The House met at 10:05 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: Korky Neufeld.

Introductions by Members

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: Many folks in this House have talked about the importance of the people that do the work when we’re here. I want to recognize one individual who, first off, I coached, when I was younger, in field hockey. She was very young, and I coached her siblings.

Then when I ran, she showed up at my campaign and started volunteering. When I got elected, she became my constituency assistant and has been with me the entire way. She became my EA when I became a minister and then was my ministerial advisor in the last few years in the Ministry of Housing.

Now she is leaving and taking up other work and leaving government totally. I want to thank Kiran. I don’t know if she’s here — Kiran Sidhu. She’s in the back there. It has been pretty remarkable. I kind of feel weird, because every single thing I’ve done as an elected official has been with Kiran right beside me. But she’s off to something, I think, much bigger, and the future is bright.

I want to say a big thank you to her for all the work that she has done. The office is not going to be the same without her. So please join me in congratulating her on her time here and her adventures ahead.

Bryan Tepper: I would just like to start with: life doesn’t cease to be funny when tragedy happens any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. I would like to welcome my wife, who I acknowledged the other day for our anniversary. And Rona, I’d just like you to know these are all politicians. It was very lovely. She hasn’t seen it yet.

But anyway, please welcome my beautiful bride, who has made all of this possible, Rona Tepper. I love you.

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside: As has been noted this morning, this work is so much about the people who power our government, our Legislature, our constituencies. We in Labour are saying goodbye to somebody very special today. My ministerial advisor, Jasmeet Sangha, is in the House today.

She has been the advisor in Labour for many years. She served under Minister Bains before I became the Minister of Labour. I just want to say that Jasmeet has served working people in this province, not only through the work we’ve done but through casework. Many people in this House have had a chance to work with her as they’ve been advocating for people in their communities.

She is a fierce advocate. She has been so dedicated. She brings such incredible compassion to her work. I am going to miss her like anything. I wish her all the very best in her next gig. I will see you down the road. Everybody: thank you, Jasmeet.

Harman Bhangu: I would like the House to make Daniel Teel and his grandmother, Evangeline…. They’re here from West Vancouver, Lonsdale. They’re here to witness the democratic process within the Legislature. Please make them feel very welcome.

The Speaker: Member for Vernon-Lumby.

Harwinder Sandhu: Thank you, hon. Speaker. Today I am thrilled and honoured to recognize two very special guests here in the gallery for the first time, Darren and Tracy Mundy. Tracy began her health care journey in 1977, working in many roles in health care. Later, she joined HEU in 2000 as an organizer and representative. She also worked with you, and she speaks very highly of you — as we all do.

[10:10 a.m.]

She has been my volunteer campaign manager three times, helping us to victory twice. And Darren, her husband, started plumbing in 1987 and launched his own business in Maple Ridge in 1993. Then he established Vernon’s beloved Darren’s Plumbing in 2003. Despite their busy lives, they always

volunteer campaign manager three times, helping us to victory twice. Darren, her husband, started plumbing in 1987 and launched his own business in Maple Ridge in 1993. Then he established Vernon’s beloved Darren’s Plumbing in 2003.

Even despite their busy lives, they always showed up. They always showed up for community, to support us, whether it was starting a campaign office from scratch, putting up signs, fixing them, building them, whatever was needed.

I am forever grateful to both of you, Darren and Tracy.

Would the House please join me to make these two extraordinary individuals very welcome. Thank you so much for everything.

Hon Chan: I would like to take this opportunity to wish happy birthday to two of our members. First, the member for Richmond-Bridgeport — I believe, is her 30th birthday today. I believe it’s also the birthday of the member for Esquimalt-Colwood. Is that correct?

Interjection.

Hon Chan: Yes, happy birthday to you too.

Rohini Arora: I have amazing guests here today. My aunt Kuljeet, my other aunt Taranjeet and my uncle who’s visiting from India with his wife, Manjeet and Monika. Would the House please join me in making them feel very welcome.

Gavin Dew: It is an honour to introduce my friend Ram Singh Nayyar to the House today. Among his many accomplishments, Ram is one of Canada’s most decorated badminton coaches. He made history as the first turbaned Sikh to lead a Canadian team to the Olympic Games, delivering Canada’s best ever Olympic finish in badminton.

Ram is also the bestselling author of Sport for Life and the chair of the philanthropic foundation of the same name, which advocates for physical literacy and quality sport for all Canadians.

Ram has recently taken on the role of CEO of his family’s global trading business, Indus Valley Trading, which helps international buyers source Canadian products such as pulp, agricultural products and metals.

Please make Ram and his amazing wife Jacquelyn very welcome.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: Yesterday the opposition was introducing their interns, and today it’s my pleasure to introduce the amazing young people who have been the government caucus interns who have been with us for the spring session. All of them, as we all know, our interns, are amazing individuals who we know are going to do great things for our province and our country.

It’s my pleasure to introduce to the House Ewa Bozerocka, Chris Camoso, Henry Waatainen, Myriam Devlin, Anabella McElroy.

Would the House please thank them for their amazing work and wish them well in their future endeavors.

Ward Stamer: I rise today to introduce two residents from Pritchard in my riding, Dave and Shirley Charron. Mr. Pritchard, as I affectionately refer to Dave, worked tirelessly on my campaign.

Will the House please make Dave and Shirley welcome.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: I want to join my colleague, of course, across the way to wish a very, very happy birthday to my number one critic, the member for Richmond-Bridgeport, and, of course, to our member, the member for Esquimalt-Colwood, and on my team back in the office, of course, as well, to my wonderful coordinator, Sandra Purdy.

Happy birthday to them all, and have a wonderful day ahead.

Linda Hepner: I would like to recognize someone who is very special to Surrey–Serpentine River, to Surrey North, to Langley-Abbotsford and to Langley-Willowbrook, and that is, in the House today, our legislative assistant who’s done amazing work for us over these last several months of spring session, Joshua Domnich.

Thank you, Joshua, for all you have done for all of our ridings.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: I want to recognize that our ministry is losing a senior ministerial adviser, Brittany Flamank. She’s not leaving government, thank goodness, but she is leaving the Ministry of Finance.

[10:15 a.m.]

I particularly want to highlight the incredible work that Britt has done on behalf of all British Columbians, truly, on her work on the gender equity file. Britt has not only brought her incredible intelligence, her diligence but most importantly, her giant heart.

You’ll be very missed. Thank you, Britt, for everything you’ve done.

on behalf of all British Columbians, truly, on her work on the gender equity file, Brit has not only brought her incredible intelligence and her diligence but most importantly, her giant heart.

You’ll be very missed. Thank you, Brit, for everything you’ve done.

Teresa Wat: It’s such a great honour to see my very committed legislative assistant who is up there, Peter Si. I think our team is so lucky, so blessed, to have him supporting us from day one, including the MLA for Kamloops Centre, right? And also my colleague, the principal from Richmond. Thank you so much.

I know that you’re not really doing well. You have some discomfort, but you still came back because it’s the last day of our session. You want to witness the question period. Thank you.

Please join me in welcoming Peter Si.

Hon. Kelly Greene: I have two introductions today. First, I would like to say that I am so pleased to introduce to the House the Ontario Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Jill Dunlop.

In March, Ontario established a standalone ministry with a dedicated minister for emergency management. This action shows that we have a commitment shared across our governments, that we take action to protect people and communities and build a stronger and more resilient Canada.

Thanks again to Minister Dunlop and her staff for making the trek from Ontario to tour our emergency operations centre and share our knowledge in this preparedness space.

Will the House please make the minister and her team welcome.

I’d like to welcome the B.C. parks and rec staff for the Ministry of Environment on behalf of the Minister of Environment, who is unable to join us today. We have 25 people here who are so dedicated to just sharing the beauty of our province with everybody who lives here, everybody who visits. We are so incredibly blessed to live in a province as wonderful as British Columbia and have people like this working tirelessly to share that with people.

Please make them welcome.

Brennan Day: I just wanted to have everybody join me in thanking all the staff here at the Legislature, the Clerk’s office, Hansard downstairs. They’ve all been with us all the way till the wee hours in the morning, and those are the unrecognized people that make this place function. So if we can give a big desk-pounding applause to all of those individuals and the pages, let’s make sure they can hear it in the basement.

Darlene Rotchford: I will also thank both members for the warm birthday wishes. I am 40, and I cannot think of a better place to spend my 40th birthday. And I’m okay with that.

I have two people to recognize today in the gallery. First is my amazing mother-in-law, who has spent the last two months supporting me and my husband and our girls so that I can come do this. She is all the way from Conception Harbour, Newfoundland. I’m still trying to convince her to move here. I don’t know if that’s going to work, but we’re working on it.

Could everyone give a big round of applause for Judy Rotchford for all the work she’s done.

Last, but certainly not least, I also have the privilege of introducing my husband. It’s the first time he’s actually been able to join us, because he’s been working the whole time while I’ve been here. And he’s been holding down — when he’s not at work — with his mom, the fort at home. I would not be here without Joey Rotchford, my biggest cheerleader, my best constituent. Thank you for everything you do for me and the girls. He gets to start paternity leave next week. I don’t think that’s really a break, but we’ll see how that goes.

David Williams: I’d like to recognize somebody very special up in the gallery today. It’s our legislative assistant that we have for our pod — Devin Gorski. Usually he’s downstairs making sure that I’m here, and he makes it possible that we’re all here every day.

So please give him a warm welcome.

[10:20 a.m.]

Pete Davis: First, I want to just say that it’s an honour to be able to sit in this chair. But there are so many people behind us that enable us to do this work every day. So I just want to make sure that we recognize all of the staff, our legislative assistants, our comms team, the people that do the research, our CO staff. Those are the people that make it able for us to be in here and to do our jobs.

I just want to make sure that we give them a hand and thank them for all their service.

this work every day. So I just want to make sure that we recognize all of the staff, our legislative assistants, our comms team, the people that do the research, our CO staff. Those are the people that make it able for us to be able to be in here and to do our jobs.

I just want to make sure that we give them a hand and thank them for all their service. Thank you all very much.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: From the Legislature, let’s extend a very warm welcome and thank you to members of the disability community and the anti-poverty community, advocates and people with lived experience who are here in the precinct today and rallying on the front lawn. The voice of these people is vitally important to all members in this House. We are grateful for their work, their advice, and we welcome them here to their House.

Lynne Block: I reiterate what my colleagues are saying about our incredible staff in the Legislature. Every single person has been incredibly professional. I especially want to recognize the people behind us who make us look good, the people who do the communications, the people who do all the research.

I would especially like to point out my LA up there, Ben Strothote. He makes me look good. He finds me when I am in the wrong place, makes sure I get to the right place on time. He’s dedicated to his job, so I really appreciate Ben.

Amshen / Joan Phillip: Although the group isn’t here yet, I just wanted to welcome the St. Francis saviour school and their instructor, teacher, Mary-Ann Wilmot. There will be 28 students coming in here later this morning, so I just want the House to give them a warm welcome.

Sheldon Clare: I rise to not introduce invasive species. The red pins that many of us are wearing today from the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia are there to advise you about those animals, fish, birds, plants, insects and other pathogens which damage our economy and displace our native species.

I want you to please make invasive species most unwelcome when you get back home.

Hon. Lana Popham: I would like to welcome Eileen and Bella from my office, who are joining us in the chamber today. We are saying goodbye to Eileen. I am saying goodbye to Eileen today. We are going to celebrate by having pizza in my office. Heads-up, it’s local pizza. It’s really good. My office, noon. We’re also, to the point of the Finance Minister — she’s saying goodbye to Brit in her office, but I’m the lucky recipient of Brit. Unfortunately, it means I have to say goodbye to Caroline H., who’s moving over to Health.

Appreciate everybody’s work and help through this session. It’s been a taxing one. I’d also like to say thank you to my critic, Mr. Speaker. The member for Delta South is just as passionate as I am about Agriculture and Food in this province. I appreciate our working relationship, and I look forward to working with you over the coming years.

Kristina Loewen: I would like to recognize my legislative assistant. He is sitting in the gallery today, John Koury. He helps to serve myself, with the Kelowna Centre, the Abbotsford-Mission MLA and the MLAs for Peace River South, Bulkley Valley–Stikine as well. He makes us look good. He is always running up and down the stairs trying to find us, take us to the right meetings, bring us lunch, deliver us messages. I am really grateful to him. I also discovered the full value and potential of legislative assistants early on when, as a new rookie MLA and rookie traveller, I missed a flight. I was like: “Oh, my gosh.” I’m crying in the airport, and I was like: “I think this is what LAs are for.” So he saved my skin more than once. Thank you, John.

Harwinder Sandhu: I would be remiss if I didn’t introduce another incredible individual in my life. My husband Baljit Sandhu.

[10:25 a.m.]

He’s in the gallery, another health care worker. It seems like when we meet now: “You look familiar.” So I’ve shared this story during last term that once I became an MLA, he tried to keep track of my schedule, but one day, he had to book an appointment through my CA.

So tomorrow, he’s celebrating his birthday, but I have to stay here for longer, so he just joined us.

another health care worker, it seems like when we meet now, you look familiar. I’ve shared this story during last term that once I became MLA, he tried to keep track of my schedule, but one day he had to book an appointment through my CA.

Tomorrow he’s celebrating his birthday, but I have to stay here for longer. So he just joined us, thought that he’ll come here and hopefully will be able to celebrate his birthday tomorrow. Would the house please make him feel welcome and wish him a very happy birthday.

Donegal Wilson: I just wanted to reiterate that the legislative assistants on this side of the House, many of them, serve three or four members. I would like to recognize Jacob Burdge, who serves myself and Boundary-Similkameen, as well as Surrey-Panorama and Prince George–Mackenzie. We really appreciate his work and efforts in helping us keep us organized through this entire session. Thank you, Jacob. I can’t see you.

Misty Van Popta: We’ve spent a significant amount of time this morning thanking staff, thanking Devin up there, who is my LA, but there is a member in this building that I know we all love, and none of us know who it is, and that’s No Context BC. Whoever you are, thank you for making us laugh, and you outdid yourself with today’s compilation.

Tony Luck: I’d like to introduce today — a lot of us have done that already — our legislative assistants. There are five or six or seven or eight or 100 people that, we know, we couldn’t do this job without. We’ve learned really quickly how important our legislative assistant is to making us work effectively, making sure we’re on time and all those things.

I’d like to introduce Joshua Hawkenson, our LA. We’re down in the cubbyhole downstairs. He does a great job making sure we get to everything on time. He looks after our member for Columbia River–Revelstoke, Surrey South, and of course, Fraser-Nicola. Thank you, Josh, for everything you do.

Tributes

Brian Holowaychuk

Hon. Ravi Parmar: I rise on behalf of myself and the MLA for Juan de Fuca–Malahat. We lost real pillar in our community, Brian Holowaychuk, just a few weeks ago.

Brian was someone who cared deeply about his Ukrainian heritage. He went above and beyond in selfless service to his community, especially out in East Sooke. In particular, when the war between Russia and Ukraine began, and we started seeing Ukrainian refugees travelling to Vancouver Island, Brian did quite well for himself. He bought a parcel of land in East Sooke and he opened his doors to hundreds of Ukrainians.

He passed away recently, and I know that that was a big loss for the entire Ukrainian community of Vancouver Island and for certainly a lot of us in the West Shore and Sooke region. I hope the House will join me in thinking of Brian and his family and, in particular, the Ukrainian community who’s lost a real pillar here in the Vancouver Island area.

Introductions by Members

Bruce Banman: I apologize for being a couple of minutes late into the House, but I was actually looking for my executive assistant, who happens to be in the gallery today, Ethan Williams.

We don’t get much done, as we all know, without our executive assistants and our LAs. I want to thank Ethan because he played the absolute best practical joke on me on April Fools’. Apparently, he signed me up to do house duty for my entire team for that day, and my phone was going off the blink. I want to thank him for being an all around good guy and putting up with me. Thank you very much.

Kiel Giddens: I know this is a theme of thanking our staff. As a former staffer myself and a former legislative assistant, I am grateful for all of them.

I also just want to point out Mr. Ed Sem, who has served many MLAs in this building. He has served Sen. Gerry St. Germain in the past. Ed coordinates our outreach groups. It’s a fantastic and important role for us to engage with these stakeholders. He’s also a phenomenal baker. He’s making cookies for the entire caucus all the time. We thank you for your service, Ed.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: Nathan Cullen has joined us in the gallery. Nathan and I served both in the House of Commons and here. I was delighted to serve with him in both houses. A former MLA for Skeena-Bulkley Valley. Will the House please welcome him back.

[10:30 a.m.]

Amelia Boultbee: I am very proud and honoured from the hard work of all of our staff behind the scenes, But I wanted to say an extra special thank you to Marina, my legislative assistant, who has been so positive to work with, and so lovely, and so dedicated, and without whom I would not have had nearly as great of an experience

Amelia Boultbee: I am very proud of and honoured for the hard work all our staff behind the scenes, but I wanted to say an extra special thank you to Marina, my legislative assistant, who has been so positive to work with and so lovely and so dedicated, and without whom I would not have had nearly as great of an experience. So please join me in thanking Marina for all of her hard work.

Jordan Kealy: As an independent, we do not have a party, but we have an amazing team. Right now, our team, we do not have them up in the gallery because they are busy working. I want to give a shout-out to them; they are all watching the screens. Thank you very much for helping.

It has been interesting to make this role work, and it is not something that very many people go through, but I appreciate the people that are around us that help make this happen. Thank you.

Anna Kindy: I want to first of all thank everybody behind us. I think without our team, we’re nobody. I really believe that. I want to give a special shout-out to my LA, who is not only beautiful outside, but she has one of the kindest, most beautiful hearts I’ve ever met. Her name is Bella.

Hon Chan: I would like to especially thank and recognize our LA for our party, Pegah Taj. I can’t imagine our life without her. She is the LA for Richmond Centre, for the member of Surrey-Cloverdale, for the member for Kootenay-Rockies and Courtenay-Comox. Thank you so much, Pegah.

Lorne Doerkson: I too want to join with North Island to thank Bella Scrase who, of course, every hour repairs my schedule, and so I’m extremely glad for her.

I also wanted to take the opportunity to wish my mom a very happy 80th birthday. It’s a little ways away, but this will be the last chance that I have to just say how much I love you, Mom. We’re so proud of all of your accomplishments and the leadership you’ve shown — three boys — and you’ve just been an amazing woman. Happy birthday, Mom.

John Rustad: You’ve heard about all of our great LAs and obviously the accolades to all of our staff, whether it’s in research or whether it is in communications. There are so many people that help, but there’s one person in particular I want to recognize, which is Luella Barnetson. Luella came into our team, and I worked with her many years ago as well in a different life. She came into our team, and she has done a remarkable job bringing her experience, helping out with all of our new staff and making sure that all of our MLAs can be served so well by them. Luella, thank you so much for all of your hard work.

Heather Maahs: I would also like to thank Benjamin, my LA, and I would also like to give a special thank you to Doug, who is the happy shining face we see every morning when we come in, who always has a smile and a nice greeting and always lets us in when we knock because we forgot our key. So thank you, Doug.

Teresa Wat: I would be remiss if I don’t add my gratitude to Azim, whom I have the honour of working together with him since 2013. At that time, I was a rookie MLA, and I always wanted to work with him, but he never made the way to working with me, even though I see him working with many ministers, different parties. And yet, I’m so glad that I can be working with him now with our B.C. Conservative party. Thank you so much, Azim.

Stephanie Higginson: On this side of the House, we are proponents of streamlining, so I would like to stand up on behalf of all of our caucus to thank all of our staff who have done so much work to keep us all so disciplined and so on time, and making sure that we know where we need to go when we need to go, despite the fact that there have been so many changes and three Houses to function.

[10:35 a.m.]

I get worried when I start to say this, but to our RCOs, to our LAs, to our comms folks, to our MAs, to everyone who has done so much work to support this side of the House, we are so grateful to you on this last day of our very long and intense spring sitting.

The Speaker: Hon. Members, on Wednesday, May

our MAs, to everyone who has done so much work to support this side of the House. We are so grateful to you on this last day of our very long and intense spring sitting.

Point of Order
(Speaker’s Ruling)

The Speaker: Thank you, Members.

Hon. Members, on Wednesday, May 28, the member for Prince George–North Cariboo and the member for Kamloops Centre raised points of order regarding the application of Standing Order 8(2).

With respect to a member participating remotely in the division on the motion for third reading of Bill 14, the Chair ruled that members participating in that division did not contravene Standing Order 8 or the guidance of members participating in proceedings of the Legislative Assembly remotely, issued by the Chair under Standing Order 8(3)(b). The Chair deems the matter concluded.

However, the Chair wishes to offer some reflection for the benefit of the House. Voting is one of the most consequential responsibilities of a member of this House. Disallowing a member to vote is not a decision that the Chair takes lightly, but it is an authority granted to the Chair under Standing Order 8(4)(b).

Since Standing Order 8 was amended in March 2024 to enable remote participation by members on a permanent basis, the Chair has disallowed a member from voting in two instances. In both, the member joining remotely was in a vehicle, which is not an acceptable venue from which to participate in parliamentary business.

The Chair has never disallowed a member from voting in other instances.

As it pertains to the use of virtual backgrounds, based on the submissions made to the Chair yesterday, there appears to be difference of interpretation of what that entails. Throughout this sessional period, the Chair has observed members participating remotely using a blurred background on several occasions, without objections raised and without the Chair intervening.

In the view of the Chair, a blurred background does not constitute a contravention of the guidance for a member participating in proceedings of the Legislative Assembly remotely. This is because a blurred background has never given doubt in the Chair’s mind on the whereabouts of a member.

In contrast, if a member was using a virtual background, artificially setting the member in the tropics or in nature, it would indeed cast doubt in the Chair’s mind on the member’s whereabouts and would render the member ineligible to participate in proceedings of the House.

Standing Order 8(3)(b) requires the Chair to consult with the House Leaders or the Whips when establishing the rules, expectations and requirements for remote connectivity and participation by members. Given that the current guidance appears to have left room for doubt on the expectations of the members, the Chair will engage with the House Leaders prior to the fall session period and issue updated guidance, if required, so that all members are clear on the expectations for remote participation in parliamentary business.

Thank you.

Members’ Statements

Langley Arts Council
and Funding for Theatre

Misty Van Popta: If you want to have a good laugh, put a ball or a bat or a club in my hand and watch me make a fool of myself. If you want to see me cry and make a fool of myself, put me in a theatre with a stage, an opera singer or a dancer. This former, almost-pro ballerina and a member of the first graduating class of the Langley Fine Arts School has a soft spot for the arts.

Langley has a thriving art scene and is complemented by the work of the Langley Arts Council. The arts council has been serving the township of Langley and surrounding communities since 1968 and presents robust opportunities for arts, culture and heritage for all ages.

[10:40 a.m.]

I believe it was in the late ’80s that I received my first-ever scholarship from them that I used for an intensive summer school program. But now, as reported in their 2023-2024 stats, in a one-year period, they have offered over 210 classes and workshops, held 30 exhibitions and attendance records of 18,000 people, featuring 615 artists.

The arts are alive and well in Langley.

Do you know what’s not alive and well in Langley? A place to showcase the arts. Langley is one of only two municipalities in the Metro region area without a theatre.

My first letter to the editor was in 1995.

people, featuring 615 artists. The arts are alive and well in Langley.

Do you know what’s not alive and well in Langley? A place to showcase the arts. Langley is one of only two municipalities in the Metro region area without a theatre. My first letter to the editor was in 1995 on that very topic. You see, Langley has developed the Events Centre district, has the Events Centre lands and a plan in place, but since as long as I can remember, has struggled with finishing the performance centre piece. But they are close.

I would like to think that it was my overly dramatic foray into local journalism that started the ball rolling on getting Langley a theatre, but we’ll see and speak to that theory another day.

But for now, although it isn’t a jersey swap — I’m looking at you, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. A dance-off. If I win, you throw us some funding towards our theatre. If you win…. Never mind, I’m going to win.

Have a good summer.

Graduates of 2025 in
Vernon-Lumby

Harwinder Sandhu: In the coming weeks, across our beautiful province, thousands of bright young minds will walk across stages, not just to collect diplomas but to step into the future they worked so hard for.

Today I stand with deep pride to honour the graduating class of 2025 from our community, students from Charles Bloom, Kalamalka Secondary, W.L. Seaton, Clarence Fulton, Vernon Secondary, Vernon Christian School, alternative and Montessori programs and Okanagan College.

Dear grads, this is your moment. Own it. You have worked so hard for this. That piece of paper in your hand isn’t just a symbol of 12 years of school. It holds everything you worked so hard for — every morning you showed up, even at times when you didn’t feel like it; every test you pushed through, every setback you overcame; every person who believed in you, even when you had trouble believing in yourself.

I watched my daughters walk across the stage, and I was overwhelmed with pride, knowing how much it took for them to get there. Today I see the same strength in all of you.

But this journey wasn’t walked alone. Behind every graduate is a village: families, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, support staff, custodians, school bus drivers and teachers. I hope their dedication becomes a guiding light for all of you for the years coming ahead in your life.

Grads, I ask you to pause for a moment, look around you, and remember this feeling. This is what accomplishment looks like. Let it live in your hearts and carry you forward, especially when you encounter tough moments in life. Never forget what you’re capable of. You’ve already proven your strength. This is not just the end of high school. This is the beginning of your future, and that future needs your voice, your vision, your courage. So go out there, be bold, be kind, and be unstoppable. The world is wide open and is waiting for you.

Please join me in celebrating the Vernon-Lumby class of 2025.

Arjan Singh Bhullar

Steve Kooner: I rise today to honour an extraordinary constituent of Richmond-Queensborough, a world-class athlete, trail-blazer and a community leader, Arjan Singh Bhullar.

Born and raised in Richmond, Arjan’s story begins in east Richmond, where his family settled in the 1980s and still proudly calls home. From these local roots, Arjan rose to international prominence as a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, as an Olympian in freestyle wrestling and a UFC heavyweight fighter.

Arjan holds a number of historic firsts. He was the first Canadian of Indian origin to represent Canada at the Olympics in freestyle wrestling and the first athlete of Indian origin to compete in the UFC. He later became a World Heavyweight Champion in mixed martial arts through ONE Championship.

But Arjan’s legacy goes far beyond the arena. He is a dedicated community leader who gives back through personal service and through his foundation, the Arjan Bhullar Foundation, which supports at-risk youth. His contributions have been recognized with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the King Charles Medal.

[10:45 a.m.]

In Arjan, we see the very best of British Columbia: resilience, excellence and a deep commitment to uplifting others. His inspiring life story is now being brought to the screen in an upcoming Amazon Prime video future film, titled Title Fight: Between Two Worlds.

Please join me in recognizing Arjan Singh Bhullar and wishing him the very best as his story reaches new audiences through Title Fight: Between Two Worlds.

feature film, titled Title Fight: Between Two Worlds. Please join me in recognizing Arjan Singh Bhuller and wishing him the very best as his story reaches new audiences through Title Fight: Between Two Worlds.

Father’s Day

Darlene Rotchford: Well, this is the last day. So of course, I can’t let us all go home without taking this moment to show our appreciation for all the fathers in the House today. So I wanted to take this time to talk about a few fathers in my life.

First is my father, Evan Gallant. Him and I have a very complicated relationship, to say the least, but he’s always showed up and supported me in his own way. He taught me that I can do anything, that my gender and social status were not things to define me. When I left home at 18, he said, “I knew you wouldn’t be back; you couldn’t go any farther and stay in the country,” and that he didn’t have to worry about me.

So Dad: you raised me to be a strong, independent woman. That allowed me to stand on my own and pave my own path. You taught me that I deserve to have someone in my life who can stand with me side by side.

That brings me to the next father in the House: my husband, Joey Rotchford. I could not ask for a better dad to my two girls. He is a leading example of how a person should treat their partner in life. This lesson will be seen by my girls as they grow. He is my loudest cheerleader, and will also be my girls’. I knew when I decided to have kids, and for anyone who knew me before, that was not in the plans.

My husband would make an amazing father. Watching him grow through fatherhood has actually been a privilege. He changes diapers, wakes up early, packs lunches for Evie, wipes away her tears when she falls, picks her up, reads her stories, does bath times — and that list goes on.

He is a lone parent during the long nights in session. He has done it all while reassuring me that our girls are okay and just do what I need to do to build a better future for our girls. Words cannot express my gratitude.

Happy Father’s Day to Joey, to the men in this House, to the people of Esquimalt-Colwood, to the people across this province, to all the men who lift up the women in this country and on this floor and in our province.

I hope everyone in this House can stand up and give a cheer to all the dads.

[Applause.]

Wildfire Preparedness and Response

Rob Botterell: As we prepare to rise from this House for the summer and return to our ridings, I know we are all looking forward to reconnecting with our communities, with the people we represent and with the lands and waters that make life so special here in British Columbia. These are the places we work to protect.

Yet with each summer that passes, they are more at risk. As we step into summer, we also step into wildfire season, again and again. Alberta and Manitoba are already seeing evacuations. We know it’s only a matter of time before B.C.’s forests are burning too. But wildfires are no longer unpredictable. They are the predictable result of climate change and a lack of political will to address the crisis at its root.

We cannot keep treating these disasters as seasonal surprises. We are losing the battle against climate change, and people are losing their homes. We are still seeing B.C. towns recuperate years later. We have the science. We have heard the warnings. Yet every summer, we find ourselves asked the same question: are we ready? The truth is we are not. Misinformation continues to muddy the waters, and the reality becomes clearer every year.

Fighting climate change is not tomorrow’s problem; it is today’s emergency. The conversation cannot end when the smoke clears. The longer we delay meaningful action, the more damage we will see to homes, to ecosystems, to lives.

So as we all leave this chamber for the summer, I urge every member of this assembly: stay engaged, stay alert and keep your constituents informed, because doing so will keep them safe.

[10:50 a.m.]

George Anderson:

“‘Twas the last day of session, and all through the House,

not an MLA was stirring, not even a mouse.

The galleries waited, the cameras were live,

And as we wrapped up this parliament’s first legislative dive,

the Speaker sat ready, his patience worn thin

Last Day of Session Poem

George Anderson: “‘Twas the last day of session, and all through the House,

not an MLA was stirring, not even a mouse.

The galleries waited, the cameras were live,

and as we wrapped up this parliament’s first legislative dive,

the Speaker sat ready, his patience worn thin,

still haunted by statements that were over two minutes in.

“Nemine contradicente,” the Clerks occasionally cried out with flair,

except that one time when the opposition Whip almost missed a vote

while he was out grabbing a sandwich, or maybe a float.

Vaughn Palmer took notes with his usual grin,

while Keith Baldrey prepared for the six o’clock spin.

Debates turned to outhouses and yes, in the heat,

the Leader of the Opposition asked: “Over 30 degrees, Minister; would you take that seat?”

The government House Leader read with an auctioneer’s pace.

Not even Hansard could keep up the race.

The Greens had two voices, each sharp and precise.

They voted with conscience and offered advice.

The Greens may not be many, but they sure made it count,

and their speech-to-seat ratio a stunning amount.

In committee, the Deputy Chair ruled with such grace:

no muffins, no gum, no food of any trace.

The B.C. Conservatives thundered with outrage and flair,

but lost three to independent seats over there.

They raged about taxes and played the bagpipes in here,

yet the B.C. Conservatives can’t bring themselves to say: “Trump’s not welcome here.”

Throughout the days, one thing held tight…”

The Speaker: Member. Member.

George Anderson: “…No Context B.C. holds everything in sight.

From muttered side comments to wardrobe displays….”

The Speaker: Member.

Will you turn the mic off, please?

Member, you have crossed the line. Just withdraw those remarks.

George Anderson: I withdraw. I do.

“Halfway through session, the Speaker stood up.

Someone has taken Macey. She’s been catnapped….”

The Speaker: Member.

Just turn the mic off for him, please. Thank you.

Nina Krieger: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

Nina Krieger: Joining us in the gallery are students from an amazing school in the heart of Victoria–Swan Lake, Oaklands Elementary. They are from grades 4 and 5 and joined by their dedicated teacher, Nicole DiMenna.

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

The Speaker: Members, the Chair has cautioned members before several times. When we’re making two-minute statements, they’re basically to cheer and celebrate our friends and members, and their constituents and our constituencies. And many times, members have crossed the line.

You have to be careful. If you are doubtful, if you don’t think it’s appropriate, you have a Whip and your House Leader to guide you. All members: be careful. It’s going on. It’s not a matter of humour when we are making those kinds of statements.

Point of Order

Sheldon Clare: On a point of order, I would note that the Minister for Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is displaying a sticker on a laptop in the House. I believe we’ve gone over this ground before, and it should not be allowed.

The Speaker: Let me caution members. I have also noted today the member for Kamloops–North Thompson is wearing a party pin on his lapel.

I urge and ask all members to be careful not to display any stickers or any pins which are not authorized by the Speaker. I ask you to remove all those pins and for the stickers not to be displayed.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member, hold it. If you have a point of order, it’ll be after the question period now. Okay?

[10:55 a.m.]

Oral Questions

Lorne Doerkson: Tourists beaten black and blue. Random attacks on Vancouver seawall. A man decapitated. A mother punched in the face while holding her baby. Hands cut off in a brutal machete attack. Extreme violence, including armed break-ins

Crime in Communities and
Action on Community Safety

Lorne Doerkson: Tourists beaten black and blue; random attacks on Vancouver’s seawall; a man decapitated; a mother punched in the face while holding her baby; hands cut off in a brutal machete attack; extreme violence, including armed break-ins; brutal assaults on women; violent rapes; and random attacks on health workers are the new normal in this province.

Time and time again, what we get from the supposed Minister of Public Safety are prepared speaking notes. Today, when will this minister stand up and do his job to protect British Columbians?

Hon. Garry Begg: Thank you to the member opposite for the question.

I think that we’ve made it crystal clear in the House what we’re doing in British Columbia to protect British Columbians. Every day we’re taking actions here that the prior government did not take. As a matter of fact, we’re catching up with some of the things that you still have not done.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members. Members.

Hon. Garry Begg: To directly answer your question, we’re taking actions to support business owners. We’re taking actions to support community members. We’re taking action every day to protect this province through our police all across the province, and we will continue to do that.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Crime and Community Safety
in Williams Lake

Lorne Doerkson: I think the minister may not know what’s happening in Williams Lake, may not understand, fully, the concern that the city council has with respect to what might be the province’s first order of emergency in our province with respect to crime.

The reality is that the government’s failed approach has led to nothing but disorder and chaos in my community. In Williams Lake, people are being robbed. Businesses that you claim to support are being vandalized almost every single night. Families are afraid to go downtown. We’re dealing with arson almost every single night.

What has this government done, specifically, to support Williams Lake? Because to my recollection, it is nothing. Chaos reigns on our streets, and now the city of Williams Lake may have to declare a local state of emergency because of this horrible situation.

How has this Premier allowed Williams Lake to descend into what is now pure and utter chaos in our community?

Hon. Terry Yung: Thank you to the member for the question.

I agree that public safety is important in Williams Lake. As recently as yesterday, the RCMP detachment in Williams Lake had a meeting with the service providers as well as the community to look at how to target the issues they are facing. We have reached out to the council and mayor. I have a direct conversation….

Interjections.

Hon. Terry Yung: If I may?

The Speaker: Members.

Please continue.

Hon. Terry Yung: If I may finish? You asked a question.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members.

Please continue.

Hon. Terry Yung: We reached out directly to the mayor and council, and I have a call with the mayor directly today, this afternoon, to learn about what the issues are facing Williams Lake and how the province can help.

I’ll actually even get to that. The reason is that there are going to be, in July, 40 additional emergency beds available in Williams Lake to help fight the situation.

Violent Attacks and Action
on Community Safety

Bruce Banman: We’ve heard about attacks on the seawall of tourists, mothers punched in the face while holding a baby, the unprecedented point where a city declares a state of emergency due to the violence and the rampant nonsense it’s taking on underneath this Premier’s watch. It’s like a horror movie out of an apocalypse. It is shameful. It is disgusting.

[11:00 a.m.]

This is life in British Columbia under this Premier. But it doesn’t stop there. Here in Victoria…. Oh, you can laugh. Go ahead, laugh.

This is life in British Columbia under this Premier. But it doesn’t stop there. Here in Victoria….

Interjections.

Bruce Banman: Oh, you can laugh. Go ahead. Laugh.

Let’s hear you laugh about this. In downtown Victoria, we saw the provincial capital turned into a hellscape. A paramedic was beaten bloody and surrounded by over 60 people who descended on him as a violent mob. That paramedic might very well be dead today if a Victoria firefighter hadn’t stood up to defend him with no less than an axe. This is a scene out of a horror film that people in British Columbia are having to live day by day.

My question to the Premier: does he think it’s normal or acceptable for a firefighter in B.C. to have to wield an axe like a weapon to prevent a mob from brutally beating a paramedic, or will he admit here and today that his policies have broken B.C.?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: Violence of any kind against any first responder is simply unacceptable. I’m not sure if I fully agree with the member’s account of the situation, but I can say — I think everybody in this House would agree — that we want to make sure that all first responders are protected and that our communities are safe. I don’t think that’s a partisan issue. I think we all agree on that.

I think that the challenge that the member raised about in Victoria and particularly around the encampment in Pandora, it’s a real challenge. We’ve been working on that for some time. The member’s….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members, let the minister answer.

The minister will continue.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

The challenge of homelessness, the challenge of poverty is a challenge that we’re all very seized upon. That encampment had over 100 people last year. The incident of the firefighter and the paramedic brought communities together. It brought our first responders together. It brought our service providers together. We put an action plan in place. Now there are 19 people in that encampment, and housing is being offered to all of those individuals.

We’re going to continue that work because we know that both the community needs to be safe, our first responders need to be safe, but at the same time, we want to make sure that every individual has a roof over their head and has their wraparound supports. We’re putting those things in place.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Youth Overdose Deaths and
Management of Safe Supply

Bruce Banman: I find it interesting that the minister talks about encampments. Well, here’s a horror scene. Sadly it’s not a movie. In my hometown of Abbotsford, 13-year-old Brianna MacDonald died cold, alone and probably scared. She died of an overdose in one of the NDP government’s sanctioned tent cities. God only knows what that 13-year-old girl’s life was like in that tent city.

This was a child who was wanted, who was loved and who was given drugs instead of treatment by this NDP government. Before she died of an overdose, Brianna’s parents saw her go to an NDP drug site where she picked up free needles, drug-cooking kits and pamphlets on how to do hard drugs, provided by this government and this Premier.

My question to the Premier, if he has the guts to stand up: will you admit that the broken safe supply and decriminalization policies that you personally put through…

The Speaker: Through the Chair.

[11:05 a.m.]

Bruce Banman: …have contributed to the death of this innocent child?

The Speaker: Members, all questions and comments through the Chair, please.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: Of course, this has been a topic that we have discussed in this place. We want to make sure, whether

of this innocent child.

The Speaker: Members, all questions and comments through the Chair, please.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: Of course, this has been a topic that we have discussed in this place. We want to make sure, whether an individual’s….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: I think this is a serious question, and the member continues to heckle. You know, we’re talking about a child here….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Please continue.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: It doesn’t matter if it’s a child or if it’s a senior. Anyone living in an encampment deserves a roof over their heads. That’s why we’ve been….

Interjection.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: No one should be in encampments. Yeah, that’s right. That’s why we’re building housing….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Member, Member.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: There are two ways to handle and support people in encampments. There’s one way, which is get housing, get people with wraparound supports. There’s wraparound supports….

Interjection.

The Speaker: Shhh. Member. Member for Surrey-Cloverdale.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, come to order.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: There’s two ways of addressing encampments. One is you can put housing and wraparound supports on them, or you can take the approach that the member that just raised the questions took, which was throwing chicken manure on encampments hoping they would move when he was the mayor of Abbotsford….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, members. Shhh. Members, let’s focus on the question-and-answer please.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. We are wasting our time, members. The minister will conclude.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: We have been taking on encampments throughout the province, just like communities across North America have been taking them on. This is not an isolated issue in B.C.; this is a North American issue. We are doing it with compassion. We are building housing. We are building wraparound supports. We’re saving lives, and we’re going to continue to work with our local government partners to do that.

Wildfire Preparedness and Response

Jeremy Valeriote: We’ve spent a lot of this session talking about legislation to deal with tariffs and how to speed up building of infrastructure. Now we all go back to our communities that are fearful for the summer season.

Building on what my colleague was saying, these communities are in desperate need of support, and wildfire resilience is alarmingly inadequate and needs more investment. In past years, contingency funds were used to respond to wildfires, but with the cancelling of the carbon tax, there are less funds to pull from.

My question is to the Minister of Forests. How is the ministry preparing for this forest fire season, and how does this government say that it’s done all it can on wildfires while a $10-billion-plus deficit looms over every spending decision on wildfires?

Hon. Ravi Parmar: I want to thank the member opposite for the question.

As I’m standing up here, I’m thinking of the people of Manitoba. The Premier of Manitoba declared a state of emergency yesterday. I’m really proud of the hard-working men and women of the B.C. Wildfire Service that are stepping up and heading over to support. By the end of this weekend, we expect we’ll have over 250 resources in Ontario and Manitoba as well as Saskatchewan to be able to support our neighbours.

But that’s not going to stop the work that we have to do. That’s why on this side of the House, in 2022, as part of our budget process, we took the decision to make the B.C. Wildfire Service a year-round operation, making sure that we have 600 hard-working men and women working all year round to help better support communities.

I was in Kimberley just a couple of weeks ago having an opportunity to see a prescribed burn happening. Those are the types of initiatives that we are taking in every part of our province because we know that wildfires are increasing. We know it is so important that we make investments. That’s why on this side of the House we continue to make investments in prescribed burns and new technologies to better support communities in upcoming wildfire seasons.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Government Action on Climate Change

Jeremy Valeriote: Thank you to the minister for the answer.

We may be able to temporarily handle wildfires this season. Maybe, with luck, we’ll have a slow wildfire season, but unlike some of the other battles on tariffs or on clean energy, we are not winning this battle. We know we’re not doing enough because the temperature keeps rising.

[11:10 a.m.]

I think members probably know me well enough to know my biggest fear is that history looks back on us and says that we didn’t solve the problems of our time, that we kicked the can down the road, focusing on short-term problems to get re-elected. I think history will show that the insecurity and unrest that we’re all feeling and that we’re describing in many different ways in this House is, in no small part, that we’ve changed our planet in a way that we’re not fully

and says we didn’t solve the problems of our time, that we kicked the can down the road, focusing on short-term problems to get re-elected. I think history will show that the insecurity and unrest that we’re all feeling and that we’re describing in many different ways in this House is in no small part that we’ve changed our planet in a way that we’re not fully equipped to contemplate.

So given the undermining of carbon pricing and doubling down on conventional economic models…

The Speaker: Question, Member.

Jeremy Valeriote: …I want to know from the Premier: what hope this government is giving to British Columbians that the protection of their health and the planet’s health are a priority in this House? How does this government explain to the next generations that our actions here were truly for the protection of British Columbians?

Hon. Adrian Dix: It’s by taking the actions that the Minister of Forests and the Minister of Emergency Management Services are taking to address issues of climate resilience. These things are happening in our world and we in British Columbia don’t control all of them. So the actions described by both of them during the House and this session are significant for that — to help people prepare, help communities to prepare and to prepare for those circumstances.

And we have to take continued action against climate change. And that’s why through the CleanBC fund and the CleanBC plan, which is leading Canada in terms of the response to climate change, we continue to take action that’s showing real success here in British Columbia and we have to do more. And why? Because this is something I share passionately with the leader of the Green Party. We’re reviewing that CleanBC plan so we can do better in future, and we’ve put together an independent review, a statutory review to do just that. There is more to do.

Interjections.

Hon. Adrian Dix: There is, of course, more to do, and we need to do it together.

Provincial Election and
Role of Committee

Dallas Brodie: Last year, the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition each promised to investigate the irregularities associated with the last provincial election. But after seven months and an entire legislative session, these promises have been broken. The Premier did not strike an all-party committee to investigate the election, and the Leader of the Opposition has been as quiet as a mouse on this issue.

My question is for the Premier: why did he block this House from investigating Elections B.C.?

Hon. Niki Sharma: I just want to correct some of the information that the member has put in her question. There has been a committee struck. There’s a Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform, right now, that’s been struck to review the results of elections.

We have a very rigorous process in B.C. that involves multiple reports after an election happens in British Columbia. The Chief Electoral Officer released their first one. I’ll be following the subsequent ones. Every time that happens, we make and look to see if there are any legislative changes necessary so we can make sure that the next election has gotten that feedback implemented.

To have fair elections in this province is a vitally important component of our democracy, and we’ll continue to do that work.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Dallas Brodie: November 4, 2024, that was the day on which the Premier committed to this all-party committee. We haven’t heard anything about it. There have been no reports back.

What has been investigated and what is being discussed in terms of what are the issues that have been arising and what are the actual problems that you’re identifying in this committee you say you’ve struck?

Hon. Niki Sharma: Yes, the committee has been struck, and that’s the work of all parties in this House to sit down and to look at not only the last election but how we can increase voter turnout and what the forms are of our democracy to keep it strong in this province.

This is a pattern of discussion that’s coming from the opposition and the independents that are related to undermining and speaking about undermining our democracy in a Trump-style attack. We have a strong commitment to our democracy here and we continue to do the work to make sure that we….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members.

Attorney General will conclude.

Hon. Niki Sharma: Thank you Mr. Speaker.

We’ll continue to do the work and we take every report from the Chief Electoral Officer and the report of that committee very seriously.

[11:15 a.m.]

Sheldon Clare: One person who clearly benefited from the Premier’s policies, which are killing people throughout the province and on the Downtown Eastside, was the

Chief Electoral Officer and the report of that committee very seriously.

Government Hiring of Consultant
on Downtown Eastside Issues

Sheldon Clare: One person who clearly benefited from the Premier’s policies, which are killing people throughout the province and on the Downtown Eastside, was the Premier’s best friend, Michael Bryant. This was a $325,000 contract, orchestrated by the Premier and his office, with absolutely nothing to show for it. How many more people are going to suffer and die while the Premier makes deals and cuts cheques for his friends?

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: As we can all understand, the challenges facing the Downtown Eastside are complex. Across government, it’s hard to find a ministry on this side that has not been working very hard, in partnership with the private sector, with the not-for-profit sector, with businesses in the community.

We get a lot of advice from people on the ground. We get a lot of advice from our advisory committees. As the member knows, the contract with Michael Bryant has been terminated. It was a distraction from the work that is happening on the ground in the Downtown Eastside.

We’ll continue to bring the work from government, from the front line, through our cabinet committee on community safety, to bring new perspectives and to bring solutions to tackle the intractable problems on the Downtown Eastside.

Trevor Halford: You know what? The only thing worse than having to take direction from a Premier to execute a contract to the Premier’s friend on the backs of Downtown Eastside residents is having to stand up and defend the said contract because the Premier doesn’t have the integrity to do it himself. What a joke.

The fact is the Premier told this minister to go and do this contract, okay? Then the fact is the Premier cannot even stand up and defend a failed contract that has cost this province thousands of dollars. The Premier wanted to find his friend a soft landing pad, because he couldn’t even do the job prior properly, and the Premier knows it.

The Speaker: Member.

Please, all members should be careful when we are addressing the other person. We are not challenging anybody’s personal integrity or credibility. We are asking a question about the matter of the question.

Continue.

Trevor Halford: My question to the Premier is a very simple one. Does this Premier stand by his decision to give a contract to his friend, to direct a minister to give a contract to his friends on the backs of Downtown Eastside residents, and then pull the contract because the heat got too much? Which one is it? He says it’s a distraction, but then he stands by the work.

The taxpayers are left on the hook because, once again, this Premier chose to play fast and loose with the rules. So will this Premier get up in this House today? It’s kind of similar when he sells his condo a couple days before taxes change, right?

The Speaker: Member.

Trevor Halford: At the end of this day, the Premier needs to stand up and defend why he left British Columbians on the hook, because he decided he was going to reward a friend.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: The Premier has been very clear on the record. He has stood up in front of the media a lot on this and has in this House. But let me take the opportunity — since this has been well canvassed already and because we have people with lived experience, many from the Downtown Eastside, who are here at the Legislature today, rallying for support — to be able to talk about some of the things that our government has been able to deliver on the Downtown Eastside: 624 net new housing units and 40 new shelter spaces.

[11:20 a.m.]

Just since March 2023 alone, a combined 211 supportive homes and shelter spaces are underway.

Interjections.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: These are not talking points, as the member is heckling. These are our services that are being delivered on the ground now.

The Speaker: Members.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: Because outcomes

talking point says the member is heckling.

These are our services that are being delivered on the ground now.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: And because outcomes matter for people, I am so encouraged....

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, members. Members, come to order please.

Minister will conclude.

Hon. Sheila Malcolmson: Outcomes for people on the Downtown Eastside: over the last year, a drop of 2.9 percent of the number of people who are on income assistance and a drop of 7 percent of the number of people that are homeless.

We have more to do, but I’m glad that we are heading in the right direction, working together.

Government Action on
Drug Toxicity Crisis and
Overdose Deaths

Á’a:líya Warbus: I came here to this House and to this position to serve British Columbians because far too many people in this province have had to bury their loved ones. My family is unfortunately included in those statistics and the lives that have been lost by the toxic drug crisis.

Today I’m going to say their names because I think that too often we repeat numbers and we play politics with issues that actually affect people. So for Stanley, Jared, Sheila, Chayton, Kevin and Tamara, I’d like to ask this question.

How many more families have to bury their loved ones before this Premier admits that that the failed drug policies are perpetuating this crisis? How many more funerals will you have us attend before it’s enough? And how many more lives need to be lost before you admit that people need treatment, not promises; they need leadership and not politics; and we need a real response to the nightmare that we are living?

Hon. Josie Osborne: Thank you to the House Leader for the opposition for raising what surely is one of the most critical issues that is facing us.

I want to begin the way that I began when I answered a question from the House Leader at the beginning of this session, which is to express my deep condolences to her and her family for the losses that she has faced and to express to all British Columbians the sadness and the grief and acknowledge that for the 16,000 people — more than 16,000 people — that we have lost to the toxic drug crisis.

That is why this government has placed such a priority on developing every tool in the toolbox, providing a continuum of supports for people to address this crisis. This is a government that is going to continue to act with compassionate dedication and determination to do everything that we can.

We’re going to try things. They’re not always going to work out the way we thought they would. We’re going to make the changes that we need to.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Josie Osborne: We’ve seen that demonstration here. We’re not afraid to try these things. We know we have to do everything that we can.

That’s why in this year’s budget we’ve added a half billion dollars of new funding to support mental health and substance use issues across the spectrum, from early intervention to prevention to treatment and recovery beds to aftercare, not all bed-based but based through phone lines and virtual supports so that people living in remote and rural communities can access these supports.

We are going to continue to do this work. I know that the House Leader for the opposition brings a very important voice to this work….

The Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

Hon. Josie Osborne: And I look forward to continuing to work with her.

The Speaker: Thank you.

Any other questions?

Oh, sorry. I did not see the member.

Government Action on Homelessness

Claire Rattée: You know, that half a million dollars that the Health Minister just referenced in the budget clearly states that it is to support the ongoing work that is already in place for treatment and recovery services.

[11:25 a.m.]

It is not for new services, because this is not an issue that this government has taken nearly seriously enough.

One of the reasons that I came to this place is because I know what it is like to feel invisible, abandoned and hopeless as someone that’s unhoused. And that’s why I can’t stay silent while the people in my riding are left to suffer in the margins.

In Terrace, one in every 84

taken nearly seriously enough.

One of the reasons that I came to this place is because I know what it’s like to feel invisible, abandoned and hopeless, as someone that’s unhoused. That’s why I can’t stay silent while the people in my riding are left to suffer in the margins. In Terrace, one in every 84 people is homeless.

Let that sink in. If that same rate applied to the Lower Mainland, it would be as if everyone in the city of Langley suddenly became homeless overnight. Would this government ignore it then?

To the Premier, how many more people have to freeze or starve to death before you stop pretending that your failing patchwork of programs is working and act like our lives matter?

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, that’s enough.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: We, on this side of the House, find it unacceptable when we see people that don’t have access to housing. We had, for two decades, governments deciding that it wasn’t government’s business to be building housing. For two decades, we had the federal government and provincial government say: “You know what? We’ll just leave it to the private sector. Somehow it will solve itself.” We’re paying the price for that in our communities.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, Members. Member for Surrey-Cloverdale.

Minister will conclude.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: That’s why we’re making such large and significant investments in all communities.

The member and I exchanged conversations in estimates, and I shared with the member that we’ve already built 114 homes. There are another 104 that are under construction in the member’s community. And we have a new fund opening up for more housing opportunities throughout this province.

The reason why we put those dollars in place is because we believe to our core that everyone deserves a home. Everyone deserves a roof over their heads. That’s why we’re out there in every single community opening up new housing opportunities.

Some of the members across the way were at the openings and will be at the openings, and that’s a good thing. We should be celebrating that together, and we should be continuing to find ways in our communities to make the case that everyone…. It doesn’t matter if they’re rich or if they’re poor. It doesn’t matter if they’re a young person or a senior. They all deserve the same housing opportunities.

We’re going to continue to do that. I welcome others to join us.

The Speaker: The bell ends the question period.

Petitions

John Rustad: I have a petition to present, over 10,800 signatures, done by the taxpayers federation of British Columbia.

This petition was originally offered to the Premier, but he chose to ignore it. It’s a petition about transparency. It’s a petition about the taxpayers getting answers. It’s a petition to reinstate a municipal auditor general in British Columbia.

Lynne Block: I rise to present a petition. Over 200 signatures have signed a petition to save the MACC program in Burnaby. The MACC program is designed to help students with special needs that are also highly abled learners, and it is currently scheduled to be cut.

Point of Order
(Speaker’s Ruling)

The Speaker: There is an update to the House with respect to the point of order raised by the member for Columbia River–Revelstoke on Thursday, May 15, regarding comments made by the member for Burnaby East during statements by members.

The member for Columbia River–Revelstoke has withdrawn his point of order, and therefore I consider the matter to be resolved.

Tabling Documents

The Speaker: I also have the honour to table the registrar of lobbyists report Determination Decision 25-05, Intuitive Surgical Canada Inc.

Point of Order

Sheldon Clare: I rise on a point of order. I just wanted to observe that a number of members seem to have been using electronic devices during question period, and I believe that contravenes the rules. I thought that it should be brought to your attention.

[11:30 a.m.]

The Speaker: Thank you, Member. We have cautioned the members, advised the members umpteen times that no electronic devices are to be used during the question period.

and I believe that contravenes the rules. I thought that it should be brought to your attention.

The Speaker: Thank you, Member.

We have cautioned the members, advised the members umpteen times that no electronic devices are to be used during the question period, with the exception of the member for Burnaby East as she needs the help. So other than that, nobody should be using that.

Thank you for raising this point.

Amshen / Joan Phillip: I wanted to seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

The Speaker: Please proceed.

Introductions by Members

Amshen / Joan Phillip: Group 1 of the students from St. Francis Xavier School have arrived, and I’d like to ask the House to give them a very respectful and warm welcome.

Orders of the Day

Hon. Mike Farnworth: In this chamber, I call continued estimates debate for the Office of the Premier.

The House in Committee.

The committee met at 11:33 a.m.

[Lorne Doerkson in the chair.]

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Office of the Premier
(continued)

The Chair: Thank you, Members. We’ll call this committee to order, and we will look to the Premier to read the vote.

On Vote 11: Office of the Premier, $18,450,000 (continued).

Jeremy Valeriote: Apologies that we’re getting pinned into a small amount of time. It’s really disrupting my flow and I’m guessing the same for the Premier.

I’ll start with this government’s relationship and consultation with First Nations. The B.C. Assembly of First Nations, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, First Nations Summit, and countless First Nations and local councils have all shared that this government has failed to consult and cooperate with them on the most significant pieces of legislation in this session. At best, there are gaps in this government’s consultation system, and at worst, they are neglecting their commitment to consult.

[11:35 a.m.]

Can the Premier describe the current consultation process? And if the Premier believes that his consultation methods are adequate, why does he believe he has received resounding criticism, and what will be done to correct this?

the current consultation process. And if the Premier believes that his consultation methods are adequate, why does he believe he has received resounding criticism, and what will be done to correct this?

[11:40 a.m.]

Hon. David Eby: I see up in the gallery students from Royston Elementary. Nice to see you. From the Minister of Health’s community. It’s great to see you here. I’m in a conversation today within estimates about our provincial budget and about the government’s direction with members of the opposition. So you’ll hear them asking questions. I’ll do my best to answer.

B.C. is an extraordinary province, as the member knows. But he will also know that for too long, Indigenous people and their rights have been ignored and pushed aside. We believe strongly that by working together, instead of in conflict, we’ll achieve a couple of shared goals. One is increasing prosperity for everyone across the province. The other is reconciliation, addressing long-unaddressed harms. The final piece is finding a path forward to move together as British Columbians and Canadians in partnership with Indigenous people in the province.

The whole piece of work that we’ve been doing in partnership with Indigenous people since 2017 has been guided by legislation and by commitments to action, not just words. We were the first jurisdiction in Canada to pass legislation that recognized the rights of Indigenous people formally through the UN declaration of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It passed in November of 2019.

The act itself creates a path for us to move forward and grounds an action plan that is about very specific pieces of work we’re doing. It’s quite comprehensive across government. The Action Plan was developed in partnership with First Nations across British Columbia. It involves the protection of language and culture, building housing and other pieces.

I would like to give some examples of the work that we are doing.

First of all, it was just this week — it feels like a million years ago; it was Monday — we were in Vancouver with the leaders of the Kaska, the Taku River Tlingit and the Tāłtān First Nation outlining a comprehensive partnership and piece of work that we’re doing together in the northwest involving improvement of the standards of life for communities in the northwest including roads and infrastructure like pharmacies and enabling $30 billion dollars in capital investment in the province but also protecting a significant portion of the land base for future generations.

And that is the work that we’re doing together — an excellent example of a promising area that we’re hopeful to be able to move forward on a partnership.

Since 2017, we have worked with First Nations to deliver the following. We were the first province to build on-reserve housing. It’s a federal responsibility, but we took it on as a province because the feds weren’t doing their job. We built 6,800 homes for Indigenous people. They’re either complete or underway across British Columbia.

We’ve opened 15 First Nations-led primary care centres, recognizing that health care for Indigenous people has not met their needs for far too long. Two are fully open right now. One in Williams Lake, one in Vancouver. Nine are offering partial services in Chetwynd, Harrison Mills, Ahousat, Merritt, Lillooet, Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Mount Currie and Guilford Island.

We expanded the travel assistance program to ensure that people in rural and remote communities could access their medical appointments, both for non-emergency or routine medical care, which includes free ferry service on routes that serve 22 different First Nations of the province.

We expanded virtual care options, particularly for remote, rural and Indigenous communities, and have supported, directly, Indigenous treatment centres, like the Orca Lelum treatment centre in Nanoose Bay and four additional treatment centres through the First Nations Health Authority.

[11:45 a.m.]

We’re working together to support economic development. The member will recall B.C. Hydro’s first call for power had 10 hydro projects, clean energy projects. Eight out of the 10 have majority First Nations equity ownership. We’ve entered landmark agreements that will build up whole communities as well as nations like the Western Forest

we’re working together to support economic development. The member will recall B.C. Hydro’s first call for power had ten hydro projects, clean energy projects. Eight out of the ten have majority First Nations equity ownership.

We’ve entered landmark agreements that will build up whole communities as well as nations, like the Western Forest Products and Na̲nwak̲olas Council agreement. We are directly sharing gaming revenue with First Nations to provide stable revenue sources that nations can borrow against to build their communities, according to their individual priorities.

We’ve opened Indigenous justice centres across the province, recognizing that Indigenous people are disproportionately represented in our jails in the province, making sure that we’re meeting people where they’re at and providing culturally appropriate services aimed at getting people out of the cycle of being in and out of jail or the child protection system. They are open in Chilliwack, Kelowna, Merritt, Nanaimo, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Cranbrook, Port Hardy, Fort St. John and a shared location that serves the communities of Burns Lake and Hazelton. There’s also a virtual centre that’s serving the entire province.

We have also amended laws. We amended the human rights code, adding Indigenous identity as a ground of discrimination. It was not in there previously.

We have restored Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services. We’ve implemented a new graduation requirement to ensure all students complete Indigenous-focused coursework before they graduate from the B.C. education system. We’ve changed the way First Nations can acquire, hold and register fee simple land in B.C., reducing discriminatory and racist barriers. We’ve aligned our laws, like the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, a new framework for agreements between First Nations and other authorities that can help advance shared decision-making coordination.

The reason why I’m reading this list is because the work has been comprehensive, multifaceted and been going on for years, and we’ve got more to do. Like in any relationship, we will have high points and low points. We’ve got work to do continually with our Indigenous partners. We’re committed to that work going forward, and we will continue to do that work.

Jeremy Valeriote: To continue on the theme of consultation, I’d like to talk about collaborative relationships with municipalities and regional districts across this province.

Just like with First Nations, this government has fallen short of its commitments to consult and collaborate with municipalities. In a recent statement, the UBCM has said this government has not meaningfully consulted with them or member local governments on significant pieces of legislation this session. This sentiment was echoed by a host of municipal mayors and local officials who felt blindsided by this government’s actions. Yet the Premier and the Premier’s office service plan reiterate commitments to collaborate with municipalities and forming intergovernmental relationships.

I know that municipalities are a creature of the province. However, I’ve had municipal leaders tell me: “Why doesn’t the province just do away with municipalities altogether?” They feel that their autonomy is being completely sidelined.

Can the Premier explain how he plans to form stronger partnerships with the municipalities, especially considering the lack of engagement on legislation that has come forward this session?

[11:50 a.m.-11:55 a.m.]

Hon. David Eby: Hi there. My apologies for the delay. We wanted to get some information for the member.

The member’s question related, I think, to recent statements by the Union of B.C. Municipalities, related to Bill 15. I understand the role of UBCM as a lobby organization for municipalities. They’re an important stakeholder for the province. We work with them closely on a number of different initiatives.

But as Premier, I have to hear from mayors directly about their frustration when projects in their communities get held up, whether by provincial permits or by municipal permits. I’m going to give the member some examples.

On the municipal side, we had a post-secondary student housing project that couldn’t proceed until the local municipality made an amendment to their official community plan. It added a year to that project.

A school seismic project was stalled due to a lengthy wait time to receive a municipal permit, delaying completion by six months and missing the students being able to attend in the new school.

Another post-secondary student housing project — a delay of up to one year on road permits.

It’s not just the cities. It’s also the province and some of our permits that can hold things up, even when the project itself has been approved.

A transmission line project from the Interior to the Lower Mainland delayed due to wait times to receive a licence of occupation and a licence to cut, even after the environmental assessment certificate was issued.

And a new elementary school was delayed more than a year due to a delay in a provincial permit under the Water Sustainability Act.

So I get calls from mayors. I hear from mayors who are frustrated. They want these things done.

This is why Patrick Johnstone, mayor of the city of New West, said, “The Infrastructure Projects Act is a good step towards accelerating the infrastructure our communities need to support growth. It will allow for greater collaboration between the province and municipalities so we can work together delivering the schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructures our residents demand.”

The mayor of the city of Grand Forks: “After our catastrophic flooding in 2018, our main focus was on taking care of the community. In the years following, we completed over 40 different permitting processes to build back stronger. I hope this legislation can be used to help more communities rebuild what they’ve lost in a faster and more streamlined way.”

The mayor of the city of Prince George: “I was really glad this bill came forward. I think government realized Bill 44,” which is a housing bill, “ain’t going to work unless infrastructure — the water, sewers, the roads and all the infrastructure to support these housing densities — is there. So I see this legislation, for us, as a positive thing.”

It is a balance. Not everyone agrees all the time. But what I think most people in the province agree on is that they would like their schools, their hospitals, their roads faster. They would like our economy to grow.

[12:00 p.m.]

That was our priority around Bill 15, and we’ll continue to work with the Union of B.C. Municipalities on engaging on the regulations and on their important role in the province.

I move the committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again.

continue to work with the Union of B.C. Municipalities on engaging on the regulations and on their important role in the province.

I move that the committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again.

Motion approved.

The committee rose at 12 p.m.

The House resumed at 12 p.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Lorne Doerkson: The Committee of Supply, Section B, reports progress on the estimates of the Office of the Premier and asks leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

Hon. Mike Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1 p.m. today.

The House adjourned at 12:01 p.m.