First Session, 42nd Parliament

OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD)

Monday, March 1, 2021 Morning Sitting Issue No. 15

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 ...... Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal Party)...... Penticton ...... Michael de Jong, QC Babchuk, Michele (BC NDP)...... North Island Boundary-Similkameen...... Bailey, Brenda (BC NDP)...... –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 ...... Begg, Garry (BC NDP)...... Surrey-Guildford Cariboo-Chilcotin ...... Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ...... ...... Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal Party)...... Prince George–Valemount Chilliwack ...... Brar, Jagrup (BC NDP)...... Surrey-Fleetwood Chilliwack-Kent ...... Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal Party) ...... 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 ...... Hon. Ravi Kahlon Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal Party)...... Columbia River–Revelstoke ...... 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)...... Kamloops–South Tompson...... de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal Party)...... Abbotsford West –Lake Country ...... Norm Letnick Dean, Hon. Mitzi (BC NDP) ...... Esquimalt-Metchosin Kelowna-Mission ...... Renee Merrifeld D’Eith, Bob (BC NDP) ...... Maple Ridge–Mission ...... 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 ...... 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 ...... 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 ...... Morris, Mike (BC Liberal Party) ...... Prince George–Mackenzie Richmond-Queensborough...... Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal Party)...... Cariboo North ...... 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 ...... 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

Monday, March 1, 2021 Morning Sitting Page

Routine Business

Motions Without Notice...... 319 Special procedures for proceedings of Legislative Assembly during COVID-19 pandemic Hon. M. Farnworth

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements...... 320 Education J. Tegart K. Paddon Capital projects D. Coulter I. Paton Housing B. Stewart S. Chant Rainbow crosswalks in Langley A. Mercier K. Kirkpatrick

Private Members’ Motions ...... 328 Motion 2 — Government response to COVID-19 T. Wat B. D’Eith T. Halford J. Sims D. Davies J. Rice C. Oakes D. Routley L. Doerkson P. Alexis T. Stone

319

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 than 30 minutes remaining prior to the ordinary time fxed for adjournment of the sitting during which the division is reques- ted, then it shall stand deferred until 15 minutes prior to the Te House met at 10:05 a.m. ordinary time fxed for adjournment of the afernoon sitting of the following sitting day. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] (3) Notwithstanding Standing Order 25 and subsection (2) of this order, if a division is requested during a morning sitting, it Routine Business shall stand deferred until the afernoon sitting of the same day. (4) If a division is requested in a Committee of the Whole, the clause of the bill under consideration shall be postponed, and Prayers and refections: D. Coulter. the division shall be deferred in accordance with subsection (2) of this order. Hon. M. Farnworth: I seek leave to move a motion. (5) If a division is requested in a Committee of Supply, the divi- sion shall be deferred in accordance with subsection (2) of this Leave granted. order. (6) If a deferred division is scheduled to take place during a sit- Motions Without Notice ting, a. at 30 minutes prior to the ordinary time fxed for ad- journment of the sitting, the Speaker or Chair shall ring the SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR PROCEEDINGS bells and recess the proceedings; OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY b. 10 minutes thereafer, at 20 minutes prior to the ordinary DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC time fxed for adjournment of the sitting, the Speaker or Chair shall call the House back to order; Hon. M. Farnworth: Notwithstanding Standing Order c. 5 minutes thereafer, at 15 minutes prior to the ordinary time fxed for adjournment of the sitting, the Speaker or 48.1, by leave I move the motion on the order paper, on the Chair shall again state the question; and motion I have in my name. It’s been shared with the oppo- d. the division shall proceed forthwith. sition. We have discussed it with the Clerk. It governs the (7) If a division is deferred in a Committee of the Whole or the sessional order for this session of the Legislature, which Committee of Supply, the House shall resolve itself into the ap- will go until March 31. propriate Committee prior to the ringing of the bells and recess It is quite lengthy, so with your indulgence, I will not set out in subsection (6) of this order. read it. But I can assure you that all parties have agreed to (8) No Member shall enter or leave the Legislative Chamber or connect to or disconnect from the approved videoconferencing it. technology afer the fnal statement of the question until the [GENERAL division has been fully taken, and every Member present shall 1. Tat, as an exercise of the Legislative Assembly’s exclusive right vote. to regulate its own internal afairs as they relate to its legislative and (9) When two or more deferred divisions are to be taken dur- deliberative functions, including control over the conduct of its ing a sitting, the divisions shall be taken in succession in the or- proceedings, the use of videoconferencing technology be author- der they were deferred. ized to enable all Members to be present in the proceedings of the (10) During a sitting at which a deferred division is to take Legislative Assembly through remote participation, counting to- place, no motion to adjourn the House shall be in order until ward quorum, while other Members continue to be present physic- afer that vote and the conclusion of any consequential business ally in the Legislative Chamber, thereby enabling hybrid proceed- that must be disposed of. If successive divisions are scheduled, ings of the House. the House shall sit beyond the ordinary time of adjournment 2. Tat Zoom be approved as the videoconferencing technology until the conclusion of all divisions and until other business platform for the purposes of supporting hybrid proceedings of the consequential to the division has been disposed of. House. (11) Divisions are not permitted on a motion that a committee QUORUM AND ATTENDANCE rise and report, and on a routine motion moved by the Gov- 3. Tat Members who are participating in the House’s proceedings ernment House Leader or their designate that the House ad- by the approved videoconferencing technology be counted as pres- journ, so as not to prevent the House from undertaking busi- ent for the purposes of the quorum of ten Members, as set out in ness in a manner consistent with the intention of the arrange- section 42 of the Constitution Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 66) and Stand- ments of formal divisions in hybrid proceedings. Members may ing Order 6, and for the purposes of determining a majority of use Practice Recommendation No. 1. votes as set out in section 43 of the Constitution Act. 4. Tat Members who are participating in the House’s proceedings 6. Tat, notwithstanding sections 5(2), 5(3), 5(4) and 5(5) of this by the approved videoconferencing technology must have the au- order, if a division is requested on a closure motion set out in dio and video functions enabled with their face clearly visible in Standing Order 46 or a time allocation motion set out in Standing order to be counted towards quorum, to participate in debate, and Order 81.1, the Speaker or Chair shall announce that a division to vote. has been called. No longer than 15 minutes thereafer, unless the House or Committee, as the case may be, unanimously agrees oth- VOTING AND DIVISIONS erwise, the Speaker or Chair shall again state the question and the 5. Tat, notwithstanding Standing Order 16: division shall proceed forthwith. (1) When the Speaker puts the question, no further debate on DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AND NOTICE the question shall be permitted. REQUIREMENTS (2) When a division is requested, it shall be deferred until 15 7. Tat any Standing Order requiring that a document be “handed minutes prior to the ordinary time fxed for adjournment of the in” or “laid upon the Table” or transmitted by other similar physical sitting during which the division is requested. If there are less 320 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021

means be interpreted to include the transmission of a document by I have a great deal of respect for the people who work approved electronic means. in the system, who excite our children every day 8. Tat the transmission of a document by the Ofce of the Clerk to all Members by electronic means constitute for all purposes the learning and who ensure that all children are given the distribution and delivery of that document, regardless of whether opportunity to be curious, excited, social, and all the a Member has received the document. other things that happen at school on a daily basis. Tere 9. Tat, notwithstanding Standing Order 25B(2) and the usual is something about the eyes of an excited kindergarten practices of the House, at least two hours prior to the scheduled start of a sitting of the House, the Whips shall provide to the Ofce child who can’t wait to get to school, the pride of the of the Speaker a list and, if applicable, the sequence, of Members little one who reads you their frst book and the casual- wishing to make an introduction or to participate in an item under ness of a teenager whose whole world revolves around Routine Business. the school and all that goes on within it. 10. Tat, notwithstanding the usual practices of the House, any Member who intends to move a motion in amendment to a bill at But today I want to talk about the importance of school committee stage, of which notice is not typically required, should during this pandemic, the current state of our province’s provide at least one hour of notice to the Ofce of the Clerk prior to education system, amidst the challenges of COVID-19. I introducing that motion in the House to ensure the electronic dis- think it’s critical that we recognize the work that thousands tribution of that motion to all Members forthwith afer it is moved. of teachers, administrators, support staf, parents and fam- SPEAKER’S DISCRETION ilies have done to continue our children’s education, to 11. Tat, for greater certainty, the Speaker be empowered to exer- cise discretion on the applicability of Standing Order 17A as it may allow them to keep learning and growing throughout what relate to the facilitation of participation of Members in proceedings has undoubtedly been the most challenging school year in of the House. recent history. 12. Tat, for greater certainty and further to Standing Order 19 [10:10 a.m.] and Standing Order 20, the Speaker be empowered to intervene on any matter of decorum on the Speaker’s own initiative or on a point Tere has been some debate regarding the opening of of order raised by a Member, including by muting a Member’s mi- schools, but health experts, professionals, parents and stu- crophone and excluding Members from the sitting in cases of seri- dents themselves are wanting the schools to be open. Tat ous misconduct. being said, government has a responsibility to ensure that 13. Tat the Speaker be empowered to exercise discretion in the interpretation of the provisions of any Standing Order requiring those who have given our students so much support feel Members to stand or speak in their assigned place as this require- that they are given the tools and the resources they need to ment may relate to Members participating via the approved video- safely carry out their jobs. conferencing technology and to Members participating in person Tere are still some signifcant gaps in our schools’ in the Legislative Chamber. 14. Tat the Speaker be empowered to exercise discretion, in con- COVID plans that desperately need to be addressed. We sultation with the House Leaders or the Whips, in the interpreta- must listen to the concerns of teachers, staf and parents tion of any provision of the Standing Orders or this order that may and take the necessary steps to meet promises, increase require leniency or alteration in order to allow all Members to be transparency and add the necessary layers of protection able to fully exercise their duties and rights in the proceedings of this House conducted in a hybrid manner. that will help our schools throughout COVID and beyond. OTHER Although government has taken steps in the right 15. Tat, should any provision contained in this order be incon- direction, parents and teachers have been lef needing sistent with the Standing Orders, the provision in this order more and are still asking for improvements. Govern- prevails to the extent of the inconsistency. ment has faced strong criticism for a lack of transpar- 16. Tat this order expire on April 13, 2021.] ency in its COVID data reporting and the allocation of federal grant funding, including promised upgrades Mr. Speaker: Members, the question is the sessional to ventilation in B.C. schools. Tere seems to be no order on hybrid proceedings. concrete plan or timeline for the planned ventilation upgrades, despite health authorities describing them as Motion approved. a crucial layer of protection for our classrooms. Government must ofer greater transparency and public Orders of the Day disclosure of how the $242.4 million in federal grant money has and will be allocated to improve health and Private Members’ Statements safety standards in our schools, including a fnancial breakdown and a summary of resources that have already EDUCATION been distributed. Te public is asking for it, the system is asking for it, and we are asking for that kind of reporting J. Tegart: I rise in the House today to speak on educa- and transparency. tion. It’s a topic near and dear to my heart, having served B.C. has also fallen drastically behind other provinces as a school trustee for many years. when it comes to COVID data reporting in our schools. While other provinces provide daily case breakdowns, B.C. [S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.] COVID data reporting continues to be plagued with delays and postponements. Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 321

I’m hearing daily from parents and from people work- up and check in with them over the past couple of weeks. ing in the system concerns about the timeliness of sharing When they speak, they tell me about how great their stu- information. We’re now a year in. Surely we can do what dents are. I hear about the many students who have suc- they ask. Surely we can give them timely information that cessfully transitioned back into in-person learning and helps them make decisions for their family. Parents, teach- how adaptive and resilient kids and youth have been with ers and school staf have been urging transparency — to safety protocols. report daily data, which is easily accessible, to those want- Tere is no doubt that teachers, parents, staf and stu- ing to access it. dents are tired and looking forward to a time when the We all know that when there’s a gap in data, if govern- pandemic is not the centre of everything, when extracur- ment is not forthcoming, others will fll in the informa- ricular activities can return to normal. [Audio interrup- tion gap. Government has faced calls from parents, teach- ted] I hear about how teams are working together, how ers and even the Prime Minister to implement additional students are fourishing with in-person learning and how health and safety measures in schools, such as using COV- routines have been established and are working, given the ID rapid tests in classrooms. Yet more than a million limitations imposed by the pandemic. I also hear about COVID rapid tests sit on a warehouse shelf. how appreciated and impactful it is that public health con- As Lower Mainland schools report further exposures tinues to review and update approaches and supports as to COVID-19 variants, government’s one-size-fts-all for we move forward together, supporting safe schools and in- B.C. schools’ health and safety plans just doesn’t cut it any class learning. more. As variants arise in clusters, government must grant I hear from parents that there’s anxiety and uncer- school districts the fexibility to add extra layers of protec- tainty. Tere’s also gratitude, gratitude to see the major- tion to address the unique challenges they are facing with- ity of our kids back at school, able to carve out the small in their own communities. bit of normalcy they can, as we move through this pan- Tere has been a chorus of voices asking and pleading demic together. for information that would ease the anxiety in the system. I have heard about, and seen as a parent myself, the pos- It’s time for government to listen and to act. Teachers, sup- itive impact that attending school, seeing friends, interact- port staf, parents and students are doing their part. Where ing and learning with others has had on our kids as they is the support and leadership from government? Let’s all have adjusted to the way school looks for now. Te men- commit to do everything we can to lower the anxiety felt tal health, social, emotional and developmental improve- by all and to support the education system. ments described by some parents remind us of why this is [10:15 a.m.] a priority, and we are grateful to the teachers and staf that I’d like to end by thanking everyone who steps up every make this possible. day to ensure our students are safe and have the oppor- I am grateful for the parents who remind us that not all tunity to attend school in a safe environment and to learn students have been able to return to school, as they exper- every day. ience higher risks than some of their peers, have family members who are vulnerable, or even as matter of choice. Deputy Speaker: Now I’m going to move to the mem- Some of our students with diverse needs and abilities have ber for Chilliwack-Kent for the member’s response. not yet had the opportunity to return. Te stories of what is missing for them highlight why we are all working so K. Paddon: I am privileged to be speaking from the hard to keep our schools open and safe and on options for unceded traditional territory of the Stó:lō people. those who cannot yet join. Tere is no doubt that this has been a difcult year for Te words of one constituent from Chilliwack-Kent, a everyone in the K-to-12 system, especially for teachers and parent and a teacher, seem to me to summarize the themes educational staf. I understand, and have felt myself, the I am hearing. “We are tired, and it is hard. But it is worth anxiety that parents, students and staf are feeling. All of us it. Kids need to be in school, and we know that school is want to ensure the safety of ourselves and our families, and the best place for them to be.” So we will continue work- the anxiety and worry are only magnifed when it comes to ing extremely hard to make sure that this keeps happening, our children. while also being aware that for some who cannot attend, Teachers and school staf have done a tremendous job in it’s still hard. keeping our kids learning through the pandemic. Te level We know that what happens in schools mirrors what of commitment and dedication they bring every single is happening in our communities. Although that means day, going above and beyond to ensure kids can learn and that we’ve seen some cases in schools, we continue to see grow in safe schools, is a testament to the passion, compas- low transmission rates inside of our schools. Tis demon- sion and dedication they bring to their roles in nurturing strates the impact of the hard work of our teachers, school our future. staf and students in following the guidelines set out by I have been fortunate to hear from several teachers over public health. the past months and have had the opportunity to follow We continue to follow the advice of the public health 322 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021 ofce, knowing that as the pandemic has continued to school system you and I attended, but it is the experience evolve, so has the guidance. We have been working with of our students of today. Ask yourself: what can I do to our partners in education and public health to ensure a support our schools? How can I help to alleviate the anxi- continuous review of guidelines in order to keep kids and ety felt in the system? How can I ensure that every student staf safe. comes through the COVID experience whole, healthy and [10:20 a.m.] strong? I know that all of us in this House have a common As we move through this school year and this phase interest to ensure quality education. I thank you all for of the pandemic together, I want to take a moment to your commitment to that goal. acknowledge the students and teachers who are moving towards the second high school graduation of this pan- CAPITAL PROJECTS demic. I have heard the sadness and hopefulness of par- ents, grads and teachers that this milestone may again look D. Coulter: Today I’d like to speak about transporta- diferent. tion infrastructure in the Fraser Valley. Every day thou- Despite this, I want to recognize the heroic eforts of sands of British Columbians commute throughout the the teachers and our soon-to-be graduates. Tey have Fraser Valley. Some even go from Chilliwack to down- achieved amazing things together. Tis graduating class is town Vancouver. Tey spend countless hours in their poised, although by necessity rather than choice, to be the cars, hours that they could be spending with their fam- most innovative, inclusive, adaptive graduating class yet. ilies. With housing cheaper in the Fraser Valley, this is Tank you for the gifs you will bring forward with this. a choice that many folks are making — in particular, Tank you to the teachers who inspired and made it safe. people with young families. I have a constituent — her name is Kirsten — who J. Tegart: Tank you to the member for her comments. travels from Chilliwack to Vancouver and back every Supports for B.C. schools go beyond ofering them appro- day. She’s lucky that she has some fexibility in her hours priate layers of protection during COVID. Government and can start early. Otherwise, it would be impossible for has a responsibility to ensure that our schools can still ofer her to make it home in the evening in time for dinner our students the same quality of education from across the and her kids’ extracurricular activities. But heading of province, regardless of circumstances. in the morning as early as 5:30 a.m. means that she ofen Tis is why I’m sure this House can understand the misses out on sleep and doesn’t get to see her kids before concern of parents in Vancouver when they learned they go of to school. about the dramatic cut to instructional hours in Vancou- [10:25 a.m.] ver secondary schools. Vancouver school board students I myself used to work in Vancouver and travel there are receiving only 8.75 hours of instruction per week, every day from Chilliwack. I think I averaged 3½ hours in far below school districts as well as the minimum 25.5 my car every day. If you average that out over the working hours of instructional time as required by law. Students days of a year, I would spend around one month in my car. in Vancouver are receiving far fewer hours of instruction Relief is on the way, though. Te government is working compared to those in neighbouring school districts and to address congestion issues. Te widening of Highway are at risk of falling behind students in the rest of the 1 from 216 Street to 264 Street is in the design stage, province in their studies. with construction expected to begin in 2021. Tis will add As you can well imagine, parents are calling our ofces HOV lanes in each direction. One of the main sections and sharing their concerns in that regard. Government where there are long delays on Highway 1 is between 264 must step up to the plate, address these discrepancies and Street and 232 Street. I have waited in stop-and-go trafc require the Vancouver school board to amend its restart there many times. Tis project will reduce congestion but plan to comply immediately with the instructional time also put fewer cars on the road. It will make much more requirements under the School Act and provide full-time sense to carpool if folks are able to use HOV lanes all the instruction as soon as possible. Parents are asking for it; way from 264 Street through Burnaby. students are asking for it. Tis project will also add a new underpass at Glover I know that the minister has expressed her concern — Road and the CP Rail crossing. Anyone who has com- and we really appreciate that — but time is of the essence. muted down Highway 1 for any length of time has been Parents are looking at students who, they believe, need trapped because an overheight truck has hit this overpass. 25.5 hours of instruction and feel that they’re being short- I was once held up for 1.5 hours there. Te current project changed at this time. Tey are becoming much more vocal, from 216 Street to 264 Street is an important phase of the and of course, it very much adds to the anxiety of both par- government’s commitment to expand Highway 1 out to ents and students in regard to what impact it will have on Abbotsford. Tis will make a real and positive improve- their future. ment to the lives of Kirsten and many others from my con- No traditional graduations, probably, this year. Limited stituency. Tey’ll be able to spend more time with their sports teams. Restricted social interactions. It’s not the families and get the sleep that they desperately need. Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 323

Tese projects are also good for the economy. Goods particular I hear about on a near-daily basis. I’m speaking, will be more easily transported between communities in of course, about the Massey Tunnel, the aging seismically the Fraser Valley and Vancouver. Recently, the member unsafe structure that desperately needs replacing. for Chilliwack-Kent and I took a virtual tour of the new About 85,000 commuters continue to get stuck in grid- Molson brewery in Chilliwack. Tey’re strategically loc- lock every single day. Yet it’s not only commuters but also ated beside Highway 1 so that they can get their products our huge trucking industry, where we see hundreds of to market. Te widening of Highway 1 will make it much semi-trailers idling and creeping along every morning, easier for them to do this, and many other businesses will heading south, with only one lane open — goods that are beneft as well. Te time and fuel savings alone will be a heading for the U.S. border, B.C. Ferries, Delta container boon. terminals and Tilbury Industrial Park. Tey’re frustrated, Tere’s another project that will transform the region. and they’re running out of patience for a solution. Government is committed to investing in transit projects Tere was a time several years ago that drivers saw light that meet the needs of folks in the Fraser Valley. Tey’ve at the end of the tunnel when a plan was fnalized to made the Surrey-to-Langley SkyTrain a priority, and they replace the existing tunnel with a bridge. Te bridge would are working closely with TransLink, the Mayors Council not only provide a safer, smoother, more efcient and less and other partners to make it happen. Getting out of our congested ride for motorists, but it would fnally allow cars and onto transit will be a viable option for those of us for increased public transit, which would get even more in the Fraser Valley now. people moving along this corridor. What’s more, building Te best part of infrastructure projects is that they are a bridge rather than a brand-new tunnel has fewer envir- built under community beneft agreements. B.C. is experi- onmental impacts. encing a shortage of labour in the skilled trades. We know Environmental standards have changed dramatically we need to grow that, and we need to grow a diverse work- since the Massey Tunnel was built in the 1950s. In 2021, force to grow our economy. Community beneft agree- the idea of plunking a giant concrete tube into the Fraser ments are designed to ensure that spending on public pro- River doesn’t fy as it would have in 1959. Even Chief Ken jects results in public benefts. Tese are great for local eco- Baird of Tsawwassen First Nation openly voted against nomies, as they make sure that locals will be employed on a submerged tunnel at the Metro Vancouver mayors these projects, and these locals will spend their money in taskforce, citing harm to the marine life, especially salmon their local communities, helping local business to thrive. and sturgeon. Tere’ll be priority hiring and priority rehiring for local So the bridge project was ready to go. All of the engin- people, Indigenous communities, women and other tra- eering reports and environmental assessments had been ditionally underrepresented groups in the trades. Tere’ll done, and the alignment of the new bridge directly over be greater apprenticeship and skills training opportunities the existing Highway 99 and tunnel would have least on site as well. Tis can jump-start a career for someone impact to businesses, farmland and Deas Island Park. Ped- in the building trades. Tese projects will have safe work- estals to support the new bridge were all on land, with no ing conditions, be free of discrimination and harassment, part of the bridge structure touching the water. Prep work and ensure a culturally competent workforce. Because of at the site was well underway with several companies and CBAs, my constituents, along with the Fraser Valley thousands of jobs on the line and ready to roll. MLAs’ constituents, will beneft from these projects. Unfortunately, those bridge plans were cancelled in I know one particularly young woman from Chilliwack 2017, and it was sent back to square one — more studies, that this will help out. Her name is Sari, and she’s fnishing more consultation, more opinions, as we continue to wait up her grade 12 year at one of our local high schools. She for the release of a business case for an entirely new wants to be an equipment operator and work on projects replacement project. Back in the middle of December, the like the Highway 1 widening. CBAs will allow Sari and government said that it had that business case and would many young folks from Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley be reviewing it. Now, in March 2021, we’re still waiting for to do so. Tey’ll be able to make careers in the building a fnal decision on the fate of this aging structure, which trades, where they will earn good wages that they will be remains one of B.C.’s worst bottlenecks. able to support families with. I’m excited for young folks When discussing infrastructure projects in the era of like Sari. COVID-19, Ian Ius of the Daily Hive had this to say in Because of this government’s commitment to build May of last year. “Te federal government has made it clear infrastructure and transit projects, commuters like Kirsten that they will be allocating billions of dollars in stimulus and workers like Sari will have bright futures. money for the shovel-ready infrastructure projects nation- [10:30 a.m.] wide.” When it comes to shovel-ready, no project in the nation could ft this term better than the cancelled George I. Paton: Tank you to the member opposite for the Massey bridge project. All design work and environment- opportunity to speak to this very important issue, because al approvals had been completed, along with roughly in my riding of Delta South, there is one capital project in 324 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021

$100 million worth of technical studies, utility relocation, Te COVID-19 pandemic has served to reinforce this fact, preloading and the site preparation for the bridge piers. as one of the primary strategies that we have used to fght Before its cancellation, the lowest bid for the George this virus is simply to stay at home, wherever possible. Massey bridge project was $2.6 billion, a bargain com- However, it seems like, with each passing day, purchasing pared to the estimated $4 billion to $5 billion for the eight- a home in British Columbia — or even just fnding an lane immersed tube tunnel being proposed. If politics afordable place to live — feels further out of reach for could be put aside, resurrecting the George Massey bridge so many British Columbians. Te facts show clearly that project would be a win both in the short term and the long over the past four years, homes have gotten more expens- term for the people of B.C. ive throughout the province. Rents have gone up, and par- Te people of Delta South and all those living south of ticularly in this past year, the construction of new homes the Fraser continue to wait and wait. I should note that if has declined. the bridge plan had proceeded, it would have been close Recent reports have shown that this year the supply to completion by now, and with it would have come some of homes for sale has reached a 21-year low. Comment- additional benefts to the area — some new overpasses and ing on this fgure, the chief economist for the B.C. Real a major widening of Highway 99 leading up to the new Estate Association, Brendon Ogmundson, remarked: bridge. Yet here we are four years afer the bridge project “With so few listings, markets are starved for supply, and was scuttled with nothing to show for it. I should note that prices are under extraordinary pressure.” As our popu- the local MP in Delta recently told me that there haven’t lation grows, we haven’t been able to build the neces- been any requests from the province to the federal govern- sary housing to keep up. It is estimated that B.C. will add ment for funding of any kind of new crossing. approximately 60,000 new residents a year, requiring at I can’t stress enough that motorists have had enough. least 20,000 new homes. Tey’re simply tired of all of the stalling, literally and fg- Te only true way to address skyrocketing house prices uratively, and need action on this important capital pro- and accommodate future growth is to build more supply. ject now. Tat simply isn’t happening in B.C. right now. Somehow, the exact opposite is happening. Tis shrinking supply of D. Coulter: I’d like to continue talking about transport- homes is having dramatic impacts on afordability. Even ation infrastructure projects within the Fraser Valley. But prior to the last year and the impacts of the COVID-19 I would like to respond with something on the Massey pandemic, we were seeing this problem. Government bridge. Tey couldn’t fnd ground in the test piles. Tey needs to take this seriously, both on moving projects for- never completed the test piling. I know this because I ward and by working with every level of government to spoke with a pile driver. decrease red tape and get projects started. [10:35 a.m.] What does this mean to the average person? Tis means Improvements are coming to the Highway 7 corridor that they are going to have to work hard and long to make — safety enhancements. Tis includes a four-lane certain that they are able to fnd a way to being able to expansion with median barrier between Silverdale aford a home. A February report from the National Bank Avenue and Nelson Street near Mission, B.C. Tis will found that it will take an average household 34 years to help my constituents and constituents all over the Fraser save for a typical Vancouver home — 34 years. Tat’s an Valley access places like Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. incredibly long time, and it means that it is functionally Tere are ongoing intersection improvements along the impossible for someone living in Vancouver to even hope Haney Bypass in Maple Ridge. Tis will also contribute for owning a house before they are well into middle age. to safety in the region. Tis is the state of the housing market in B.C. Despite Tere’s been design and planning for the widening of what we may have been promised for the last few years, it Highway 7 between 266 Street and 287 Street in Maple looks like the trend is going to continue in a worrying dir- Ridge. Tere’s Highway 11 widening and the Vye Road ection. If we want to keep young people in our communit- overpass in between Mission and the city of Abbotsford. ies and allow for future growth across the province, we Tis will help my constituents access the West Coast need to see major changes and immediate, decisive action Express so that they have a transit option into downtown to build more supply. Only then can we make the dream of Vancouver. owning a home a reality for more people around B.C. [10:40 a.m.] HOUSING In addition to the challenges of afordability, a continu- ing housing issue impacting British Columbians is seen in B. Stewart: Today I am pleased to take the time to dis- the community of supportive housing. It is impossible to cuss an issue of concern to everyone in this province. Tat have a discussion about housing in our province without is of housing — both its growing unafordability and how talking about the importance of providing shelter to the we approach housing-related issues in our communities. most vulnerable in our communities. Tis is an area that Access to safe and afordable housing is absolutely vital. Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 325 has been dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 pan- Just a reminder to everybody at this time, as we’re back demic. in the House. Tank you, Members. Over the past year, we have seen the province attempt Over to the member for North Vancouver–Seymour. to cope with new challenges in this area. Instead, what we have seen is that the people that are most needing this are S. Chant: Tank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity not getting the wraparound supports required for these to speak to a very, very important subject. strategies to be successful and meet the needs of those I come to you from the unceded territories of the people. Instead, we have seen cases of extreme violence, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish today. some even tragically leading to death, yet there has been I am delighted to be able to speak a little bit about hous- little efort to improve the situation. ing. It’s one of the very few things that we actually all agree Providing people with a roof over their head is import- on. Every one of us recognizes that housing is desperately ant as a frst step, but it will not address the underlying important in everybody’s life. issues and be successful in the long run without being It is a major health determinant. It is a determinant as coupled with 24-hour wraparound supports and other to how well people do in the job market. If you’re living resources. In the past few years, we have rarely seen this in a Volkswagen van, it’s much more difcult to have the kind of comprehensive approach to housing. appropriate clothes on for your job. It’s very imperative to Te current minister responsible for housing even all of us to have safe and secure housing that we can aford admits that complex care like this is another level of sup- and that provides us with the supports that we need. port that is not widespread through the system. Even he We’ve got data all over the place. We’ve had lots of said that what is available today are low to medium sup- opportunities to read reports and everything else. Every ports, depending on the building. Well, it’s blatantly obvi- one of those data points represents a person. Tese are ous that we need much more than low to medium sup- people, and people are imperative. People are imperative ports to make these projects successful. to all of us in this House. We all want to work towards the Supportive housing is not something that can be done people having what they need. halfway. We cannot simply warehouse people with no sup- I had the opportunity last week to talk to a gentleman ports in the middle of communities that have not been who actually is living in our local homeless shelter. He had consulted and expect that everything is going to unfold moved here from Montreal because, actually, Vancouver smoothly and in the best interests of all involved, because and B.C. are safer and warmer. Tis is something that is it doesn’t work. part of our data set. We’ve got people moving in from all Tis type of approach is why we have seen so much frus- over the place to stay here because it’s safer and we have a tration and fear around supportive housing, especially in climate. Tese people are…. the past year. When supports are not provided and com- [10:45 a.m.] munities are not consulted, it only serves to drive divi- We are aware. Te government has been providing sion, reinforce stereotypes and breed opposition. Tis does opportunities for people to have somewhere. Tere has nothing to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in been a lot of work done in the Homes for B.C. plan. We’re society. working towards the goal of 114,000 homes being built In fact, it is those we are most trying to help who lose over the next ten years. out most when government fails to devote the necessary I know of a person who, a couple of years ago, told us resources to these housing projects. What it’s really come he’d won the lottery. I had the opportunity to work with down to is a lack of resources being dedicated to housing some folks. He’dwon the lottery. He was so excited. He had issues, despite them being so widespread and so integral to gotten a single room in a single-room-occupancy hotel. It the health of our society. was the frst time in his life that he had been anywhere that Whether it’s comprehensive, wraparound supports or he had his own bathroom — in his life — and he didn’t the funding and initiation of new housing developments, have to share a bathroom with somebody else, mostly non- we need to see more action around housing in British Col- family members and mostly people he didn’t know. umbia. Government cannot continue to talk about these Tese people are important. We understand that. We considerable issues while making very little efort to actu- need to do that work, and we’re doing that work. It’s in ally solve them. play. In B.C. housing, the market share is everybody’s dream. I so hear it from the member for Kelowna West. Deputy Speaker: Tank you, Members. Everybody dreams of owning a home. We need to make Just a reminder to everybody that this is private mem- that a possibility, and we’re doing things towards making bers’ time. If there is a desire to have the duke-it-out fghts that a possibility. of who did what, where and when, there is plenty of time We’ve looked at rent capping so that people can actually to do that in this House. Private members’ time is the time do some saving. We’ve looked at rental freezes so that we to discuss issues of interest to private members and not get can try and do some saving. We hear from our young. into partisan scraps. Tey want to be able to live in the communities that they 326 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021 grew up in. Let’s make that happen. Let’s see how we can munities. Te challenges facing supportive housing in make that work. We’ve got housing units coming together this province cannot be addressed as long as people fail in various diferent communities that are looking towards to admit that many of the current initiatives are failing multigenerational — accommodating our seniors, accom- and are not working. modating our young families, accommodating our folks [10:50 a.m.] that are not necessarily within the average defnition. We Tey’re not working for the individuals that need a roof are looking towards doing many, many diferent things. over their heads. Tey aren’t working for the surrounding Te speculation and vacancy tax. Tat brought much communities. From Paul’s Motor Inn to Strathcona Park to more housing onto the market to make it available for Maple Ridge to Penticton, we can identify clear problems renting. Good start. Much more to do. We recognize that. across the province. Tose problems can almost be entirely Tere are so many things that we can do, so many things attributed to the lack of a comprehensive wraparound set that we should do, so many things we could do. We will get of supports. It’s in everyone’s best interest to provide these on to some of those things and maybe all of those things. supports, yet in so many places, it’s just not happening. It’s However, we’ve got to work together. time to do better for everyone in our society, especially the I’m proud to be part of a government that is using most vulnerable. its heart, its mind and its feet to get this work done, to Tank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that in work together and work forward so that we can provide the coming months we’re going to see many discussions on the best opportunities for our folks. We can only do it this particular topic. by listening together, working together and providing together to meet the needs of our people. I appreciate RAINBOW CROSSWALKS IN LANGLEY this opportunity to speak. A. Mercier: One night in 1965, Everett George Klippert B. Stewart: Well, I think that this is an important issue. I had a knock on his door. It was the RCMP. Tere had been appreciate that the members opposite do have some opin- a fre, and they suspected arson. Mr. Klippert was new to ions, that they think that lots has been done on this. But the area, a mechanic who had only recently moved to the the evidence is showing that it’s clear that…. We may not Northwest Territories. He cooperated with the police, and see eye to eye, but when it comes to the approach, I know he answered all their questions until they were satisfed that we can both agree there are problems that desperately that Mr. Klippert wasn’t an arsonist. Tey ruled him out as need to be addressed. a suspect, but they arrested him anyway. Just so you know, a few weeks ago I was part of a Mr. Klippert was gay. Over the course of their ques- round table attended by more than 100 people, where tioning, investigators had learned that Mr. Klippert had we were discussing housing and transportation issues in had consensual sexual relations with four diferent men our province. Person afer person came forward to talk in the Northwest Territories. He’d ofered this information about the challenges around housing that they witness openly and honestly. He saw no reason to hide it. in their communities. Many specifcally mentioned the Under the Criminal Code of the day, the matter was supply as a major issue and brought forward ideas about clear. He was charged with four counts of gross indecency. decreasing red tape and encouraging more housing pro- Te court deemed him incurably homosexual and sen- jects throughout B.C. tenced him to indefnite detention as a sex ofender. He Everyone knows that the price and availability of hous- appealed his conviction to no less a court than the ing is a problem in our province, yet still, afer years of Supreme Court of . His appeal was dismissed. Te frequent discussions about housing afordability in this law had no remedy for Mr. Klippert. House, we have not seen much change or progress on that It wasn’t until 1967, two years afer his conviction, that front. I look forward to more on that from the minister in Mr. Klippert had any reason to hold out hope. In Novem- the coming session. ber 1967, an opposition Member of Parliament from Over the last few years, we’ve heard many times about Burnaby named rose in the House of how life is getting more afordable, yet the reality of the Commons to press the Justice Minister of the day on what situation never seems to be as simple. For as long as it he was going to do about this situation. Tat minister, continues to get more expensive to buy or rent homes in a rookie Member of Parliament named , B.C…. Tat’s one thing that the member opposite men- responded six weeks later with an omnibus bill decrim- tioned — that more rental was being created. Prices for inalizing homosexuality and famously declaring that the rent are going up astronomically as well. Afordability in state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation. general can never truly improve unless we make big Now, that was in 1968. Today we’re standing here in strides. It’s time to stop simply discussing the issue and for the B.C. Legislature in 2021, and we’ve come a long way government to fnally take the necessary steps to fx it. since then. We’ve institutionalized human rights through Additionally, we need to see more action to address the implementation of human rights codes and specialist the deepening problem of homelessness in our com- administrative tribunals. We’ve patriated the constitution, Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 327 with a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that entrenches are vocal, they are a small minority in our society. But equality rights. We have same-sex marriage now. they have been emboldened over the past years, and this In B.C., we established a Human Rights Commissioner is exactly why we need rainbow crosswalks right now. No to promote and advance human rights and created and one, let alone a child, should ever have to feel the social introduced curriculum on sexual orientation and gender isolation and hatred that Everett George Klippert felt. identity into our schools. Te crosswalk in Langley is a good start, but when it Yes, we’ve come a long way, but we still have a lot of comes to rainbow crosswalks, one is not enough. work to do. Te fact of the matter is that bullying and social isolation are still features of our society and our K. Kirkpatrick: Tank you to the member opposite. schools. It doesn’t do well to tell a teenager struggling with Tere are many things that we agree upon, and this is their identity that everything is okay now because we’re one of them. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to not going to put them in prison. speak in the House today on this international Zero Dis- Life is hard enough for young people to navigate, and crimination Day. that’s why public symbols like rainbow crosswalks are Te rainbow fag is a symbol of pride for LGBTQ+ more important than they’ve ever been. Tey are symbols people across the world. Te various colours refect the of tolerance and inclusion that let folks know that it is okay immense diversity and unity of this community. It’s an to be diferent. More than being okay, it lets them know expression of this community’s joy, beauty and power. But that they’re accepted and that they’re celebrated by their it’s more than just colours. A rainbow crosswalk is inten- community, that there is a safe space for them. ded to demonstrate a city’s commitment to inclusivity for Langley is getting a rainbow crosswalk, and it couldn’t all of its residents. It’s a visual representation that we are all come at a better time. Langley’s new rainbow crosswalk welcome. is the product of the hard work of school district 35 and countless individuals. Tis crosswalk will go between the [N. Letnick in the chair.] Langley school district building and the RCMP detach- ment, just minutes down the street from where I grew Canada has come a long way since the open celeb- up. ration of LGBTQ+ identities, seeing the community When the crosswalk was approved by council, the achieve signifcant milestones, such as equal rights and school district foundation wasted no time in raising the legalized marriage, as well as codifed protections money. It is going to cost $12,000 to paint this crosswalk. against discrimination. LGBTQ+ people should be able Te foundation and the incredible work of their executive to be who they are without harassment or attacks based director, Susan Cairns, have already raised that money. I on fear. People shouldn’t be judged for who they are, am so proud of the work that the foundation in the district who they love or how they express themselves. However, have done to make this happen. discrimination continues and is pervasive in this com- [10:55 a.m.] munity. It’s not only unethical, but it also entails sub- I’d like to take a moment, too, to acknowledge a friend stantive economic and social costs. of mine and a friend of many in the House. Paul Faoro, the We just celebrated Pink Shirt Day last week. It was a day president of CUPE B.C., was critical in helping to raise the to raise awareness of bullying in our schools, workplaces money. When CUPE heard that the foundation was col- and homes and on the Internet. It also serves as a remind- lecting donations for the crosswalk, they stepped up with er that LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to be bullied than a cheque for $6,000, half of the total, in a moving act of their peers are. Tis not only hampers their educational solidarity. achievements but also puts them at greater risk of depres- But crosswalks aren’t all rainbows and sunshine. As sure sion, substance abuse and suicide. as you can paint them, there are those who would oppose In particular, young people who experience homopho- them. While certain organized groups and individuals bia within their families or foster homes are ofen lef come to mind in the Fraser Valley, I won’t dignify them by without real support or care. Tey are disproportionately naming them in this House. Nor will I give them a plat- represented in the homeless community, made more dif- form for bigoted and toxic views. fcult by the lack of adequate LGBTQ+-friendly shelters Sufce it to say that there is a disturbing rise in hate and housing, as well as discrimination when looking for speech in this province. Tat alone is a reason to be paint- employment or accessing health and social services. Tese ing rainbow crosswalks. More than that, some of these young people are vulnerable, and they need our help. groups and individuals have the gall to claim that their As parents, we need to give our kids courage to stand up hateful views and homophobic and transphobic speech to their peers. We need to call out friends and relatives if attract human rights protection, that they are protected by they make homophobic comments. We need to encourage freedom of conscience or freedom of speech. Well, there is our children to report bullying, and we need to help them no human right to hate. fnd safe places in community and online. As individuals, Make no mistake. While those expounding these views 328 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021 we need to do our part to counter unconscious bias and Private Members’ Motions create a sense of belonging for the LGBTQ+ community. We also need to remember and support those organiza- MOTION 2 — GOVERNMENT tions doing support for the LGBTQ+ community, such as RESPONSE TO COVID-19 and its youth support programs, and events like the Pride parade and the Vancouver Dyke March. T. Wat: I rise today in the House to speak on the [11:00 a.m.] motion: Many of these organizations and celebrations can help [Be it resolved that this House support providing all British Col- to not only improve lives, but when it comes to LGBTQ+ umbians with the supports they need to cope with the COVID-19 people who have faced years of oppression and discrimin- pandemic.] ation, it can also help to save lives. It’s been almost a year since we frst gathered to debate As a society, we must continue to advocate for equal COVID support for B.C. communities, businesses and rights for the LGBTQ+ community. No one deserves to families. Over the last ten months, British Columbians be evicted, fred or denied accommodation and services have had to endure the many challenges that have come because of who they are. We must address the stigma, with this pandemic. social exclusion and hate crimes against members of the [11:05 a.m.] LGBTQ+ community and put in more efort to improve Government’s responsibility has been to not only lay out inclusion for all. the programs and supports to help our many businesses Rainbow crosswalks are an important reminder to us all and communities but to use the variable months since last to celebrate our diferences and to create an inclusive and March to review and revise our policy and programs — welcoming community, including our lesbian, gay, bisexu- recognize what is working and what isn’t working. al, transgender, queer and two-spirited friends. Let’s work Unfortunately, many of the grants and supports this together to build and foster a tolerant and accepting soci- government has put in place to help our businesses have ety for everyone to live in, in British Columbia. been encumbered by numerous obstacles and have created signifcant challenges for businesses trying to access the A. Mercier: I’d like to thank the member for West Van- promised supports. Rather than revise or overhaul failed couver–Capilano for her statement in support of rainbow programs such as the small and medium-sized business crosswalks in Langley. Rainbow crosswalks are a basic grants, this government has stubbornly steamed ahead, extension of human dignity and acceptance to vulnerable ignoring the many concerns expressed by thousands of teenagers and folks who need them. businesses across the province. Tey shouldn’t be remarkable. We shouldn’t be here Now, as we are fast approaching the deadline, this gov- having statements in this House about them, but the fact ernment has distributed a mere $21 million of the $300 of the matter is that right now they are. It’s the work of million in grant funds, money that was approved by all those who have made it possible to paint a rainbow cross- parties nearly a year ago back at the beginning of the walk in Langley that should be heralded: all of the trustees pandemic. Because of this, countless businesses have been and the staf at school district 35 and the hard work that forced to meet the incredible economic challenges of they’ve done; the donors — in particular, CUPE B.C. and COVID without any of the supports promised to them by their president, Paul Faoro — who’ve made it possible and this government. who’ve certainly sped up the process, with their donation; As the opposition critic responsible for Tourism, it has and Susan Cairns in the Langley School District Founda- been heartbreaking to see the impact this has had on one tion for doing the heavy lifing to make it happen. of our province’s most important sectors. Tourism has I can’t say enough about how proud I am of the work been one of the hardest-hit sectors of the pandemic. they’ve done and what it means for our community in Because of the travel restrictions, tourism operators are Langley. currently enduring another season without any of the pro- vincial or international tourism they rely on to earn reven- Hon. J. Whiteside: I call Motion 2 on the order paper. ue, to pay staf and to promote our beautiful province. Tra- gically, because of their unique business models and clas- Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, unanimous consent sifcations, they have also faced some of the biggest roadb- of the House is required to proceed with Motion 2 without locks when trying to access government supports. disturbing the priorities of the motions preceding it on the As noted in the December COVID-19 Tourism Impact order paper. Report, only 2 percent of tourism businesses reported being able to access the small and medium-sized business Leave granted. recovery grant. Te same report said that only 10 percent of businesses reported business as usual and that 62 per- cent reported they were operating with reduced hours, Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 329 staf and service. Te average loss of revenue for all frms back, until we have herd immunity. But right out of the in B.C. compared to the prior year was 40 percent. gate, we’ve been working closely with people in the music Te same can be seen in the hotel industry. industry because they were so impacted. Provincewide, hotels have a vacancy rate of 30 percent, Early on, I met with stakeholders of the music industry. which is a drop of roughly 60 percent from pre-pandemic As early as April 11, our government launched Showcase times. Yet hotels are still on the hook for rising property B.C., which is an online hub for creative content and taxes, despite having little to no revenue last year. Te streaming, and Creative B.C. provided 740 musicians with efects on the hotel sector alone mean that many of the micro grants through Amplify B.C. to support live stream- 60,000 jobs in that industry may never come back. ing for free events through Showcase B.C. Te government More widely, tourism is a $20 billion industry, but it lost is investing to help creative industries get back on their an estimated $16.8 billion last year. If business and tourism feet, maintain jobs for people and set them up for recovery. operators don’t receive the help they were promised soon, We were able to pivot the $7.5 million Amplify B.C. pro- many will be forced to close their doors for good. gram to stabilize and sustain the music industry. I hope this government will listen to the concerns of our In fact, we also reached out to the arts community gen- tourism operators and small business owners and overhaul erally. Arts, as we all know, have been incredibly hard hit our business grant program to get this money out of the by the pandemic. In fact, there’s a 32 percent decrease in door and into the hands of those who need it before it’s too performing arts. Tere has been relief right out of the gate. late. Afer consultations, there was $3 million of arts and cul- ture resilience supplementary for B.C. Arts Council and B. D’Eith: I would like to thank the member for Rich- $15 million to help with cash fow. Tis was very import- mond North Centre for the motion in regard to COVID ant. In fact, B.C. Arts Council also extended grant dead- supports. Today I’m going to talk about two areas. One is lines and allowed for fexibility. how important the public health measures were to really In the recovery, the StrongerBC program will have $21 ensure that we have a vital economic recovery in this million targeted for these programs. Tat’s $16 million in province. Also, how responding quickly with targeted pro- supplemental funding to organizations who receive annu- grams for relief and recovery has been very successful so al funding or project grants and $5 million to help arts and far. My focus today will be on arts, culture and the creative cultural organizations adapt to the challenges through the industries. Pivot Program. Tese are having results. We’re helping to [11:10 a.m.] pay operating costs, like rent and utilities; buying special- Early on in the pandemic, I was appointed by the Pre- ized equipment; helping people improve and pivot their mier to work with the minister assessing the needs of arts, art spaces; and helping people with their day-to-day culture and the creative industries. When re-elected, I was expenses. appointed as the frst parliamentary secretary for arts and We’re heard from people like Bard on the Beach. Claire flm with a mandate to help with the recovery of these sec- Sakaki, who’s the executive director, says: “Tese pro- tors. grams, together with the government’s broader supports, Now, as far as public health measures, they’re very will help us sustain vital arts programs.” Te arts infra- important to the recovery. We never actually closed con- structure program…. David Eddy from Vancouver Native struction or infrastructure, and because of strong public Housing Society says that they received $28,000 to pivot health measures, we were able to reopen our schools. Te and build a mobile live-stream studio to support Vancou- flm industry is a great example of how industries rebound ver’s urban and Indigenous communities. with strong public health management and policy. So the point is that we acted quickly. We responded. We Of course, flming in B.C. is one of the most desirable put relief measures in right away. We’re working extremely locations in North America. Tanks to the collaborative hard with the industries in arts, culture and the creative eforts between the B.C. motion picture industry, Creative industries to ensure that when we come back out of this B.C. and WorkSafeBC, B.C. was able to develop safety pandemic, we will recover stronger and better than before. guidelines to help the flm industry return to production safely. In fact, we had record-breaking production levels T. Halford: I’m pleased to respond to the motion to sup- this fall, and it looks like the winter will look just as prom- port providing all British Columbians with the help they ising. I was very fortunate to do a virtual tour of Martini need to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. For many, the studios in Langley, where they have the Snowpiercer set, past year has been the most challenging and unsettling in and it’s incredible to see how crews have adapted to the living memory. Our world has changed in so many ways COVID protocols. In fact, some of the protocols, like a since the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic. new 10-hour workday, will probably stay. We will be forever changed ourselves. On the fip side, within these sectors, some sectors [11:15 a.m.] haven’t been able to open. Music was one of the frst to Physical distancing can have a signifcant impact on get shut down and is going to be one of the last to come our mental health. Not only are we facing isolation from 330 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021 friends and family; we’re also anxious about our kids’ What we need is a plan that takes into consideration the schooling, impacts on elderly relatives, our jobs and, for complexities of mental health and addictions. Tat those who own small businesses, the possibility of closures includes ensuring that supports are there in whatever and losing our livelihood without proper supports to keep community people are living in, whether that is a home or people healthy and our economy moving forward. it’s temporary or permanent. I recently wrote to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions do not discriminate. Tey can grab hold of Addictions, asking for immediate investment in youth anyone from any background — our mothers, our fathers, mental health resources. Mental supports for young our sons, our daughters, our brothers and our sisters, our people were already inadequate prior to the pandemic, co-workers and our neighbours. It’s up to us to ensure that which has only amplifed the feelings of stress and isola- when this happens, we’re there to help in any way we can, tion, making it even more urgent to provide the necessary because everyone in B.C. has a right to a brighter future, prevention and treatment services. no matter what path they take to get there. According to B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth, the average wait time for youth to get mental health J. Sims: It is a pleasure to rise today and speak in the services can be two months. In some cases, it can be much House. I can say that afer the last year…. Let’s see. I’m longer. As a parent of three young kids, when you are not that apt at getting my mask of, obviously; I need a young person in crisis, a two-month wait-list is essen- more practise. tially saying there is no service at all. Failing to properly It is a pleasure to be back in the House, in the people’s address youth mental health will only lead to further tra- House, to be doing the people’s business. I can say that gedies which could have been prevented in the frst place. when I read this motion, “Be it resolved that this House Critically, those who already face mental health and support providing all British Columbians with the sup- addiction issues have struggled more than most, as sup- ports they need to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic,” I port systems or services have disappeared in the months thought: who in this House could disagree with that? Who of isolation. Not only are we facing a global pandemic; we in B.C. would disagree with that? are also in a second health crisis, one that, despite being [11:20 a.m.] called a state of emergency fve years ago, has just experi- Over the last year, every one of us in every corner of enced the deadliest year on record. this province, across this beautiful country and around Since March we have tragically seen a steady rise in the world has had our lives turned inside out, upside illicit drug overdose deaths. Te latest illicit drug over- down, outside in, whichever analogy we want to use. dose report demonstrates that no region in B.C. is unaf- We are facing a pandemic that has not been experienced fected, as deaths in each of the six B.C. health authorities by anybody in this room, no matter the year they were are either at or near their highest monthly level recor- born. Tese have been very, very challenging times, not ded. No community, no neighbourhood in British Col- just for us but across the country and, I would say, umbia is immune to this. around the world. Te current mental health and addictions strategy in As we look at this, what is the number one job of British Columbia is clearly not working. Tere is no path- any government, no matter where they are? Tat is to way to get people well in B.C., leaving those with addic- make sure that they support the people in the province, tions without the necessary support. Tere has never been in the country and around the world. And you know a time more pressing and urgent than now to dedicate what? In this province, for too long, we had the haves resources to ending the cycle of addiction. Tat involves and have-nots and also those who didn’t feel part of not only reducing the stigma for those using at home and being included. I’m so proud of the fact that the actions alone but ensuring there are meaningful investments made taken by government and, I would say, in agreement by into a pathway to recovery. all of us in this House working together…. What we have Tis government is ignoring the needs for a full spec- achieved is quite something. What we have achieved is trum of care, while the crisis continues to claim lives every providing support where it’s needed. day. Until British Columbians get to the point of having Have we flled all the gaps? Absolutely not. I think you programs available that are easily accessible, afordable would have to be far more than an idealist to think that and provincewide and that ofer a complete continuum anyone, whether they’re in health care, in government, in of care, from detox to treatment, and until we actually education — I always have to bring that up — or in any of address the roots of addiction, such as trauma or mental the other felds, has the answers for this. We don’t have the illness, we are never going to be able to turn the tide on answers, and we’re learning new things all the time. this addiction crisis. Tis COVID-19 and the variant have also taught us We simply cannot continue to wait for next month’s about the interconnectedness and that, as we support our to come in telling us that more families had to individual citizens — the youth, the elderly, those who are say goodbye to their loved ones who lost their battle with struggling with addictions, those who sufer from mental addictions. British Columbians need more than numbers. illness — at the same time, we have to keep our economy Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 331 moving. Tis is not about choosing one or the other. You nothing is easy to access, from waiting for hours on hold cannot have one without the other. We need to be doing to not hearing back from emails to the copious amounts of both. follow-up, paperwork and documents. Almost purposeful Tat is why I have been proud of the investments that barriers put in place to block the fow of help. have been done in supporting individuals fnancially as Tere are 215,000 people on income and disability they’ve been struggling through the recovery. And others assistance and the seniors supplement in this province. — giving tax breaks to businesses, giving non-refundable Now we fnd out that 107,000 of these British Columbians moneys to businesses, small, medium and large, unlike in are going to be automatically receiving the beneft. Tis times gone by when the biggest tax breaks, the biggest means that half of the people who had their income and handouts, went to the big international corporations. I disability assistance clawed back could not access the B.C. have been so happy to see the moneys leading out to small recovery beneft. and medium-sized businesses that are the backbone of our Tousands of persons with disabilities have gone more economy. Tey are the ones who employ people, and we than two months since their COVID income and disability have these jobs that keep our communities vibrant. assistance were cut in half by this government, and they’re When I bumped into my friend Surjit the other day out still anxiously waiting for their one-time payments to pay at a building site — we all are trying to do our work in dif- for food, rent and other necessities. ferent ways — he was telling me: “You know what? When COVID has been extremely impactful on persons living I sit down and talk with my friends, and I think the gov- with disabilities. Many have been isolated from support ernment….” He was talking about federal and provincial, networks that they rely on. Many are ofen immune com- and he mentioned us specifcally. He said: “You guys are promised and are incurring additional costs, from grocery doing an amazing job. You know, this is how much I have deliveries to additional care needed, because of COVID. received in support.” He said: “I cannot believe it, that in Many have either lost their jobs or been unable to work the middle of a health pandemic, the government is sup- due to risks to their own well-being. Because of the incred- porting us.” ible strain COVID has put on our health care system, Before I knew it, two or three others gathered around, many persons with disabilities have seen delays in care and and they were sharing similar stories. A father told me how treatment that they rely on. Every necessary trip for med- the availability of daycare has made it possible for them ical care now brings with it incredible risks. to survive during these very difcult times, because they Government has faced strong criticism for introducing could get their child into daycare. a lengthy application process that created considerable I absolutely agree with my colleague who spoke previ- barriers for British Columbians wishing to apply for the ously: there is no simple answer. Tere is no magic bullet beneft, despite already having much of this information or magic pill. Tis requires all of us working together, requested already on fle. It’s incredibly troubling that gov- interconnected, and making sure that we are there to lif ernment waited more than two months to automate the each other up during these challenging times. B.C. recovery beneft for persons with disabilities, espe- cially now that they have admitted that they’ve had the D. Davies: As we’ve heard over and over again, COVID capacity to do so all along. has brought unprecedented challenges to all of British Col- Additionally, Community Living B.C. paid out over $1 umbia’s communities. But it has hit some of B.C.’s most billion last year to service providers. CLBC is among the vulnerable members the hardest. COVID has isolated many service providers whose budget will run out in many from the support networks that they rely on, has March. Yet government has chosen to delay the next fscal kept many from working and has driven up the cost of liv- budget until April. ing considerably for all of us. What will budget delays mean for these groups? Will [11:25 a.m.] people in need of assistance see further cuts or delays to Rather than ofer additional supports to help those who the supports that they so dearly need? How are B.C.’s most need it the most, government has stripped away vital vulnerable supposed to meet the growing cost of living assistance and created signifcant barriers that have under these conditions? prevented many from receiving the help that they need. Average rent continues to skyrocket. Average house Te most vulnerable British Columbians saw their COV- prices in our province increased by 16 percent just last ID-19 emergency supplement cut in half. Tey were told to year. Government has struggled to get anything built. At apply for the $500 B.C. recovery beneft, but even those on their current pace, it will take more than 100 years to meet income assistance and disability assistance have had issues their promised housing target. It’s time for the government accessing the grant that was promised to them before to reinstate the income and disability assistance that they Christmas. More than two months since their cheques clawed back and re-evaluate how they plan to deliver the were promised, hundreds of thousands of British Colum- necessary supports to the British Columbians that need bians are still waiting for their one-time recovery beneft. them most. One thing that we’ve heard over and over again is that People are looking for help. People need help. Busi- 332 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021 nesses need our support. Industry needs an ally. People are helping to restore the House of Numst’ heritage building looking to government for this. But when all they get is in Bella Coola with a $995,000 grant. Hagensborg Centen- failure afer failure and backs turned on them, this hurts nial Pool is receiving a $990,000 grant to build a new pool everyone. and family-friendly change rooms. Government needs to be providing meaningful support On Haida Gwaii, in Skidegate, the Haida Gwaii that is easily accessed, not rattled with barriers. People Museum Society is receiving a $399,000 grant through and businesses alike need supports, and they need to have the First Peoples Cultural Council. Te heritage society is ready access to them. receiving a $472,000 grant for heritage centre upgrades. Te Saving Tings House is receiving a grant for museum J. Rice: Tank you to the member for Richmond North upgrades and repairs. Misty Isles Economic Development Centre for her motion. Providing British Columbians with Society is receiving a grant for an e-commerce project, the supports they need is exactly what we said we’d do as a $313,000 to promote online sales of artisanal products New Democrat caucus and is exactly what we are doing. from Haida Gwaii. [11:30 a.m.] For the Hartley Bay First Nation, the Gitga’at Develop- Tis past year has been such a tough year for everyone ment Corp. is receiving a grant for building energy ef- — individuals, families, small businesses and whole com- ciency and accessibility upgrades into their Prince Rupert munities throughout all of B.C. People are legitimately storefront. In Prince Rupert, the Prince Rupert waterfront concerned about their health and their livelihoods, so we airport ferry landing is receiving $1 million grant to devel- will continue to take advice from health ofcials like Dr. op a new multifaceted waterfront development, including Bonnie Henry. We will continue to bolster the front lines, a new marine terminal. Tourism Prince Rupert is receiving and we will continue to support families and businesses a $239,000 grant for a welcome and way-fnding signage through this next wave of the pandemic while we await improvement project and the Port Edward Historical Soci- more vaccines to arrive. ety, a $273,000 grant to preserve the national historic site Recall that the previous government focused on help- of North Pacifc Cannery. ing their wealthy donors and well-connected friends and Tese SERIP fund grants are just those announced in cut services for regular British Columbians. Te B.C. the North Coast. We’re providing grants in every corner recovery beneft will give people some fnancial help of B.C. We will continue to be responsive to the needs of during this difcult time, and the money in peoples’ people, businesses and communities to see them through pockets also benefts the local economies. As of last the pandemic and into a strong economic recovery that week, over two million people have received the beneft. supports all British Columbians. Individuals can apply to receive up to $500, and families can apply to receive up to $1,000. C. Oakes: On behalf of my constituents of Cariboo Our provincial vaccination plan is now underway and North, who are enduring considerable hardship during the is being distributed to all British Columbians who want current pandemic, I would like to ofer the following per- it as quickly and safely as possible, beginning with those spective on this morning’s motion. most at risk. We’ve made key investments in health care As the ofcial opposition critic for Advanced Educa- so that more patients receive treatment at home, and that tion and Skills Training, I’ve been engaging with stu- reduces hospital wait times. We’ve made investments in dents and their advocacy organizations, who have their mental health care to help people through the mental and own set of challenges as they attempt to get a fully roun- emotional tolls of this pandemic. ded education. We’re committed to training and hiring more doctors [11:35 a.m.] and nurses, and we’ve also taken signifcant steps to assist Post-secondary students have been deeply impacted by small and medium-sized businesses in weathering the eco- the COVID-19 pandemic. It is, therefore, essential that our nomic storm caused by COVID-19. New tax measures provincial government support students throughout these reward businesses for hiring and help them grow and unprecedented times. become more productive by making it easier for them to In May, it was revealed that 76 percent of students cited invest in equipment and machinery. fnancial concerns as their biggest challenge. As the pan- Te community economic recovery infrastructure pro- demic progressed, the reality is that we’ve seen that intern- gram, otherwise known as CERIP, provides fully funded ships, work programs, part-time and summer job oppor- provincial grants to support economic resilience, tourism, tunities have simply dried up. heritage and urban and rural economic development. Tis If you peel back another layer of just how badly students past week I was able to make numerous CERIP funding are feeling the crunch, approximately 50 percent of stu- announcements for my constituency in North Coast. In dents cited fnancial hardship in direct relationship to pay- the Central Coast, Bella Bella is receiving a $400,000 grant ing rent or accommodation. Housing expenses serve as for the Kunsoot Wellness Society to help with construction one of the largest expenses for students. Tey continue to costs of new infrastructure at their health centre. We’re take a large portion of student savings, student loan pay- Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 333 ments, part-time employment income and, in many cases, whose traditional territories I’m joining this meeting grocery allowance. today. At UBC for example, over 65 percent of graduate stu- [11:40 a.m.] dents experience severe fnancial hardship as a direct res- I also would like to take this opportunity to thank the ult of the high cost of housing. Te reason? It is because people of B.C., thank my constituents, for their many ges- all of the provincial housing support programs, such as the tures of kindness and the investments they’ve made in temporary rental support program, exclude student hous- themselves and each other during this challenging time. I ing and have done so since the start of COVID-19. think it has been extraordinary. It’s something that we’ve While the Residential Tenancy Act is responsible for come to expect as human beings, but it’s extraordinary establishing the rights and responsibility of tenants and every time you see the good that comes out of the people landlords, the statute is also used as an eligibility criteria as such a great challenge confronts us. item for support programs like the TRS. Efectively, the We’re all worried. All of us — all the people that we current standards of eligibility leave students out of these know, our families, constituents who come into our ofces programs, including policies such as the 2020 rent freeze. — are terribly worried about the impacts of COVID-19, As I indicated earlier, and I will be doing so later, fnan- not only on how they will be remediated immediately but cial hardships are becoming even more troubling as more the long-term efects as well. It’s made so clear to us, all and more students are losing their earning capacity and of us, that our economy was already unequal in its beneft also highly valuable work skills that they can use before this great challenge, and this pandemic has only throughout their active careers. served to amplify those vulnerabilities. Other programs, such as the Canada emergency student Tese are the areas of investment and attention that this beneft, amount to about…. It amounts to $750 a month. government has focused on during the pandemic. I think Tis beneft is signifcantly less than the more substantial the results speak for themselves. Tese are results that were Canada emergency response beneft, or CERB for short, built on a foundation that was laid in the beginning of this that can amount to $2,000 over a four-week period. government’s frst term, when they began investing with To make matters worse, only 41 percent of students are people. We invested in child care spaces, housing and edu- actually eligible for the Canada emergency student beneft. cation, so that people were prepared, as well as they could Tat is why 61 percent reported government fnancial aid be, for what has happened and also that the economy and is not enough to support them through their next academ- our institutions were prepared to weather this storm and ic year. Tis is not a promising outlook for the next gener- to come out stronger on the other side. ation who are eager to pursue their dreams. I can say that because we are investing in people. We are Along with all of the fnancial hardship comes the stress. taking the immediate steps to support and protect people’s I will be speaking throughout this session in greater detail health and their livelihoods, but we’re also making the on the efects the pandemic is having on the mental health kinds of investments that will help our province going for- of the student population. For those who are fnishing ward, long into the future. Te member for Peace River their degree this spring, the condition of the current eco- North…. I’m not sure about his math, but over two million nomy is rather grim. people have already been paid through the $1 billion It is my understanding that while the provincial gov- recovery plan, and 3.7 million people qualify overall. ernment’s Here2Talk has been set up since April, one Tese are extraordinary accomplishments. of the signifcant issues is that you get somebody dif- I’d also like to thank the public servants in this province ferent every time you call. What is needed is access to who have kept government going through this pandemic, multi-sessional counselling that can be both afordable that have kept not only the current programs of govern- and that you can access without having to wait at least ment going but have been asked to implement a variety eight weeks or longer. of new programs. Tey were extraordinary individually, Our students are key drivers of the research and innov- but taken all together, I think every British Columbian ation sector in our province. Tey are our future. Our suc- owes our public servants a huge debt of gratitude for what cess as a province emerging successfully post-pandemic they’ve been able to do. will be evaluated on just how well we invest in our students For our government, we’ve made key investments in and our future generation. health care that have allowed treatment at home, that have In conclusion, if students today cannot aford to con- reduced wait times and that are going to train and hire tinue with their education, consider: where will our future more doctors and nurses. In fact, from December 2019, entrepreneurs, our researchers, our scientists, our teach- before the pandemic, to December 2020, there was a 40 ers, our nurses — I could go on and on, but my time is percent increase in hip and knee surgeries. Tat’s an running out — come from? We need to be supporting our extraordinary accomplishment by everyone in the system post-secondary students. pulling together and patients being cautious about how they use the system. I think that’s been shown. We’ve kept D. Routley: I thank the Malahat First Nation, from the hospitals available to the people who have needed 334 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021 them, and people have done their best to stay healthy. I pandemic. Sadly, they are, of course, at risk of possible or thank them all for that as well. potential closure. We’re also investing in programs and tax credits that Businesses like this one have costs that are too much to increase and incent hiring and the purchase of new equip- bear during this trying time. In the case of C+ Rodeos, the ment and machinery that will make our businesses more cost is more than $100,000 a year for feed alone. Tis cost competitive. We’ve already put out a $10 billion COV- does not include any other costs with respect to their over- ID-19 response plan that’s made up of $5 billion in the head. Businesses like zoos, stock contractors, the aquar- COVID-19 action plan and the Stronger B.C. plan, $810 ium, guiding companies, ranches — they all have these million in partnerships between the province and the fed- fxed costs for feeding these magnifcent animals, and eral government in transit and with municipalities, $2.25 they’re doing it at a time when they’re unable to draw pay- billion in response and temporary relief, and $2 billion to ing tourism customers that would normally come from all the B.C. recovery supplement and these increased incent- over the province, country and, of course, the world. ives in the form of tax credits to more hiring. When you think of rodeo, you must recall the larger I know we’re all worried. My own daughter is a chef. rodeos in our province, such as Falkland, Cloverdale, She was impacted immediately, with the restaurant closing Armstrong and, of course, Williams Lake. Tese rodeos down. She is recovering, and she is back at it. So are the are worth millions and millions of dollars to the provincial people of B.C. We’re working together. Every one of us economy and, of course, help to support many of our local owes a debt of gratitude to the people that we represent communities. and to whom we owe that honour. My fear is that agrifairs and the dozens of rodeos around [11:45 a.m.] our province, like Quesnel, Bella Coola, Barriere, Clinton, Penticton, and of course many, many more throughout L. Doerkson: Good morning. As this is the frst day B.C., could genuinely be at risk of loss if we allow compan- back in session for 2021, I’m pleased to speak, on behalf ies like C+ Rodeos to fail because of lack of appropriate of my constituents of Cariboo-Chilcotin, in relation to the funding. We must reintroduce funding opportunities that following motion: “Be it resolved that this House support we have had in the past to support these companies to providing all British Columbians with the supports they allow them to make it through the coming months, which need to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.” will undoubtedly be the toughest months to get through, Coming from a part of the province that has been hit particularly afer surviving for the past year. especially hard by the pandemic, I can assure you that As the ofcial opposition, we’re therefore calling for many in the Cariboo-Chilcotin are in desperate need of loosening of the eligibility criteria, especially the rules support and assistance. requiring a 70 percent revenue drop in March of 2020; Before I begin, I’d like to acknowledge all of the health streamlining the application process, recognizing that gov- care workers, especially those at the Cariboo Memorial ernment already has most of the information it’s request- complex hospital and the 100 Mile District General Hos- ing from these businesses; approving applications faster — pital, who, of course, deserve our special thanks because the goal should be to approve the application in days, not they have been working almost non-stop since the out- weeks; and, of course, extending the expiry date out far break came to this province over a year ago. beyond the current deadline of March 31 as needed. Te same applies to lots of our other front-line workers As the rural development critic, I ask you all to join me who have headed into work every day regardless of the in supporting these unique businesses, like this one, that risk of COVID-19. I’m talking about, of course, our frst contribute to our economy but also contribute to the west- responders, such as police, volunteer frefghters, search ern heritage, sport tourism and, of course, the good times and rescue, and especially our grocery store workers, who of hundreds of thousands of us annually throughout the still head in to work every day armed with just a mask and entire province. a friendly approach to customers. So many businesses have struggled to continue to fght Deputy Speaker: Te Chair recognizes the member for through the challenges of COVID-19 and continue to fght Abbotsford-Mission. to survive these challenging times, businesses like C+ Rodeos, a company that provides stock for purposes of P.Alexis: Tank you, hon. Speaker, for this opportunity, bronc- and bull-riding at rodeo events throughout British albeit virtually, to speak to this motion. Columbia. C+ Rodeos is owned by Earl and Roy Call of I would frst like to acknowledge that I come to you 150 Mile House, British Columbia. As with so many in the from the unceded and ancestral territory of the Stó:lō business, C+ is one that has not operated now for an entire people, including Kwantlen, Leq’á:mel, Matsqui, Sema:th, year. Right now, of course, they face the agony of not sup- and Sq’èwlets territories. plying this type of entertainment to tens of thousands of [11:50 a.m.] people from all over the world for a second year due to the As we gather here today, there are over 4,000 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, with almost 8,000 Monday, March 1, 2021 British Columbia Debates 335 people under active public health monitoring, and over this motion today. Certainly, we’ve heard from members 1,300 have died. Tose are some stark numbers, but when on both sides of the House that there have been a range we read them, that’s all they really are: numbers, fgures, of programs and supports that have been rolled out over statistics. We’ve been living in the new normal of this pan- the course of this pandemic over the past year. Colleagues demic for so long and seen and heard so many updates of mine in ofcial opposition, certainly members of the from our hard-working elected ofcials and medical lead- Green caucus, were very proud to support the expenditure ers that we forget that every one of those numbers rep- for those supports to be there for British Columbians and resents a human being whose life has been turned upside to be there for those in need. down, or worse, lost to this terrible pandemic. But we’ve also heard this morning that there are many Our government knows this, and that’s why we’ve done gaps in these programs. Tere have been a number of so much to stem the tide. We have an aggressive immun- examples cited here this morning across a range of sup- ization plan designed to help the most at-risk amongst us ports for individuals where there are gaps, where we are frst. We’ve ofered a recovery beneft to ofer real fnan- calling on the government to step up and fll those gaps, cial help to British Columbians. We’re working tirelessly to to again make sure that everyone who needs the support is keep our students safe, from kindergarten to grade 12. We able to get the support. are connecting those who need mental health support to [11:55 a.m.] virtual help and programs. Specifcally, I want to address small business supports Trough StrongerBC, B.C.’s $1.5 billion economic here today. Businesses have been hit hard. Tey’ve been recovery plan, we continue to provide supports for busi- hit really hard in communities all across our province, nesses afected by the COVID-19 pandemic so that they particularly small businesses, particularly independent can reopen, adapt and grow. Even with these eforts, it’s operations. the people of British Columbia who have been asked to do Te Canadian Federation of Independent Business just even more. It’s the people of this province that have sac- last week put out their latest survey of the state of play of rifced countless family gatherings, birthdays, weddings, the small business community in British Columbia. Te funerals, nights out, school concerts, anniversaries, and so numbers are very startling. Tey confrm what we are all much more. Even a handshake at work or a hug at New hearing and seeing in our respective communities when it Year’s has been lost for so many through this lonely pan- comes to the viability of small businesses. demic. So 66 percent of small businesses are open. Tat means In my own work as an MLA, it has been the mental a third are not. Only 43 percent of small businesses right health toll of COVID-19 that I’ve seen impact my con- now are fully stafed. Tat’s a heck of a lot that aren’t fully stituents that has hit me the hardest, especially amongst stafed. It’s a lot of people not working. Only 34 percent of young people. As a former teacher and school trustee, my small businesses, at this moment, are enjoying what they heart has ached hearing their stories of isolation, loneli- would consider to be normal sales at this point in their cal- ness and, in some cases, outright despair. But I have hope endar. And 48 percent are worried about the survival of that the eforts of this government can alleviate this ter- their business. rible aspect of our new normal in some way and ofer some We learned last week that the average debt that a small light against this never-before-seen darkness. business is carrying in British Columbia has increased to $138,000. One in seven B.C. businesses is at risk of closing. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] One in seven. Tat is 25,000 businesses that, more import- antly, employ about 300,000 British Columbians across We’ve all heard the stories from people struggling in our this great province of ours. I would also like to shine a communities — loved ones lost, families separated, jobs bright light on this stat: 63 percent of these small busi- disappeared. Tis is a once-in-a-generation crisis and one nesses say that support from government is absolutely crit- that demands more than stif upper lips and digging deep ical to their survival, moving forward. from our citizens. COVID-19 demands the power of this On March 23 of 2020, this Legislature unanimously government. Otherwise, why are we even here? endorsed a package of supports, including $2.2 billion for As a government, we have a responsibility to remember business. Unfortunately, regrettably, the government did all those small and not-so-small sacrifces I mentioned not act quickly to support small businesses. It took fve, before. We have a duty of care to the people of this almost six months for the government to come out with province, not just the statistics. Acknowledging the unpre- their signature grant program, the small and medium- cedented nature of these times, I ofer my wholehearted sized recovery grant. Tey launched it one week before an support to this motion and urge all members to rally election campaign. We then were in an election campaign. behind our eforts to help as many British Columbians as Very few businesses knew that this grant even existed. possible. We fast-forward to and through the election. We fnd ourselves here in a session in December, pointing out to T. Stone: It is a great pleasure to stand and speak to the minister, pointing out to the Premier, pointing out 336 British Columbia Debates Monday, March 1, 2021 to the government…. Urging them to make changes to T. Stone moved adjournment of debate. this recovery grant program, the only grant program that the government has come out with for business. We said: Motion approved. “You’ve got to loosen up the eligibility criteria. You’ve got to streamline the application process. You’ve got to speed Hon. J. Whiteside moved adjournment of the House. up how quickly you can actually process the applications because small businesses are dying in communities around Motion approved. this province at the moment.” Te minister made some modifcations at the time. We Mr. Speaker: Tis House stands adjourned until 1:30 said they were not good enough. Fast-forward to today. p.m. this afernoon. We’re two months since that point, and countless busi- nesses are shutting their lights of and closing their doors. Te House adjourned at 11:59 a.m. More needs to be done. More needs to be done for indi- viduals, and a heck of a lot more needs to be done for small businesses to make sure that they survive this pandemic and come out the other side stronger than ever before. Hansard Services, Reporting and Publishing

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