First Session, 42nd Parliament

OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD)

Tursday, March 25, 2021 Morning Sitting Issue No. 41

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) ...... Peace River South Cariboo North...... Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal Party)...... Prince George–Valemount Chilliwack ...... Dan Coulter 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 –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 New Westminster...... 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)...... West Vancouver–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 Morning Sitting Page

Routine Business

Introductions by Members...... 1017

Statements (Standing Order 25B) ...... 1017 Hockey T. Stone 911 operators and emergency dispatchers J. Rice Passover T. Wat Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association D. Coulter Civil disobedience and peaceful protest S. Furstenau Valley View Funeral Home J. Sims

Oral Questions...... 1019 COVID-19 vaccination plan and online booking system S. Bond Hon. J. Horgan COVID-19 vaccination plan and role of pharmacies R. Merrifeld Hon. A. Dix Protection of old-growth forests and Fairy Creek area S. Furstenau Hon. K. Conroy COVID-19 response for small businesses T. Stone Hon. R. Kahlon Wages for community social services workers M. de Jong Hon. N. Simons Child care facilities and spaces K. Kirkpatrick Hon. K. Chen COVID-19 response for special needs children and youth J. Tegart Hon. M. Dean Government response to deaths of youth in care P. Milobar Hon. M. Dean

Orders of the Day

Tird Reading of Bills ...... 1024 Bill 5 — Insurance Corporation Amendment Act, 2021

Committee of the Whole House...... 1024 Bill 10 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2021 (continued) M. Bernier Hon. S. Robinson

1017

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 games as a hockey play-by-play announcer. “He shoots; he scores!” he roared over the radio, and hockey’s clarion Te House met at 10:03 a.m. call was born. Foster’s unmistakable voice and that time- less phrase forever knit into the fabric of a nation. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] Tis past year has been difcult in so many ways, but as we all look forward to the return of some sense of nor- Routine Business malcy, we at long last have something to cheer. With the blessing of the provincial health ofcer, the B.C. division Prayers and refections: B. Banman. of the Western Hockey League begins a shortened sea- son tomorrow in Kamloops, with the mighty Kamloops Introductions by Members Blazers hosting the Vancouver Giants. Te Victoria Royals, Vancouver Giants, Prince George Cougars — there’s Hon. M. Farnworth: It’s my pleasure to rise today to another team from Kelowna, but their name escapes me; introduce some very important people — Cassandra the sockets or the pockets, something like that — and the O’Keefe, Davita Solomon and Shad Martin — who are all Kamloops Blazers are set to kick of a 24-game schedule, police call takers and 911 dispatchers in Central Saanich. playing in two hub centres: Kamloops and Kelowna. Tey’re here in anticipation of Emergency Service Dis- We need this: the ability to cheer on our young athletes patchers and 9-1-1 Awareness Week, which is the week of as they pursue their goal of greatness, even to, perhaps, April 4. play in the NHL one day. While we’re still not at the point I’d like to thank them for the important work that they where fans will be allowed to watch these games in person, do and would encourage all members of this assembly to fans will be following the play-by-play of their beloved make them most welcome. teams on TV, live streams and radio. No, it won’t be like [10:05 a.m.] the good old days just yet, but the head coaches will, no doubt, have their young guns ready to perform. How sweet F. Donnelly: I’d like to recognize a special birthday for it will be to once again discuss the action and the rivalries a special person: former MLA and cabinet minister John around the watercooler. Cashore. With the WHL season set to begin tomorrow, and the John served as the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville B.C. Hockey League also ready to start a 20-game schedule from 1986 to 2001. He was Minister of Environment, on April 2, truer words have never been spoken or sung. Lands and Parks and Minister of Aboriginal Afairs. John Hello out there; we’re on the air; it’s Hockey Night tonight. was instrumental in designating Pinecone Burke Provin- Tension grows, the whistle blows, and the puck goes down the ice. Te goalie jumps, and the players bump, and the fans all go insane. cial Park, negotiating the Nisg̱ a’a treaty in principle and Someone roars, “Bobby scores!” at the good old hockey game. overseeing the doubling of the province’s protected and [Applause.] parks areas. I ask all members to join me in wishing one of my polit- 911 OPERATORS ical heroes, and an all-around great guy, John Cashore, a AND EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS happy 86th birthday. Mr. Speaker: Well, let’s see if the member for North Hon. J. Horgan: I want to join with the member for Coast beats that. Coquitlam–Burke Mountain in wishing a very happy Member for North Coast, can you beat that? birthday to John Cashore. Also, while I’m on my feet, a member in my community, J. Rice: I’m afraid I don’t think I can, at least not today. Kody Bell, a friend of the Speaker’s ofce, a friend of many Today I’m recognizing Emergency Service Dispatchers in this House — don’t give him your phone — turns 34 and 9-1-1 Awareness Week, which we’ll be celebrating the today. week of April 4. Each day our emergency service dispatch- Happy birthday, Kody. Te restrictions will be coming ers and 911 operators receive approximately 5,000 calls. down. Be patient. Someday soon you’ll be able to go in and Tese call takers and dispatchers are the frst of the frst wreak havoc in the Speaker’s ofce once again. responders, the voice that people need to hear when they are in a time of great need. Statements [10:10 a.m.] (Standing Order 25B) British Columbians have experienced many emergen- cies: the 1996 snowstorm, the 2003 frestorm, the wildfres HOCKEY of 2017 and 2018 and the fooding in Grand Forks, but at no other time have we been activated in a state of pro- T. Stone: It was March 22 of 1923, almost 98 years ago to vincial emergency for so long. As we all know, the COV- the day. A young Foster Hewitt was calling one of his frst ID-19 pandemic has made us face unexpected and unpre- 1018 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 cedented challenges. Dispatchers and operators have risen Improvement Association, led by executive director Tre- to the task to support higher demands on police ofcers, vor McDonald. frefghters and ambulance paramedics. Te BIA works with over 300 businesses across Chilli- We’re still making our way through this provincial wack and is led by a dedicated, diverse and talented volun- emergency, this pandemic. My home community, Prince teer board. Tey work with new businesses in Chilliwack Rupert, has been hit hard in recent months, and we are so such as District 1881, a pedestrian-focused development thankful to have received vaccines last week. But no British that houses retail shops with artisan goods, breweries, res- Columbian anywhere in the province has come through taurants, cofee, ofces and residential units. the year unscathed. Tese folks also work with long-standing businesses Beyond COVID-19 itself, I know this pandemic has that have made Chilliwack’s historic downtown great caused great strains on our communities and impacted for decades. Some of these businesses include Mary’s our collective mental health. I know this past year has on Wellington, which has been there over 32 years; made the work of emergency dispatchers more complic- Michael’s on Main nail and hair studio, which has been ated, but we’re so thankful there is someone there to in the same location since 1949; and Lock’s Pharmacy, a answer our calls. family-run business that has been open in Chilliwack’s I ask the members of this House to join me in recogniz- downtown for over 70 years. ing the great work that B.C.’s emergency service dispatch- Te work that the people at the BIA do in supporting ers and 911 operators do, day in and day out, for all Brit- new and veteran businesses not only contributes im- ish Columbians, and to please extend a warm welcome to mensely to the local economy in Chilliwack, but they have those that are here in the House with us today. been integral in supporting local businesses in Chilliwack through the challenges of the pandemic and ensuring that PASSOVER we can look forward to an economic recovery. [10:15 a.m.] T. Wat: Starting at sundown this Saturday, March 27, By prioritizing live events, public art, multiculturalism Jewish communities across British Columbia and around and initiatives to make Chilliwack more green, the Down- the world will begin the Seder, the main ritual of Passover, town Chilliwack Business Improvement Association plays to honour the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their a vital role in what makes Chilliwack so wonderful. transition from slavery to freedom. I hope you will all join me in applauding the hard What is typically a celebration surrounded by friends work of Trevor McDonald and his team, and I hope that and family is going to look very diferent for many Jewish the next time you are in Chilliwack, you get a chance to Canadians. Tis will be the second time Passover has taken stop by downtown. place during the pandemic. As challenging as this is for As Trevor says: “Without question, we’re open for busi- many B.C. families, the story of Passover is a story of ness.” resilience and a celebration of the incredible challenges our Jewish communities have overcome in their history. I CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE know that many will still fnd ways to safely and virtually AND PEACEFUL PROTEST celebrate with their loved ones. In recent years, B.C. has seen a disturbing rise in incid- S. Furstenau: We, as legislators, have complicated and ents of anti-Semitism and hate crimes against members sometimes conficting roles that we play. On the one hand, of our Jewish communities. Earlier this week many of us as lawmakers, we must be serious about upholding the in this House rose to reafrm our commitment to elim- laws of this province and this country. Yet at the same time, inating any and all forms of racial and religious intoler- as politicians, we come to this place with a sense of a vis- ance, and I ofer my deepest thanks. No British Columbi- ion for the future and ideas about which laws need to be an should ever feel fear or shame because of their religious reshaped, removed, replaced. practices and identity. When we look to the history of Canada and the role Hopefully, this time next year we can all enjoy Passover that civil disobedience has played in that history, we can surrounded by friends and family like we are used to. see that it has helped to move us beyond unjust laws and For now, I would like to wish you all a very happy Pas- moved us forward in our eforts to protect fundamental sover. Chag Pesach sameach. rights and freedoms. From the sufragist movement in the 19th and early 20th centuries to the Vancouver Island coal DOWNTOWN CHILLIWACK strike in 1912 to the ongoing Black Lives Matter gatherings BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION and marches last summer, peaceful protests and civil dis- obedience have shaped and continue to shape our social, D. Coulter: Today I’d like to talk about an organization political and legal landscapes in B.C. and across Canada. that has played an important role in my constituency for In his article on civil disobedience in Canada, historian over 25 years: the Downtown Chilliwack Business Keith Fleming contends that “socially disruptive actions Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1019 have become as Canadian as maple syrup.” As the former Leave granted. Chief Justice of the Manitoba Court of Appeal Samuel Freedman stated: “Tere have been instances in human Introductions by Members history in which disobedience to law has proved a beneft to law and society.” S. Chandra Herbert: I want to wish my husband, Romi, We have also seen an increasing number of Indigenous a very, very happy anniversary. Twenty-one years ago on leaders and communities in recent decades make stands Saturday, we met for the frst time, and I must say it was for their territories and rights, from Oka in 1990 to the love at frst sight for me. For him, I’m not so sure. We Wet’suwet’en protests across B.C. and Canada last year. watched the sunset together that night. Really, since that Here in B.C., the largest peaceable disobedience in Cana- day, we’ve been watching sunrises and sunsets together dian history, with 12,000 people who gathered over the ever since. Eleven years ago we got married. summer of 1993 and nearly 900 arrests, began at Kennedy I just really want to wish him the absolute best River Bridge in what is known worldwide as the war of the anniversary and thank him for being there with me and for woods in Clayoquot Sound. being an incredible father to our son, Dev, as well. Happy anniversary. Tank you. VALLEY VIEW FUNERAL HOME Oral Questions J. Sims: Over the last year, so much has changed for us: how we celebrate births, how we do weddings but also how COVID-19 VACCINATION PLAN we say our fnal goodbyes and how we grieve. Now, more AND ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM than ever, families are faced with tough decisions when losing a loved one. Tey must decide which family mem- S. Bond: Yesterday the Premier assured British Colum- bers will attend the service in person and, for the friends bians that when it comes to vaccine supply, it is “full steam and family who aren’t able to attend, how families can ahead.”Over one million doses of Pfzer and 846,000 Mod- include them and help to say goodbye. erna shots are set to arrive in British Columbia this week. I want to thank those who are working on the front line Tousands of AstraZeneca shots expire on April 2, and in this area to deal with this. Today I would like to acknow- there are more on the way. ledge the wonderful staf at Valley View Funeral Home and Now there is confusion and concern about the growing Cemetery, who helped not only my family when my moth- number of unused COVID-19 doses because of the lack er passed away but who have helped countless other famil- of a provincewide online registration and booking system. ies say goodbye in these trying times. Valley View has been With fve diferent health authorities, fve diferent phone an anchor in my riding since 1954. With 87 acres of beau- numbers and one of them partially online, people are wor- tifully designed gardens and natural landscapes, it is home ried, and rightly so, about how a provincewide online and to the largest display of outdoor architect features in all of booking registration system will be up and running on B.C. April 6. When COVID regulations for funeral homes were put Te Premier made a promise. He said that the transition in place, Valley View quickly pivoted to ensure that fam- from phone booking to a single online registration system ilies were able to mourn together with a hybrid model of will be open on April 6. in-person and virtual services, taking on the roles of audio Today will the Premier confrm that the system will be and visual experts, masters of ceremony and family sup- in place and running at full capacity on April 6? port, all while ensuring that COVID-19 regulations are being followed. Te wonderful staf at Valley View have Hon. J. Horgan: I thank the Leader of the Opposition learned how to support those who are grieving, bringing for her question. I can confrm that it is our belief and families together while staying apart. strongly held view that on the sixth of April, we will have I want to thank everyone who works at Valley View our provincewide online system up and running. and at other funeral homes right across this province and I want to acknowledge, as I have the opportunity, the country. On behalf of myself and many other families in extraordinary work of people right across the province in Surrey who have had to say goodbye to their loved ones all the health authorities. Te member will know, and oth- in these unprecedented times, thank you for your strength, er members will know, that we have fve health authorities your kindness and your dedication, for ensuring that those and the First Nations Health Authority, as well, that know we have lost are cared for and for providing opportunities best what goes on in their communities. to commemorate the lives of those we have lost. I used an example yesterday of the mass immunization [10:20 a.m.] in Prince Rupert undertaken by Northern Health. All of us will know that we get correspondence and we get case- Mr. Speaker: Members, the member for Vancouver– work in our constituency ofces, ofentimes frustrated by West End has asked for leave to make an introduction. 1020 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 health authorities not meeting the expectations of patients, olds tomorrow, and that will continue as we move into of British Columbians. April and into the next phase of the vaccination program. I was heartened to hear from the member for North I do also want to say that there are headlines and stor- Coast that the uniform enthusiasm for the hard work of ies about concerns about supply. We’ve had these chal- Northern Health spread right through Prince Rupert and lenges — not just British Columbians but all Canadians into Port Ed. When there’s agreement between those two — because we don’t have domestic supply. Tat blame communities, you know you’re on the right track. goes back over decades of federal irresponsibility, quite frankly, over successive governments of diferent politic- Mr. Speaker: Te Leader of the Ofcial Opposition on al stripes allowing that sector to atrophy and be replaced a supplemental. by ofshore supply. We’re dependent on others to get vaccines into British S. Bond: All of us are absolutely grateful that people Columbia. But we are absolutely committed to making across British Columbia are receiving vaccinations, but sure that every drop of vaccine that arrives in British Col- we’re also equally concerned that the number of unused umbia goes into a British Columbian so that we can get doses yesterday actually exceeded 200,000. Vaccines back to normal as fast as possible. arrive in British Columbia, and what we want to ensure is that they get into the arms of British Columbians as COVID-19 VACCINATION PLAN quickly as possible. AND ROLE OF PHARMACIES Tis is not about the individual health authorities. It’s about the fact that this Premier and government had over R. Merrifeld: Well, maybe the Premier doesn’t watch a year to plan, to prepare and to ensure that there was an the numbers as closely as we are. We’re watching the online provincewide system in place to make sure those amount of unused doses rise, and it’s alarming. We’re shots were used as expeditiously as possible. Yet this week, behind the eight ball, not just with the lack of preparation unbelievably, the NDP took the opportunity to send a fun- in creating an online booking system that every other jur- draising email using the pandemic, basically saying that isdiction across Canada seems to have but also the lack of the vaccine rollout is so far ahead that now we could use a plan for community pharmacies. some donations so we can focus on other things. How Only in the last few weeks have they even been con- appropriate is that? tacted. While other Canadian jurisdictions? Well, they’ve Frankly, the Premier needs to keep his eye on the ball announced their plans to engage pharmacists months ago. here. We have, in British Columbia today, over 200,000 Pharmacies are critical to preventing stockpiles of these doses of vaccine that are sitting, waiting to get into the unused and, worse yet, almost expiring vaccines. But they arms of British Columbians. It requires a provincewide need six weeks to actually mobilize. Te Premier’s decision booking and registration system. to not involve pharmacists is costing valuable time and Again to the Premier, he’s made a promise. He said results in more transmission, the growth of variants, hos- fnally, on April 6, we’re going to have that system. My pitalizations and, sadly, death. question is very specifc. Will that transition from phone To the Premier, where’s the plan to empower our in fve health authorities to an online system be fully oper- province’s highly-trained community pharmacists to join ational and efectively operating on April 6? the fght? [10:25 a.m.] Hon. A. Dix: Well, I don’t know where to start with such Hon. J. Horgan: Te straight answer to the member is a list of quite inaccurate statements. the same as the frst one. Yes, it will be up and running. As of Sunday, we had one day of supply of Pfzer. We I want to just unpack some of the comments the mem- were lef with 14,000 doses because we used it all up to ber made. We have had a year of global pandemic. We have that point. Ten, this week, we received doses of well over not had a year of supply of vaccine. We have had a year of 100,000 doses that have arrived and are now being used. people holding fast against an extraordinary enemy — one So when the member states that there are unused doses that’s not seen, one that knows no boundaries. It knows no not being used because of the vaccination campaign, this is ethnicity. It knows no height. It knows no gender. Cana- just simply incorrect on the facts. When she asserts, as she dians — and British Columbians, particularly — have been did, that it is leading to people passing away, she is simply resilient in that fght against COVID-19. incorrect as to the facts. We do not have unallocated vaccine. We’re not storing Yesterday was a record day for vaccinations in British things up for a sunny day. We are taking the vaccines Columbia, over 27,000, and 610,000 doses have been as they come, and we’re apportioning them as the public delivered. More than 520,000 frst doses have been health ofcer determines is in the best interest of quelling delivered. Te reason — those numbers of the cases — is outbreaks, the best interest of going through the vulner- that’s the vaccine we’ve received. You cannot deliver more able populations. We are on to 75-year-olds today, 74-year- Pfzer than we had delivered as of Sunday. Ten we receive Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1021 more, and then we deliver more. Te idea that 105,000 and the work has already started. In fact, as a frst step, we doses would arrive on Monday and they’d be immediately worked with Indigenous Nations in government-to-gov- delivered, which seems to be the assertion of the member, ernment discussions across the province to look at nine is, shall I say, not consistent with reality. deferred areas where we deferred old-growth forests that In any event, we have a vaccination campaign that has are protected in those nine areas. been well laid out, that’s focused on those that need it We will continue to do more. We know that this is just a most. Its efects already have been profound in long-term frst step. Tere is much more to do, and we will do that. care. I appreciate the support of all members, because I know Mr. Speaker: Te Leader of the Tird Party on a supple- all members are doing this, in ensuring that members of mental. the public have the information they need to go forward. Community pharmacies will play a central role in this S. Furstenau: I’m actually astonished. My question was as well, as we go forward and as we get more doses to specifcally about Fairy Creek. Te Minister of Forests immunize people with. didn’t mention it once. [10:30 a.m.] Just to be clear, this is the last intact old-growth valley south of Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island — the last PROTECTION OF OLD-GROWTH FORESTS one. So 30 years from now, we will have to look at our AND FAIRY CREEK AREA grandchildren and say: “Hey, we let it go because it didn’t matter. We didn’t value it, your future. Your ability to go S. Furstenau: Today the B.C. Supreme Court is hearing into an intact old-growth forest didn’t matter enough.” Or forest company Teal-Jones’s application for an injunction we say: “Tis is the moment to make the decision. Tis is against the protesters at Fairy Creek. If the injunction is the time. Tis is the government that promised to do it, granted, we could see people arrested for attempting to and they’re going to follow through on it.” stop preparations for logging in the last intact ancient Making diferent choices, following the advice of the forest valley on southern Vancouver Island. panel…. Te advice of the panel was immediate deferrals Tis could take place, no less, in the Premier’s own rid- on exactly this kind of watershed and ancient forest. ing, on the watch of an NDP government that has prom- Tis government has an opportunity in front of them ised to do things diferently on old growth, on the watch of right now to show that they actually meant what they said a Premier who committed, during the recent snap election, when they made promises in a snap election that we didn’t to implement all of the old growth panel’s recommenda- need to have. tions, including immediate deferrals in ancient forests just Te question is to the Premier. Will his government rise like this one. If Fairy Creek doesn’t qualify for immediate to the moment of this important decision, halt the road- protections, I’m not sure what does. building and preparation for logging in this intact rain- My question is to every member of government, really, forest and come to the table with fnancial alternatives for but I’ll direct my question to the Premier. Are the Premier supports in order to provide an actual long-term solution and his caucus okay with this being their legacy, or will to save this watershed? they step up and come to the table with real economic [10:35 a.m.] alternatives to logging old growth and provide a way for- ward to save Fairy Creek? Hon. K. Conroy: I, too, have a vision. I have a vision about our forest industry. I have a vision about the forests Hon. K. Conroy: I appreciate the question from the in this province, and I want to ensure that we have a sus- Leader of the Tird Party. tained, well-managed forest industry. B.C. forests are a big part of what makes our province I also have a vision, and the member should…. so unique and so special. Our government knows that old-growth trees are an integral part of a healthy ecosys- Interjection. tem. For many, many years, the former Liberal govern- ment took an unbalanced and unsustainable approach Hon. K. Conroy: Maybe the member would like to to managing our old-growth forests. We are making dif- listen to it. ferent choices. Our government is bringing in a fun- My vision is…. I also have grandchildren. Tey are from damental shif in forestry to protect and preserve old- the age of four to 20. If my grandchildren choose, I want growth forests for today and for years to come. We will them, when they are ready, to have the ability to work in do this while supporting forest workers and forest- a well-managed forestry, but I also want them to have the dependent communities. ability to be able to walk in an old-growth forest anywhere We received clear advice and clear recommendations in this province. Tere is old-growth forest — 10,000 hec- from the independent panel on how we can do this. We tares of old-growth forest across this province which have are dedicated to implementing the 14 recommendations, not been logged and are protected and will not be logged. 1022 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021

Te member is inaccurate in her numbers. She likes to Hon. R. Kahlon: Tank you to the member for the put out numbers. I don’t know…. I would love to meet question. He mentioned some of the businesses. My with her to talk to her and have a briefng on where she’s ofce did reach out to his ofce — I’m sure he’s aware — getting her numbers from, because they are inaccurate. yesterday, when he raised these businesses in particular. We are dedicated to implementing the recommenda- We ofered to reach out to the businesses directly to help tions from the old-growth forest report, and we will do them navigate what programs and supports are available that. We are also dedicated to working in government- to them. to-government discussions with Indigenous Nations. We Te member will know that on December 21… are doing just that with the Pacheedaht Nation. We are doing that with other nations across this province. Tose Interjections. are government-to-government discussions that are confdential and would be inappropriate for me to dis- Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s hear the answer. cuss in a public venue. We are committed. We are committed to continuing Hon. R. Kahlon: …we went to the business community through this important work, having those discussions and said: “What changes would you like?” We accepted with Indigenous Nations, talking to the workers, talking to all their changes at that time. We saw a steady increase in industry, talking to communities who are dependent. And applications. Ten we followed up with them in February we will continue to do that, because we want to ensure that and said: “What additional changes do you think could be there’s old-growth forest in this province for years to come. used or required to make the program more accessible and more inclusive to more businesses?” We accepted those COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR changes as well. SMALL BUSINESSES [10:40 a.m.] We’re trying to be as fexible and nimble as we can. We T. Stone: While the Premier doled out $645,000 for one know that needs are changing for businesses as the pan- single-user toilet in the city of Vancouver, he has com- demic changes, and we’ve been adjusting accordingly. pletely botched the small business recovery grant program We’re proud on this side of the House, and the member for small businesses. should be proud as well. Highest per-capita supports in all South Tompson Inn owner David Patriquin had this of Canada — B.C. We’re providing right now. to say: “In 2019, we invested in upgrades, which resulted in us not being proftable for that year. Tis makes us Interjections. ineligible to receive the recovery grant.” Ohana Deli owner Bobbe Lyall said: “Our life savings Mr. Speaker: Te minister will continue. went into building our business, and our revenues have been down between 50 percent and 100 percent, depend- Hon. R. Kahlon: Between all the supports the province ing on the month. Because we haven’t been in business for is providing, as well as the dollars Canada is providing, the required 18 months, we’re ineligible. If all else fails, we we’ve been able to help a lot of businesses. Even struggling would happily take the toilet paper holder from that new political parties have benefted from the dollars. bathroom in Vancouver. It must be worth at least $10,000.” Unfortunately, it’s too late for Lisa’s School of Dance, WAGES FOR COMMUNITY which is closing its doors forever. Owner Lisa Dew had SOCIAL SERVICES WORKERS this to say: “Tere have been countless tears, months of sleepless nights and anxiety-ridden days. Between fnan- M. de Jong: Sadly, on April 1, the Premier and his gov- cial losses…and the government’s ‘let’s wait and see’ mind- ernment will once again discriminate against the 17,000 set, there is no way to sustain our business…. Tere isn’t workers who choose not to become members of a trade enough support for small business right now.” union and work in the community social services sector. No further meetings, consultations or engagements are Here’s what Ernie Baatz, who is executive director of the going to help these small businesses or the thousands of Spectrum Society for Community Living, says: “We have others just like them who, to this day, are still not eligible tried for years to get the Premier…to take the issue of pay for the business recovery grant. equity seriously and have been met with inattention and My question is this: will the Premier make further inaction. Te only explanation we’ve received is that they changes to the eligibility requirements of the business have made the decision to compensate people less if they recovery grant so that businesses like Ohana Deli and the are not part of a union.” South Tompson Inn will not have to make the same gut- Te wages of 32,000 front-line workers in B.C.’s com- wrenching decision to close their doors forever just like munity social services sector are funded directly by the Lisa’s School of Dance? province. Te 17,000 workers who choose not to belong to a union are not getting the same wage increase as others, Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1023

merely because they exercised that choice and that right. lars to support child care and support fee reductions for Tey are being discriminated against by this government parents, that there has to be accountability. Tis new meas- for exercising their rights. ure is really to provide a level playing feld. We’ve heard a Will the Premier end the discrimination? Will he lot, from existing providers, asking for a level playing feld demonstrate that his government is prepared to abide by to make sure that there’s accountability when a new child the same standard they call upon others to exercise and care facility wants to apply and join this optional program. end the discrimination that it is perpetrating against Our government has done a lot in the past 3½ short 17,000 women and men in this important sector? years to make sure that, for the frst time in B.C.’s history, child care fees are going down for B.C. parents afer years Hon. N. Simons: I’d like to thank the member opposite of neglect from the former B.C. Liberal government. for his question. Tis is a historical issue, one that I’m really proud that COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR our government is taking on head-on. People who work in SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND YOUTH the community social service sector — who I know, who I work with and who I’ve worked with in the past — are J. Tegart: Te report Lef Out by the Representative for valued community members, valued people in our social Children and Youth tells heartbreaking stories about the service support sector. Tey are appreciated. impact of the pandemic on families. “It is the representa- Our continued discussion with the sector is something tive’s view that many families and caregivers are reaching that we’ve done that the previous government didn’t do. the breaking point. Te disruption of the pandemic con- We’re actually addressing these issues. We’re getting tinues to reverberate” in the lives of children and youth together and working collaboratively to fnd a solution. I with special needs. expect that that work is going to continue in an atmo- Te representative made a very clear recommendation, sphere of cooperation. Tat is the continued work of our calling on this government to restore pandemic supports government. of $225 a month for one year. I thank the member for the question. To the Premier, will he restore the pandemic benefts that are desperately needed for children and youth with CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND SPACES special needs?

K. Kirkpatrick: New child care regulations are taking Hon. M. Dean: I thank the member for the question. As place on April 1. Tese are going to result in the loss of well, I would like to thank the Representative for Children thousands of child care spaces and fnancial hardship on and Youth and, especially, to thank all the families who child care providers. helped the representative’s ofce in creating that report. You’ve already heard directly from a lot of these pro- I share many of the representative’s concerns. We did viders. Tey’re very upset, and these pleas have been actually roll out some emergency measures during the ignored. pandemic because we recognized the struggle facing these Here’s another one from yesterday. Nurture Early Child- families on a daily basis — many families are struggling, hood Education Centre, here in Victoria, holds a wait-list juggling daily life and taking care of their families — but of 180 families. As a direct result of these new regulations, especially during this pandemic. they are cancelling plans for two new facilities with 60 What families said to us was that they wanted fexibility afordable spaces for preschool-aged children. Tis is what in funding. We provided that fexibility in the respite fund- Jennifer Delaney has to say about the April 1 changes: “It ing, and we’ve extended that emergency measure to the will have devastating efects on the child care sector. Tis end of March 2022. will negatively and severely impact the creation of new child care spaces in British Columbia.” GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO Will the Premier reconsider this devastating change DEATHS OF YOUTH IN CARE before thousands of child care spaces are lost on April 1? [10:45 a.m.] P. Milobar: In Abbotsford, the mom of an Indigenous teen who was found dead in a closet of a group home last Hon. K. Chen: I want to emphasize that our fee reduc- September is seeking answers. She wants to know why it tion program is a program to bring relief to B.C. families. took four days for Traevon to be found by staf in the closet During the past 3½ short years, we have brought a fee where he hung himself. She wants to know why staf threw reduction to tens of thousands of families in B.C. Tat has his belongings in the dumpster. never happened before. We’re proud of the work that we’re Answers have not been forthcoming from this govern- doing. Over 90 percent of providers have joined our fee ment, sadly. Traevon’s mother has been forced to set up a reduction program, which is an optional program. GoFundMe page in order to hire a lawyer to seek answers. We will need to make sure, when we’re using public dol- Does the Premier believe that a GoFundMe campaign 1024 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 is the only way for a grieving mother to get appropriate Tird Reading of Bills answers about the death of her child that was in care? BILL 5 — INSURANCE CORPORATION Hon. M. Dean: Tank you to the member for raising AMENDMENT ACT, 2021 this question. In situations like this, it’s an absolute tragedy. My heart goes out to the family and to everybody who Bill 5, Insurance Corporation Amendment Act, 2021, knew the young person and knew the family and were read a third time and passed. involved. As the member will know, it is not possible for me as the Hon. M. Farnworth: I call continued committee stage minister to comment on any individual situations or even debate on Bill 10. comment on whether the ministry has been involved with [10:55 a.m.] the family. [10:50 a.m.] Committee of the Whole House

P. Milobar: Tis government spent years bringing up BILL 10 — SUPPLY ACT (No. 1), 2021 issues like this. Tis situation, unfortunately, happens (continued) when youth are in care and families seek answers. Te minister does not want to speak about this particu- Te House in Committee of the Whole on Bill 10; lar individual case. I’ll reframe the question, then. Has the S. Chandra Herbert in the chair. minister…? Has the Premier initiated a change to policy so that grieving families of youth in care can have support Te committee met at 11 a.m. from government to seek answers that they desperately need with the tragic loss of life instead of having to start On clause 2 (continued). creating GoFundMe pages to seek those answers from government? M. Bernier: It’s good to get up and continue speaking to clause 2. I have a couple more days worth of questions Hon. M. Dean: Tank you again to the member for the on this specifc clause. We’ve been unable to get a lot of question. answers. I’ve got a lot more that I’m excited to bring to I can assure the member that our ministry is absolutely the foor. committed to making sure that children and youth are I think over the last couple of days, we’ve really tried to kept safe and that they’re able to thrive and they’re protec- make the point of how this year is diferent and how we ted every single day. I have every confdence that our staf really feel that the lack of accountability and transparency in the ministry are supporting all children and youth that of bringing forward a supply bill before a budget does not we’re responsible for. really meet the test. It doesn’t meet the test. It doesn’t meet In situations where there is a tragedy or there is a critical what the expectation is of this House. incident, I can absolutely assure the member that our staf Without that transparency, without that fnancial trans- take very swif action and make sure that all children and parency, obviously what we see — and possibly will see youth in any facility or related to any home situation are more of — is a bunch of gold-plated toilets around the taken care of and that their safety is safeguarded and that province, which is what we don’t want to see happen. Tis the family is supported. is why we require transparency. Tis is why we ask for and We have taken many actions to change the whole system demand that budgets be presented in this House that we of Indigenous child welfare in our province. Tere is a lot can scrutinize. more work to do, but we’re working with Indigenous com- Te minister has said that we will be seeing one in munities and families to make sure that Indigenous chil- just…. I believe her quote was: “In just a few short dren and youth stay connected to their family, to their weeks, we will be seeing a budget.” It still brings up the communities and to their culture. We currently have the situation that we’re in — that the minister, in absence lowest number of children in care in 30 years and of Indi- of that budget, is asking this House to approve, in this genous children in care in 20 years. clause, approximately $12.3 billion, referencing, again, a 13-month-old document. [End of question period.] Maybe the minister…. We could start of, then…. As we go throughout today in questions, let’s start of by say- Orders of the Day ing that there are only a few areas that government gets its money from, two of which would be through borrowing Hon. M. Farnworth: I call third reading, Bill 5. or through revenues coming in, mostly through taxation. Can the minister, then, start by explaining to me…? Tis $12.3 billion that she’s asking for, that’s going to now Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1025 be into a new fscal year. How much of that is going to be M. Bernier: I’ll get back to my initial question in a through borrowing, and how much is anticipated through moment, since the minister didn’t answer it. I also just revenues? want to highlight how I fnd it interesting, some of the [11:05 a.m.] comments the minister just made. Te minister, I think, just admitted that the last ofcial quarterly report was Hon. S. Robinson: Tis bill that is before the House is done six months ago. Tat was when we had the last of- an expense request. Tis is coming before the House to cial quarterly report. seek supply until June 30, to ensure that government can Now, she can give an update in December, but that’s continue to deliver on the services that British Columbi- not an ofcial quarterly report, with all the details that lay ans can count on. Tis request is related only to those pro- out all of the revenues and expenses the minister herself grams that I’ve certainly spent the last couple of days talk- said that that was talking about, an update on COVID and ing about. COVID spending. Te member had started his opening comments sug- When we talk about public accounts…. Te minister gesting that there hasn’t been transparency. I just want was trying to tote how that was released in August or to take a moment, again, to remind all members of this September. Tat’s actually, if I remember correctly, an House and British Columbians about the level of reporting update on the ’19-20 fscal situation, documents that are, out that we have undertaken over this last year, given the again, a year old. Tat’s a requirement. Of course we want extraordinary circumstances, given the extraordinary to see those, but we haven’t seen the public accounts for demand for supplementary spending. this last fscal year yet. We won’t see those for, my assump- Again, we have been reporting throughout this year. tion is, three or four more months. Te point being…. Last March, when a state of emergency was declared, we I know the minister doesn’t want to or is unable to say, put forward an action plan. Ten, on July 14, my prede- but we’re working of old data. We’re working of inac- cessor released an economic and fscal update to provide curate information because we haven’t been given a full a summary of spending so that everybody here in this quarterly update since September. We’ve been given, as the House and all British Columbians would see where minister said, just her updates on the COVID spending, measures were being taken and how resources were but those aren’t the legislative requirement of a quarterly being spent. update, with all of the detailed information. I want to reiterate that that report that Carole James [11:10 a.m.] provided to this House and to British Columbians was not When do we expect to see an actual detailed, proper required by law, but we knew that it was important. It was quarterly report as laid out in legislation? My assumption important to British Columbians that they see how gov- is it would have been by now, or it would have been with a ernment was responding to the pandemic. It was based on budget that would have been presented in February, as per that that we made that report. every other year. Ten, of course, we released and reported out on public Yes, the minister doesn’t have to stand up in the House accounts just a month later, six weeks later, on August 31, again and say that I’m wrong, that they’re actually meet- detailing government’s audited results as part of transpar- ing the deadline by April. I realize they’re meeting that ency and accountability. Tat’s required, and we did that. deadline, because the minister and this government Ten we released our frst quarterly report on September changed the deadline. But it’s my understanding from 9, just another ten days later, I think, which is certainly what the minister just said that the last ofcial quarterly well within the legislative requirement, which I believe is report we saw was under her predecessor, the former September 15. Minister of Finance, right before the NDP government We shared a report, and it provided, again, extensive called an election. details on the pandemic measures announced to date. When do we expect the next quarterly update, ofcial Ten, afer Q1, we released the economic recovery plan so quarterly update with all the proper spending, with all that we can continue supporting people, we can continue the proper revenues, with all the proper information that’s to support businesses throughout the pandemic, and we required? can start looking forward to an economic recovery. Ten, in December, we released the fall economic and Hon. S. Robinson: Well, in my previous response to the fscal update for 2020. It detailed over $10 billion in member’s question, I listed the whole list of opportunities COVID response spending as well as recovery measures and steps that government took to share with British Col- that continue to support people, businesses and com- umbians the actions and the spending and the revenues munities. that are coming into government and what’s going out in It’s based on all of that spending as well as the estimates terms of making sure that we’re supporting people. debate that we are here before the House with this supply Te member seems to somehow disqualify what we call bill. the fall economic and fscal update for 2020. Now, it sounds to me like perhaps the member didn’t read it 1026 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 because it wasn’t labelled a quarterly report. He didn’t like the responsibility of this House to share with British Col- the title of it and perhaps likes the title…. umbians the fscal status of operations here. It’s for that I think what British Columbians want are the details, purpose that we brought forward the fall fscal update. It and the details are in that quarterly report, in that econom- provides an update to all British Columbians on govern- ic update. We called it the fall economic and fscal update ment’s spending, recognizing that it has been some time for 2020, but it lists the capital spends, the revenues, the since the frst quarterly. It is incumbent upon us to make borrowing, the debt. All of that detail is in that update. sure that British Columbians have access to that informa- I certainly invite the member to take a look and invite tion. It’s for that reason that we presented the fall update. all British Columbians to take a look, and you’ll see, in December, the actions that government had taken to M. Bernier: Tis line of questioning actually was never provide British Columbians with the transparency that even on my list of where I was planning on going this they deserve, to see the actions that government has taken, morning, but it did take us into an interesting area. to see the spending decisions that government has made I just want to remind the minister. Obviously, they were and to see the fscal status of British Columbia. foreshadowing that we were going to a fall election by [11:15 a.m.] changing the actual legislation in case there was a fall elec- tion, even though they said they had no plans on doing so. M. Bernier: Is the minister trying to tell this House, Isn’t it ironic that all of the legislation that we saw in this then, that the update, as she’s calling it, the fall fscal House was to prepare and allow this government to not update that she gave, met all of the criteria under a only have a fall election but to avoid a lot of the reporting quarterly update mandate? Is she trying to tell this House or scrutiny because of that — or delaying, if you want? that it was no diferent than the one that her predecessor Under section 10 — I just went and grabbed it while the gave in September and met all of the same criteria that’s minister was talking — of the Budget Transparency and required? Accountability Act, it actually talks specifcally about the If so, if she’s going to say it does, does that mean that requirements of a quarterly report. What I fnd interesting what we can expect going forward under this minister, is in the exact changes to the act that the minister was talk- instead of proper ofcial quarterly updates, as the legisla- ing about — about an update. Interestingly, there are very tion says, is that she can just stand up now and give a prop- strict criteria and defnitions of what a quarterly update is. er, vaguer update, I guess, rather than one like her prede- But for the one that we saw in December, as the minister cessors always used to do? was calling her fall economic update, they specifcally lef out any criteria or defnition of what that would be or what Hon. S. Robinson: I want to point out to the member it entails, if they chose to do that. opposite that if he compares my predecessor’s quarterly Under section 10, where it talks about the quarterly report with the fall economic update, what he’ll see is the reports…. I kind of asked this a little earlier. When do we same format, the same tables and the same headings, with expect the next one? Te minister is correct where they updated numbers. changed the reporting out in an election year. But it does go on to say, in subsection 10(3), that the third quarterly M. Bernier: I just want to remind the minister, then…. report would be by February 28. Well, that was 2½ weeks If it’s so similar, then why did her government, in Septem- ago. I don’t remember seeing one. ber, change the legal requirements on how quarterly I remember seeing one as per what we see in section reports would happen? 10. It calls for one in September. It calls for one in the [11:20 a.m.] fall. Ten it says that for the frst nine months of that fscal year, a quarterly report must be made public on or Hon. S. Robinson: Te member may recollect, back in before February 28, which is typically right afer a budget. the summer, when legislation was changed for a fall elec- But of course, as we know, they’ve changed it. Now the tion. Legislation did not require a second quarterly report third quarterly report would be presented shortly before a in an election year. When we formed government this fall, budget is presented to this House. we took a look at that and felt that we needed to make sure [11:25 a.m.] that there was, at a minimum, an update in anticipation of Back to my question, then. If the minister is saying the a budget being delivered later in an election year. budget is going to be presented in just a few short weeks, It’s based on that that we incorporated and took action do we anticipate a quarterly report? It already appears to to make sure that there was additional accountability by have missed that deadline under the legislation. Is there putting in a fall update. So for all intents and purposes, going to be a quarterly report presented to the public it’s the same information. It’s the same tables. It’s the before the budget? same headings. It’s the same reporting out, with updated numbers. Hon. S. Robinson: If the member pulls up…. I see that Let’s face it. It is the responsibility of government and Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1027 the member does have some paper in front of him. I’m back and re-debate a bill that was passed last summer. It’s assuming that it is what he was referring to earlier. not what we’re debating here. Tat’s not what’s before the If he goes down to section 4(a), he will see the clause House. He seems to want to go back in time. But that, I that speaks to the…. If the main estimates are being pres- would say, is history. Te law is the law. So that’s not what’s ented within 60 days of that date, of February 28, then the up for debate right now. obligation is no longer required. Again, we are bringing However, I will point out again that I felt it was incum- forward the main estimates within 60 days of that date. So bent on me to provide a fscal update to British Colum- it’s within that context that we are following the law. bians even when it wasn’t required, because people do deserve to see what’s been going on. Tat is why we mod- M. Bernier: I do appreciate, and I did read that. I am elled our fscal update on the Q1 report. We took that very aware of that. But it’s also making the point that we tech- framework, and we ran the numbers and where are we at nically have not had, as per the defnitions of the Budget given that framework. So it provides a good sense to Brit- Transparency and Accountability Act, a proper quarterly ish Columbians about where we’re at. update for over six months. Tat was in December, and here we are. Yes, we’re three Te minister can talk about a fscal plan. I look through months later. In three more weeks, we are going to be see- this document, the one that’s supposed to guide the minis- ing a budget. Certainly, British Columbians, I think, will ter. Even in the defnitions, there’s no defnition anywhere be pleased to see sort of what’s ahead. that I could fnd. She can correct me. I’m more than will- I know that British Columbians are still struggling with ing to be proven wrong. I don’t see any defnition here of the fact that we’re in a pandemic. Tis is a pandemic that what’s required for a fscal plan. has hit some really hard and made some real challenges for It’s very, very laid out in section 10 — what’s required people in their lives. We’re ready and hopeful for a good for a quarterly update. So was it deliberately done by this vaccination rollout that will see us move in through to government, when they brought forward the changes last recovery, which I know British Columbians are itching to fall to this act, to allow themselves to do a fscal update but do. We’ll certainly look forward to those conversations. then not put any defnitions around what a fscal update Mr. Chair, if I can ask for a fve-minute break, I’d be actually is? Does that just leave it up to the minister herself, most grateful. then, to decide what she chooses to tell this House and tell the public in a fscal update? Te Chair: Te House will be recessed for fve minutes. [11:30 a.m.] I don’t see an actual defnition of what she has to do, Te committee recessed from 11:33 a.m. to 11:39 a.m. which is why I ask the question. Why are we not doing an ofcial quarterly report, as per section 10 under this [S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.] accountability act? Tat, again, will lead me into the ques- tions later on around the spending — where revenue is M. Bernier: Interesting comments, right before that coming from and how we’re going to spend the money — quick recess, from the minister, saying that I’m wanting to because we haven’t had a proper laid-out quarterly report bring up history. with the information that the public deserves. I’ll remind the minister that the actual Supply Act that Now, the minister can say it’s because they changed the we’re talking about today is referencing history. It’s refer- rules so they don’t have to do it. Tey don’t have to because encing a 13-month-old document that is obsolete. It’s his- a budget is being presented within that 30 days…. torical. It could be in the archives, actually, by now. It’s that obsolete. But that’s what this minister chose to reference. Interjection. So yes, I’m bringing up history. I’m bringing up history based on the actual Supply Act that the minister has tabled M. Bernier: Sixty days. I was just corrected by the min- in the House, which has raised a lot of these questions. ister. Tank you. [11:40 a.m.] If that’s the case, we’re going to have almost seven Since we’re talking about history, just to remind the months between an ofcial quarterly report and a budget minister, as well, that specifc legislation and criteria were tabled in this House. Tat is why I asked…. You know, brought in over 20 years ago. Tat was brought in specifc- we are talking about borrowing or spending another $12½ ally to lay out the expectations of the minister, of govern- billion, and we haven’t been given any update of the fscal ment, of the protocols around accountability and transpar- situation of this province. ency, making sure budgets are put in, in a timely way and Can the minister maybe tell me where it says a fscal open and transparent to this House and to the public. Tat update is the same as and has all the same information as served us well for 20 years. a quarterly report? We talked yesterday about how supply acts in the past have never really had this kind of debate. Well, that’s Hon. S. Robinson: Well, the member may want to go a fair point. Tat’s because they always came in afer a 1028 British Columbia Debates Thursday, March 25, 2021 tabled budget, as per what was laid out, and worked well opposite. Te fscal update that we chose to deliver — that and served this House and the province well for the last I chose to deliver — in December will have…. Tere will 20 years. be three and a half months between that fscal update and We fnd ourselves in a situation, in this last 18 months when budget is presented. Not seven months, as the mem- or less, completely at the responsibility and at the hands ber somehow suggested. of this minister and government. Tey chose to do this. Te member may want to discount the fscal update that Tis government chose to make changes to now present a we chose to deliver. And it was a choice. It was a choice by budget into an entirely new fscal year. Tis government this government to update the public on the fscal realit- chose to change defnitions and legislation around the ies. It was, I think, a good choice. It was a good choice that requirements for fscal updates and quarterly reports. Tis we made, because it is important that British Columbians government chose to change a lot of the regulations and see how government operations are going. So it’s not seven legislations in case there was a fall election, and — sur- months. It’s three and a half months between that update prise, surprise — there was, shortly afer that legislation and the budget being presented April 20. was in this House. Te member does make, certainly, excellent observa- Te minister can try to say that we’re bringing up his- tions around governments making choices. Tey abso- tory. But I remind the minister that all of this, this entire lutely make choices. But people make choices too. debate, this entire last couple of days and this entire piece Legislation was brought in, in the summer, and there of legislation, as presented, could have been completely was an election. And the people made choices. Tey avoided if we’d stuck with the practices of this legislation chose a New Democrat government. Tey chose a New that served so well for 20 years. Even though this govern- Democrat government knowing that those changes were ment chose to change the criteria, they now have to be in place. British Columbians knew full well when they accountable to those changes that they made. made their choices about who they wanted to govern in I don’t even know if I want to formulate a question in this moment in time. Tey knew full well that changes there, because I know that the minister will stand up and had been made to the legislation. We are doing that work say: “You’re right. We chose to make those changes, and post-election with people being very clear about their we’re living within the criteria and mandate of the changes choices as well. that we as government made.” But that, I hope she would Having said that…. I think it’s really important that acknowledge, is why we are spending time on what many we just acknowledge that we all make choices all the would think is a very simple bill, because it doesn’t have time, just as the member is going to be choosing from any schedules attached that are up to date. a list of questions that he has before him. He said there We heard the minister just a few moments ago all but were about a hundred. I’ve been counting. We’re down admit that, yes, there have been fscal updates, but they now to about 85, I hope. But I also want to point out that don’t have to do one now because there’s going to be a when the budget is presented, members will see, cer- budget presented soon. So now it is going to be seven tainly, the revenue stream and will have that information months. I know the process. So I know that we’re going available to them on April 20. to get a very detailed accounting at some point com- ing soon, that we are going to get a full document of a M. Bernier: I appreciate the honesty, I’ll say, from the budget for a ’21-22 fscal year. But again, these are all minister through her answer of basically acknowledging choices that government has made to now reference an the exact point of why we’re debating this bill. We’re not old, historic document. going to see any information until April 20, which is why I want to go back to, actually, the very frst question we’re having a lot of this debate and discussion. Te min- that we started this session out with today that I didn’t get, ister didn’t answer my question — of $12.3 billion for the really, a clear answer for. So $12.3 billion this government next three months, how much of that will be through debt is asking for. As we’ve said, there’s no debate on the fact or how much through revenue? — because we’re going to that supply acts are to, in simplistic words, keep the lights see that in three months. on in government. I know the minister doesn’t like it when we use the Te minister wasn’t able to tell me, since we haven’t had phrase: “Tey’re truly asking for a blank cheque.” It’s not proper accounting to date…. I know we’ll get it at some completely a blank cheque because the date made out at point. But how is this money being funded? Is it going to the top of that cheque is, I guess, now April 20. At least be through debt, or is it going to be through other sources it has a dollar and a date on it — with no information, of government revenue? Where is this $12.3 billion com- though, of where it’s going or who it should be made out ing from? to. Tus, some of the questions that we’re asking. [11:45 a.m.] Maybe I’ll try this before we break for lunch. Govern- ment does make choices. Te minister acknowledged that. Hon. S. Robinson: I want to point out a couple of inac- I acknowledge that. Here are some of the choices that curacies, from my perspective, listening to the member this government has made, which, I fnd it interesting, Thursday, March 25, 2021 British Columbia Debates 1029 if…. How much of this is going to be part of the $12.3 nize the tax reality here in British Columbia. I think it’s billion? Te employer health tax was brought in by this important to recognize how things have changed, based government, creating a revenue stream for them. Tey’ve on the choices of this government, versus the previous increased gas taxes and Airbnb tax, additional school taxes B.C. Liberal government and the choices that they made, and a speculation tax which, we’ve talked about, is now because the choices that they made were to give the top 1 basically targeting and hitting mostly B.C. residents, who percent massive tax breaks. Tose are the choices that they are really being penalized. made. Tey let speculators proft as housing prices spiked. [11:50 a.m.] Tey also chose to more than double MSP fees, and they Again, these are choices that this minister and this gov- raised hydro rates 70 percent. ernment have made. Tey increased corporate tax. We’re We made other choices as a government. In 2017, if becoming one of the highest-taxed jurisdictions in you just take a look at the changes that we have made…. Canada, which is really concerning to a lot of people, as We brought in, last year, the child opportunity beneft to we’re going to try to fgure out — and we’re looking for- begin providing up to $2,600 for a family with two kids ward to this throne speech, I guess — what a plan will be to provide them with support. Families are saving up to to get us out of this pandemic and to build our economy, $1,800 every year since we eliminated their fat tax. We got meanwhile adding and increasing taxes. rid of that. I fnd it interesting, and I’ll maybe leave it with this one. We continue to have a very competitive tax regime. We Government makes choices. Tey’ve chosen to increase have the second-lowest small business tax rate in the coun- and add 23 new taxes to the people and businesses here try. in the province of British Columbia under their mandate, I think the people who are working hard every day to so far. Tere are a lot of those, though, that as of April 1, put food on the table, they’re fnding that they actually I’m very curious about. Because the minister says we’re not have a little bit more money in their pockets. When you going to see anything until April 20, but she’s still asking take a look at what people are paying, compared to what for $12.3 billion. they paid under the previous B.C. Liberal government, if Te reason why I raise this is, throughout the entire you were a family making $100,000 a year, you’re seeing course of this debate, we’re suppose to be referencing an now a 22 percent reduction in taxes. If you were making old document. Yet the government just announced quietly $60,000 a year, you’re seeing a 60 percent reduction in — I think it was one or two Fridays ago — that as of taxes. April 1, they’re bringing in the tax on people using Netfix. Tat is because of the choices that this government has Tey’re bringing in that additional tax on carbonated made. I’m very proud of those choices. It makes life better drinks like pop. Is that actually still going to come in on for British Columbians. I look forward to more of this. April 1? I move that the committee rise, report progress and ask My assumption is they’re going to cancel those taxes, leave to sit again. and they won’t be coming in until sometime afer or on April 20. Te minister, in her own words has said that Motion approved. everything we’re doing now is supposed to carry us through to a bill on April 20, and we’re supposed to be ref- Te committee rose at 11:55 a.m. erencing an old document that didn’t have those new taxes in it. Te House resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair. I’m, again, trying to understand why they can do both. Tey don’t want to talk about what their plans are, but the Te Committee of the Whole, having reported government wants to, through their choices, increase and progress, was granted leave to sit again. announce new taxes. What are the revenues anticipated, I guess, on all these new taxes, and what part of all these Hon. S. Robinson moved adjournment of the House. new and increased taxes are part of the $12.3 billion that the minister is asking for? Motion approved.

Hon. S. Robinson: Well, frst of all, the two taxes, the Mr. Speaker: Tis House stands adjourned until 1:30 digital services as well as the sugary carbonated drinks, this afernoon. were part of Budget 2020, and they were deferred as a res- ult of COVID. So those aren’t…. Tat’s just a response of Te House adjourned at 11:56 a.m. government in recognition of the pandemic. I think it’s really important, before we break, to recog-

Hansard Services, Reporting and Publishing

DIRECTOR D’Arcy McPherson

MANAGER OF REPORTING SERVICES Laurel Bernard

MANAGER OF PUBLISHING SYSTEMS Dan Kerr

TEAM LEADERS Mike Beninger, Kim Christie, Barb Horricks, Paula Lee, Julie McClung, Karol Morris, Glenn Wigmore

EDITORS Erin Beattie, Janet Brazier, Sophie Crocker, Tim Ford, Jane Grainger, Betsy Gray, Iris Gray, Mary Beth Hall, Kendra Heinz, Sophie Heizer, Louis Henderson, Bill Hrick, Jennifer Isaac, Quinn MacDonald, Anne Maclean, Claire Matthews, Jill Milkert, Sarah Mitenko, Erik Pedersen, Janet Pink, Robyn Swanson, Antoinette Warren, Heather Warren, Kim Westad

INDEXERS Shannon Ash, Robin Rohrmoser

RESEARCHERS Hannah Curran, Brooke Isherwood, David Mattison

TECHNICAL OPERATIONS Pamela Holmes, Daniel Powell, Patrick Stobbe

Copyright © 2021 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Te Ofcial Report of Debates (Hansard) and webcasts of chamber proceedings are available at www.leg.bc.ca.

For inquiries contact: Hansard Services 612 Government Street Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Telephone: 250-387-3681 Email: [email protected]

Published by Hansard Services under the authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.