Hansard — Thursday, February 12, 2026 Afternoon, Issue No. 116

My honourable friends, my name is Jeannie George. I’m from here in lək̓ʷəŋən. Thank you for coming here. Welcome to the home territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People.

On behalf of the Songhees Nation, we send our deepest condolences to Tumbler Ridge and surround them with our love and our prayers and our strength.

The Speaker: Thank you very much for opening our proceedings. It’s a great honour that you have grounded us to these lands. Thank you so much.

On behalf of all the members here in the House, I want to acknowledge that we are gathering on the unceded, traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking People, known as Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Thank you so much. həysxʷ q̓ə.

Now I invite Elder Mary Ann Thomas of the Esquimalt Nation to offer a prayer.

[2:05 p.m.]

Mary Ann Thomas: [Hul’q’umi’num’ was spoken.]

My borrowed name is Mary Ann Thomas from Esquimalt Nation. Today I’m really honouring our Speaker and each and every one of you to Esquimalt Nation territory. I really welcome you, and my heart goes out to each and every one.

For the tragic…. You know, the Creator is really telling us something. Our prayers…. For each and every one of us, we need to really look at each other and walk, hand in hand, because the prayer, it helps us. It takes the stress away here. T’I’wi’ulh helps us. Like if we want something, we’ve got to work for it. We’ve got to earn it. Our prayers coming today reach out to all the ones that are in sorrow. Each community goes through all this in our home town.

I just really wanted to honour this home, honouring the Speaker’s home, because, you know, this is where we deal with everything — honouring each and every one of you, wherever you come from, that we’re uniting today, showing the old people that we can walk together.

In our prayers that will reach all wherever, everybody needs that help. You and I are precious, from our parents, grandparents. I really lift up my hands to each and every one of you — the field you’re working, working for the people.

You know, I honour this home. Just like in our reserve, we honour the longhouse, where we do baptizing. We do marriages. When we have to bring people together, it’s where we talk about things and move on. We have everybody involved with what we do, just like today. I really thank the Speaker for bringing us all together, to bring the blessing of this meeting today. You know, things are shortened, but we’re honouring where the people are suffering.

We all go through that when we lose a loved one. We keep the good memories and are honest with ourselves, with the people in your community, because that love is the greatest thing in life. There is no room for anger, no room for judgment. That makes the problem bigger. When we look at each other and accept each other, hand in hand, working, you accomplish things, your dreams being met.

I welcome each and every one of you in this beautiful home. When I come in here, I always ask the old people — sʔəlʔéləxʷ, the ancestors: “Can I come into your home to meet all our brothers and sisters?”

Life’s too short to be having any enemies. We’ve got to love each other — love each other, help each other, forgive each other. There’s nothing there to be stumbled on, because the day is so alive.

The sun sets down. It’s the end of the day. We pray for tomorrow. Huy ch q’u siem.

The Speaker: Thank you, Elder Thomas, on behalf of all the Legislature members. We are always very appreciative for you to come here and for your blessings. Thank you so much.

[2:10 p.m.]

I also, on behalf of all members of the Legislative Assembly, would like to welcome many friends, family and guests joining us today.

Thank you for being here with us this afternoon.

We will now wait for Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor to come to the House.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor requested to attend the House, was admitted to the chamber and was pleased to deliver the following gracious Speech from the Throne.

Speech from the Throne

Hon. Wendy Cocchia (Lieutenant Governor): Please be seated, everyone.

Today I bring this message from the throne and from the sacred territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən, Songhees and Esquimalt People with respect, compassion and sympathy.

We begin this session with heavy hearts, following the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge. Our thoughts are with the victims, the loved ones and a tight-knit community suffering unimaginable pain. We hold them in our prayers and stand with them in their grief. Today the people of Tumbler Ridge are wrapped in the care and compassion of an entire province and a country that mourns alongside them.

We are profoundly grateful to the first responders, the health care workers, the teachers and the school workers whose courage and swift action helped save lives. Their service reflects the very best of our province.

In times of sorrow, British Columbians come together. May we carry that spirit forward, supporting the community and one another in the days and months ahead.

If I may just take a moment, on a personal note, like His Majesty King Charles, Her Majesty the Queen and Her Excellency Mary Simon, I wish to add my personal message of deep love and support to everyone in the community of Tumbler Ridge and that is affected by this tragedy.

[2:15 p.m.]

As a mother, it’s absolutely impossible to comprehend the pain and the sorrow that people are experiencing. Nobody thinks for a moment that you will send your child or your loved one off in the morning and that they will not return. My heart aches for everyone in this situation. Again, we send our deep appreciation to the first responders and health care workers.

When Mayor Darryl Krakowka was asked, many times, “How can we help?” he said, so many times: “You can offer a hug.” I think that that is very wise, because at a time of deep grief, often we retreat and we withdraw. But what often helps the healing process, as well, is connectivity.

I want the people of Tumbler Ridge to know, unequivocally, that we are always here for you, and we will always have a hug waiting for you.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor retired from the chamber.

[2:20 p.m.]

[The Speaker in the chair.]

The Speaker: Hon. Members, in order to prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy of Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor’s speech.

Introduction and
First Reading of Bills

Bill 1 — An Act to Ensure the
Supremacy of Parliament

Hon. Niki Sharma presented a bill intituled An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament.

Hon. Niki Sharma: I move that Bill 1, intituled An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament, be introduced and read a first time now.

The introduction of this bill prior to consideration of the throne speech expresses the established right of parliament, through its elected members, to deliberate independently of the Sovereign. As such, it is an important part of our parliamentary democratic process.

It is my honour as Attorney General and Deputy Premier to introduce this bill of historic and symbolic importance at the opening of each new session.

Motion approved.

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

Motion approved.

Motions

Appointment of Deputy Speaker

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move, seconded by the member for Chilliwack–Cultus Lake electoral district:

[That Mable Elmore, member for Vancouver-Kensington electoral district, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this session of the Legislative Assembly.]

Motion approved.

Appointment of
Assistant Deputy Speaker

Á’a:líya Warbus: I move, seconded by the member for Port Coquitlam electoral district:

[That Lorne Doerkson, member for Cariboo-Chilcotin electoral district, be appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker for this session of the Legislative Assembly.]

Motion approved.

Appointment of Deputy Chair,
Committee of the Whole

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move, seconded by the member for Chilliwack–Cultus Lake electoral district:

[That George Anderson, member for Nanaimo-Lantzville electoral district, be appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole for this session of the Legislative Assembly.]

Motion approved.

Printing of Votes and Proceedings

Hon. Niki Sharma: I move:

[That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first perused by the Hon. Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same.]

Motion approved.

Appointment of
Select Standing Committees

Hon. David Eby: I move:

[That the Select Standing Committees of this House, for the present Session, be appointed for the following purposes:

1. Aboriginal Affairs;

2. Agriculture, Fish and Food;

3. Children and Youth;

4. Crown Corporations;

5. Education;

6. Finance and Government Services;

7. Health;

8. Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct and Standing Orders;

9. Public Accounts;

which said Committees shall severally be empowered to examine and inquire into all such matters and things as shall be referred to them by this House, and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon, with power to send for persons, papers, and records, and that a Special Committee be appointed to prepare and report with all convenient speed lists of members to compose the above Select Standing Committees of this House under Standing Order 68 (1), the Committee to be composed of the Hon. Mike Farnworth (Convener), Hon. Ravi Parmar, Janet Routledge, Garry Begg, Amna Shah, Á’a:líya Warbus, Jody Toor, Rosalyn Bird and Rob Botterell.]

Motion approved.

Motions Without Notice

Adjournment of
Tuesday Morning Sitting

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move:

[That, notwithstanding Standing Order 2 (1), the House stand adjourned until 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.]

Motion approved.

Hon. Mike Farnworth moved adjournment of the House.

The Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The House adjourned at 2:25 p.m.

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