First Session, 42nd Parliament

OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD)

Tursday, March 25, 2021 Afernoon Sitting Issue No. 42

THE HONOURABLE , SPEAKER

ISSN 1499-2175 PROVINCE OF (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871)

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC

First Session, 42nd Parliament

SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Raj Chouhan

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ...... Hon. Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training...... Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries...... Hon. Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing ...... Hon. , QC Minister of Children and Family Development ...... Hon. Minister of State for Child Care...... Hon. Minister of Citizens’ Services...... Hon. Minister of Education ...... Hon. Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation ...... Hon. , QC Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy...... Hon. Minister of Finance ...... Hon. Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ...... Hon. Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations...... Hon. Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Francophone Afairs...... Hon. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ...... Hon. , QC Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation...... Hon. Minister of State for Trade...... Hon. Minister of Labour ...... Hon. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions...... Hon. Minister of Municipal Afairs ...... Hon. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ...... Hon. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction...... Hon. Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport ...... Hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure...... Hon. Minister of State for Infrastructure ...... Hon.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Ofcial Opposition...... Leader of the Tird Party ...... Deputy Speaker...... Assistant Deputy Speaker...... Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ...... Ronna-Rae Leonard Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ...... Kate Ryan-Lloyd Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel...... Seunghee Suzie Seo Clerk Assistant, Parliamentary Services...... Artour Sogomonian Clerk of Committees...... Jennifer Arril Clerk Assistant, Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ...... Susan Sourial Senior Research Analyst...... Karan Riarh Acting Sergeant-at-Arms...... Greg Nelson ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Alexis, Pam (BC NDP) ...... Abbotsford-Mission Abbotsford-Mission...... Anderson, Brittny (BC NDP) ...... Nelson-Creston Abbotsford South...... Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal Party)...... Penticton Abbotsford West...... Michael de Jong, QC Babchuk, Michele (BC NDP)...... North Island Boundary-Similkameen...... Bailey, Brenda (BC NDP)...... Vancouver–False Creek Burnaby–Deer Lake...... Hon. Anne Kang Bains, Hon. Harry (BC NDP)...... Surrey-Newton Burnaby-Edmonds...... Hon. Raj Chouhan Banman, Bruce (BC Liberal Party) ...... Abbotsford South Burnaby-Lougheed...... Hon. Katrina Chen Beare, Hon. Lisa (BC NDP) ...... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Burnaby North ...... Begg, Garry (BC NDP)...... Surrey-Guildford Cariboo-Chilcotin ...... Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ...... Cariboo North...... Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal Party)...... Prince George–Valemount Chilliwack ...... Brar, Jagrup (BC NDP)...... Surrey-Fleetwood Chilliwack-Kent ...... Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal Party) ...... Surrey South Columbia River–Revelstoke ...... Chandra Herbert, Spencer (BC NDP)...... Vancouver–West End Coquitlam–Burke Mountain...... Chant, Susie (BC NDP) ...... North Vancouver–Seymour Coquitlam-Maillardville ...... Hon. Selina Robinson Chen, Hon. Katrina (BC NDP) ...... Burnaby-Lougheed Courtenay-Comox...... Ronna-Rae Leonard Chouhan, Hon. Raj (BC NDP)...... Burnaby-Edmonds Cowichan Valley ...... Sonia Furstenau Chow, Hon. George (BC NDP) ...... Vancouver-Fraserview Delta North...... Hon. Ravi Kahlon Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal Party)...... Columbia River–Revelstoke Delta South ...... Conroy, Hon. Katrine (BC NDP)...... Kootenay West Esquimalt-Metchosin ...... Hon. Mitzi Dean Coulter, Dan (BC NDP) ...... Chilliwack Fraser-Nicola ...... Cullen, Hon. Nathan (BC NDP) ...... Stikine Kamloops–North Tompson ...... Davies, Dan (BC Liberal Party)...... Peace River North Kamloops–South Tompson...... de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal Party)...... Abbotsford West Kelowna–Lake Country ...... Norm Letnick Dean, Hon. Mitzi (BC NDP) ...... Esquimalt-Metchosin Kelowna-Mission ...... Renee Merrifeld D’Eith, Bob (BC NDP) ...... Maple Ridge–Mission Kelowna West ...... Dix, Hon. Adrian (BC NDP) ...... Vancouver-Kingsway Kootenay East...... Doerkson, Lorne (BC Liberal Party) ...... Cariboo-Chilcotin Kootenay West...... Hon. Katrine Conroy Donnelly, Fin (BC NDP) ...... Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Langford–Juan de Fuca ...... Hon. John Horgan Dykeman, Megan (BC NDP)...... Langley East Langley ...... Eby, Hon. David, QC (BC NDP)...... Vancouver–Point Grey Langley East...... Elmore, Mable (BC NDP) ...... Vancouver-Kensington Maple Ridge–Mission...... Bob D’Eith Farnworth, Hon. Mike (BC NDP) ...... Port Coquitlam Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows...... Hon. Lisa Beare Fleming, Hon. Rob (BC NDP) ...... Victoria–Swan Lake Mid Island–Pacifc Rim...... Hon. Josie Osborne Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) ...... Cowichan Valley Nanaimo...... Hon. Sheila Malcolmson Glumac, Rick (BC NDP) ...... Port Moody–Coquitlam Nanaimo–North Cowichan...... Greene, Kelly (BC NDP) ...... Richmond-Steveston Nechako Lakes...... Halford, Trevor (BC Liberal Party)...... Surrey–White Rock Nelson-Creston ...... Heyman, Hon. George (BC NDP) ...... Vancouver-Fairview ...... Hon. Jennifer Whiteside Horgan, Hon. John (BC NDP) ...... Langford–Juan de Fuca North Coast ...... Kahlon, Hon. Ravi (BC NDP) ...... Delta North North Island...... Kang, Hon. Anne (BC NDP) ...... Burnaby–Deer Lake North Vancouver–Lonsdale...... Hon. Bowinn Ma Kirkpatrick, Karin (BC Liberal Party)...... –Capilano North Vancouver–Seymour...... Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal Party)...... Shuswap Oak Bay–Gordon Head...... Hon. Murray Rankin, QC Lee, Michael (BC Liberal Party)...... Vancouver-Langara Parksville-Qualicum...... Adam Walker Leonard, Ronna-Rae (BC NDP)...... Courtenay-Comox Peace River North ...... Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal Party) ...... Kelowna–Lake Country Peace River South ...... Lore, Grace (BC NDP)...... Victoria–Beacon Hill Penticton ...... Ma, Hon. Bowinn (BC NDP)...... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Port Coquitlam...... Hon. Mike Farnworth Malcolmson, Hon. Sheila (BC NDP)...... Nanaimo Port Moody–Coquitlam...... Mark, Hon. Melanie (BC NDP)...... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Powell River–Sunshine Coast...... Hon. Nicholas Simons Mercier, Andrew (BC NDP) ...... Langley Prince George–Mackenzie...... Merrifeld, Renee (BC Liberal Party)...... Kelowna-Mission Prince George–Valemount ...... Shirley Bond Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal Party) ...... Kamloops–North Tompson Richmond North Centre...... Morris, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ...... Prince George–Mackenzie Richmond-Queensborough...... Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal Party)...... Cariboo North Richmond South Centre ...... Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)...... Saanich North and the Islands Richmond-Steveston ...... Osborne, Hon. Josie (BC NDP)...... Mid Island–Pacifc Rim Saanich North and the Islands ...... Paddon, Kelli (BC NDP) ...... Chilliwack-Kent Saanich South ...... Hon. Lana Popham Paton, Ian (BC Liberal Party) ...... Delta South Shuswap...... Popham, Hon. Lana (BC NDP)...... Saanich South Skeena...... Ralston, Hon. Bruce, QC (BC NDP) ...... Surrey-Whalley Stikine...... Hon. Nathan Cullen Rankin, Hon. Murray, QC (BC NDP) ...... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Surrey-Cloverdale ...... Rice, Jennifer (BC NDP) ...... North Coast Surrey-Fleetwood...... Jagrup Brar Robinson, Hon. Selina (BC NDP)...... Coquitlam-Maillardville Surrey–Green Timbers...... Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal Party)...... Skeena Surrey-Guildford...... Routledge, Janet (BC NDP) ...... Burnaby North Surrey-Newton...... Hon. Harry Bains Routley, Doug (BC NDP)...... Nanaimo–North Cowichan Surrey-Panorama ...... Russell, Roly (BC NDP)...... Boundary-Similkameen Surrey South ...... Rustad, John (BC Liberal Party)...... Nechako Lakes Surrey-Whalley ...... Hon. Bruce Ralston, QC Sandhu, Harwinder (BC NDP) ...... Vernon-Monashee Surrey–White Rock ...... Sharma, Niki (BC NDP)...... Vancouver-Hastings Vancouver-Fairview...... Hon. George Heyman Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal Party)...... Kootenay East Vancouver–False Creek...... Simons, Hon. Nicholas (BC NDP)...... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Vancouver-Fraserview...... Hon. George Chow Sims, Jinny (BC NDP) ...... Surrey-Panorama Vancouver-Hastings ...... Singh, Aman (BC NDP) ...... Richmond-Queensborough Vancouver-Kensington...... Singh, Rachna (BC NDP)...... Surrey–Green Timbers Vancouver-Kingsway...... Hon. Adrian Dix Starchuk, Mike (BC NDP) ...... Surrey-Cloverdale Vancouver-Langara...... Michael Lee Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal Party) ...... Kelowna West Vancouver–Mount Pleasant...... Hon. Melanie Mark Stone, Todd (BC Liberal Party) ...... Kamloops–South Tompson Vancouver–Point Grey ...... Hon. David Eby, QC Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal Party) ...... West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Vancouver-Quilchena...... , QC Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal Party)...... Fraser-Nicola Vancouver–West End ...... Spencer Chandra Herbert Walker, Adam (BC NDP)...... Parksville-Qualicum Vernon-Monashee ...... Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal Party) ...... Richmond North Centre Victoria–Beacon Hill...... Whiteside, Hon. Jennifer (BC NDP) ...... New Westminster Victoria–Swan Lake...... Hon. Rob Fleming Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal Party)...... Vancouver-Quilchena West Vancouver–Capilano...... Yao, Henry (BC NDP) ...... Richmond South Centre West Vancouver–Sea to Sky......

Party Standings: BC NDP 57; BC Liberal Party 28; BC Green Party 2

CONTENTS

Tursday, March 25, 2021 Afernoon Sitting Page

Orders of the Day

Committee of the Whole House...... 1031 Bill 10 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2021 (continued) M. Bernier Hon. S. Robinson

Standing Order 81.1...... 1035 Schedule for Debate on Bill 10 Hon. M. Farnworth

Committee of the Whole House...... 1036 Bill 10 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2021 (continued) M. Bernier Hon. S. Robinson S. Furstenau

Report and Tird Reading of Bills...... 1041 Bill 10 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2021

Royal Assent to Bills...... 1041 Bill 4 — Firearm Violence Prevention Act Bill 5 — Insurance Corporation Amendment Act, 2021 Bill 6 — Home Owner Grant Amendment Act, 2021 Bill 7 — Tenancy Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 Bill 8 — Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 202 Bill 9 — Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 Bill 11 — Court of Appeal Act Bill 12 — Miscellaneous Statutes (Minor Corrections) Amendment Act, 2021 Bill 10 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2021

1031

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 of them. Te other one is on digital services, which the member alluded to. Te House met at 1:33 p.m. In March, when the budget passed, these were to come into place last April. Given that we were fresh into the pan- [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] demic, so many unknowns…. I recall — I was the Housing Minister at the time — that the unknown was really…. I’m Orders of the Day sure the Speaker recalls how frightening it was for every- body. We were all under…. It felt like a siege, I think is Hon. M. Farnworth: I call continued committee stage, the word. I see the member nodding. It felt like a siege. Bill 10. Hunkered, really, in place, as best we could — those that could. Trying to make sure that everyone was safe. Committee of the Whole House Te House was called back — only those who sort of made their home here or who could travel here in a safe BILL 10 — SUPPLY ACT (No. 1), 2021 manner — and did an incredible job of trying to fgure out (continued) how we support people to get through this. It was a really, I’ll say, frightening time for everyone — not just here in Te House in Committee of the Whole on Bill 10; British Columbia, but certainly around the country and N. Letnick in the chair. around the world — because we knew so little. We didn’t know what the impacts were going to be, whether physic- Te committee met at 1:35 p.m. ally, in terms of what our health was going to look like…. We also didn’t know what it was going to do economically. On clause 2 (continued). We didn’t know how long it was going to be. I want to remind the member as well that, at the time, M. Bernier: I’m just trying to recap a little bit. Of when there was talk about needing a vaccine, it was going course, we had the lunch break. Before the lunch break, to be two to three years away. Tat, I remember, was also we were just talking about process. We were talking about frightening to think about. How do we keep each other the history, I guess we could say, and process around how safe, keep our families safe? supply acts have come in, in the past and how we see this [1:40 p.m.] diferent this time. Tis leads us into a lot of the questions It was in that context that the previous Finance Minister that I’ve been asking. I raised a bunch beforehand, before said we were going to defer on these taxes. We were going lunch — a lot of the discussion around the increased taxes to wait until the following year. We’ve learned a lot. We and the choices that this government made. can see the resilience around us. We see how this House is Te minister acknowledged that the government does functioning. We’ve certainly learned a lot. make choices. Even though we may difer on opinion on I can appreciate the member sort of suggesting that some of those choices, as she acknowledged, they are gov- maybe we’re out of the pandemic. We’re not. We can see ernment. Tey get to make those choices, and then they’re the light at the end of the tunnel, as everyone calls it. We’re accountable for those choices. still in the tunnel. Te member agrees: we are still in the I am still, though, a little perplexed. Te minister soun- tunnel, and we are all hopeful for what comes out when we ded like she was saying in her comments right before all come out the other side of the tunnel. lunch, if I can recollect, that as of April 1, we have some It’s within that context that the extension to defer cer- taxes that are going to be going up here in the province — tainly wasn’t taken, but we still have a long way to go. taxes that the minister acknowledged were being deferred I look forward to continuing to work with the mem- because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for some reason, bers opposite, as we work together to continue to help government feels that it’s now a good time to start raising people get through this pandemic, and build out a road taxes. to recovery. Is the minister saying, because of that, that she feels that we are substantially out of the pandemic now? I know that M. Bernier: Although I want to acknowledge the com- we are all excited because the vaccine is starting. But for ments that the minister just made, we did come in here, the minister to say that yes, she’s okay with taxes going up collectively, because there were a lot of unknowns. We did in some areas on April 1, which were deferred because of come in here and have that discussion. I would argue, the pandemic…. Is she saying that we are basically out of though, right now to the House, that we still have a lot the pandemic now, which is why they’re okay to start char- of unknowns. I would state that, from what I hear from ging people more money? people in the public, there’s still angst. Tere’s still uncer- tainty. Yes, there is hope. But we don’t know how long that Hon. S. Robinson: Budget 2020 included a couple of tunnel is. these measures. A tax on carbonated sugary drinks is one We’re in the middle of a process, without being able 1032 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 to give people clear answers of when we will be back to formed…. I remember getting the phone call from them at whatever normal is. I’ll reference, maybe, anything prior to the end of March last year. Tey made those big dog beds, COVID-19 as being “normal.”How we get back to that and and have an assembly line for doing that production. He the changes that will be made are yet to be seen. I do fnd realized that he needed PPE, and he was going to trans- it interesting, just because we are starting to see the light at form his business to do that. We were able to help him the end of the tunnel, that government is choosing, as of identify who he needed to speak to with the federal gov- April 1, to start raising taxes in certain areas. ernment. We were able to help facilitate access to some It begs one to think that they’re doing that solely capital. Lo and behold, in my constituency, he is now pro- because of the defcit that they fnd themselves in, in a ducing medical-grade PPE and is growing his business by situation where the minister is going to be presenting a leaps and bounds, because he’s been able to adapt and has budget, just a short three weeks afer that. I won’t go into demonstrated resilience. the whole discussion, before lunch, of really not having a Tere are countless stories like that around the province clear understanding of where the fnances in the province and around the nation. It’s something we can all be proud are. We will fnd out soon enough. Tere is that under- of. We’ve also seen that it is diferent today than it was standing out there that we are in a defcit, that there is a last March. Again, I want to remind everybody about the hole, and that that hole continues to be dug. At some point, huge job losses that were seen and felt last spring, in March government needs to start flling it in. We understand that; and April. Tey were signifcant, and it was heart-wrench- at least, we hope that. We need to move forward. ing for those that were, certainly, most impacted. It was I do want to ask the minister, then, is she so certain that important that government step in to help those folks stay we are now close to the end of that tunnel, that she feels safe. Tat was the most important thing I can certainly confdent enough to start raising taxes on people, starting remember from those few months. the end of next week, when we still don’t know what the What’s also interesting to note, because we’ve had a year future holds? of living like this and adapting and demonstrating our resilience, is that we are continuing to see ten consecutive Hon. S. Robinson: Te member has suggested…. He months of job gains. Te numbers are 99.4 percent of pre- keeps coming back to somehow not having a sense of pandemic employment levels. What that tells us is that we where our economic situation is. All he has to do is go are a robust province with robust peoples, who are incred- back to the economic update that I provided in December. ibly resilient. In fact, we’re seeing that in some regions Tere’s lots of detail in there around what we’re facing fsc- employment is above pre-pandemic levels. In Prince ally, what the defcit looks like, based on those December George, it’s at 106.7 percent, and in Kamloops, it’s 103.3 numbers. Tat’s certainly available to the public. It’s avail- percent. Tat just tells you that in some places there’s some able to the member, to provide him with the details up real action happening and activity happening. until that time. As the member rightly points out, we are not yet [1:45 p.m.] through the tunnel. We know that there’s more to come, We are continuing, of course, to monitor how things and that provides me with incredible hope and incred- change and evolve. If anything, I have to say this pan- ible optimism about what’s to come. We are not there demic has taught us a lot. I’m sure this is a shared exper- yet; there’s certainly more work to do. We know that ience by many British Columbians and members of the there are certain groups that have been more greatly House. It has certainly taught me about resilience. When impacted by the pandemic than other groups. We know you think that things are not doing well, normal gets that women, particularly women of colour, young people turned upside down, and then you see how you adapt. I and young women, in particular, have been more mean, I’m always amazed. impacted by the impacts of COVID. We also know that I hope the Chair doesn’t mind that I hold up my mask there are some industries that are much more greatly and acknowledge how quickly we have all adapted to car- impacted as a result of COVID. rying this with us, putting it on when we move, making [1:50 p.m.] sure that we’re keeping each other safe by using them, how Tere’s a ton of work for us to do still, going forward. we’ve learned to take of our glasses when we put on our Again, I want to come back to the fact that we have learned masks so that they don’t fog up — or, if they do fog up, how so much over this last year. It’s based on all of that inform- to just live with it. I’m looking around at the members who ation that we are continuing to do the important work. pretty much all wear glasses in here and all the nodding, Back in 2020 with the budget, there was an announce- except for the Chair, of course — perfect vision. ment of these taxes. It was a decision of government, for It’s about how we’ve adapted to that. I remember a year sure, and it continues to be a decision of government. We ago thinking: “We’re going to wear masks?” Ten we’ve deferred it for the year. But again, I want to point out that adapted. I think about how businesses, as well, have adap- British Columbians have it better now, from a tax regime, ted, how they’ve pivoted, some doing incredibly well. than they had back in 2017. Tat’s signifcant. Tere’s a business in my community that trans- I want to provide one more detail, I guess, for the mem- Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1033 ber in terms of analysis. A family of four where the family wants to do, it’s my understanding they also deferred to income is about $120,000 pays the lowest amount of pro- announce that starting April 1, the carbon tax is going up vincial income tax in Canada. again in the province of British Columbia by another $5. With that, I think it’s really important to recognize that Can the minister correct me if I’m wrong? Is the carbon British Columbians are resilient. Tey have decided that tax also going up in a short ten days? they want a government that puts them frst and puts their needs frst and is responsive to making sure that they have Hon. S. Robinson: Like I said before, in Budget 2020, the health care they need. Tey want to live in a just soci- there were a number of taxes that were announced, that ety. We’re going to continue to deliver that. were debated in the House, that were discussed in the House and that passed in the House. Based on the lack of M. Bernier: I was making a few notes while the minister certainty and the fact that the landscape of what we knew was talking, giving a response to my question. She keeps to be true had changed so dramatically, like I said in my referencing the fscal update last December. I can reference previous response, is how well we’ve adapted. that. But she’s asking for money now, four months later, Again, I agree with the member opposite: we are not and asking me to use a reference point…. We mentioned quite yet through the pandemic. Tere is a ways to go. before lunch about history. Tis isn’t much diferent. People are sort of, I understand, placing bets on when Back to the point of having a document tabled in the emergency orders will be lifed. Is it going to be August? House that’s relevant to that time and that date, it sounds Is it going to be September? Is it going to be October? like the minister is trying to say to this House that nothing We don’t know, but people are hopeful. Tey can see and has changed in the province, worse or better, that nothing they can start planning. Tat’s the thing that I’m noticing has changed since last December. Tat’s the document now is that people are starting to plan. Tey’re starting now she says that I can get my information from. to plan their lives. Tey put so many things on hold. Tat I’m well aware of that time, that day, that presentation, feels good. if we can call it that, that the minister put forward in her So we are in a diferent place. We’re in a very diferent fscal update and the fact that, in my opinion, we might place than we were last March. We are, absolutely. Tere’s have diferences of opinion on this. But it wasn’t a hol- no more runs on toilet paper. I see the member sort of istic quarterly report, as laid out in the act. Even on that questioning that, because apparently there was a container day, when the minister was giving her fscal update, she ship in the Suez that got stuck and apparently there might said: “Te path forward is uncertain.” She said again, if be another run on toilet paper because of that. But that’s a I remember from that day, that there’s a high degree of diferent story around toilet paper shortages. uncertainty around the COVID economic impacts. Again, Again, this is what we were living with a year ago. It is that was four months ago. diferent today. It’s very diferent today. We need to also Te minister, when she did her December update, I remember that that, too, contributes to how governments think was very careful to say that these were approxima- make decisions. So it was decided a year ago to delay tions, estimates, because things were evolving and things implementing those taxes to April 1, 2021, which is a week were changing. I can’t remember everything the minister from now. said that day, but that was the tone of that fscal update. [2:00 p.m.] Now the minister is asking me to use that update as a refer- ence point of certainty, when in the minister’s own words, M. Bernier: Not to put words in the minister’s mouth, I she was saying we’re not certain. believe what she was saying was yes. Yes, the carbon tax is I do also fnd it interesting, in the minister’s last going up at the end of next week. Yes, there are addition- response, where she is, in my opinion, insinuating that al taxes that are going to be implemented on the people in people can now aford a tax increase because we’re at a the province of British Columbia while we still are uncer- point where…. Yes, they deferred increases. Tey tain of when restrictions will be lifed, when more people announced increased taxes. “But don’t worry. We won’t can get back to work — where businesses will actually charge you yet.” Tey now try to take credit for deferring know what their fate is. them for a year, as if that’s something the people of British I also want to maybe just say, on the record, that I don’t Columbia are going to applaud. think the minister was trying to encourage people to run [1:55 p.m.] out and clean of the shelves of toilet paper again just “My taxes are going up, but thank goodness they didn’t because of a tanker that might be stuck. Just want to put go up 12 months ago. I’m okay if they go up now, even that on the record. Please don’t go out and do that again. though we don’t know if the pandemic is over.” Tat was an oddity that we saw. I mention those two taxes. Maybe I’ll ask another one. But I do want to, again, just say…. I won’t argue the In the document that we’re referencing from 13 months fact that 13 months ago we debated in this House the ago that we’re using as the basis for the borrowing, for budget estimates for the fscal year of 2020-21. I won’t the spending, for the next three months that government argue the fact that government came in shortly thereafer 1034 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 and said that that document is already, in essence, obsol- Hon. S. Robinson: Te member asked me to repeat ete, because we are now fnding ourselves in a global pan- it. So I’m happy to repeat that 2,415,820 British Col- demic where governments here, nationally and around the umbians have received the beneft. Tat amounts to world have made choices around how they will deal with $1,184,368,126 that has not only gone into British Col- the difcult situation. I won’t argue the fact that all three umbians’ pockets, but more than that, they’ve taken that parties came here in collaboration, worked together to money out of their pockets, and they are spending that ensure there were more funds to help people who are money in our communities. struggling through that. So when the member talks about the corner grocery I will, however, argue that there’s a lot of angst and a store, when he talks about the local forist or the neigh- lot of frustration added with the hope out there, because bourhood pub or the other merchants in communities people don’t see when restrictions will be lifed. People right around the province, people are taking that resource, don’t know for certain — the next month, two months, six and they are going out and they are spending it. months or, for that, the next year — how it’s going to look. I think back to the real impact that it has on people’s I don’t think the minister herself, with all due respect…. lives. I heard from a friend who called me just afer her She would acknowledge that she doesn’t know, either, how 75-year-old mom went online. She was nervous about it’s going to look economically in the province, how people going online to make her application. She did it. She said it are going to deal with the lockdowns and the frustration took 15 minutes. Within three or four days, lo and behold, that they’ve…. Tankfully, the majority of the people have her $500 was in her bank account. My friend, who was managed to adapt through this, all in diferent ways, but telling me about this, said the best part of all of that was the mental well-being of people has defnitely been pushed that her 75-year-old mom had reached out to two of her to the test through this. 70-plus-something friends. Tey were having a Zoom So I fnd it interesting that the minister has acknow- meeting and developing a plan of where they were going to ledged that even though nobody, with certainty, can say go in their community, which merchants they were going how things are going to look for the next year, the gov- to go to, to spend this recovery beneft. ernment is confdent enough to say that they can still start What that meant to them was that they were going to raising taxes, starting at the end of next week, on the have an outing, which they desperately needed for their people here in the province. own mental health and well-being. Tey could get things We have been hearing from businesses, from the tour- that they needed around the house. Tey could spend ism sector and from the small mom-and-pop operations, money in their communities, which was good for the local whether it be the little corner grocery store or even a businesses. Tat’s the choice that this government has home-based daycare, that people are still struggling. made, and it’s making a real diference in people’s lives. People are trying to fgure out how to survive and pay the bills. An increase in taxes at a time when people are still M. Bernier: In all fairness to the minister, those were trying to fgure out if they can even stay in business seems choices that all of us made, all three parties made, when a little ill-thought-out at this time. it came to the COVID recovery beneft. Tat was supple- So maybe I’ll ask the minister, because I put a specifc…. mentary estimates No. 3 that the minister brought for- She’s already acknowledged now that those are three taxes ward, that all three parties agreed that at this time we that are going to be added or going up starting at the end of needed to invest that extra money. next week, before the budget is being presented April 20. [2:10 p.m.] Are there any other increases, fees or taxes that are going I will, however…. And not to take away from the num- to be announced on April 1, or even between now and bers completely that the minister just presented in the April 20, that people should be prepared for? House, our expectation was when we approved those [2:05 p.m.] funds, that those funds would actually go out the door. So I’m glad to hear that at least some of it, and a good per- Hon. S. Robinson: Well, frst of all, I want to provide centage of it, has. comment on the member’s preamble to his question I think it’s incumbent on me to remind the minister, around people needing support. Tat’s why we brought in though, of the frustration that so many people had and the recovery beneft. It’s there for British Columbians. Tis are still having when it comes to this COVID recovery was for middle-income and lower-income British Colum- beneft program. I still, to this day, am getting hundreds bians to get some additional resources into their pockets as of phone calls and emails from people who applied in soon as humanly possible. December, who have still not received those funds. Tat I’m proud to tell the House that, as of March 25, is problematic. 2,415,820 British Columbians have received the beneft. My challenge, if I can word it that way to the minister, Tat’s $1,184,368,126. is for her to take that back and look into this. Tere are people, like the minister said, that took that $500 that they Interjection. got and spent it in the local economy, in their communit- Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1035 ies. Tat is great, but there’s a lot of unfortunate stories Standing Order 81.1 of people who were expecting that money by Christmas- time so they could pay for Christmas, or people who actu- SCHEDULE FOR DEBATE ally put money on their credit card for Christmas, think- ON BILL 10 ing they were getting the money and now they have to pay that back. Tey’re still waiting. Hon. M. Farnworth: I had not expected or had not Tere’s other people that told me that they used their hoped to do this. I had hoped that we would have been rent money for January, assuming they were going to have able to reach an agreement in terms of fnishing today, that $500 by Christmas, and they’re still waiting. Tey’ve but we were not able to. So that is as it is. Terefore, I had to negotiate with their landlords to not kick them out, move that: or to not penalize them and to not keep going afer them, [Pursuant to Standing Order 81.1 (2), all remaining proceedings because they’re waiting for government money. related to Bill (No. 10) intituled Supply Act (No. 1), 2021, be com- Although I do want to acknowledge that the program pleted and disposed of at or before 4:00 p.m. today. Tat, at 3:30 p.m., if Bill (No. 10) is at Committee stage, the Chair was there to help people, it hasn’t been the 100 percent shall forthwith put the question on all remaining clauses, the pre- success that the government tries to wave that fag about. amble, and the title of the bill, without further amendment or de- Tere are still challenges. Tere are still people waiting, bate, which shall not be subject to a formal division call, but which and there’s people needing help still. may be taken in accordance with Practice Recommendation No. 1. Once the question on the title of the bill has been resolved, the Now, back to my question, though, that the minister Committee shall rise and the Chair shall forthwith report the bill seemed to avoid, as we went into her preamble and her complete with or without amendment, as the case may be, to the comments around the COVID recovery beneft — which I House. was going to ask at a later date, but I won’t bother now. Tat, once Bill (No. 10) has been reported to the House from Com- mittee, notwithstanding Standing Order 80, Standing Order 81, or My question was…. Te minister acknowledged that we any Standing Order or Sessional Order relating to times and days have a carbon tax, the carbonated water tax — I call it the of the sittings of the House, the question on all remaining stages of Netfix tax; the minister can call it by its technical term — the bill shall be put forthwith without amendment or debate. going up April 1. My question was: are there any other fees And that, if a division is called on the motion for third reading of Bill (No. 10), notwithstanding sections 5 (2), (3), (4), (6) and (7) of or taxes that are going to be going up between now and the Sessional Order adopted on March 1, 2021, the division shall April 20, before we see the budget, that people should be proceed forthwith 20 minutes afer it is called.] prepared for? Mr. Speaker: Members, you heard the motion…. Hon. S. Robinson: I want to assure the member oppos- Member for Abbotsford West. ite that we continue to deliver on the recovery beneft. It is available and open for application until June 30. M. de Jong: My recollection…. I also want to let him know that 90 percent of all applic- ations are automatically approved. Sometimes there is Mr. Speaker: Just a second. Hold it. information missing or it’s not consistent with records, so we do need to confrm information. So 78 percent of those, M. de Jong: It’s not a debatable motion. I just seek clari- where we needed information, have been approved. We fcation on that. continue to have hundreds of additional staf on the job to move quickly through the process, so we’re continuing to Mr. Speaker: Members, the vote is about to take place. do that. Division was called. Members, pursuant to the sessional I also will let the member know, in terms of his ques- order, the division will be held in 15 minutes. tions, that there’s no additional taxes that will be brought [2:20 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.] forward before April 20. With that, I move that the committee rise, report pro- Mr. Speaker: Members, we will now proceed with the gress and ask leave to sit again. division. Te question you have already heard. [2:35 p.m.] Motion approved. Motion approved on the following division: Te committee rose at 2:14 p.m. YEAS — 51

Te House resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair. Alexis Anderson Bailey Bains Beare Begg Te Committee of the Whole, having reported Brar Chandra Herbert Chant progress, was granted leave to sit again. Chen Chow Conroy [2:15 p.m.] Coulter Cullen Dean 1036 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021

D’Eith Dix Dykeman questions on Bill 10 and in section 2. I have lots more Eby Elmore Farnworth that we could have done. Fleming Glumac Greene It’s unfortunate that the House Leader for government Heyman Horgan Kahlon had to come in and force time allocation, basically Kang Leonard Ma telling me I can no longer ask all the questions I have Malcolmson Mark Mercier because they want to move forward and go home. Tis Osborne Paddon Ralston is unfortunate because I think, on behalf of the people Rankin Rice Robinson of British Columbia, I had a lot of questions that we Routledge Routley Russell wanted to continue asking. Te people of B.C. are still Sandhu Sharma Simons asking those same questions: what is the plan of this gov- Sims A. Singh Starchuk ernment? Tey’re asking for $13 billion based on an old Walker Whiteside Yao budget. Tere is no plan going forward. Te minister says we’re going to see it April 20. NAYS — 24 So, we just had a vote on this. Obviously, the opposition Ashton Banman Bernier and the Tird Party voted against time allocation, because Cadieux Clovechok Davies we collectively have a lot of concern. It’s a little bit of a slap de Jong Doerkson Furstenau in the face of the democratic system when we’re being told Kirkpatrick Kyllo Lee we can no longer ask questions on behalf of constituents. Letnick Merrifeld Milobar But with that…. Before that started and before we were Morris Oakes Olsen interrupted for time allocation, we were talking about the Paton Rustad Shypitka situation we fnd ourselves in, in the province right now Stewart Tegart Wat with COVID. Te minister has acknowledged that they feel that we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, Hon. M. Farnworth: I call continued committee stage, that we’re far enough through the tunnel that it’s okay to Bill 10. add and increase taxes starting at the end of next week, even though we haven’t seen the budget of why they need Committee of the Whole House those taxes. We can all assume we know why government needs that money, when you start looking at the hole and BILL 10 — SUPPLY ACT (No. 1), 2021 the defcit that has been dug over the last couple of years (continued) under an NDP government. I’m worried also that the minister is setting a little bit of Te House in Committee of the Whole on Bill 10; a precedent here. Te minister has been saying it’s because S. Chandra Herbert in the chair. of COVID that the budget is delayed. Te minister has been saying it’s because of COVID that all these other pro- Te committee met at 2:39 p.m. grams are ongoing, which is fne, but the fact that we had to delay the transparency…. I know the minister will argue Te Chair: Members, I’m just going to ask if we can take that word. But we…. Again, I fnd it interesting that all of a recess. Tere’s lots of action in the House right now. If the arguments that the government is using, the majority you can fnish things up, that would be great, and we’ll get of that is because of COVID. started in, shall we say, six minutes. My question then to the minister is…. We have both acknowledged in this House that we’re not through the Te committee recessed from 2:39 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. pandemic yet — that it is continuing, that we don’t know when it’s going to end. We don’t know when the restric- [S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.] tions are going to be lifed. So my fear is that we might have a little bit of a precedent being set this year with the On clause 2 (continued). delay of the budget. Now, we can wordsmith that. Te minister will say it’s Te Chair: Members, we will be bringing this commit- not a delay. She brought forward legislation to change the tee back into session. Tank you for your patience. In this timeline, but the delay is actually there from previous House, six minutes can feel longer than that. practice of this House. [2:55 p.m.] M. Bernier: Sometimes six minutes can feel like an So, if we are still in the pandemic come next December, eternity in this House. January, February, if we are still in a situation…. Te min- Apologies to the minister’s staf. I appreciate them ister might say it’s hypothetical, but I think it’s an import- coming back to assist through this little bit of miscom- ant question to ask. If the restrictions aren’t lifed, and if munication. Obviously, the plan was to continue to ask we’re still, possibly, even — God forbid — going through a Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1037 third wave, does this set a precedent now for the minister couldn’t it have been done in February of this year if the to come next year and say: “We are still in a pandemic, only diference — it sounds like — was an election being so I am going to be delaying bringing forward a budget. called? I’m going to be changing the process again because we are still in a pandemic”? Or are things going to revert back to Hon. S. Robinson: I think that the member didn’t hear somewhat a past practice? what I said in terms of what the legislation says. Te legis- lation says in an election year this is the outer date. It’s Hon. S. Robinson: I want to remind the member that based on that that we recognize that there was that built- the law was changed. It does say April 30 in an election in bufer, and we said the pandemic is creating additional year. You have up till April 30. Tat’s to provide the cush- pressures because the legislation from the summer said ion, like we’ve seen here, where you have a pandemic, and March in an election year. We looked at that and said the you do need the extra time. Now, we have taken a look at pandemic is creating additional pressures. what we needed to put together a budget, given the context Future election years, out three more years, when our of the pandemic, and we’re able to get it done by April 20. government wins again the next election — the Minister Tat makes it ten days before the deadline for presenting a of Finance will have the opportunity to look at the legisla- budget. tion — take a look at the outer date, which says that it must Te other part of the legislation says that in a non- be delivered by April 30 — and can identify a time before election year, the budget needs to be presented in Feb- then to work with her new team, because I think women ruary, which has been the tradition of this place. So the fnance ministers are a good thing, and work together with member can expect a budget next year according to the her cabinet and with her caucus and with her team and put legislation. together a budget that meets the needs of British Colum- bians in whatever context we are in four years from now. M. Bernier: Tose are very interesting comments from It is a bufer that we have seen that we needed because the minister, because they a little bit contradict everything the pandemic created additional extra pressures. You we’ve heard for the last three, four days — that the budget know what? In earlier questions, the member raised the was delayed because of the pandemic. Now the minister is recovery beneft, and I shared with the member the specif- saying the budget was delayed because they changed the ic details as of…. I think it was March 24 that I provided legislation, because it’s an election year. the latest numbers to all members of the House. It would have been so much easier, as we were just talk- Te amount of time it took staf to build that program, ing about, if the minister, four or fve days ago, just came the biggest program that this government has ever seen out and said: “Look. We admit it. We chose to call an elec- in its history, and to deliver it…. Certainly, in the early tion. We knew that would create delays. Tat’s a choice we days, there were some challenges. We worked those out. made as a government, and we stand and support those We brought in extra staf. It’s those same people who also choices, and the voters have spoken.” I sound like I’m giv- need to work on building a budget. It’s the same staf. ing the minister’s speech for her here. Tat creates signifcant pressures internally to run all the Tose are choices they made. But it’s hard for the min- numbers, to gather all the data and to inform government ister and this government to say: “We changed the legis- about what’s going on. lation, in case of an election year, to give us more time to I’m sure the member can appreciate that it’s been a dif- present a budget.” Te budget is now being presented late, fcult year for the public service. Tey have done an out- and when we’re questioning why it’s late, the minister is standing job. I know that members in this House are grate- saying: “Because we’re in a pandemic.” ful for their work. We also need to acknowledge that we [3:00 p.m.] can’t break the very people who work for us. Tat was also Tat’s actually not the case. Te budget is late because an important consideration. What would it mean to, in of an election. Tat’s what the legislation basically says, if I recognition of all of the extra workload…. understand the minister correctly. She says that next year, It’s not like any of us predicted this pandemic and we even if we’re in a pandemic, the budget will be coming for- could prepare for it and hire extra staf and make sure that ward in February. they had the resources, make sure that we had a robust My question was: if we’re still in the middle of a pan- enough Internet system that would deliver in all the ways demic, maybe in the third wave, and things are the same that we needed to — because we’ve certainly struggled next year as they are now and the budget is able to come with that as well. forward next February, one now has to assume the only I know British Columbians, at times, have been frus- diference is an election? So, contrary to what the Premier trated, but I also know that they’re appreciative of all of the has said, an election did cause delays then. extra work that’s gone in, in order to make sure that people I’m trying to understand. Which is it? Te government had what they need. Well, those are the very same people can’t have it both ways. If we’re going to have a budget next that work with government to make sure that we under- February and we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, why 1038 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 stand all the assumptions and all of the information that you’re getting your taxes paid to the province. You’re pay- goes into building out a budget. ing your bills on time. [3:05 p.m.] Tere is this capacity that a government has, as has Putting in that bufer, because of the pandemic, was been done, to bring in changes to legislation, to change absolutely critical to make sure that we didn’t have people the kind of parameters that we operate under. Tat’s what’s of on stress leave, to make sure that people could get happened. Tat’s what has brought us here to this debate accurate information that would inform government over this interim supply bill, and both the ofcial opposi- about how to best proceed with the budget. tion and we have raised our concerns about this. I know that the members care about the people that I think in some ways it would be okay to acknowledge work in this place. It’s for that reason that we said: “You there were political choices made. It’s a political realm know what? We need to make sure that the legislation con- we’re in. Tere was a political choice made to call an siders that.” election in the fall. For ten weeks, there wasn’t work. I’m very proud of the work that the people speaking into Te government was in caretaker mode. Te work that my ear — the work that they’ve been doing, the work that would have typically been done for those ten weeks in the entire ministry has been doing, and all the ministries the fall — which is budget preparation, which we’re well have been doing in order to put forward their best eforts aware of and we’ve participated in since 2017 — that to work with my staf, my team, to put together a budget came to a halt. Now we are ten weeks plus past what that will work for British Columbians. would have been the typical deadline. It’s within that context…. I think that we need to rec- [3:10 p.m.] ognize that doing the budget instead of before the end I think in light of, again, our electoral system…. Tis of March, which was the old legislation, and saying you shifed the percentages between the parties — not by had until the end of April in an election year and the fact that much, actually — and resulted in a majority for the that, in consultation with staf, we determined that we NDP based on 45 percent of the popular votes, and not could do it by April 20 was a reasonable timeframe with the majority of voters. Tis is what our system delivers which to deliver a budget. It’s within that context that we — these false majorities. Tere’s a level of defensiveness landed on April 20. about the situation we’re in and a kind of unwillingness to just own it. S. Furstenau: My colleague and I, the member for “Yep, called an election. We got the majority we were Saanich North and the Islands — we’ve watched and hoping we were going to get out of that election.” Be listened and sometimes weighed in on this debate several honest. You’re a political party. Tat’s what happens with times over the last many days, and just noted some inter- political parties. Tat’s the goal in the system that we esting themes, I guess. have. So much of my colleague from Peace River South’s Going back to the frst day, when the member for Peace debate and his whole thread of questions would have River South…. Really, the frst question — and it’s back actually been curtailed at the very beginning of this had to the question that’s being discussed right now, which is that been the frst response — just to say: “Yeah, actually, what impact did the snap election have on this process, on that is what happened.” the timing. We’ve been spending many, many days kind I wonder at the kind of reluctance to be honest and of moving around that. I think what I’ve found interesting upfront about that. What story is being created instead is that the minister always has a choice in how she can of that story that the vast majority of people can see and respond to or frame or create a narrative around accept and recognize? Tat’s the political system we live everything that’s happening. in. Because of our electoral system, parties are motivated, We are, for the frst time in a very long time, faced with just as we’re seeing right now. As we are apparently, it an interim supply bill, without a throne speech, without a looks like, moving into a third wave, the federal parties budget. I think we can agree on some of the…. It’s like a in a minority are all jockeying. Te Liberals want to go court case. We can agree on some of the facts here. Tis is for an election and get that coveted majority so that they an unusual set of circumstances that we are in, that we are don’t need to have to work with other parties to move their looking at an interim supply bill based on a previous year’s agenda forward. budget. Tat’s very unusual. It’s not a typical set of circum- I guess my question is really to the minister about that stances, that we won’t have a throne speech or a budget unwillingness over these many, many days to acknowledge until afer the end of the fscal year. Tat’s also very unusu- that elephant in the room. Yes, there are circumstances, al. Exceptional circumstances. but we’re also here because of choices that were made in Yes, we are in a global pandemic. Yes, there have been the fall. Had we not gone to an election, we would have enormous strains on everybody. But as has been pointed had a budget presented in February. We would be debat- out — I think in December, in the debates we were having ing that budget in estimates. We wouldn’t be having this as well — for a lot of people in British Columbia, there was lengthy debate on this. no opportunity for delays. You’re getting your taxes fled, [3:15 p.m.] Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1039

Hon. S. Robinson: I want to thank the member for level of stress and anxiety that probably most of us have her question, because it allowed me to check in with staf never felt in our lives — this was added. around some dates and how decisions were made last sum- I’ll just end with that comment, and I’ll pass it to my col- mer. I think some members may have forgotten about league. some of the work that happened last summer that was [3:20 p.m.] about changing the legislation to accommodate a fall elec- tion, an October election. M. Bernier: I appreciate the comments that I’ve also just At the time, when the legislation was brought in…. And heard and how we are just trying to get some answers but about how much time would be needed, when there’s a fall also bring a level of understanding to…. Yes, things aren’t election…. Tat’s what we were debating at that time — diferent. It seems like again, it is an example of govern- how much time would be needed to bring in a budget — ment — which has the right to do so; I’ll give the minister and it was acknowledged that March would be sufcient. this — of changing the rules as they go, to ensure the rules Tere was an election called in the fall. Te pandemic match the objectives of what they’re trying to accomplish. created additional pressures that were not anticipated in I want to bring us back to a comment that the minister that initial debate back in the summer. Staf were rolling made a couple of days ago now, I believe. Te minister out signifcant programs. Teir ability to work and get said, “Of course, this is going to pass” — they have a done what needed to get done was going to be stretched majority situation afer the election, so this bill is going considerably. People were already working 15- or 16-hour to pass — basically insinuating: “Go ahead and ask your days, working on weekends. I was getting emails. I know questions, but this bill is passing regardless. You’re not my colleagues were getting emails from the hard-working going to change our minds.” I get that. Te minister also public service on Sunday afernoon, midnight on Tuesdays talked about this delay being needed, because of the pan- — signifcant work. demic, for extra consultation and extra communication I know that the members care about the people doing with the public. the work. When we talked about getting budget ready for Te Select Standing Committee on Finance and Gov- March, which was required at the time for a fall election, ernment Services tabled a fairly robust, informative docu- the message was: this is going to be really hard. It’s going to ment last August 21. It’s interesting what would be difer- break people. I know that nobody here in this House wants ent — that the minister is saying that she didn’t appreciate to break the people that do the work that we ask them to or that was insufcient — in that report, to help guide the do. budgeting process. It’s within that context that we recognize that the pan- As she knows, there is extensive consultation that takes demic is pushing everything to the limit. It could be place on a bipartisanship level — travelling around the four years from now…. Tere could be something else province, talking with stakeholders, meeting with groups. that pushes people to the limit. Making sure that there As a reminder, that was in the middle of the pandemic, is appropriate time to do the important work, to get it so people were aware of the stresses and challenges. Tere right, is something that we need to make sure that there’s would be many recommendations and asks in that docu- room for. ment, from that select standing committee. Now, I appreciate that the member acknowledges — and Te MLA for Langley East also stood in this House I acknowledge — this is unusual. I’m not denying that. It’s during her second reading debate, was talking about the absolutely unusual to be asking for supply in this context, extra month and said: “Moving the budget to April gives using last year’s estimates. But it is an unusual time. It’s for this government greater time to connect with businesses that reason that we’re bringing in this supply bill. and people.” I am never against — we need to do a better job, frankly, all of us — connecting and listening to the S. Furstenau: I want to ask a question, and I’ll pass it people in the province, who have a lot to say about how the over to my colleague from Peace River South. I just wanted province is run, how it’s governed and how money should to say that there is some irony in the minister’s response be spent on supports that people need. that staf, in the fall, were already indicating that they I fnd that an interesting quote from the member for were pressed to the limit, that they were emailing late at Langley East, combined with the minister herself, who night, that they were expressing how stressful things were said that this delay is to better reach out, communicate and because of the pandemic, and then the choice was made consult with the public. I looked into it. I could not fnd to throw in a whole new level of turmoil in the form of an one public ask, one document, from the minister or the unnecessary election. government since February 25 — when the budget would Tat is the nub of it — that we didn’t have to do that. have been tabled, before the changes were made to extend Tat didn’t have to have happen. In the midst of a global it for a month, by then Minister — and now pandemic, when staf were already in turmoil — and busi- the other month. nesses and people in this province were already hitting a So February 25 — we’ve gone a month. Te minister is saying that that month was needed to do consultation with 1040 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 the public, outside of what the select standing committee allowed to delay. I can almost guarantee you that if school had already done. I couldn’t fnd one advertisement, one districts came to the minister and said, “We need an extra document. I could fnd nothing where this minister and two or three months because of the pandemic” — I know the government have reached out, asking for further pub- what the answer would probably be. lic consultation on framing the budget that we’re going to I also know frsthand, with some authority, I can say, see in three weeks. that if a school district fails to hand in a balanced budget Can the minister make a comment to that? on time, as per legislation, there are some very harsh real- ities that they will face and that could be imposed on them Hon. S. Robinson: I know that the member, once from the minister, and from the legislation, for not doing upon a time, sat on this side, and understands that con- their job and getting in a balanced budget on time. In sultation takes many forms. With a signifcant challenge this situation, though, the government is unable to do it. with the pandemic and understanding needs, because Instead, all they do is change legislation to allow them- these are not normal times, we needed to make sure selves more time to do the work. that we were engaging with our stakeholder groups I just want to fnish of by saying…. Well, actually, throughout this entire time. I want to give a big thank-you to the minister’s staf, [3:25 p.m.] who have put up with a barrage, a lot of questions, over Te member also, I know, knows that it does take a pro- the last few days. I thank them for their time for that. I cess — once the ministers have done their consultations know that they’re probably watching and not just listen- with their various stakeholder groups, identifed what ing through their earpieces. I want to thank them for the their needs are — of putting together the various sub- work that they’ve been doing, as well, because I acknow- missions that they need to do, making sure that it all fts ledge what the minister said. Tis has been difcult on within the plan, getting it through the processes internal all the staf in the public service, no diferent — some- to government, and then making sure that there’s time to times we forget about that — than for everybody else in actually put the estimates book together. It does take time. the public, who are struggling through these times. We I want to assure the member that there has been signi- all hope and all wish that the supports will be there to fcant consultation with various sectors around what their help people through this. challenges are and how government can, frst of all, under- We have Bill 10, which is now going to pass — which, stand what was going on, understand what was needed as we say, is government asking for a lot of money, $13½ and how we can put together a program that would best billion, referencing a 13-month-old document. I look for- meet their needs. Tat’s the work that we have undertaken ward to the rigorous debates that we’ll go through in in this time that we have had to put together this budget. estimates when we fnally get to see the plan and the budget from this government for the ’21-22 fscal year, M. Bernier: Well, we are in a situation where we get to albeit later than traditionally taking place. I know the min- say: time will tell on that. ister will have her comments on that. I see the House Leader — who, I assume, is going to Again, I just want to thank the minister for her ask me to wrap it up here very quickly and which, again, patience through this. I respect the answers and the time is unfortunate. I believe I just heard through his mask, that she has given, as well, as we go through this pro- and my hearing’s bad…. I think he just said I had another cess. Even though I don’t necessarily always agree with couple of hours. I’m sure he’ll correct me, if I was wrong the answers, I think the debate that we’ve gone through there, aferwards. here has been very productive and, hopefully, benefcial for people watching. Interjection. [3:30 p.m.]

M. Bernier: I am just giving the minister and the House Te Chair: Pursuant to the time allocation motion a hard time, because there was, obviously, a motion, which adopted earlier today, all votes now have to be held. It is I voted against, for time allocation, saying that I had to be 3:30. I will give the minister a short chance to say a word, done by 3:30 so that government can continue moving on but we do have the allocation motion to get to. with what they choose, in stopping the debate on this bill. Maybe I’ll take the last minute or two…. I know the min- Hon. S. Robinson: I do want to take a moment to thank ister will want to probably have the last word on this. staf who have been whispering more than sweet nothings Even though I had many, many more questions that I in my ear and helping us through this debate. I, too, want could have asked on this bill, such as…. Government is to take a moment to thank, certainly, all the staf who have asking for a delay because of the pandemic we’re in, but been delivering but also to thank the member for Peace it sounds like, from what I’m hearing, that everybody else River South for his respectful and thoughtful questions as — who’s dealing with the exact same pandemic — isn’t we worked through this and to all the other members who aforded the same opportunity. Tey’re not going to be Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1041 participated. I, too, want to thank them for the process. I Te House will be recessed for a few minutes, and we’ll look forward to debating estimates in the weeks ahead. notify you shortly.

Te Chair: Pursuant to the time allocation motion Te House recessed from 3:37 p.m. to 3:59 p.m. adopted earlier today, all votes on Bill 10 will be held now. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Clause 2 approved. Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I’m now advised that Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor is in the precinct. Please Preamble approved. remain seated while we await her arrival. [4:00 p.m.] Title approved. Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor requested to Te Chair: Tank you, Members. We will await the attend the House, was admitted to the chamber and took arrival of the Speaker. her seat on the throne. Yes, Minister. Royal Assent to Bills Hon. S. Robinson: I rise and report the bill complete without amendment. Clerk of the Legislative Assembly: Firearm Violence Prevention Act Te Chair: Tank you, Minister. Now we will await the Insurance Corporation Amendment Act, 2021 arrival of the Speaker. Home Owner Grant Amendment Act, 2021 Tenancy Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 Interjection. Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 Te Chair: Okay, so the member moved that the bill be Court of Appeal Act reported. I just heard her say that. Te understanding of Miscellaneous Statutes (Minor Corrections) Amend- the House is that she moved that it be reported complete ment Act, 2021 without amendment. In Her Majesty’s name, Her Honour the Lieutenant- Governor doth assent to these acts. Motion approved. Supply Act (No. 1), 2021 In Her Majesty’s name, Her Honour the Lieutenant- Te committee rose at 3:31 p.m. Governor doth thank Her Majesty’s loyal subjects, accepts their benevolence and assents to this act. Te House resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair. Hon. J. Austin (Lieutenant-Governor): Tank you Report and very much, Ms. Ryan-Lloyd. Tird Reading of Bills ÍY SȻÁĆEL NE SĆÁLEĆE. It is really wonderful to see all of you today. I can see BILL 10 — SUPPLY ACT (No. 1), 2021 that you’ve been extremely busy. As always, I would like to thank you for your truly splendid work, conducted in this Bill 10, Supply Act (No. 1), 2021, reported complete tireless fashion despite all of the challenges of the pandem- without amendment, read a third time and passed. ic. It means a great deal to me personally, as I know it does to all British Columbians. Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I’m advised that her hon- I do look forward to the time when I can host you all our the Lieutenant-Governor is in the precinct. Please again at Government House and we can share some per- remain seated while we await her arrival. sonal time together, but I do believe that it will not be long Before we move forward, Members, there’s another step before we are in that place. in between that we have to take care of. As a result of the Once again, I thank you. I look forward to seeing you, vote, Bill 10, Supply Act (No. 1), 2021, is now carried. It and I wish you every possible success in the time ahead. has passed. HÍSW̱ ḴE. Tank you. [3:35 p.m.] Members, I’m advised that Her Honour is not here yet, Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor retired from the but as soon as she arrives, members will be advised. We’ll chamber. ring the bell. 1042 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Mr. Speaker: Tis House stands adjourned until Monday, April 12, at 10 a.m. Hon. M. Farnworth moved adjournment of the House. Te House adjourned at 4:05 p.m. Motion approved. Hansard Services, Reporting and Publishing

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