3rd Session, 37th Parliament

OFFICIAL REPORT OF

DEBATES OF THE

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(HANSARD)

Thursday, October 10, 2002

Afternoon Sitting

Volume 8, Number 17

THE HONOURABLE , SPEAKER

ISSN 0709-1281

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871)

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Honourable Iona Campagnolo

3RD SESSION, 37TH PARLIAMENT

SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Claude Richmond

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Premier and President of the Executive Council...... Hon. Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations...... Hon. Greg Halsey-Brandt Deputy Premier and Minister of Education ...... Hon. Minister of Advanced Education...... Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries...... Hon. Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations...... Hon. Minister of Children and Family Development...... Hon. Gordon Hogg Minister of State for Early Childhood Development...... Hon. Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services...... Hon. George Abbott Minister of State for Community Charter...... Hon. Minister of State for Women's Equality ...... Hon. Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise ...... Hon. Minister of State for Deregulation ...... Hon. Minister of Energy and Mines...... Hon. Minister of Finance ...... Hon. Gary Collins Minister of Forests ...... Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Health Planning ...... Hon. Minister of Health Services...... Hon. Minister of State for Mental Health ...... Hon. Gulzar S. Cheema Minister of State for Intermediate, Long Term and Home Care ...... Hon. Minister of Human Resources...... Hon. Minister of Management Services...... Hon. Minister of Provincial Revenue...... Hon. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ...... Hon. Minister of Skills Development and Labour...... Hon. Graham P. Bruce Minister of Sustainable Resource Management...... Hon. Minister of Transportation...... Hon. Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection...... Hon.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Deputy Speaker...... John Weisbeck Leader of the Opposition ...... Joy MacPhail Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ...... Harold Long Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ...... E. George MacMinn Clerk Assistant ...... Robert Vaive Clerk Assistant and Law Clerk ...... Ian D. Izard Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees...... Craig H. James Clerk Assistant/Committee Clerk...... Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms...... A.A. Humphreys Director, Hansard Services ...... Anthony Dambrauskas Legislative Librarian...... Joan A. Barton Legislative Comptroller ...... Peter Bray

Published by British Columbia Hansard Services, and printed under the authority of the Speaker by the Queen's Printer, Victoria. Rates: single issue, $2.85; per calendar year, mailed daily, $298. GST extra. Agent: Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E7. Telephone: (250) 386-4636. Fax: 386-0221. www.legis.gov.bc.ca/hansard

In addition to printed transcripts, Hansard Services publishes transcripts on the Internet and broadcasts Chamber debates on television.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING

Abbott, Hon. George (L) ...... Shuswap Abbotsford-Clayburn...... Hon. John van Dongen Anderson, Val J. (L)...... Vancouver-Langara Abbotsford–Mount Lehman ...... Hon. Michael de Jong Barisoff, Hon. Bill (L)...... Penticton–Okanagan Valley Alberni-Qualicum...... Gillian Trumper Bell, Pat (L)...... Prince George North Bulkley Valley–Stikine ...... Dennis MacKay Belsey, Bill (L)...... North Coast Burnaby North...... Richard T. Lee Bennett, Bill (L) ...... East Kootenay Burnaby-Edmonds...... Bhullar, Tony (Ind L) ...... Surrey-Newton Burnaby-Willingdon...... John Nuraney Bloy, Harry (L)...... Burquitlam Burquitlam ...... Harry Bloy Bond, Hon. Shirley (L)...... Prince George–Mount Robson Cariboo North ...... John Wilson Bray, Jeff (L)...... Victoria–Beacon Hill Cariboo South ...... Walt Cobb Brenzinger, Elayne (L) ...... Surrey-Whalley Chilliwack-Kent ...... Brice, Susan (L) ...... Saanich South Chilliwack-Sumas ...... Bruce, Hon. Graham P. (L)...... Cowichan-Ladysmith Columbia River–Revelstoke...... Wendy McMahon Campbell, Hon. Gordon (L)...... Vancouver–Point Grey Comox Valley ...... Hon. Stan Hagen Cheema, Hon. Gulzar S. (L) ...... Surrey–Panorama Ridge Coquitlam-Maillardville ...... Richard Stewart Chong, Ida (L)...... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Cowichan-Ladysmith ...... Hon. Graham P. Bruce Christensen, Tom (L) ...... Okanagan-Vernon Delta North...... Reni Masi Chutter, Dave (L) ...... Yale-Lillooet Delta South...... Valerie Roddick Clark, Hon. Christy (L) ...... Port Moody–Westwood East Kootenay ...... Bill Bennett Cobb, Walt (L) ...... Cariboo South Esquimalt-Metchosin...... Arnie Hamilton Coell, Hon. Murray (L) ...... Saanich North and the Islands Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...... Hon. Rich Coleman Coleman, Hon. Rich (L) ...... Fort Langley–Aldergrove Kamloops ...... Hon. Claude Richmond Collins, Hon. Gary (L)...... Vancouver-Fairview Kamloops–North Thompson ...... de Jong, Hon. Michael (L)...... Abbotsford–Mount Lehman Kelowna–Lake Country...... John Weisbeck Falcon, Hon. Kevin (L) ...... Surrey-Cloverdale Kelowna-Mission ...... Hon. Sindi Hawkins Hagen, Hon. Stan (L) ...... Comox Valley Langley ...... Hon. Lynn Stephens Halsey-Brandt, Hon. Greg (L) ...... Richmond Centre Malahat–Juan de Fuca ...... Brian J. Kerr Hamilton, Arnie (L)...... Esquimalt-Metchosin Maple Ridge–Mission ...... Hansen, Hon. Colin (L) ...... Vancouver-Quilchena Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ...... Ken Stewart Harris, Roger (L)...... Skeena Nanaimo...... Mike Hunter Hawes, Randy (L) ...... Maple Ridge–Mission Nanaimo-Parksville...... Hon. Judith Reid Hawkins, Hon. Sindi (L)...... Kelowna-Mission Nelson-Creston...... Blair F. Suffredine Hayer, Dave S. (L) ...... Surrey-Tynehead New Westminster ...... Hon. Joyce Murray Hogg, Hon. Gordon (L)...... Surrey–White Rock North Coast ...... Bill Belsey Hunter, Mike (L) ...... Nanaimo North Island...... Rod Visser Jarvis, Daniel (L)...... North Vancouver–Seymour North Vancouver–Lonsdale...... Hon. Katherine Whittred Johnston, Ken (L)...... Vancouver-Fraserview North Vancouver–Seymour...... Daniel Jarvis Kerr, Brian J. (L)...... Malahat–Juan de Fuca Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...... Krueger, Kevin (L)...... Kamloops–North Thompson Okanagan-Vernon ...... Tom Christensen Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ...... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Okanagan-Westside...... Hon. Rick Thorpe Lee, Richard T. (L)...... Burnaby North Peace River North ...... Hon. Richard Neufeld Lekstrom, Blair (L)...... Peace River South Peace River South ...... Les, John (L) ...... Chilliwack-Sumas Penticton–Okanagan Valley ...... Hon. Bill Barisoff Locke, Brenda (L) ...... Surrey–Green Timbers Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain...... Karn Manhas Long, Harold (L) ...... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Port Moody–Westwood...... Hon. Christy Clark MacKay, Dennis (L)...... Bulkley Valley–Stikine Powell River–Sunshine Coast...... Harold Long McMahon, Wendy (L)...... Columbia River–Revelstoke Prince George North...... MacPhail, Joy (NDP) ...... Vancouver-Hastings Prince George–Mount Robson...... Hon. Shirley Bond Manhas, Karn (L) ...... Port Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Prince George–Omineca...... Paul Nettleton Masi, Reni (L) ...... Delta North Richmond Centre...... Hon. Greg Halsey-Brandt Mayencourt, Lorne (L) ...... Vancouver-Burrard Richmond East ...... Hon. Linda Reid Murray, Hon. Joyce (L)...... New Westminster Richmond-Steveston ...... Hon. Geoff Plant Nebbeling, Hon. Ted (L) ...... West Vancouver–Garibaldi Saanich North and the Islands ...... Hon. Murray Coell Nettleton, Paul (L)...... Prince George–Omineca Saanich South...... Neufeld, Hon. Richard (L)...... Peace River North Shuswap...... Hon. George Abbott Nijjar, Rob (L)...... Vancouver-Kingsway Skeena...... Roger Harris Nuraney, John (L) ...... Burnaby-Willingdon Surrey-Cloverdale ...... Hon. Kevin Falcon Orr, Sheila (L) ...... Victoria-Hillside Surrey–Green Timbers ...... Penner, Barry (L)...... Chilliwack-Kent Surrey-Newton ...... Tony Bhullar Plant, Hon. Geoff (L) ...... Richmond-Steveston Surrey–Panorama Ridge...... Hon. Gulzar S. Cheema Reid, Hon. Judith (L)...... Nanaimo-Parksville Surrey-Tynehead ...... Dave S. Hayer Reid, Hon. Linda (L) ...... Richmond East Surrey-Whalley ...... Elayne Brenzinger Richmond, Hon. Claude (L) ...... Kamloops Surrey–White Rock ...... Hon. Gordon Hogg Roddick, Valerie (L)...... Delta South Vancouver-Burrard...... Lorne Mayencourt Sahota, Patty (L)...... Burnaby-Edmonds Vancouver-Fairview...... Hon. Gary Collins Santori, Hon. Sandy (L)...... West Kootenay–Boundary Vancouver-Fraserview ...... Ken Johnston Stephens, Hon. Lynn (L) ...... Langley Vancouver-Hastings ...... Joy MacPhail Stewart, Ken (L)...... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Vancouver-Kensington...... Stewart, Richard (L)...... Coquitlam-Maillardville Vancouver-Kingsway...... Rob Nijjar Suffredine, Blair F. (L)...... Nelson-Creston Vancouver-Langara...... Val J. Anderson Sultan, Ralph (L)...... West Vancouver–Capilano Vancouver–Mount Pleasant...... Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Thorpe, Hon. Rick (L)...... Okanagan-Westside Vancouver–Point Grey ...... Hon. Gordon Campbell Trumper, Gillian (L)...... Alberni-Qualicum Vancouver-Quilchena...... Hon. Colin Hansen van Dongen, Hon. John (L) ...... Abbotsford-Clayburn Victoria–Beacon Hill...... Jeff Bray Visser, Rod (L)...... North Island Victoria-Hillside...... Sheila Orr Weisbeck, John (L)...... Kelowna–Lake Country West Kootenay–Boundary...... Hon. Sandy Santori Whittred, Hon. Katherine (L) ...... North Vancouver–Lonsdale West Vancouver–Capilano ...... Ralph Sultan Wilson, John (L)...... Cariboo North West Vancouver–Garibaldi ...... Hon. Ted Nebbeling Wong, Patrick (L)...... Vancouver-Kensington Yale-Lillooet ...... Dave Chutter

Party Standings: Liberal 76; New Democratic 2; Independent Liberal 1.

CONTENTS

Thursday, October 10, 2002 Afternoon Sitting

Routine Proceedings

Page

Introductions by Members...... 3863

Introduction and First Reading of Bills ...... 3864 Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), 2002 (Bill 63) Hon. G. Bruce

Statements (Standing Order 25B)...... 3864 Tourism in the Kootenays W. McMahon MLA and staff weight-loss contest B. Kerr Education facilities in Burns Lake area D. MacKay

Oral Questions...... 3865 Drug costs J. MacPhail Hon. C. Hansen Hon. S. Hawkins Deregulation in resource industries B. Belsey Hon. K. Falcon Hon. R. Neufeld Student achievement J. Les Hon. C. Clark Lobbyists registry and drug costs J. MacPhail Hon. C. Hansen Prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome S. Orr Hon. L. Reid

Motions on Notice...... 3868 Reappointment of Health Committee (Motion 42) Hon. G. Collins

Reports from Committees ...... 3869 Special Committee to Appoint a Chief Electoral Officer R. Hawes

Motions without Notice...... 3869 Appointment of Harry Neufeld as chief electoral officer R. Hawes

Second Reading of Bills ...... 3869 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 3), 2002 (Bill 62) Hon. G. Collins

3863

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002 Hon. B. Barisoff: Today it's a great pleasure to in- troduce Alberta's Revenue minister, the Hon. Greg The House met at 2:03 p.m. Melchin, who has flown here from snowy Alberta. With him as staff today is the deputy minister, Robert Bhatia, and the executive assistant Glenn Shepherd. Introductions by Members Could the House give them a warm, B.C. welcome.

Hon. G. Halsey-Brandt: Joining us in the gallery R. Nijjar: It's my pleasure to introduce three guests this afternoon is Consul General Ian Kydd. Ian has of mine here today — three young British Columbians been the consul general of the United Kingdom at Van- from the University of Victoria: Edrina Kumar, a UVic couver since March of 1998. He's also served this past political science student; Ms. Parvinder Sahota, a year as dean of the large and dynamic Consular Corps graduate of political science from the University of of British Columbia. Under his leadership, the profile Victoria who plans to go into law school; and last but and the impact of the corps continue to grow. Ian's not least, my cousin Nick Nijjar, also a student at the time with us was capped off in grand fashion with the University of Victoria doing psychology. It especially visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to British Co- brings me pleasure to introduce my cousin, because it's lumbia on the weekend. one of the few times I can be sure that my last name is Consul General Kydd is in Victoria to say goodbye, pronounced properly in the House. That's very nice. as he will soon be travelling to his next posting in New Would everybody in the House please make the guests Delhi. However, I know Ian and his family are avid welcome. skiers, and he assures me that they'll be back very soon to enjoy Whistler's world-class skiing. Will the House Hon. C. Hansen: Earlier today government mem- please join me in wishing Ian and his wife, Louise, all bers and one opposition member joined the B.C. Phar- the best in their new posting. macy Association for a very interesting and informa- [1405] tive luncheon. Some of the members of the B.C. Phar- macy Association and others who were at that lunch Hon. C. Clark: I am delighted today to introduce are in the gallery today: Linda Gutenberg, president of two friends who are in the gallery: Ken Lee, whom I've the B.C. Pharmacy Association; Geoff Squires, past known since I was about 13 years old — that's a friend- president; Bob Kucheran, who is the CEO; Ian Max- ship of about 16 years, I guess — and his wife, Sharon, well, the CEO of Peoples Drug Mart; Wendy Mays, the from Nanoose Bay. I hope the House will please make director of pharmacy at Shoppers Drug Mart; and them welcome. Brenda Osmond, who is the deputy registrar at the College of Pharmacists of B.C. Would the House please B. Belsey: I have the pleasure of introducing a cou- make them welcome. ple of constituents and now friends that live in the Bella Coola Valley, Kathy Nylen and Brian Roe, who M. Hunter: It's my pleasure to introduce two people have joined us today. We've had a number of meetings. who have dragged themselves away from the centre of I would like the House, if they would, to join me in Vancouver Island — Nanaimo — to join us today. Would making them welcome. the House please welcome Frank and Ann Graves.

Hon. S. Bond: I am delighted to have with us today I. Chong: Visiting us today is another grade 11 class a group of students who were working with me over from another excellent school in the riding I represent, the lunch-hour as we were beginning to discuss and and they are from Lambrick Park Secondary School. plan the on-line strategy for British Columbia. I'm very These 22 students are honour students, and they are pleased today to have students in the House with us, accompanied by their teacher, Mr. Stu Barber, and an- and I am pleased to say that my colleagues in the Sur- other adult, Mrs. Barbara Bhalla. Would the House rey caucus would be happy to welcome them, as well, please make them all very welcome. because they come from the SFU Surrey campus. [1410] I am pleased to introduce Ian Buckley, who is in his final year of pursuing his bachelor of science degree in K. Krueger: I'd like to introduce the member for interactive arts; Marie-Claude Lavoie, in her third year Powell River–Sunshine Coast. [Laughter.] of interactive arts at the SFU Surrey campus; Erika Glover, a fourth-year student; and Robin Johnson, a H. Long: Thank you for the recognition in this second-year student. Accompanying them today is House. I really appreciate it. Joanne Curry, the director of Simon Fraser University's Today from Powell River I have some really good Surrey campus, and — no stranger to the House — people here with me, some of my main supporters, Wilf Hurd, who is the director of government relations people that have been with me right through my cam- for SFU. They did a great job presenting to me today. paign and who, in fact, were instrumental in getting I'm excited about working with them. Please join me in me nominated for this job. I don't know whether I'm making them welcome today. going to compliment them or not for that. I'd like to

3864 BRITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002 introduce to the House a good friend, David Formosa, Statements his son Trevor, his son Ryan and Ray Formosa, who is (Standing Order 25B) a brother here in Victoria. I also have Victor and Lucy Formosa, the mom and dad of David here, and we wel- TOURISM IN THE KOOTENAYS come them. As well, we have Mary and Charlie Spiteri, visiting us from Australia, here in the House. I'd really W. McMahon: I rise today to speak about some- appreciate it if you'd make them welcome. thing very near and dear to my heart, about an indus- try that has absolutely no limits to how large it can Mr. Speaker: Been taking lessons from the Minister grow, how far it can go and how many businesses and of Labour, I see. job opportunities it can create in the best region of our beautiful province and particularly in my constituency. Introduction and [1415] First Reading of Bills The region I speak of is the Kootenays. The con- stituency I represent is Columbia River–Revelstoke. WORKERS COMPENSATION The industry I'm referring to is tourism. AMENDMENT ACT (No. 2), 2002 Every year there is a growing volume of traffic en- tering this province from Alberta and the eastern prov- inces. People come to British Columbia not only from Hon. presented a message from Her the Prairies but from the Pacific Northwest and beyond Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled to experience the B.C. Rockies and the Kootenays as a Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), 2002. whole. They come to hunt, fish and hike. They come to Hon. G. Bruce: I move that Bill 63 be introduced golf and mountain bike. They come with skis over their and read a first time now. shoulders to explore the back country and challenge the fresh powder at our many mountain resorts. Motion approved. There are a number of resorts in my riding that are expanding considerably, but it is not just the resorts. It Hon. G. Bruce: I'm pleased to introduce the Workers is tourism generally that is growing. The industry is Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), 2002. You don't investing countless dollars in tourism for no other rea- know how pleased I am to be presenting that today. son than they believe in British Columbia. They believe This legislation replaces Bill 56, Workers Compensa- in the business climate we have created in this prov- tion Amendment Act (No. 2), 2002, which was introduced ince, and they believe they will receive a return on their May 30, 2002. As a response from worker advocates and investments. the employer community has resulted in several changes This region is undiscovered by many simply be- to that bill, I have brought this second revised bill to the cause it is not easy to access. We must open the House. This bill amends the Workers Compensation Act Kootenays to the world and make it easy for tourists to to reform the system's appeal processes and structures. come to Kimberley, Golden, Invermere and Revelstoke. The amendments illustrate our commitments to making We need to upgrade the Trans-Canada Highway and the workers compensation system more responsive to make it safer for all travellers. We need to improve our workers and employers alike. airport accessibility by expanding the Cranbrook Air- The bill will reduce the levels of review and appeal port so that we can attract many charters. We are work- of Workers Compensation Board decisions from three ing hard on both these projects, and we will succeed. to two. Limits will be set on the length of time an in- We also need to work together to spread the word jured worker must wait for a final decision. This about our tourism opportunities. We need people from change will ensure a final decision is given within 15 the East and West Kootenays to get together and take a months, about half the average time it takes to move Team Kootenay approach to attract more investors and through the current system. more tourism from other regions. British Columbia has The bill will establish an internal review function at all the tools to be a North American leader in the tour- the board to provide timelier reviews of initial decisions. ism industry, and it is because of the hard work, the It will also establish a new appeal tribunal independent dedication and the belief of people in the Kootenays of the Workers Compensation Board. This tribunal that we will be number one. serves as the final level of appeal for workers and em- Before closing, I would like to take this opportunity ployers on the majority of workers compensation mat- to invite everyone to come and experience my part of ters. It will make WCB policy, as set by the board of di- the world. Come to the Kootenays and experience the rectors, binding on the workers compensation system. very best that we can offer. I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House MLA AND STAFF WEIGHT-LOSS CONTEST after today. B. Kerr: It's my pleasure today to rise and give the Bill 63 introduced, read a first time and ordered to results of a matter that's been weighing heavily on a be placed on orders of the day for second reading at number of our members over the past three months — the next sitting of the House after today. a bad pun — and that, of course, is the contest we

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002 BRITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3865 started last July to see if we could not only get our- Lake. This small rural school has a student population selves in better shape but also lose some weight. As of about 150 students. The event was well attended by you know, we're trying to get our fiscal house in order school board officials, parents, grandparents, current in the province, and I thought maybe we should also and past teachers. The school was a treat to view, and get ourselves in physically better shape. Studies have all the students who attended were proud of the new shown that people who are in better condition rely less school. on the health care system. They have more energy. One of the young students in his address to the They have a better sense of well-being and are more crowd mentioned that he was in his final year at this alert. new school, and what was really exciting to him was I'm really pleased to say that this challenge was that when he left this new elementary school, he would taken up by most of the members and a number of the be going to another new school. This other new school staff, and it was a tremendous success. People were of which the student speaks is called the Lakes District coming up to me through the summer, even though it's high school. I am proud to tell this House that this new barbecue season, and were telling me how much better high school is being built as I speak so as to address the they felt. needs of the students as they progress through the Well, the weigh-in was today, and hundreds of school system. pounds were lost collectively. There was an average of Those are but two new schools being built in the about ten pounds to 11 pounds a member. To throw Burns Lake area, but I'm not finished yet. In addition to out a good statistic, we are 5.63 percent leaner than we the new schools, we are also doing renovations to the were last July. College of New Caledonia, which will enhance post- secondary education in Burns Lake. So when someone An Hon. Member: So are our paycheques. [Laugh- claims we are not living up to our promises made dur- ter.] ing the election, I ask you to refer them to Burns Lake and see what we are doing there. We are doing what B. Kerr: Possibly we should have taken our wallets we said we would do, and that was to protect funding out of our pockets before we got weighed. to education to ensure our students receive the best I would like to say that although there is going to education possible. Our students and educators de- be only one prize-winner, one person with the brag- serve nothing less. ging rights, everybody's a winner in this situation be- cause they all feel better. It's a matter of changing of Mr. Speaker: That concludes members' statements. lifestyles. Just from the results and things that people are telling me, we all feel better. Oral Questions I have now kept you in suspense long enough. The envelope is here, and the winner of this contest is our DRUG COSTS member for Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows. Mr. Speaker, if I could just say one more thing. The J. MacPhail: All across the province seniors are staff also got involved, and Heather James from Sus- bracing themselves for January 1, when the Liberals tainable Resource Management won from the staff end. start kicking seniors off Pharmacare. Yesterday the Minister of Health admitted that he had considered EDUCATION FACILITIES putting generic drugs out to open bidding, like Sas- IN BURNS LAKE AREA katchewan, but he decided to implement income test- ing instead. Did the Minister of Health ever consider D. MacKay: I'd like to start off by using a quote that option before deciding to kick seniors off Phar- that is quite frequently used by the member for Peace macare? River North: "More good news." During the election we committed as a government to protect the funding Hon. C. Hansen: I would suggest to the member for health care and education. Have we lived up to that she perhaps listen a little more closely to the an- those commitments? Not only have we protected the swers in question period. What I said yesterday was funding to the health care system; we have increased that we are in the process now of actively considering a funding by $1.1 billion. tendering process for generic drugs. We're considering a whole range of initiatives to make sure that our An Hon. Member: Billion. Pharmacare system is, in fact, sustainable for the fu- ture. When you have costs rising at 14 percent to 18 D. MacKay: Billion dollars. Thank you. And yes, percent a year, that is not a sustainable system. So we we have protected the funding to education in spite of are taking the initiatives to make sure that the Phar- the declining enrolments. It is about the funding to macare system will be there for seniors throughout the education that I wish to address this chamber. province this year, next year and ten years from now. [1420] Anybody that tries to argue otherwise is spreading On Thursday, October 3, I attended the grand myths and rumours and spreading fear among seniors, opening of Decker Lake Elementary School, which is a which is a great disservice to the seniors of this popula- small community school located just west of Burns tion.

3866 BRITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002

Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a them very detailed, complex kinds of options — that supplementary question. Pharmacare is looking at. We're considering all kinds of options. J. MacPhail: There are many things that this gov- ernment has been trying to consider in terms of options Interjection. available, but they decided first to kick seniors off Pharmacare before considering any other option. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order. I wonder whether the minister has considered ap- plying the open bidding process to the brand-name Hon. S. Hawkins: There was a host of participants drugs that are available. For instance, if you could ac- that presented to the panel. In fact, if the opposition tually apply the open bidding process to brand-name had wanted to present, there was an opportunity to do drugs, one could save $20 million in, for instance, anti- that. I don't recall that this member or the other mem- depressant drugs. One could save another $12 million ber presented to the panel. If she had such good in applying it to another category of drugs. Did the ideas… minister consider any of those options before kicking seniors off Pharmacare? Interjection.

Hon. C. Hansen: No one will be kicked off Phar- Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Let us hear the answer macare — not a senior, not a child, not a mother, no from the minister, please. one in this province. We have a Pharmacare system in this province that applies to every single British Co- Hon. S. Hawkins: …in the last ten years, I wish she lumbian, and every single British Columbian will con- had brought them forward, because what we're trying tinue to be eligible for Pharmacare benefits. We will to do is fix a Pharmacare program that they messed up. make sure that it's not just benefiting the rich more, as We're trying to make it fair, sustainable and one that's was the structure under their government, but it is there for seniors not only today but into the future. structured to benefit everybody proportional to their ability to pay. DEREGULATION [1425] IN RESOURCE INDUSTRIES When it comes to brand-name pharmaceuticals, the member knows very well that there is something in B. Belsey: My question today is to the Minister of Canada, by federal government structure, called the State for Deregulation. patent drug review board, which ensures that we get Over the past decade B.C. has lost thousands of jobs much better pricing in Canada than really any other and millions of dollars in investment due to unneces- nation in the world but, in particular, compared to the sary regulations and red tape. In the New Era docu- pricing in the U.S. ment, the government committed to reducing regula- Yes, I guess the short answer to the member is that tions and red tape by one-third over the next three we're looking at all of those options in terms of ensur- years. ing sustainability in our Pharmacare system. Can the Minister of State for Deregulation tell us what progress has been made to fulfil this commitment? Mr. Speaker: The Leader of the Opposition has a further supplementary. Hon. K. Falcon: That's correct. As you know, we made that commitment because we recognized that J. MacPhail: This government has sat on a secret over the previous decade in particular, there had been panel report on options available to reduce the cost of an explosion of regulation and red tape in the province Pharmacare — a range of options. It's a secret report of British Columbia that crippled industries like min- that they refuse to release. Just in the last two days the ing and forestry. We also recognized that there was a opposition has presented available options to this min- cost associated with that, which was estimated to be in ister now that could save $60 million to $70 million. excess of $5 billion annually. Will the minister table the government's secret We're working to try and bring about what we call Pharmacare option report today so that seniors can "smart tape," where we can eliminate regulations that know what's available to them? Will the minister also don't make any sense, so that we can improve the reveal what meetings he has had with the industry in the competitive environment in British Columbia. I am last few months to talk about the future of Pharmacare? pleased to say that as of the end of our last quarterly Did he reveal the secret panel report to the industry? report, we eliminated over 9,000 regulations so that we Did he have his staff brief the industry on what's in that can focus on competitiveness, restore British Columbia report? What did the industry advise him he should do prosperity and, most importantly, do it while protect- as a result of them seeing the secret report? ing the important public values of public safety, health and the environment. Hon. S. Hawkins: There was a panel that was chaired by George Morfitt, who was the auditor of this Mr. Speaker: The member for North Coast has a province. There is a whole range of options — some of supplementary question.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002 BRITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3867

B. Belsey: My supplementary question is to the school, where parents hold the majority. They will set Minister of Energy and Mines. goals for improvement based on their results year after The oil and gas industry has the potential to play a year. We've launched the grad requirements review, significant role in communities along the north coast. which we'll be making decisions about early in the new However, excessive red tape and regulation has hurt year so that we can make sure the education we are the growth of this sector over the last ten years. delivering to children in British Columbia meets Can the Minister of Energy and Mines tell us what world-class standards and puts them on a footing to steps have been taken to reduce the burden of unneces- compete anywhere on this globe. sary regulations on the oil and gas sector? [1430] Mr. Speaker: The member for Chilliwack-Sumas has a supplementary question. Hon. R. Neufeld: It's just more good news. It does- n't matter how you look at it; it's more good news. The J. Les: The government has recently proposed, as Ministry of Energy and Mines has streamlined a lot of well, that grade 10 courses be included in graduation regulations to make it easier for the oil and gas indus- requirements, making the graduation program three try to be able to invest in British Columbia while pro- years instead of the previous two. Can the minister tell tecting the environment — very good things. In fact, us how this change is intended to improve the quality the Ministry of Energy and Mines has reduced regula- of education for students? tions, needless red tape, by over 1,100 pieces. That's 1,100 pieces of useless regulation gone. Hon. C. Clark: Currently, our grad program is just When I was at home just recently in the great town grades 11 and 12. That means that in two short years, of Fort St. John, in the Peace River country, there was we're asking graduates to cram their entire program an oil and gas conference. There were people there into a short period of time. We're proposing to ex- from all over North America in the oil and gas indus- pand that so that they have three years to start think- try, and they commented constantly on how the reduc- ing about what it is they would like to do with their tion in red tape and taxes has made British Columbia futures, get them focused a little bit earlier, get them an investment haven again. We're going to see the planning a little bit earlier. Our economy in British growth from that. Columbia is starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel — 88,000 new jobs created since December, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT over two million British Columbians working for the first time in the history of our province. We have an J. Les: My question today is to the Minister of Edu- obligation as a government to make sure our educa- cation. Last week British Columbians were astounded tion system is preparing every British Columbia stu- to learn that nearly 29 percent of grade 10 students in dent as well as we can to take full part in our econ- British Columbia do not meet the reading skill levels omy. that would normally be expected at their level. Now, bear in mind that these were grade 10 students, so this LOBBYISTS REGISTRY was a situation that took ten years to evolve. In light of AND DRUG COSTS that startling and unacceptable result, can the Minister of Education tell us today what she is doing to improve J. MacPhail: The New Era document — NED, as this unacceptable situation? we like to refer to it — promised that this Liberal government would put in place a lobbyists registra- Hon. C. Clark: For the last 15 months our govern- tion act. The opposition asked for it eight months ment has been focused squarely on improving student ago, six months ago, three months ago. We still don't achievement, on making sure that we improve the have a lobbyists registration act. If it were in place quality of education that's delivered to children in Brit- today, as promised, seniors might know who has the ish Columbia. Now, when we announced the founda- minister's ear in the drug industry. The Minister of tion skills assessment results last week, we talked Health Planning wasn't forthcoming earlier when I about some successes too. First, children are doing well asked the question, but maybe the Minister of in the areas of numeracy and writing. We've estab- Health Services agrees he shouldn't wait for his own lished an excellent trend in numeracy, but yes, there government to dilly-dally and pass the Lobbyists are some issues with respect to reading. Registration Act. What we've done is appointed an achievement task [1435] force that will travel the province, define a common Come clean. To the Minister of Health Services: measure of achievement, think about how we can do who did he meet with from the pharmaceutical indus- better, look across the country and across the world for try, and what advice did they give him when they saw best practices and import those to British Columbia. the Pharmacare options report? Was it the drug indus- We've signed accountability contracts, one with every try's idea to kick seniors off Pharmacare? district, where they benchmark their success, and we hold them accountable for that success every year. Hon. C. Hansen: It is exactly that kind of fearmon- We've created school planning councils, one at every gering that is frightening seniors around this province.

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Interjections. to reduce the number of babies born with fetal alco- hol. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order. Let us hear the answer. [End of question period.]

Hon. C. Hansen: I think the member is being totally Motions on Notice irresponsible when she spreads that kind of fear among seniors in this province. REAPPOINTMENT OF I have met with representatives of the drug manufac- HEALTH COMMITTEE turing industry. I've met with the generic industry. I have met with the Pharmacy Association. I have not shown Hon. G. Collins: I move Motion 42 in my name on them any confidential information or any secret reports. the order paper to recharge the committee on health. [That the Select Standing Committee on Health be Interjection. empowered to examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to responses to the Hon. C. Hansen: I would like to tell the member Committee's Report to the House on December 10, 2001 that some of the most constructive ideas have come entitled "Patients First" and those reports relating to from the B.C. Pharmacy Association in terms of the health care and its delivery that have been published since the Committee reported to the House. submission they made to us last year with very con- In addition to the powers previously conferred upon the structive ideas in terms of how to make sure that our Select Standing Committee on Health this present pharmaceutical program, our Pharmacare program, is session, the Committee shall be empowered: sustainable into the future so it is there for seniors to- (a) to appoint of their number, one or more morrow, the year after and the next generation. subcommittees and to refer such subcommittees any Speaking of the lobbyist act, I think it's really quite of the matters referred to the Committee; hypocritical for this member to criticize us for the time (b) to sit during a period in which the House is it takes to bring in a lobbyist registration act, when she adjourned and during any sitting of the House; had ten years to do it. (c) to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient;

(d) to retain such personnel as required to assist the Mr. Speaker: The member for Victoria-Hillside has Committee; the floor. and shall report to the House by December 13, 2002; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the PREVENTION OF Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative S. Orr: My question is to the Minister of State for Assembly.] Early Childhood Development. September 9 was Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Day. Fetal alcohol spec- Mr. Speaker: Please proceed. trum disorder can result in problems such as poor mental health, substance abuse and limited success in [Interruption.] education and employment opportunities. Can the Minister of State for Early Childhood Development Mr. Speaker: We'll just pause for a moment. We'll tell us what steps the government is taking to reduce pause for a moment while the galleries are cleared. the incidence of this disorder? [1440]

Hon. L. Reid: We have some amazing individuals Interjections. on the ground across this province delivering a build- ing blocks program. A building blocks program is all Mr. Speaker: Order, please. about mentoring for individuals who have children The House regrets the disturbance. It seems to have who have special needs. The mentoring aspect of that been removed. program will, indeed, reduce the number of babies The question in front of us is Motion 42, moved by born with FAS in our province, which is an incredibly the Government House Leader. complex disorder and one that requires, I believe, an incredibly compassionate response. We are doing that Motion approved. today. In terms of reducing the incidence of fetal alcohol Hon. G. Collins: By leave, I move that the Select in the province of British Columbia, there are three Standing Committee on Health be composed of Mmes. times in the life of an individual when they should Roddick, convenor; Brice and Sahota; Messrs. Bray, not drink — three times: when they're under-age, Cobb, Harris, Hawes, Johnston, Long and Suffredine; when they're driving and when they're pregnant. If and Ms. MacPhail. that message were to be more readily available across Mr. Speaker, I expect that when that committee this province, we collectively will have done our best goes out and does what it's going to do, which is listen

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002 BRITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES 3869 to the people of British Columbia and discuss the vari- The committee itself was tasked with selecting a ous reports that are out there, the member from the new chief electoral officer. It is an all-party committee, opposition will have the opportunity for the first time and its recommendations have been unanimous. We in ten years, as well, to listen to what the people of Brit- received many applications from very qualified indi- ish Columbia have to say about health care. viduals and interviewed many who had excellent cre- dentials. Mr. Neufeld, however, stood out above the Leave granted. rest, and it is him that we have recommended today. I am informed by the Clerk's office that this has Motion approved. been the least costly selection committee process that they are aware of. That's primarily due to the excellent Reports from Committees work done by staff and all of the committee members from both sides of the House. I'd like to offer my per- R. Hawes: Hon. Speaker, I have the honour to pre- sonal thanks to Craig James and his staff and to each of sent a report of the Special Committee to Appoint a the committee members for a job well done. Chief Electoral Officer. I move that the report be taken as read and received. Motion approved.

Motion approved. Hon. G. Collins: I call second reading of Bill 62, the R. Hawes: I ask leave of the House to suspend the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 3), 2002. rules to permit the moving of a motion to adopt the report. Second Reading of Bills

Leave granted. MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT (No. 3), 2002 R. Hawes: I move that the report be adopted. Hon. G. Collins: I move that Bill 62 be now read a Motion approved. second time. The British Columbia Railway Act is amended to Motions without Notice remove from B.C. Rail and any of its subsidiaries the statutory obligation to provide passenger services on R. Hawes: I ask leave of the House to permit the any of its rail lines. This is in accordance with their moving of a motion to request the Lieutenant- approved service plan, which went through the Legis- Governor to appoint Mr. Harry Neufeld the chief elec- lature earlier this year. toral officer for the province of British Columbia. The Employment and Assistance Act and the Em- ployment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Leave granted. Act are amended to clarify that the minister has the authority to prescribe forms. The acts are also amended APPOINTMENT OF HARRY NEUFELD to deter people from quitting or refusing suitable em- AS CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER ployment without just cause or being fired with cause and then applying for assistance. R. Hawes: I move that this House recommend to The transition amendment to the Employment Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor the appointment Standards Act is a housekeeping measure to ensure of Mr. Harry Neufeld as statutory officer of the Legisla- that wage complaints filed before the new employment ture to exercise the powers and duties assigned to the standards legislation took effect are treated under the chief electoral officer for the province of British Co- old rules. lumbia pursuant to the Elections Act. The amendments to the Escheat Act will reduce the [1445] number of orders-in-council required by the act and Mr. Speaker, I'd like to introduce this House to Mr. streamline the decision-making process by replacing Harry Neufeld. He's somewhere in the gallery today. the need for orders-in-council with ministerial orders. He brings 20 years of experience in electoral manage- The amendment to the Freedom of Information and ment to the position of chief electoral officer. He's held Protection of Privacy Act ensures that the substance of several senior-level positions in three electoral man- deliberations of cabinet and its committees is protected agement bodies: Elections B.C., the United Nations and from release under the act as was originally intended. Elections Canada. In addition, Mr. Neufeld worked as The clarification that committees of the executive coun- an electoral management consultant with the Canadian cil include committees that have some non-cabinet Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and with vari- members is necessary to maintain the integrity of the ous international organizations and electoral agencies cabinet committee system. around the globe. All committee members are very There are two amendments to the Highway Act. confident that Harry will be able to contribute effec- One amendment removes the statutory provision that tively to the ongoing tradition of excellence established only the Ministry of Transportation can fund arterial by his predecessor, Mr. Robert Patterson. highway construction and maintenance. This is in ac-

3870 BRITISH COLUMBIA DEBATES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002 cordance with the ministry's approved service plan as dressed in the act are now funded through traditional well. budgeting and other legislative arrangements. The second amendment to the Highway Act and The amendment to the Vancouver Charter provides the consequential amendment to the Municipalities a specific property tax exemption for the British Co- Enabling and Validating Act (No. 3) relieves the city of lumbia Cancer Agency branch at premises on West Vancouver from the statutory obligation to seek the 10th Avenue in Vancouver, to the extent that the prop- approval of the Minister of Transportation for zoning erty is occupied by the British Columbia Cancer bylaws affecting lands adjacent to controlled-access Agency branch and used for cancer research and chari- highways. table purposes. This legislation is supported by the city A housekeeping amendment is being made to the of Vancouver and fulfills a government commitment to Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act to correct the the B.C. Cancer Foundation. The amendment will al- reference in that act. low the B.C. Cancer Research Centre to use funds for The amendment to the Ministry of Transportation research, not for property taxes. and Highways Act is also housekeeping in nature and I know that these items will be debated at length allows for the effective operation of provisions of the and voted upon, most likely, in committee stage. With act dealing with contract arbitration. that I move second reading. The Motor Vehicle Act amendment establishes that a person who is issued an administrative driving pro- Motion approved. hibition for failing an alcohol breath test or refusing an alcohol breath test does not have the right to cross- Hon. G. Collins: I move this House do now ad- examine any person during an oral review requested journ. I'm sorry. I apologize. I gave the Clerk a heart by that person. attack. The amendment to the Public Guardian and Trus- I move that the bill be referred to a Committee of tee Act is twofold. Firstly, it is to relieve the public the Whole House for debate at the next sitting of the guardian and trustee from the requirement to arrange House after today. for periodic, independent evaluations of the effective- ness of the four adult guardianship acts. Significant Bill 62, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act portions of each of the four acts remain unproclaimed. (No. 3), 2002, read a second time and referred to a Prof. Albert McClean released his report in February Committee of the Whole House for consideration at the 2002, which reviewed the effectiveness of the Represen- next sitting of the House after today. tation Agreement Act. Further review would duplicate the costs and effort of work that's already completed. Hon. G. Collins: I would have been the second [1450] person to do that, but probably for different reasons. I Secondly, it is to eliminate the Public Guardian and move that this House do now adjourn. Trustee Advisory Board, as recommended by the core review and deregulation task force on September 17, Hon. G. Collins moved adjournment of the House. 2002. Elimination of the board is consistent with gov- ernment streamlining and deregulation. Motion approved. The Special Appropriations Act is repealed. The act is no longer required, as the six program purposes ad- The House adjourned at 2:52 p.m.