Hansard - Monday, April 7, 2025 Morning, Issue No. 34

She was here in the House a couple of different times for advocacy, for connecting people with services for mental health. Cindy and her mother and her other sister and the rest of her family lost their brother, James Zimmer, in February of 2023. He died by suicide.

It was actually advocacy and support by her sister, Crystal, and, of course, Cindy which helped make the amendments, the Mental Health Amendment Act, 2023, that I presented that year.

She’s back because we’ve called again for the Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025, Bill M205, and she’s here, of course, in support of that.

Would the House please show her that she’s supported and most welcome in this place.

[10:05 a.m.]

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

Battle of Vimy Ridge

Jennifer Blatherwick: We are approaching the 108th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place from April 9 to 12 in 1917 and was one of the pivotal battles of the First World War. It marked the first occasion that all four Canadian divisions fought together and would influence Canadian participation in world events ever after.

By 1917, the war had become a vicious battle of attrition, with both sides grinding up men and resources but with hardly any changes in the line. Vimy Ridge crested out of rolling French countryside, the only position of height and tactical advantage in the area. French and British forces had been trying to retake it for a year.

Now, in April of 1917, taking Vimy Ridge meant a charge up frozen, snowy mud hills against a long-held, well-built emplacement. The Germans had been able to dig in for long enough to establish four fortified lines of defence and a 1.6-kilometre tunnel network in which to take shelter. Even if the Canadian troops could make it across the barbed wire and the withering gunfire of no man’s land and took the trenches, they still had to take the tunnels. It looked like there was no way to win this battle within a few days.

But for the Canadians, the battle had started months before. They worked with Welsh sappers to dig six kilometres of tunnels, some perilously close to the German trenches. Those tunnels also concealed the Allied troop buildup prior to the big push of April 9, but it required an enormous amount of discipline to keep everyone hidden away.

The battle began with Allied forces detonating the four enormous mines they had placed with the use of those secret tunnels, and whole sections of the first German trench line were destroyed. Artillery fired overhead in seemingly random patterns, but the randomness was a disguise. The Canadians were trying a new strategy. They were using artillery not just to hit opposing emplacements but to chew up the barbed wire to make way for a charge.

Attached to the 4th Canadian Division, it was the Punjabi Lahore Division’s artillery guns that laid down this fire, protecting the troops as they advanced.

During the battle, Canadian ingenuity was also saving lives. The wounded were treated by the Canadian Army Medical Corps, who were some of the first medical professionals in the world to use blood transfusions to save patients, which dramatically reduced the death rate due to blood loss. They had mobile blood banks with them at Vimy Ridge.

[Mable Elmore in the chair.]

Marie Curie had created a mobile X-ray unit that, in her honour, they called the Petit Curie, which was run by nurses who were trained by Madame Curie herself. The nursing sisters were there at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The Canadians called them bluebirds because of the colour of their uniforms. Three nurses from British Columbia were killed by the battle, and they are buried over in Europe near many of the soldiers they tried so hard to save.

The real difference in strategy went all the way down to the level of the individual soldier. For the first time, there were no specific plans for the troops. Previously every man was given an order of exactly what they were to do. In this battle, each squad leader was tasked with using their own judgment on how to best reach the objective. Soldiers were told to follow their officer, and if their officer fell, to follow their corporal, and if their corporal fell, to follow the objective, and they did.

Despite all the obstacles, Canadians achieved one of the most surprising victories of World War I. They took most of Vimy Ridge the first day, and there are many stories of bravery and sacrifice from that battle.

Amongst the soldiers of Vimy Ridge, there were at least 27 Black Canadians. During the battle, Jeremiah Jones, a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment, volunteered to attack a German gun nest that had pinned down his unit, and he was successful.

Pte. George McLean from the Okanagan Band earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions, for saving a wounded officer and then later standing alone against 60 soldiers until their surrender.

The sacrifices of everyday Canadians, which included the 10,000 troops that did not make it home, meant change for Canada on the world stage. The Canadian Corps and their success in this battle is credited with giving Canada a seat at the peace table at Versailles and, ultimately, control over our own foreign affairs.

Canada was changed internally by its service in World War I. The contributions of Vimy Ridge soldiers did not stop at the battle. Veterans like Curley Christian came home wounded but determined to improve life for soldiers like himself with permanent disabilities. With his wife, Cleopatra, and his medical team, he paved the way for what would later become our current Canadian Forces financial and social assistance program for disabled veterans.

We give thanks to Canadians of all backgrounds who sacrificed so much, half a world away, to protect and to defend, whose courage changed the way the world perceived us and the way we perceived ourselves.

[10:10 a.m.]

They laid the foundation for the motto the Canadian Army operates under today, “Vlamus pro te,” “We stand on guard for thee.”

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery

Gavin Dew: I rise today to celebrate a remarkable British Columbian success story, Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. Founded in 2004 in Vernon, with a second location in Kelowna, they are western Canada’s original craft distillery and have seen international acclaim for their exceptional products.

At the recent 2025 World Spirits Awards in Germany, Okanagan Spirits achieved an extraordinary feat: 11 gold and five silver medals, along with the prestigious title of World-Class Distillery, Whisky Worldwide. This marks the second time in recent years they’ve received that honour, an incredible recognition for a family-run business in the heart of the Okanagan.

Among their standout creations is the Laird of Fintry rum barrel whisky, a rare single malt produced from 100 percent B.C.-grown agricultural inputs and aged in rum-soaked oak casks. It delivers rich layers of tropical fruit, caramel and spice, resulting in a beautifully complex and delicious whisky that’s as bold and distinctive as the region it comes from. For Scotch drinkers, I think it compares favourably to Balvenie Caribbean Cask, which retails for two to three times the price.

Now, full disclosure. I do have a bottle of Laird of Fintry in my office, and knowing the Solicitor General is a bit of a Scotch man himself, I look forward to bringing it by his office — strictly for research purposes, of course. Members of the press gallery interested in hands-on research also know how to reach me.

Now, for those misguided individuals who don’t like whisky, Okanagan Spirits’ fruit liqueurs, crafted from 100 percent locally grown fruit, are just as impressive — vibrant, flavourful and bursting with the essence of Okanagan orchards. Whether you’re sipping them straight, mixing them into a cocktail or putting them on vanilla ice cream from Parlour Ice Cream, the Mission Creamery or Moo-Lix, they are a delicious reminder of the bounty we produce right here in British Columbia.

This kind of excellence doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when passion meets perseverance. Too often it also happens in spite of the regulatory and tax environment local producers have to navigate, whether they are producing beer, wine or spirits.

When the government made a big show a month ago of pulling American booze off B.C. liquor store shelves, they had a golden opportunity to showcase B.C.’s 85 local certified distilleries, like Okanagan Spirits. That’s something they could easily have done with their existing powers. Instead, they dropped the ball. They seemed more interested in poking red states in the eye than in lifting up our own world-class distilleries.

If they were truly serious about standing up for local industry, they would have used that moment to cut red tape, modernize outdated policies and fix a broken tax framework that too often punishes the little guy by imposing de facto production caps that deny, to producers, economies of scale and penalize success.

They would have made sure that when British Columbians go into a government liquor store, they’re greeted with a cornucopia of local options, including shelf space for local distillers. Instead, only three out of B.C.’s 85 certified craft distilleries have managed to make it onto government liquor store shelves.

While we’re at it, we still need to address the outdated interprovincial trade barriers that exist today. In 2025, it’s still easier to ship Scotch across Canada than it is to ship a bottle of B.C.-made whisky to Alberta. Why? Because despite incremental tweaks, we’re still operating under the shadow of the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, passed in 1928, the same year the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women were not persons eligible to sit in the Senate.

That outdated law, its long shadow and the constitutional cover it provided for protectionism by provincial liquor monopolies are still holding us back. It’s time to break down those barriers and open the doors to free trade within our own country. It’s time to build a 21st-century framework that helps producers grow, export and compete, not one that holds them back with Prohibition-era rules.

[10:15 a.m.]

British Columbia has some of the finest distilleries in the world. Okanagan Spirits is proof of what we can do when we combine craftsmanship, agriculture and entrepreneurial spirit. Let’s give them, and producers like them, the support they deserve.

Let’s cut the red tape, fix the taxes, open the markets and raise a glass to local excellence.

When local wins, when B.C. wins, when Canada wins, we all win.

Cheers.

Sikh Heritage Month

Rohini Arora: I never imagined, as a child, that I would have the opportunity to speak on Sikh Heritage Month, but here I am, and I’m truly grateful. Serving the people of Burnaby East is an incredible honour, and for me, this work is deeply rooted in the teachings of Sikhi.

I grew up in a blended family of Sikhs and Hindus, so embracing different teachings for my own growth was something I learned at an early age. In Sikh families, we are taught to be open and accepting of others regardless of our differences. It’s a practice of understanding that no one is better than any anyone else and that everyone is equally deserving of love, dignity and respect.

What is our faith in practice, you might wonder. Well, Sikhi is a path of continuous learning and self-improvement, founded on the belief that at our core, no one is superior to the other. The word “Sikh” itself means “to learn,” and by embodying this meaning, Sikhi encourages us to remain open to learning throughout our lives. This serves as a personal reminder for Sikhs not to remain stagnant but to evolve and grow with each new experience. We are all constantly changing, becoming different people with each passing day, based on the lessons we learn.

I’m sure that all the members here can reflect back on their own growth — ten, 20, 30, 40, and so on. Perhaps you’ve softened your views on certain things over time. Perhaps you’ve learned a lesson, had an experience or heard a perspective from someone you trust, and it gave you insight and helped you in your own growth.

Growing up Sikh, I was taught by my parents to respect all places of worship and religious traditions. Whether I was visiting a mandir, a church, a mosque or a synagogue, I always listened closely to the teachings presented that day.

For me and Sikhs everywhere, we believe that no single path is superior to another. All paths ultimately lead to Waheguru, the Supreme Being, who is known by different names like Creator, God, Brahma, Allah, Yahweh. This world view has inspired me to explore many different religions not to debate which one is better, because that’s never the point. Rather, I seek to learn the beautiful, universal lessons that these faiths share: lessons about humanity, kindness and understanding.

Through Sikhi, I’ve come to see that many of these lessons are echoed across religions: serve humanity, advocate for social justice, be loving and kind to all, work honestly, stand against oppression and live with integrity.

The world-renowned poet Rupi Kaur once wrote a short poem that perfectly encapsulates the key for me: “In the face of injustice, we are warriors by blood.” This message resonates deeply with me, as it serves as a call to action for all Sikhs.

Our duty is to fight for fairness, advocate for the marginalized and stand in solidarity with those who face oppression. It’s about challenging unjust systems and showing empathy for all people, no matter their religion, colour, caste, whether they are able-bodied, their gender identity or who they love.

Above all, the greatest lesson I take from Sikhi is to fearlessly challenge the status quo. This is why so many Sikhs are activists. It is inherent to who we are as a people. In the gurdwara or Sikh temple, you’ll see people of all backgrounds and statuses sitting together, those with much and those with little, parents with their children and elders, all sharing a meal, side by side in the langar hall. This practice reflects the belief that all people are equal before the Creator, a core tenet of Sikhi.

[10:20 a.m.]

Sikh Heritage Month is a gift to me, to Sikhs here in B.C. and around the world. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on who we are, to reconnect with our spiritual journey, wherever we may be on it, and to remind ourselves that it’s okay to take pride in our heritage, our Sikh heritage.

To all my fellow Sikhs here in B.C. and around the world, happy Sikh Heritage Month.

Blanket B.C. Society

Hon Chan: It is my sincere honour today to rise in this chamber to speak about a truly remarkable organization, one that has amplified the spirit of compassion, service and community-building for nearly two decades, Blanket B.C. Society.

Founded in 2005 by Gregory Ould and his then young son Ben, both residents of Richmond, Blanket B.C. began with a simple but profound gesture, offering a blanket to someone who was cold. That small act of kindness sparked something powerful.

Since that moment, Blanket B.C. has grown into a movement that has reached every corner of our province. They have now collected and distributed nearly 800,000 blankets and warmth essentials to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty and crisis. By the time they celebrate their 20th anniversary on October 15, they expect to officially reach that milestone of 800,000 gestures of care.

But Blanket B.C.’s work is about far more than blankets. It’s about restoring dignity, offering hope and reminding people that they’re not invisible. One of the most impactful ways they do this is through their annual Drive on the Line, a large-scale event where volunteers set up at Canada Line stations to collect donations from commuters.

That actually was the first time I engaged with their organization, by bringing blankets to Lansdowne station in my riding of Richmond Centre. It’s a powerful and highly visible example of what can happen when communities come together, when we act with empathy and choose to help. Thousands of blankets are collected during this event alone, and it has become one of the most recognizable grassroots donation drives in Metro Vancouver.

Their volunteers, affectionately known as blanketeers, are the heart and soul of this movement. These dedicated individuals, young and old, give their time and energy with compassion, knowing that their efforts are helping somebody feel seen, valued and warm.

Their impact doesn’t stop at our provincial borders. In times of global crisis, Blanket B.C. has extended its reach, sending long-distance donations to those in need across the world, including Ukraine, Türkiye, the Philippines, the Middle East and several countries in Africa. Through coordinated efforts and partnerships, they have delivered warmth and hope to individuals and families facing natural disaster, conflict and displacement. It’s a powerful reminder that compassion knows no boundaries.

Here at home, they also work closely with Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia not just providing warmth but building meaningful relationships grounded in trust and respect.

Another key part of their legacy has been in education and youth empowerment. Over the years, Blanket B.C. has partnered with schools across the province, from preschools to universities, to inspire the next generation to care for their communities. Students have led their own blanket drives, organized awareness campaigns and participated in classroom discussions that foster empathy and understanding. This grassroots outreach has helped instil lifelong values in young people: that kindness matters, that no one is too small to make a difference and that we all have a role to play in building a more compassionate society.

Speaking of youth leadership, I want to acknowledge the incredible contributions of the Ould family. Ben Ould, who co-founded Blanket B.C. at the age of two, has continued to serve as a dedicated leader and advocate. He was recently awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for his outstanding community service, a testament to his heart and commitment.

[10:25 a.m.]

And Ben is not the only one. Greg’s daughters — Emma, aged 17, and Zoë, just four years old — have both played crucial roles in supporting the cause. From lending a hand at events to inspiring their peers, Emma and Zoë are shining examples of how service can be passed down through generations.

As Blanket B.C. approaches its 20th anniversary, I ask all members of this House to join me in recognizing the Blanket B.C. Society for their extraordinary service and lasting impact. Their story is not just about giving blankets but about giving hope, giving voice and giving dignity.

I seek leave for an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

Hon Chan: With us in the chamber today is Mr. Gregory Ould, sitting right there, co-founder and chief warmth officer of Blanket B.C.

I ask all members to join me in giving him and the entire Blanket B.C. team a well-deserved round of applause for dedicated service to our province.

Á’a:líya Warbus: I request leave for an introduction.

Leave granted.

Á’a:líya Warbus: I’d like to introduce a friend, Michael Geoghegan, who is in the House with us today.

He was a candidate for us but due to health reasons was unable to complete his candidacy, and very helpful for us in the Lower Mainland and to me as my political career has begun.

I’m just very happy to have him here with us today.

Private Members’ Statements

Sustainable Economic Development
on Vancouver Island

George Anderson: When people think of Vancouver Island, they picture the beauty, the forests, the coastlines and the working waterfronts. But Vancouver Island is more than just a postcard. It’s an example of what’s possible when we think differently about economic development.

Vancouver Island reflects the choices facing all of British Columbia. From Port Hardy to Victoria, from Tofino to Nanaimo, the Island is a microcosm of British Columbia — urban, rural, resource-based and innovation-driven. Vancouver Island faces many of the same pressures that the rest of British Columbia faces: a housing crunch, workforce shortages, infrastructure gaps and climate risks. And like the rest of the province, Vancouver Island is building an economy that is clean, local and inclusive — an economy that partners with Indigenous communities, works for people and the planet.

But there is reason for hope that Islanders are already stepping up to meet these challenges. In Nanaimo, a company like Input Logic is one of many tech firms choosing to scale on Vancouver Island, showing how tech entrepreneurship can flourish while rejecting the old assumption that innovation only happens on the Lower Mainland.

Another example is VMAC Global Technology, a manufacturing company in Nanaimo that is exporting high-efficiency air compressor systems around the world, showing that clean, high-value manufacturing can thrive right here on Vancouver Island.

We’re also seeing partnerships that point the way forward. The Snaw-naw-as First Nation is leading a number of strategic projects, including the development of a new commercial complex along the Island Highway, which reflect their vision for self-determined economic development.

These kinds of projects not only generate income, revenue and produce jobs but establish First Nations as central players in the regional planning and prosperity of Vancouver Island. Of note, their gas station actually produces the third-highest volume of all Shell stations in Canada.

The Young Agrarians are connecting with farmers to create food security while enhancing their skills on the land. At the same time, climate resilience and economic growth are showing to be increasingly intertwined.

Look at the work of Ocean Networks Canada at the University of Victoria, using sensor technology to support sustainable marine ecosystems while contributing to the blue economy, or the growing number of Island-based forestry firms piloting low-carbon building materials and reforestation technologies.

[10:30 a.m.]

This is what a 21st-century regional economy looks like: green, local, technology-savvy and values-driven.

While our province faces the unjustified threats from the United States of America to our way of life, B.C. must emulate Vancouver Island. But the truth is some of our ambitions have been held back by infrastructure that was built for a different era. We’re fortunate that under Premier Eby and former Premier Horgan, B.C. has advanced a comprehensive infrastructure program. Whether it’s regional transit, broadband access or active transportation networks, the gaps are real.

We are still talking about the Island Rail Corridor as a relic when rail needs to be part of our conversation about sustainable movement of people and goods on Vancouver Island. Without bold innovation and investments in climate-smart infrastructure, we risk asking communities to do the impossible, which is to grow sustainably without the tools to get there.

Housing is another piece of the puzzle. Construction jobs are amongst the greenest jobs that we can create while we’re building energy-efficient homes close to transit.

These are not abstract challenges. They’re solvable problems if we treat them with the seriousness they deserve.

The future of Vancouver Island’s economy is not just about Vancouver Island; it is about British Columbia and its direction as a whole. It’s recognizing that rural innovation matters, that Indigenous-led development is essential, that climate action is an economic strategy and that a stronger agriculture system needs to thrive so our local communities can thrive.

This is not just about picking winners or losers. It’s about choosing a direction where we build with intention, grow with equity and invest in a long-term vision. British Columbians are ready, and so is Vancouver Island.

Zajac Ranch for Children

Reann Gasper: I want to take a moment today to draw our attention to something quietly extraordinary happening in the riding of Abbotsford-Mission. Just off Stave Lake Road in the heart of the forest sits a place called Zajac Ranch for Children.

On paper, it is a medical summer camp, but in reality, it is something much more. For over 20 years, Zajac Ranch has opened its gates and its heart to children and young adults living with serious medical conditions and disabilities.

These aren’t just campers. These are young people who are often told, “You can’t,” “You shouldn’t,” or worse: “You won’t.” At Zajac Ranch, those messages are replaced with something extraordinary: “Let’s try.”

Children who use wheelchairs go horseback riding. Kids who’ve spent more time in hospitals than on playgrounds go zip-lining. Young people who manage chronic illness every day get to be fully seen not for what limits them but for what lifts them.

This camp doesn’t just give children an experience; it gives them their childhood back. It was founded by Mel Zajac, a philanthropist whose commitment to children grew out of unimaginable personal loss. After losing two of his sons, he made a decision not to retreat but to build. He created a space where children facing serious health challenges could feel free, capable and connected. Mel Zajac has shown us that purpose can come from pain and that the greatest legacies are the ones that lift others.

Mel Zajac’s commitment to youth doesn’t end with the ranch. Through the Zajac Foundation, he has supported community programs, scholarships and children’s health initiatives across the province. His vision is one of legacy, and not just what he builds but in the lives he touches. With Zajac Ranch, that legacy is alive, growing and deeply needed.

Over the years, Zajac Ranch has grown into one of the most respected fully inclusive medical camps in Canada. It operates on 41 acres of fully accessible land with state-of-the-art facilities, including a medical centre staffed with trained professionals, accessible cabins, riding arenas, water activities, a rope course and more.

Beyond its core summer camp programming, Zajac Ranch also provides year-round educational and recreational opportunities. Schools and youth groups visit for outdoor education experiences that combine learning with inclusive adventure.

[10:35 a.m.]

Medical professionals volunteer their time and their expertise so that kids with complex needs can participate safely. In fact, the ranch maintains a fully equipped medical centre on site, allowing children who require specialized support to access overnight camp.

It has welcomed thousands of campers from across the province, many of whom return year after year, building lifelong friendships and confidence. Since opening its doors, the ranch has served over 10,000 children from across B.C. and beyond, each one arriving with a unique set of medical and physical challenges and each one leaving with a renewed sense of capability.

Campers range from five years old to young adults, many returning summer after summer to reconnect, recharge and experience freedom in a way that only Zajac Ranch can offer. Its programs extend beyond summer into outdoor education, school groups, retreats and leadership training.

But what makes it special is that everything at the ranch is designed to say yes — yes to access, yes to inclusion, yes to joy. And that doesn’t happen by accident. It takes people — volunteers, medical staff, donors, educators and families — who show up year after year. People who don’t do it for applause but because they believe in what is possible when we build systems around compassion and not convenience.

Zajac Ranch reminds us what real leadership looks like. It’s not always standing behind a podium. Sometimes it’s holding a hand. It’s pushing a wheelchair up a hill. It’s adapting an activity so that no one gets left out. Zajac Ranch doesn’t chase headlines, but it most certainly does change lives.

Many of the young adults who once attended the ranch as children now return as mentors, volunteers and leaders, a testament to the full-circle impact of a place built on compassion and confidence.

Too often the people doing the deepest, most meaningful work in our communities aren’t asking for recognition; they are asking for partnership. They are doing the heavy lifting of change, and they need the rest of us to show up to champion their efforts and to make straight the path to stronger, more inclusive communities. This kind of leadership, I can stand with.

So to the team of Zajac Ranch: thank you.

To the families who trust them: thank you.

And to Mel Zajac: thank you for showing up to build legacy and generations.

Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, according to the order paper, the House will continue second reading of Bill M205, Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025.

Second Reading of Bills

Bill M205 — Mental Health
Amendment Act, 2025
(continued)

Á’a:líya Warbus: I’m standing today in support of Bill M205, the Mental Health Amendment Act. This amendment hits close to home for me. I personally know what it feels like to watch someone you love struggle with mental illness and feel completely powerless to do anything. My family went through that, and it’s something that stays with you forever.

This bill introduces a very simple change requiring physicians or nurse practitioners to consult with a near relative or the individual who provided information that led to a person’s apprehension. This change can be profound. It’s about making sure that families are not left in the dark and individuals who are struggling have the supports they need around them at one of the most trying times in their life.

This is about recognizing that when somebody is struggling with mental illness, they often need advocacy around them from people that they can trust. This advocacy can include their loved ones, their community and anyone who’s had a touch point with them on their journey.

[10:40 a.m.]

My nephew struggled with mental illness for many years. We unfortunately did not know how bad it was. There were many days, times, family events when he presented a very happy and put-together front. Little did we know he was in and out of hospitals during that time. We were told very little. And other times, we knew nothing.

As a family, we really tried to be there for him and to support him in every way that we could, but it was really hard to know when things were not going well because we were never told anything by his care providers or anyone that was helping care for him during those struggling times. Many decisions that were made between him and his care providers did not include anybody that was close to him or anyone in the family. He really had everybody convinced that he was okay.

And then one day, we got the call that no family wants to get. Geoffrey had gone missing. We immediately took action together to meet and come up with a plan. That way we could put our heads together and look for him in a coordinated effort. But it wasn’t easy. He was an adult at that time. We had to go on the information that we had and the information that the RCMP was able to provide us with.

After a few weeks of looking for him without much leads…. I was in school at the time, and I was in Vancouver. What I could do from that place was call upon community supports. I had a friend that spent a lot of time looking for missing Indigenous women on the Downtown Eastside. She was able to offer out of pocket, just out of little donation moneys, the ability to print out posters, put them up and continue to ask storefronts if they had any information.

By then, the support we had really dwindled down, so there were just a couple of us on the ground looking for him. By chance, my husband called. He had spotted Geoffrey’s car. Of course, I dropped everything that I was doing. I got child care, and we rushed to his side. As they retrieved him out of his car, he was in a state that we did not recognize him. He barely recognized me. We got him the help he needed at that time.

When he was released and back onto his feet, I offered that he live with me. He helped me, I helped him, and things were going very well. He really convinced me that it was time for him to get onto his own two feet, return back to his studies and move back in with my brother in Chilliwack. We stayed in touch over the course of that time. He would often phone me, really excited about how school was going, about switching into theatre, more of the arts, and I really supported that for him.

Not long into his first semester, I got a phone call late in the night, early in December, that Geoffrey had taken his own life. He was found in his car alone. I think that he had carried forth the plans that he had in his mind the year before.

I cannot really put into words today the pain that followed. My family was away at the time and unable to come back, so I had to personally deliver the news to my brother and watch how that affected him and changed all of our lives forever.

[10:45 a.m.]

There are a lot of what-ifs. I continue to ask my questions to the Creator, to the system, to everyone. What if we had been given the opportunity to know a little bit more about his care plan, his medications, to be involved? I didn’t know that he had stopped taking his medications.

Unfortunately, this bill won’t undo what happened to my nephew and to my family, but maybe it can prevent this happening to another family one day.

Mental health care is not just clinical; it’s deeply human. When a person is in crisis, they may not be able to fully advocate for themselves properly. That’s why it’s essential that care providers take the time to talk to somebody who knows them — someone who has witnessed their journey and someone who can speak to the patterns, the pain and the warning signs.

Bill M205 does exactly that. It requires physicians and nurse practitioners to take reasonable steps to consult with a near relative or the person who brought forward the concern. It also ensures that this effort is documented so we know that families are no longer an afterthought.

Importantly, the bill also makes changes to how and when relatives are informed about discharges and what happens if a patient withdraws consent for information-sharing. These are really sensitive moments, and they must be handled with clarity and accountability. Families should not be blindsided. They should not be left wondering where their loved one is or what happens next.

I know we talk a lot in the House about systems, protocols, funding, and all of those things matter. But we must also talk about the human connections that hold people together when they’re at their most vulnerable. That’s what this bill represents. It’s a step forward toward a mental health care system that listens not just to patients but to the people who love them.

I really want to extend my thanks to the member for Surrey South for bringing this forward into legislation. It’s very thoughtful and compassionate, and it’s long overdue.

I urge all the members of this House to support Bill M205. Let us send a message to every family in British Columbia and, especially today, to my brother and my nephew, who struggled in silence.

We see you, we hear you, and we are going to work towards doing better.

Rosalyn Bird: Mental health is the state of psychological and emotional well-being. It is the main contributor to overall health. It is a topic I hear about often. It affects people across the province and is not an issue that is impacting a single group of individuals.

Mental health issues are not biased. They challenge both genders, all races, religions and span every age group. Untreated mental health issues and illnesses across Canada cost our economy approximately $50 billion every year, and they lead to 4,000 suicides. Mental health issues can begin to develop at a young age, so early intervention is important, yet only 20 percent of young people receive appropriate treatment.

Suicide is the second leading cause of deaths for 15- to 24-year-olds, after accidents, across Canada. Suicide rates are higher among Indigenous and Inuit youth. Young people from First Nations are six times more likely and Inuit youth are 24 times more likely to die from suicide than the national average.

I’ve heard from many families and individuals who are doing everything they can to support a loved one who is challenged with this issue. They are trying hard to understand the complexity of the issue but often feel a disconnect from the system that is supposed to be helping them. This can add to the confusion and frustration, and it sometimes worsens the situation.

[10:50 a.m.]

I would like to commend my colleague the member for Surrey-Cloverdale for moving Bill M205, the Mental Health Amendment Act.

Thank you also to all of those who have stood to speak in this House to this bill. It is clear both sides of the House are committed to bettering outcomes for those struggling with mental health challenges across B.C.

This bill proposes an amendment to the Mental Health Act that when an individual is considered for admission involuntarily to a mental health facility, there be a requirement to ensure that physicians or nurse practitioners, in the process of issuing a medical certificate, take responsible steps to consult near relatives or those close to that individual prior to admission and that they be given notification prior to the patient being discharged.

Information-sharing with families, friends and health care providers can better patient outcomes when conducted in ways that are safe and appropriate. Without it, we can miss early signs that provide the opportunity to initiate the help and the treatment needed to prevent probable harm.

Bill M205 enables better communication with the people who are most connected to that person who needs care and those who are responsible for delivering that care.

The current Mental Health Act allows involuntary admission when someone is at risk of harming themselves or others or when they’re clearly unable to care for themselves. Those can be difficult decisions for health care professionals when considering all challenges and weighing the probability of risk. Currently that decision can be made without speaking or hearing from friends and/or family that know that person best.

Mental health challenges are something I and many Canadian Forces members are unfortunately familiar with. Prior to and for several years post my release from the Canadian Forces, those challenges became extremely overwhelming, resulting in a very serious suicide attempt and several lengthy hospitalizations.

Upon admission, a very close friend of mine shared with health care professionals that changes in my behaviour and mood had been observed. My routine had changed, I was less physically active, I was less communicative, and I seemed to be spending a lot more time alone.

These what may have seemed like small, even inconsequential pieces of information, when shared with the admitting nurse and physician, helped to better steer communication with me and initiate a more comprehensive understanding of the type of treatment I was likely going to need.

Those communications continued with specialists I saw post-discharge. Just over a year later, I once again found myself seriously considering suicide, and I voluntarily admitted myself. The hospital staff reached out to family, who got in contact with local friends. Once again conversations with those who knew me well prevented an early discharge and directed medical staff to previous medical history that may have been missed. Communication between myself, health care professionals, friends and family led to a multiple-years-long but successful treatment and recovery plan.

I still have days that I struggle, as we all do. However, thanks to several amazing mental health care professionals who listened and learned from the people who knew me best, I have learned techniques and strategies I still use today to protect my emotional well-being.

I can talk openly about my experience today and what I have learned, but that hasn’t always been the case. The stigma around mental health is, unfortunately, still very much a reality and continues to hinder those that desperately need help. Being open and communicative regarding your vulnerabilities and struggles you have overcome can often help others to talk about theirs.

These days I gain strength and knowledge from the challenges I face day to day, and I hope to continue to do so, as all of these lessons have contributed to the journey that has brought me to this House.

I strongly support Bill M205. Its very intent is to give individuals who are struggling and the families and friends who care about them a chance to be heard before it’s too late and to aid health care workers, nurses and doctors to ensure that immediate and post-discharge care decisions consider current and historical data, bettering treatment outcomes.

[10:55 a.m.]

Members of this House, I urge your support for Bill M205. The Mental Health Amendment Act offers each of us an opportunity to contribute to an environment where it is acceptable to talk about and discuss concerns regarding mental health protocols in our health care settings.

It further offers the opportunity to collaborate on solutions that may better treatment outcomes for many B.C. residents that continue to struggle with mental health challenges, and increase early prevention and the percentage of young people that receive appropriate treatment, in hope of reducing the number of suicides we record annually here in British Columbia.

Anna Kindy: I am in full support of Bill M205, the Mental Health Amendment Act, presented by the member for Surrey-Cloverdale. It’s a bill that’s all about increasing safety and improving outcomes.

Medicine has adopted from the airline industry the pre-takeoff, time-out checklist. We see it everywhere in medicine. For example, in surgery we have three time-outs. One is when a patient is awake and involved in the process. The second is when the patient is asleep before surgery starts. The third is at the end, prior to sending patients to recovery room. It’s about having a checklist and increasing safety.

In psychiatry, we are dealing with a brain disease, and it’s not as clear-cut. We need a mechanism to increase safety for front-line health care workers, for patients, for the patients’ families and the community. We also know that in medicine, engaging family or support groups vastly improves patients’ outcomes. This is especially true in psychiatry. Patients without support do worse.

Admitting a patient under the Mental Health Act is a big deal. We have to make sure that we have all the collateral information. Engaging after discharge is too late. Frequently with a psychiatric illness, patients do not share their thoughts with health care providers, and second- and thirdhand information is not enough.

Reasonable steps must be taken by the physician or nurse practitioner to consult near relatives of the patients or the individual who provided the information resulting in an admission under the Health Act. There should be appropriate notice to a near relative or support person when a patient is discharged, and if a patient withdraws consent for information-sharing, the near relative should be notified.

I cannot reiterate enough that it’s about safety for everyone involved. It’s about better outcomes. This is about avoiding injuries and death. The reality on the ground is that in the front line in psychiatry, the workers are working under duress. Admission under the Mental Health Act often happens in a crisis situation.

We all know about staffing issues, with nursing ratios not being met. Nurses daily have multiple admissions and discharges in one day. There is a lack of psychiatric beds, so patients are often kept in emergency rooms waiting for a bed in the psychiatric unit. Often that bed doesn’t happen, because every health care worker feels the pressure of discharging. Sometimes we discharge from an emergency department. This is why, when we are under duress, we need to have that checklist. It’s about safety.

As MLAs, many of us have received emails or talked to a distressed relative where the system seems to have failed. Recently I had a constituent come to my office. She had been taking care of her son who had disabilities but developed schizophrenia in his late teens. He was now in his 40s and had had cancer surgery.

[11:00 a.m.]

He lived at home. She cared about him so much. She was one of those normal mothers that just cares. She came in with a binder, and not one of those binders that you roll your eyes at, binders of information as to why the system needed to change.

What had happened to her recently was that her son had been admitted, and the medications had been changed. She knew him inside out, knew what he was like when he started having issues. Unfortunately, the hospital did not inform her of the medication change or did not inform her when he was discharged.

He came home and assaulted his dad. His dad was 82 years old. He assaulted him badly. This was not the patient’s fault. This was a system failure — a system of informing the family. Fifty percent of people with schizophrenia live at home. Although rare, most of the assaults happen to family members.

In medicine, when we transfer from one hospital to the next, we do what’s called a warm handshake. It’s not only “do we have information from the charts or from the EMR,” but the doctor calls the doctor or the nurse to advise exactly what has happened during the last admission. And we don’t even have the courtesy to do that with the family, and the family, ultimately, are the ones that are the caregivers and the providers.

Bill M205 is not about assigning blame. I have talked to many physicians and impacted people who fully support Bill M205, the Mental Health Amendment Act. This is supported by the medical community. It’s supported by the families who have family members with psychiatric illness.

It’s all about improving safety, outcomes, for everyone involved. It’s all about preventing unnecessary deaths.

Macklin McCall: Today I rise to speak on behalf of the people in our communities who cannot always speak for themselves, those whose mental health challenges can cloud their judgment and put themselves and others at risk. I rise in support of M205, the Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025, a bill that takes critical steps to protect vulnerable individuals and, most importantly, to keep our communities safe.

Mental health is a critical issue that affects all of us, and our society’s response to it has evolved over time. But it’s time for us to do better. The bill we are discussing today will introduce important amendments to the Mental Health Act that will provide additional safeguards and supports for individuals who are apprehended under the act and their families.

These amendments require that a doctor or nurse practitioner consult with a close relative or someone who provided information for the apprehension of a patient before completing a medical certificate. It will ensure that critical information such as a person’s history of mental health issues is considered when decisions are made about their care.

Additionally, it will require hospitals to notify those relatives before discharging a patient and inform them if the patient withdraws consent for information-sharing. These measures will provide families with the information they need to support their loved ones while also ensuring transparency in the care being provided.

As someone with a policing background, I have seen firsthand the consequences of not having these measures in place. Mental health emergencies are some of the most delicate and dangerous situations dealt with by police officers.

When police respond to calls about someone in a mental health crisis, it is often unclear whether the person poses a danger to themselves or others. The police officer’s job is to ensure that the individual gets the help they need while safeguarding the public.

[11:05 a.m.]

But sometimes the system fails to provide the necessary care. Sometimes the individual’s family members are left in the dark, unable to help in critical moments. And sometimes this lack of communication and coordination leads to tragic consequences.

I want to share a story that unfortunately illustrates this point in the most heartbreaking way. Years ago in my time as a police officer in Kelowna, I responded to a call involving a woman who had been spiralling down a dark path due to her mental health. Her husband, terrified for his wife’s safety and the safety of their young children, called 911 for assistance. His wife suffered from mental health issues before but never like this, and he was deeply concerned.

When the police arrived, the woman had already left the house. Officers searched for her and eventually located her. During this time, her husband was trying desperately to get his wife the help that she needed. The police, however, were only dealing with the context of that specific call, and they apprehended her under the Mental Health Act, as they believed that in leaving the house in the state she was in, she posed a danger to herself.

However, this woman had dealt with the system before and knew exactly what to say to present herself in a way that appeared she was not a danger to herself or others, despite her underlying mental health challenges. At the hospital, she was able to demonstrate just that. She convinced the doctor and the mental health nurse that she wasn’t a risk, as she had done in the past when she had been through similar situations.

But here’s where the system failed her. While the hospital took steps to evaluate her, they failed to consult with her husband, who was the person most familiar with her mental health history and the current crisis. Without listening to the family’s concerns and context, they made the decision to release her.

Just hours later this woman walked to the bridge across Okanagan Lake and tragically took her own life. She jumped from the bridge, and her life was lost. She left behind two young children and her husband.

If the measures outlined in M205 had been in place, if the hospital had taken the time to consult the husband and gather the critical context that he could have provided, things might have turned out differently. If the hospital advised her husband that she was being released, perhaps he could have intervened, maybe brought her home. Maybe he could have told the doctor the truth.

If they had communicated with the family, perhaps they would have seen the danger that was clear to her loved ones. This woman might have received the care she needed, and she would still be with us today.

This is why I stand here today in full support of M205. These amendments are not just a bureaucratic change; they are a matter of life and death. They are about protecting individuals who are experiencing mental health crises and ensuring that their families are involved in the process. We cannot afford to ignore the voices of those who care for these individuals and are best positioned to help us understand the full picture of their mental health.

It is time for us to step up and take action. It is time for us to ensure that those who are apprehended under the Mental Health Act receive not only the medical care they need but also the support of their families, people who know them best, who understand their history and who can help guide decisions toward better outcomes.

I am deeply disappointed that despite this bill being introduced twice, the NDP has not yet called it for debate. The families of those affected by mental health crises are waiting for us to act. The people of British Columbia deserve better, our communities deserve better, and those suffering from mental health issues deserve better.

Let us not wait for another tragic story like this one I shared with you today. Let us move forward with M205 for the sake of public safety, for the sake of mental health and, most importantly, for the sake of our loved ones.

Misty Van Popta: I am here to speak in support of Bill M205, and I would like to thank the member for Surrey-Cloverdale for bringing it forward again, an absolutely critical piece of legislation that needs to be passed. Partisan wins and losses should never be in the conversation when it comes to supporting vulnerable British Columbians and society at large.

[11:10 a.m.]

I’m not going to take a big amount of your time, but I will share about why it should be enacted. Like many of us, my family has been touched by suicide attempts — not once, not twice but four times.

One of those attempts was my own, 11 years ago. At a time of intense and prolonged mental anguish, I had a moment. But through a series of coincidental or divine circumstances, I survived.

Retrospectively, my experience of discharge from the hospital was that of little oversight. I was there by myself, asked some questions by staff about my state of mind and released to an extended family member at the door. If I was in a different state of mind at my release, I could have easily lied to the medical staff about my well-being and released to try again.

In June 2021, my own child made an attempt on her life. It was a day that is etched in my mind forever. I was there as they rushed her into the ER. I was there as they hooked her up to machines. I was there as I watched her body react to the effects of what she had done. I held her hand alone in the hospital for four days as she physically recovered.

It was a heightened experience for a single mother. I didn’t have the ability to do this, to break down and deal with my own grief and trauma of the experience. I had to be in mom mode to make sure that my daughter was receiving the best care possible. And she was.

However, I noticed that at every intervention from the appropriate medical staff in her recovery, I was asked to leave the room. I understand that some interviews with minors need to occur in confidentiality to identify risk and safety to minors in mental crisis. However, the limit of my input as her loving and caring mother was surprising.

What if this was a different person? What if this was someone else who was here alone, not leaving to a caring home environment? What if they were not ready to go but wanted to leave? Should physicians and psychiatrists and nurse practitioners need more information of a patient, for someone in mental crisis, the ability to do so should be there.

Bill M205 allows for that. We need to support both people in mental crisis but also those in the position of helping them. Physicians and nurse practitioners need the ability to do more investigative measures to make sure they have all the information. A patient needs as much support in a time of crisis as possible, and that is achieved through family and friends, if they have them.

If family is unaware that a loved one has been in mental crisis and is being released from the hospital, how are they supposed to support them? If there is critical information required to assess the patient’s extensive history with mental health, who will provide that information if the patient isn’t forthright?

Bill M205 needs to finally be enacted to safeguard patients and society. Mental health crisis isn’t just suicide. It’s psychosis. It’s violence. It’s desperation to stop the internal mental chaos.

The manifestations of mental crises are many, and our tools to support those in mental crisis should also be many. Bill M205 provides those additional tools.

Deputy Speaker: Seeing no further speakers, I recognize the member for Surrey-Cloverdale to close debate.

Oh, sorry. My apologies. Recognizing the member for North Vancouver–Seymour.

Susie Chant: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Very kind of you.

Okay. So here I am speaking to Bill M205. I will start by saying I am a registered nurse. I have worked in psychiatry. I have worked with the Mental Health Act.

[11:15 a.m.]

I’ve also worked with the Mental Health Act within the community-setting environment where clients are periodically brought in because we get into a home, and we actually make a decision in a home that they are dangerous to self or others. Not that we can officially make that decision, but we make it in such a way that we can get them to the hospital to be assessed by those people that are authorized to make those decisions.

I, too, have been subject to a variety of situations where things did not go the way I expected them to or the way we thought they should go. However, the variables are always going to be there.

I would like to start by acknowledging that I am on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, specifically the Songhees and the Esquimalt, who have lived here and stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial.

When I am at home in North Vancouver, I am always grateful to the səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations for their unceasing care and guardianship of the environment and all the living entities therein.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to the second reading of Bill M205, the Mental Health Amendment Act.

As it stands, the current Mental Health Act clearly outlines the conditions under which an adult may be held involuntarily at a designated mental health facility or other, ensuring access to care in situations where a person is unable to seek care for themselves due to a state of severe mental impairment. By definition, Bill M205 is intended to strengthen communication between health care providers and near relatives of individuals who are taken to mental health facilities during a mental health crisis.

I think it is fair to say that strengthening, supporting and enhancing communication when an individual is involved with the health care system is always important. However, communication must always remain patient-centred, with the needs of the patient determining the actions of the care team. In many cases, family and close friends are important for collateral, mitigation strategies of symptoms, support and other critical components of patient care and treatment. On the other hand, family and friends can also be part of the circumstances that result in a patient needing a higher level of care and a safe therapeutic environment.

There also remains a significant stigma associated with mental illness, particularly if someone ends up being certified under the Mental Health Act. Some cultures or faith systems see mental illness as a negative or a bad characteristic, something that the patient may be very aware of but perhaps unable to articulate other than to refuse permission for caregivers to reach out.

Additionally, if a patient is certified under the Mental Health Act, communication efforts should be something that is done at the same time as developing the care plan.

The Mental Health Act indicates that a person can be certified if, on assessment by two physicians, the doctor presents a risk of harm to self or others. This would indicate that the harmful behaviours need to be managed immediately to prevent further harm. Prolonging the initiation of safety interventions while trying to determine who and how to contact someone could prove to escalate an already volatile circumstance.

All communications related to client care need to be effectively documented, whether they would be with families, friends, clinical team or others. There is no question about that. Once a patient is stabilized and discharge is being considered again, communication with important others needs to happen, with the engagement of the patient.

Discharge planning is a critical component of ongoing care and support, and if families and friends are willing and the patient is wanting their involvement, absolutely those steps need to be taken and documented. Mindfulness must be exercised in determination of patient wishes.

Make no mistake. We can all agree that nothing is more important than keeping folks safe and ensuring that they are treated with the utmost respect and dignity that they are entitled to and deserve. There is no question that friends and families play an absolutely crucial role in the support of their loved ones during a mental health crisis and in various other times.

This is precisely why our government places such importance on the concept of balance when considering the rights of individuals held involuntarily under the act with the obligation to help and protect people living with mental illness.

It is a tough line to follow. A very, very tough line to follow.

We have all heard from the speakers across the way of examples of where somebody can say something and the doctors go: “Absolutely, that’s what we’re assessing at this time.” That is very tough for others to be aware of and witness to.

We know that every family situation and dynamic is different. There are cases where it would be inappropriate, potentially unsafe or deeply negative and destructive to involve a family member in the care of a person suffering under the dark cloud of mental illness.

[11:20 a.m.]

When in the throes of an episode or a meltdown, emotions are heightened and often irrational, making mandatory family involvement potentially catastrophic for both individuals.

Despite dramatic shifts in public awareness and the collective consciousness, there still remains a lot of shame and stigma associated with mental health challenges. Some cultures retain a high stigmatization of mental health issues, and involving family can only increase feelings of shame or dishonour. An individual may in fact refuse care if they fear that their family reputation may be negatively affected or destroyed.

Likewise, a person suffering from intimate partner violence will often fear for their personal safety if they escalate the situation, increasing the risk of retaliation and further undermining their recovery.

We recognize that broad requirements have no place in Indigenous communities. First Nations families are often large, with complex relationships, and inner conflicts could influence decisions about involuntary care and lead to extended stays.

We want to avoid worst-case scenarios by retaining the flexibility to strengthen family involvement in ways that honour the unique situations that people are in.

I and we are wholly committed to addressing the issues that the bill raises through better training and clinical guidance for health professionals on when and how to consult with family members on every step of a patient’s treatment, in the event that it is appropriate for that client’s care, and to support health care workers to strengthen involvement with family wherever it’s appropriate.

Mental illness is a part of our world, just as are diabetes, heart disease, cancer and many other health issues.

It is so important that in all health environments, we remain patient-centred for admission, duration of stay and discharge. This can be effectively done through comprehensive care planning that incorporates all those who can contribute meaningfully to stabilization, treatment and ongoing care.

Deputy Speaker: The member for Surrey-Cloverdale closes debate.

Elenore Sturko: Just to begin my wrap-up, I would like to respond to a couple of comments by the member for North Vancouver–Seymour. I do appreciate her service as a nurse, and I also wanted to express my appreciation that she rose to speak to this bill, M205, today.

Just to be clear, these amendments are not to make it mandatory for family to have ongoing involvement in a person’s care. The section 28 amendment is for doctors and nurse practitioners to make a reasonable attempt to contact a close relative in just the mental health emergency of section 28, so a person who is in an emergency with their mental health, to get that collateral information.

It’s only for them to share information. It’s not necessarily for the health care practitioner to provide information back but to gather so that that doctor or nurse practitioner can then use that information in their assessment that they’re making.

Also, we included the language “reasonable,” meaning that if it were going to cause any kind of detrimental impact in terms of that patient’s treatment, or if it’s obvious that the person needs immediate treatment because of the crisis, then it wouldn’t be reasonable for the nurse practitioner or doctor to make that contact.

Nor would it be reasonable to make contact with someone who was a potential abuser. But that goes for a lot of contact that the health care community has with patients — elders, for example, who might be in the care of a child once they get to a certain age.

This is an important piece of legislation. It’s really two small amendments to the Mental Health Act that can make a large difference. We know that improved communication, particularly in emergency situations and upon release of someone from a designated facility, is something that was spoken to in multiple coroner’s inquest recommendations here in British Columbia, as well as in the Ombudsman’s report Committed to Change.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues.

Thank you so much for sharing the stories of your constituents. Thank you for sharing your personal stories.

[11:25 a.m.]

It is my deepest hope that we do advance this bill to the committee stage and that we pass it in committee. But I want you to know that if we are not successful, the deeply personal sharing that you have all done and how you’ve spoken about mental health challenges — mental illness, suicide attempts, suicides within family — has actually helped start conversations here in British Columbia that will help people.

This is why we came here. We came here to help people.

And I thank you.

I’d like to thank Cindy Zimmer, who’s up here supporting Bill M205. Her brother James was one that I spoke about when we started this debate last week. Her brother James died by suicide after being released from hospital.

Also, I want to say thank you to Lorraine and Chuck Marr. I think about Todd Marr every single day.

I want to remind the House that we can do this. We can do this together. Each of us has been touched by suicide or mental illness, mental health emergencies of friends and loved ones, and we have an opportunity through this time to advance bills to committee and to work together.

No bill is perfect, but if we sit together in committee and we work through it, we have an opportunity to truly make changes here that actually can help save lives in B.C. We have a shared objective of improving communications with family, and I think that we really can do this.

I urge each and every member, for this bill, to think about those in British Columbia who we’ve made a promise to, to improve our health care system and to support mental health here in B.C. I strongly urge each of you to help us advance this bill to committee.

Thank you for this opportunity, and I now take my seat.

Deputy Speaker: Members, the question is second reading of Bill M205 intituled Mental Health Amendment Act, 2025.

Motion approved.

Deputy Speaker: Pursuant to Standing Order 84A(1), the bill stands committed to the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills.

Hon. Members, according to the order paper, we will look to the member for West Kelowna–Peachland to move second reading of Bill M208, intituled Emergency and Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025.

Bill M208 — Emergency and Disaster
Management Amendment Act, 2025

Macklin McCall: I move that Bill M208 be now read a second time.

I rise today in proud support of Bill M208, the Emergency and Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025, a bill grounded in the urgent need to strengthen our province’s ability to respond to emergencies.

But more than that, this bill is about something deeply personal to me, the incredible impact that dedicated volunteers have had in my own life and in the safety of our communities. It is our duty as legislators to provide motivated British Columbians with the tools to contribute to their communities and help improve public safety in our province.

British Columbians are no strangers to crisis. We’ve seen it all, from the devastating wildfires that tore through the Interior in 2017 and 2018 to floods that paralyzed the Fraser Valley in 2021 and the complete destruction of the town of Lytton by fire in just minutes that same year, which still has not been rebuilt.

These aren’t abstract emergencies. These are real, traumatic and local. Yet in every one of these cases, British Columbians stepped up. They didn’t wait for instruction. They didn’t ask for permission. They acted, because that’s what good neighbours do. This bill is about harnessing the Good Samaritan spirit of British Columbians, honouring it and making sure it is never wasted.

Let me share a personal story that stayed with me. Years ago I was a constable with the RCMP in Kelowna. One Friday night my partner on shift was an auxiliary constable, a volunteer. The only difference between the auxiliary constable and myself was the yellow stripe on my pants and the firearm on my hip. We were a team.

[11:30 a.m.]

That night was busy: non-stop calls, high pressure, the usual tempo of a Kelowna weekend. At one point, we were writing up a previous report while still patrolling when a call came in, a break and enter in progress. My auxiliary constable was driving, and we moved quickly and covertly to the location.

It was just us. Backup was delayed. We approached quietly. The suspect hadn’t yet realized the police had been called, but as we got close, he saw us and fled.

Without hesitation, my auxiliary partner was right beside me and kept up as we gave chase on foot. I focused on the pursuit. My partner was on the radio, giving a calm, clear play-by-play of our location and direction of travel, guiding other units in. Thanks to his professionalism and precision, police vehicles were able to cut off the suspect’s escape route. My partner and I were right on his heels. Cornered, the suspect turned aggressive. He lunged at me, wanting to fight.

But again my auxiliary partner didn’t flinch. Together we subdued the suspect. As we struggled, our backup officers arrived and helped us bring him under control. We handcuffed him, took him into custody, and no one got hurt. This outcome would not have been possible without the volunteer beside me that night. He was a full partner in that arrest, and his calmness and commitment under pressure made the difference.

My experience with volunteerism began long before that night. I started as an auxiliary constable myself at 19, serving with the RCMP in Penticton detachment. At the time, I was in college, working at a restaurant, helping on my family’s farm and volunteering over 800 hours a year with the RCMP. I helped with roadblocks during wildfire evacuations. I assisted with collisions, domestic disturbances and violent calls and many other police calls.

The program changed my life. It taught me that service is a calling, directly led to my decision to join the RCMP full-time and inspired a lifetime career of public service.

Throughout my policing career, I continued to work with volunteers. Every Friday and Saturday I’d have an auxiliary constable partner with me. In many of our most dangerous calls, those volunteers were the difference between success and failure.

Unfortunately, this particular RCMP auxiliary constable program no longer exists, but municipal and other police forces across B.C. and the country operate similar volunteer schemes. During my two years volunteering as an auxiliary constable, I worked alongside full-time officers, and I learned valuable skills and experiences. Although auxiliary constables have not carried firearms since 1995, they do carry prohibited weapons and are trusted with the same powers of arrest and other authorities as regular officers.

Public safety is something we can all contribute to and build together. In British Columbia, volunteers are often the backbone of this effort. Volunteers are an essential part of public safety in British Columbia, helping assist professional first responders and serve remote areas not covered.

For instance, RCMSAR responds to marine emergencies along B.C.’s coast, while BCSARA represents 78 ground search and rescue groups across this province. Additionally, rural communities often rely on volunteer fire departments, while municipal police forces work with police volunteers.

A centralized deployable organization can operate as a cohesive network to ensure that British Columbia is prepared for and has the necessary resources to respond to any emergency event. That’s why this bill matters. Bill M208 proposes an amendment to the Emergency and Disaster Management Act to require the minister to establish a committee for the development of a new provincial organization, the B.C. volunteer corps.

This organization will encourage and facilitate volunteerism in B.C. for emergency and disaster response, connect British Columbians to volunteer opportunities and training programs, recognize and support those who give their time and talent to serve their communities and foster partnerships between volunteers, non-profits, local government, businesses and public agencies.

The establishment of the volunteer corps will allow for the marshalling of local resources during emergency or disaster events in B.C., as directed by the minister or agency to support emergency services operations. These operations may include roadblocks, fire suppression or even crowd control, all under the direct supervision of police, firefighters and other appropriate authorities.

In times of disaster, volunteers can be mobilized across the province, ensuring critical knowledge is leveraged, not sidelined.

[11:35 a.m.]

Just as Ontario and other jurisdictions have successfully implemented, the B.C. volunteer corps will train and organize volunteers in key emergency response and public safety areas. Training will be coordinated under the Ministries of Public Safety and Emergency Management to ensure quality, consistency and readiness.

Let me be clear. This is about supporting our hard-working and often overstretched professional first responders. It’s about helping our heroes, especially in rural communities where resources are stretched thin and geography can delay outside help. Motivated local volunteers, properly trained, can make the difference between effective emergency management and catastrophe.

Imagine the next wildfire season. Entire towns on evacuation alert. Emergency crews stretched thin. Local volunteers trained through the B.C. volunteercorps are already on the ground, setting up roadblocks, directing traffic, delivering essentials to residents and running community information booths.

Or picture a severe flood-like event like Abbotsford experienced in 2021. Volunteers are there with boots on the ground, helping reinforce barriers with sandbags, clearing storm drains and evacuating livestock and residents before water levels rise too high.

This is what the B.C. volunteer corps can enable: not just goodwill but action, not just intentions but impact. This bill is about ensuring that the next time disaster strikes — whether it’s wildfires, flooding or a sudden emergency in a remote town — B.C. stands ready with trained and motivated volunteers from every corner of this province.

It’s also about opportunity, especially for young British Columbians. In a time when so many are seeking direction, purpose and connection, the B.C. volunteer corps will offer a path forward with training, hands-on experience, community and the chance to make a difference.

For myself, this bill is also about something deeper. It’s about having pride in our communities and the province we call home.

B.C. is a province with a distinct identity in Canada. We have a rich history, a unique culture and a long tradition of standing on our own two feet. We will not wait around for Ottawa to intervene, and we won’t sit idly while our neighbours are in need. From the mountains to the coast, from the forests to our farms, the proud people of British Columbia are resourceful, resilient and ready.

It’s time our province creates an organization that reflects this spirit. The B.C. volunteer corps is more than a typical volunteer program. It’s a statement that British Columbians believe in each other, that we trust our people to help in times of need and that we are building a province where self-reliance, preparedness and civic service are part of our DNA. It’s about giving this great province the tools to build solutions that reflect our own values and realities and to ensure that our future is shaped by British Columbians for British Columbians.

Let’s invest in our strengths, let’s equip our people with training, structure and opportunities, and let’s honour the heritage that makes this province of British Columbia distinct in Confederation.

Let’s stand on guard against the next emergency together and build the B.C. volunteer corps to make sure this province is prepared for whatever the future brings.

Lorne Doerkson: It’s certainly a pleasure to bring greetings from Cariboo-Chilcotin, as always, and I’m very happy to rise in support of Bill M208, the Emergency and Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025. I want to thank the member for West Kelowna–Peachland for bringing this bill forward.

This is a very serious topic in this province, and it has been a challenge for a number of years. This bill will ultimately create a law to build a new volunteer corps in this province. It will allow for the centralization, of course, of that corps, and it will allow for training in multiple different categories.

I can guarantee you, from the experience I’ve had, that so many will sign up to volunteer in this province. I can guarantee that. I know that residents are willing to pitch in and to help at whatever capacity they are able.

It’s important to note that the residents I’m talking about, for the most part, or certainly many of them, have had real-life experiences. They’ve actually seen this, or they’ve been a part of the sad, extreme circumstances that have happened in our province.

[11:40 a.m.]

For so many reasons, and I’m going to highlight a number of examples of my own personal experiences, we can see the need for this throughout Cariboo-Chilcotin and certainly in the province. Fire, flood, land movements have wreaked havoc on our landscape.

Cariboo-Chilcotin has had unbelievable loss, whether it’s the Plateau fire of 2017 that my colleague referenced earlier or whether it’s landslides that are affecting Dog Creek Road area and Terra Ridge that have been happening for a number of years or floods that have affected Cariboo-Chilcotin in very serious ways, the loss of Highway 97 at Cache Creek, and so much damage throughout our province.

We have had, at any given time in Cariboo-Chilcotin, multiple fires. In fact, at one point, I think we had 65 fires burning at the same time in my riding. It is a challenge, obviously, for the professionals to get to all of that, and I can appreciate the real need for supports for all of our front-line workers.

In the most serious cases in our province, we have seen some of the largest movements of people through evacuation in the history of our country. Huge numbers of people were evacuated from the Fort Mac fires, massive numbers. Everybody from Cache Creek to north of Quesnel — that entire corridor evacuated in 2017 for fire throughout the entire region.

In so many cases, volunteers did their best to help neighbours. But residents can often find themselves at odds with the government and authorities because they have potentially ignored evacuation orders and those types of things. I have found myself in those very challenging situations. And it is challenging, because the reality is that it is hard to turn your back on your friends, your neighbours, residents, your community. Many simply won’t anymore. They won’t leave because they know that the consequences are so severe in so many ways.

The tasks of fighting fire or flood — those are obvious to most of the members of this House, and I think probably to the residents of British Columbia. I can tell you that it is a very complicated situation when you’re evacuating 25,000 or 30,000 people. Frankly, it’s complicated when you’re evacuating 1,000 people.

There are so many jobs that volunteers could help with. It’s not just supporting our fire crews and others. I’ll reference a couple of examples. They can help with traffic control. They can provide meals, operate fueling stations, run for supplies back and forth for equipment that breaks down, help to evacuate animals. You know, there’s so much done that we forget about until the moment is upon us, and then we realize the gaps in our system.

In 2017, myself and my grandson and other colleagues at the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds…. We had fire all throughout Cariboo-Chilcotin. It was staggering. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. But the stampede grounds were well suited to support residents evacuating with their animals, so we were able to do that.

But here’s the thing. I was a volunteer. All I did was fill water troughs. Why? Because we were losing power throughout the entire region, and we couldn’t pump water at the stampede grounds for those animals. We stole; we borrowed; we took every trough that we could within a ten-mile radius and filled them with water to be sure that we had water on site. But guess what. I got evacuated, and I couldn’t get back into the zone to carry on with that equipment. I would have gladly come back to do anything that I could.

We’ve seen challenges with highway closures. In 2021, I believe it was, the RCMP came to me hoping to close down Highway 24. The reason? Because we had evacuated this area. But they didn’t physically have enough members to protect those homes from looters, which is a sad reality of an evacuation.

We weren’t able to close the highway. We weren’t able to provide that security. Volunteers could have closed that gap and supported RCMP in that moment of need. We could have been extra eyes.

[11:45 a.m.]

There were other people that have done incredible work. Lee Todd was touted as a hero in our community for the use of his helicopter and other equipment fighting fires. He saved areas of our riding, but he was an untrained volunteer. We could have potentially provided extra training for him.

Tammy and Tim Tugnam with PHL. They did a similar situation. But they actually ended up converting a truck shop into a makeshift mess hall, and they provided food. Tammy cooked around the clock for people that were left behind the lines of the fire.

I have heard from vets and vet techs that have had to do horrendous things — euthanize animals, etc. — because of the situations they found themselves in. But they all have told me repeatedly that they could have used some support and some backup.

I’m proud to speak to this bill today. I have lived experience of my own. I could absolutely confirm that this bill needs to go forward to committee stage and that I support it wholeheartedly.

David Williams: I welcome the opportunity to speak today about a piece of legislation that has the potential to reshape how we prepare for emergencies in my riding and across this province. Bill M208, the Emergency and Disaster Management Amendment Act, 2025, proposes an amendment to the Emergency and Disaster Management Act passed in 2023, and its purpose is simple but powerful.

It is going to create a volunteer organization called the B.C. volunteer corps. Now, what exactly does that mean? It means that the provincial government will be required to set up a committee under the direction of the Minister of Emergency Management to develop and launch a structured organization dedicated to mobilizing, training and organizing volunteers during emergencies before, during and after disaster strikes.

Why does this matter? In my riding of Salmon Arm–Shuswap, we are no strangers to emergencies, and often we are on the front lines. Just think back to the 2023 wildfire season.

Communities along the north Shuswap — Lee Creek, Scotch Creek, Celista — faced rapidly advancing fires with little notice. And when provincial crews couldn’t get in, they were overwhelmed. It was local volunteers who stepped up, organizing boat rescues, coordinating donations, delivering supplies and even defending properties when conditions permitted.

These weren’t trained first responders. These were neighbours, parents, retirees, high school students, people who knew the land and knew each other but refused to sit back while their communities burned. They were also operating without structure, without access to official channels, without training and without the recognition or the resources they deserved. In some cases, they were even discouraged or outright told to stand down, not because they weren’t needed but because there was no system in place to support them. That’s what Bill M208 is trying to fix.

What will the B.C. volunteer corps do? Well, the B.C. volunteer corps, once established, will serve as a central hub for recruiting and training volunteers across the province, connecting them with local organizations like fire departments, municipalities and non-profits and providing tools for safe and effective deployment in times of crisis. It will include a public registry of available, trained volunteers and offer programs for emergency basic response; sector-specific skills such as fire suppression, flood mitigation or evacuation support; community engagement; and psychological first aid, especially for working with vulnerable populations.

The corps will also work with legal experts to explore Good Samaritan protections so that those stepping in to help during a disaster can do so without the fear of liability.

[11:50 a.m.]

Crucially, it will make it easier for local communities like ours to plug into larger provincial response networks without having to reinvent the wheel in each and every situation and to be able to warrant a coordinated response.

This is a vision rooted in experience. This bill is being championed by the MLA for West Kelowna, who brings his experience as a former RCMP constable and auxiliary volunteer. His vision is rooted in the belief that emergency preparedness can’t be just the job of government agencies; it should be community-driven, with a strong civic foundation.

That vision is something we already embody in the Salmon Arm–Shuswap region. Just look at Eagle Valley Transportation Society in Sicamous, which ensures that isolated or mobility-limited residents get access to essential services, even during floods and fires. That kind of service becomes life-saving in times of emergencies.

Or the way our local volunteer fire departments act during emergencies in Tappen, Ranchero and Anglemont. They depend on dedicated volunteer firefighters, many of whom juggle day jobs while still being willing to show up when their pagers go off at three o’clock in the morning.

Or the Shuswap emergency program and the countless citizens who rally during times of crisis to prepare sandbags, deliver food and take care of pets left behind during evacuations.

These efforts deserve to be supported, trained and integrated into a larger network. This is what this bill enables. This is an opportunity to build for the future.

The B.C. volunteer corps also gives us a chance to look ahead, to build a culture of preparedness, especially among young people. Imagine if every high school student or college student in our region could access volunteer training and emergency response; if local businesses and employees cross-trained for community support during disasters; if youth, retirees, newcomers, anyone willing to help had a clear pathway to get involved.

This isn’t about just reacting to emergencies. It’s about building resilience, strengthening community ties and giving people the tools to step up when it matters most. And when, not if, the big flood or fire hits, we won’t be starting from scratch. We’ll be ready.

Local voices must help shape the policies, but we also need to be clear. For this initiative to succeed, it must reflect the diverse needs of the B.C. communities, especially rural and remote regions like ours. We know the terrain. We know what works, and we know what doesn’t, on the ground.

We also know that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work and that it often fails outside the Lower Mainland. That is why I encourage local governments, Indigenous leadership, non-profits, emergency services and everyday citizens across Salmon Arm–Shuswap to be part of this conversation. Let’s bring our stories and our challenges, along with our solutions, to the table as the B.C. volunteer corps is being developed.

In closing, Bill M208 is more than just a policy tweak. It is a recognition of the strength that already exists in our communities and a commitment to support it. It is an invitation for all of us to get trained, get connected and get ready. It is an opportunity to show that government is willing to listen to local concerns and willing to accept input and assistance in times of need.

Let’s provide the Shuswap the opportunity to lead by example not only in how we respond to crises but in how we prepare for them together.

David Williams moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. Lisa Beare moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Deputy Speaker: The House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

The House adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

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