Contents

The House met at 10:04 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: Reann Gasper.

[10:05 a.m.]

Introductions by Members

Hon. Adrian Dix: Today joining us in the gallery this morning are four amazing staff from the deputy minister’s office of Energy and Climate Solutions. They are Shawna Lyttle, the executive director of operations and issues and project management; Sara Nicoll, the manager of executive operations; Charlene Evers, the senior executive assistant; Whitney Bertoia, the project assistant. They all provide leadership and expertise; deliver the corporate services that support the ministry executive, the minister’s office and staff in achieving our many diverse mandates.

I ask the House to make them all welcome.

Kristina Loewen: I rise today to welcome my constituent Tyler Zeeman to the House today. He’s a good friend and a colleague as well. I am going to be honest. I know that my colleague for Kelowna-Mission is going to introduce him, and I am, just in the spirit of rivalry, rising a little faster. I’m going to leave the formal introduction to him.

Welcome to Tyler.

Hon. Brittny Anderson: This morning I met with Mona Sakata Johnson, who is currently here in the crowd. She is from the Cowichan Valley and is currently completing her honours in history and political science from Huron University in London, Ontario. She is passionate about social justice, education and global affairs and was recently awarded the Political Science Prize in Canadian Politics from Huron University. We had a really wonderful chat this morning.

I want everyone to make her feel very welcome.

Then I have another introduction. The second introduction I want to make is that I want to wish a very happy birthday to someone who is incredibly special in my life. I’m so glad I was able to celebrate her 95th birthday. That is my grandma Shirley Anderson.

She lives in her own home still, a log house up in Whitehorse. She was a gold miner with my grandpa. She’s a vet from the air force, a really incredible feminist. She wins at bingo almost every week. She is living a healthy life. It was so wonderful to spend some time with her this weekend.

Grandma, happy 95th birthday.

Scott McInnis: It’s an honour to welcome two very special guests here today from the East Kootenay. First of all, Rob Morrison is here, the Member of Parliament for Columbia–Kootenay–Southern Rockies. Mr. Morrison served 35 years in the RCMP, retiring as a chief superintendent. With him today is Wes Graham, his chief of staff, who also serves as a city councillor in Cranbrook.

Welcome to both of you today. Thank you for being here.

Hon. Josie Osborne: Today is B.C. Family Doctor Day, and it is World Family Doctor Day.

We are so privileged to have the B.C. College of Family Physicians join us in the gallery today. Dr. Jennifer Lush is the president. Kendra Johnston is the executive director. They’ve brought a team of staff and family doctors from around British Columbia to talk with us as MLAs. I deeply appreciate their work in strengthening our public health care system. I know they’ll be meeting with a lot of different MLAs in the House today.

Would you all please join me in making them feel most welcome.

[10:10 a.m.]

Harman Bhangu: I am pleased to welcome today Joseph Latam to the House. Joe serves as my constituency assistant, where he does excellent work supporting constituents, helping ensure that people in our community are heard, assisted and served well. He is thoughtful, and he is dedicated to public service and the future of this province, but he will, unfortunately, be leaving at the end of the summer.

This fall Joe will be beginning his master of public policy at the University of Calgary — an impressive achievement, and the next step in what I am certain will be a bright future. It’s always encouraging to see young, talented people continuing to commit themselves in major studies and policy.

Would the House really make Joe feel welcome.

Hon. Jagrup Brar: Joining us today is a group of members of the BongMilanti Metro Vancouver Bengali Cultural Association who are here in the Legislature. BongMilanti is an important local organization that brings the Bengali community together and fosters cultural pride through festivals and events across the Lower Mainland.

I would like to introduce their president Susmita Das, and directors Souvik Dey, Amartya Chattopadhyay, Ranjita Chowdhury, Arnab Ray, Soumya Sharma, Atanu Das and Sourav Mukherjee.

I would like to urge the House to please make them feel welcome.

I have one more introduction, hon. Speaker, if you allow me to do that.

Today I am very pleased to welcome the Surrey-Delta Indo-Canadian Seniors Society to the Legislature. This society is vital in supporting Indo-Canadian seniors in my riding and across the region. They offer a wide range of services that cater to the unique needs of this community, including cultural events and wellness classes. If you or a loved one is an Indo-Canadian senior in the Surrey or Delta area, this organization is excellent for fostering community and belonging.

I am pleased to welcome a group of 56 seniors who are on their way right now to our Legislature today. I also want to recognize president Avtar Singh Dhillon, who is from my riding of Surrey-Fleetwood, and the board members Kirpal Singh Johal, Harchand Singh Gill, Hari Singh Chhokar and member Naranjan Singh Lehal.

I would like to ask the House to please make them feel welcome.

Gavin Dew: Today I’m very pleased to welcome Tyler Zeeman to the House. Tyler is a fifth-generation Kelowna resident and community advocate focused on public safety, safer neighbourhoods and improving supportive housing policies across British Columbia. He has been an active voice on issues impacting local families, businesses and communities.

Please join me in making him very welcome.

Hon. Lana Popham: Today at the B.C. Legislature it’s B.C. Dairy Day, which means — are you ready? — I scream, you scream…

Some Hon. Members: …and we all scream for ice cream.

Hon. Lana Popham: There will be ice cream out back at the Legislature. This is really a place for dairy farmers to showcase just one of their incredible products. We’re happy that they’re here. I know they’ve got a lot of meetings with folks here in the Legislature. We just would like to welcome them and thank them for all their hard work.

The Speaker: The minister forgot to tell you that you will only get ice cream if you behave in the House.

Anna Kindy: This side of the House would also like to welcome the B.C. College of Family Physicians. Founded in 1954, it’s an organization of family physicians dedicated to improving the practice of medicine and the health of Canadians.

[10:15 a.m.]

With over 8,000 members, the BCCFP is a passionate, independent champion of family medicine with a core purpose of bolstering the unique and irreplaceable role of family physicians within the B.C. health care system.

Welcome.

Hon. Randene Neill: I just want to give a big hello to two amazing ministry staff from WLRS today. They work in the correspondence unit — Brittany Wilson and Jayson Jap. They are so hard-working. They care so deeply. There they are.

I just want to give them, and I hope the House will give them, a big, warm welcome today.

Lynne Block: I love coming to the Leg the day before we are in session because it’s very quiet, and I can do a lot of work in my office. But I didn’t realize that it was open to the public yesterday, and it was exciting to meet wonderful people.

I met a lovely family — a gentleman who is a doctor, originally from Nigeria, and his three children. I’d like to do a shout-out to Austin, Jasmine, Jayden and Jesse and welcome them. I hope they come to the Legislature today too.

Hon. Kelly Greene: It’s my privilege today to introduce my son Sullivan. He is in grade 6. He is so smart and kind and helpful and just a little bit of trouble. Basically, he’s perfect.

Please help me make him welcome.

Amna Shah: It’s always a pleasant surprise to see your constituency adviser in the gallery, along with his lovely family and friends who are here to visit the B.C. Legislature. Ayush Saini and his family are incredible pillars of our community, especially Ayush himself.

He is such an incredible adviser to me and a community advocate who shows so much compassion and impeccable judgment skills. I’m so lucky to have him.

I promise I’m not being paid to say this, but thank you so much.

Will the House join me in welcoming Ayush Saini and his family today.

Gavin Dew: Speaking of constituency advisers, I would like to welcome and acknowledge my constituency adviser, Sonia Sandhu. She told me not to introduce her in the House, and thus, I am embarrassing her by doing so.

I appreciate her very much. She keeps the trains running on time, and I would not survive without the team in my office — her and Jarrod.

Thank you so much.

Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat: I rise to introduce a group of 38 students from grade 9 at Quamichan School, led by Jesse Whittington, in my riding of Cowichan Valley, who will be joining us as question period is starting to ramp up, so I took this opportunity to introduce them now.

May the House please make them feel welcome once they arrive.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: I also have students in the House today visiting us from Vancouver. These are the students from the Blessed Sacrament School and their teacher Reine Mykyte. These are grade 5 students. This is a Roman Catholic French immersion school serving kids between K to 7.

Please forgive my French, but I’ll make an attempt: Bienvenue à tous les étudiants d’École St-Sacrement.

If you’d please welcome these students.

The Speaker: Minister of Education.

Statements

Ellis Island Medal of Honor
for Raj Chouhan

Hon. Lisa Beare: Thank you, hon. Speaker. I rise today, actually, to acknowledge some really exciting news in your life, Speaker, that I know the members of this House will all want to join me in celebrating.

This past weekend, Mr. Speaker, you were honoured with a prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the Ellis Island Honors Society in New York City. This award was bestowed in recognition of your humanitarian efforts as founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union, work that improved the lives of thousands of vulnerable farmworkers across this country, and your lifelong devotion to fighting racial inequity and for injustices.

I know the entire House will want to join me in saying congratulations, well done and well deserved, Speaker.

[10:20 a.m.]

[Applause.]

The Speaker: Thank you so much. Thank you.

Members’ Statements

Surrey Sports Hall of Fame
and Inductee Terry Bailey

Trevor Halford: On June 2, Surrey will gather to honour its inaugural Surrey Sports Hall of Fame class. This is a pretty special moment for Surrey. It’s a pretty special moment for those being inducted and for their families.

In your life, you’re lucky to have people that are, I would say, larger than life. For me, that has always been my uncle Terry — Terry Bailey — who is also known in our family as Coach. Terry grew up in Surrey. He has never left Surrey. He has been a lifelong Cloverdale and Ocean Park resident.

He started his football career at Lord Tweedsmuir and went on to be a standout with the Surrey Rams. Then he played for SFU. Actually, at SFU, he’s got his name on a plaque of NAIA champion, runner-up to Walter Payton in the 1970s. It was so cool to see my uncle with his name next to Walter Payton on a plaque. From there, he went on to a great career with the B.C. Lions, and then he returned back to coach SFU.

Terry has been a hero to me and to my family, growing up. He has always been that figure…. To have somebody to look up to, to actually call almost a second dad…. I know that the family is so proud of him, whether it’s my aunt Jane, sons Bryn and Shaun…. I know his family, his mom and dad, Merry and Delsa, are looking down on him, as are Mudgie and Baba.

We are so proud that he is in the inaugural class of the Surrey Sports Hall of Fame. I wish him and all those being inducted on June 2 all the best.

Congratulations, Terry and all those who will be getting their names on those plaques.

Cycling Without Age
Vernon-Coldstream Chapter

Harwinder Sandhu: Today I want to recognize and celebrate the Vernon-Coldstream chapter of Cycling Without Age, a program that is making a profound difference in the lives of seniors in our community.

Since Dr. Lauren Lypchuk launched the chapter in 2019, thousands of seniors have been able to reconnect with the community through free trishaw rides powered by volunteers, compassion and care. These rides do far more than provide transportation. They help reduce social isolation; improve mental and emotional well-being; and bring memories of joy, connection and belonging to seniors who otherwise feel alone.

After a pause during the pandemic, the program returned in 2022 with incredible momentum, running seasonally from mid-May to October 31. In that time, close to 2,800 seniors have been taken for free rides, covering almost 22,000 kilometres, including 804 passengers just last year alone. These are moments of fresh air, conversations, memories and joy that many participants might otherwise not experience.

I also had the opportunity to ride on their trishaws with my son during one of the Christmas community events. It was so much fun and a memorable experience. Seeing the smiles and the connections created really showed her heart behind this program.

I want to thank the Schubert Centre Society for doing so much to support this cause, the many community partners, volunteers, trishaw pilots, coordinators and program lead Erin Burgess and everyone involved in the Vernon-Coldstream Cycling Without Age chapter from the bottom of my heart.

Your work is helping to ensure that aging is defined not by isolation but by dignity, inclusion, well-being and community connection. Thank you so much.

60th Anniversary of
District of Mackenzie

Kiel Giddens: I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the district of Mackenzie, a proud northern community built on hard work, resilience and resource development.

In 1964, the world’s largest tree crusher arrived on six railcars and was used to clear the flooded plain of the Rocky Mountain Trench. Clearing of the land began during a time of enormous change in our province, with the construction of the W.A.C. Bennett dam.

[10:25 a.m.]

Flooding for the dam created the spectacular Williston Lake, now the largest freshwater body of water in B.C. and one of the largest man-made reservoirs in North America.

Mackenzie’s story is stitched into this part of B.C. history, as it was established as an instant town to support British Columbia’s fast-growing forest industry. British Columbia Forest Products built a pulp mill and two sawmills to help develop the vast resources in the area, and in June of 1966, the first families arrived to begin building a new community from the ground up. Named after explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Mackenzie was officially incorporated on May 19, 1966, exactly 60 years ago today.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to join many residents, past and present, in celebrating this milestone anniversary. From the welcome barbecue night at the legion to Kraft Hockeyville events, the museum’s Walk Down Memory Lane photo displays, the community dance and pancake breakfast, it was incredible to see so many people come together to celebrate the history and spirit of Mackenzie. Former residents travelled from near and far to reconnect with old friends, share memories and celebrate a community that has meant so much to so many families over the last 60 years.

Mackenzie has faced challenges that many resource communities know all too well, but its people have always met those challenges with determination, pride and a strong sense of community.

I ask all members of this House to join me in congratulating the district of Mackenzie on its 60th anniversary and in wishing the community continuing success for many generations to come.

Marpole Oakridge Family Place

Sunita Dhir: I rise today with great pride to recognize and celebrate the incredible work of Marpole Oakridge Family Place as they mark 48 years of caring for and supporting families in our community. It was truly a joy for me to visit Marpole Oakridge Family Place on May 8 during the anniversary celebration; present a certificate of appreciation; and meet with the children, families and seniors attending the many programs offered there.

From the moment I walked through the doors, I felt the warmth, kindness and sense of belonging that make this place so special. Seeing children smiling and singing, families connecting and seniors gathering together was deeply heartwarming.

What began in a private living room in 1978 has grown into a trusted and welcoming community hub for children, parents, caregivers, seniors and vulnerable adults. Through family programs, literacy initiatives and senior support services, Marpole Oakridge Family Place continues to uplift and strengthen lives every single day.

I also appreciated the opportunity to tour the facility last year and speak with community leaders about the growing needs of seniors and families in South Vancouver. Those conversations reminded me how important it is that we continue working together to build strong, connected and caring communities.

Thank you to Executive Director Tracy Beshara, Senior Outreach Coordinator Andrea Krombein, Program Coordinator Lindy Clarke, the dedicated staff, volunteers and everyone who helps make this organization such a treasured part of our neighbourhood.

B.C. Dairy Day
and Work of Dairy Farmers

Ian Paton: Here’s a quiz for everyone. What noble profession requires a routine of getting up at 4:30 a.m. every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, milking cows at 5 a.m., then again at 5 p.m., while in between your 14-hour day, you’re feeding, cleaning, planting, harvesting and taking on the de facto roles of a veterinarian, a mechanic and an environmentalist? Well, you’d be correct if you guessed a dairy farmer. I know only too well this lifestyle, as I lived it for a good many years.

Today we recognize and celebrate British Columbia Dairy Day at the Legislature, an opportunity to honour the hard-working family farmers who help feed communities across our province every single day.

Dairy farming is more than an industry in British Columbia. It is a way of life built on dedication, resilience and a deep commitment to quality. Across British Columbia, dairy farmers work long hours in every season to produce safe, nutritious and high-quality dairy products for families to enjoy.

[10:30 a.m.]

From fresh milk and cheese to yogurt and butter, these products reach kitchen tables because of the tireless efforts of local farm families and processors who take immense pride in what they do.

Behind every dairy farm is a strong commitment to animal care and environmental stewardship. Farmers invest countless hours ensuring their animals are healthy, comfortable and well cared for. Their attention to animal welfare reflects the values of compassion, responsibility and respect that are central to agriculture in our province.

At the same time, dairy farmers continue to face significant challenges. Rising costs of feed, fuel, equipment, transportation and labour are placing increasing pressure on family farms and cutting deeply into their profits. Many farmers are working harder than ever simply to maintain the viability of their operations while continuing to provide the high standards consumers expect.

On this British Columbia Dairy Day, we thank our dairy farming families for their unwavering dedication, their care for their animals and their continued commitment to producing exceptional dairy products for all British Columbians.

Technology Industry and
Web Summit Vancouver

Paul Choi: I rise today to recognize the incredible success and impact of Web Summit Vancouver last week, which brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, technology leaders and policy-makers from around the world right here in B.C. This event showcased not only the strength of our growing technology sector but also the talent, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that exists across our province. As an example, we had 800 investors, 1,200 start-ups and 22,000 attendees. It was so much bigger and better than last year.

From AI and clean technology to digital media, life sciences and global trade, B.C. continues to establish itself as a leader in innovation and economic opportunity. What stood out most was the energy and optimism from businesses and young entrepreneurs who see B.C. as a place where new ideas can grow and compete at the world stage.

As Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, I had the opportunity to speak with companies and international delegates who were excited about the opportunities in our province and our strong connection to global markets across the Indo-Pacific and North America.

Events like Web Summit are important because they create partnerships, attract investment, support job creation and help position B.C. as a competitive destination for innovation and business growth.

I also want to recognize the Minister of Finance, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth and Minister of State for AI and New Technologies for their leadership and recognize the many local businesses, start-ups, universities, organizers, volunteers and community partners who helped make this event such a success.

B.C.’s future economy will be driven by innovation, technology and global collaboration, and events like Web Summit help ensure our province remains at the forefront of that future.

Oral Questions

Government Position on
Oil Pipeline Proposal

Trevor Halford: The last time that this NDP government opposed a pipeline in British Columbia it didn’t work out so well. The result? We actually got a pipeline, but what taxpayers spent their money on was tens of millions of dollars losing in court while the then Attorney General, now Premier, opposed TMX. In fact, some may argue that she lost an election about that. You can now ask the now Minister of Energy how that went.

But the Premier said, in November: “We cannot get distracted anymore by the notional project and have it cost real projects.” Now, the problem with that is that the Prime Minister and the Premier of Alberta see things much differently than the Premier does on this project. They’re now not calling this a notional project. In fact, it seems to be moving quite fast despite the obstruction by the Premier.

My question to the Premier is a simple one. Has he not learned the lessons of the past, and will he not just get on board and do what the majority of British Columbians are expecting and wanting this government to do — support a pipeline, get to the table, work with the other levels of government and get these jobs in B.C. now?

[10:35 a.m.]

Hon. David Eby: It was last week that I stood with the Energy Minister from the government of Canada celebrating the passage through yet another gateway towards the largest private sector investment in Canadian history, LNG Canada phase 2.

Now I keep waiting for the opposition to stand up and fight for projects that are British Columbia projects, that have private sector investors.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. David Eby: Forty percent of the projects in the major projects office, federally, are B.C. projects. And every time the opposition talks about B.C. and our economy, they run it down. They attack our Indigenous partners — who are moving this forward — again and again.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Hon. David Eby: Now today we hear them stand up on the project they care the most about: Alberta’s project. They fight for Donald Trump. They fight for Alberta. When will they fight for British Columbia?

The Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

Trevor Halford: Oh, desperate times. Desperate times for this government.

Premier wants to go down memory lane, so let’s do that for this NDP government. Who opposed TMX? Well, it was the NDP. Who opposed LNG Canada? It was the Minister of Energy, and it was the NDP. Who opposed Site C? It was the NDP. Who opposed the 2010 Olympics? Well, we know that was the Premier because he was chasing people around, giving out business cards.

Listen, this pipeline is going to happen. And it’s not just in Alberta’s interest. It’s not just in Canada’s interest. It’s in British Columbia’s interest. The Premier can’t figure that out. Once again, we have a leader of this province that’s sitting at the kids’ table while the grownups make decisions.

My question to the Premier is…. Get to the table, do the work of the province, support this project, and stop impeding it.

Hon. David Eby: We have a candidate for the new Premier of Alberta. This member refuses to stand up for British Columbians.

Let me read some quotes.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members, come to order.

Hon. David Eby: Let me just say that I agree with these quotes. There is no way that, if our government and the people of British Columbia have not consented to that pipeline, that pipeline is going to get past me. It just isn’t.

“We’ve got some pretty big economic fish to fry, and the benefits of the Enbridge proposal at the moment are chump change compared to that.”

“Heavy oil is a unique and very difficult product to move, and if it was to spill on our land or our coast, it would have irreparable, catastrophic consequences.”

Who was that? That was Christy Clark. The member will recognize that name.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Hon. David Eby: She was the leader of his B.C. Liberal Party.

Does it sound familiar? It sounded familiar. Christy who?

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members will behave themselves.

Members, come to order. Shhh.

Hon. David Eby: They seem not to remember who Christy Clark was when she was speaking against the exact same pipeline that I am speaking against. But she was, of course, the leader of the B.C. Liberal Party when the Leader of the Opposition was a former communications staffer in her office. The member for Richmond Centre was a cabinet minister with her. The member for Nechako Lakes was a cabinet minister with her. The member for Abbotsford South was a former MLA with her.

I think that should be enough to refresh their memories.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members will come to order.

Leader of the Official Opposition, second supplemental.

Trevor Halford: I’ve been caught. The Premier is right. I was a staffer under the former government. That is true, and I’ll admit that here today.

There’s one thing, though, that happened — the difference between me and some other former staffers. I actually walked out on my own accordance. I wasn’t walked out because I backdated a memo for the Premier. That was the difference between me and some of the other MLAs here. I wasn’t walked out by security. I left on my own. So if the Premier of this province wants to talk about a Premier that was here almost nine years ago now, that’s how desperate this man is in this province.

[10:40 a.m.]

My question is a very simple one to this Premier. Obviously, the Prime Minister finds him irrelevant right now. The Premier of Alberta finds him irrelevant. I’m sure his own cabinet finds him irrelevant.

Why won’t he actually stand up and support a project for B.C. jobs?

Hon. David Eby: The member trying desperately to separate his party from the B.C. Liberal record…. I don’t understand why.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. David Eby: It’s a pretty defensible position, I would say, to say, in terms of our north coast, in terms of the danger of those waters, the impact of an oil spill on a multi-billion-dollar economy, that is worth standing up for and protecting.

But the leadership candidates of the Conservatives right now are a former B.C. Liberal cabinet member, Iain Black; the former vice-president of the B.C. Liberal Party.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members will wait for their turn.

Hon. David Eby: When I read a quote like, “LNG and crude oil are very different commodities, and the reason LNG is so close to going ahead is because if there’s a problem along the pipeline, it escapes into the air. It’s a much less controversial idea….”

The reason why Christy Clark was saying these things is….

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, wait for your turn, please. Otherwise, no ice cream for you today. Shhh.

Hon. David Eby: If you want to deliver more money to British Columbians, if you want to put more money in their pockets, the way to do it is to actually support real projects that will deliver real jobs and train them up for those jobs — the same training money that the opposition has voted against and will vote against again, I suspect — giving British Columbians a chance to earn money on real projects with real roots, with real private sector proponents that will build Canada’s GDP and put money in the pockets of British Columbians, while they stand up for Alberta.

Kiel Giddens: While this government has lost more than 40,000 jobs this year, Alberta and the federal government are willing to bring tens of thousands of jobs to B.C.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, shhh.

Kiel Giddens: “Alberta now has some forward movement in building Canada’s energy future. This is good news and necessary.” These are the words of the Alberta NDP leader.

Now, the Jobs Minister has a choice to make. Will he stand with the bad behaviour of this Premier and this government, or will he welcome these six-figure jobs to British Columbia?

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, be respectful. Minister has the floor.

Hon. Adrian Dix: Yeah, 90 percent of the heckling, 90 percent of the whining about heckling over there….

Here in British Columbia, we have a remarkable opportunity. It’s also a Canadian opportunity. It’s an Alberta opportunity — $88 billion in projects and more announced last week and opposed by the opposition.

I think that when you reflect on that, when you reflect on an opposition that claims to represent the northwest and opposes the North Coast transmission line, when you talk about an opposition that says it wants more electricity but opposes every clean electricity project, an opposition that talks about LNG but doesn’t recognize the fact that there were zero LNG projects when the NDP came to office…. Zero. A lot of talk, I admit. A lot of talk, like we hear in the Legislature, but no action.

Now we have…. By 2030, we’ll be the sixth-largest LNG producer in the world and by 2035, the fourth largest. We’re talking about the United States and Qatar and British Columbia.

We are leading the way in Canada in clean energy. They’re against it. In developing energy resources here, they’re against it. In transmission, they’re against it. We are for British Columbia, and we are for Canada.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Kiel Giddens: Well, we know that minister’s record on opposing projects, but my question was for the Jobs Minister.

Enbridge’s CEO is now saying they would definitely consider backing a new oil pipeline to Canada’s west coast. The TMX expansion brought more than 15,000 direct jobs. Coastal GasLink brought more than 7,500. That’s not to mention the countless indirect jobs these projects create right across the province.

[10:45 a.m.]

The only ones opposing the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs are this Premier and his Energy Minister, who will again whine and complain while they try to use every tool in the toolbox to block B.C.’s prosperity.

At a time when 40,000 jobs have been lost under this government’s watch, I will ask again: does the Jobs Minister also oppose this pipeline, or will he stand up for these jobs for British Columbians?

Hon. Adrian Dix: Definitely consider that there is no proponent. There is no project. There is no route. There’s no possibility of the contracts required to pay for it.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Adrian Dix: We in British Columbia are focused rightly on real projects that exist in time and space right now. That is why the Premier is leading those efforts for British Columbia.

Now, in most places, efforts for British Columbia would be supported by all parties in the Legislature, but that’s not the case here. They prefer their partisan interests to the interests of British Columbia.

Well, we don’t. We are fighting for projects. We’re investing in the economy.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Adrian Dix: We’re supporting clean electricity, of which we are a superpower in the world, and we’re going to continue to do it.

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Management Plan and Working Group

Jeremy Valeriote: I rise to ask about Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, also known as Pipi7íyekw in the Ucwalmícwts language. It’s a very important place in my riding for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, a place of cultural significance, recreation, tourism and connection to the land.

In 2018, the province established a visitor management plan and collaborative working group with the Líl̓wat and the N’Quatqua Nations to help guide decisions about the park. These recognized the importance of closing the park for periods over the summer months for the nations to reconnect with the land and allow the park to recover from the effects of overtourism, which in prior years climbed to around 200,000 visitors. In each of the last two years, the park has been closed for about 60 days for cultural practices and healing.

Two weeks ago, the ministry dictated by press release the 31 days it decided on for the summer, different from what the nations requested, without any apparent consultation with the working group. In this climate, even 31 days of closure…

The Speaker: Question, Member.

Jeremy Valeriote: …has unleashed an unspeakable amount of online racism.

My question to the Minister of Environment and Parks: what has happened to the working relationship with the Líl̓wat and the N’Quatqua Nations? How does the minister intend to honour the Crown’s commitment to meaningful collaboration?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: Thank you to the member for the question. In B.C., we are very proud of our B.C. parks, and we take great pride in the relationship that we build with our local First Nations.

We know that we value our relationship with both Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua, and we have a responsibility to support public access to parks as we also support our First Nations cultural practices and conservation goals. The key here is to find the right balance.

We are looking forward to getting back to the table with the parties involved, and we have publicly made sure that the public is aware of when those closure dates will be for this season. We’re looking forward to welcoming people to Joffre Park.

The Speaker: Member has supplemental.

Jeremy Valeriote: There is a great amount of confusion between what the ministry has published and the signs that are up in the community in the entrance to Joffre Lakes Park.

The working group hasn’t met since August 2025. The minister visited last spring, and then it seems that relations soured at some point after this. The nations have told me that the technical working group hasn’t met.

My question to the minister: how is this collaboration? It seems that the government is either blaming the nations or waving the problem away instead of doing the actual work required to alleviate the confusion.

In the minister’s estimation, have the Líl̓wat and the N’Quatqua Nations become collateral damage in a toxic reconciliation dialogue we’re experiencing?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: I’d like to say thank you to the member because he has offered a number of times to help build that relationship and that collaboration with the communities because he himself has got a really good relationship with both nations. I do appreciate that he is working to do a collaborative relationship, not only with the government but also with the two communities. I appreciate that work.

Since 2023, we have collaborated an agreement that balanced the different interests that we’re looking at — providing public access to the parks by the public and then, also, providing time for the land to regenerate and also for the two nations to have time to do cultural activities.

We’re going to continue to do that work, and we hope that all parties over the summer will sit down and come back to the table.

[10:50 a.m.]

Temporary Closings of Parks
for Indigenous Cultural Use

Donegal Wilson: A few weeks ago the Minister of Environment said: “We’re going to continue to make sure that our B.C. parks have access for everyone.” Since then, she has announced that Joffre Lakes Provincial Park will be closed for almost a month for exclusive cultural events.

Can the minister tell me: if a church group wanted to close a provincial park for a month for a cultural event, would that be allowed, yes or no?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: The members opposite don’t seem to have a problem when we close a park for a TV movie set or for a wedding, but they, certainly, do have a problem when we close it for cultural activities.

Maintaining a healthy park and supporting First Nations and their cultural practices are two sides of the same coin. Joffre is unique because of the single-trail design, and if we don’t give the land a time to rest, we risk damaging that natural beauty that visitors have come to expect when they visit Joffre Lake.

We will continue…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: …to work collaboratively with the nations and provide public access and also to make sure that the First Nations have time for their cultural activities.

Sheldon Clare: Joffre Lakes is not the only provincial park on the block for potential closure for exclusive cultural events. The minister indicated that she has had requests for Juan de Fuca and Dunn Peak provincial parks for closure as well.

To the Minister of Environment and Parks: how many B.C. provincial parks will be closed this summer for exclusive cultural events?

Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson: As I stated earlier, we do have a responsibility to support public access to parks as well as supporting First Nations’ cultural practices and conservation goals. In fact, since 2000, only five parks have experienced closures for cultural practices, and most of those were short term.

We remain committed to ensuring that all British Columbians can enjoy our amazing parks, but we also have a responsibility to manage public access to the parks, as well as supporting First Nations’ cultural activities.

DRIPA Legal Issues and
Involvement of U.S. Indigenous
Groups in Court Cases

Scott McInnis: With all the uncertainty surrounding B.C. today and the emerging threat of U.S. tribes using DRIPA to assert greater influence into our affairs in B.C., I have a very serious yet simple question.

To the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: are there currently any claims of Aboriginal title before a B.C. court by a U.S. Indigenous group, yes or no?

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: If the member has paper he’d like to put in front of the House, I’d invite him to do it. I would say that we continue to stand up for British Columbia, unlike the member opposite, who continues to talk down British Columbia every chance he gets.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: If we work with First Nations people, he says, “Don’t do it.” If we don’t work with First Nations people, he asks why we’re not doing it.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Members.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: So if the member has some more information he’d like to share with the House…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert: …I’d ask him to share it.

The Speaker: Members, when the question is asked, let’s listen to the answer, please. Wait for your turn.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, come to order.

Member has a supplemental.

Scott McInnis: Excuse me, but asking if a U.S. Indigenous group has a claim of Aboriginal title in our province is standing up for British Columbia. That’s an extremely….

Interjections.

Scott McInnis: The fact that we did not get a two-second answer of no should be extremely concerning to the entire province and the nation.

We’ve established two very important points here. One, we’re not sure if there’s a claim of Aboriginal title by a U.S. group in our province. Two, the minister does not mind disclosing information about U.S. tribes in B.C. courts.

[10:55 a.m.]

I have another question to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. How many cases have U.S. Indigenous groups filed in B.C. courts which have amended or given notice to amend based on the Gitxaała DRIPA chaos? Just a number.

Hon. Niki Sharma: We’ve canvassed this issue many times. We talked about a decision…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members.

Hon. Niki Sharma: …that came out that actually started in 2010, much before our time in government, where a member of a U.S. tribe came forward and started a claim that went all the way up to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2021. That established the basis for some U.S. tribes to be able to claim that they have Aboriginal title and rights.

We have been very clear that every time that happens, we stand up for B.C. First Nations in our arguments in court and with legislative change.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Members, please.

Hon. Niki Sharma: We brought forward legislation, in fact, to change one of our processes to make sure it was clear that we stand up for B.C. First Nations and B.C. projects through our work. They oppose that legislation. They’ve opposed the changes that we’ve made to make it clear, in our legal system and in our courts, that we stand up for B.C. First Nations and will continue to do that work.

DRIPA Legal Issues and
Energy Purchase Agreements with
First Nations Power Producers

Brennan Day: I think we may have a different definition of “clear.”

Another court case is in front of the courts now, due to this government’s inaction on DRIPA. The Líl̓wat First Nation owns the Rockford hydro project near Whistler and are unhappy with the terms brought by this government. They claimed B.C. Hydro failed to consult and are now taking this government to court again.

Using DRIPA, the Líl̓wat are demanding a whopping 48 percent increase in their power generation payment because they are First Nation–owned. DRIPA is consistently being used as a weapon in courts in this province when talks break down with this government.

To the Minister of Indigenous Relations, because we now have to guess, is this one of the 20 court cases amended due to the Gitxaała decision?

Hon. Adrian Dix: As members of the House will know, we value our relationships with independent power producers, and we continue to work with them to address issues of contract renewal.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. Adrian Dix: We also have a responsibility, which we take seriously in B.C., to ensure that rates are affordable for families and for businesses. It’s why rates have gone down against the rate of inflation under the NDP’s time in office and went up 54 percent in the previous government’s time in office, against the rate of inflation.

This case, as you know, is before the courts. And the government, as the member well knows, can’t comment further on it.

Larry Neufeld: If B.C. Hydro loses this case, all 119 independent power projects are at risk of higher costs if the supplier has Aboriginal ownership, which will fuel already existing economic uncertainty in the province.

To the Premier: will you ensure that B.C. Hydro customers…

The Speaker: Through the Chair, Member.

Larry Neufeld: …will not be forced to pay extra because of this government’s failures?

Hon. Adrian Dix: As I noted, one of the ways that we can ensure that B.C. Hydro customers pay less is to continue to elect NDP governments that believe in clean energy projects.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Shhh, Members.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, minister has the floor.

Hon. Adrian Dix: The record is clear, and the member knows this, that B.C. Hydro rates went up 54 percent above the rate of inflation in the period of the previous government, and they’ve gone down against the rate of inflation under this government.

That is our focus, our laser focus, I think, on ensuring that B.C. Hydro customers are supported. I encourage the member to come over at the lunch-hour and see the actions we’re taking, with respect to the Power Smart program, to continue to support B.C. Hydro customers.

[11:00 a.m.]

As noted in the previous answer, this case is before the courts. It’s a tradition in this House that the government doesn’t comment on such cases before the courts, so we won’t be responding in this instance.

Economic Development Projects
and Government Handling of
DRIPA Concerns and Legal Issues

Peter Milobar: Here’s a 20-day snapshot from this Premier. “There is a significant concern among the public following a couple of major court decisions, and I have to say I share that concern.” That was on April 4.

“I want to thank the Attorney General for tapping me on the shoulder and creating space for conversations that have to happen with First Nations Leadership Council.” April 21.

“There are hundreds of laws in British Columbia that have a direct bearing on Indigenous people in this province.” April 24.

All of these were stated by the Premier in concerns to DRIPA and the impacts it will have on court rulings moving forward.

Does the Premier still have those concerns that DRIPA will be impacting this touted $88 billion worth of projects, yes or no?

Hon. Niki Sharma: We have stated our concerns with the Gitxaała decision. It’s my understanding that the Supreme Court of Canada has a panel that is receiving our leave to appeal application right now. I hope to hear very shortly whether or not we have obtained leave to appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada in order to make the law clear with respect to our concerns of the Gitxaała decision.

We are hard at work, finding a durable solution to that challenge that we’re facing, and our way is different than the members on the other side. We’re solving problems by bringing people together and trying to find a pathway together. Their solutions are: don’t talk; repeal. Don’t find a pathway by speaking to people.

This is not going to work. It will just end up in more court actions on that side.

We’re going to continue to work through with our partners across the province to find a solution, and I’m hopeful about the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Speaker: Member, supplemental.

Peter Milobar: Wow, hopeful. That’s great. That sure brings investor confidence from the Attorney General actually.

So here’s the problem. We have the province that keeps touting $88 billion, while protesting and not wanting to support a pipeline from Alberta at the same time.

Now, I think, based on the $88 billion of fantasy, we found the people who think the Canucks are going to win the Stanley Cup at the beginning of every season, because we had the Parkland that was touted by this government.

Fortescue, NorthRiver Midstream in Taylor, and Mixt Energy, Mitsubishi, TC Energy green liquid hydrogen and Kanata clean blue hydrogen — all touted by this government as the next great investment opportunities that were coming soon to a town near you in British Columbia. All of them have been scrubbed over the last few years under this government’s watch.

Kind of hard to believe the $88 billion is going to materialize with the backdrop of DRIPA, and it’s this government that has been pointing out that there are actually 20 court cases they’re concerned about, not just the one going to the Supreme Court — 20. In the meantime, while they hope the Supreme Court might rule in their favour, they know the action they could take, which would be to actually repeal DRIPA to bring legal certainty.

Why will this Premier refuse to acknowledge that his proposed three-year pause of DRIPA is essentially a three-year repeal, get on with what he actually does know needs to happen and protect British Columbia, protect investment, protect private property and actually repeal DRIPA instead of all this game-playing?

Interjection.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. David Eby: You know, we started this question period with the Leader of the Opposition standing up and advocating for the Premier of Alberta. And now we finish…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh, Members. Members, calm down.

Hon. David Eby: …with the aspirant leader running down B.C.’s economy again. You have to avert your eyes.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members.

Abbotsford South.

Shhh, Members.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member for Abbotsford South, this is your last warning. The Premier has the floor.

Hon. David Eby: The members on the other side have to cover their eyes and their ears to avoid hearing the positive major project news coming out of British Columbia.

Since we launched….

Interjections.

Hon. David Eby: They don’t want to hear it.

The Speaker: Members.

Leader of the Official Opposition, show some courtesy, please.

Premier.

[11:05 a.m.]

Hon. David Eby: Since we launched the Look West strategy, there hasn’t been one or two or three or four, but there have been five major new mines or mine expansions that have reached final investment decision to be permitted, worth $4 billion. We have doubled the number of major projects in this province, worth $88 billion.

In fact, the biggest of them all…

Interjections.

The Speaker: Shhh.

Hon. David Eby: …committed additional hundreds of millions of dollars to complete their work to reach final investment decision before the end of this year — LNG Canada phase 2, the largest private sector investment in Canadian history. Where were the members of the opposition when that good news was being delivered?

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Members, calm down.

Hon. David Eby: Listen to how unhappy they are about this news.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Member for Skeena.

Hon. David Eby: It’s the member’s own constituents that will be benefiting from that. The member’s mayor comes to me.

Interjection.

[The Speaker rose.]

The Speaker: Shhh, Member. Member for Skeena, that’s enough.

Interjection.

The Speaker: No, Member. No argument with the Chair.

Interjection.

The Speaker: The member is asked to leave the chamber now, please.

[The Speaker resumed their seat.]

The Speaker: Shhh.

The Premier will conclude.

Hon. David Eby: The member who just left…. Her mayor from Terrace visits me all the time.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Member. Members.

Premier, please conclude.

Hon. David Eby: His big concern is that the economic growth is too significant for his community to bear. These are the challenges that we’re facing in the northwest that the member and her leader are complaining about. Thirty-five major projects, $88 billion, plus more. We’re delivering. They won’t. We’re advocating for B.C. They don’t.

[End of question period.]

Reports from Committees

Private Bills and
Private Members’ Bills Committee

Amna Shah: I have the honour to present the report of the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills on Bill M217, intituled Dashboard Cameras in Commercial Vehicles Act. The committee reports the bill complete with amendment.

The Speaker: The committee’s report on Bill M217, Dashboard Cameras in Commercial Vehicles Act, will be considered at report stage during private members’ time.

Question of Privilege

Bruce Banman: I stand on a point of privilege, personal privilege.

During the statements, the Premier said that the member for Abbotsford South was elected during Christy Clark’s era. I would like to give the Premier an opportunity to correct himself and retract his remarks. I was elected in 2020. She was long gone by then.

Hon. David Eby: It was Andrew Wilkinson, Leader of the B.C. Liberals. I stand corrected and withdraw.

Orders of the Day

Motions Without Notice

Deferral of Division on
Amendment to Bill 9

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move:

[That, pursuant to Standing Order 16 (4), a division called in Committee of the Whole on Bill (No. 9) intituled Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, to an amendment standing in the name of the Minister of Citizens’ Services on the Order Paper, be deferred until the start of Orders of the Day at the next sitting.]

The Speaker: Members, you heard the question.

Division has been called.

[11:10 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.]

The Speaker: Members, the question is that pursuant to Standing Order 16(4), a division called in Committee of the Whole on Bill 9, intituled Freedom Of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, to an amendment standing in the name of the Minister of Citizens’ Services on the order paper be deferred until the start of orders of the day of the next sitting.

Motion approved on the following division:

YEAS — 48
Lore	Blatherwick	Dhir
Routledge	Chant	Toporowski
B. Anderson	Neill	Osborne
Brar	Krieger	Davidson
Parmar	Sunner	Beare
Greene	Wickens	Kang
Begg	Arora	Higginson
Sandhu	Lajeunesse	Choi
Rotchford	Elmore	Phillip
Popham	Dix	Sharma
Farnworth	Eby	Bailey
Kahlon	Chandra Herbert	Whiteside
Boyle	Ma	Yung
Malcolmson	Gibson	Glumac
Shah	G. Anderson	Chow
Morissette	Boultbee	Sturko
NAYS — 42
Loewen	Kindy	Milobar
Warbus	Halford	Wat
Kooner	Banman	Hartwell
L. Neufeld	Van Popta	Dew
Clare	K. Neufeld	Rustad
Wilson	Valeriote	Botterell
McInnis	Paton	Day
Bhangu	Toor	Hepner
Giddens	Dhaliwal	McCall
Maahs	Block	Stamer
Gasper	Mok	Davis
Chan	Armstrong	Kealy
Williams	Chapman	Bird
Doerkson	Luck	Tepper

Hon. Mike Farnworth: In this chamber, I call Committee of Supply for the estimates of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

In Section A, the Douglas Fir Room, I call estimates of the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth.

In Section C, the Birch Room, I call Committee of Supply, estimates of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.

[11:25 a.m.]

Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

Introductions by Members

Debra Toporowski / Qwulti’stunaat: I rise to introduce a group of students from Grade 9, Quamichan School, led by Jesse Whittington, in my riding of Cowichan Valley. They’re just exiting now, but they were just here to witness a live vote.

Welcome, and enjoy your time here.

The House in Committee, Section B.

The committee met at 11:27 a.m.

[Mable Elmore in the chair.]

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Ministry of
Public Safety and Solicitor General
(continued)

On Vote 42: ministry operations, $1,085,591,000 (continued).

Bryan Tepper: I think we finished up last session, about a week and a half ago…. We were talking about the resources and what we’re doing with the active deportation orders and the overstays. So I will just ask…. From what I gather there, I think I probably know the answer already.

How much money or how many resources are we putting into allocating and apprehending the people with active deportation orders in this province? I could probably speed it up. From what I gather, it was zero.

[11:30 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Matters of immigration enforcement are within federal jurisdiction and involve Canada Border Services Agency, just to redirect the member’s question to our federal counterparts.

What I will say is that the Canada Border Services Agency has been an integral part of the B.C. extortion task force and has been collaborating with police to a degree that we’ve never seen before in this province — and, indeed, in Canada — on matters related to extortion.

It was reported as of May 14 that the CBSA Pacific region has now opened 116 investigations into individuals linked to extortion activity, issued 52 removal orders and removed 35 individuals from Canada. That work and those results speak to the really important collaboration that local and provincial law enforcement is doing with Canada Border Services Agency on extortion, a matter of great priority for our ministry.

Bryan Tepper: Thank you for the answer.

The minister is asking the people of Surrey to live under the threat of firebombs, shootings, extortions. Intelligence is telling us that many of the people here are here illegally who are taking part in this. They have active warrants. Yet the minister can’t tell us how many of these people are in B.C. or what we’re doing to find them.

If I translate that last answer, it was…. Zero is my assumption, since we’re talking just about CBSA. For the province to put in any effort into further protection of these extortion people…. The province does supply RCMP officers to the policing of this province, and none have been reallocated to finding these people on extortion warrants.

My question is: how much does the federal government currently pay for RCMP officers in the province?

[11:35 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger: Thank you to the member. If I understand your question correctly, again, this is a question that is a matter for federal estimates, not provincial estimates.

In my previous answer, I did highlight the active partnership between the province and CBSA on the extortion files, resulting in a number of investigations and removals.

Since the outset of my work with the ministry, we have been collaborating, really, in a very deep way with our federal colleagues on this. This is an appropriate collaboration, given that the extortion crisis we’re seeing, not only here in B.C., is something that is affecting communities across the country as well. We see extortion in Ontario, in Alberta and more recently in Manitoba.

B.C., our work with the provincial extortion task force, really tried something that’s now being looked at by other provinces in terms of engaging Canada Border Services Agency very directly in the multi-jurisdictional investigative work.

That advocacy of federal engagement has been something that we’ve put a great deal of emphasis on in the ministry. It’s been reflected in my meetings with the Public Safety Canada Minister, with the president of Canada Border Services Agency and the commitment that we’ve seen from the federal government to contribute federal resources to the fight against extortion here in B.C.

Bryan Tepper: Sorry to the minister and the Chair because, clearly, I wasn’t clear on what I was looking for in the answer. I’m asking for the portion under the provincial police service agreement.

What is the percentage covered by the federal government of our policing? Municipal forces that contract, they get a percentage covered by the federal government of the cost of the RCMP, the provincial government as well. I’m curious as to those numbers. What is the percentage covered by the federal government for the RCMP services in British Columbia? Not to do with extortion at this point.

[11:40 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger: Thank you to the member opposite for clarifying the question.

For the provincial police service, there is a cost share, with 70 percent covered by the province and 30 percent by the federal government. For municipal RCMP policing, for populations under 15,000, the same cost-share metric applies. For populations over 15,000, the breakdown is 90 percent municipality and 10 percent federal.

If the member would like more granular details, please let us know, and we could get back to him after.

Bryan Tepper: Thank you for that.

So if I gather that answer correctly, the federal government is paying 30 percent for our provincial police. We’re talking about active deportation federal orders. Why are we not having our RCMP officers, who are responsible for federal policing and federal jurisdiction 30 percent of their time, involved in dealing with these active deportation orders to keep the people of this province safe?

Hon. Jessie Sunner: I seek leave to make an introduction.

Leave granted.

The Chair: Proceed.

Introductions by Members

Hon. Jessie Sunner: I see that students from the Blessed Sacrament School, from the Minister of Finance’s riding, have made their way into the Legislature.

I just want to welcome you. We are currently in the process of estimates, where the Minister of Public Safety and her critics are having an exchange back and forth about the budget for the ministry. I hope you enjoy your time here in the Legislature as well as around Victoria today.

If the House will please join me in making them feel very welcome.

[11:45 a.m.]

Hon. Brenda Bailey: I wonder if I may indulge upon the House for permission to do an introduction.

Leave granted.

The Chair: Please proceed.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: It’s a great honour that I have students here visiting from the riding of Vancouver–South Granville.

I know that my colleague did an introduction because I wasn’t in the House, but I raced back in so that I could introduce you myself. First, I want to welcome your teacher Reine Mykyte and the students of Blessed Sacrament School. This is a Roman Catholic French immersion school serving students between K and 7. I’m not a native French speaker, but I’m going to give it a shot. Please forgive my errors.

Bienvenue à tous les étudiants d’École St-Sacrement.

Thank you very much for being here.

Debate Continued

Hon. Nina Krieger: The cost share that we’re discussing right now of 70-30 represents a formula used for contract policing across the country.

The matter that the member is referring to in terms of the enforcement of federal deportation orders is a matter that falls under federal immigration jurisdictions, with Canada Border Services Agency being the lead enforcement agency in that work.

That is why, when we stood up the B.C. extortion task force, given the national and transnational dimensions of those crimes, we felt it was so important to engage CBSA from the outset. The figures I’ve recently shared about the investigations and removals from CBSA from the Pacific region really speak to the importance of that strong partnership in keeping our communities here in B.C. safe.

Bryan Tepper: Yes, thank you for the answer.

I will say, when I was policing, I actually did engage in the important work that CBSA does in removal of overstays and deportation warrants. Having worked border integrity, I know that RCMP will engage with that and take part in operations to deal with those issues. I am hoping that in the future they can be engaged further to help deal with a very important topic to my community.

My next question will be, actually…. I think I’ve provided some of the questions before. Hopefully we have the answers that weren’t available already.

Around the helicopters…. The minister has spoken about supplying an extra helicopter to the Lower Mainland around the extortion crisis. Has that actually been done?

[11:50 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger: Thank you for the question. The answer is yes. Helicopter resources are being made available and are being used by Surrey in the fight against extortion.

Bryan Tepper: How much air time did the RCMP air services provide last year? Maybe, if you have it, the monthly average. Then, as well, can we just add in the air time they have spent so far this year, if we have a monthly average on that?

Hon. Nina Krieger: In 2025, Surrey accounted for 171 Air One calls and in 2024 accounted for 251 calls, making it the highest-use jurisdiction both years. I do not have a monthly average, but we would be happy to take that question on notice.

Bryan Tepper: I would just like to confirm if we have hours in the air and, also, for this year, if we have the statistics for the first few months.

Hon. Nina Krieger: I’ll take that under advisement.

Bryan Tepper: I believe that we’re talking about the second helicopter. How many operational helicopters do we have in the Lower Mainland with air services?

[11:55 a.m.]

Hon. Nina Krieger: I think we can return to this question right after the lunch break.

The Chair: Member for Surrey-Panorama, we can continue.

Bryan Tepper: I’m more than happy to say that we can adjourn and continue after lunch. I thought the minister had to do this.

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

Motion approved.

The Chair: Committee stands adjourned.

The committee rose at 11:56 a.m.

The House resumed at 11:57 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Mable Elmore: Committee of Supply, Section B, reports progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and asks leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

Susie Chant: Committee of Supply, Section A, reports progress on the estimates of the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth and asks leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

Sunita Dhir: Committee of Supply, Section C, reports progress on the estimates of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit and asks leave to sit again.

Leave granted.

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 11:57 a.m.

Proceedings in the
Douglas Fir Room

The House in Committee, Section A.

The committee met at 11:28 a.m.

[Susie Chant in the chair.]

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Ministry of
Jobs and Economic Growth
(continued)

The Chair: Good morning, members. I call Committee of Supply, Section A, to order. We are meeting today to continue the consideration of the budget estimates of the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth.

I now recognize the minister to move the vote.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: Thank you so much, Chair. And for the record, you are my favourite Chair, so it’s nice to have you there.

On Vote 38: ministry operations, $72,704,000 (continued).

Teresa Wat: I hope I’m your favourite critic.

I would like to ask the minister about the B.C. international trade office network. As of about 2020, this government eliminated all independently leased B.C. trade office spaces. There are no stand-alone B.C. trade offices abroad.

[11:30 a.m.]

If I understand correctly, every one of B.C.’s 23 trade and investment representative postings are now embedded inside a Canadian embassy or consulate operated by Global Affairs Canada, a federal department.

Can the minister confirm this is accurate and tell this committee what is the total amount B.C. is paying Global Affairs Canada to host B.C. staff in those federal buildings?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: I know this has been canvassed by the member multiple times, but I’ll just do it again.

A decision was made to move key trade representatives in-house, working with Global Affairs Canada, a Team Canada approach, which has actually shown really good results for British Columbia. The budget for the offices that are in partnership within GAC, Global Affairs Canada, is $7.2 million. That is our staff there, and they’re doing fantastic work.

[11:35 a.m.]

In fact, they’re doing such a good job for us in those markets that we actually have other provinces that have reached out to me to say: can they leverage the staff we have to be helping them as well? We haven’t agreed to that, but we have offered that we would support any province that needs support in this environment, because we want everyone to be successful, given the challenging time we’re all dealing with.

But the $7.2 million is the number. I’m happy to answer any questions the member has.

Teresa Wat: Thank you for the figure.

Can the minister give us a breakdown of how much is paying for rent, for shared-services charges and, also, for staff? Also, is there a comparison between this total cost as compared with the former stand-alone B.C. trade offices which they were operating, I think, during the first year of the NDP government?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: If it’s okay with the member, I’ll get my team to get the breakdown for her and maybe give it to her in writing. It might be a more efficient use of our time.

Teresa Wat: If the minister could give us a comparison between this total amount of cost with the previous independent trade office.

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: My team will do their best to get the numbers together for you and get it over to you. If the member feels that there’s something else that’s needed, then I’m happy to follow up.

Teresa Wat: Let me see whether this question is relevant. The Coastal Front investigation found that the total expenditure and staffing costs are systematically redacted across all the 23 offices and noted that it is unclear whether records held by Global Affairs Canada fall within the scope of provincial FOI disclosure obligations or are, effectively, beyond reach.

Has the minister or the ministry received legal advice on whether co-locating inside federal buildings shields B.C. trade office costs from provincial FOI? And if those costs are, indeed, held in federal records, does the minister believe the public should have to file a federal ATIP request to find out how B.C. spends provincial tax dollars on trade promotion?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: They would fall under our FOI rules, as regular, but with the caveat that sometimes there’s commercially sensitive information, so they’d have to follow the same rules around FOIs that exist for everyone else.

Teresa Wat: B.C.’s two TIR postings in the United States are embedded inside the Canadian consulate in Seattle and the Canadian Consulate General in San Francisco — both federal facilities, of course. B.C.’s staff sits alongside the federal trade commissioner.

[11:40 a.m.]

The United States is B.C.’s largest trading partner; 52.8 percent of our exports face a 25 percent tariff, and B.C.’s natural gas and electricity are exclusively U.S.-bound.

What are B.C.’s embedded staff in those two federal buildings actually doing about our tariffs? Are they conducting advocacy with U.S. state legislators, importers and business associations, or are they continuing routine export promotion? Is there any risk that B.C.’s provincial advocacy agenda is being constrained by Global Affairs Canada’s federal diplomatic protocols?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: There are a couple of things in that comment.

First, our TIRs in the U.S. are not out of the Global Affairs Canada offices. The member, I think, referred to them being based in the Seattle office. That’s not the case. In the U.S., they are independent.

All the conversations around trade and our discussions with our U.S. counterparts around, perhaps, differences of view on many measures are not done through the TIRs. They’re done between us and…. I’ll keep using “GAC.” I think the member knows really well this file. We work directly with GAC on those trade-related conversations. Our TIRs are accessing and trying to get us commercially viable opportunities, and that’s their focus.

I think the member asked: is our TIR team restricted by GAC in the U.S.? No, they’re not. They report directly to us, as does the Asia team, as does the Europe team. Everyone reports directly to us. They don’t take orders from GAC. They take information from us.

Teresa Wat: It’s good to know that the two U.S. offices are independent.

Will the minister enlighten this committee on why these two are independent as compared with the other offices that are embedded with the embassy or the Global Affairs Canada?

[11:45 a.m.]

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: The member, I think, was the minister for this file and understands that the way business is conducted, say, in the U.S. or Europe is different than it is in Asia — much deeper around relationship-building. But also, the importance of elected officials and government officials is different in the Asia context than it is here.

Having us have the ability to be located in GAC gives us the best of both worlds, allows our teams to be able to look for commercial opportunities and also leverage the country-to-country and then, of course, the province-to-state and province-to-province relationships. That model is more suited for the Asia market.

Because the way business is done, often without us elected officials in the U.S. and often in Europe, the model can be different in that structure. So both have opportunities, depending on the jurisdiction where we’re trying to leverage opportunities.

Teresa Wat: I just have a simple question, since we are running out of time. Are these two the only independent trade offices among all the 23 trade offices all over the world?

Hon. Ravi Kahlon: I think, just for the member’s interest, I’ll just say that we’ve got two markets where they’re contracted — in the U.S. and Europe.

In the United States, we have representatives in Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. I can give this to the member in writing, if the member would like.

Okay. But I just want to read it into the record.

In Europe, we have them in Amsterdam; in London; in Stuttgart, Germany. But we have eight representatives that work through Europe. In India…. So those are contractors.

In the other markets, we’re within the Global Affairs Canada offices, but there are independent people. So that’s in Bangalore, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Indonesia. We opened up a brand-new office in Vietnam — or a new team in Vietnam. Manila in the Philippines. Singapore. In China, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai. We opened up a new team in Taiwan — two representatives there. We’ve got Japan, South Korea, and we opened up a new team in Mexico City. All those are embedded within the Global Affairs Canada office.

But I can give the member this in writing so the member has it in the same response that we provide her with the other answer.

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

Motion approved.

The Chair: Thank you very much, Members, for your work this morning, and this committee stands adjourned.

The committee rose at 11:49 a.m.

Proceedings in the
Birch Room

The House in Committee, Section C.

The committee met at 11:28 a.m.

[Sunita Dhir in the chair.]

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Ministry of
Transportation and Transit
(continued)

The Chair: Good morning, Members. I call Committee of Supply, Section C, to order. We are meeting today to continue the consideration of the budget estimates of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.

On Vote 45: ministry operations, $1,196,576,000 (continued).

Harman Bhangu: It looks like we’re heading into the two-minute warning of estimates here for Transportation, but the last whistle hasn’t gone, so let’s move on to the Highway 1 Burnaby interchange timeline and delivery.

Turning to the Brunette interchange on Highway 1, this is a well-known bottleneck in the corridor and a critical connection point for Coquitlam, New Westminster, goods movement and access to Royal Columbian Hospital. This interchange has been under discussion for many years. Public engagement began in early 2016, followed by a joint work group between 2018 and 2019 to develop options.

Since then, additional design work and technical analysis have taken place, including the development of a refined concept that was shared with local governments and regional partners in 2023. However, that concept did not proceed to public engagement, and agreement on the final approach has remained unresolved.

The question is not whether improvements are needed. That has been clear for years. The question is why, after nearly a decade of planning and engagement, a preferred option has still not been finalized and construction has not begun.

[11:30 a.m.]

My question. Can the minister explain what has prevented the selection of a preferred option for the Brunette interchange after years of planning and engagement? Can the minister provide a clear timeline for when the final design and construction plan will be identified?

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. I’m very familiar with the area, and what I can tell the member is that there was, as he outlined, the public work done. There was also some public feedback provided. Then when it came back to the province from both New Westminster and the city of Coquitlam, there was not an agreement on what the best way forward is.

We’re still happy to continue engagement with both communities and TransLink as to what is the best solution for the area.

Harman Bhangu: I want to talk a little bit about the taxi sector, as they’ve been really under the gun the last few years here now.

Turning to the taxi sector, this is an industry that plays a critical role in communities across British Columbia, including providing reliable, accessible transportation and coverage in areas where other services may not operate.

Since the introduction of ride-hail services in 2019, the industry has been adapting to a changing regulatory environment. At the same time, taxi operators have continued to raise concerns about fairness, competition and the overall balance of the system.

Those concerns have been consistent. They include market-share impacts, differences in regulatory treatment, insurance costs, hours of service and access to trip data. A special committee reviewed these issues and provided recommendations, and the ministry has indicated that it is reviewing those recommendations and engaging with industry.

The question is not whether these concerns are understood. It is what has actually changed and whether the system is becoming more balanced for those who have been operating in this sector for decades.

My question: can the minister outline what specific regulatory or policy changes have been implemented to address the taxi industry and long-standing concerns about fairness, competition since the special committee report? Can the minister confirm what timeline the industry can expect for concrete changes on the key issues, such as hours of service, insurance parity and overall regulatory balance?

Hon. Mike Farnworth: Again, I appreciate the question from the member. What he outlines, I think, are the concerns of the industry. I have met with them now on a number of occasions.

We are busy doing the policy work on the recommendations in that review — consulting, continuing to consult with the industry on what their key priorities are and how we can address some of those issues of fairness. It includes understanding the impact that ride-hail has had on the industry, not only in terms of the level of service that they were providing before but also the impact in terms of growth that’s taking place in the province.

Some of the issues we’re looking at are on the basis of how they see things provincewide. Others are more regional in nature. But that work is ongoing, and I hope to have more to say on that later this year.

Harman Bhangu: Yes, that is a great concern, and I feel for the ride-share side as well, because I take the Uber, and a lot of the drivers actually communicate. They ask me: “How much are you paying for this ride?” I’ll tell them it’s $60 to get from my place to the airport, and they’re telling me they’re getting paid less than $30 sometimes. It is a great deal of concern, and it’s something that we should be addressing to bring back some parity in the service.

[11:35 a.m.]

I want to move on to Burnaby Mountain gondola. Turning to the Burnaby Mountain gondola project, this is a proposed connection between Production Way station and Simon Fraser University intended to improve access for students, staff and surrounding community.

The project has been studied for several years. It has gone through public engagement, route selection and has been identified as a preferred option based on efficiency and cost. It has also received support from local governments and the university and has been identified as a priority within the regional transportation network.

At the same time, the project has not yet moved into delivery. The province has not committed funding. The question is not whether the project has been studied or supported; it is whether it is actually moving forward and what level of commitment exists to deliver it.

Can the minister clarify when the province will confirm its typical share of capital funding for the SFU–Burnaby Mountain gondola? What specific conditions must be met for this project to move from planning to construction?

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. I think it is a very exciting-looking option. I’ve seen these kinds of initiatives in other jurisdictions.

Recently — well, this is Christmas — I was in Australia, in Queensland, and I did the gondola they have there from Kuranda down to the coast. It’s 7½ kilometres. It’s called SkyRail. It was pretty fantastic. It was also pretty interesting to find out how it was constructed.

I’m aware that the city of Burnaby…. It’s got a lot of local support. But before the province would be able to do anything, it has to be part of the investment plan, which is decided by TransLink and the Mayors Council, as to one of their priorities that they want included in the investment plan.

At this point in time, it’s not been, but if they were to do that, then, certainly, we would, obviously, take a very serious look at it.

Harman Bhangu: Yes, definitely having some family in Australia, they tell me about a lot of the cool projects that they do to try and connect communities and figure out different ways, because infrastructure costs can be consuming to upgrade all the services along the way where you are trying to build.

I want to talk a little bit about the UBC extension. Turning to the UBC extension, this is a long-discussed project to extend rapid transit to one of the largest destinations in the region, connecting directly to UBC and significantly expanding access to the Broadway corridor. This project has been included in long-term regional transportation plans and has moved into formal planning, including work towards the business case and concept design.

There has also been financial participation from partners. The federal government has committed funding towards the business case, and both UBC and the city of Vancouver have contributed as well. At the same time, progress on the project has been tied to the broader fiscal conditions and ongoing planning work.

The question is not whether the project has identified as a priority; it is what the current status is in when it will move forward.

My question: can the minister clarify the current status of provincial funding for UBC extension business case, and what is the timeline the province is working toward for the project to move beyond early-stage planning into defined delivery path?

[11:40 a.m.]

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. We have matched the federal government’s $14 million in terms of the planning. We’ve also added $5 million in this year’s budget for that work to continue.

The other thing that does also need to happen is that it needs to go into the investment plan. TransLink to date has indicated they see it as in the second half, not in the immediate. We will continue to work with them. We’ll continue to work with the federal government to ensure that we get the appropriate level of funding that we need.

This is, obviously, an important project and would be a considerable addition to our incredible SkyTrain system.

Harman Bhangu: I’ve been having a few meetings with a lot of the trucker groups, and a big concern that’s coming out there is the amount of impaired driving issues that we’re having with big rigs and big semi-trucks. And what a lot of them are saying is when we’re going through the process of hiring, there are very limited ways that we can, unless you do a full driver’s abstract, which only some companies do….

Most of them are wondering: is there going to be a situation for class 1 drivers where it’d be easier….? Say, if there’s an infraction on that licence, there would be a marker or something that would let employers know. It is a growing trend. There have been situations where someone has been caught in a truck at one point, and a couple months later they’re driving for another operator.

What is the plan to target impaired drivers and add maybe a level of security for other employers in the future who may need to hire drivers so that they can actually figure out: was this driver impaired? What were the issues? Did he get treatment? Is there any kind of mechanism for that?

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member, and I think that’s a really good issue to raise. What I can say at this point is that that rests with ICBC in terms of the flags that they can put on a licence. I’m more than happy to raise that with my colleague responsible for ICBC.

Harman Bhangu: I asked…. Now I want to talk about the 105 speed limiter. A lot of truckers — I’ve been talking to them, and I’ve been on the roads myself, driven across the province. Clearly, not everyone’s using them. You have out of province, out of state from America that come through. Not everyone has them. There are a lot of companies that do move goods and services to British Columbia that are without them. This is something that a lot of them have said is….

Has the ministry measured the effectiveness of this policy, and if it has, will you table that report? A lot of truckers tell me that when they’re going uphill sometimes, what’s happening now is there’s a lot of strain on the truck and they’re trying to gain momentum in slippery or in snowy conditions in some way, because if you go at it slow, you’re just going to get stuck and you’re going to continue sliding. You need to have a little bit of that momentum.

A lot of truckers are wondering: has there been a report and will you table it?

Hon. Mike Farnworth: We are currently doing a review on that. There will be a report later this year, and it will be made public.

Harman Bhangu: I look forward to that.

Now I want to move on to a little bit of an issue. I was talking to a member over in the Vernon area. There is Hillview Elementary School at 1822 Francis Street in Vernon. Does the ministry have any plans to install lights on the MoTT light poles in this area?

It’s been a really big concern. I’ve heard from a lot of folks in that area who have written letters, emailed me, called me and said, “Hey, my kids travel down this road. It gets dark early in the fall,” and now with the time change that’s happened, they feel it could be at risk, and there have been accidents in the area.

I believe they went to local governments, talked to them. They have told them it’s a ministry issue.

Has there been any consultation or any kind of network to get some light poles put in there?

[11:45 a.m.]

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I appreciate the question from the member. We’re not familiar with the exact location, but what we’ll do is look into it and report back to you.

The Chair: I ask the minister to move the motion now.

Hon. Mike Farnworth: I move the committee rise, report progress and ask leave to sit again.

Motion approved.

The Chair: Thank you, Members. This committee stands adjourned.

The committee rose at 11:46 a.m.