.

We’ll continue to support the ongoing police investigation, the college investigation into these pharmacies as best we can.

Economy and Job Protection

Jeremy Valeriote: British Columbians are feeling alarmed and anxious, and with good reason. According to Finance Ministry estimates, U.S. tariffs could lead to 124,000 job losses in B.C. over the next three years.

The government’s main response to the tariff threat is a hasty plan to fast-track 18 mining and energy projects, including an LNG export terminal. The government estimates these projects would create 8,000 jobs. That leaves 116,000 job losses unaccounted for, a staggering number of jobs.

Grocery rebate or not, British Columbians are left wondering how this government will support them during this time of uncertainty and how they will fortify our economy so we’re less vulnerable to forces beyond our control.

[2:15 p.m.]

My question is for the Premier. What is the government’s plan to protect people’s livelihoods in the short term but also transform our economy to deliver clean prosperity far into the future?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: Thank you to the member opposite for the question, and welcome to this House.

One of the first tasks I was charged with in becoming Finance Minister was to bring forward the grocery rebate. We know that there are people in British Columbia who are struggling with affordability. We’ve taken many measures to support people in affordability. But on November 25, when then-elect President Trump announced 25 percent tariffs across the board to Canadian businesses, the world changed, and we cannot move forward with the grocery rebate.

We will, however, continue to support British Columbians in so many ways, and we will double down on the most important things for British Columbians: health care, education, safe streets and ensuring that social services are available.

We are moving forward with growing our economy, and we’re doing it in many, many ways. While we accelerate these important projects that we have brought forward, acceleration doesn’t necessarily mean only getting to yes. Acceleration can also mean getting to no, because we’re still keeping the vital, vital protection of environment and collaboration with Indigenous peoples as our guiding light on these decisions.

What we’re getting rid of is death by maybe.

The Speaker: Leader of the Third Party, supplemental.

Indigenous Consultation
on Resource Development Projects

Jeremy Valeriote: The Premier suggested in January at a mineral exploration conference that this government’s “hyper-focusing on things like Indigenous reconciliation” had pulled attention from economic growth. Economic growth from resource extraction can’t happen without Indigenous consultation. It’s the law.

While I recognize that 12 of 18 projects have Indigenous partnership, on February 7, the Tāłtān Nation released a statement saying it was “frustrated and surprised” by the province’s announcement of projects to be fast-tracked, two of them in Tāłtān territory.

On environmental assessment, the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission was frequently criticized for being too friendly to industry, and a name change alone will not fix that. How can British Columbians be assured that this government isn’t using the tariff threat to push ahead with more conventional resource extraction at the expense of Indigenous rights and critical environmental protections?

Hon. Christine Boyle: Thank you for a critically important question.

It’s an honour to get to speak to the partnerships that this government continues to form with First Nations across the province in economic development as well as in a whole range of efforts to improve the quality of life for First Nations and Indigenous communities as well as all British Columbians.

The work that’s been done to move projects forward in light of the alarming threat of tariffs includes, as folks in this House know, an important economic benefit for First Nations and, in fact, a majority equity ownership by First Nations for a number of those projects. Those partnerships continue to be a priority for this government. Where there are difficult conversations, those are difficult conversations we’re showing up to have, side by side, to figure out how we move forward together in this province.

The path to prosperity for British Columbians is in partnership with First Nations. That’s a commitment we’ll continue to make.

Management of Safe Supply and
Diversion to Illicit Market

Claire Rattée: While this NDP Premier was saying that diversion wasn’t happening, his government knew that the police were investigating. Then Minister of Mental Health and Addictions said: “I would say again that I have not heard directly a concern from law enforcement or seen evidence from law enforcement of safe supply being diverted.”

To the Premier, will he finally admit that the NDP’s safe supply program has failed, and it has only fuelled B.C.’s drug crisis?

[2:20 p.m.]

Hon. David Eby: We work closely with police throughout this process, including with the RCMP, supporting them with the resources that they need to be able to do these investigations, providing them with information, including a briefing…

Interjection.

The Speaker: Members, there was no interruption when the question was asked. Let’s provide the same courtesy when the answer is provided. Thank you.

Hon. David Eby: …to assist front-line officers in being able to identify diverted drugs.

I think that’s one of the reasons why, because we have been engaged in this work together, the Association of Chiefs of Police issued a statement today stating that they recognize the importance of harm reduction measures, including safe supply and addressing the ongoing toxic drug crisis, and noting, with approval, the move by the province to move to witnessed ingestion, saying: “It is equally essential that these programs are structured in a way that prevents unintended consequences, including the illegal redistribution of prescribed substances.”

We agree entirely. That’s why we’ve taken the step of moving to witnessed ingestion. It is a challenging decision because we know it will limit access for some people to the program, but it’s a necessary step, and I’m glad to have the support of the police in taking this step.

The Speaker: Member for Skeena, supplemental.

Claire Rattée: That really wasn’t an answer. Fourteen years ago I was a homeless addict living on the Downtown Eastside, and I can tell you that the people that are going to die today and tomorrow deserve better than that answer.

The Speaker: I didn’t see any question in that. Thank you very much.

Let’s move on.

Rosalyn Bird: Fifty bags of drugs — 700 pills, including fentanyl, methadone, methamphetamines and cocaine — of which, according to the Prince George RCMP, a significant portion was diverted from safe supply. If the Premier had his way, the RCMP would not have taken these drugs off the streets, as it was his government that put them on the street in the first place.

When will this government stop being the dealer for B.C.’s drug-addiction crisis?

Hon. David Eby: That is completely false and regrettable.

It was when the Leader of the Opposition was in cabinet that drug dealers walked into B.C. casinos with hockey bags full of money, with impunity. After repeated warnings that that was happening, they refused to take action.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member.

Hon. David Eby: Now we have unexplained wealth orders, in four different cases, being used against people who have astonishing wealth with no apparent means of producing it. We seized the Hell’s Angels’ clubhouses.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Shhh. Shhh, Members.

Members, come to order.

Hon. David Eby: Let me tell you. Since 2020, police have seized over 1,800 firearms, $20 million in illegal cash and assets, and over 15,000 kilograms of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals.

We’ve provided witness protection to people coming forward to provide evidence against gangsters. It resulted in 80 different prosecutions of gangsters in this province, successful prosecutions, putting gangsters behind bars — steps that the Leader of the Opposition could have taken when he was on this side of the House.

So I urge the member to look into her own leader’s history before suggesting that this side of the House has done anything except attack organized crime from day one.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member, that’s enough.

Member.

Premier, conclude, please.

Hon. David Eby: From day one, hon. Speaker.

The Speaker: Prince George–Valemount, supplemental.

Rosalyn Bird: The Solicitor General and the Premier may remember Shaun Wright, the recently retired superintendent from the Prince George RCMP detachment. He said criminalization is “the most horrific failure of public policy.” Shaun Wright, PG Citizen, August 14, 2024.

The RCMP know that the NDP’s policies are a failure. Does the Minister of Public Safety stand with the RCMP, and will he support the call for a public inquiry into the safe supply now?

[2:25 p.m.]

Hon. Josie Osborne: I think what the public wants most to know is that we are doing everything we can to save people’s lives, during a time of a toxic-drug crisis that has impacted thousands of people. Not one person in this House, I bet, has not been touched by this crisis. That’s why we’re taking every tool that we can, using it in a way that is evidence-based, and is working to save people’s lives, like the prescribed alternatives program.

Today, as has already been canvassed and as the Premier has said, difficult decisions were announced around how we can ensure the integrity of this program in a way that keeps people safe — the people who are using prescribed alternatives and the people living out in our communities. We’re keeping people safe together.

The public wants to know we’re doing everything we can. That is exactly what we’re doing. We’re going to stay focused on that, not just through the prescribed alternatives program and making the changes that we’ve announced today, but by continuing to build the spectrum of supports that people need — everything, everything from prevention to treatment and recovery, building out that seamless system of recovery, to help people in the best way possible.

Staffing Shortages
in Health Care System

Brennan Day: My question is directed to the Minister of Health.

Don Chamberlain, a resident of my riding, received the long-awaited call: a healthy lung transplant lung was finally available. He rushed to Vancouver General Hospital from the Island, late on a Friday night in February, only two weeks ago, only to have his surgery cancelled at the last minute due to a lack of a perfusionist — another casualty of B.C.’s chronic health care staffing crisis.

How many more British Columbians must suffer, and how many more organs will be thrown in the trash before this government fixes B.C.’s health care staffing shortages?

The Speaker: Before the Chair recognizes the Minister of Health, I want to caution all members not to use any electronic devices during the question period. Thank you.

Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the member for the question, and welcome to your new role as the critic for seniors care and for rural health.

I know that my colleague from Courtenay-Comox cares just as much about the services that people need and understands that we have a lot of work to do to strengthen our public health care system. That’s exactly what we’re focused on. We know, in this time of a global shortage of health care workers, that serious action needs to be taken.

That’s exactly what we’re doing, by attracting and retaining more doctors, nurses and health care workers than ever before; working to break down the barriers to get internationally trained graduates working here in the province, delivering the care that they were trained to do for people here; adding 128 seats to the UBC medical school, distributed across the province; and a new medical school coming to Surrey, focused specifically on training more family physicians here in this province.

There is a lot of work to do. But it is only by this work, concerted month after month, year after year, that we are going to continue to build the health care system here. It is showing progress. We are showing progress. We’ve attracted more doctors and nurses than ever before, and we’re going to continue this work.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Brennan Day: B.C. had 30 perfusionists in 2002. In a recent survey, 12 have left for the United States, 38 percent aged 40 or younger have signalled their intent to leave the profession in a short few years, and nearly 24 percent are planning on retiring in the next five.

In yesterday’s throne speech, this government committed to attracting talent from the United States. How does this minister plan to stop the brain drain and bring back the specialists we need here in B.C. to save British Columbians’ lives?

Hon. Josie Osborne: Yes, it is incredibly frustrating for somebody who is going through the experience like the member speaks of. That’s why we’ve got to continue the work to attract and retain more doctors and specialists.

[2:30 p.m.]

That’s why we’re working with the college to reduce the barriers for people to practise here in B.C. by making it possible for physicians from other parts of Canada to be certified immediately and by working with the college to ensure that within six weeks those specialists and physicians coming from comparable jurisdictions around the world are able to practise here in B.C.

That is work that we are doing right now, and we are going to continue it.

Impact of Kootenay Lake
Ferry Labour Dispute

Harman Bhangu: The Kootenay Bay–Balfour ferry strike has put local lives in absolute turmoil since September. I have heard from countless people of a failing ferry service and the impact on their lives — having to take a treacherous three-hour trip in the dark through the Kootenay Pass. Yet, the member from Kootenay Central sits idly by and allows this to happen without lifting a finger.

My question to the transport minister, why don’t the lives of East Kootenay matter to this government?

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside: Of course, I understand that people in the Kootenays do really rely on the ferry system and that they are frustrated with the impacts of this situation. I have urged both parties to be at the bargaining table, to work hard, diligently and with urgency to end this dispute.

We know that negotiations are right now taking place between the operator and their employees. Government is not at the table in these talks. We know that the most sustainable and best outcomes in a negotiating process occur at the bargaining table. Again, I am strongly urging the parties to be at the bargaining table to work with urgency and diligence in resolving their collective agreement issues so that life can get back to normal for people in the Kootenays.

Harman Bhangu: This strike….

The Speaker: Member. Member, wait. Wait.

Now you can start.

Harman Bhangu: This strike has cost people their jobs. A business owner lost $2,000 in one week because people simply couldn’t get to him. Ten sailings have been scaled back to three. A father cannot get his autistic son to medical appointments in Nelson. It’s very critical. Early-age diagnosis goes a long way.

Again, to the minister: are you going to step in and act for the East Kootenay residents, or will you continue and allow this chaos to reign in these communities?

The Speaker: Member, all questions must be asked through the Chair, not to the minister. Thank you.

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside: Again, I understand how frustrating this situation is for people who are impacted by this dispute. Again, the parties are currently at the table in negotiations, talking with each other, working through their issues.

I think they understand the importance of resolving this situation for people in the Kootenays. The Labour Relations Board has been working with the community and with the parties to support a resolution to this bargaining dispute. I am, again, urging all parties to ensure that they are at the table and working diligently to ensure that this dispute is solved with urgency.

[End of question period.]

Point of Order

Elenore Sturko: I rise to address a point of personal privilege.

The Premier stated that I had conflated safe supply with fentanyl and carfentanil. This is incorrect, and I would ask that the Premier withdraw his statement.

What I said was that it’s two years of fueling the fentanyl trade, because the program that the government has been running has been allowing its participants to trade the taxpayer-funded drugs on the street for street fentanyl, thusly driving the fentanyl trade, putting money into the hands of criminals that have funded….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Member, thank you.

Elenore Sturko: I ask that the Premier please withdraw.

[2:35 p.m.]

The Speaker: Member, it sounded like a point of order, not a point of privilege. So it was a point of order. The Premier doesn’t have to answer right now if he doesn’t want to. We can deal with it later. Thank you. It was a point of order.

Tabling Documents

The Speaker: Hon. Members, I have the honour to table the following reports. There are quite a few, so I need your patience.

The first ones are Auditor General: Annual Follow-up Report, Status of Performance Audit Recommendations (2021, 2022, May 2024); Annual Report 2023-24, June 2024; Interim Report on the Examination of MNP’s Administration of the Advanced Research and Commercialization Grant Program, June 2024; Final Report on the Examination of MNP’s Administration of the Advanced Research and Commercialization Grant Program, August 2024.

Conflict of Interest Commissioner: Annual Report 2023.

Elections B.C.: Annual Report 2023-24 and Service Plan 2024-25, 2026-27; and Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 2022 General Local Elections, October 15, 2022.

Human Rights Commissioner: Spreading our wings, Annual Report 2023/24 and Service Plan 2024/25—2026/27.

Merit Commissioner: Annual Report: Upholding Fair Hiring in the B.C. Public Service, 2023-2024 Merit Performance Audit Report, December 24.

Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner: 2023-2024 annual report.

Ombudsperson: 2023-2024 Annual Report; Public Interest Disclosure Act Special Report No. 1, Hire Power: the Appointment of Eligible Candidates to the Temporary Assignments in the Public Service, June 2024; Special Report No. 57, Under Inspection: The Hiatus in B.C. Correctional Centre Inspections, July 2024; and Special Report No. 58, Short-Changed: Ensuring Federal Benefits Paid to the Province Reach Caregivers of Children with Disabilities, January 2025.

Registrar of Lobbyists: Determination Decision 24-02, AbCellera Biologics Inc., designated filer Carl Hansen, June 27, 2024; and Determination Decision 24-04, B.C. Chamber of Commerce, designated filer Fiona Famulak, December 11, 2024.

Representative for Children and Youth: Annual Report 2023-24 and Service Plan 2024-25—2026-27, Amplifying Voices for Change; Don’t Look Away: How One Boy’s Story Has the Power to Shift a System of Care for Children and Youth, July 2024, revised report; No Time to Wait: A Review of MCFD’s Child Welfare Workforce Part One, July 2024; No Time to Wait: A Review of MCFD’s Child Welfare Workforce Part Two, February 2025; and Too Many Left Behind: Ensuring Children and Youth with Disabilities Thrive, January 2025.

Reports from Committees

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I have the honour to present the first report of this Special Committee of Selection for the first session of the 43rd parliament, and I move that the report be taken as read.

Motion approved.

[2:40 p.m.]

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I ask leave of the House to move a motion to adopt the report.

Leave granted.

The Speaker: Proceed.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move the report be adopted.

Motion approved.

Tabling Documents

Hon. Niki Sharma: I have the honour to present the Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia’s annual report, 2023-24.

I also have the honour of presenting the annual report of the British Columbia Ferry Commissioner for the fiscal year ending March 31, ‘24.

Hon. George Chow: I have the honour to present the annual report of the chief records officer.

Hon. Randene Neill: I have the honour to present the annual report of the activities under the Drinking Water Protection Act in B.C., 2022-2023, from the office of the provincial health officer.

Orders of the Day

Hon. Mike Farnworth: In this chamber, I call address and reply to the throne speech.

[Lorne Doerkson in the chair.]

Deputy Speaker: Good afternoon, Members. We’re going to call this to order. For those of you enjoying conversations, we’ll get you to take those into the hall. We’re going to have some business to conduct here.

We’re going to call on the member for North Vancouver–Seymour to make the motion.

[2:45 p.m.]

Throne Speech Debate

Susie Chant: I move, seconded by the member for Surrey City Centre, that we, His Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session.

I will continue with my remarks, if I may, Mr. Speaker.

Deputy Speaker: Please do.

Susie Chant: Thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of the 2025 throne speech.

As I begin, I acknowledge that I’m speaking on the lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, the Songhees and the Esquimalt in particular. I am always grateful for the time that I spend here and for the opportunities that I have to learn about and work towards real reconciliation that is meaningful and effective.

Additionally, I acknowledge with appreciation the səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations, on whose unceded land the riding of North Vancouver–Seymour is founded. The ongoing stewardship of the land and water that those nations do is literally rehabilitating the ecosystems of fish, of wildlife in the area and of both aquatic and land-based flora. It has been my honour to witness the work being done thus far and to offer appreciative recognition of the impact.

It is my privilege and honour to rise and speak to the throne speech opening the first session of the 43rd parliament of the province of British Columbia. This session started off in a good way, with reflections from Elder Frank George of the Songhees Nation and Elder Mary-Ann Thomas of the Esquimalt First Nation. Thank you for your welcome and your reminder to do our work with good feelings in our hearts.

The wonderful performance from the lək̓ʷəŋən traditional singers and dancers served to ground us as our deliberations begin. It is therefore with great pleasure that I rise to support the throne speech and acknowledge it for what it is: a roadmap to guide us through these uncertain times and a reflection of how we have committed to working with and for the people of British Columbia and will continue to do so.

I would first, however, like to thank my friends and family for enduring support and encouragement. I am deeply grateful for the stalwart support from my husband Rick, my daughters Lindsey and Nicole, my son-in-law Troy, our friends Rebecca and Thomas, as well as many other family members and friends.

I also wish to express gratitude to the people of North Vancouver–Seymour who have, for the past four years, and now for another four, entrusted me with the role of representing them and advocating on their behalf as their MLA. This role is significantly enhanced by the work of my constituency office staff, who maintain exemplary service and support daily for the public of our community. They ensure that people have access to speak to me directly about their issues and concerns, as well as keeping me abreast of and participating in meaningful events. It truly takes a team of diverse talent to work for a community, a ministry and a province.

I also wish to thank the constituents who reach out with questions, concerns, complaints, solutions and gratitude. This open flow of communication is essential to democratic governance and bonds us together in real time. We see our constituency office as a community office, also serving as a venue for art displays, showcasing local artists; a meeting spot for guiding units as they explore politics and leadership; and a place of celebration and connection for our monthly book club.

The backbone of that office are my staff: Stephen Tweedale, Michael Charrois, Graham Assels and our new youth outreach coordinator, Lena McLachlan. They are all dedicated to the well-being of the people who email, telephone or visit, as well as those we meet as we do outreach and attend a variety of events in the community.

As always, and again, I thank the steadfast volunteers that enabled myself and my office staff to reach out in a diverse variety of ways to our constituents. These folks provide me with continued stamina to do the work to which I am fully engaged. My gratitude also goes out to the members of the səlilwətaɬ Nation, who are ever patient in the work that we do together. Chief Jen Thomas and her husband Calvin embody the very concept of service to their community in every way. And I extend my gratitude to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation for bringing me on as part of their group, as my boundaries changed this year and included a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation village.

I sincerely applaud the work done for the people in the province of British Columbia by the outgoing Lieutenant Governor, Janet Austin, and thank her for her seven years of dedicated service. Her strong voice and advocacy for those who may not have the same capacity, opportunity or ability to make effective change for themselves will always be a reminder that that is why we serve.

[2:50 p.m.]

I offer a sincere welcome to our 31st Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour Wendy Cocchia, and her husband, His Honour Sergio Cocchia. As expressed in her January 30 swearing-in speech, the new Lieutenant Governor’s dedication to the power of compassion, call to service and perseverance to create a better world are core values that we can all get behind and that the Legislature will be better for.

Welcome to Her Honour.

In 2023, I was provided with the new opportunity of the role of Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. It was a pleasure to work within the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and the accessibility directorate on getting the accessibility legislation established in B.C.

Much of that work has already seen positive impacts in education, housing, citizen services, B.C. Parks, tourism and post-secondary schools. Health care, education, accommodation, transportation, recreation, vocation, vacation and so many other things should be inclusive for all. These are goals that we want for everyone in B.C., and I will continue to work towards their achievement.

During that time, I also got to be part of the progression of steps that brought the amazing Invictus Games to Vancouver-Whistler, from the announcement that the four nations would be hosting — Lillooet, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm — through the funding announcements from federal and provincial governments and the partnerships with business sponsors to the opening ceremonies and then the games themselves and the athletes who brought their all, supported by families and friends, from 23 nations.

Wounded and ill service members and former service members participated in such sports as wheelchair rugby and basketball, seated volleyball, fixed-position rowing, swimming and a variety of winter sports for the first time at the Whistler Olympic site.

The four host nations were fully involved, from designing the emblem and the medals and holding a blanketing ceremony for all 550 participants to providing athletes house or home within the Vancouver Convention Centre and in Whistler.

I spoke to a young woman who had medalled in the skeleton event. She was from England and had practised by lying on a yoga mat on the floor. I asked her if she’d done a trial run and she shrugged and said: “No, I just went for it.” Wow.

The Invictus Games have a component of competition, but of greater significance is the camaraderie and the shared journey of healing through sport that each person has experienced. I know that the games will continue to provide that support for service people to rehabilitate and rebuild their lives. It is another way that the communities and countries can celebrate their serving men and women, their veterans and those families and friends who support them.

Since being recently appointed by Premier Eby to the role of Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long-Term Care in the Ministry of Health, I have been busy meeting with stakeholders and organizations to hear their concerns and identify needs for seniors. I’m excited to execute my mandate, to engage with service providers, advocates and seniors to identify opportunities for improving seniors’ lives across the province.

Working within the Ministry of Health, I will continue to implement and deliver services to seniors in a person-centric, cost-effective way that promotes and preserves dignity. As a registered nurse, I find that this work is a very good fit, and it is very easy to see where progress has been made.

I am also honoured to assume the role of parliamentary liaison with the Consular Corps, a position that has quickly broadened my knowledge about the international community that forms a significant portion of our communities.

It is reassuring to recognize that friendship and allyship that is shared in our common interests of trade, economic growth, cultural exchange and the support of people in general. It was a delight to meet with a group of consuls yesterday as they shared the pageantry and gravitas of the throne speech.

Many steps were taken in 2024 to make B.C. a place that everyone can call home, a B.C. where you can hold a job that provides a livable wage, afford your housing, feel safe from violence, feel assured that your access to food and water is secure and that you are covered by health care in an environment that supports future generations. We have focused on affordability, child care, housing, health care, public safety, reconciliation, climate change, mental health and addiction, community safety and gender equity. And always, there is more to be done.

All these areas are being addressed through an overarching lens of establishing, supporting and sustaining government-to-government relationships with the Indigenous people of B.C. In 2025, we will continue that work.

[2:55 p.m.]

Our government strives in so many ways to hear from the people of our province to determine needs, gaps and oversights, and, as well, to recognize areas that may have been addressed. However, more is needed. We also want to celebrate the many great initiatives, projects and progress that is steadily being made in the communities throughout B.C.

Last week in my community, a new hospital tower was opened that has been over ten years in the planning and implementation. State-of-the-art pre-, intra- and post-surgical units that are designed to maximize the recovery of patients, including their families. Exquisite Indigenous art is found on each floor, and there is a space for culturally appropriate activities such as smudging and cedar brushing. A rooftop garden is planted with over a dozen native species and is available to patients, families and staff to get into fresh air and enjoy the mountain views or the cityscape.

Many communities throughout B.C. are also seeing the starting, progressing or completion of important infrastructure, such as schools, clinics and hospitals. In the spirit of collaboration, our government will continue to reach out to stakeholders in order to work together in making plans and decisions to ensure the right voices are at the table to address goals and impact.

Ministries continue to work together to recognize and address the needs of the people of British Columbia. Thus, the throne speech provides a strong and flexible base for the government and legislators to reference as they continue to work with representatives and constituents to strengthen and enhance the everyday lives of people living in British Columbia.

Affordability, of course, is a prime concern in B.C. and holds true in North Vancouver–Seymour as well. Since July of 2024, eligible families with kids are receiving up to $3,563 per year through the B.C. family benefit credits. On the electricity bill, up to $100 for households and $400 for businesses has accrued over the course of the year.

To further assist hard-working families in the struggle against high child care costs and the rising cost of living, the province has thus far created 300 spaces since 2019, under the $10-a-day child care program, in my riding, including spaces at Tsleil-Waututh Child and Family Development Centre, Capilano University and the Parkgate Society. We’ve also opened a before- and after-school care program at École Dorothy Lynas Elementary, the first of its kind in North Vancouver–Seymour.

The target of 15,000 spots across B.C. by the end of 2024 was exceeded, and we are currently on track towards the next goal, giving families in our community and yours a break on monthly expenses. In fact, total investments into child care in North Vancouver–Seymour total $51.5 million since 2019, reducing fees for over 130,000 child care spaces by up to $900 a month per child.

With an eye towards B.C.’s future, significant investments have been made in the education of our children so that they all have a safe and accessible place to learn. Scheduled for completion in March of 2025 is the centre for childhood studies on the Capilano University campus. Funded in part by the province, this two-storey child care facility will have laboratories, classrooms, study spaces and admin space in support for the early childhood education program.

We’re also expanding, upgrading and building more schools for our kids, including a $9 million investment to increase capacity at Lynn Valley Elementary School. The new Argyle Secondary School, which was built seismically sound, will better support our students for years to come. At Lynnmour Elementary, a fully accessible playground has been put in place so that all children can be outside and play together.

Part of the commitment of affordability is improvement to infrastructure and access to functional public transit. In May of 2024, a major construction upgrade on the Phibbs Exchange was completed in part from the province’s $18.8 million investment. Linking directly to the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge, it connects North Vancouver to East Vancouver and Burnaby, while also being a short distance to Capilano University, North Shore Studios and a park-and-ride facility. The exchange now boasts 13 new bus bays, seven new bike lockers and rain garden landscaping to improve drainage.

[3:00 p.m.]

Major safety improvements were made to the bus loop, including enhanced lighting for riders as well as drivers navigating the highly populated hub. Safety measures also included emergency call buttons for clients.

Since the creation of the community emergency preparedness fund in 2023, the North Shore has received over $1.6 million towards emergency preparedness, including evacuation route plans, flood hazard maps and disaster risk planning.

In 2024, North Shore Restorative Justice received $375,000 to ensure their capacity to support their members through developing and providing training on restorative practices.

We know that the housing crisis in B.C. is hurting people, challenging us all and holding back our economy. We have taken this challenge and met it head-on so that all members of our community have a safe and accessible place to live. We’re delivering diverse housing options for the community, including more affordable rental options being built on Old Lillooet Road, and the supportive housing being built on East Keith Road.

We have thus far invested $29 million to support important infrastructure upgrades, through the growing communities fund, to local municipalities and regional districts.

In February of 2024, we announced that 180 new middle-income affordable homes are being funded at 225 East Second Street, supported by the BC Builds fund.

Due for completion in the summer of 2025, we’re building housing for students at Capilano University, investing $41.5 million to accommodate 362 students, staff and families at Capilano University, for its first on-campus housing. This six-storey building, constructed with mass timber, will be complete with a 250-seat dining hall; a green roof; bike storage; offices and a café; a First Nations reflection space; and essential laundry, study, lounge and kitchen areas.

This access to on-campus student housing simply means more time spent on learning and less time spent commuting. It means students can build community with their peers that extends to the classroom and into the dining hall, while also reducing pressure on the housing stock and traffic congestion on the North Shore.

On to health care, near and dear to my heart. British Columbia is an extraordinary place, with dedicated doctors, nurses and care teams who take pride in delivering quality health care to patients.

We recognize that the need to expand health services in our province was overdue in 2017, when our B.C. NDP government started. That’s exactly why we got to work right away to bring people better health care.

As I said previously, I was honoured to be part of the opening of the new state-of-the-art Paul Myers Tower at Lions Gate Hospital. The new acute tower will modernize community health services for people across the North Shore, with 108 beds and 84 single rooms for pre-operative, operative and post-operative care.

An urgent primary care centre on West Esplanade provides service for people with non-life-threatening conditions who need a same-day health care provider to keep them out of the emergency room.

The Foundry centre on the North Shore ensures that young people have access to services like crisis supports; wraparound services; enhanced transition services; and improved emergency room, hospital-based care and discharge planning. The Foundry utilizes culturally safe and trauma-informed practices and resources to reflect the diversity of the client population.

The peer-assisted care teams, which were initially piloted in North Vancouver by the Canadian Mental Health Association, are now found in many communities across the province, providing additional mental health response options for families and individuals to access.

Car programs, in which a mental health clinician goes out with the police on calls that may involve aspects of mental health or addiction, have been either initiated or enhanced in multiple areas.

Treatment beds are built and being built for detoxification, rehabilitation and ongoing therapy, so that when a person is dealing with addiction and is willing to try and get off substances, there is a door that is open and ready to receive them.

Indigenous communities, likewise, are creating healing centres so that community members have a place that is appropriate and sensitive to their own culture, where assessment and treatment can be done in a manner that is effective and inclusive.

[3:05 p.m.]

Our North Van Car program combines an RCMP member with a mental health clinician for calls, reducing the time spent by police trying to determine what are the best next steps.

Additionally, a respite centre to offer relief to caregiving families is in the making, expected to open in early 2025. The future also holds a supportive housing unit in North Van, another step towards assisting unhoused folks who have multiple comorbidities, including mental health challenges, addictions, head injuries and other circumstances that require more than just a roof over their head and regular meals.

Many steps have been taken across the board to strengthen and rebuild our system of health care. In nursing, over 600 new seats have been opened, so that B.C. can increase the number of nurses graduating from our own training programs.

Work has been done with the college, union and professional bodies to speed up the process for simplification of the legislation, to get internationally trained nurses qualified and registered to practice, so that they can join our workforce. These nurses bring their own sets of skills, cultural knowledge and languages with them, enhancing the diversity and breadth of the care offered to our patients.

Additionally, financial support is being made available, as the cost of the process to qualify here, historically, has been a barrier for many, who would eventually give up on nursing as their career. Nurse practitioners and registered nurses are working at the full scope of practice, providing specialized care in a whole variety of areas, including management of addictions and substance use.

Last year, I extolled the Canopy clinic, located in the same plaza as my constituency office. It is the first clinic in Canada to be solely staffed by nurse practitioners and midwives. They now have onboarded more than 1,500 new patients, who were formerly without a family practitioner. This pioneering, adaptive and nimble health care model leads the way for others to establish similar practices and think creatively about how to address the growing health care needs of our communities.

Family doctors are embracing the new longitudinal funding mechanism that recognizes the complexity and cost of running a general practice. Over 700 more family doctors are now practising in B.C. than this time last year.

Education funding for paramedics is now available, with a greater emphasis on people training and working in their local communities, while more ambulances with greater shift coverage and regular staffing models are in place.

Our government also made it easier for folks to get the everyday care they need at their local pharmacy. Increasing the scope of practice for pharmacists to allow them to prescribe for minor ailments and to renew prescriptions has had an immense benefit in decreasing visits to GPs. This has also freed up appointment times with family physicians and care providers to spend time with patients who have more complex needs.

Also, the new availability of free contraception in offices has provided women and families with increased savings and enhanced capacity to manage more closely their bodies and their lives.

Overall, new hospitals are being built, new technologies are being implemented, and legislation is being updated to reflect the current and future health care of our province. It will continue to improve with work, collaboration and willingness on the part of all of us.

As the new Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors and Long-Term Care, there are many aspects of seniors care that I can also highlight. My portfolio includes advocating for seniors and making sure that they get the health care services they need, when they need them.

The demand for primary care, home health, long-term care and assisted living is growing, along with our seniors population. So is the focus on healthy aging, recognizing the importance of exercise, healthy eating and maintaining social connections, to live our best lives as we age. That’s why this government is adding more nurses, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and home support workers to better support seniors.

A great example is the health career access program, which supports individuals while they enter the workforce. Through funding for training and wages, health care workers are prepared to work in community, long-term and acute care, as part of a multidisciplinary team.

In fact, this program has been extremely successful in hiring more than 9,500 people since its inception in 2020. Through these efforts, people in B.C. will see improved overnight response, more regular contact with their care manager and more nimble provision of care needs that arise unexpectedly.

We are also expanding and evolving community-based programs such as Better at Home, the therapeutic activation program for seniors, and the family and friend caregiver support program.

[3:10 p.m.]

These programs will help improve the quality of seniors’ lives through access to services, as well as providing coaching, counselling and education to family and friends as caregivers.

The Hospital at Home program, which has been expanded to seven hospitals, offers daily in-person or virtual visits from doctors or nurses to help patients heal and recover in the comfort of their own home. We also have our long-term care at home pilot program to provide virtual support from a long-term-care facility to check vitals and monitor for falls, activity levels and medication adherence in a person’s own home.

We are helping people in B.C. to age with dignity closer to home and nearer their loved ones, whether it’s at home receiving community supports or in assisted living or in long-term care. We are listening, adapting and constantly evaluating how to provide support for our loved ones, our neighbours and our community members who are seniors.

Our goal continues to be to support seniors to live at home, where they’re most comfortable, as long as possible without compromising their safety and care needs and to ensure they have access to long-term-care homes when they need them, homes that continue to provide safe and effective care, support family and friend involvement and maintain community connections for the residents. That is why we are building 11 long-term-care centres throughout the province, including in Campbell River, Kelowna, Penticton and Richmond.

Our government is taking strong actions to better support seniors and their families, and we’re not stopping there. We will continue working with our community partners to improve and increase services, recruiting and training more people and building more long-term-care homes so that we can meet the growing need for seniors care in our province.

As the Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors and Long-Term Care, it is my honour to work with seniors around our province to help improve services and make them available when and where they are needed.

The seniors population in B.C. continues to grow, and it is expected that almost 22 percent of people in British Columbia will be 65 and older by 2035-36, en route to a ratio of about 1 in 5. Some of us are already there. Just saying.

To meet the growing demand over the past five years, our government has invested approximately $2 billion to expand and improve quality care for seniors in B.C., including in priority areas such as long-term care, home health, senior services and primary care.

The 2024 budget provided more than $354 million over three years to expand community-based senior services and home health services to support more seniors to live safely in their homes longer. This included $227 million to improve the quality of home health services for seniors by adding more health care workers to the workforce. The province is in the process of adding more than 900 new health care providers over three years to support seniors to live at home longer, including more than 400 full-time-equivalent positions for community-based professional services and more than 500 full-time-equivalents for community health workers.

As well, funding was invested to stabilize and expand high-demand services that operate provincewide for seniors. These services provide seniors with non-medical support, including assistance with day-to-day tasks, and deliver programs that help keep seniors physically active, socially engaged and connected to their communities.

The increased funding announced in Budget 2024 has also enabled the basket of services provided to seniors through Better at Home to expand and provide greater emphasis on social connection. Better at Home is a community-based program, funded by the provincial government and managed by United Way B.C., providing seniors with access to non-medical home support services, such as grocery shopping, light housekeeping, light yard work, snow shovelling, minor home repairs, transportation to appointments and friendly visiting to help people stay independent longer in their own homes and connected to their communities.

New services being added include support with referral and system navigation, peer support, expanded group activities, social meals and more flexible transportation options.

Three other community-based seniors programs are also expanding. The family and friend caregiver support program, therapeutic activation program for seniors, and social prescribing.

[3:15 p.m.]

Over the next two years, the number of community connector positions in B.C. will increase from 19 to 90 connectors across the province. These positions are integral to supporting seniors who are frail, or at risk for frailty, to develop health and wellness plans and then connecting those seniors to the community programming and health services that meet their needs.

To improve collaboration and communication between residents, family members, long-term staff and management, resident and family councils have been implemented as a component of care facilities, with regular meetings at the provincial and regional levels.

While we have taken significant steps to ensure we’re comprehensively prepared to take care of our elders as they deserve, there is still work to do on the cohesiveness of the health care system in B.C. We must strive to re-evaluate the models we use, enact social support networks in all communities, explore alternative models of housing and improve communication across multiple organizations.

We must pivot in our decision-making and stay nimble and adaptable for creative change. In the coming year, our government will continue to do the good work that puts people of our province first by making things that matter better for people.

I’m honoured to be representing the community of North Vancouver–Seymour, with its magical natural beauty, its bustling commercial activity and the people who work hard, play hard and support each other.

I will take this opportunity to thank Her Honour for the words that laid out the initial blueprint for this session of the Legislature to work with. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues on both sides of the House to achieve progress on many fronts and to develop new initiatives that address issues important to the people of British Columbia.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I conclude my remarks.

Deputy Speaker: Just as a reminder, we’ll refrain from referring to any of the members of this place by name. Please just refer to them as their ministry or their riding.

Now we’ll call for a seconder.

Amna Shah: I rise to second the motion that “we, His Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session.”

If you will permit, Mr. Speaker, I will continue with my remarks.

Deputy Speaker: Please do.

Amna Shah: I am pleased to rise in response and support of the throne speech.

Before I begin, I congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on your election to your new role, and I wish you the best.

I also congratulate all elected members in this House on their election and re-election. I look forward to working with every member in service of our great province.

I would not be here without the trust and the confidence of the people of Surrey City Centre, and for that support, I am grateful. I’m proud to serve Surrey City Centre, a riding which is a diverse mosaic of rich culture and incredible history.

Surrey City Centre is a blend of industry and small business, and it is a hub for professional excellence. As a matter of fact, we have some of the most talented professionals, I would argue, in this province.

Much like the rest of the city of Surrey, our population is growing at an unprecedented rate, with families who actively choose to live and play in this exciting riding. And exciting it is.

As the traditional territory of the qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓, the q̓ic̓əy̓ and the SEMYOME First Nations, the people of my riding respect the history of those who were here before us and those who settled afterwards.

Surrey City Centre is home to city hall and Holland Park, which are often the places where we host some of the best events that this province has to offer. The riding is also home to the training grounds of the B.C. Lions, the community-enriching Whalley Little League, and a suite of other groups and organizations which regularly remind me why I’m so lucky to contribute positively to my community and represent them in this House.

[3:20 p.m.]

I could be here for days if I were to talk about the amount of organizations and community groups in my riding that serve our community. Often in the social services sector, their jobs, their volunteer hours are much needed, much required, but they face a heavy burden with the amount of effort they put into our community. We thank them for some of that unpaid labour that they do in the efforts of making our community a better place.

It is a privilege and an honour to have the opportunity to speak in this mighty House, and I acknowledge that there are not many who have had or will have such an opportunity.

I stand proud to be the first Muslim woman elected to the B.C. Legislature. At the same time, I feel the weight of the responsibility that this carries, a responsibility which I take very seriously because I know its significance not just for our community right now in this province but for many Muslims to come in the future of this province. This is significant for our province’s Muslim community because we understand the importance of being represented at the tables where decisions about us are made.

We have a rich history in this province. We have contributed and we continue to contribute in many different ways to this province, enriching not just its history but its current society.

I sincerely hope that this is the beginning of many more just like me. I’d like to tell everybody in my community and beyond that there is no shortage of skilled, talented, amazing individuals from my community who I know would be ready and willing to take an opportunity to lead this province.

It has taken much to get here, and my story, like many of my other colleagues…. Our journeys are a testament to what is possible in this great province and the greatest country on earth.

I moved to Canada with my family at the tender age of 14, with big hopes in my heart and big dreams in my mind. I was ready to give all of myself to establish a better life here in Canada, just like my parents, just like my sister and my brother.

It certainly did take a lot of ourselves as we hit the solemn realization that things were much harder than we anticipated. Our dreams were definitely a bit more out of reach than we had initially thought.

As I watched my family work through the challenges with the strength and the appreciation of all the good that hard work will bring not just to them but to their kids, my baseline was being set. My perspectives were being shaped by their example. My attitude was being formed, the attitude that has guided me through life.

It was then that I began to appreciate the challenge, the adversity, because regardless of if I acknowledged that challenge or not, regardless of if I ignored it, it would still be there. More often than not it was difficult, painful at times, but the challenges became opportunities.

The lesson for me here is the lesson for civilizations of the centuries. You may live to thrive, or you may just strive to survive. But regardless, leave this world a little better for the next one in line. This is one of the lessons which has driven me in all my work and my community service.

Along the way, I was supported by champions who encouraged and guided me to be the best version that I could be for myself and my community.

[3:25 p.m.]

I would not be here without the support of my parents. They are my inspiration, my guides and my constant source of support and comfort. My parents left a lot behind to give their children the best opportunity that life could afford, and I will always be indebted to their sacrifices — to pick up, leave their extended family behind, move across the world and come to a country where they did not know anybody. It takes a lot of strength to do something like that.

My sister and my brother, who are the best friends that any sibling could ask for, are my relentless givers of encouragement. They believed in me in times where I could not even believe in myself.

My family is a living example of resiliency, the resiliency which I draw from when the going gets tough. To them, I say thank you, even though these two words can hardly encompass the enormity of my gratitude.

As it is known, I have been elected in a seat which was long held by former MLA Bruce Ralston, a man of exceptional accomplishment, both in his professional aspirations and also in his service to the community. Bruce has been dedicated to this riding since he was first elected in 2005, and his contributions to our community are rightfully celebrated.

As you may recall, Mr. Speaker, Bruce has held many roles, including as a city councillor, including many roles in this chamber, whether it be in opposition, whether it be in government. But his steadfast commitment to his home riding, at the time called Surrey-Whalley, was unparalleled, and it shows in the community.

We can still see Bruce strolling across our major roadways, because he likes to walk everywhere. I can’t think of a better leader who likes to embrace and steep themselves in the community by walking along, meeting, greeting and just talking to the people of our amazing riding.

I thank Bruce for his mentorship and his confidence as I navigated my path to election. His efforts have helped me get elected, and his counsel has made me thoughtful in my efforts to serve my community.

I also thank the member for Surrey-Guildford, a mentor who I have had the pleasure of knowing for almost a decade. The member has been a constant source of wisdom and encouragement to help me tackle the challenges that my professional life has brought and what, generally, life has brought.

I am truly appreciative of the contrarian perspectives of the member for Surrey-Guildford, which have challenged my own way of thinking, helping me realize that issues and solutions cannot always be reduced to black and white, printed on paper, and that life is far more beautifully complex than it may seem. We make exceptions to the rule. Everyone has a story, and we respect that story.

I also give thanks to the team that got me elected, including my campaign team, the dedicated volunteers who put in countless hours of work with their heartfelt dedication.

I thank my campaign manager, Michael Cheevers, for his exceptional leadership guiding my team.

I also thank Pawan Sidhu, Patrick Meehan, Mariam Naqvi and Priyanka Krishna, who worked day in and day out to ensure that our campaign was successful and, more importantly, that it was a campaign driven by people for the people of Surrey City Centre.

Being newly elected, of course, our work in our day-to-day lives is not possible without the people who work in our offices, in our constituency offices. So I want to thank them for all of their hard work now and, in advance, for all of their hard work in the future.

[3:30 p.m.]

I want to thank my constituency assistants, Ayush Saini and Guneet Pooni. These two young, dynamic individuals are the future of our province, and when I look at them, when I look at their innovative ideas, I feel confident that we are on the right path and that our future is exceptionally hopeful.

As I embark on this journey to serve the people of Surrey City Centre and the people of this province, I want to recognize the commendable work done by this government, which has always put people at the heart of all its business. British Columbia is an extraordinary place with dedicated doctors, nurses and care teams who take pride in delivering quality health care to patients. As the new Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Addictions, I’m grateful for the opportunity to deliver services to those battling addictions and also seeking treatment.

The pandemic and recent climate emergencies have taken a toll on our collective mental health. At the same time, the toxic drug crisis has worsened, becoming even more complex. Substances have become more unpredictable, more poisonous, more deadly. The consequences have been devastating for families and communities across B.C.

While it’s encouraging to see that toxic drug deaths are trending down, we know that there is still so much work to do. One death is a death too many. Too many lives are still being cut short, and every death is a devastating loss to the families, the friends and whole communities left behind, forever changed and scarred.

Last year alone, 2,253 people died in B.C. from poison drugs. These are not just numbers. They are people who mattered, who were loved and whose absence is deeply felt. At the heart of this crisis is the need to treat addiction, because we know that addiction is a health issue, and it should be treated as such. Addiction is deeply connected to poverty, homelessness, trauma and mental health struggles. If we are serious about saving lives, we must address these root causes.

Prevention and early intervention are key to breaking the cycle, especially for young people. As a student myself who has graduated from this education system in this province, I remember being profoundly impacted by speakers who came to our school to explain to us the dangers of toxic drugs on our street, the dangers of becoming isolated, being preyed upon by those who want to treat you as money bags, who want to use you to spread chaos in our communities, all for dirty money.

For us, prevention and early intervention is exceptionally important. Breaking that cycle is key, and that’s why we are expanding Foundry youth health centres and integrated child and youth teams throughout the province. Investing in young people’s mental health today prevents crises tomorrow.

We’re also building a seamless system of mental health and addictions care, one that meets people where they are and supports them at every stage of their journey so that when people reach out for help, the support they need is there. We’re expanding overdose prevention services, supervised consumption sites, drug checking, prescribed alternatives. These services keep people alive, giving them a chance to connect to care and find a path forward. You have to be alive to seek help, and the only way to seek help is if you can trust those who care for you.

[3:35 p.m.]

We have an amazing team of health care professionals across this province who deliver treatment to those who need it when they need it. We know that saving a life is just the first step. When someone is ready for treatment, they deserve options that actually work for them. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery. Just as there are many paths into addiction, there must be just as many ways out. This is why we are expanding treatment and recovery supports in every health authority throughout B.C.

Since 2017, we’ve opened more than 700 new substance use beds across the province, bringing the total to over 3,700. Last year more than 5,300 people received live-in treatment and recovery support, which is 1,100 more than the previous year. There are providers in my community which do exceptional work supporting recovery, especially of young men who have found themselves in the predicament of addiction.

We are growing the Road to Recovery model, where care is coordinated, transitions are seamless, and people get the right support no matter how many times it takes.

We’re also making it easier for people to get immediate help. The Opioid Treatment Access Line now provides same-day access to opioid treatment medications, helping people manage withdrawal, reduce cravings and lower the risk of drug poisoning.

And for those seeking mental health support, we’ve expanded low- and no-cost counselling, because getting help shouldn’t depend on what’s in your bank account.

While we’ve made progress, we know there is still so much more to do. There is still so much more to understand. And this government is working with community partners to do exactly that. We will continue working hard every day to ensure that people get the care that they need without barriers and without judgment.

The speech from the throne was delivered as British Columbians face an unprecedented threat of unjustified tariffs, which really amount to economic warfare. We here in B.C. are better equipped than most provinces to withstand this threat, but make no mistake: we will be severely impacted. I’m talking about thousands of jobs, thousands of lives impacted, short-term, long-term.

The throne speech thoughtfully laid out our plan to defend our province and British Columbians from the impacts of Trump’s presidency. And once again, British Columbians are at the heart of this plan because to us, British Columbians are the most important part of this equation. We recognize that British Columbians are our greatest, our most precious resource.

There are constituents in my riding who are actually a testament to the resiliency of our fellow British Columbians, from business owners who have withstood the test of economic uncertainty to health care workers who tirelessly worked to keep us safe during a worldwide pandemic and building trades workers who continue to build our province come hail or heat. These are examples of the hard-working, resilient British Columbians who are ready to meet this moment, looking out and caring for each other.

We are standing up to defend our industries, good-paying jobs and workers every step of the way. We’re getting critical infrastructure built faster and keeping our economy growing. We’re creating good jobs in our growing economy, fast-tracking major projects and continuing to build on our strengths.

[3:40 p.m.]

We’re strengthening access to health care, connecting more people to family doctors, building new hospitals, including in my own riding of Surrey City Centre.

As I mentioned, the population in Surrey City Centre has grown exponentially in the last few years, and the response from this government is not only to build a new hospital in the city of Surrey but also to build a new acute care tower right in my riding of Surrey City Centre, at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

It doesn’t end there. These may be short-term solutions, although they do benefit everybody in the long term, but we’re thinking ahead. We’re thinking ahead by ensuring that we can supplement these hospitals and these facilities with an exceptional workforce. That includes launching our new medical school at Simon Fraser University in my riding. That is going to highlight the immense talent, the brilliance that we have in this province, of our youth.

When we’re talking about education, again, in my riding of Surrey City Centre, we’re building new schools. We’re expanding on new schools, at Forsyth elementary school. We’re also finding unique and innovative ways to expand spaces in which children can learn. That includes prefab modelling. That includes different ways in which we can uniquely structure buildings so that students can learn in a structure where they feel at home.

Housing has been an incredibly challenging thing to encompass just because of the need from our communities for those to own a home or to rent a stable place to call home. That’s why this government has been cutting red tape to speed up the process of development. If you want to build a home, there is no need for there to be unnecessarily long waits to get your home permitted, to stall development. We saw there were opportunities where we could make a difference so that our people could get into homes faster.

Also, trying to ensure that we are coming up with innovative housing solutions — whether it’s tiny homes or whether it’s multifamily, multigenerational living arrangements — so that families can feel like a family. Grandparents can either be just down the street or just up the stairs in a multi-unit dwelling arrangement for families.

The benefits of such an arrangement are something that I have partially grown up in as well, with my grandparents, with my uncles and my aunts. It really gives meaning when we say that it takes a community to raise a child. I can’t think of any more benefits than the happiness that comes with being raised in a multigenerational household.

It’s important for our government to continue ensuring timely housing for British Columbians by cracking down on speculators —speculators who have been turning very good homes into empty lots, making it very difficult for British Columbians to access stable housing. That’s exactly what we did through our speculation and vacancy tax.

These are not just ways in which we can improve access to housing; these are ways in which we can improve access to a higher standard of living.

[3:45 p.m.]

There were homes in my own community — right across from me, actually — that were occupied by a short-term rental company, kept empty for 90 percent of the year. When we brought in new regulations for short-term rentals, those two homes right across the street from me became homes for two young families. Two young families who now live there year-round. Two young families that are now a part of our community. Two young families who can feel good living in a home that should have been intended for them.

These are some of the ways through which we serve our community. I’m looking forward to working with all of the members in this House, and I look forward to the leadership of our Premier and all of those who give that commitment to supporting our communities, because this place is so much more than just about politics.

This place is about how we treat each other. This place is where we set an example for others about what it means to engage in respectful debate, what it means to really put people at the heart of what we do, what it means to be unified and what it means to care — not just care for everybody in this House but everybody outside of this House, outside of this chamber.

Thank you, hon. Speaker. With that, I conclude my remarks, and I thank you for the time.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you very much, Member. We’re looking forward to responses to the throne this afternoon.

Steve Kooner: It’s an honour to stand here in the House today as elected representative for Richmond-Queensborough and as Attorney General critic for British Columbia.

I’d first like to give a heartfelt thank you to my parents, family, volunteers, campaign team, supporters and the constituents of Richmond-Queensborough for helping elect me to represent the constituency of Richmond-Queensborough.

I’m proud to serve the people of Richmond-Queensborough. It’s a proud moment for me to actually respond to the throne speech today. Before I get into that, I just want to get into a little bit about what led me to run for public office and what concerns I had.

Justice and advocacy has always been an important part of me, since I was a little child. I found myself, when I was about six or seven years old…. When my siblings would have arguments, I would start voicing advocacy for one over the other. I would advocate for one and then in a different dispute, voice my concerns for the other one.

I found that started translating to helping out other family members, and sometimes it involved a lot of translation. I thought I found my calling as a little kid. People would laugh at me. I was about eight years old, and I started saying I wanted to become a lawyer. I pursued my studies and became a lawyer, and I was called to the British Columbia bar back in 2006.

In addition to being a lawyer, I always considered myself an advocate for the community. Community issues were always important to me. Just prior to this last election, there were two issues that really, really drove me to run for public office. The first one was the opioid crisis that we’re currently dealing with, the drugs crisis. The second issue was the unaffordability crisis that we’re having in this province.

We’ve heard an emphasis in the throne speech about the opioid crisis, how the government wants to tackle this opioid crisis and how this government wants to tackle the drugs crisis. But this government has had close to a decade already to deal with this opioid crisis. We’re not seeing any results in terms of the numbers going down, in terms of deaths. This opioid crisis is out of control.

[3:50 p.m.]

This drugs crisis is a really personal issue for me, because about a decade and a half ago, I lost a really close family member that I grew up with who struggled with substance abuse issues and eventually passed away. I no longer have that person that I grew up with to give a phone call to, have a shared joke with or just, if my day was actually a bad day, share that with them.

Every day of my life now, I’m left with a memory. I don’t want anybody else or any other family to go through that experience. I took it upon myself to run for public office, and I said I wanted to be part of the fight against this crisis.

This drugs crisis has no boundaries. It has no limit. It has touched every socioeconomic background in this province.

Just last week I attended the funeral of a 14-year-old girl that passed away from a fentanyl overdose. Now, that family of the 14-year-old girl held a press conference right after the funeral, and I spoke at that press conference.

Normally, you would think that nobody would probably want to have a press conference after a funeral, but that family felt it was important to have a press conference. When they found out about their daughter’s struggle with fentanyl, they wanted to get her treatment, but they were repeatedly told that the child was over 13 years old and that the child would have to consent.

There couldn’t have been some involuntary care in that situation. The parents were very, very concerned about that. Eventually, it was too late to get her some treatment. She passed away towards the end of January.

The parents want a change in government policies to deal with this crisis. The parents also want prevention. They want prevention education to be taught in schools, so kids stay away from this drugs crisis in the first place.

It’s time for a commonsense approach to tackling this crisis. The B.C. NDP’s drug policies are failing. Taxpayer-funded safe supply programs are fuelling addiction, rather than helping people recover. Drug overdoses in schools are increasing, putting our youth in danger. This is unacceptable.

We must return to a law-and-order approach. We must end the government-funded drug supply madness. We must focus on treatment, recovery and enforcement. We must protect our youth from the drug culture that is infiltrating our schools.

I represent Richmond-Queensborough, so I represent Richmond residents. Richmond residents are very, very concerned about this drugs crisis.

There are housing projects in Richmond that Richmond residents are very concerned about — a couple of housing projects, called temporary modular housing projects, in Richmond. Residents have been very vocal about those.

I went and visited some neighbourhood residents that live across from a temporary modular housing project located on Alderbridge, close to Westminster Highway, in Richmond. Those residents told me that they are very concerned.

Since that temporary modular housing project began, they started noticing examples of open drug use, increases in crime, increases in vandalism, increases in public safety issues. They told me that this happens on an ongoing basis. This is unacceptable.

Another thing about those housing projects: basically, untreated addicts are being housed with the general homeless population in a housing project. That is a concern to the residents of Richmond, because those untreated addicts actually need treatment. They need treatment in order to get better, but if you don’t provide the treatment, that leads to other problems. Those residents voiced their concerns to me. They told me what those problems are, just last week.

[3:55 p.m.]

There was a Cambie-Sexsmith project, a Cambie permanent housing project that was supposed to be a permanent housing project. The provincial government was spearheading that project.

The Richmond residents were very, very concerned about that, because they’ve already had this past experience with the temporary modular housing projects. They don’t want what’s going on in the neighbourhood of those temporary modular housing projects, those effects, to happen at this permanent site.

So they protested the site, and rightfully, the city of Richmond listened. The city of Richmond said the project is cancelled, but this provincial government still wants to continue with such projects in the city of Richmond, and the residents of Richmond are very, very concerned.

When there are untreated addicts being put into housing with the general homeless population, what’s ending up happening there is that you’re warehousing the problem, without providing treatment. You need to get to the root of the problem. That’s what these residents have been saying.

I, along with my Richmond, B.C. Conservative caucus, supported the Richmond residents, and I’m glad that the city of Richmond actually listened.

It’s not good enough just to have reactive solutions, thinking about solutions after the fact. We need to have proactive solutions. We need to prevent drug use in the first place.

This is why, during the election campaign, I actively campaigned and advocated for a turf and track field in the Queensborough part of my riding. The people of Queensborough are concerned. They don’t have a facility that would allow for organized sports to be played. The residents want a positive environment to be in their community, so that kids don’t get steered towards drugs in the first place.

I have been supporting this project, and I would like for this provincial government, if it believes in tackling the drugs crisis, to also support this project, because we need to have a focus on prevention.

I also heard, in the throne speech, an emphasis put on infrastructure. That emphasis on infrastructure was also in the throne speech from 2024. That’s an additional reason why a track and turf field, an athletic facility, should be built in Queensborough. In the 2024 throne speech, this government stated that it built such things as ice rinks in building infrastructure to support a growing B.C. I say that’s another reason to support a track and turf field that will help youth in Queensborough.

We must listen to residents; we must listen to their concerns. If they’re having certain concerns about housing projects or having certain concerns about how we can solve the drugs crisis, we must listen.

I saw the emphasis on highways infrastructure put in the throne speech, and a highly publicized proposed project is in my riding. It’s the George Massey Tunnel, the George Massey crossing. The residents of Richmond-Queensborough have been waiting for a crossing for a decade now. Prior to the B.C. NDP forming government, close to a decade ago, a bridge was approved, and that bridge would have actually been built a couple of years ago.

[4:00 p.m.]

However, the B.C. NDP provincial government cancelled that project and said they wanted to proceed with a tunnel. But there’s no tunnel anywhere to be seen in the near future. To my knowledge, there’s not even an architectural design for construction that can proceed on that project.

The residents of Richmond-Queensborough are very, very concerned because the current Massey Tunnel, creates a huge traffic congestion within my riding along Highway 99, along Steveston Highway, and also along the residential road of No. 5 Road. This is unacceptable.

So if there’s an emphasis put on infrastructure, we should be building a major infrastructure project in B.C. that has been talked about for a very long time. Otherwise this provincial government is just doing lip service without real action.

Interjection.

Steve Kooner: Count Ladner in there too. Ladner has been waiting for the George Massey crossing as well.

There was also another emphasis put on public safety issues within the throne speech. However, the B.C. NDP is failing on crime. Crime rates have skyrocketed under the B.C. NDP. Serious thefts over $5,000 have surged. I was talking to a head of security for a major shopping centre in Richmond. That head of security told me the amount of thefts that are happening that are over $5,000 have increased fivefold in the last two years. That is unacceptable.

Drug addiction, homelessness and violent crime are increasing. B.C. needs to return to real consequences for criminals. We must stop the revolving door of justice and hold criminals accountable. Community safety must be a priority once again.

I earlier spoke about another reason for me running for public office was the unaffordability crisis. Now, this provincial government has stated and has put an emphasis on the cost of living to make things more affordable for British Columbians. However, the B.C. NDP policies are hurting families. Life in B.C. is becoming unaffordable. There’s an unaffordability crisis here in B.C. Food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand.

I volunteer some of my time with one particular food bank, and I noticed their recipient list went from a few hundred people to thousands of people within a couple of years. That actually shows the amount of people that need help in this province, the amount of people that are struggling in this province. This government must do better, because a lot of people are struggling as we speak.

I had a personal example. I had a friend that saw me posting videos about being around a food bank and asked me: “Can I come down to the food bank as well?” I jokingly said: “Would you like a tour?” That person said: “No, I don’t want a tour. I think I need some help.”

Now that person was in the health care profession, and that really threw me back. I’m like: there are people in my close circle that are struggling. That was another reason that I said: “Look, I have to stand up and I have to do something.” That’s another reason that I ran for public office. I wanted to fight to make a more affordable B.C.

Thousands of British Columbians are reliant on food banks. This is unacceptable. People of all backgrounds are facing hardship.

[4:05 p.m.]

The Conservative Party of B.C. has a plan to make life more affordable. That’s to stop unnecessary tax hikes. That’s to cut government waste. That’s to support local businesses and job creators. We can start with getting rid of that carbon tax, and we can also prevent further increases in that carbon tax. By getting rid of that carbon tax, there would be instant relief to British Columbians in this province. Something must be done.

Along with the unaffordability crisis reaching a threshold that we haven’t seen before, what we also see is that this current government has bloated in size and has become a big government.

In times such as this, where a lot of people have economic disadvantages, and there’s a big government, we must do what we can to protect the little guy in this province.

That’s why we need to protect B.C.’s legal system. I’m standing against government overreach. As an Attorney General critic, I am deeply concerned about B.C. NDP’s Legal Professions Act. The independence of the bar must be protected. The government should not have control over legal professionals. This is a direct attack on democracy and the rights of British Columbians.

We need to have a fairer legal system for everyone. Those injured with life-altering injuries in motor vehicle accidents through no fault of their own must be properly taken care of. People are currently being taken advantage of by ICBC. You are seeing regular stories in the media.

One such story was that there was a retired firefighter who was involved in a motor vehicle accident with no fault of his own and suffered life-altering injuries and was seeking treatment. His treatment benefits were actually cut off by ICBC. But in the new no-fault system, you can’t really have legal recourse; you can’t get legal help; you can’t get legal professionals to help you. The system is designed that way. In that case, that retired firefighter’s grievance was reported in the media. What do you think happened after that? ICBC came to the table, and ICBC was willing to look at the treatment benefits again.

This isn’t how our justice system should be. People should have recourse to legal help in this province. We must make sure British Columbians have proper representation and benefits following accidents. We need to have justice and legal representation for all. We must defend the rights of citizens and ensure justice is truly accessible to all.

I call for a better B.C., a Conservative alternative. The NDP’s big government policies are failing B.C. families. High taxes and government overreach are strangling British Columbia. We need common sense solutions, not ideological experiments.

I’m working hard every day to improve everyday life for British Columbians by supporting struggling people and fighting against high taxes and government overreach. I look forward to being a part of the Conservative solution to fix this province.

In closing, the B.C. NDP are out of touch with reality. They have failed us on crime, affordability and community safety. British Columbians deserve better: a government that listens, takes action and stands for the people.

I will continue fighting to make B.C. a safer, more affordable and a more just place to live.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

[4:10 p.m.]

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: Thank you, hon. Speaker, and thank you to my colleagues.

It’s lovely to see you in the role, Hon. Speaker. I know you used to address me in that role, so I will do my best to follow the rules, to listen to your guidance and to, certainly, hopefully, provide you a moment of interest or two in the speeches ahead.

But I warn you, hon. Speaker, your role is a little bit like the priesthood. You will feel very isolated. You will have to look at that good book, and you will have to study the words that have shifted meaning sometimes over the years, but I’m sure you will stand us in good stead in terms of this work. So congratulations on your role.

I’m incredibly honoured to be able to stand as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. It’s been a dream of mine for many, many years. Years ago I was the critic on these files. Years before that I worked in the industry. I worked in arts, culture, worked in film and supported the tourism sector. So it’s certainly something that excites me to no end. I get up every day with a bounce in my step and a smile on my face.

It’s wonderful to have this opportunity, and I thank the public, the people of the West End and Coal Harbour for choosing me once again to stand as their advocate, as their member of the Legislature.

I’m a proud Canadian, and I’m proud of this throne speech. It has laid out pretty clearly the challenges that we as a nation and that we as a province face.

The threats of tariffs are really, I would say, unprecedented, although if you go back in the history books… I’m a bit of a historian — amateur, I must admit. We’ve seen these issues before in this province and, prior to, in the colony of Vancouver Island as well: the questions of free trade, not free trade, who’s up, who’s down.

But we haven’t had to deal with that in my lifetime and, I would say, probably in many people in this House’s lifetimes, where we’ve had our neighbour, who is a friend, come pretty clear to say: “We’re not a friend anymore, and we’re coming for you. We’re coming for your things. We want what you have, and we don’t want to listen to you.” That is a serious threat, and I don’t think it’s something we should make or take lightly.

It’s something we have to prepare for. It’s something we have to be ready for, and it’s something we’re going to have to deal with, because even just the threat alone of 25 percent tariffs has put a chill on our economy and put a chill on many of our residents, who are worried. They look at the threats over the globe — Ukraine, what’s going on there now — and worry what is facing us in this province, in this country.

So as a proud Canadian, I’ve got to say it gave me…. I don’t think we’ve ever, in my recollection, stood and sung “O Canada” here in this House together. It was a united moment, and I want to thank everybody for trying to approach this time in that spirit of unity. It’s how I try to operate as a person: to try to work, to listen to each other.

The member who just preceded me certainly urged that we need governments to listen. We need people that listen. We need oppositions that listen. We need each of us to listen and try to get the best out of each other. I look forward in the years to come to hopefully be able to do that with every member in this House.

Certainly, if you have good ideas for tourism, arts, culture and sport, let me know. There are good ones, and I look forward…. I know I’ve already got a couple of meetings scheduled with folks to take those ideas forward.

But in the context of tariffs and the threat to our economy, I think my ministry takes on a really important role in terms of the potential for increased job growth. I say “potential” because we don’t quite know how this will all shake out, but I think there are certainly very, very promising signs for what we have ahead of us. I think the ministry….

I will get to the results for this previous year in a moment, but before I get ahead of myself, I want to acknowledge a few important people in my life who have really shaped me.

I learned at the First Nations Leadership Gathering from some of the Elders about why they talk about their family when introducing themselves. It’s a way of humbling yourself, because you realize that you owe everything to those that went before, not just family or chosen family or grandparents, relatives, those that looked after you as a young person. We owe everything to them, but we also owe everything to them in terms of how we approach the world. We carry forward their names. We carry forward their teachings. I take that very seriously.

I come from a family of artists. My mother, Donna, worked in theatre her whole life, producing theatre in Vancouver, producing dance, directing, creating. I think she’s currently the longest-serving artistic director, artistic producer in Canada. If people want to talk about theatre arts, they go to her. I’ve learned a lot from her.

She was a great softball coach too. So that’s the sporting side.

[4:15 p.m.]

My father is a set designer. He has worked for many years to design the sets on the shows and the stages that you’ve seen that tour many of the regions of this province with the Arts Club Theatre. I’m sure many of you have had them come into your own backyards and present their work.

He also was a softball coach and then a hardball coach and also helped start my love of badminton. So if you ever want a game, let me know. That is my number one sport, badminton. It’s hard to find a place to play it these days. If you try outside, it’s a little windy right now, but my son has certainly tried to get me to do that lately. He’ll choose the less windy side so I really have to hit that birdie, but he’s wonderful.

My parents, but I also speak to my parents-in-law, Rohini and Sashi. Rohini is a small business owner. She has tried all sorts of things to make a living, to take care of her family. Sashi is a metal worker, worked with his hands to make incredible tools that fly all around the world in planes and other industries. I’ve learned from them the value of hard work.

I’ve been with my husband now almost 25 years, in a month or so, and so really they’re my family as well. We are family. We look after each other. We live together. We take care of each other. I thank them.

Then, of course, my West End, Coal Harbour family. You know, I’ve worked to represent them for 16 years now. Prior to that, in the Vancouver park board. It’s been an incredible journey. We’ve made some incredible successes. We’ve had some challenges, and there’s always more to do.

I guess that’s what also gets me up in the morning, to go: “How do we tackle those things?” I’ve got a list that’s long, and we keep ticking them off. Then I add something more on the list, or they add something more on the list, and we continue day in, day out to make a difference in their lives, in our community. It’s an incredible community, so I thank them for their trust.

My husband Romi, I mentioned. He is my star. He is my light. He kicks me in the butt and makes me do the hard work and keeps me humble. He reminds me that, “Yeah, your head is getting a little big there, Minister,” he says.

I think it’s really important to have that humbling force at home to remind us that you’ve still got to do the laundry. You’ve still have got to do the dishes. You’ve still got to do all those things that you did before, on top of that other pile of work. We’ll support you to do that work, too, with love and putting up with you being away from home a lot.

That is really hard. I think for anyone with young children, they’ll know how difficult that is to be away from them. They don’t understand it. Why would they? My son said the other day: “Why don’t you call in sick to work, Papa?” I said: “No, that is not an option. We don’t call in sick unless we’re really, really sick. And then we do it on Zoom. Then we participate on Zoom, because the work calls and the public needs us to do that work.”

I thank him for putting up with me being away, as well, and I look forward to more time playing badminton and other things together soon.

I guess I would say all of that is to prepare me for this role that I’ve now taken on, which is to grow our arts and culture scene. To grow the film industry. To grow tourism in each and every part of this province. To support our sports, our ability to get access to sports for young people. To support using marquee sports to grow tourism in this province. It just delights me to no end.

To support our heritage sector, so we can tell our history, so we can understand our histories, because it’s not just one story. There are so many incredible stories that light up this province, that challenge us, that make us sad, that make us angry, that make us want to dream bigger and do incredible things.

This is an incredible province. You go to any corner of it, and you’ll learn an incredible story about people who faced hardship, people who faced challenge and continued working with each other to build up that little community hall, to turn that small festival into something massive, to take that little ski run and turn it into one of the best ski destinations in the whole world, to take those little dreams and share them. Because if you have something exciting in your community, people want to be part of it.

People don’t want stuff created for tourists. They want stuff created for communities that are excited. I think about stampedes in Williams Lake. I think of incredible opportunities that people have worked, time in and time out, for generations to grow and to sustain.

It’s an incredible, humbling thing, because these are people who will know more than I have ever known about their regions and their places. But for them to share those little windows — and I think we’ll all find that over our time as MLAs — is such a gift, that they can take that time to share these joys with us.

I’ve gone a little off script, and that may become a challenge over time. My staff get a little nervous about it, but I will try my best to bring things back a little bit.

[4:20 p.m.]

I think speaking from the heart is incredibly important, because what else drives us in this place? Good cold, hard facts, obviously, but the heart, the love. You know, why are we here in this place? Why do we care about our communities? It’s that heart and because we know we have to do better.

That’s driven me from day one and, I think, will drive me to the end of time. I love volunteering. You can’t keep me away from a community project.

Our government — putting people first, taking a strong vision to build that strong, sustainable economy, dealing with the uncertainty in this world as best we can to deal with the affordability challenges, the crime and safety challenges and just that general challenge of the world today. We have to have hope, and I believe there is hope. I believe better days can be ahead and are ahead.

We had a challenging couple of years coming out of COVID, but you know, people said: “Oh, you’re going to be down for a long, long time.” Well, we weren’t.

Last year, in fact, we had a new attendance record at B.C. Place. A shout-out to the team at PavCo; 1.15 million people came to B.C. Place last year. We had a record 1.3 million cruise ship passengers come through Vancouver, Victoria, breaking last year’s record by 7 percent. YVR airport, second-highest passenger count in history. More than 26 million travellers came through our main airport at Vancouver.

Those three stats alone would be enough to generate hope and excitement, I think, because that means more hotel visits. That means more visits to our restaurants. That means more visits to our non-profits — incredible places like Science World, the aquarium in my community, over here on the Island, visiting our Royal B.C. Museum, getting out and seeing many of the small businesses that make this place unique.

Hotel occupancy. We need more hotels, so we’re certainly looking for investors to build up that hotel stock. But I would say we hit a record high of 82.2 percent in August of 2024. That speaks to the need for hotels. That speaks to people wanting to be here, and I think that with the context of tariffs and the low dollar, more people are going to want to come here.

That means from across Canada, across from the United States — we certainly welcome them up — but indeed across the world as people are looking for a safe harbour to come, where the people are friendly, where we have incredible opportunities and, of course, “Super, natural British Columbia.”

Now, I’d say B.C. ferry passenger volumes, of course, have gone up. More people travelling interprovincially or within the province as well.

Then over 50 percent of the skier visits in western Canada happen in B.C. — 10.3 million skier visits.

These are stats. I know they’re not the most…. I guess they are enumerating in a sense that you can understand the actual numbers. But until you get out to these communities…. I think in the Kootenays; the North; of course the Lower Mainland, with our local ski hills; up to Whistler-Blackcomb; Mount Washington, up the Island, a colleague reminds me. We have incredible hills and incredible opportunities.

My ministry is going to be working hard to find more markets, new markets, to bring back more folks to B.C. because, again, the opportunity is there. If other sectors are struggling with tariffs, we hope that tourism is able to step up and provide some more good jobs in communities in every part of the province.

These are good, family-supporting jobs. There’s sometimes a misunderstanding about tourism. Often it’s people’s first jobs, but they’re often jobs that last a lifetime because you grow within the field that you’re working in. You try something new, you make your friends, you make your connections, and you grow with the industry. I just think it’s misunderstood, and I think it’s been a problem that goes back many, many years in B.C.

We don’t think of tourism as a resource industry, but it is. Our resource is people. Our resource is locations and our transportation connections, and the money stays here.

It’s also an export industry, of course, because we’re exporting experiences. And people, once they come here, often come back. Then they come back again, and then they invest here, and then they move here.

I think that’s the story for many British Columbians. It’s that they came here first as a tourist. They came here first to visit, to check it out, and decided they never wanted to go back home. They wanted to stay here. I think that’s something that we’re going to continue to foster and support in this incredible province we call home.

So 2024. I mentioned it was a good year. Of course, we had the Grey Cup. Very good for the Lower Mainland. Very good — $125 million in visitor spending.

Folks will get a bit of a theme through my remarks. A lot of what we do is trying to attract people to this province, trying to show what we all know to be true, that this is an incredible place to live, it’s an incredible place to visit, and it’s an incredible place to call home.

[4:25 p.m.]

Of course, I couldn’t not mention Taylor Swift. We thank her. We didn’t have to pay any money to have her come and set up her Eras Tour at B.C. Place. What we did do was make sure B.C. Place was a place that would be ready and able to support a concert of that calibre.

We’re continuing that work because — I’ve got to admit, hon. Speaker — I was a little bit surprised to see that down at the very bottom of B.C. Place…. Would you believe that the showers in B.C. Place are still the same showers they used in 1981? They indeed were the showers that the B.C. Lions have to use. Anyone that uses it…. They’re big gang group showers. Probably not how we normally shower anymore.

Many people like to have their own individual shower. We’re going to fix that. We’re working on that because it wasn’t acceptable for Taylor Swift’s team, and it’s certainly not acceptable going forward. So there is room to improve at B.C. Place.

But I’ve got to say, to hit record visitor numbers, financial targets, they’ve got a good thing going on there, as well, of course, as at the convention centre. This, again, really supports our local tourism and accommodation sector.

[Mable Elmore in the chair.]

Now, I want to ask everybody: who got to go see the Invictus Games? For those at home, you’re not going to see everybody smile and raise their hands, but a whole lot of us went to support the Invictus Games. I just want to thank the team that made that happen. A small group within Vancouver had this dream, within Victoria had the dream. Over time, back and forth: how are we going to make it happen?

They brought off something so impactful and at just the right time for our nation, just the right time for our province, bringing us together, reminding us about service, about our military personnel, about the huge sacrifices they make to protect us all, about our need to be there for them but also our need to be there to bridge divides between countries and between peoples.

It was such a positive experience. The tourism results, of course, are good. But really, it was about the heart. As the prince made so clear, it was about the people in service. So while we all had a great time and were inspired by them, it was about supporting them to get through incredible hardship.

I’ve just got to say: Team Canada was a dream. Meeting the athletes from across Canada, but indeed, many of them from here in B.C. — such inspiring stories. It really reminded me about the power of sport, the power of challenge, to make yourself go farther than you ever thought you could. To hear some of the stories about the hardships, to even get out of their home, and then to, now, become a high-performing athlete, a competitor. As they said: “We’re not athletes; we’re competitors.”

It’s a good reminder for me, and, I think, for all of us, about why investing in sport and why supporting our sports organizations — whether they be viaSport, KidSport, so many others, ISPARC — really, really makes a difference. Again, another thing that’s underappreciated in our province is how lucky we are to have the sport sector we have and how much support we give it as a province.

I had the chance to meet with the Commissioner for the Future of Sport in Canada. Really, some of the comments I heard from folks that have approached that commission, and others that have provided advice, were on how lucky we are to have the sport network we have in B.C., because they listen to each other. They build each other up. We have work to do.

I think safe sport is a challenge that we’re working on. We’re actually engaged in it quite directly now and actually providing leadership at a national level about how to make sure that we support our amateur sports organizations to make sure that people from all diversities are safe in doing the sport that they do and that they are supported to achieve the excellence they want to do. I just really thank everyone who has put their effort to making sport more accessible because as a young person, I’ve got to say that it wasn’t always the most safe in the sense of some of the discrimination that I faced and other people face for who they are. I think the more we can do to make it safe for everybody to participate in sport, the better we will be as a society and certainly look forward to having conversations with people about how to take that work further.

I’ve talked a lot about things that aren’t arts and culture–related, even though that’s really where I came out of — producing theatre, producing dance, organizing tours internationally. Just again, I would say that when I started in this place — I think back to 2010 — we had a budget for the B.C. Arts Council and big cuts of about $10 million for the province. Our government focused on arts and culture to build sustainability, to take what these events are and make them better, make them bigger, allow them to attract more people. So there’s the tourism benefit.

[4:30 p.m.]

But there’s also that cultural benefit of being able to tell your community’s story, being able to support places like the Chinese Canadian Museum, support organizations to tell their history, their family’s history, their nation’s history.

It excites me that we are now at $40 million for the B.C. Arts Council. I think back to 2010. It was $10 million. Slowly, over time, it has inched up a few million. We invested in a big way to take the B.C. Arts Council to pretty much No. 1 or No. 2 in Canadian investment in arts and culture.

We know it matters. We know it helps us learn. We know it helps our heart. In fact, there’s recent research out that talks about the health impacts of arts and culture. Seniors who’ve had a chance to engage in arts and culture in their communities are much likelier to be healthy, to be more engaged, to be able to live longer, healthier, more productive lives, because they’ve been given that opportunity, whether it’s at home or in a care facility. There are really interesting intersections.

I was mentioning around sport, and I think another member was talking about how sport can help people through challenges of addiction and mental health challenges. I think that’s really true for arts and culture as well, for heritage.

If you don’t know your culture, if you don’t know your history, if you’ve been told that you’re worthless, it’s pretty hard to be proud of yourself. To be able to see that in fact you do matter and that who you are has a history of worth — you can learn that through our heritage, through our museums.

I look forward to visiting many of the museums and heritage sites across the province with members. Let me know if you have a special one, because there are so many great spots with unique stories.

Oh, I see the member for Richmond-Steveston, the minister. Yes, I think there might be a few over there as well. I look forward to doing that. I think my dance card is filling up quickly with incredible options and places to visit.

I wanted to speak briefly about the First Peoples Cultural Council as well. I think they do incredible work. I’ve really enjoyed working with them. B.C. Arts Council and the FPCC are finding ways to support each other as well. I look forward to working with the Minister of Indigenous Relations and with the FPCC, because language is so crucial. Being able to preserve a language but also to speak Indigenous languages is vital.

One of the best exhibits, I think, in recent memory at the Royal B.C. was the First Peoples Cultural Council’s Our Living Languages exhibition. We’ve got some work to do there with the RBCM, of course, and supporting the First Peoples Cultural Council, going forward — again, incredible opportunities — because the value is there. It’s inherent in the work, and it’s something that I think we all need to be excited by because it’s learning. It’s growth; it’s opportunity; it’s living history and heritage right here, right now.

We’ll continue to support our arts and culture friends, our sports friends, our heritage friends, and we’ll work on tourism growth. I had a recent opportunity to meet with Northern British Columbia Tourism, a great organization. I think they said it was one of the first times in 20 to 30 years that a minister had come to their board meeting. I like being there in person, because you get to know people. You get to learn about real issues in far-flung corners.

They said: “Well, we’re meeting in YVR because it’s easier to get here than to get to some of the places we live in, in the North.”

And I said: “Fair enough. If you’re up at Muncho Lake, it’s going to be difficult for you to get down to Terrace, Smithers or somewhere. It’s going to take a considerable amount of time. I think the message that they brought is one that I also hold dear. I know that many members represent more rural parts of this province.

We need to make sure that the tourism benefit gets out beyond what they sometimes call the Golden Triangle of Victoria, Vancouver, and Whistler, and make sure that that benefit is felt in Prince George, Fort St. John, Fort St. James, Fort Nelson, Terrace, Smithers — I get excited — and Telegraph Creek, Telegraph Cove, from Zeballos to…. I don’t know another place in B.C. that starts with the letter Z, but I’ll work on that.

I’d just like to finish up, hon. Speaker — well, not quite finish up; don’t worry; you don’t have to jump up right yet — on the film front.

One of the first things we did when I got appointed as minister was to travel to visit some of our biggest customers. We went to Los Angeles — I think it was a day and a half after being appointed as minister for the film industry — with the Minister of Finance and with my parliamentary secretary, the MLA for Victoria–Swan Lake. We went to our customers.

[4:35 p.m.]

We went directly to Paramount, to Apple, to Netflix, to some of the biggest producers that choose to come to Vancouver to produce their projects — to share with them, of course, our commitment to increasing the tax credits, to make sure the film industry was more tax-competitive, but also to share the work with the film unions, with our film production companies, through Screen B.C., to make sure they understood that we are all aligned.

Our communities, I would say probably pretty much throughout the whole province, want the film industry in them. They want the jobs, they want the spinoff benefits, and they want to welcome them to this province. The response was wonderful.

They want to be in B.C., and you know why? They say our crews are the best. You can shoot in some other jurisdictions where it might seem a little cheaper, but in the end, it’s not. You end up having to shoot the same shot multiple times, because the crews haven’t the same expertise as we have in B.C.

The locations are better. We can be pretty much anywhere in the world in B.C., and we are, and we show it on our screens. Our tax environment is stable. We’ve been a good friend and a partner to the film industry for many, many years. I’m excited about what this year ahead looks like.

It has been a rough time. The industry has come through some challenges as the industry consolidates. There was the battle of the streamers; you had Netflix, fighting against Apple and so on to take market share. They put a whole lot of money in around 2020, in that period.

They then pulled back. They’re now starting to re-enter the market, looking for quality productions, and B.C. is the place for that — for the foreign service industry, the production services tax credit, but also for our B.C. industry.

We have incredible producers, directors, writers, performers and crew right here in B.C. producing domestic Canadian productions. One of them has recently…. I was out at Resident Alien. Then I was out at another one.

I’m going to visit with the folks from Murder in a Small Town. Again, that’s a great success story, because they took a B.C. writer’s work, turned it into a show and sold Fox on the idea. Fox let them maintain their creative control, their intellectual property. They’re producing that show on the Sunshine Coast, and it’s an incredible success. It’s going to allow that company to build up its resources, to produce more quality Canadian content to share both here and internationally.

Those kinds of stories get me really excited and really give me hope for the future. We have incredible entrepreneurs; we have incredible ideas and people who are finding ways to build bridges, to connect industries.

I think of the Junos coming up, of course — another great thing coming to B.C. — and our music industry as well. I think we’re the third-largest music production centre in North America. That’s saying a lot when you think of the other music production centres. It’s because of our people, our training, our skills, great organizations like Music B.C.

Our book publishers…. I mentioned that story about Murder in a Small Town. Well, our book publishers support getting those local authors published before you can then take the next step and, through Creative B.C., bridge that divide, create some good-quality content from a book to a TV show that is now being watched internationally.

It’s a tough time. It’s a challenge, and I get why people are concerned. Maybe my positivity and my joy in celebrating what we have in the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport might not quite meet that tone, but I guess I am positive because I know our people are great.

British Columbians work hard. They know where the challenges are, and they meet those challenges. If we give them the opportunity, if we let them know, if we support them to achieve their best, they will achieve their best.

Now it’s up to us, as their representatives, to achieve our best. Just like the athletes in Invictus, who went beyond what they thought possible for themselves, we all have to do that, too: to rise to the moment, to take care of our people, to stand up to the external threats, to build that better future for tomorrow, for our children and our children’s children.

When I think about why I do this work, I just think about the people. I think about the tough times I’ve had working with constituents who’ve had tough times, but also how they always tell me: “Don’t fix this for me. Fix this for everybody else. I want you to take care of everybody, not just myself.”

It’s with that spirit I support this throne speech, and I look forward to getting to the work ahead.

[4:40 p.m.]

Deputy Speaker: Recognizing the member for Surrey–White Rock.

Trevor Halford: Thank you, Madam Chair, and congratulations on your recent and well-deserved appointment.

It’s always an honour to stand in this building and speak on any occasion, and today on the throne speech. Every time I come in here, I’m reminded that this building is a building I actually spent a lot of my adult life in, four years serving as MLA for Surrey–White Rock and also staffing some of the members that have served here before.

It can be pretty humbling, especially when I think about my first — I wasn’t even allowed a first — business card. But it had the title…. I was the assistant legislative assistant, and I am the only person that I know that has ever had the word “assistant” twice in their title. You can imagine the glamorous work that I was undertaking each day that I came in here.

But I did realize that when I came in this building, whether I was an ALA at the time or another title that I held, or now, as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey–White Rock, the honour and the privilege that it is to be in this building is quite astounding.

It is something that I never, ever take for granted, and I’m quite grateful. I’m grateful for, and I’ll start to thank, the people that have put me here. That is my constituents of Surrey–White Rock. Very grateful that they’ve chosen to do that a second time.

I’m also very grateful to…. I hope they voted for me. That would be my family and friends that supported me. Whether it was my mom, while she was running her restaurant at the local curling club; my kids, out there helping every day in between soccer, dance and school; my campaign manager, Melissa McCaskill, who has come to be an absolute rock for me and for our community and now serves as my constituency assistant; or my other constituency assistant, Jacob Lubberts, who is really on the front lines and helping people every single day.

It’s not just the office hours that Jacob holds. This is 24-7 for him, making sure that the people of our community get served. I do have a third hire that I’m not going to announce now, but that will come at a later date. I’m sure everybody will be excited about that.

For me, I really reflect on some of the challenges that we’re facing, and I’ll focus on my community a little bit — Surrey–White Rock. You know, I think that…. You look at where we are and where we’ve come. You look at the fact that we recently had a throne speech that I don’t think people on the other side of the House are going to be surprised to hear me say was completely underwhelming, given the challenges that we are facing every single day.

These are big challenges. These are challenges that I’m sure I just didn’t hear at the doorstep, but I’m sure 92 other people heard at the doorsteps during the last election campaign. We have, right now, in my community, the most people ever utilizing the food bank. Long lineups. When you go there, you look at the faces of the people that are getting food, a lot of them for the first time. They’re doing it with their small kids. They’re doing it in wheelchairs, because they’re elderly. They’re doing it because they’ve got nowhere else to go.

Even worse than that, if you go to some of the local shops, whether it’s London Drugs or whether it’s Save-On-Foods, I know now — I know them by name — that the security undercover officers are in there every single day because people are shoplifting three, four, five, six times a day in those stores. Some of them are shoplifting because they have no choice. Others are shoplifting as a means to make money off the backs of other people.

We talk about the failures that this government has had when it comes to law and order. Like, we have to look at the impacts that that has on affordability as well.

[4:45 p.m.]

So when you go into those small stores, or some of the larger ones — whether it be London Drugs or Save-On-Foods — and you ask them directly if they’ve had to increase their prices to combat the fact that they have thousands and thousands of dollars walking out their store every single day, that’s the reality they’re facing.

Actually, last year at the Save-On-Foods in White Rock, somebody filled up their buggy — batteries, shavers, T-bone steaks. They took their buggy, and they casually were walking out. Then the store manager and a cashier said: “What are you doing? Can you stop?” That person turned around. They pulled out bear spray, and they sprayed them both in the face. That’s the second time that’s happened in that store. I think the fact is that my community of Surrey–White Rock is not immune to the challenges that every other community in this province is seeing right now.

I think what people are struggling with, what British Columbians are struggling with, what my constituents are struggling with, is the fact in this throne speech and in the campaign…. This government really should use the slogan: “We overpromise, and we underdeliver.” On almost every single thing they touch, they overpromise, and they underdeliver.

“We’re going to eliminate portables in Surrey.” You overpromised, and you really, really underdelivered on that one. The fact is that in Surrey right now, not one single portable will be moved. Some may think that’s a good thing, but here’s the challenge with that. To move a portable in Surrey, it’s $160,000 out of the operating budget of the Surrey school district.

Now what we have, because of the shortfall of the funding that this government continues to do for the city of Surrey, is portables that are sitting on playgrounds in all-weather fields, taking up space.

When it comes to education…. I’ll speak on this one, because it’s in my riding, and I know that it’s an important one for some of my colleagues. I think some of my colleagues have actually had children that have gone to this place.

As I look at it, this is a government that has campaigned on fighting for the little guy. We have a place that has worked for decades, called the South Surrey–White Rock Learning Centre. This is an institution that has saved lives. There’s no doubt about it. It’s where kids have gone, successfully, that don’t feel they can be supported or that they belong in a mainstream school setting. So they go here.

Actually, at one of the rallies that I attended with my colleague from Surrey-Panorama, a young girl came up. She’d graduated there. She said that she had been in over dozens and dozens of foster homes, and this was the place that she felt safe. This was her home. She’d already graduated, but she was out there fighting for the kids that were going to come through that school.

That school is going to close down in June of this year because they got a letter from the school district saying that they were going to terminate the lease. That lease is under $200,000 per annum.

I want to put that in context. When this government comes back after the October election…. I’ll talk about the grocery rebate that was promised and then reneged. They say: “We’re going to do things different. We’ve heard you. We’re listening now. We’re listening.” In the throne speech, it didn’t look like they were listening, but how did they listen? The first thing this Premier did was give an over $270,000 severance package to his top adviser, who had served less than two years. That’s listening.

[4:50 p.m.]

Almost every NDP MLA, minus one, got a pay bump. That’s listening, right? I know who he’s listening to. He’s listening to somebody or some people, but he’s not listening to people on the ground that are struggling every day. That is not happening. There is a major disconnect there.

A previous speaker talked about — not the renter’s rebate; that was another reneged promise, and I’ll get to that in a second — the grocery rebate that was promised, and they mentioned how everything changed on November 25.

We were already 40 days past an election at that point. If that was your number one signature commitment to the people of British Columbia…. If the Premier got up and said: “This is the number one thing that I am going to do,” and forty days later, he can’t even make that commitment firm? There was never an intention to do this rebate.

I think that that’s what British Columbians are struggling with in this throne speech and they’re struggling with from this government. These are tough times. They’re tough times for British Columbians. They’re a tough time for Canadians. We understand that. We need to fight for every single British Columbian, whether they’re in our riding or they’re not. But we have to do it with transparency. And transparency has been something that this government has continued to struggle with. And it’s come at the cost of people.

We’ll look at health care for a second. If you look at the wait times that we were seeing at Surrey Memorial, Peace Arch Hospital…. Surrey Memorial had wait times of up to 18 hours. Eighteen hours. Peace Arch Hospital, wait times over 10 hours. We went on diversion for the first time this summer. People are trying to figure out why there are frustrations with the health care system? And why people have a lack of faith in the leadership, whether it’s at our health authorities or with the Premier or with the minister?

There is one story, and it signifies, I think, everything that is going wrong with our health care system. It was an individual in Surrey, and it was last year. They went in, and they were diagnosed with cancer. The doctor said: “If we can get in and we can get you surgery within the next month, I’m very, very confident that we can get it.” This was January.

Couldn’t get the surgery. And by mid-February — and I’ve told this story in the House before — this individual had excruciating stomach pains, and they went into Surrey Memorial. And they laid in a bed outside by the ambulance loading bay for about a week. Family brought in blankets and extra pillows. The doctor then came in after they had the scan and said: “I’m sorry, your cancer has progressed so badly that surgery is no longer an option, and there’s nothing we can do for you anymore.”

That doctor had to have that conversation with somebody outside of an ambulance loading bay at Surrey Memorial Hospital. So if people wonder why there’s a lack of confidence, a lack of leadership with this government, with that health authority, I think that answer is pretty clear.

I talked about the challenges that we see with education, and I think one of other challenges that we see is obviously to do with our transportation sector as well. And again, it’s a government that continues to overpromise and under-deliver.

[4:55 p.m.]

I know that we’ve talked, and I’ll talk about the Massey crossing shortly here. I live in a community — if you go down by the border, Douglas crossing, right? — of thousands of families, right where the truck crossing is by the Peace Arch duty free shop. There is absolutely zero public transit there. There’s none.

In fact, if my son wants to take the bus, he has got to walk all the way up 176 Street, go all the way down 8th Avenue, cross King George Highway — which you should never be allowed to do — then cross Highway 99, then walk up King George again to 24, for a bus that comes once an hour. That is currently the public transportation in that area. I don’t think that that’s acceptable at this point.

I think that we have to realize that this government has continued to come up short in every measurable that we have. At some point, there has to be accountability. I understand that the challenges that we face under tariffs…. I’m not immune to that at all. I could not live closer to the U.S. border than I do right now.

But I’ll say one thing, and it’s important, and I think it’s a lesson. Our words matter. Our words as elected officials matter, whether we’re in this House or we’re outside of it. We’ve seen, over the last number of years, some horrific, horrific things happen on our world stage. Horrific.

When we heard the Premier of the province state yesterday and compare a house being bombed to a foreclosure…. Those are two very, very different things. That is a very, very dangerous, sloppy comparison. Now, I’ve met people that have had their house bombed. I’ve met people that have had their house foreclosed on. Very, very tragic. One is a very, very violent act, so we have to be very, very careful about the words that we use inside of this House and outside of it. But comparing a foreclosure to a house getting bombed is to me completely unacceptable. Those are two very, very different things.

We look at the challenges, and again, we look at some of the needs…. We have a lot of newcomers coming to my community of Surrey, a lot of newcomers coming to my community of White Rock. And the housing shortages that we have, the lack of rental spaces that we have…. The fact remains that this is a government that, when it comes to housing, has absolutely failed. And now the panic sets in. We haven’t done anything. We haven’t done enough. What are we going to do? So we come up with things like Bill 44.

Bill 44 will cost the city of Surrey $800 million. Bill 44 will cost $800 million because they weren’t prepared for the infrastructure upgrades. We already know, through my previous comments, that they definitely weren’t prepared for the students that were coming in. They’re still not. The hospitals, the doctors — all of that stuff, we’re not there.

I know that there are former mayors and councillors sitting on both sides of the House, but we are now absolutely taking away the fundamental democracy of municipal governments. We’re saying we know best. The Premier knows best.

[5:00 p.m.]

So when it comes to Bill 44, in my community…. I don’t know if anybody ever goes down to White Rock Beach and gets fish and chips or walks the promenade. It’s a beautiful spot, and you’ll see one of the biggest hills up there. That’s Oxford Hill, right? Oxford.

I would love for the Premier, the Minister of Housing to come to Oxford and say: “How are you going to put four to six units on one of those lots? How is that even feasible?” But they know best, because they’ve told the municipality, the city of White Rock, that that will happen. And by the way, we’re going to scrap any public hearing to do with that as well. But that is going to happen. They know better than that municipality. They know better than the residents of White Rock.

I can tell you that that will not work on that landscape. Geographically, it will not work, and from a community perspective, it will not work. Where are these people going to park? There’s no rapid transit there. That hasn’t happened, right? Where are they going to go to school? What hospital are they going to use? Where are they going to put their garbage cans on Mondays?

It’s not feasible because government has not done the work. This NDP government has not done the work, and I think that that’s why the frustration came in October. That’s the challenge that we have.

I can say that when it comes to housing, and when it comes to the infrastructure that this government is mandating get built my community…. I have a number of low-income seniors in my riding. They’ve been there for generations, and I desperately want to make sure that they stay in my riding.

But the challenge that they’ve got is that when you look at these demovictions that are coming — because the municipalities are trying to keep up with these mandates the government is imposing on them — there’s nowhere for them to go. That is a fundamental challenge that this government hasn’t grasped, because they haven’t done the work.

Again, go to Crescent Beach and tell the citizens of Surrey what Bill 44 is going to mean to them. They haven’t done that work. I’ve done it, and I can tell you what the reaction is. It’s not good. In some areas, that may work. I can tell you if you go to Oxford…. Anybody here, drive to Oxford. You will know it will not work.

Government should know that. They should have done that work. They should have talked to the residents. They should have talked to the municipalities, but they choose not to. It’s unfortunate.

I think one of the other things, too, that’s frustrating people is that government has expanded. It’s gotten big. But has it gotten better? Absolutely not. In every metric I’ve mentioned that they’re failing at — whether it’s health care, whether it’s education, whether it’s transportation — nobody has given them a passing grade.

This was well before any talk of tariffs. We already knew it. That’s why there was no intention to do a $1,000 rebate. They know they couldn’t do it. We’ll say it because we want to get elected, but we’re not going to follow through on that.

It was the same thing that this government did with the renters’ rebate: campaigned on it three times and then eventually panicked and did something where people had to fill out all the…. It was a complete gong show. Again, overpromise and underdeliver.

Massey crossing. Overpromise, underdeliver. People should be crossing that bridge today. It’s five o’clock. I guarantee you that it is absolute gridlock there right now in either direction. No rapid transit going back and forth.

[5:05 p.m.]

Two years that bridge should have been open. And you could have…. You wouldn’t be facing this at five o’clock. Right now there is a dad or a mom trying to get home to get their kids to soccer, baseball, whatever it is, or get to a medical appointment, and they’re not able to do it because they’re stuck in gridlock because this government knew better.

They knew better, so they wasted $100 million of taxpayers’ money on preload — because they knew better. Could say the same thing about the Patullo Bridge. They know better. Could say the same thing about the Cloverdale hospital. They know better. No ICU. No maternity ward. No transportation in. Don’t know where people are going to park. They know better.

They’re not talking to the doctors. They’re not talking to the other front-line workers. I don’t know who they’re talking to. They’re not talking to the people at the doors. That’s evident. If you keep talking to yourself, then maybe you come to the conclusions. That’s the only thing that I can think that they’re doing. How else would you rationalize some of these decisions that are coming out of the Premier’s office? First priority: “$279,000 to my chief of staff for a severance.” Served less than two years. Longest lines at the food bank that we’ve ever seen. “That’s my priority.”

Second priority: “I’ve got to make sure that every NDP MLA is taken care of” — minus I think maybe one unfortunate one. But everybody gets a top-up. Everybody gets a title. Everybody gets additional compensation.

I don’t think when British Columbians went to the poll that’s what they were signing up for, especially when the Premier says: “I’ve heard you. I’m going to do things differently.” Well, if that’s different, that’s not a good sign. I think we’re in a lot of trouble.

Again, I think what people are worried about is that this is a government that is already tired. We’ve seen that in the throne speech. They’ve run out of ideas, and they’re getting desperate. Put the politics aside. For British Columbians, that’s not a good thing.

I want to really amplify the point that…. They talk about these lists of projects that we’re going to fast-track and we’re going to get moving. We’re going to do all these things, and it’s a lot of hurry up and wait. But before November 25, why weren’t we doing that stuff anyways? Why weren’t we standing up for the mining sector? Why weren’t we standing up for the forestry sector? Why weren’t we being proud of an LNG sector?

A lot of it they were ashamed of. But now, well, we’ve got to go. We’ve got to go. We’ve got to get all this stuff built. Some stuff we’re not going to have…. You know, they’re not going to go through an EA process, right? Other stuff — well, we’ll see how things go.

The reality of the day is this government is going to pick winners and losers, but they are not going to put British Columbians as their number one priority, and we’ve seen that. If they did, the changes that happened at Fraser Health would have happened a long time ago. It wouldn’t have happened yesterday. It would have happened a long time ago. But the fact of the matter is that this government continues to gaslight some of the people that are laying it out there every single day, whether it’s our front-line workers, whether it’s even firefighters that are fighting for the basic coverages from WorkSafe, who’s sitting on a massive surplus. Just trying to get their hip fixed that they got on a workplace injury — a firefighter who’s going to battle every single day — to say: “Can you help me here?”

At the end of the day, for the Premier to come out and say, “I’m listening,” I don’t think British Columbians, at all, are feeling heard.

Thank you for my time, Madam Speaker, and I’ll take my seat.

[5:10 p.m.]

Hon. Jodie Wickens: I just want to say that it is an absolute honour and a privilege to stand in this Legislature for the first time to respond to the throne speech as the MLA for Coquitlam–Burke Mountain and as the Minister of Children and Family Development.

I want to start by thanking the members of my community for putting their trust in me. A number of people came out on the campaign — firefighters, health care workers, people committed to our communities — to support me in this election, and I will get up every single day and do my level best to represent them and to make them proud.

I want to say that it’s an absolute privilege for me to be elected in this election. I also was elected in 2016. I had the honour of getting elected in the provincial by-election, at that time the first NDP member elected to my riding. It was a very exciting time.

I will just say that I have the utmost respect for the role of the opposition, because I’ve been there, and I know the importance of that role. I spent a lot of time in opposition asking questions to the Minister of Children and Family Development and the Minister of Education. Being here in this role at this time is an absolute privilege, and I will always take the time to answer questions and work with members of the opposition, because I think that makes this place the place that people expect it to be.

I’m grateful to be here on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən people known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. I am a fourth-generation settler with mixed European ancestry, and I grew up on the lands of the great Mississauga Nations. I have settled on the unceded and traditional territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation for the last 20 years.

Who I am, the values that drive me and how I got here representing my community and leading a ministry responsible for the well-being of children and families, is greatly aligned with the values and direction of our government’s throne speech. I believe that in times of crisis and uncertainty, when everything that is important to you is at risk, your values, your relationships and protecting those around you are the fundamental things that get you through.

My mom, Kim Parkinson, became a mom to me when she was 16 years old. She met my dad Gary when I was two, and he chose to adopt me. My sister was born a year later. I think they’re watching from Ontario today.

I just want to say that I know they were young. Life certainly wasn’t always easy, but they taught me the importance of hard work and never giving up. My dad encouraged me at every opportunity to be a leader, whether it be volunteering, coaching or just standing up for vulnerable people in my school or my community. Whether my parents agreed with me or not, and I’m sure there were lots of times they did not, they encouraged me to stand up for what I believed in, even if it meant sometimes I stood alone.

I want to thank my mom and dad for their hard work. I think about their hardships and challenges, and I know that I am stronger and better because they sacrificed for me. I’m here in this role and in this position today because of everything that they’ve done.

Thank you, Mom and Dad.

I’m now a parent myself with two absolutely amazing teenagers who inspire me and drive me to do better every single day. My kids are unique. They have unique needs. This world is not always an easy place for them to grow up in.

When I was considering running in this election and getting back involved in politics, it was really important for me that my children were on board with this decision, and so I spent a lot of time talking to both of them and hearing what they thought about me running again.

[5:15 p.m.]

There was one particular interaction that I really want to share with the House, an interaction with my oldest, that really helped me make the decision. I think the themes of that conversation tie in so well with the values and direction of our throne speech, so I’m going to share it with everybody in the House today.

I went for a long walk with my oldest in Coquitlam, with the promise of the end of that walk to be a visit to Doughnut Love. If you are ever in Coquitlam, please visit Doughnut Love, because it is delicious. I’m sure he was excited to go with me because of the promise of that treat at the end.

As I was walking with him and talking to him about all of the aspects of public service, the pros and the cons, I really wanted to make sure that he understood. I wanted to make sure he understood that I would be away from home a lot more and that this decision really was a family decision. It was a decision I wanted him to be a part of as well.

After about 20 minutes into our walk, he stopped dead in his tracks. He said: “Mom, what are our rules?” You know when your teenager parrots your words back to you, you’re in trouble. You see, we have three rules in our house. They’re more like values, but I call them rules to my kids.

The first rule is you have to try your hardest. You don’t have to get straight As. You don’t have to make the team or do best in your musical theatre or do the best on a test. But I have to know that you’ve tried your level best, as John Horgan would say, and that you tried your hardest.

The second rule is that you have to be honest. I will always be there. You will never be in trouble. Everybody makes mistakes. I’m your mom. I will always love you. But I want you to be honest with me. Honesty and integrity in our house is so important.

The third rule is to be kind. You don’t have to like everyone. You don’t have to agree with them. You don’t have to respect their views or their decisions or their politics, but you do have to be kind to them.

So my son looked at me, and he said: “Mom, you have to try. You have to try your hardest. You think that this election is important, and so I want you to try.” Then he stopped, and he said: “I get to vote for the first time in this election, and I really want to vote for my mom.” So I went home and told my husband that I thought that our decision had been made and that I was going to run again in the provincial election, and he agreed.

I also have to thank my husband, Brian. He is the hardest-working man that I know. For the last 27 years, he has gotten up at 3 a.m., loaded his milk truck and worked hours on end, sometimes 15, 16 hours. Yes, you heard that right. I did marry the milkman, and it has been an incredible journey. We have worked hard together through many challenges and crises.

He may be recording this, so Brian, thank you for your love and unconditional support. I certainly wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. I’m so grateful that you’re at home right now with our two amazing kids.

While this election was challenging, I am incredibly grateful for the experience that I had knocking on hundreds of doors, especially with my teenagers in tow. The conversations with my constituents were heartening, and I’m so unbelievably proud to be part of the community of Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

Coquitlam–Burke Mountain is a diverse, inclusive community where neighbours walk around Lafarge Lake, students learn at Douglas College and families walk their dogs — my dog Dallas as well — on the gorgeous trails. People come from all over to enjoy the famous Coquitlam Crunch, which is basically a mini–Grouse Grind. It’s hard enough.

In this election, people shared their struggles with me, and their concerns. It’s clear that they want our government to focus on affordability, health care, housing and ensuring that our communities are safe and inclusive.

[5:20 p.m.]

But as we spoke to our neighbours, it was also very clear to me that they love this place we call home, and they are proud to live here.

They also understood that the challenges that we are facing here in British Columbia aren’t unique to British Columbia — challenges with housing, with affordability, food banks, the toxic drug supply. These are challenges that are faced across this country, by all political stripes. They are challenges faced in the United States right now. Members of our community recognize that these are real challenges that are hard to grapple with.

Our values, our foundations and our relationships — those are the things that get us through in times of crisis. I know this, because I’ve lived it.

When I think about the most vulnerable in our province and when I think about the children and the families that are relying upon us at this time, I am grateful that we have a government that is steadfast in doing the things that are required right now to protect us — strengthening and growing our economy; diversifying our trading relationships; and responding firmly and forcefully to the threats, if required.

The actions that our government and our Premier are taking to protect all of us are critical to protect and strengthen everything in our province but, in particular, the programs and services that we deliver in the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

As I mentioned in the beginning when I started, being the Minister of Children and Family Development is an honour, and it’s one that I never expected to have. I want to talk a little bit about my new role and how I see a new way forward in this ministry.

I have advocated for children and youth my entire life. I have worked with many families, been in countless meetings and even met with previous ministers of all political stripes. I’ve been determined to do the best for my own children and others like them.

I am committed to bringing that same passion and commitment to this role and to continuing the incredible work that the minister from Victoria–Beacon Hill started. She is a strong proponent of change, listening and hearing various perspectives and continuously striving to get it right for the children, youth and families this ministry serves.

I know all members in this House join with me in wishing her the very best on her journey to wellness.

I want to take the time to express my gratitude to the dedicated staff at the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the contracted agencies, Indigenous child and family service agencies and all of our community partners, who tirelessly support the well-being of children, youth and families across British Columbia.

We have been through some incredibly challenging times. We have seen a global pandemic, global inflation, unprecedented population growth and a growing complexity of children and families. Through it all, we have caring and dedicated individuals and service providers that get up every single day to provide the necessary service and supports for children and families.

The challenges before us are significant, and we must never give up. We must wake up every single day and commit to getting it right for the people who are counting on us to do so.

Since my appointment as minister in December, I have been speaking with a wide range of people, including parents, caregivers, Indigenous partners, community organizations and youth advocates — many people that I worked alongside before I got into this role. They’ve made it abundantly clear that they have high expectations of me.

Through these conversations, I’ve heard time and time again the need to act on what we have been told. We must work together to build a better system of support for children and families, one that prioritizes prevention, early intervention and culturally safe services.

[5:25 p.m.]

As we build, I know it’s incredibly important for us to work lockstep, side by side, families and service providers continually checking in to make sure that we get it right. We need to ensure that every vulnerable child and youth receives the support that they need when and where they need it.

My mandate outlines clear priorities that will guide us as we work to accomplish our goals in the coming months and years.

These priorities include actions like collaborating with our Indigenous partners to continue to implement B.C.’s historic legislation on Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare, partnering with the Ministry of Health to strengthen and realign our services for children and youth with support and mental health needs and working with Indigenous partners on a comprehensive child and youth well-being plan and outcomes framework, which will guide our work in taking a whole-of-government approach to serving children and families in this province. I’m ready to work closely with all of our partners to get these priorities accomplished.

As I contemplate our next steps, I want to recognize that reconciliation is at the core and the heart of everything that we do in my ministry. At the same time, I know that Indigenous children and youth continue to be overrepresented in our system of care, and that must change. We must continue working to ensure that Indigenous children in B.C. are safe, supported and connected to their culture, their families and their language.

We have taken important historic steps with our Indigenous partners and communities across this province. B.C. was the first province in Canada to enact legislation that expressly recognizes that Indigenous people have an inherent right to self-government, including self-determination.

Today we continue to work with individual First Nations and the federal government to negotiate coordination agreements that will ultimately see nations exercise their inherent jurisdiction over child and family services. Four Indigenous governing bodies in B.C. have signed coordination agreements with the province and Canada. We have a number of community agreements in place with several nations around B.C., with more underway.

Under the Declaration Act action plan, we are also committed to co-developing a funding model in partnership with Indigenous people and key Indigenous organizations to support this shift.

I had the privilege of attending my very first First Nations Leadership Gathering a couple of weeks ago. The conversations that I had with our Indigenous partners, the 204 First Nations across this province, about the love and care that they have for their children and the right that they have to deliver services to their children will guide me every single day that I’m in this job.

In 2024, we announced a new Indigenous child welfare director position to help better ensure the safety, wellness and access to community and culture for Indigenous children. It is the first of its kind in the country, and it represents a significant step in our work to reform the child welfare system and reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in care. The role will ensure Indigenous people have a voice at the executive level of our ministry.

I am pleased to acknowledge today that Jeremy Y’in Neduklhchulh Williams was appointed to this role in 2024. We are excited to welcome him to the team as an internal champion for systemic change as we support 204 First Nations across British Columbia on their journey to self-determination over child and family services in their communities.

I know that the system as it exists today has not always met the needs of everyone it’s meant to support. I know that there’s more to do. I look forward to continuing our collaboration with Indigenous communities to continue our work to better meet the needs of B.C.’s Indigenous children, youth and families today.

I’m also committed to working with and for children and youth with support needs and to ensure children and youth can access mental health support services that work for them.

[5:30 p.m.]

As a mother of children with unique support needs, the programs we offer them are near and dear to my heart. It’s safe to say that I have what is referred to as lived experience. We know that for too long, too many children and youth have been left behind and fallen through the cracks.

Over the last few years, we have been talking to families, caregivers, advocates and those with lived experience — First Nations, Indigenous people and service providers — to understand what needs to change. We know that we need to provide a platform for better information-sharing, more streamlined access to more integrated services and overall improved care. I look forward to working closely with the Minister of Health and all of our partners to design a system that provides the right supports at the right time for the most vulnerable amongst us.

Of course, we know that we need to rethink the way we provide all programs and services to people around the province. In July of 2024, the Don’t Look Away report was released by the Representative for Children and Youth. This report shone an important light on how existing systems can be improved to better serve children, families and communities. Don’t Look Away highlighted the urgent need for an evolution of the child-, youth- and family-serving system. It emphasized the importance of collaboration across ministries and with community partners to better support children, youth and families.

In response to the report, the minister from Victoria–Beacon Hill committed to a new vision for child and youth well-being that focuses on prevention, care and a new way of thinking. We understand that addressing the deeply rooted challenges outlined in the report — child and youth well-being, accountability, addressing violence, supporting families, and jurisdiction — requires a collective effort.

We must fundamentally shift our approach to supporting vulnerable families and communities. Supporting child and youth well-being requires an all-of-government approach. It requires working together with community partners, First Nations and Indigenous communities. We must do things differently, and this government-wide plan will address systemic challenges identified in Don’t Look Away. It will help us explore how we can provide services and supports to families in a more coordinated and timely way so that children can achieve better outcomes and ultimately thrive.

Most importantly, it will provide a new direction to guide all of our work and all of our priorities as we look to improve the services we provide to Indigenous children, youth and families; children in care or in need of protection; and children and youth with support and mental health needs. I look forward to continuing the work that has already started and pushing through the challenges that we’re facing ahead of us.

It is a privilege to have this role, and it is an absolute privilege to serve the people of this province, especially during a time of such critical importance for all of us, but particularly for our most vulnerable children and families. I stand here understanding the gravity and the magnitude of the work that needs to happen ahead of us. I am deeply committed to working collaboratively on the task of improving the lives of children, youth and families in our province with everybody in this House.

I think we all want the best for children in our communities. We all want them to be safe, supported, loved, feel like they belong. I think there is a lot we can do collectively on that shared goal. I want to thank, again, the dedicated professionals, families and advocates who are working tirelessly to make this vision a reality.

[5:35 p.m.]

I know, based on my time in community and working with a number of non-profits in my community, how anxious they’re feeling right now, thinking about what’s next. What is going to happen? As I mentioned before, in those times of uncertainty, when we are feeling anxious, the best thing that we can do as leaders in this House is reassure them that we are working together to achieve what I was speaking about: good outcomes for children and youth, safety for all. I know that we agree on those things.

We will continue to build a better, more inclusive future for the children of British Columbia. I look forward to the work ahead and the progress we will make together.

I want to thank, again, the people in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain that helped me get here. I want to take a moment to also thank my campaign staff and my campaign manager, Nancy Morrison, who worked tirelessly.

I want to thank my colleagues in the Tri-Cities: the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville, the member from Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam, the member from Port Moody–Coquitlam. We work as a team in the Tri-Cities. A lot of the challenges that face constituents in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain face constituents in Port Coquitlam. I am so grateful to be a part of that team.

I will wake up every day, come into this place, use the time that I have here to work in partnership and collaboration, and push hard for better because that’s what we were elected to do. I appreciate the time, and I am just honoured to be here.

Amelia Boultbee: It is with a profound sense of duty and responsibility that I rise in this esteemed House today, representing the resilient and vibrant communities of my riding, Penticton-Summerland.

The communities that make up this riding are not merely points on a map. They, like many others in rural and suburban British Columbia, are the lifeblood of our province. They are rich in history, culture and economic diversity. I am deeply honoured to serve them as their MLA and be their voice in this Legislature. That is, after all, why we are here. We bring the voices of our ridings to this hallowed place, this seat of democracy. We, as MLAs, are mere conduits for the concerns and aspirations of our residents.

Notice that I didn’t say voters, because, as the Conservative critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development, I understand that just because some residents cannot vote, it doesn’t mean that they are not important. Every man, woman and child deserves to be reflected in this place, Madam Speaker, no matter their age or occupation, income or ability or the diverse needs they may have.

I am particularly reminded of the importance of children and youth who, despite being 20 percent of the population, are 100 percent of the future. I am incredibly heartened by the comments that I just heard from the hon. Minister of Children and Family Development, that she recognizes the importance of the role of the opposition. The word “collaboration” was used many times, and I find that incredible. I’m so glad to hear it because I also agree that child welfare should be bipartisan.

When I first took this role, I read the annual report of the Representative for Children and Youth, and I was shocked to learn that 103 children died while receiving care from the ministry in 2024. Of those deaths, 42 were deemed natural causes, seven were homicides, nine were suicides, 13 were drug overdoses and a shocking 20, which is 19.4 percent, were listed as “undetermined.”

These numbers are absolutely shocking, and they’re two to three times higher than our next neighbouring province, Alberta. So there’s something very wrong going on in this ministry, and I’m very concerned about it.

[5:40 p.m.]

In fact, as the hon. Minister of Children and Family Development said, there was a report released from the independent auditor, the Representative for Children and Youth, that came out, called Don’t Look Away. There were nine recommendations. One recommendation was that a cross-governmental committee be put together because there are many ministries that have a hand in child welfare, and, surprisingly, they don’t seem to be talking to one another.

That recommendation has been implemented by the government, which is great. I would just like to reiterate that in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation and governmental transparency, I will reiterate my request that I, myself, have a seat on that committee, as a member of the opposition.

With that, I would like to say again how proud I am to be elected and acknowledge that my father, Steve Boultbee, is here, as well as my campaign manager, Steve Brown, and acknowledge that campaigns take a lot of energy. Everyone who has assisted me has a place of honour in my heart, and my journey to this chamber would not have been possible without the help of everyone in my community.

As elected officials, we are entrusted with the solemn duty to enact policies and make decisions that uplift and improve the lives of all British Columbians. However, upon listening to the recent Speech from the Throne, I am compelled to address the glaring disconnect between this government’s proclamations and the harsh realities faced by my constituents.

I would like to just situate my community. Penticton is a city that embodies the spirit of perseverance and innovation. Nestled between the serene Okanagan and Skaha Lakes, Penticton is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and an economy anchored in tourism, agriculture and, of course, winemaking.

The city’s name, derived from the Syilx language, means “a place to stay forever” or “the always place,” a testament to its enduring allure. Penticton hosts numerous events such as the Penticton Peach Festival, the Okanagan Wine Festival, drawing visitors from around the globe and bolstering our local economy. Our population almost doubles in the summer, so we’re very reliant on the tourist economy.

Summerland, situated to the north of Penticton, is a community steeped in agricultural heritage. Its orchards and vineyards are the backbone of a thriving agritourism industry. Summerland is a beacon of sustainability and community engagement, seamlessly blending small-town charm with economic growth.

Naramata, a picturesque village northeast of Penticton, is celebrated for its wineries and stunning vistas of Okanagan Lake. The community thrives on collaborative spirit, with local businesses and residents working in unison to promote tourism while preserving the area’s natural beauty.

The Penticton Indian Band, or PIB, is a proud member of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and holds a significant place in our region’s cultural and economic landscape. With a land base of more than 46,000 acres, the PIB is the largest reserve in British Columbia. The community is actively engaged in various economic ventures, including agriculture, forestry and tourism, while steadfastly preserving its cultural heritage and traditions. The annual powwow is a vibrant annual event that celebrates Indigenous culture and fosters mutual respect and understanding among all communities.

With that, I’m going to transition to my first of three stories that I’d like to tell about my community, and I’m going to start by talking about health care. Like many of my colleagues, it is the issue I hear the most about. Access to quality health care is a fundamental right, yet our communities are besieged by significant challenges in this regard.

It’s a problem in Penticton, Naramata and Summerland, but Summerland is particularly vulnerable; 12,000 people live in Summerland, and 4,000 of them do not have family doctors. In fact, there are no walk-in clinics at all in Summerland. The drive to the nearest emergency room can be a minimum of 30 minutes, and we do get winter conditions. The highway is not always good. There are very few buses or public transportation modes available.

I have heard such heartbreaking stories from my constituents. I could tell you about a single mother with four kids, and the kids all have a fever and an earache. She’s saying: “Can I afford an ambulance? Do I call 911?” An ambulance is not actually free. It’s $80. A cab ride is $100 each way. For vulnerable people who don’t have cars or don’t have a mode of transportation…. They’re particularly at risk. My constituents should not have to rely on friends and family to get them to health care.

[5:45 p.m.]

We’ve had a proposal underway in Summerland. It’s been talked about seriously for six years, but the proposal has been shovel-ready for two years for a primary health care centre. So I wanted to take this opportunity to voice my support and talk a little bit about how long this has been ongoing.

In 2018, the Ministry of Health supported the establishment of a South Okanagan–Similkameen primary care network led by Interior Health, the South Okanagan–Similkameen Division of Family Practice, local First Nations, with Penticton and Summerland as the first focus.

In 2019, a plan for a Summerland community health and wellness centre was discussed at UBCM with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of State for Child Care.

In 2020, the district of Summerland, school district 67, the South Okanagan–Similkameen Division of Family Practice and Interior Health signed a memorandum of understanding to initiate the process for a health and wellness centre. The district of Summerland contributed $100,000 for a needs assessment and for community engagement and a detailed design. This proposal was presented at UBCM to the Ministries of Health, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Education, and Children and Family Development.

In 2022, the district of Summerland created a partnership and business plan, together with the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, to build a team-based primary care centre as part of a new affordable housing project being developed by B.C. Housing.

In 2023, a formal request was submitted to the Ministry of Health for a one-time $3 million contribution to cover tenant improvements for the proposed primary care centre, with the remaining portion of the $9 million to be raised within the community.

I want to reiterate that two-thirds of the funding is already earmarked somewhere else. What more could anyone ask of my community than to come up with a detailed plan, do all the engagement, all the consultation, and be able to come up with two-thirds of the funding? I think it’s more than fair.

The community is in crisis. This health care centre would house 16 doctors, which would be an enormous benefit to the entire community and would serve these people who not only don’t have family doctors but have no access to emergent care.

The Summerland council has also committed $1.5 million to offset development cost charges, building and development permits, and off-site upgrades. But that only works if it actually goes in as part of the B.C. Housing project that’s already being built. The council is not able to offset those development cost charges if it’s a for-profit business that’s somewhere else.

That’s why it’s so important that something is done urgently. Construction is about to begin for this affordable housing project. We’re running out of time. The municipal council has sent letter after letter after letter for two years asking for a response.

This government is faced with a choice between funding the health care centre and being the hero or saying no and being the villain. This community is in crisis. It needs the health care centre. Something tragic will happen if we don’t provide them accessible health care. And it is a shovel-ready project. So that is my first request: for funding for that health care centre in Summerland.

The second story that I want to talk about is the Garnet Valley gravel pit. In August 2024, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation approved the establishment of a gravel pit in Garnet Valley, which is in Summerland. This is a decision that has been met with widespread opposition from local residents, the district of Summerland, the Penticton Indian Band, the regional district of Okanagan-Similkameen, both chambers of commerce, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, the Garnet Valley Agri-Tourism Association, the B.C. Wildlife Federation and many, many more.

I have a petition with almost 700 signatures, but I can tell you that those 700 don’t even begin to tell the story. There are 12,000 residents in Summerland. In all the thousands of doors that I knocked on during the election, I did not find one person that was in favour of this project.

[5:50 p.m.]

Garnet Valley is cherished for its historical significance, agricultural activities and recreational opportunities. In fact, it’s estimated that tens of millions of dollars of ecotourism, particularly in the form of people riding their bikes through this valley, is a huge economic benefit, and that is entirely incompatible with the operation of a gravel pit. The road running through Garnet Valley that would be utilized by this proposed gravel pit is a country road. It is only narrow enough for one vehicle.

This project threatens the environmental integrity, safety and quality of life in the area. Concerns regarding noise, dust and traffic have been raised, and yet the government’s decision to proceed somehow still stands. This situation exemplifies a blatant disregard for community voices and the principles of collaborative government.

The Summerland council has drafted a resolution to bring before the Southern Interior Local Government Association, taking issue with the process used to make the decision to approve this gravel pit. In fact, a group of residents has raised funds to bring a legal challenge, which, if it proceeds, will be another black eye on this government.

This decision was made with little regard for the unique environmental, historical and cultural significance of Garnet Valley or the availability of gravel pits in other parts of the region. There are already four gravel pits in Summerland, and there is another big gravel pit going in, in OK Falls. There is no need for another gravel pit.

Of cultural significance, Chief Greg Gabriel of the Penticton Indian Band has declared that the proposed development violates DRIPA, stating that the development and its operation will have a significant impact on Syilx title, rights, interests and economy, with Elders advising that the area is an important place for food, social and ceremonial activities, and the valley is a well-known, crucial place for ungulates and rare wildlife.

The area is home to significant environmentally sensitive ecosystems, critical habitat for rare and red-listed species, so it makes no sense for this project to move forward. My community has spoken out loudly against it, and I’m adding my voice to that today. It is imperative that the government reverse this decision and prioritize the well-being and desires of the community over industrial interests. Therefore, we’re calling on the minister to reverse this patently wrong decision.

Thank you. That’s my second story and my second request.

The third story and the third request comes out of the opioid epidemic and addictions crisis. Our province is in the throes of an opioid epidemic and addictions crisis. There’s a story that I would like to tell today about a friend of mine who sadly lost her life to this crisis.

Her name is Jenny. We went to school together. She came from a really nice family. Her mom was my teacher. She loved animals. She was a talented dancer. She was funny. It’s a cliché, but Jenny lit up a room. Like many British Columbians, she struggled with addiction later in her life. Unfortunately, Jenny lost her battle to this addiction on June 10, 2024.

I’ve spent a significant amount of time with Jenny’s parents, hearing all the extraordinary steps that they took to do everything to save Jenny’s life. They are begging for involuntary mandatory care for those struggling with addiction to be expedited because they believe Jenny’s life would have been saved had this been available.

The government’s response to the opioid crisis has been lethargic and insufficient. In 2024, British Columbia witnessed a record number of overdose deaths, a grim testament to the inadequacy of current strategies. There has been a promised review into involuntary addictions care, which was announced about six months ago during the B.C. election, yet this government has yet to show tangible outcomes.

The Premier said just over six weeks ago that he was full speed ahead on involuntary recovery. But this House was closed down for four months.

[5:55 p.m.]

People are dying in my community alone by the hundreds every year, and they’re preventable deaths. This delay in implementing comprehensive treatment programs and support systems is costing lives daily. It is imperative that the government accelerate its efforts, allocate necessary resources and collaborate with health care professionals and community organizations to combat this crisis effectively.

I say this in memory of Jenny, who we all miss, who was a woman in her 30s with her whole life ahead of her. I want to thank Jenny’s family for entrusting me with the details of her story and her struggle.

In closing, I have three requests of this government. One, provide the one-third funding for the Summerland primary health care clinic. It is the right thing to do. It is a shovel-ready project. They can go down in history as heroes for bringing health care to thousands of people.

Two, reverse the gravel pit permit in Garnet Valley. I can tell you that if this project goes through, that’s 12,000 people that will never forgive this NDP government for destroying this ecologically sensitive area and putting the lives of the cyclists and the residents in danger. That’s the second request.

The third request is to expedite the implementation of involuntary care. I would add to that that in my community, in spite of the fact that we have hundreds of people every year who lose their lives to this crisis, we have zero detox beds in my community. To say nothing of the wait-list to get into these treatment or detox beds, they’re four hours away from my community. We don’t have a single detox bed in my community. We desperately need detox and treatment beds.

Why is it that in my community, you can get access to what they call safe supply, safe supply drugs, but you can’t get access to detox? It’s wrong.

In closing, I want to thank everyone for listening to my story and thank those who helped me get here today. I’m very proud to be the MLA for Penticton-Summerland and the first woman ever elected to this role, as well, in 116 years. With that, I will conclude my remarks. Thank you.

Deputy Speaker: Recognizing the member for Coquitlam-Maillardville.

Jennifer Blatherwick: Thank you, hon. Speaker, and may I congratulate you on your election.

I congratulate all my colleagues on their success in this past election, and I look forward to serving our province together to the best of our ability.

I would like to start by acknowledging the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, upon whose territories we are gathered today, and the territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, the Stó:lō and the qiqéyt people where I live, who have been the guardians of the land and waters since time immemorial — the land where my family works and lives and learns together.

I am incredibly proud to serve my constituency, which leads me to the most controversial and confrontational statement ever made in this Legislature: mine is the most beautiful constituency. I’m going to immediately top that with a more controversial and confrontational claim: my constituency has the best food.

We are also home to one of the most impressive and free — when you have five children, free is very important — light displays, the lights at Lafarge Lake. If you are ever in Coquitlam-Maillardville, I ask that you come visit and enjoy them with us. We are also host for the incredible Dumpling Festival in August, which attracts 50,000 people. It turns out that almost every culture really likes to put leftovers inside of dough and then cook it up, and Coquitlam is very happy to host you all and feed you.

We also see vibrant celebrations of the lunar new year, where we come together to acknowledge the passing of the old year and wish each other [A language other than English was spoken] — and just to bring each other joy and grace in the year as we watch the old one pass and the new one come forward.

Together, we also celebrate the spring with Nowruz, decorating haft sin tables. We celebrate Diwali, the ascendance of light over darkness.

[6:00 p.m.]

It’s an honour to stand in this House, an honour that I share with only 205 other women in the history of British Columbia, an honour to stand so that my children and my community can see me, can hear me in a country where, when I was born, my mother couldn’t get a credit card, and my great-grandmother started her life without the right to vote.

It’s an honour to stand in a House that is defended by the military-serving members of all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces, like my father-in-law John, my brother-in-law Jim and members who serve in this House.

I thank all who have served, present and veteran members, and appreciate the opportunity that the recent Invictus Games has given us to value both the sacrifice and the resiliency of those who stand on guard for us, who stand across the world in protection of those who are threatened, and who serve in Canada and abroad during disasters.

[Lorne Doerkson in the chair.]

Other than my family, my very first encounter with the military was when they were saving my house from a flood, in the middle of the night, by putting sandbags up to protect us from the river. I have never forgotten.

None of us would be here to respond to any throne speech without the support of a network of family and very dedicated friends who saw us through the most recent election. I was very fortunate to be able to work together with a funny, compassionate, selfless and incredible group.

I want to thank my campaign staff, Matt, Adrian and Caitlin, who worked so well to support me and every other person who walked through the door of our campaign office. All I asked for in campaign staff was that they be kind and that they make sure that every volunteer who came in was prepared and ready to go out to meet the world. They exceeded my expectations. They were beyond. Their work was not behind the scenes; it was the heart of everything that we did.

I won’t be able to name every single person who worked on my campaign. I wish I could, but we would be here for a long time. But I will be able to tell you, easily, how they made the people in my community feel. As they went out into the community to connect, I know that my volunteers were able to talk with community members about strengthening and growing our community together.

I’m going to use some first names, just in case they don’t want to be incredibly famous for the thousands of people that are watching this feed right now.

An Hon. Member: Very thoughtful.

Jennifer Blatherwick: Yes, thank you.

Chris connected with our neighbours on the priorities that we hear in this throne speech on health care. From his experience working as a medical professional, he understood that what our community wants is responsive care and the additional nurses, doctors and health care personnel outlined in our throne speech. He also talked with people who wanted to see change in ensuring that internationally trained professionals can integrate into our system safely, with greater speed and efficiency.

I want to see what British Columbians, what people from Coquitlam-Maillardville, want to see: the best use of efforts of medical personnel.

My friend Amir and his family, his mother, came here to this country almost 20 years ago hoping that she would be able to continue the medical career that she loved. But the regulations of the day kept her from practice, and that was a waste of her ability to care for the people of this province. I want people like Amir’s mother to be able to come to British Columbia and benefit from the thoughtful streamlining of that process and be able to put her many years of medical expertise to work in a field and a specialty she loves, a field in which she could help people.

This throne speech responds to that imperative by adding even more nurses and doctors to our health care sector and by improving the integration of internationally trained medical professionals into our system.

More than 250,000 people have been connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner since the health connect registry launched provincewide in July 2023. Hundreds more people are getting matched every day. More than 570,000 people have been connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner since the launch of the primary care strategy in 2018 — around 4,000 people a week.

Not only have we seen adding new medical professionals, but we have seen a renewed commitment to retaining and respecting our relationship with family doctors.

[6:05 p.m.]

I am very lucky to have as in-laws two family doctors, one who went into practice delivering hundreds and hundreds of babies and another who served in the field of public health. I thank my in-laws, John and Carol, who served this province for decades as doctors, both for their service and their ongoing love and support.

They made clear to me how important it was for the province to have a new contract with family physicians. I heard Carol telling me that in her practice, there were barriers in place to providing more accessible care to patients. Years ago, physicians could only be compensated $1 for a phone call with a patient. They knew how dedicated the physicians of this province are, but a changing economic reality meant that a new physician pay model was essential to making sure we could retain the family doctors we had and grow their numbers.

Another group of my volunteers represent the film industry. Sarah and Patina work in the film industry. They helped me connect to many people who work in our essential film and television production, and that was struggling over this last year. People in my community love their job in film and television, and they are highly qualified professionals who produce world-class content.

Sarah and Patina were right there with them. They wanted to share with me, and with all of us, how the shift in their industry affected them, but also how it affected their co-workers and community members — not just the people who make the content, but the services and supplies that depend on the film and television industry for their business. The declared new tax credits that will support this sector are very welcome to an industry that generated almost $4.8 billion in GDP across 2022 and 2023.

I know how important it is to my volunteers — like Nancy, Laura, Bill and Amy — to ensure that B.C. has a green energy future that is sustainable and solid and real. I don’t know why I’m using specific names here, because every single one of my volunteers cared about green energy products.

I’m happy to be able to go back to my community and talk about those nine new clean energy projects, which will boost B.C. Hydro’s current electricity supply by 8 percent, enough to power 500,000 homes. Eight of those projects will have at least 51 percent First Nations equity stake.

On a more personal note, I want to thank my dad, who came out door-knocking with me and texted me almost every night about the economy and trade tariffs and advice for the hon. Minister of Finance. I can set up a meeting for you.

Now, I know a lot of people’s parents want to give them advice. If you are looking for thoughtful, well-researched advice, my dad is a great source — this isn’t going to be public, right? Like, he’s not going to see this, when I said this? Too late — because he gave me the gift of working in a family business.

There are probably many of us here who worked in family businesses. I spent many years and many hours working in my family’s music business. As a music business, we sold pianos and other instruments. It’s why I play ten instruments very badly, only well enough to demonstrate them so people will buy them. It deeply connected us to the people in our community because music is the universal language of joy and connection, and it’s one that we can all speak together.

Working with my dad is not like working with other salespeople. Working with my dad is about hard work, an incredibly strong ethic and involvement in your community as a foundation for that business. But we can only get ahead in British Columbia if we are allowed to compete fairly.

I appreciate, from the lens of a small business, that this throne speech emphasizes how important it is to buy local and buy B.C. and to ensure that our international trade partners, the source for so many of the manufactured goods that our small businesses import and bring into our communities, treat us respectfully as a partner in trade.

I was given the additional incredible opportunity to learn from my dad about how important it is to be flexible and to diversify. Many, many years ago, in 1995, when our family business was in Richmond, the world changed and many people who were from Hong Kong came to Richmond to buy homes and build their lives.

[6:10 p.m.]

Many business owners who had been there for a long time chose to leave, because it was a new community to them. The community around them changed.

My dad said: “Do you know what? I bet all of those people would love for their children to learn how to play piano.” So he learned to speak Mandarin. That was a unique response, the response of a man who is kind and brave and really smart. It’s so tough to be his daughter sometimes, I tell you. Our small family business was also one of the very first that I ever knew to import high-quality instruments from South Korea. He formed and made those connections independently because he knew that reaching out was a path to success.

I know he would be pleased — and I know he would be pleased, because he’s texting me right now — that we are taking those steps to ensure that we diversify and strengthen our trade partnerships across Asia and Europe and the world. He used to tell me that everyone who walked in our door was a customer and that if you have the best possible product, you can tell them with confidence that they should not leave without investing in the product that you have.

B.C. has some of the best products in the world: resources and manufactured goods, creative art, film, television and software. Thank you for committing to that in this throne speech that we will diversify to whom we sell our products around the world and that we’ll grow our economy and build here at home — and not just around the world, but breaking down the trade barriers between provinces, like the Alberta-B.C. agreement to allow B.C. wineries to sell directly to Albertans.

I look forward to seeing more agreements like this one that will allow us to increase trade in our country. And I really appreciate the recognition that we are the west coast gateway to Asia and major global centres, and our ports are some of the busiest in Canada. In order to make sure we are able to support increased international oceanic trade, we’ll upgrade transportation infrastructure and improve supply.

I also want to thank my mother. People often confuse me and the member for Coquitlam–Burke Mountain because sometimes when we tell our stories, they’re very similar. My parents were also very young when they were married, and my mom certainly faced a lot of judgment when she was younger for having a child so young. But my mom, despite anxiety, despite her self-doubt, despite criticism, poured everything she had into raising an independent daughter who could stand here in the House and speak today.

Her work made sure that I could be here in the most practical possible way, and I am incredibly grateful to the work that she put into our lives so that I could have the opportunities that I stand here appreciating today.

I also thank more of my volunteers and community members, like Karen and Vanessa and Amy. My mom didn’t have the opportunity to have daycare because it was far too expensive. But Karen, Vanessa and Amy have talked to me many times about how important it is to have affordable, accessible, safe, inclusive child care.

People with children need to know that when they choose to return to work, there is a place for their child that will help them grow and won’t break the bank. This is especially true for women and gender-diverse people, on whom the bulk of child care falls.

When I had my twins, I couldn’t make that choice either, because child care in my community was over $2,400 a month for two infants. That was only slightly more than my mortgage. So I pivoted and began my own small business, but like for many women, that business took place in the cracks around caring for children.

I thank this government for lowering the cost of child care and giving more people the opportunity to balance building their economic dreams with caring for their families. The commitment in this throne speech to continue to support child care is a continuation of the thousands of child care spaces added to this province, the respect for the work of child care reflected in the wage enhancements for early childhood educators, and the reduction in fees that has empowered so many.

[6:15 p.m.]

One of my most dedicated volunteers was my husband. He was out with me on this campaign almost every single step, and before the campaign, he walked with me. He’s a PE teacher, so that is a lot of walking.

One of the things I was privileged to understand from being married to a teacher is how essential our education professionals are. Teachers, EAs, staff, administration — they are essential to a healthy, inclusive and thriving environment for our children. It’s the people that make B.C.

I just had the opportunity to see what can be accomplished by caring teachers when I visited an elementary school in my riding, where the students were celebrating Real Acts of Caring Week. Many of you maybe saw that happening in schools in your ridings as well. It was started by a teacher in my riding, Harriet Chang, who deeply cares about children and understands that success in schools is not just about an absence of bullying. It needs the positivity, the actual act of kindness. I thank her for the efforts that she has made to share that with children.

We see the success of education here in British Columbia in our international rankings, in the program for international student assessment, an evaluation tool organized by the OECD. In mathematics, B.C. students scored well above the OECD average.

I was a school trustee before this, so I’m sorry, you’re all going to have to listen to a little talk about education in British Columbia. In B.C., both math and science — as the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity — there is no statistical difference in math and science in the performance of boys and girls. That is extraordinary. We are top five in the world for science, and that is a testimony to the hard work of educators, students and the families that support them.

Another unique factor about British Columbia is that PISA asked the students about their economic, social and cultural status. We know that B.C. has a significant number of students who do face barriers. But we also know that we have an unusually large number of students who are resilient, that they achieve high academic performance despite the barriers that they face. The difference there is the support of their community, including the teachers and education assistants.

My husband and teachers like him make schools good places to learn. As a former school trustee, and while I was out in the community, I heard how much my community needed new spaces for children to learn. I also appreciate that when I started as a school trustee in 2018, we could build a school for $33 million. In the intervening time, the cost has grown to be $133 million — depending on the size of the school — in a very short space of time. I cannot say how much I appreciate the government’s thoughtful use of our tax dollars by committing to the innovative choice of prefabricated additions for schools.

I was there, in November of 2023, when we announced that there was going to be an addition to Scott Creek Middle, in my constituency. And then I was just there with the Minister of Infrastructure to tour the completed building in January of 2025. So to be able to go from nothing to an actual completed, quality building that students could learn in, in under 18 months, is an incredible achievement. And to bring it in on budget and under time…. I am looking forward to seeing more projects like this in our communities.

Now, I would be very remiss if I talked about my journey to being here if I didn’t include Linda Ouskerson, who has been working for the welfare of the people of this province for my entire life, 50 years. It was Linda that first stared me in the eyes to tell me to run, and then when that didn’t work, shoved me in the back. But she was there to support me every single step of the way. Her example is one of dedicated, selfless, behind-the-scenes work every single day for the people of British Columbia and their benefit. I would not be here without both her example and her encouragement.

[6:20 p.m.]

I should really also speak of my children. When I think about negotiation, when you have five children, that is a skill you must acquire. You must acquire the skill of negotiation. And when the five of them are together, it is deadly.

But one of the things that they understand is that negotiation must be between two parties who care about each other’s mutual welfare for it to be genuinely successful, that there must be common goals and there must be a realistic amount of respect. I hope that the skills that my children have will be ones that we will soon, at some point, be able to apply with a mutual partner. I know that if there is a desire on both sides for a fair deal, we can ask for tough things. We can disagree, and neither side can be entirely happy with the eventual result, but we can maintain respect and focus on what we can do together.

My last thank you needs to be for my grandpa. I have mentioned that I was very lucky to be raised in part by my grandparents. Occasionally, you will hear me using anachronistic words like “discombobulated“ because, in some ways, I am twenty or thirty years out of time. But it has also given me a small bit of longevity of a perspective on issues that were granted to me by my grandfather.

When I was a kid, my grandfather didn’t ask me how school was. He said: “Have you heard about the military-industrial complex that developed in Germany just prior to World War II? Let’s talk about it,” and “Do you understand geopolitical forces that lead to the price of steel increasing?” And I hadn’t; I was eight. It was like a high-engagement conversation.

But he also taught me about the values of living with an open heart, in living with generosity in your soul and kindness for everyone with whom you were lucky enough to cross paths. And I miss him every day, but I am lucky to carry his heritage with me.

One of the things he would say to me over and over and over is that you must use your voice. You must use your voice. Because if you do not speak, others will speak for you, and you will not always like what they have to say. And if there is someone who has no voice, then you must raise theirs up. I hope that as he looks down on me, he’s proud.

I am also very grateful to be here in the presence of other people whose strength I really respect. It is not easy to continue to fight for others when you are tired and the world is hard. If there was fairness in the world, the House would have trembled at your strength today. And may we all be inspired by your integrity.

So I have three minutes left. My heartfelt and deep gratitude to all the volunteers who came out, who believed in democracy, even in the cold and driving rain — that was a really tough last day — and checked in with the voters and sloshed their way in between the doors. We did this together, and together we pulled it across the line. I am lucky to have the fiercest group of friends, and their friendship comes as the most practical of help. There was food that showed up on my door, housecleaning, driving, folding mailers and social media support. I am so grateful to have you.

My everlasting love to my family, who have been there for this whole journey, not just because of the love that we share, but because they have a bright and a burning belief in how things can be better for everyone.

[6:25 p.m.]

I do not want to forget to say thank you to the lək̓ʷəŋən traditional dancers, to Elder Frank George from the Songhees Nation and Elder Mary Ann Thomas from the Esquimalt Nation for opening our hearts at the beginning of this session with welcome and truth. Elder Mary Ann sounds a lot like my grandpa.

I hear your words, that we should live without malice, that we should worry most about the behaviour of the person that we see in the mirror and that we should love those amongst us who are vulnerable — especially, in this time, our trans and two-spirit children who need protection. I fold your words away in my heart with respect and determination.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you very much, Member.

The Chair will recognize Courtenay-Comox.

Brennan Day: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and congratulations on your appointment. It’s extremely well deserved.

It is an honour to rise in this chamber today to speak to British Columbians and to respond to yesterday’s throne speech. We would have much more to talk about here today if this government had shared actual legislation during the throne speech, as is traditional in parliaments around the world.

This legislature has been the stage for some of the most defining debates in our province’s history. Now, as we navigate rising global instability, economic uncertainty and a social safety net that is stretched to its limits, this chamber will once again be where the toughest decisions are made in the years ahead.

Standing in this chamber today, I feel the immense weight of responsibility entrusted to me by the people of Courtenay-Comox as MLA in this 43rd parliament. Every member of this Legislature, regardless of where we stand on the political aisle, stands united in the defence of our independence, our constitution and the principles and people that make this province and country great.

Behind every MLA here is a family who sacrifices, supports and keeps them grounded when the weight of this place feels too heavy. To my incredible wife, Jennifer; my son, Lachlan; my father, Mike; my mother, Elizabeth; and my mother-in-law, Joan — thank you. You’ve stood by me through long nights and tough debates.

I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues here on the Conservative side of the House. I am proud to be a part of a party that values leadership, accountability and pragmatic solutions to real problems. Together, we will continue to serve the people of B.C. and work tirelessly on the challenges we will face together ahead.

To my campaign team, my friends and every volunteer who knocked on doors, made calls and believed in this mission, we finally did it.

I could spend my time talking about my background, how I grew up in the Comox Valley, my family, my experience running large international energy companies, construction and procurement businesses and my recent time as the executive director at the Eureka Support Society, where I worked alongside some of the strongest, most resilient people I have ever met, those facing severe mental health challenges every single day.

I could also discuss that a government legislative intern and McGill grad, Ewa Bozerocka, Pamela Anderson and myself all graduated from Highland Secondary School in Comox. And in a shocking turn of events, just as Pamela Anderson is abandoning makeup, I may be forced to start wearing it. But that’s not why I was elected. I was elected to be a voice for the people who place their trust in me, for those who need real action.

I have the honour of representing one of the most breathtaking and dynamic communities in British Columbia. The Comox Valley is a place where natural beauty meets hard-working people and vibrant local businesses create a community like no other. It is a place where farmers rise before dawn to tend the land, where fishers brave the elements to provide for their families and where loggers, tradespeople and entrepreneurs drive our local economy forward.

It’s a place where artists, musicians and innovators breathe life into our cultural scene and where seniors who have helped build this province continue to shape it with wisdom and experience, where bikers and boarders play and where young families work tirelessly to give their children a bright future — all supported by legions of volunteers who work tirelessly to build a stronger community.

[6:30 p.m.]

In Courtenay-Comox, people look out for one another. Neighbours help neighbours. Small businesses support one another, and no challenge is faced alone. A strong and proud K’ómoks First Nation, the original habitants of our beautiful region, are within a few short weeks to vote to ratify their long-fought-for treaty. That is the spirit of our community, and that is what I’m here to protect and advocate loudly for during this parliament.

While I am proud to represent the Comox Valley, I know that the hard-working, resilient people of the Comox Valley are not unique in their determination and dedication to this province. Across B.C., we share these same values: communities working together to overcome challenges and build a prosperous future. I’m here to serve those values, to ensure every corner of this province has the support and leadership that it deserves.

Even in a place as idyllic as the Comox Valley — the most beautiful riding, for those keeping score — we face real challenges, challenges that government must stop ignoring. We cannot continue to let families be priced out of their communities. We cannot allow our health care system to collapse under the weight of neglect. We cannot stand by while crime, addiction and public disorder continue to erode our sense of safety. That’s why I’m here, and that’s why I was elected.

Local troubles, local struggles are intensified by international pressures. The government has reacted too slowly to the proposed tariffs coming from the United States, leaving B.C. vulnerable and scrambling to catch up.

I do not take issue with some of the Premier’s recent statements, in yesterday’s throne speech, regarding the threats that our nation faces, both from beyond our borders and from within, nor with his sudden embrace of national pride.

I also agree with his call to drive the economy forward, accelerating permitting to unlock our natural resources, and cutting the red tape that is strangling growth in this province. But it is revealing that only now, under external pressure, does this government find its voice on patriotism, border security and private sector economic development.

The Premier has said, time and time again, that we will never become the 51st state. In fact, I’m pretty sure we’ve heard this so many times we could recite it in our sleep. Of course we won’t. No one’s arguing that point. But the constant repetition of this line only serves to distract from the very real problems facing British Columbians.

Words alone will not fix the problems that are holding our province back. British Columbians deserve more than just repeated slogans — they need action, they need solutions, and they need real results — but it is nice to see that they’ve finally discovered what drives this economy.

The government talks a big game about diversifying British Columbia’s economy and building stronger trade relationships around the world, yet despite all their rhetoric, they have taken no action on interprovincial trade barriers since November — none. At the stroke of a pen and a phone call to our neighbours, they could make it easier to do trade between provinces.

While we wait for progress on international trade partnerships, our own province is still stuck with these internal barriers that are preventing our businesses from thriving. How can we expect to build stronger economic relationships globally if we can’t even break down the walls of trade within our own country?

This inaction highlights a fundamental flaw in the government’s approach. There is no consistent vision for the economic diversification they claim to champion. B.C.’s future must lie not just in forging new international partnerships but also in tearing down these barriers within our own country.

The Premier has also stated openly that port security is a federal matter and that he resents federal costs being downloaded onto this province, yet at the same time, he continuously off-loads provincial responsibilities onto our overburdened, underfunded municipalities. If the Premier objects so vociferously to federal costs being off-loaded onto the province, why does he see no issue in doing the very same to our towns and cities?

This is nothing new.

[6:35 p.m.]

Much like the throne speech yesterday, the government says one thing and does another. They also set ambitious goals but are consistently failing to deliver for British Columbians and the residents of the Comox Valley. They couldn’t even afford their own $1,000 election gimmick, a last-ditch attempt to buy goodwill from British Columbians.

They had already spent the larder bare, and now they’re banking on voters forgetting the hollow promises that put them on this side of the House. We will not forget on this side. We will absolutely, continually remind this government of the promises they made to British Columbians and the actions they need to take.

If their priority, as they say, is to make everyday costs low for British Columbians, then why would they cancel this $1,000 rebate when so many British Columbians desperately need that relief? I have to say, the throne speech sounded more like a Doug Ford campaign speech. It’s almost as if they’re taking notes from the Conservative playbook but, unfortunately, not following through on the things that truly matter to British Columbians.

It is remarkable that this Premier speaks of economic uncertainty after draining the province’s coffers and leaving the rainy-day fund empty. Are we now to believe, after running the largest deficit in provincial history, that this government is best positioned to lead B.C. back to prosperity — the very prosperity it squandered under layers of red tape, public sector bloat and relentless tax hikes? I believe not, and I don’t believe British Columbians do either.

The government boasted about having a high credit rating. While it’s certainly positive to have a high credit rating, we must ask: what does that really mean to everyday British Columbians, kitchen-table British Columbians?

A strong credit rating may make borrowing easier, something this government seems extremely good at, but it also highlights the need for greater fiscal responsibility. We cannot rely solely on borrowing to fund promises and initiatives. True financial stability requires a commitment to sustainable long-term budgeting, not just the appearance of fiscal health through borrowed funds.

Governance is not about grandstanding. British Columbians deserve a government that prioritizes real solutions over political theatre and empty promises. We must embrace pragmatism, foresight and long-term planning, not just sound bites and slogans. As the official opposition, it is our responsibility to hold the government’s feet to the fire, to demand accountability, and to ensure that policies are based on outcomes, not optics.

Let us also recognize that this chamber is more than a political battleground. It is the foundation of our parliamentary democracy. If the debates in this House become nothing more than performative, partisan warfare, we risk breaking the public’s trust in this very institution that we are here to serve. British Columbians expect better, and the Conservative caucus will deliver.

I may be new to this chamber, as many of us are here today on both sides of this House, but I know what I expect from those I elect to represent me: honesty, integrity, transparency and perseverance. These are not just ideals. They are the foundation of public trust, and they are the standards I will uphold in this House.

That doesn’t mean I will pull punches when I see injustice, mismanagement or failed policy. Accountability is not an attack; it’s a duty. But accountability also demands fairness. That means listening with respect, debating with conviction, and focusing on solutions over sound bites.

We do not serve only those who voted for us; we serve everyone in our ridings. That responsibility demands that we lead with both principle and pragmatism, championing policies that work, not just quick headlines. British Columbians deserve nothing less, and we will rise to this challenge. The stakes are just too high for complacency.

On this side of the House, we will be relentless in our call to unlock the full potential of our people, our province and our economy, meeting this moment with the same determination and resolve that built this great province.

We gather here at a time of urgency and uncertainty. The challenges before us are immense. We live in one of the most affluent provinces in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, yet far too many of our residents struggle to afford a home, pay for food, find a doctor or feel safe in our neighbourhoods.

[6:40 p.m.]

For too long, British Columbia has relied on skyrocketing property prices to paper over the cracks, to fund infrastructure, hospitals and services. But these are no longer sustainable. We must face the economic crisis unfolding before us with bold, long-term solutions that prioritize prosperity, stability and opportunity for all British Columbians.

Online vendors are fleeing our province in droves, as an unintended PST bulletin makes it impossible to do business in this province, leading to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from foreign markets.

And we aren’t just here to address pocketbook issues. Mothers like Wilma, in Courtenay, whose developmentally disabled son Jamie should have received medical care. But instead, he’s found himself caught in the justice and addiction systems — the very institutions meant to support families like hers, leaving them abandoned and alone.

Single mothers like Ashley, in Comox, working tirelessly at two jobs just to provide for her two incredible sons, sometimes skipping her own meals so that they can eat. Fathers like John, who lost his son Ryan to the fentanyl crisis that is tearing our province apart, a crisis that has devastated families, shattered communities and stolen thousands of lives. These aren’t just headlines. These are the people I was elected to fight for. The burden they carry is heavy, but we will shoulder it for them. This is about having the determination to fight for those who need it most.

We must do better. We must embrace bold, forward-thinking solutions to revitalize our economy, cutting red tape, attracting investment and rebuilding a thriving private sector. We must ensure government delivers real results, not wasteful spending, so that every hard-earned tax dollar goes towards essential services, not political pet projects.

We must rebuild our social safety net, not as a crutch but as a springboard, to help people regain stability and rejoin the workforce with dignity. And we must restore trust in government through transparency and accountability, ensuring those that elected us always have a voice at this table.

When I was sworn in as MLA, I made it clear that I wasn’t just here to sit in a chair. I came here to fight for British Columbians and to tackle the biggest challenges facing this province. That’s why I pushed for the role of critic for seniors health and rural health — not because they’re easy files but because it is the area most in need of serious reform and attention.

For years, our health care system has been in steady decline, and nowhere is that more evident than in our rural communities, something this caucus knows better than most. These issues are not new, but they have been ignored for far too long.

Emergency rooms in rural B.C. are shutting down due to staff shortages, leaving communities stranded without access to even the most basic of medical care. Our front-line health care workers are burned out, and many are leaving the profession because they no longer feel supported. Lack of access to family doctors has made it nearly impossible for seniors and rural residents to get preventative care before health becomes an emergency.

This is not just rhetoric. These are real people, real families and real suffering. Seniors in B.C. are waiting longer than ever for long-term care and home care services, forcing families into impossible situations. Attracting U.S. doctors, as we heard in the throne speech yesterday, is laughable.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Canadian doctors are paid far less and taxed far more than their American counterparts. It’s a cute promise but, ultimately, nonsense. Instead of focusing on band-aid solutions, we need a real plan that supports our existing health care workers, strengthens the system and ensures all British Columbians have access to the care that they deserve.

[6:45 p.m.]

But we’ve heard it all before. This government says they are working on hiring health care staff, but that is not enough. What happens when we train them and they leave critical areas or even the province altogether? This isn’t just about bringing in new staff. It’s about retraining them where we need them most. Whether it’s rural or urban communities, we need workers who are supported and able to remain in the areas that desperately need them.

Rural health care is also in crisis, yet this government has failed to invest adequately. ER closures, a shortage of family doctors and the lack of action we saw from the throne speech show a clear pattern of neglect. Promises to ease the burden on health care workers ring hollow when resources are mismanaged and rural needs are ignored. ER closures are forcing residents to drive, in some cases, tens of hours for care from our most remote communities, which is time they just do not have in an emergency.

Health care recruitment is in free fall. Without better wages, working conditions and incentives, rural communities will be left without doctors, nurses or paramedics. A lack of essential mental health and addiction services is adding to our out-of-control public disorder and homelessness issue, leaving rural residents to fend for themselves or seek shelter in some of our larger locations. We can see that right here in Victoria and, I’m sure, every community across this province.

Specialist access is also failing. My own son waited 18 months to see an ENT, only for both eardrums to rupture before a 30-second procedure could be done.

Patients face unaffordable travel costs. Currently, for rural residents, an average of $856 is spent in transportation and $674 is spent in accommodation just to access basic medical care.

Our hospitals are in chaos. Short-staffed ERs, long wait times, and burned-out workers are deepening this crisis with every resignation. British Columbians in rural communities deserve equal care, but they’re being left behind.

That’s why I’m going to fight for competitive wages, housing support and loan forgiveness to recruit and retain rural health care workers, expanded mental health and addiction services, so people can get care much closer to home, stronger funding for ambulance services, so 911 calls bring help in minutes, not hours, stronger investment in primary care networks to ensure every resident has access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

Transportation subsidies need to be expanded so that rural patients aren’t priced out of health care.

Enough excuses. British Columbians need more from this government.

It is often said that seniors are the forgotten generation, and the government’s throne speech proved that point once again. Despite the critical role seniors have played in building this province, their needs were glaringly absent from this conversation, leaving them once again neglected and overlooked in this government’s priorities.

We owe everything to seniors. They built B.C. They worked the land, raised families and paid their dues. Yet today, too many of them are being abandoned in their time of need. The latest report from the seniors advocate makes one thing painfully clear. This government is failing our elders. The findings paint a stark picture of a system buckling under pressure, leaving seniors waiting, struggling and falling through the cracks.

In health care and long-term care, wait-lists for knee and hip replacements have surged over 50 percent in five years. Seniors waiting for subsidized long-term-care beds have increased 250 percent. Many seniors are stuck in hospital beds for weeks or months due to a lack of long-term-care spaces, tying up critically required beds.

Demand for subsidized seniors housing has exploded, yet only 6 percent of applicants are getting admitted to a unit each year. You can do the math on that. Over 80 percent of seniors on SAFER rent assistance still pay $355 more than it covers. With 95 percent of B.C.’s aging population living independently, many are now being priced out of their homes by the tax increases that are being pumped by this province to the municipalities.

B.C.’s senior population has grown 45 percent this decade. By 2035, one in four of us will be over the age of 65. Services remain fragmented, uncoordinated and deeply confusing for seniors in this province. This is not just a crisis. This is a moral failure.

[6:50 p.m.]

The seniors who built this province deserve dignity, security and proper care. Instead, they are left waiting, worrying and wondering if help will ever come.

Mr. Speaker, I have the magic words right here. First day.

Noting the hour, I reserve my right to continue and move adjournment of the debate.

Brennan Day moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mike Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The House adjourned at 6:50 p.m.