Contents

The House met at 10:03 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: Kristina Loewen.

[10:05 a.m.]

Introductions by Members

Lynne Block: This morning I want to wish my eldest grandson, Harrison, a very happy birthday. He turns nine today. Because we are not sitting for his brother’s and sister’s birthdays, I’m going to just mention that Alana turned four on January 25 and Fraser will turn seven on May 24.

If you could wish my grandchildren a very happy birthday today, I’d appreciate it.

Macklin McCall: I’d like to take a moment to recognize two incredible members of my constituency team in West Kelowna–Peachland, Jane Inkster and Nicole Day.

Jane and Nicole are often the first point of contact for constituents who are navigating complex issues, whether it’s government services, local concerns or simply needing help finding the right direction. They handle those conversations with professionalism, compassion and patience. Every single day the work they do behind the scenes makes a real difference to the people we serve. I’m grateful for the dedication and proud of the support they provide to our community.

Will everyone join me in welcoming them to the Legislature today.

Gavin Dew: Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, I showed up on time, so I won’t have to make the member for Prince George–Mackenzie do this.

I rise to welcome my mother, Martha Bassett, to the House.

It takes a special kind of love to let heavy metal bands rehearse in your living room for years. That was my mother. It takes a special kind of strength to survive cancer, raise two kids, largely on your own, and keep them from self-destructing long enough that one makes an honest living and the other ends up in the Legislature. That was also my mother. It takes a special kind of senior to plan a backpacking pilgrimage through Japan just months before your 80th birthday. That is my mother’s next stop after her visit today to the Legislature.

I love you, Mom.

Rob Botterell: In the House with us today are Pamela Wright and Joyce Budnyk from the Pender Island Food Bank. The Pender Island Food Bank Society is a B.C. society and federal charity that provides food for Penderites experiencing food insecurity.

They currently support 176 individuals, 32 of whom are children, who can visit the food bank weekly to shop for non-perishables, dairy, meat and many other foodstuffs. They also provide deliveries to homebound seniors as a distributor for B.C. farmers market coupons. At Christmas, they provide gifts for children in need. Last year they had roughly 3,000 visits, a 34 percent increase from 2024.

The food bank has 23 very active volunteers. More than two-thirds of the revenue comes from donations from individual Penderites. Less than 1 percent of their funds come from a government grant.

May the House please make them feel welcome.

Tony Luck: I would like to take this opportunity to introduce a couple of visitors to the Legislature this morning. Cooper Meyer and Carson Wengert are visiting from the United States and are excited to be here to witness our system of governance in British Columbia.

They are accompanied by our good friend Colin Chia.

If you could please join me in giving them a warm welcome, that would be appreciated.

Hon. Ravi Parmar: We’ve got representatives from one of British Columbia’s largest companies. We’ve got some folks from Telus here. We’ve got Juggy Sihota, vice-president; as well as Richa Sharma, from government relations.

I want to give a shout-out to Richa Sharma, who also serves on the board of governors for Royal Roads University in my community of Langford and that of my colleague from the West Shore.

Will the House please join in this opportunity of making them feel very welcome.

[10:10 a.m.]

Members’ Statements

Lunar New Year
and Yàhnyaht

Teresa Wat: Yesterday marked Yàhnyaht, the seventh day of the lunar new year, traditionally known as “everyone’s birthday,” including all of you.

For centuries, people have observed everyone’s birthday by wishing one another health, dignity and harmony. It is a celebration not of emperors or heroes but of ordinary people — families, workers, seniors and children — whose daily efforts form the foundation of our society.

This meaning is especially relevant in this chamber. As legislators, we debate policy, budgets and laws, but Yàhnyaht reminds us why we do so. Every decision we make ultimately affects people’s lives, their livelihoods, their safety and their hopes for the future.

When discussions become difficult or divisions appear sharp, Yàhnyaht calls on all of us to return to a simple principle that every person deserves respect, opportunity and compassion.

At a time of global uncertainty and local challenges, this reminder is not only symbolic. It urges us to govern with empathy, to listen more carefully and to remember that progress is measured not only by economic growth but by human beings.

As we continue our work in the new year, may the spirit of Yàhnyaht guide us to place people at the centre of our policies, to uphold human dignity and to build a society that is fair, inclusive and humane.

Again, I wish all British Columbians good health, peace and renewed purpose in the new year ahead. Gung hay fat choy. Gong xi fa cai.

Domestic Violence Awareness
and Support for Survivors

Rohini Arora: Today I want to speak to you about an issue that’s near and dear to my heart. According to Stats Canada, 44 percent of women in Canada have experienced abuse in a relationship — almost half. Even worse, women are killed by partners every year after the abuse escalates.

It doesn’t start deadly. You’ve heard the story about the frog in water. Drop it into boiling water, and it jumps out immediately. But warm the water slowly, and it’ll stay until it dies.

Abuse and control can start subtle, and it’s important to learn the signs. Attention can feel like oxygen. Intensity can feel like security. First it’s: “Text me when you get home.” Then: “Why didn’t you answer?” Then: “I don’t like your friends. I don’t want you hanging out with them anymore.” Then it’s silence, tension, fear or worse.

If you feel confused rather than safe, those are signs. If you feel afraid to upset him or them, and you shrink yourself, that is not love. Many women say they begin to not recognize themselves anymore. They feel alone.

But I hope all women will hear this. His insecurity is not your burden to carry. To the young girls who feel alone, who don’t have parents checking in or feel that they wouldn’t understand: you are not alone. If you see the signs and you want to get out, we are here.

Signs live in the body, like feeling anxious, tight or frozen. The first time you feel that pit in your stomach is the moment you should begin to back away. That is self-love. A show of your internal strength is to say, “If you continue doing X, Y, Z, I will remove access,” and meaning it.

Even when your voice trembles, we’re holding your hand. Each one of you, no matter your story, deserves calm, steady and safe love. Women and girls of B.C. who are in these controlling and abusive relationships, jump while the water is still warm.

VictimLinkBC is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available 24-7. Call 1-800-563-0808.

[10:15 a.m.]

Kettle Valley Rail Trail

Donegal Wilson: I rise today to recognize the importance of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, one of British Columbia’s most remarkable heritage and recreation corridors. Stretching across the southern Interior, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail connects communities, landscapes and generations.

What was once a vital transportation corridor that helped build this province now serves a new purpose, bringing people together through recreation, tourism and shared history. This trail welcomes hikers, cyclists, equestrians, snowmobilers and families who come to experience British Columbia’s outdoors in a way that is both accessible and deeply connected to our past.

For many smaller communities, the Kettle Valley Rail Trail has become an important economic driver, supporting local businesses and encouraging visitors to explore parts of this province they might not otherwise see.

Beyond its economic value, the trail represents something deeper. It tells the story of the workers and communities who helped build British Columbia, and it reminds us that the infrastructure of the past can continue to serve future generations in meaningful ways.

The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is a provincial treasure. It was entrusted to the province as a recreational asset for the people of British Columbia. With two sections in my riding now being abandoned, this asset is gradually losing its full potential. I believe the way forward for the Kettle Valley Rail Trail requires us to think outside the box.

One possibility is for the trail to become the province’s first lineal provincial park. This would provide a mechanism for local groups to undertake work, raise funds and collect user fees that can be reinvested directly back into the trail. It would also allow the province to formally recognize the importance of this corridor, preserve and share its history, and develop a cohesive park plan for the entire route.

Most importantly, it would provide economic certainty for community groups and investors by clearly establishing that the trail is valued and will remain that provincial asset for future generations. Recreational infrastructure like the Kettle Valley Rail Trail is worth protecting.

Resource Sector and
Economic Development

George Anderson: In January, I attended the Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, organized by CEO Sarah Weber and C3 Alliance. As an Islander, I can tell you that there is nothing more sincere than going to Prince George in January. What I felt there was something powerful — determination and a clear belief that British Columbia’s best days are still ahead.

This was not a gathering of people asking whether the future was possible; it was a gathering of people ready to build it. I heard pride from a mineworker whose job supports a family and community; from Indigenous leaders forging partnerships that will create opportunity for generations; from innovators like Rolf Wenzel, of Rainstream; from Wildfire Innovations, working to safeguard our forests; from leaders like McLean Welsh, of A.B.C. Recycling, helping preserve the world’s resources; and from tradespeople, entrepreneurs and workers who don’t just talk about the future. They build it.

Natural resources are not just commodities. They’re paycheques, apprenticeships. They’re the reason families can stay in the communities they live in and build a life with dignity. The world needs our critical minerals, our forestry and our low-carbon energy. British Columbia can reasonably power the global economy while creating good jobs here at home. The message from the North was clear. People are ready to invest, ready to build and to train the next generation.

The commitment was reinforced in my conversations with Dr. Johnson, the president of Simon Fraser University; and Dr. Airini, the president of Thompson Rivers University — leaders advancing bold plans to align training with the jobs of the future, because the strongest economic policy we have is our people, their skills, pride and work ethic. If we match their pride with certainty and meet their urgency with action, then our natural resources will not just grow our economy. They will unlock prosperity for workers today, for families tomorrow and for generations to come.

That is the message from the North. If we listen and act, we will build a future worthy of the pride of British Columbians, who bring that pride to work every single day.

Kimberley Pipe Band

Scott McInnis: It’s a real honour to rise today and speak about a group that has been the character and spirit of Kimberley for nearly a century, the Kimberley Pipe Band. There’s nothing quite like it — the first notes rising, ancient and bold, the steady cadence of the drums falling in behind. And then, at that moment the band rounds a street corner and crests a hill, the music swells with a force that seems to lift the whole community to its feet.

[10:20 a.m.]

As we gather in 2026, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone, the band’s 99th year. For almost a century, their music has been the heartbeat of our community — steady, proud and unmistakably Kimberley. Year after year, the pipe band enriches some of our most meaningful moments.

They lead us in reflection on Remembrance Day, reminding us of the service and sacrifice that built our freedoms. They celebrate achievements at graduation, marking new beginnings with the traditional strength of the pipes. Of course, they bring unmatched energy and tradition to local parades and community events, weaving music into the story of our town.

I want to offer a special and heartfelt thank-you to pipe major Jock MacDonald. Jock has dedicated over 30 years to this band, a commitment that began before he was even a teenager. His leadership, passion and unwavering service have kept this tradition alive, inspired by new players, and strengthened the culture and fabric of Kimberley.

Jock, this community is deeply, deeply grateful to you.

If anyone here has ever thought about picking up a set of pipes or a drum, this is your invitation. The band is always ready to welcome new members of all ages and all experience levels to carry this legacy forward. As we stand just one year away from an incredible milestone, the 100th anniversary in 2027, let’s continue celebrating, supporting and growing this proud Kimberley tradition.

Thank you, and here’s to the next century of music.

History of Pattullo Bridge
and Opening of stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge

Amna Shah: On Family Day this year, families took one final walk across the historic Pattullo Bridge. Opened in 1937, this steel through arch bridge connected the legendary cities of Surrey and New Westminster and served as a vital Fraser River crossing for generations. For nearly 90 years, it carried commuters, commerce and community across our region. It was also very pretty to look at.

The bridge was quite literally a bridge to prosperity. Yes, many of us remember holding our breath as we crossed it, gripping the wheel, hoping to keep our side-view mirrors intact. But through every narrow lane and careful crossing, the Pattullo Bridge served us well.

As times change, so do the needs of our growing region. Today we gratefully welcome the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, a name and structure that honours the deep and enduring ties of the qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ First Nation and the Musqueam Indian Band to this land. This modern cable-stayed bridge offers wider lanes, a centre median barrier and protected multi-use pathways for pedestrians and cyclists so that everyone can cross safely. I can attest it is a mirror-safe, breathtakingly smooth ride built for the future.

As the Pattullo settles into memory, we remember that its steel carried footsteps, headlights, laughter and long journeys home. It bore the weight of a generation’s becoming. And now the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge points us toward tomorrow, its foundations grounded in lessons learned and relationships honoured.

As we close the Pattullo Bridge, we honour the crossings that shaped us, and as we open the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, we celebrate the trust that we are still becoming.

Speaker’s Statement

Guidance on Members’ Statements

The Speaker: Members, a reminder to all members that the two-minute statements ought to be not more than two minutes. I ask members to practise it before you come to the chamber and deliver it. Time it. If you need to edit it, please do so. Thank you.

Oral Questions

Government Hiring of Staff
and Role of Merit Commissioner

Trevor Halford: The Premier’s office is being sued by a former executive director of international relations, John Pratt.

Now, the hiring of Mr. Pratt probably highlights the exact reason why the Merit Commissioner needs to exist. He had been previously terminated from his job with the federal government under suspicion of leaking sensitive materials.

My question to the Premier is a direct one. Did the Premier know when he hired him that this person was under investigation, or did he not even do the proper due diligence of a background check?

[10:25 a.m.]

Hon. Niki Sharma: As this matter is before the courts, we won’t be commenting on it in question period.

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, new question.

Trevor Halford: Thank you to the Attorney General for that troubling answer.

The fact of the matter is that this is a Premier, this is a Minister of Finance, this is a government that has chosen to terminate a Merit Commissioner. We have seen illustrated, in the past weeks and months, that this is a government that has no intention of hiring based on merit.

My question is to the Premier. Will he walk back his plan to remove all merit from government and reinstate the Merit Commissioner today, yes or no?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: As the member opposite knows, the Merit Commissioner does not review OIC appointments, and they do not review appointments on boards. The Merit Commissioner is focused on hirings within the Public Service Agency.

It’s also important to know, and I’ll point out to you, in the words of the commissioner from page 32 of their most recent annual report…. When reviewing dismissals, the commissioner said: “Due process is being followed, with process steps being completed, interviews being fairly conducted and employees having full and fair opportunities to respond to issues.”

We are in very unprecedented…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: …financial times. We are taking serious….

Interjections.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: You know, the members opposite….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. The minister has the floor, please.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: The members opposite bang the table whenever we bring up the trade war, because they know there are people within their party that are pro-Trump.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, shhh.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: The impacts on the world economy are real, just like climate change.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members, the minister has the floor.

Members. Members.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, please.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: This government is making careful decisions about efficiencies. The Merit Commissioner…. Upon review, their functionality can be brought into the PSA. We know that this work has happened very efficiently within the PSA. We are moving those functionalities into the PSA. There will be no change for the public service in terms of their ability to respond to any concerns, and this will save us $2.2 million per year.

Á’a:líya Warbus: We just took a very convenient turn in the questioning to the public sector, so let’s talk about the public sector.

The 2024 audit found that “the highest rate of flawed hiring processes and outcomes in nearly a decade” happened under this government. That is a direct quote from the Merit Commissioner. The Finance Minister can quote all of the convenient parts of the report, but I’m going to bring out the parts that are flawed.

The commissioner is the very commissioner that this government wants to scrap and that holds this government to account. This government seems allergic to accountability.

In the report tabled by the Merit Commissioner, what is the exact number of appointments found that had a negative impact to competition and errors in the hiring process? Please share that with us.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: The work of the Merit Commissioner has been to, largely, help change the public service in terms of our approach to merit. It has been integrated into the work of the public service at large.

What the members opposite are trying to do is cloud OIC appointments and PSA. The Public Service Agency is a professional body.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, let the minister answer, please. Then you can have your comments in the next question.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: The PSA has continued their excellent work in creating a hiring culture that is transparent and accountable.

[10:30 a.m.]

In the last fiscal year, in ’24-25, the Merit Commissioner conducted 272 audits of appointments in the public service. They found that the hiring culture is transparent and accountable and that there were no — zero — examples of political patronage.

The Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

Á’a:líya Warbus: It seems that we’re doing conflation of words today in the House, and “integrated” is being used to duck and hide from accountability.

Let’s be clear. The Merit Commissioner has a very clear role in keeping this government accountable, and last week the Minister of Finance stood up and said in this House exactly what we’re hearing today — that merit becomes a part of public sector agency culture.

But I did not hear directly from the report, which is the question that I asked, that the Merit Commissioner actually found nearly 3,000 public sector workers were appointed without merit and with errors in the process. You cannot integrate functionality into a government that doesn’t function.

However, to the minister, a very simple question. Is the minister insinuating that the Merit Commissioner is incorrect, or will she just admit that she did not read the report?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: The members opposite are deliberately trying to conflate the people that we hire into our political staff with the PSA. The PSA is a non-partisan body. The Merit Commissioner’s role is to perform random audits and look at just-cause dismissals within the Public Service Agency. That’s what they’ve done. Last year alone, 270 reviews found zero examples of political patronage.

The Merit Commissioner’s role, while important, can be adopted by the Public Service Agency. They will continue to provide everything that the Merit Commissioner has provided and will provide continuing ongoing reports.

Budget Priorities and
Fossil Fuel Industry Subsidies

Rob Botterell: Families across British Columbia are facing impossible choices, where parents must decide between paying the bills and putting food on the table. Food bank use has surged by almost 80 percent since 2019. We have budget cuts of $1.4 billion choking off new affordable housing starts, another $3.5 billion in public service cuts, not to mention the shelved grocery rebate promise.

The gap in reality between what this government says and does is widening. Meanwhile, the Eby government provides hundreds of millions of dollars of subsidies to fossil fuel companies. The purse strings may be tight, but not for everyone.

To the Premier, what criteria does the Premier use to prioritize fossil fuel subsidies over food and grocery relief for struggling British Columbians?

Hon. Adrian Dix: I’d just say, with respect to the last aspect of the question — I know my colleague, on supplementary, would want to respond to the first aspect of the question — this is just not the case. In fact, the government has got rid of those various subsidies the member talks about. We did so in the period when we were working on a confidence and supply agreement with the Green Party. So he will well know this.

What we’re seeing in British Columbia is, in fact, and this is a critical aspect, the growth of natural resource ministries through the extraordinary work of the minister responsible for mining, tripling mining revenues in the period that the budget addresses — which is, I think, good news for everyone, including for the very social programs he talks about.

The increases in revenues coming to government, for example, from natural gas, because we’re upgrading the value of that gas, the work that we’re doing across British Columbia in expanding renewables…. All of this benefits the provincial economy, because we need to grow the provincial economy, and we are doing exactly that.

The reason we’re doing it that’s, at least for me, the most important is to support the very social programs the member is talking about — supporting the health care system, supporting the education system, supporting the reduction of inequality across things…. The record of the government on those questions. a lot of which were done in alliance with the B.C. Green Party, is outstanding.

[10:35 a.m.]

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Rob Botterell: We should be investing in communities, not corporations. Last year Pembina Pipeline reported $4.4 billion in earnings, and its CEO received $11.8 million in compensation. This Premier gave the same company $200 million for an LNG project. That’s the entire budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food — more. Their budget is $143 million. So supporting farmers and strengthening food security receives less than a single corporate subsidy.

We know these sunset industry LNG projects are riddled with problems.

The Speaker: Question, Member.

Rob Botterell: Guess who’s going to be left to do the cleanup? B.C. taxpayers.

To the Premier, why is this government prepared to invest more in profitable fossil fuel companies than in the farmers who put food on British Columbians’ tables while food bank usage is at an all-time high?

Hon. Adrian Dix: You know, I think an LNG project that was initiated by a First Nation, the Cedar LNG project…. When you ask questions about it in the House, you should recognize their role. The member for Skeena is here. She knows their role. We know their role.

It’s all right to criticize. You can disagree with that First Nation, but to elide them from the story is not correct. They are doing something extraordinary in British Columbia, in their community, which is ensuring that the profits from LNG rest in their community. They’re owned by a First Nation. To eliminate them from the story…. You can criticize them. You can disagree, but you cannot elide them from the story. It is an extraordinary thing what the First Nation is doing in that community. It’s an extraordinary thing, and we should recognize it, and we should involve it.

With respect to LNG, you can see in the budget, when you increase the value of natural gas, which B.C. produces, it benefits the budget, and that is exactly what the government is doing.

Role of Merit Commissioner

Harman Bhangu: Very rich, coming from the minister that destroyed our health care systems and now is destroying our energy systems.

They are overseeing themselves. It effectively eliminates the audit function. Those are not my words. Those are the words of the BCGEU President Paul Finch. I don’t always agree with Paul, but I agree with him this time.

Since 2018, the Merit Commissioner has been responsible for reviewing unjust dismissals in the public service at a time when this government is reportedly preparing to cut up to 15,000 public sector jobs.

Will this Premier admit that eliminating the Merit Commissioner is a way to prevent those workers from having an independent review of their dismissal?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: Not at all. The role of the Merit Commissioner will be completely delivered by the Public Service Agency, who are able and ready to do this role. In fact, that happens in every other province in Canada.

The Public Service Agency is a professional, non-partisan organization that is focused on culture….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh. Members, the question has already been asked. Let’s answer that question first.

Please continue.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

In regards to the reduction of 15,000 folks across British Columbia, they’re members of our public service and the broader public sector. We will be working closely with all of the unions that are impacted to ensure that this is done in a way that’s fair, that the process is accountable, and that work has begun.

Appointments to Government Agencies
and Role of Merit Commissioner

Kiel Giddens: There is more that we heard from the president of the BCGEU on public service jobs. He also said: “It’s more important than ever to ensure that these highly sought-after positions are, in fact, being awarded on merit.” I couldn’t agree more.

But whether it’s board appointments or special advisers, this NDP party relies on a very small group of labour leaders, former NDP cabinet ministers and friends of the Premier. Laird Cronk has just been appointed chair of WorkSafeBC’s board of directors for a three-year term by the Minister of Labour.

[10:40 a.m.]

Mr. Cronk, as I’m sure the Finance Minister is aware, was a former president of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

How many more friends and insiders does the Premier plan on hiring in the entire civil service now that he can fire and hire at will without a Merit Commissioner?

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside: I acknowledge the question from the member.

I will say that every worker deserves to come home safe and sound at the end of their shift. In 2025, 138 workers didn’t make it home, and many more suffered injuries at work, some that were life-altering.

Every single member of the Workers Compensation Board understands the incredible gravity of their role, both from a statutory perspective and the moral imperative, to ensure that workers come home safe at the end of their shifts. We know that when safety standards fall short, workers pay the price. We know that on this side of the House.

I will just say this. In this question, we actually see the mask of the Conservatives fall away, and we see the true contempt for working people that lies beneath.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, order.

Members, shhh. Members.

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside: Frankly, to suggest that somebody who is a Red Seal electrician in this province, who has worked for decades to lift up skilled trades, to build bridges between employers and unions, to literally build this province…. To suggest that an individual with that experience, that compassion and that knowledge is not appropriate to lead the board of the workers compensation system is, frankly, absurd.

The Speaker: Prince George–Mackenzie, supplemental.

Kiel Giddens: That had nothing to do with the Merit Commissioner.

I don’t doubt that people care about workers’ safety.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. One member at a time.

Kiel Giddens: That is the responsibility of both workers and employers.

I’m sure Mr. Cronk is a great guy, but the reality is that this party, the NDP party, has replaced the need for balanced public policy with blatant political patronage. This Minister of Labour who just stood up actually held a fundraiser last year called Union Made, stacked with union bosses.

The business community knows there is no semblance of balance in labour policy…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Kiel Giddens: …whether it’s at WorkSafe or at the labour board.

It doesn’t stop there. The chair of B.C. Hydro is a former B.C. NDP Premier. The chair of B.C. Ferries is a former NDP Finance Minister.

A yes-or-no question to the current Finance Minister. Will she reinstate the Merit Commissioner to prevent the entire B.C. civil service from becoming a banana republic of NDP partisan friends?

Hon. Mike Farnworth: The only banana republic would be that side of the House if they ever sat on this side of the House.

Their lack of knowledge about the role of the Merit Commissioner is unbelievable. The Merit Commissioner does not deal with boards and political appointments. Does not ever. Somehow they don’t seem to understand that.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: But what we have seen in the last few questions is them get up and try and tarnish the reputation and the names of people who have spent a lifetime of public service. Whether it is in the labour movement….

[10:45 a.m.]

The member stands up from time to time in this House and likes to go on about union workers and then uses terms like “union bosses.” That tells you everything you need to know. They want to impugn the reputation of a former Premier of this province who chairs B.C. Hydro, who managed Jimmy Pattison’s empire in this province for 15 years, which was more than that member or any of them could ever do, ever.

Finally, let’s talk about how this whole issue has come up with the Leader of the Opposition, a former political staffer. The hypocrisy from that side is unreal.

You know what, hon. Speaker? I can’t wait for a supplemental, because I’ve got a lot more to give.

Government Hiring of Consultants

Ward Stamer: Talking about accountability and transparency, former NDP cabinet minister George Heyman quietly had his special labour advisory contract extended for the fourth time recently, already paying him over $145,000 last year.

The Finance Minister last spring promised us that Mr. Heyman was hired for a maximum of $58,000 and his contract was ending July 31, 2025.

Can the Premier explain why his contract was renewed four times in secret?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: Thank you for the opportunity for me to publicly thank George Heyman for his excellent service to us.

We have 181 tables in negotiation this year, and these workers provide incredibly important services to all British Columbians. It’s also a very challenging time for us to do these negotiations in the face of a trade war and under very serious economic threat.

To have the assistance of someone who has been in government and also has been a leader of the BCGEU has been fundamental to me. I’m deeply grateful.

Thank you to George Heyman.

The Speaker: Kamloops–North Thompson, supplemental.

Ward Stamer: Let me get this straight. Does the Premier have such little faith in his current cabinet that he has to hire a former minister to do the work of the current minister and then bill the taxpayers over $200,000 this year?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: Perhaps someday the member will understand that these roles…. When you’re a minister, you have an extraordinarily demanding schedule and many things that you are responsible for. I can’t personally be at the tables — 181 tables.

It’s important that we have good people so that we can get this incredibly important work done.

Scott McInnis: Michael Bryant, the first of the Downtown Eastside czars appointed by this Premier, was terminated before we could see any deliverables because this government couldn’t tell us what those were.

However, we shouldn’t be surprised, because Mr. Bryant was fired from Legal Aid B.C. without an explanation from the Premier. Bryant was then replaced by former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell on a six-month contract for over $100,000.

The work done on the Downtown Eastside is billed to the taxpayer, so my question to the Premier is a very simple one. Will he table their reports today, yes or no?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: The work that these folks are identifying is not work that is overseen by the Merit Commissioner, and the attempt to try and suggest that the Merit Commissioner’s office was something different than it was is simply false.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Members.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: The other side continues with their fundamental philosophy of not letting the facts get in the way of a good story. The Merit Commissioner….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members will come to order.

Members, you are taking your own time. Please keep that in mind.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Okay, you can carry on. The minister can sit down, and let’s see how long you want to take it.

[10:50 a.m.]

Provincial Sales Tax
and Support for Small Business

Gavin Dew: Minutes ago 15 major business organizations wrapped up a joint news conference calling on the Premier to scrap his PST hike.

Last week, last Friday, on stage at the board of trade, the Premier brushed off concerns over his tone-deaf attack on small business as nothing more than an anecdote. This government keeps asking the business community for another chance but then continues to dismiss their concerns.

Will the Premier stand up today, admit this was a mistake and scrap his $500-million-a-year, job-killing professional services tax hike, yes or no? Simple question.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: There are many things in Budget 2026 for the business community. Let’s start with the $400 million strategic investment fund, never seen before — $400 million to draw investment into our province, to unlock the money that’s coming from the federal government, to unlock private sector investment, to continue to grow our economy.

We’ve brought in a new tax credit for the manufacturing sector — 20,000 manufacturing businesses in all of our ridings, 170,000 people working in that sector, a 15 percent tax credit in Budget 2026. But let’s be frank. No one wants to see taxes go up. It’s hard when it happens. Why are we doing it? We’re doing it not because we want to. We’re doing it because we need to.

The reality is that Budget 2026 protects what’s core to British Columbians. We continue to protect and expand health care. We continue to invest in education. You know who that’s good for? It’s good for the business community. Can you attract people when they can’t find a doctor? No. Can you attract people when their kids aren’t getting what they need in schools? No.

We proudly stand this budget up. It also helps the business community.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Government Hiring and Accountability

Gavin Dew: The minister says she’s doing it because she needs to. She needs to because of nine years of NDP economic mismanagement. Her solution, instead of addressing investment fundamentals, is a $400 million slush fund for the Premier to pick winners and losers instead of making sure that every company can build and grow and invest in this province.

The Minister of Finance went to the board of trade not long ago, where she threw her own caucus under the bus, and she said one cannot distribute the wealth if there isn’t any wealth to distribute. Maybe she needs a reminder of that, and maybe she needs to remind the Premier that picking winners and losers with a $400 million slush fund is not the same as creating conditions for investment.

But let’s go back to the Merit Commissioner. Maybe the Premier and the Finance Minister think their record of appointing friends and insiders is just another anecdote too. This government seems to think they can operate above the rules. No need for oversight, no need for a merit commission. Not for this Premier. He’s above all that.

Today this House has heard hard evidence, and the case is clear — 3,000 flawed public sector appointments in just one year. This government has an unacceptable addiction to appointing insiders. Friends of the Premier keep getting six-figure paydays and secretive contract extensions. Current ministers have former ministers backfilling their jobs.

The Speaker: Question, Member.

Gavin Dew: Does the Premier not trust his own ministers to do their jobs? Looking across the aisle, I see a lot of faces that suggest to me that that doesn’t make him very popular with his own caucus.

The Speaker: Question, Member. Question.

Gavin Dew: This is a government that goes out of its way at every turn to avoid oversight, transparency and accountability.

Why does the Premier think he gets to play by a different set of rules than the rest of British Columbia?

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I want to thank the member for, with the second half of his question, giving me a chance to get up and give a little more information about the other side of the House.

[10:55 a.m.]

I already explained that the Merit Commissioner does not review political appointments. But I’d like to remind that member, because he wasn’t here at the time, about a former party president of the B.C. Liberal Party, who was….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Interjection.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: Oh, hon. Member. You don’t realize what is happening to you right now. We’re watching….

Interjection.

The Speaker: Order, Member. Order, please.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I don’t know, hon. Member. Have you ever heard…?

Interjections.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: They got their party back.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members, please.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I don’t know if they’ve ever heard of a cowbird, but the cowbirds are pretty unique things. What it does…. It doesn’t make its own nest. It flies around looking for another nest, and it lays an egg, and it hatches. When it hatches, it kicks out the host. It kicks out its host. And that’s exactly what’s happening on the other side.

The B.C. Liberals are quietly taking over the Conservative Party. You will see yourselves all forced out because, on that side right there, we’ve got a former B.C. Liberal inside staffer who clearly, when he was a staffer, was part of something called a swing team that worked in this chamber….

Interjection.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: It has a lot.

Worked on a by-election campaign against the rules in this very chamber.

It’s about a party that does not recognize the rules when it comes to how the place works. They’ve always been that way. They always will be that way. That’s why they’re always going to sit on that side of the House.

[End of question period.]

The Speaker: It was an embarrassment, guys. Members, both sides. Don’t try to be too cool. The public watches us every day. The behaviour shown today is not acceptable. It’s an embarrassment. Thank you.

Orders of the Day

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I call continued debate on the budget.

[Mable Elmore in the chair.]

Budget Debate
(continued)

Hon. Jagrup Brar: I’m proud to stand in this House again today to continue my discussion about Budget 2026 from yesterday, when I left.

Budget 2026 is good for the people of Surrey. Yesterday we just started talking about Surrey when I was asked by the hon. Speaker to stop because of procedural matters. So I would like to continue from the same place again.

[11:00 a.m.]

Surrey is, as we all know, a fast-growing city in the province and probably in the country. We bring now, they say, roughly about 1,400 people every week, and that’s huge.

If you look at the education sector, I met with the school superintendent. What they told me was that about five years ago, the average growth in Surrey schools for new kids was about 600 kids, which means the province is required to make one new school, which is doable, no matter which government in place. It depends what the policy of the government is. But that went from 600 to 2,500 per year.

In five years, rather than making five schools, now you’re supposed to build 25 schools. That’s a huge difference.

We have made huge progress during the last eight years. Budget 2026 reflects government choices. I just want to say that even at a time which is a very challenging time, when we talk about the financial situation, we continue to invest in the city of Surrey, big time, to make sure that city of Surrey people get what they deserve.

Also, we have to deal with the huge gap left over by the previous administration, which was B.C. Liberals, and then it was B.C. United and then something else. I don’t know what the future will be.

We have been investing in building schools for kids, extending SkyTrain to Langley, replacing an unsafe Pattullo Bridge, a new second hospital for patients and a medical school for our young students at SFU. We are putting the people of Surrey first, making different choices than the previous government.

For 16 years, B.C. Liberals refused to build affordable housing, as we all know; public transit and schools for our students; and a new second hospital for our fastest-growing city in the country.

Members of the official opposition are pretty surprising. I see them constantly stand in this House and talk about Surrey in their budget speeches and during the question period, believing that the people of Surrey will trust them one day. That is not going to happen. The people of Surrey will never trust. They gave them 16 years to fix problems, but they completely ignored the city of Surrey, though, at that time.

The record is very clear. They refused to build the second hospital for Surrey. Not only that, they sold the land that was purchased by the previous NDP government to build the second hospital.

We are building the state-of-the-art second hospital, with a cancer care centre in it: the first, the only, hospital being built in the province — new hospital I’m talking about — of that size. It’s a one-million-square-foot building, ten-storey building, with a cancer centre on the side of it.

We are doing it. They refused to build it, clearly, and they sold that land to build housing at that time. They also refused to build a medical school.

Claire Rattée: Today is the second time that I’ve had the privilege of speaking to the budget in this House on behalf of the residents of Skeena.

I’d like to start by sincerely thanking them for their trust in me and the ability to represent them in this House and to fight for them. It’s been a real honour to serve them over the last year and a half.

It’s been a difficult adjustment for me, obviously, as a first-time MLA. I really want to thank my family for their patience and their unwavering support; thank my staff, both in my constituency office, all of my staff here in the Legislature and the staff at home that are holding down the fort at our tattoo shop and making me proud every single day.

There are two people I want to thank specifically — my CA, Chelsea, for her hard work and her dedication to this role, for jumping in headfirst. She’s been my greatest asset as I continue to serve my constituents.

Most of all, I want to thank my spouse, Colton. He’s the best man I’ve ever known, and he has stood by my side during one of the most challenging and exciting periods that we have ever experienced together.

[11:05 a.m.]

As we’ve adjusted to what this role means, including many long days away from home, he has been my rock, and I cannot express how much that means to me. A year ago I didn’t think I could love him any more than I already did, but this past year has shown me that that connection goes even deeper than I ever thought possible.

I couldn’t do this without all of you, and I’m forever grateful for your faith in me and for all of your help.

Sadly, today as I’m rising to speak to the budget, it’s a budget that makes the wrong choices at the wrong time. It’s a budget that raises costs while families are already stretched. It delays housing when communities are desperate. It talks about growth while abandoning forestry. It speaks about fairness while squeezing rural and northern British Columbia.

In my riding of Skeena, people are not looking for slogans. They are looking for delivery. The core test of any budget is simple. Does it make life more affordable, services more reliable and community stronger? This one does not.

Let’s begin with affordability. The government has increased income taxes and frozen bracket indexation. That means that even modest wage growth gets clawed back through inflation-driven bracket creep. It means people pay more without even realizing it.

Freezing income tax brackets for three years will undo any wage growth that we might see. The minimum wage is set to increase this year, but what that might have meant for people that are struggling to get by will no longer matter.

Then we see the expansion of PST, not onto luxury items but onto basics — things like landlines, basic cable, clothing and shoe repair. When families are trying to save money by repairing instead of replacing, this government taxes the repair.

When children’s coats get holes in them, in my community, we have them mended. When workers get holes in their boots, they have them mended. This is an attack on not only a more sustainable choice but often a fiscally necessary one.

When families in rural communities rely on landlines because cell service is unreliable, this government adds 7 percent. When small businesses hire accountants, bookkeepers, architects, engineers or security guards, this government adds 7 percent.

This is not affordability.

The Finance Minister said the other day that some people on our side of the House claim to be business owners. I picked up on the insult that it was. I want to remind that minister that I am a business owner. I actually know what it’s like to struggle to make payroll, and I actually know what it’s like to struggle to understand our tax system.

Now small business owners will be penalized for trying to make sure that they are tax-compliant. Or worse, they will risk navigating this system themselves.

Seven percent adds up. The fact that the Finance Minister so flippantly dismisses that makes me think that she doesn’t understand what it’s like to run a business on razor-thin margins like most businesses these days do.

Adding 7 percent to the cost of security services is a particular slap in the face to both businesses and apartment tenants alike, especially in urban areas. This soft-on-crime government has allowed crime to run rampant. Now they see a golden opportunity to dig into the pockets of British Columbians.

Let’s be clear about the housing implications of this budget. You do not lower the cost of housing by taxing the services that are required to build housing. You do not help renters by increasing the operating costs of rental property management and security. These costs do not disappear. They get passed along.

Adding another 7 percent to the cost of professional services that are crucial to new construction does not encourage new development, and adding it to building and strata management does not help renters.

In this budget, the government also decided to effectively cancel the community housing fund. In Kitimat, a volunteer-run seniors housing society worked for years to move a project forward. The municipality put in $75,000 of municipal tax base for seed money. The society spent $18,000 just to complete the mandatory audits that they had to, to apply for the community housing fund. The community rallied, plans were drawn, and momentum was building. Then the province pulled the funding.

You cannot solve housing by cancelling housing. This is a $1.4 billion cut. The minister can call it whatever she wants, but the reality is that this is a cut. They are reallocating $1.4 billion from this fund, which means that housing will not get built.

In northern communities, seniors housing is not a political talking point. It is the difference between aging in place and leaving town, leaving children, grandchildren, the life that you’ve built, the community that you love. It is the difference between dignity and isolation. When seniors housing is delayed or cancelled, the ripple effect hits families, hospitals and entire communities.

We have next to no long-term-care capacity in my riding. These projects are the only lifeline to save our hospitals from their breaking point. The government is not taking that seriously.

[11:10 a.m.]

Housing is a provincial responsibility. It is one that this government is more than happy to shirk off onto municipalities, yet another downloading of responsibilities.

In Terrace, when B.C. Housing approached the municipality looking for land to build housing on, the municipality gladly offered up every piece of residential land that they had, for free and serviced, on the simple promise of making up for the lost land and potential revenues through taxation.

What did B.C. Housing do? They turned around and they had all low-income housing designated as zero value. Municipalities like Terrace can increase taxes all they want, but any percentage of zero is still going to be zero.

These are the thanks that they get for trying to support the provincial government in the mess that they created. Now they’re left with no undeveloped land for residential use. The government won’t even look at offering them any Crown land in return.

Terrace is a community with an effectively zero percent vacancy rate. How are they supposed to meet the demand that has been created by a cost-of-living crisis that this government helped to create? There is nothing to address these issues in this budget, just more cuts.

Rates of homelessness in northern B.C. vastly outpace those in Vancouver and Victoria. Here in Victoria, one in 252 people is homeless. In Vancouver, it’s one in 278; in greater Vancouver, it’s one in 594. In Kitimat, it’s one in 131; and in Terrace, one in 94. One in 94 people living in Terrace does not have a home. They do not have a roof over their heads.

They live up north in one of the coldest and wettest climates in this province, yet they have to sleep unsheltered; in a vehicle; or, in rare cases of luck, on someone else’s couch for a few nights. This is unacceptable.

That means that a resident of Terrace is almost seven times more likely to be homeless than a resident of greater Vancouver, yet this government figured it was a good time to make affordable and low-income housing even harder to access. We can’t even get a permanent shelter in Kitimat, a community that is consistently cold with severe weather three-quarters of the year.

Again, this is not a government that is taking this crisis seriously. Cancelling this year’s intake for the community housing fund shows very clearly that this government does not understand the gravity of this crisis, and it shows that they certainly do not understand the gravity of it in northern B.C. When somebody living in Terrace is almost seven times more likely to be unhoused than somebody living in the greater Vancouver area, we have a very serious problem that deserves attention from this government.

In this budget, we also see a large number of long-term-care projects that have been shifted to TBC. We don’t know if that means “to be confirmed,” “to be continued” or “to be cancelled,” but TBC is not a plan.

In northern and rural British Columbia, when long-term care is delayed, seniors don’t just wait longer. They travel farther. Families are forced to separate. Acute care beds are occupied by people who should be in long-term care. Emergency rooms back up. This puts strain on our hospitals, and it puts strain on our communities. This is not theoretical. It is happening right now, in real time.

Our hospitals have seen the burden of this firsthand. There’s no capacity left between the lack of long-term care and the need to house psychiatric patients in acute care beds because there is nowhere else for them to go. We have people in Kitimat that should be in a psychiatric bed that have been taking up space in an acute care bed in our hospital because there’s nowhere for the health care professionals to send them.

Some of these people are ones that will be taken advantage of if they are turned out and back onto the street. I know many of them. I’ve seen them get taken advantage of. It should concern every single member of the government that there is nowhere for people to go when they’re in that situation, particularly in northern and rural British Columbia.

There was a very elderly couple in my riding recently that reached out for help. The husband has terminal cancer. He’s not doing well. He should be in a hospital setting or in palliative care. There is nowhere for him to go right now in my riding. His elderly wife is caring for him at home, with only one day a week of respite care. Can you imagine being elderly and caring for your dying husband in your home, because there is nowhere for you to go, and you get one day a week of respite care?

[11:15 a.m.]

One of the ministers made a comment yesterday — or maybe it was the Premier; I can’t remember — about how it used to be that seniors, when they were in long-term care, were only getting one shower or one bath a week. This couple is getting one day a week of respite care, so you can imagine what that means for them. This situation has not improved. It’s not something to take a victory lap on.

The issues that we’ve had in my community around home care and home nursing are appalling. I know people with permanent brain injuries that only get to leave their house twice a week because of the shortage of workers to be able to care for them and help them and take them to go grocery shopping and go to medical appointments — the very basics.

Both of the elderly people, both of this couple, are losing their memory, and their health is suffering terribly. My office can’t even get a reply from the minister’s office. So I have to ask: how is this a budget that is helping seniors? What am I supposed to tell this elderly couple the next time I speak with them? “Sorry, your government doesn’t care enough about you to make investments in the basics that you need and that you deserve.”

The property tax deferral system is another place that we see seniors being shafted in this budget. This is a program that was introduced to support seniors who are forced to age in place, because this government has no other solution for them.

Imagine being a senior on a fixed income who paid their mortgage off years ago and bought their home for hundreds of thousands of dollars less than what it is being assessed at right now. Often these property taxes are enough that these seniors would not be able to afford to stay in their homes. Now this government thought it was prudent to add an extra 4 percent interest to those payments, and now it compounds monthly.

The minister said that this was a good budget for seniors. I would like to know how many have walked into her office thanking her for this. It’s yet another slap in the face to seniors. Homelessness among seniors is already at a record high. It’s about to get a whole lot worse, and this government should be ashamed of themselves.

The government touts $131 million over three years for mental health and addictions. They cite thousands of beds. But much of this is a continuation, not an expansion. It says so in plain English in the budget. Just managing to keep up with the cost of inflation is not making meaningful investments.

Maybe the reason there is no investment in net new beds in this budget is the same reason as the long-term-care cuts. The government can’t find a way to operate them at a cost per bed that they can afford. Either way, tell that to the people that need these supports and services.

Maybe if the government had made efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in B.C., new construction costs wouldn’t be so heavily inflated.

On the topic of beds, this budget cites roughly the same numbers of treatment beds as there were last year. This is despite me repeatedly pointing out over the last year and a bit that less than a third of them are actual treatment beds. Inflating the numbers so it sounds better in a budget document or a press release, but with no real substance…. It’s very concerning to me that we’re not seeing those investments.

Like I said, this is just keeping up with rates of inflation. This is just continuing to do the work that’s already being done. It doesn’t even begin to address the problems that we’re seeing right now in the way that publicly funded treatment beds are actually being funded. The cost differs from health authority to health authority. Not one of them actually covers the cost. Then we wonder why we have wait-lists as long as we do.

Those facilities have to prioritize private-pay clients, because if not, they can’t keep the doors open. At the very least, that could have been addressed in this budget, but it was not.

At the same time, we see a $3 million reduction in mental health funding in the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s budget — a $3 million reduction, a $3 million cut. This despite everyone on that side of the House knowing full well the crisis that we find ourselves in right now. It is shameful where this government’s priorities are.

Announcements are not beds. Headlines are not treatment. If we were serious about mental health and addictions, we would see measurable net new capacity — capacity in detox, capacity in treatment, recovery beds that people can actually access today. Instead, we see recycled announcements and incremental adjustments, a government that likes to tinker around the edges but not actually accomplish anything meaningful.

There is no plan in this budget to even begin to tackle the crisis that we face with permanent brain injury, no plan to address the lack of psychiatric capacity, no mention of the surgical and diagnostic wait times or a plan to address ER closures. These things aren’t even mentioned.

In a riding like mine in Skeena, costs are simply higher. Construction costs more. Heating costs more. Transportation costs more. Services are fewer, and alternatives are limited. When the government removes rural supports and expands taxes onto basic services, the impact is magnified.

[11:20 a.m.]

Outside of the Lower Mainland, you pay more, and this budget gives you less. The decision to remove the rural and northern homeowners grant is a slap in the face to every single British Columbian living outside of an urban centre. The $200 a year means something to most British Columbians. The rural-urban divide is a real problem, and these budget priorities have clearly reinforced that.

During question period, I have frequently heard ministers responding to rural and northern MLAs, including myself, by saying: “Oh, well, we’re even building things in ridings that are held by the opposition. We’re building things in ridings that are held by members on that side of the House.”

What really kills me about that is…. As if that weren’t already the bare minimum that British Columbians should expect — that their government would provide them with the same basic services and infrastructure as the rest of the province. But sadly, I suppose it does need to be stated, because they certainly aren’t delivering that right now.

This cut takes away one of the few small things that actually benefited those of us living outside of urban centres. Again, this shows where the government’s priorities are. There are no new investments in this budget for my riding — nothing to address failing infrastructure, no upgrades to roads or to highways.

I have residents in Thornhill who are out thousands of dollars right now, trying to save their property, because the ministry didn’t properly maintain drainage along the highway. The ministry realizes and recognizes that this was their fault, but that doesn’t really do much to save the thousands of dollars that the residents of Thornhill are now out for having to save their property.

It took the Minister of Transportation three months just to respond to my letter inquiring about the state of our highways. All I received was a copy-and-paste response after sending multiple letters to his office.

The minister should try driving my highways in the winter. He should try being a Nisg̱a’a resident of the Nass Valley and relying on Highway 113 to access groceries, or try being a senior in Usk who relies on a cable car half the year, with no disability access to reach basic medical care and medications, or a young family in the Kitimat village that must be helicoptered out of their community when it snows too much, because the road is impassable and their child needs diapers.

This minister does not understand that reality, because he lives in a region where transportation is rapid and accessible, where highway infrastructure is maintained and where there are multiple routes to get to the same place. He cannot understand the reality that my constituents face, or he chooses not to.

Forestry revenues have fallen from $1.8 billion in 2022 to $500 million in this budget, and 15,000 forestry jobs have been lost under this government. Not too long ago this government was touting that there would be 30,000 new jobs in forestry. The gap between their wishful thinking and the reality is staggering.

The forestry budget is cut by hundreds of millions of dollars. Fire-preparedness funding is being reduced. The word “forestry” was not even mentioned in the budget speech. This is an industry that built this province, and it wasn’t even mentioned. You cannot grow the natural resource economy while ignoring forestry.

Forestry is not an abstraction in Skeena. It is paycheques. It is mortgages. It is whether small towns survive. Forestry built communities like Terrace. Forestry is the resource sector that many First Nations like Kitsumkalum and Kitselas are looking at to revive their community and drive revenues. This government and this minister are not taking that seriously.

Permit delays and photo ops seem to be the only thing coming out of that ministry these days, and sadly, those photo ops seem to be the kiss of death for this industry. I am sure that in every mill that hears the minister is visiting, they must get a sense of dread in their stomachs.

On the topic of industry and resource development, this government loves to take a victory lap whenever they can, but the reality right now is very simple. We have a mismanaged budget, and we are in a fiscal crisis. Now more than ever we need a strong resource and industrial sector. This is what will drive investment and good wages that will help lessen the burden of the cost-of-living crisis and inject money back into our economy.

Sometimes that will require investment on the government’s part. I have to wonder why this government didn’t think it was prudent to invest in the airport industrial lands, owned by the city of Terrace and the Kitselas First Nation, in this year’s budget. I know that the government is aware of the city of Terrace’s ask to help them get water to the property so that development could move forward. It’s a great piece of land that could be leveraged to drive investment. Yet again, my communities didn’t seem to make the cut in this year’s budget.

[11:25 a.m.]

What this piece of land means for the Kitselas First Nation and for the city of Terrace is monumental. This is the only piece of industrial-zoned property left in Terrace. It is the only way for the city of Terrace to have some kind of industrial taxation.

This is a community that is struggling. Due to the incompetence of this government on the forestry file, they desperately need some new development in their community. The only thing that’s holding them back right now is the ability to get water to that land. Sadly, that wasn’t included in this budget.

The Forests Minister also spoke, in his response to the budget, about $4.6 billion invested in schools. He spoke about 140 new schools, and he spoke about 40,000 student spaces. He spoke about duct-taped floors, mould and buckets catching water. I agree with him. It’s unacceptable.

So why is Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary School in Kitimat, which has been flagged for replacement since 2010 and is partially condemned, still waiting? Since 2010, this project has been flagged as needing to be replaced. It has been at the top of the list for our school district every single year since, but there’s no plan. We’re waiting for some kind of review on it. I mean, this work should have started years ago, but it didn’t.

If the minister can recite billions of dollars and dozens of projects, can he tell the people of Kitimat when Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary School will be built? This is a school that is partially condemned. It has large steel structural support beams in almost every classroom. The students themselves have told me that they are embarrassed of their own school. I don’t think that that impact can be overstated. That’s really unfair to these students. This is not a good learning environment for them. They’re embarrassed.

Some of them are afraid. Parents have pulled their children from that school, and major industries and health care have struggled to hire because of the egregious state of that facility. It is our only middle and secondary school, and families do not want to move to Kitimat because of it. The inability to recruit more staff has had a significant impact on our community’s viability. Don’t lecture us about mould and duct tape while Kitimat students wait in a condemned building.

Again, at a time of fiscal prudence, when the government is concerned about revenues, if ever there was a community that deserved some investment, it’s communities like Kitimat and Terrace. It’s communities that are supporting these large resource development projects that we need and that we rely on to be able to drive revenues, to create good wage growth and good-paying jobs.

These revenues are key to getting us out of this fiscal mess. When we don’t even have a school that parents want to send their children to in that community, how are they supposed to recruit new people? How are they supposed to recruit the specialized workers that they need to work in these facilities? How are we supposed to grow our community? I wouldn’t want to send my children there. I don’t blame these parents for making that choice. Why wasn’t that school in this budget?

Then there are the cuts to the individualized autism funding, cuts that this Premier swore that he would never make. I want to be clear that I fully support expanding access to include other children with diverse needs such as Down syndrome. I support them being included in this funding, and frankly, this is work that should have been done long ago.

The issue is that it is at the expense of thousands of children that rely on that funding and their families, families who are now determined by this government to no longer need that funding. The minister said yesterday that this new system is fairer. What is fairer about stripping a family of funding that they relied on for necessary therapies to help their child succeed?

I would like the minister to tell that to the hundreds of families that have reached out to my inbox, pleading and terrified. We already have years-long wait-lists just for diagnosis. The last thing we need to be doing right now is stripping these children of their funding, which they desperately need. It’s not up to the government to determine who has more needs versus others. If they have a diagnosis, they should be able to access the funding. There’s a fairer way to do this, and what’s happening right now, by just cutting funding entirely for thousands of families, is not it.

Finally, I want to talk about the purpose behind this whole process of tabling a budget and the opposition scrutinizing it. It’s about transparency, ensuring that government is held accountable by the people elected to represent the people that this budget affects.

[11:30 a.m.]

Transparency is crucial. It’s why changing completion timelines on projects from a definitive year to TBC is so concerning. It erodes the trust that the public is meant to have in their government in a functioning democratic society.

That’s why one of the most concerning aspects of this budget is the decision to scrap the Office of the Merit Commissioner. It is sad that we are even in a position that one is needed, but based on the findings in his reports, it is clearly more than necessary.

In fact, in a recent report, the Merit Commissioner stated that there was a significant increase in non-merit-based hiring in the public sector since 2022. I’ll say the quiet part out loud. There was a significant increase in non-merit-based hirings in the public sector since this Premier took office.

I think that we’ve spoken a lot about the Office of the Merit Commissioner over the last couple of days, and one thing that seems to have eluded the government on this is that they think that we don’t understand how the Office of the Merit Commissioner works. But we do. I’ve met with the commissioner. We understand that it’s to oversee the public sector.

The point we’re trying to make is that not only should we not be removing it at this point but we should be expanding his powers to oversee these political appointments, because clearly, most of them have not been hiring based on merit.

Overall, this is an austerity budget that helps no one, and hardworking, tax-paying British Columbians are being asked to pay the price for this government’s incompetence. Projects have been shifted to TBC, reporting thresholds raised, contingency funds expanded, new discretionary funds created. If this is fiscal discipline, why hide the details? Transparency builds trust, and obscurity erodes it.

This budget makes life more expensive. It delays housing. It ignores northern industries. It leaves seniors uncertain. No strategy to address the cost of living. No $1,000 grocery rebate that we were all promised, that this government campaigned on and that helped them win an election. That’s gone. No mention.

Skeena deserves better. We deserve delivery, not drift. We deserve timelines, not TBC. We deserve policies that recognize northern realities, not one-size-fits-all talking points. We deserve relief — relief from a disastrous government that has had nearly a decade to start to meaningfully address the problems that they have created, relief from the constant and seemingly never-ending pressures of the rising cost of living.

We will continue to hold this government to account, because our communities cannot afford another year of excuses.

Stephanie Higginson: I want to start by recognizing that we are doing our work today on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking People of the Songhees and the Esquimalt Nations. I am grateful to them for their stewardship of this land since time immemorial.

I also want to recognize that I’m giving this budget speech under the umbrella of grief that continues to cover the community of Tumbler Ridge and the entire province. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the community and also to the member for Peace River South.

I’m thinking of you, and I think you are demonstrating outstanding representation for your community right now.

It feels awkward in this moment of provincial tragedy to move forward with the work of government, but we have to, we need to, and that’s why people put us here, and British Columbians deserve it.

So I rise today to speak in favour of Budget 2026, a budget that responds to an unprecedented global economic repositioning that is facing every province in Canada, including British Columbia.

I want to thank the Finance Minister and her team for working hard to deliver this budget during these extraordinary times.

To listen to the members opposite, you would think that these unprecedented economic circumstances are only happening in British Columbia, but this fracture in the global economic way of being is happening around the world, and it’s impacting every province in Canada.

The member for Kamloops Centre made a big deal about trying to compare our budget to the proficiency scale, and he kind of bumbled around with the words. He couldn’t remember what the words were.

The proficiency scale was introduced in B.C. schools as part of the modernized curriculum, and the modernized curriculum was introduced in order to make sure that today’s schools are preparing today’s students for a rapidly changing world. That’s what was recognized by the OECD when they looked at B.C.’s learning transformation.

[11:35 a.m.]

If the current global context doesn’t exemplify rapidly changing, then I’m not sure what else could. Just because the proficiency scale has come up in so many of the members opposite’s speeches, it’s only four words — emerging, developing, proficient and extending. Just four words that you need to remember.

Back to the budget. This budget positions our province to safeguard the services that people rely on, and at its core, this budget reflects a clear understanding of the challenges British Columbians are experiencing, and it responds with a steady and practical investment and planning during rapidly changing times.

Budgets are often discussed in technical terms, in revenue assumptions, in forecasts, in capital envelopes and in line items. But for the people that we represent, budgets are not technical documents. They’re their government’s expressions of priorities. They determine whether families can access health care when they need it, whether young people see opportunities in their communities, whether infrastructure is going to keep pace with growth and whether businesses have confidence in the future.

Budget 2026 recognizes these expectations. It balances ambition with necessary discipline. It protects core services while advancing strategic investment. It shows that government can be prudent and proactive, safeguarding stability while creating opportunity.

This budget safeguards education, health care and child care, among other core services that British Columbians rely on. It continues the unprecedented capital investments necessary to support British Columbians with a sustainable pace and strives to future-proof our economy with immediate investments in skills training to meet the moment that we are at while being able to take advantage of emerging opportunities with the federal government.

Today I want to speak about this budget not only in provincial terms but through the lens of the people I represent, the residents of Ladysmith-Oceanside, because ultimately, that is where the impact of budgets are felt: across the ridings of British Columbia. From Saltair to Dashwood, the people of Ladysmith-Oceanside share a practical outlook. They want government to be focused and accountable and responsive. They want access to health care. They want attainable housing.

While I have heard a lot of criticism from the members opposite about housing, I think it’s really important to note that B.C. is currently building almost half of the non-market housing in Canada right now — almost half in Canada.

The members of Ladysmith-Oceanside want safe and reliable infrastructure, strong schools, thriving economies that protect and promote the natural assets of our beautiful riding. This budget reflects those priorities not in rhetoric but in action and in strategic and thoughtful investment.

Budget 2026 arrives at a time when governments must navigate global economic volatility. Demographic shifts, labour shortages and evolving supply chains continue to influence local realities. Families are focused on affordability, employers are managing costs and workforce needs, and communities are planning growth amid rapidly changing conditions. In this environment, responsible fiscal management is not optional. It’s essential. But the members opposite, this past week, are simultaneously saying that we are spending too much or not enough. That’s not a fiscal reality.

This budget demonstrates the fiscal reality that we are in. It maintains a disciplined approach to financial stewardship while ensuring critical services and investments remain strong. It recognizes that cutting investments in uncertain times would undermine long-term prosperity, just as unchecked spending would jeopardize stability.

Instead, the government has chosen a steady course, one that recognizes that stability matters. When residents feel secure in public service and economic direction, they are better able to plan their futures. When businesses see predictability in policy, they invest with confidence. When communities know infrastructure and services will keep pace, they grow responsibly.

For Ladysmith-Oceanside, this balanced approach provides reassurance that provincial planning aligns with local needs, protecting today while preparing for tomorrow.

[11:40 a.m.]

Health care remains one of the most important issues raised by the constituents in Ladysmith-Oceanside. Whether speaking with seniors or young families or front-line workers, I consistently hear the same message. Access matters. People want timely care. They want continuity. They want to know that professionals are supported and that facilities are equipped to meet the demand.

Budget 2026 continues meaningful investments in strengthening the health care workforce, primary care access and supporting facilities across the riding of Ladysmith-Oceanside

Improved access to family health care practitioners strengthens preventative care and reduces strain on emergency services. Supporting health care workers improves retention and morale.

Budget 2026 invests $2.8 billion in new funding for the health care system over three years, including $2.3 billion to increase health care system capacity and support a growing need for service, including supporting hiring more doctors, nurses, health care practitioners and the planning and development and operation of new and expanded hospitals and health care facilities across the province.

For Ladysmith-Oceanside, this is represented and reflected in the generational investments in the central Island region in health care infrastructure. This includes the recently completed high acuity wing at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Construction has started on the $300 million Nanaimo cancer centre to ensure that the residents of Ladysmith-Oceanside can receive the care they need, when they need it and where they need it.

The new long-term care facility in Lantzville will see almost 300 new beds, including a 20-bed hospice unit and 26-bed specialized population unit. Through careful work with Island Health for a thoughtful redesign to bring costs down — in line with this current moment and, I will say, strong advocacy from the central Island MLAs — this project has cleared planning hurdles and is scheduled to open its doors in 2029.

Last week we were pleased to announce the beginning of a concept plan for the replacement of the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital tower.

These are generational investments, and Budget 2026 will also include $121 million for intensive mental health and addictions treatment. For Ladysmith-Oceanside, this means the opening of an addiction treatment facility that will be accepting new patients in Parksville in the fall of 2026. The centre will have a Road to Recovery model, which will include 19 overnight beds as well as plans to provide counselling services to those in need of post-treatment and transition supports.

Continued infrastructure and service investment ensures regional accessibility for people of the central Island region. To ensure that British Columbians have sustained access to family health care practitioners, this government is planning for the future by building Canada’s first new medical school in 60 years, training the next generation of doctors. This government is looking ahead, unlike previous governments that rejected a plan to build this medical school. They rejected it.

These measures contribute to tangible outcomes, shorter waits, better continuity and stronger patient confidence. For the riding of Ladysmith-Oceanside, this has translated into more than ten new family health care practitioners in the last year alone.

We heard last week that 4,200 people a week across B.C. are being attached to family health care practitioners. Just recently, the OurCare survey, a national project on primary care, said that B.C. is the most improved province with access to primary health care. We currently have an attachment rate of 83 percent, which is up 12 percent in four years.

I am receiving emails weekly from people of Ladysmith-Oceanside who have been attached to a new family practitioner, and we know that there are more coming in the next year. That’s what it looks like when you prioritize the services that people need.

Investment in health care is a cornerstone of this budget. We know that people deserve access to the care they need, when they need it, and we have continued to prioritize that. It affirms that the public health care system will remain a pillar of equity in access to health care.

Education and child care are among the most important long-term investments that any government can make, and they are critically important to the riding of Ladysmith-Oceanside. It shapes the opportunity, economic productivity and social well-being. For the young families of Ladysmith-Oceanside, the investments in child care allow families to plan for their future and know that the days of child care costs being more expensive than mortgage payments are a thing of the past.

[11:45 a.m.]

Budget 2026 provides a $330 million lift to ChildCareBC to stabilize programs and services that families rely on as government works to modernize B.C.’s child care system. This funding will maintain lower fees and the spaces and support for operators and educators achieved over the past eight years.

This budget also sees $25 million of new money to support the expansion of before- and after-school care on school grounds. We have heard clearly from families that having the ability to receive child care and schooling on one site adds to a stable learning environment for the children and creates more time for families by eliminating multiple drop-off and pickup locations.

For K-to-12 education, Budget 2026 includes $634 million of new funding over three years, including $167 million in the classroom enhancement fund. This will result in more teachers for students across British Columbia, including critically important inclusion support teachers, teacher-psychologists and counsellors. We know that when we have a system that supports those priority populations of students, all students in the building will thrive. That’s what maintaining a focus on core services and supports looks like.

This government has surged school construction by more than tripling the school capital budget over the previous government — tripled the school capital budget. Because we also know that students deserve safe and modern learning environments, Budget 2026 includes $3.9 billion in capital funding for seismic replacements and upgrades, as well as projects to address enrolment growth in B.C.’s fastest-growing communities.

For Ladysmith-Oceanside, for the PACs and the DPACs that have reached out, I am going to fight like crazy to make sure that Ladysmith Intermediate and the town of Ladysmith are recipients of some of that funding. The minister is right here. I’m going to say it again: Ladysmith Intermediate.

That is to make sure that the riding of Ladysmith-Oceanside can benefit from other projects already completed in the school district by this government, including the seismic upgrades of schools like Pleasant Valley, Cilaire Elementary and the expansions of Hammond Bay Elementary and Dover Bay Secondary School. Budget 2026 continues support for K-to-12 education by ensuring that classrooms remain safe, inclusive and supportive.

For Ladysmith-Oceanside, workforce readiness is especially important to our local industries, including construction, the marine sector, tourism and small business. They depend on skilled workers. Supporting trades training and accessible learning pathways ensures that talent remains local while opportunity expands.

That’s what Budget 2026 does by opening the door for more British Columbians to be trained for in-demand skilled trades. This budget has a total of $283 million in funding, which includes $240 million to double skilled-trades funding over three years, which helps bolster ship repair and shipbuilding industries, which we are supporting with extended tax credits; and $12 million over three years to enhance employer training grants, helping double apprenticeship seats by 2028-29.

As a mom of a young person entering the workforce, battling the emergence of AI, hands-on skills training through employer grants offers stability and opportunity to young people during a difficult economic cycle. As a former school trustee, it would be no surprise that I firmly believe that a strong and vibrant public education system will cultivate civic participation, curiosity and resilience. That goes beyond just K to 12s and includes educational opportunities beyond traditional school settings.

Budget 2026 invests in educational opportunities for British Columbians, no matter where they are in their educational journeys or where they are located in the province. These opportunities will strengthen communities beyond economic contributions alone. This budget’s focus on education demonstrates a recognition that prosperity begins with preparation, preparing individuals not just for employment but for this rapidly changing world that we find ourselves existing in.

I know that feeling safe in your home and on the streets is critical to the families of Ladysmith-Oceanside. Constituents in this riding choose small-town life because they relish the feeling of knowing your neighbour and leaving your door unlocked and your keys on the passenger seat of your car.

Budget 2026 provides $139 million more over three years to reduce repeat violent offending and chronic property crime and support timely access to justice. This includes $16 million for new a chronic property offenders intervention initiative that strengthen monitoring and enforcement for crimes such as vandalism and shoplifting, which are hurting businesses.

We know these measures are working. In Oceanside, we have seen an 80 percent reduction in break and enters in local businesses over this time last year.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Noting the hour, I reserve my place to continue at the next sitting and move adjournment of the debate.

Stephanie Higginson moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. Ravi Parmar moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

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

The House adjourned at 11:50 a.m.