Fourth Session, 40th Parliament

OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(HANSARD)

Th ursday, May 28, 2015 Morning Sitting Volume 27, Number 6

THE HONOURABLE , SPEAKER

ISSN 0709-1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) PROVINCE OF (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871)

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable , OBC

Fourth Session, 40th Parliament

SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Linda Reid

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Premier and President of the Executive Council ...... Hon. Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing ...... Hon. Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ...... Hon. Minister of Advanced Education ...... Hon. Minister of Agriculture ...... Hon. Minister of Children and Family Development ...... Hon. Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development ...... Hon. Minister of Education ...... Hon. Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review ...... Hon. Bill Bennett Minister of Environment ...... Hon. Minister of Finance ...... Hon. Michael de Jong, QC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations...... Hon. Steve Th omson Minister of Health ...... Hon. Dr. Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacifi c Strategy and Multiculturalism ...... Hon. Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour ...... Hon. Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business ...... Hon. Minister of Justice ...... Hon. Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation...... Hon. Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ...... Hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ...... Hon.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Leader of the Offi cial Opposition ...... Deputy Speaker ...... Douglas Horne Assistant Deputy Speaker ...... Raj Chouhan Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ...... Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ...... Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees ...... Kate Ryan-Lloyd Sessional Law Clerk ...... Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ...... Gary Lenz ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING

Anton, Hon. Suzanne (BC Liberal) ...... -Fraserview Abbotsford-Mission ...... Simon Gibson Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal)...... Penticton Abbotsford South ...... Dr. Darryl Plecas Austin, Robin (NDP) ...... Skeena Abbotsford West ...... Hon. Michael de Jong, QC Bains, Harry (NDP) ...... Surrey-Newton Alberni–Pacifi c Rim ...... Scott Fraser Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ...... Cariboo-Chilcotin Boundary-Similkameen ...... Linda Larson Bennett, Hon. Bill (BC Liberal) ...... Kootenay East Burnaby–Deer Lake ...... Kathy Corrigan Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) ...... Peace River South Burnaby-Edmonds ...... Raj Chouhan Bing, Dr. Doug (BC Liberal) ...... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Burnaby-Lougheed ...... Jane Jae Kyung Shin Bond, Hon. Shirley (BC Liberal) ...... Prince George–Valemount Burnaby North ...... Richard T. Lee Cadieux, Hon. Stephanie (BC Liberal) ...... Surrey-Cloverdale Cariboo-Chilcotin ...... Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) ...... Vancouver–West End Cariboo North ...... Hon. Coralee Oakes Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...... Burnaby-Edmonds Chilliwack ...... John Martin Clark, Hon. Christy (BC Liberal) ...... Westside- Chilliwack-Hope ...... Laurie Th roness Coleman, Hon. Rich (BC Liberal) ...... Fort Langley–Aldergrove Columbia River–Revelstoke ...... Norm Macdonald Conroy, Katrine (NDP) ...... Kootenay West Comox Valley...... Don McRae Corrigan, Kathy (NDP) ...... Burnaby–Deer Lake Coquitlam–Burke Mountain ...... Douglas Horne Dalton, Marc (Ind.) ...... Maple Ridge–Mission Coquitlam-Maillardville...... Selina Robinson Darcy, Judy (NDP) ...... New Westminster Cowichan Valley ...... Bill Routley de Jong, Hon. Michael, QC (BC Liberal) ...... Abbotsford West Delta North ...... Wm. Scott Hamilton Dix, Adrian (NDP)...... Vancouver-Kingsway Delta South...... Vicki Huntington Donaldson, Doug (NDP) ...... Stikine Esquimalt–Royal Roads ...... Maurine Karagianis Eby, David (NDP) ...... Vancouver–Point Grey Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...... Hon. Rich Coleman Elmore, Mable (NDP) ...... Vancouver-Kensington Fraser-Nicola...... Jackie Tegart Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ...... Port Coquitlam Juan de Fuca ...... John Horgan Fassbender, Hon. Peter (BC Liberal) ...... Surrey-Fleetwood Kamloops–North Th ompson ...... Hon. Dr. Terry Lake Fleming, Rob (NDP) ...... Victoria–Swan Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ...... Hon. Todd Stone Foster, Eric (BC Liberal) ...... Vernon-Monashee Kelowna–Lake Country ...... Hon. Norm Letnick Fraser, Scott (NDP) ...... Alberni–Pacifi c Rim Kelowna-Mission ...... Hon. Steve Th omson Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ...... Abbotsford-Mission Kootenay East ...... Hon. Bill Bennett Hamilton, Wm. Scott (BC Liberal) ...... Delta North Kootenay West ...... Katrine Conroy Hammell, Sue (NDP) ...... Surrey–Green Timbers Langley...... Hon. Mary Polak Heyman, George (NDP) ...... Vancouver-Fairview Maple Ridge–Mission ...... Marc Dalton Hogg, Gordon (BC Liberal) ...... Surrey–White Rock Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ...... Dr. Doug Bing Holman, Gary (NDP) ...... Saanich North and the Islands ...... Leonard Eugene Krog Horgan, John (NDP) ...... Juan de Fuca Nanaimo–North Cowichan ...... Doug Routley Horne, Douglas (BC Liberal) ...... Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Nechako Lakes ...... Hon. John Rustad Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) ...... Surrey-Panorama Nelson-Creston ...... Michelle Mungall Huntington, Vicki (Ind.) ...... Delta South New Westminster ...... Judy Darcy James, Carole (NDP) ...... Victoria–Beacon Hill North Coast...... Jennifer Rice Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) ...... Esquimalt–Royal Roads North Island ...... Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) ...... Nanaimo North Vancouver–Lonsdale ...... Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Kwan, Jenny Wai Ching (NDP) ...... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant North Vancouver–Seymour ...... Jane Th ornthwaite Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal) ...... Shuswap Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...... Dr. Andrew Weaver Lake, Hon. Dr. Terry (BC Liberal) ...... Kamloops–North Th ompson Parksville-Qualicum ...... Hon. Michelle Stilwell Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) ...... Boundary-Similkameen ...... Pat Pimm Lee, Richard T. (BC Liberal) ...... Burnaby North Peace River South ...... Letnick, Hon. Norm (BC Liberal) ...... Kelowna–Lake Country Penticton...... Dan Ashton Macdonald, Norm (NDP) ...... Columbia River–Revelstoke Port Coquitlam ...... Mike Farnworth McRae, Don (BC Liberal) ...... Comox Valley Port Moody–Coquitlam ...... Linda Reimer Martin, John (BC Liberal) ...... Chilliwack Powell River–Sunshine Coast ...... Nicholas Simons Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ...... Prince George–Mackenzie Prince George–Mackenzie ...... Mungall, Michelle (NDP) ...... Nelson-Creston Prince George–Valemount ...... Hon. Shirley Bond Oakes, Hon. Coralee (BC Liberal) ...... Cariboo North Richmond Centre ...... Hon. Teresa Wat Pimm, Pat (BC Liberal) ...... Peace River North Richmond East ...... Hon. Linda Reid Plecas, Dr. Darryl (BC Liberal) ...... Abbotsford South Richmond-Steveston ...... Polak, Hon. Mary (BC Liberal) ...... Langley Saanich North and the Islands ...... Gary Holman Popham, Lana (NDP) ...... Saanich South Saanich South ...... Lana Popham Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ...... Surrey-Whalley Shuswap ...... Greg Kyllo Reid, Hon. Linda (BC Liberal) ...... Richmond East Skeena ...... Robin Austin Reimer, Linda (BC Liberal) ...... Port Moody–Coquitlam Stikine ...... Doug Donaldson Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ...... North Coast Surrey-Cloverdale ...... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Robinson, Selina (NDP) ...... Coquitlam-Maillardville Surrey-Fleetwood ...... Hon. Peter Fassbender Routley, Bill (NDP) ...... Cowichan Valley Surrey–Green Timbers ...... Sue Hammell Routley, Doug (NDP) ...... Nanaimo–North Cowichan Surrey-Newton ...... Harry Bains Rustad, Hon. John (BC Liberal) ...... Nechako Lakes Surrey-Panorama ...... Marvin Hunt Shin, Jane Jae Kyung (NDP) ...... Burnaby-Lougheed Surrey-Tynehead ...... Hon. Amrik Virk Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ...... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Surrey-Whalley...... Bruce Ralston Simpson, Shane (NDP) ...... Vancouver-Hastings Surrey–White Rock ...... Gordon Hogg Stilwell, Hon. Michelle (BC Liberal)...... Parksville-Qualicum Vancouver-Fairview ...... George Heyman Stilwell, Dr. Moira (BC Liberal) ...... Vancouver-Langara Vancouver–False Creek ...... Stone, Hon. Todd (BC Liberal) ...... Kamloops–South Th ompson Vancouver-Fraserview ...... Hon. Suzanne Anton Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal) ...... West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Vancouver-Hastings ...... Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal) ...... Vancouver–False Creek Vancouver-Kensington ...... Mable Elmore Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal) ...... West Vancouver–Capilano Vancouver-Kingsway...... Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ...... Fraser-Nicola Vancouver-Langara ...... Dr. Th omson, Hon. Steve (BC Liberal) ...... Kelowna-Mission Vancouver–Mount Pleasant ...... Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Th ornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) ...... North Vancouver–Seymour Vancouver–Point Grey ...... David Eby Th roness, Laurie (BC Liberal)...... Chilliwack-Hope Vancouver-Quilchena ...... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Trevena, Claire (NDP) ...... North Island Vancouver–West End ...... Spencer Chandra Herbert Virk, Hon. Amrik (BC Liberal) ...... Surrey-Tynehead Vernon-Monashee ...... Wat, Hon. Teresa (BC Liberal) ...... Richmond Centre Victoria–Beacon Hill ...... Weaver, Dr. Andrew (Ind.) ...... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Victoria–Swan Lake...... Rob Fleming Wilkinson, Hon. Andrew (BC Liberal) ...... Vancouver-Quilchena West Vancouver–Capilano ...... Yamamoto, Hon. Naomi (BC Liberal) ...... North Vancouver–Lonsdale West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ...... Yap, John (BC Liberal) ...... Richmond-Steveston Westside-Kelowna ...... Hon. Christy Clark

Party Standings: BC Liberal 48; New Democratic 34; Independent 3

CONTENTS

Th ursday, May 28, 2015 Morning Sitting

Page

Routine Business

Introductions by Members ...... 8849

Tributes ...... 8851 Jenny Wai Ching Kwan J. Horgan Hon. M. de Jong

Introductions by Members ...... 8852

Personal Statement ...... 8852 Service to Legislature and message of appreciation J. Kwan

Introduction and First Reading of Bills ...... 8854 Bill 29 — Property Taxation (Exemptions) Statutes Amendment Act, 2015 Hon. M. de Jong Bill M225 — Land Title Statutes (Racist Covenants Removal) Amendment Act, 2015 J. Kwan

Statements (Standing Order 25B) ...... 8855 Proposed national park in South Okanagan area K. Conroy B.C. Beef Day D. Barnett Aboriginal education enhancement agreement for north Island C. Trevena B.C. Jade Day R. Lee Honour House Society J. Darcy Community economic development in Fraser Canyon area J. Tegart

Oral Questions ...... 8857 Freedom-of-information process and access to records J. Horgan Hon. C. Clark M. Karagianis D. Routley Hon. A. Virk Income assistance policy on maternity leave benefi ts M. Mungall Hon. Michelle Stilwell Permit for soil dumping in Shawnigan Lake watershed B. Routley Hon. M. Polak Government action on land titles with discriminatory covenants J. Kwan Hon. S. Th omson

Tributes ...... 8862 Rich Coleman Hon. C. Clark M. Farnworth Reports from Committees ...... 8863 Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, fi rst report, May 2015 B. Ralston M. Morris

Petitions ...... 8863 S. Robinson

Personal Statement ...... 8863 Clarifi cation of comments made in the House Hon. N. Letnick

Petitions ...... 8863 R. Fleming R. Lee

Tabling Documents ...... 8864 Gaming policy and enforcement branch, annual report, 2013-14

Orders of the Day

Committee of Supply ...... 8864 Estimates: Offi ce of the Premier (continued) Hon. C. Clark J. Horgan 8849

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015 Hon. S. Cadieux: I, too, have a bunch of guests vis- iting the Legislature today from Hillcrest Elementary Th e House met at 10:02 a.m. School: four classes of grade 5 students — 62 students, 15 parents and three teachers. Quite an undertaking. Ms. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Zvi, Mr. Weltzin and Mrs. Foster are accompanying the students here today. I hope that the House would make Routine Business them welcome.

Prayers. Moira Stilwell: Today in the precinct there are 35 grade 6 students with six parents and their teacher, Mr. Introductions by Members Patrick O’Hara, visiting from Sir William Osler School. Would the House please make them welcome. Hon. N. Letnick: Today is B.C. Beef Day in British Columbia — in particular, in this House. Th e lineups will S. Sullivan: We are all so fortunate to have young and be long, but the beef will be worth it. talented people come to work with us to keep the engines I’d just like to introduce some of the people that are in- of government running. I’d like to recognize a very tal- volved with the beef industry who are in the House to- ented young man that is joining us today in the Speaker’s day. We’ll be meeting with many members around us this gallery. My research offi cer, David Wasyluk, has been morning and this aft ernoon. From the B.C. Cattlemen’s with government caucus since November 2013. During Association we have Lary Fossum, who is the president; this time I’ve been struck by his talent and professional- Brian McKersie, vice-president; David Haywood-Farmer, ism. He will be now moving on to other things, and we past president; Larry Garrett; Ed Salle; John Anderson; wish him good luck, please. Please would everyone join Martin Rossmann; Kevin Boon; Andrea White; and Rick me in wishing him a good future. Mumford. From the B.C. Breeder and Feeder Association we have Lindy Gilson, Mike Gilson, Ken Fawcett and N. Simons: In the precincts today is a group of grades Connie Patterson, and from the B.C. Association of 6 and 7 students from West Sechelt Elementary and their Abattoirs we have Gillian Watt, Mike Noullet and Nancy teacher, Mrs. Pam Kaatz. Th ere’s a grade 4 student with Marshall. them. I think she just snuck on the ferry or something. In Will the House please make them feel welcome. particular, one student, Maya, is turning 13 today. I’d like to ask the House to make them all very welcome. Hon. T. Lake: As we come to the end of the session, there are young people in our organizations that are mov- J. Tegart: It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge ing on. I want to recognize a couple of those people who fi ve bright and hard-working young people who spent have worked in my offi ce for a while. Kyle Marsh has the legislative session with our caucus in our communi- been in the buildings for four years. Kyle will be going cations and research departments, toiling away in the on to greener pastures in the private sector, and I want to basement of this building. wish him well. Th e inimitable Sabrina Loiacono has been On behalf of all my colleagues from the government working in the buildings for eight years. She started as caucus, I’d like to thank our legislative interns for the receptionist to caucus and has served as chief of staff to year: Emily Barner, Katie Bowers, Corinne Brosz, Alissa the Minister of Health for the last two years. Wrean and Mark Levesque. You’ve been absolutely fan- [1005] tastic. It’s been a pleasure to have them with us. Th ey all I want to wish them both very well. I wonder what I’m have great futures ahead of them, and I wish them all best going to do without them, but I know they’re going to go as they pursue their career journeys. on to great things. J. Horgan: I have a number of introductions today. V. Huntington: Today I have three separate class- Firstly, I’d like to introduce my constituency assistant, es touring the precinct from Cliff Drive Elementary. I Hans Frederiksen, who is here in the precinct today with thought I better introduce them now in case we aren’t three constituents of mine: Jessica Alford and her two here when they come by. I would like the House to daughters, Morgana and Maria. Th ey are all here today welcome Mr. Penny and his classes from Cliff Drive to watch question period, and I want the House to wish Elementary School. them a warm welcome. Secondly, I want to follow the member for Fraser- L. Popham: We have 40 grade 5 students joining us Nicola and thank our interns for the great work that they from St. Joseph’s School today. Th ey are with their teach- did this session. We on this side of the House have a bit er, Christine James. Ms. James is married to our own of a running game. MLAs are tagged as they come in to Craig James. visit with interns and mentor them and help them better 8850 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

understand the political process and how government Babarazi, Myron Nichol, Cam Barlow, Paul Semenoff , operates. Yet again — I think it’s the tenth consecutive Glen Akselson, Gord Walker, Lyle Salekin, Jim Swanson, year — I was able to win that contest. Ian Stewart, Al Ingham, Bill Cheveldave, and Bob and It could well be because I spent less time in the cham- Ryan Archambault. Ryan is more aff ectionately known ber than I did in the past, but I’ve had a good oppor- in our house as Arch. tunity to meet Jessica Giang, Sarah Marriott, Kristine I just again want to warn the community of Victoria Parker, Kevin Sage and Matthew Chan. All five have that they’ll be on all the golf courses throughout the been outstanding contributors to our work this session. weekend, but please join me in welcoming them all. I know they’re going to be fi ne individuals in whatever community they land in. Let’s hope it’s in Juan de Fuca S. Chandra Herbert: I rise, of course, to say thank in the future. Would the House please make them very, you to my constituency assistants, Murray, Chantille very welcome. and Parm. [1010] Also, I especially thank Parm, as she’s moving off from our offi ce to the sunny climes of Edmonton — maybe B. Routley: Today we have with us a group from not so sunny in December or January, but certainly an the Shawnigan Lake area. We have the director for exciting, vibrant place. She will be working with the Shawnigan Lake, . Her husband, Blaise new Premier of Alberta, Rachel Notley. I just want to Salmon, is here, along with…. I see Georgia Collins and thank her very much for her service to our commun- another group of residents that are there. I am sorry. I ity in Vancouver–West End. I know that the member for don’t know all their names, but they’re here to express Surrey–Green Timbers will, of course, join me, as she their concerns about what’s going on in Shawnigan Lake. used to work in that offi ce. I just want to congratulate I would ask this House to please join me in welcoming Parm Kahlon on her new adventure. I look forward to them to this House. hearing how it goes — exciting times in Alberta, and ex- citing times ahead in this province as well. D. McRae: It’s the season for people to leave the building, and Darrell Mackay has been working in the R. Lee: Today is B.C. Jade Day. In the House we have Legislature for over four years. Th e man has impeccable over 70 visitors. I won’t name everybody, but I would like taste. He’s going to retire to the Comox Valley this sum- to just name a few. We have Charles Hu, Jian Chun Chen, mer. Erla Boyer, Sam Peng, John Zhong, Phebe Chan, Don He served in the navy, prior to working here, for 30- Gordon, Craig Robson, Xiwang Wang and Zhengtian plus years and retired as a chief petty officer second Wang. class. His last posting was as chief boatswain’s mate on Also, there are quite a few organizations I’d like to the HMCS Protecteur. He worked for the last four sum- mention — the National Jade Research Institute, mers on HMCS Quadra as chief petty offi cer in charge Canada Gems Society, Canada Jade Association, of over 140 sea cadets. Canadian Jade Resources and Culture Promotion Centre, As I can imagine he would, he plans to spend as much Canada Jade Mine Resource Inc., Canadian Jade Carving time on the water fi shing as his wife, Marlene, will let him Training and Education Centre Inc., Green Mountain — I’m sure he’ll share some of his catch with, perhaps, Gemstones Inc., Jade Forever, Baina Mining Corp., NHT his MLA — and spending time with his new grandson, Enterprises Corp., Cassiar Jade Contracting Inc., Gallery Chase. Darrell has done a great job working not only for Indigena Inc., Classic Jade Carving Ltd., Canada National the Armed Forces but also for the Legislature. Would the Jade Trade Centre and Ultimate 24K Gold Co. House wish him very well in his retirement. Th ere are many people from the community here to- day. Would the House please make them very welcome. K. Conroy: For those of us that have been here for a [1015] while, we probably would remember the name Steve, the bartender from the Grand. Well, what do you do when J. Darcy: I want to join the member for Vancouver– you leave Victoria? You move to Castlegar and open up a West End in also wishing Parm Kahlon all the best. bar in Castlegar. He’s organized a tour, a trip to Victoria She works three days a week in Vancouver–West End for a number of his friends from Castlegar, who are and two days a week in New Westminster. She’s been a all here. I’m warning the people of Victoria today that tremendous source of support to me in the constituency. they’re here for the weekend to golf. I know she’s going to do amazing things with the new Th ey were going to try to make it here on time, and I Premier of Alberta. I hope the entire House will join us don’t know if they have, but I’m still going to introduce in wishing her all the very best. them all. It’s Craig and Steve Cartwright, Ron Anderson, Shawn Biln, Danny Walker, Bob Larch, Brent Allan, D. Ashton: It’s not an introduction; it’s an actual Ernie Yolland, Doug Wright, Scott Jones, Pat Metge, Bob thank-you. It’s a thank-you to you and your staff , the Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8851

Clerk’s staff , the Sergeant-at-Arms’ staff , all the wonder- thing to behold. The member for Vancouver–Mount ful staff in here who keep us on the straight and narrow in Pleasant and her colleague Joy MacPhail held the gov- this wonderful house of democracy. It’s also to everybody ernment accountable relentlessly, standing up and debat- else who works for government outside of this chamber ing bills, sometimes for hours and hours at a time. It was who keep this institution in such tip-top shape and at the truly extraordinary and, if I could follow along from the view and the purview of all the public that get an oppor- member for Penticton, a symbol of how important this tunity to see it. I would just like to extend a thanks and institution is and how important a role the member for hope everybody would join in for that. Vancouver–Mount Pleasant played in the development of our democracy in that critical time. Hon. A. Wilkinson: We all know that there are many It is unusual to have such a small opposition, but it’s people out there who work in the political realm to keep even more unusual to have two women who were so the machinery of the electoral process going. I would powerful and did such an extraordinary job, I would just like to recognize Mr. Niall Paltiel, who is a new em- argue — and I know that the House Leader will agree ployee at the B.C. Liberal Party, and a number of indi- with me when he takes to his feet — in holding the gov- viduals who are working this summer as interns for the ernment to task. B.C. Liberal Party: Jennifer Harvie, Will Zylmans, Kalyx Jenny has been a groundbreaker. She has been an in- Aquino, Harbir Dhillon, Lionel Tam, Margareta Dovgal, spiration for many. She was, working with the mem- Gul Gulsen, David Decolongon, and there are about 300 ber for Burnaby North and the member for Richmond more that we will not advertise to the other side. But they Centre, of course, pivotal in bringing forward fi nally in are in the House today, and please welcome them. this place a bipartisan, non-partisan apology to for the horrifi c racist policies of governments Tributes in the past. Her contribution to that, I know, will be ac- knowledged as well. JENNY WAI CHING KWAN I just can’t say enough about the role that Jenny has played here, and I absolutely wish her well. Ottawa will J. Horgan: It is a great privilege and honour to rise not know what hit them when she arrives aft er the next today and salute one of our own, one of our colleagues, election. [Applause.] the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, Jenny Wai [1020] Ching Kwan, if you don’t mind me using her full name here at this particular juncture. Hon. M. de Jong: For the member from Mount Members will know that Jenny will be leaving at the Pleasant, the time has come to say farewell. end of this session to pursue a higher offi ce — I guess Mount Pleasant. I must confess that in the two dec- they call it — moving to Ottawa to represent the constitu- ades that we have served here together, there have been ency of Vancouver East in the coming federal election. times when I have equated the hon. member with geo- On behalf of our entire caucus, I want to wish Jenny all logical formations other than Mount Pleasant — Mount the best of luck in her future endeavours and thank her St. Helens, the Grouse Grind. Nonetheless, the extent to from the bottom of our hearts for the contribution she’s which I have harboured such feelings, they are most as- made to this august body over the past 19 years. suredly a refl ection of the member’s strengths and eff ect- Jenny began her career as one of the youngest people iveness as an advocate for her constituents and probably ever elected in the city of Vancouver, a lone councillor my own thin-skinned sensitivities. for the COPE party at that time. Th at would serve her I wouldn’t want to leave the impression that there have well in the years ahead, being a single representative not been moments of collegiality, even — dare I say it — on council against a larger number. She turned to this tenderness. I remember one such occasion very, very well, House in 1996, replacing as the member when I rushed into the House, having been told that the for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, and went on to have, as member from Mount Pleasant was graciously and even you know, a very long career. reverently quoting my words from an earlier debate. It Being the fi rst Chinese-Canadian member of a cab- seemed too good to be true. And as is oft en the case in inet in British Columbia was, again, groundbreaking for these situations, it was too good to be true. Jenny. But I think most of us on this side of the House Alas, the member had taken a passage from former and, I’m fairly certain, members that were here in 2001 MLA Harry De Jong and inadvertently assigned both on that side of the House will remember her as one of it and her favourable commentary to me. However, the the two wonder women that held the government at bay mistake was an honest one, and I continue to cling to — perhaps, some have argued, better than the ones that that magical bipartisan moment that shall forever link us. are here now, with respect to my colleagues. Th e opposition leader has spoken about that remark- Th e two women…. Th e Joy and Jenny show was some- able period between 2001 and 2005. In a parliament- 8852 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

ary career that has thus far spanned almost two decades, Personal Statement there are undoubtedly many memorable moments. But I should like to say a few words about that unique per- SERVICE TO LEGISLATURE iod when the member, I think, rendered special service AND MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION to this chamber. From ’01 to ’05 the role of opposition was fi lled by just J. Kwan: I am somewhat speechless in this place. I two people: the member from Mount Pleasant and Joy know it’s a rare moment in time, so we should relish it, MacPhail. Like soldiers caught in a foxhole behind enemy right? It’s never going to happen again. I have to say that lines, they fought tenaciously, stubbornly and defi antly. I can’t tell you what an honour and privilege it’s been to Th ey were clinging to their small patch of parliamentary serve in this chamber, to be the MLA for Vancouver– turf until a larger band of fellow partisans could acquire Mount Pleasant, for these last 19 years. the licence to join them and join the fi ght. When I was fi rst elected, Madame Speaker, you will I must say that those of us who were here…. Certainly recall that for all of us womenfolk who walked the halls in my case, I marvelled, quietly, at the measure of de- of this beautiful building, the people’s House…. As a termination that revealed itself in the fi ery rhetoric, the rookie MLA, I was intimidated. Let’s be clear and be on blazing eyes of this woman whose passion for the demo- the record about that. I was walking down the halls, and cratic process would not be constrained by either her I needed to use the bathroom. So what do I do? I walked political adversaries or the weighty responsibilities that into what I thought — and I swore I saw on the sign of descended upon her as a new mother. the door — was the women’s. I walked into the bathroom, If, in those days of parliamentary encounters, I made and then what did I see? An entire row of urinals. the mistake of assuming that the member from Mount I went, “Oh my gosh,” and I ran out of there as fast as I could, hoping that nobody would have seen me walk Pleasant would be intimidated by the disproportion- in there, thinking that I made a mistake and walked into ate alignment of the House, I was quickly disabused of the men’s room. So I scurried away, and I found some any such notion. A case in point: an encounter in the other bathroom. Later on I came back, and I looked at hallways. “De Jong,” she said to me, “this bill you’ve just that door again, and it said: “Women.” I went: “What? I tabled is the statutory equivalent of the solid waste dis- didn’t make a mistake.” charge from the male species of cattle” — now, I’m para- It turns out that in 1996 the women’s bathrooms in phrasing — “and I suggest you take it and self-administer this place still had urinals all over them. It was only some a colonoscopy.” Again, I’m paraphrasing. years later that they were covered up. Th ey’re still there, But I must confess that even at that time I paused and but they’re hidden, at least. So for the incoming MLA for refl ected that anyone who had mastered the dark side of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, I hope that she — if it’s a she the English language to the extent that the member from — won’t make the same mistake. If she does, do not worry. Mount Pleasant had with such profi ciency represented a It’s all going to be okay. political adversary worthy of attention and respect. I have to say that there have been many, many mem- [1025] ories, but fi rst I must acknowledge this. As an immigrant, Who knows what adventures lie ahead? Th e member my parents made enormous sacrifi ces for us to have an may have an opportunity to have her thoughts, views and opportunity to do better than them. And with my sib- rants recorded in another place in both offi cial languages. lings, we were the fi rst generation of Kwans to have ac- But that is in the future and for other people to decide. cess to post-secondary education. Wherever the future takes her, I hope that you, Jenny, When we immigrated here in 1976, my mom went will refl ect positively on the time you have spent in this into the workforce for the fi rst time as a farmworker. She place and know that during the nearly two decades that made $10 a day to support a family of eight. My dad went you have spent here, you have achieved that most elusive to Vancouver Community College to pick up English as a quality that I think we all seek. You have made a diff er- second language so that he could get into the workforce. ence, and for that, all of us owe you a debt. Th ank you, He was trained as a tailor by trade, and he owned a small and good luck. [Applause.] business in before we immigrated here. So many years of struggle. Th e kids have grown up. Introductions by Members To have this enormous privilege to be a voice in this place for the people that I represent — I can’t tell you Hon. A. Virk: I have one fi nal introduction. Joining us what that means and what an honour it’s been. in the precinct, I’ve just found out, is one of my constitu- [1030] ents, Nola Young, a proud Canadian of Chinese origin It was mentioned about the important work that was who spends much of her time teaching Chinese language, done in this Legislature, where all of us, every one of us, teaching skills and preserving culture. Would the House joined hands to declare and make an apology around his- please make Nola Young welcome. torical discriminatory practices and laws for the Chinese- Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8853

Canadian community. I have to say this earnestly. Had I know that people think that we’re super brave, Joy it not been for them — the people who came before me, and myself. I have to say there were many moments when who fought the fi ght — I wouldn’t be here today. And I we were walking up the stairs from the basement of this thank them from the bottom of my heart. place, and we were literally shaking. Joy would hold my I have to say, for the people of Vancouver–Mount hand. We would hold each other’s hands. We’d come in Pleasant it is an incredible honour…. I look at that com- here, and when we’d sit down to ask our questions, and I munity, and they are the most resilient people that I know. would feel her hands on my knees. “Th at was just to calm We struggle with many, many things each and every day. her,” she says. And I take her at her word. But if you take the time to just look beyond the surface, Th en we rose in this House, and we asked our ques- you will see the strength and the beauty of the people tions. Th ere was only the one time that I want to say that live in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, especially those where we were silenced, in the sense that the Speaker from the Downtown Eastside. It is an incredible honour only allowed one of us to ask one set of questions. Why to represent them. Th ey have taught me so much. And would you say that that happened? Well, it happened be- their support and their guidance over all these years…. cause my sister in crime at that time, Joy MacPhail, was For them — this is what it’s about for me in this place. heckling too loudly. Th e community activists who work every single day, who [1035] push the envelope, who drive change — we do this not It was just so off ensive that the Speaker of the day just for the people of Mount Pleasant. We do this for the thought it would be appropriate to reprimand us. Of province of British Columbia, so that we can all have bet- course, I, being always the person to have to face the ter opportunities to succeed. brunt of Joy’s actions, was not allowed to ask my set of I know that I stand on the shoulders of giants in this questions. place — the people who came before me, Mike Harcourt, Th ose were, indeed, quite fond moments. I have to say the former Premier, and so many more before that. To they were our worst of times in many ways, but in some them I’m eternally grateful for the important work that strange ways, they were the best of times as well. I learned they’ve done to show me the guidance of what needs to so much not just from my side of the aisle with our two be done and to carry on this incredible work. I have no seats but from the other side as well. Th e House Leader doubt that the next MLA of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant mentioned that there were moments of tenderness. Th ere will continue in the same spirit with that. were lots of moments, I think, of sympathy, but grudging I do want to just mention for a moment the Joy and respect as well. We saw it in the eyes of the very many Jenny years, as some of us refer to. I’ve got to tell you a members, and I thank them for that. secret, Madame Speaker, and share this in this chamber. I do also want to take a moment and thank some of Some of the members may recall there was a time that the ministers in all these years that I have served in this during the Health estimates we had two giant binders. House. We argued like there was no tomorrow. I know I’m talking about giant binders, sort of like that with the one particular minister that I want to just say probably is Minister of Health — exactly — with his briefi ng notes. the happiest person to see me go because he will no long- Now somehow, one way or another, a brown envelope er receive the stacks and stacks of letters and cases that arrived at our door. It contained the table of contents of I send his way. Th at would be the Minister for Housing, the briefi ng book. And that’s it. So we came in here in the Deputy Premier. the Health estimates debate, and we began to read off the I know I always knock on his door, almost inevitably, table of contents, piece by piece, with our giant binders because housing is a key issue in my riding. I bring cases of blank paper underneath. to him, and he’s just like: “Oh gosh. What now?” You can I have to tell you, it was quite fun to see the reaction just sort of see the anticipation of what’s to come. on the other side and the jaws that dropped. Th ey were To his credit, I must say this. He actually took these like: “My god, they have the briefi ng books.” And we car- cases seriously, and in many instances he made the ef- ried this on for, oh, a couple of hours. It really was quite fort to try to resolve them. For that I thank him. It wasn’t fun. But that’s all that it was, just to be clear. I thought I for me, all of that work. It was for the people that we should share this secret in this House, never to be told serve. I know that he extended his eff orts to try to make again anywhere else. that happen. He also, I should say, helped save the Rio I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the staff , the lean Th eatre. For that I thank him on behalf of the owners and and mean machine that we were and the original staff the community there. back in those days for Joy and myself: Paula Gunn, our Th e House Leader will also fondly remember this hist- researcher — our one and only researcher at that time; ory as well. Th ere was a time when I came into this House, Jim Rutkowski and Clay Suddaby, who were our execu- and I was all ready to speak on my private member’s bill. tive director, I guess, and also our communications dir- It was about the supervised injection facility. I had a gal- ector; and of course, Shirley-Anne, who was our LA at lery full of people, and we were all raring to go. Little did I the time in this chamber, who helped us manoeuvre this know that I actually hadn’t given notice. Aft er all of these place. years, mistakes still happen. I’d forgotten to give notice. 8854 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

When we were ready to introduce the bill, I went like: grateful that I had the opportunity to contribute to that. “Oh jeez.” I fl agged the Government House Leader down. I want to make you all a promise. Unlike some of the We had a quick conversation about that. You know what? retired MLAs from this Legislature, you won’t see me Showing class and respect for this chamber and the work back in this place — not unless, in 2017, the Leader of that we do, he actually initiated, I would say, the op- the Opposition becomes the Premier of this province portunity for me to speak to this bill. Leave was given and this side of the House is sitting over there on that in this House for me to do exactly that. I do appreciate side of the House. On that occasion I will be back, and that as well. you will see the wrath of Kwan walking down the halls Th ere were many, many moments in this Legislature of this chamber. where there were ups and downs. But I have to say that With that, I want to close with this statement. Th e late I want to thank all of the leaders in their years of service Lieutenant-Governor Dr. David Lam taught me this so and as they continue to do their work, the important many years ago. He said: “It is not the title that brings you work and contributions in this chamber. honour. It is what you do to bring honour to the title.” I Th ere was I don’t think a happier moment…. Well, one shall always remember that, no matter where I go. of the happiest moments in this chamber for me was in Th ank you all so much for the tremendous experience, 2005, when I looked down our caucus room — and I was the honour to serve in this place and to work with you as caucus chair at that time — to see the long lineup of New colleagues and to be friends with you, even though we Democrats that had been elected to this chamber. Help argue like crazy. [Applause.] was there. It wasn’t just on its way, but help was there, and credit to everyone in this chamber made that happen. All Introduction and of the leaders today that have served at one point or an- First Reading of Bills other made a diff erence and will continue to make a dif- ference. I thank them for that. BILL 29 — PROPERTY TAXATION (EXEMPTIONS) STATUTES I do want to close with this. I want to thank my con- AMENDMENT ACT, 2015 stituency assistants, who served me really, really well and served the people of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant really Hon. M. de Jong presented a message from Her Honour well: Lisa Macleod, who is still there at my offi ce, and the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Property Frank Zhao, who’s just joined the offi ce in the short term. Taxation (Exemptions) Statutes Amendment Act, 2015. [1040] I want to acknowledge Jason Blackman as well, who’s Hon. M. de Jong: I move the bill be introduced and taken a leave now but also worked in the constituency read a fi rst time now. offi ce. Last but not least, I want to thank Stuart Alcock, who is actually retired, but he keeps on coming back be- Motion approved. cause I continue to need his help to go through all the work that we need to do in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. Hon. M. de Jong: I’m pleased to introduce the Property I want to thank everyone for your incredible friend- Taxation (Exemptions) Statutes Amendment Act, 2015, ships. Th is is the thing that I take away from this place, which amends the Community Charter and the Taxation aside from the work that we do — the incredible friend- (Rural Area) Act. Th e primary purpose of the bill is to ships that you have all extended to me. In particular, I ensure and confi rm that the existing property tax exemp- want to say thank you to the amigos 3.5. You’ve made a tions provided to independent schools in the Community diff erence in my life in more ways than you can imagine. Charter and the Taxation (Rural Area) Act include prop- To the independent members, who actually reached erty that is reasonably necessary for school purposes. out in perhaps some of the most diffi cult moments in These amendments will ensure that independent my career and extended your support — that, I appre- school properties, such as playgrounds, playing fi elds ciate as well. and athletic facilities, will not be subject to property tax Lastly, the fi nal thing that I’m going to say is this. My in the future. Th e bill will remain on the order paper for children. Th e most signifi cant moments in my life hap- consideration at some point in the future. pened in this chamber — not literally but almost — when I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day I gave birth to my daughter, Cee-Yan, in 2003, and to my for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er son, in 2008, Renan. Literally, Cee-Yan grew up in the today. drawers of the Legislature here, with my mom. Every other weekend we’d pile into my then little black Honda Bill 29, Property Taxation (Exemptions) Statutes and travel the province to reach out to everybody, to try Amendment Act, 2015, introduced, read a fi rst time and to rebuild the NDP. I always knew in my heart that the ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second read- job to do was to come back and tell this story another day, ing at the next sitting of the House aft er today. live to tell the story another day. For that, I’m happy and [1045] Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8855

BILL M225 — LAND TITLE STATUTES I move that this bill be placed on the orders of the day for (RACIST COVENANTS REMOVAL) second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. AMENDMENT ACT, 2015 Bill M225, Land Title Statutes (Racist Covenants J. Kwan presented a bill intituled Land Title Statutes Removal) Amendment Act, 2015, introduced, read a fi rst (Racist Covenants Removal) Amendment Act, 2015. time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. J. Kwan: I move that the Racist Covenants Removal Act standing in my name be read for a fi rst time now. Statements (Standing Order 25B) Motion approved. PROPOSED NATIONAL PARK IN J. Kwan: It gives me great pleasure today to intro- SOUTH OKANAGAN AREA duce the Racist Covenants Removal Act. A year ago this Legislature stood as one and apologized for more than K. Conroy: Recently I talked about the benefi ts of na- 100 laws, regulations and policies imposed in the past by tional parks in both Canada and the U.S. Today I want B.C. provincial governments that discriminated against to share the facts of the economic impact national parks people of Chinese descent. can bring to an area, specifi cally the South Okanagan– As the apology motion stated: “Th ese laws and policies Similkameen proposed national park. denied British Columbia’s Chinese communities’ basic An economic study found that this park would pro- human rights, including but not limited to, the right to duce 770 new jobs, $57 million in increased spending vote, hold public offi ce, or own property; imposed labour, in the region and $4.4 million in new provincial tax rev- educational and employment restrictions; subjected enue. One would think that most people and politicians them to health and housing segregation, and prevented would love to have a national park in their area gener- them from fully participating in society.” ating millions of dollars in revenue and employment. In As part of the apology process, the government com- fact, most people do. mitted to review over 160 pieces of legislation to ensure In a recent poll done on support for this proposed na- that the historical wrongs engendered by discriminatory tional park, just about 70 percent of the people in the re- legislation are corrected and never repeated. Th at off end- gion support the park. Various activity groups were also ing legislation has been repealed to prepare a report re- asked about their position on the park. All groups sup- garding the legislation review by spring of 2015. ported the park by large margins, with the highest sup- We have not yet seen that report, but one manifestation port from ranching and farming families and hunters. of racism in B.C. legal documents that so far has been As well, there’s support from various municipalities, excluded from this review is the racist covenants that First Nations, tourism organizations, the B.C. Wine were placed on thousands of properties in B.C. to restrict Institute, 20 diff erent environmental groups and cham- people of Asian descent, as well as other non-European bers of commerce. In fact, there were formal resolutions groups, from home ownership and also rental properties. from the Kelowna and the South Okanagan chambers, While the clauses have been declared void, the docu- alone representing over 1,600 area businesses. ments with these blatantly racist and discriminatory To quote Sue McKortoff , mayor of Osoyoos and direc- clauses still remain on the books at the provincial land tor of the Okanagan Basin Water Board: “Th is area has registry. Homeowners, realtors and activists have been desert, endangered grasslands, badgers and bobolinks calling for the removal of these racist documents from and one-third of B.C.’s endangered species. Th is nation- the provincial registry, and this bill responds to that call al park would protect more species at risk, more endan- by making it obligatory for the land title registrar to can- gered habitat types and encompass a greater diversity of cel and remove from property records any covenant with ecosystems than any national park in Canada. Only a racist contents as defi ned under the Land Title Act. national park has the money, mandate and expertise to It also ensures that the cost of cancelling a covenant protect and restore our endangered species and help pro- with racist content is the responsibility of the Land Title tect our watershed.” and Survey Authority and not borne by the property From Ken Oldfi eld of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards: “On owner or any individual that notifi es the authority of a behalf of the wine industry, I am really heartened to know race-based covenant. there is strong majority of supporters for the national As part of the apology, we as members of this House park across the region. Th e national park is very import- acknowledge that we all aspire to be part of a fair and ant for our businesses and the economy of the region. It just society “where people of all nations and cultures are will bring international travellers to our wineries and welcome, accepted and respected,” and this bill moves us build our wine region’s brand internationally.” further along that path. [1050] 8856 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

Th e last word to Doreen Olson, the coordinator of mote communities on the west coast of . National Park Network: “It is extremely gratifying to see Getting it right for all of the kids is very important. Th e that there’s a strong majority of support for the park and First Nations education liaison committee spent many that it is continuing to grow.” months trying to do just that. Let’s hope that one day soon we will see a new national Th e pride at the signing was tangible as people spoke park in B.C., one that is actually wanted by the majority of listening to one another, supporting the future — the of the people in South Okanagan–Similkameen. kids — and of not letting them down or letting them be failed by a system which doesn’t work for them. Poetry B.C. BEEF DAY was literally made and music played. Th e agreement is not about how many high-achieving D. Barnett: It’s the sixth annual B.C. Beef Day. I, for students pass through the doors of the fi ve schools in the one, couldn’t be prouder of the amazing contribution that district. It’s about respecting where the students are com- B.C. ranchers continue to contribute to our culture, our ing from and ensuring that they feel safe, respected and economy and, of course, our dinner tables. It’s a chance valued. Th e foundation for it is walking together for ab- to celebrate our province’s proud heritage, recognize original student success and lifelong learning. our government’s partnership with the ranching com- Th is means schools where students know where they munity and to take a big bite of some of the tastiest lo- come from, who they are and of their potential. It means cal food around. safe and healthy learning environments where culture Ranching is more than an occupation for many British and language are embedded. It means giving children Columbians. It’s a way of life, and it’s one that has been the confi dence and pride in themselves and where they passed down through generations. Ranching also pro- come from, which every person should have as a right, vided a foundation for many rural communities. In my and it means guiding students to academic success while riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin I’m proud to say that there they grow. are ranches established in the early days of the gold rush Th e Nuu-chah-nulth people talk of how everything that are still in operation today. is one and all is connected with the word hishuk-ish Th ere are over 4,000 cattle ranchers in B.C. In total, the ts’awalk, and perhaps there is no greater example of that industry contributes over half a billion dollars annually than education. Th e way young minds develop will im- to the province’s GDP. Currently the B.C. cattle industry pact our societies for many years to come. We have to raises and markets over 246,000 head of cattle and calves, get it right, and the peoples of the west coast hope that with farm-cash receipts of almost $208 million. this will help to do just that for their next generation and From small hobby farms to large cattle ranches, it’s generations to come. estimated that the B.C. beef sector employs over 8,700 people across the province. Every one of them will tell B.C. JADE DAY you that when you eat B.C. beef, you’re not just eating lo- cal; you’re also getting a superior product. R. Lee: Last year, May 28 was proclaimed as B.C. Jade Th anks to our government’s partnership with the B.C. Day for the fi rst time in the province of British Columbia. Cattlemen’s Association, today there will be a lunch- Today we celebrate this provincial gemstone again. time barbecue held on the legislative grounds. Feel free British Columbia is rich in mineral deposits, and the to come on over and enjoy some of the best beef that mineral extraction industry in our province supports B.C. has to off er. I encourage all those around the prov- many families and communities. Although it’s mined in ince to enjoy some of our high-quality, B.C.-grown beef smaller amounts than silver and copper, jade is an im- every day. portant resource in British Columbia. [1055] ABORIGINAL EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT Jade is valued by carvers and jewellers across Canada AGREEMENT FOR NORTH ISLAND and in Asia, as B.C. jade is very similar to jade found in China. Jade has been used by people in these lands for C. Trevena: It was an honour to witness the signing of thousands of years. Jade artifacts dating back over 3,000 the second aboriginal education enhancement agreement years have been found in the southern part of this prov- for school district 84 last week. In the gym of the recently ince. built Zeballos Elementary Secondary School representa- In our more recent history, jade was found by pros- tives from the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’-Che:k:tles7et’h’, Mowachaht/ pectors during the Fraser River gold rush. Deposits Muchalaht, Ehattesaht/Chinehkint, Nuchatlaht and have been identifi ed on the banks of the Coquihalla, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council signed a fi ve-year agree- Yalakom River and near the communities of Dease Lake, ment, along with the elected representatives from school Cassiar and Omineca. Although diff erent jade has been district 84. produced in many places in the world, the majority of the It’s a special school district, very small and serving re- deposits are found right here in our province. Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8857

Increasing national and international demand for jade COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT is growing the jade extraction industry. It is estimated IN FRASER CANYON AREA that annual production in B.C. jade reached 1,000 tonnes in 2014. By promoting more public awareness of our J. Tegart: Th e Coquihalla Highway has, for almost provincial gemstone’s culture, history, exploration, ex- 30 years, been an effi cient transportation link between traction, craft smanship, education and research and de- the Lower Mainland and the southern Interior and velopment, we can create more jobs and generate more Okanagan regions of B.C. Th e Coquihalla became the benefi ts to our economy. preferred route for travellers and truckers who formerly I invite the members of this House to join us aft er drove the Trans-Canada Highway north of Hope. question period in the Ned DeBeck Lounge for presen- As a result, communities in the Fraser Canyon, those of tations by representatives of the Canadian National Jade us who live above Hope, lost a great deal of visitor traffi c, Research Institute, the Canadian Jade Society and the and once-thriving businesses from Yale to Cache Creek jade industries. were devastated. Th ank you, and happy B.C. Jade Day. However, a united eff ort began in the late 1980s in re- sponse to the serious economic downturn in commun- HONOUR HOUSE SOCIETY ities brought on by the opening of the Coquihalla. Th e mayors of Ashcroft , Cache Creek, Lytton and Clinton got J. Darcy: Th ere’s a wonderful place in New Westminster together and decided to do something about it. called Honour House that is a sanctuary for heroes. It’s a [1100] home away from home for fi rst responders and military A local committee was formed, consisting of the four personnel and their families who are receiving medic- mayors and the four chambers of commerce presidents al treatment in the Lower Mainland. It’s a place where who focused on tourism as a catalyst for economic de- brave men and women, who take huge risks every day to velopment in the region. In the spring of 1991 the com- protect us, are cared for with love and aff ection at their munities organized a community tourism action plan time of need. with the help of the Ministry of Tourism. In November We had the chance to meet some of these heroes at 1991 the Gold Country Communities Society was born, a gala fundraiser for Honour House last Friday night with eight member communities. Today Gold Country and to hear their moving stories. We also met a young is comprised of 12 members whose annual fees provide hero by the name of Ryan Perks from New Westminster. almost all of the society’s budget. When Ryan turned eight last month he asked his friends Gold Country carries out many projects related to to make a donation in lieu of birthday gift s. It amount- its tourism mandate, such as the award-winning Gold ed to $181, and he donated it — you guessed it — to Country geotourism program — a modern treasure hunt Honour House. that leads hundreds of new and repeat visitors to 144 sites Aft er meeting with the fi re chief, Tim Armstrong, Ryan of interest throughout the region. was invited to the Honour House gala, and boy, was he a Gold country is truly a four-season destination for star of that show. His biggest rival for stardom that night anyone with interest in outdoor recreation, arts, First was none other than Michael Bublé, who made a sur- Nations culture, gold panning, local fl avours, artisan prise appearance, fi lling in for someone else. Th e crowd shops. Th e list is endless. went wild, including the members from this House who were present. Oral Questions But eight-year-old Ryan was, indeed, the true hero of the night. He spoke before that enormous crowd with FREEDOM-OF-INFORMATION PROCESS incredible poise and generosity, and he’s now challen- AND ACCESS TO RECORDS ging his schoolmates, people from our community and anyone listening today to match his $181 donation to J. Horgan: Over the course of this spring session we’ve Honour House. been asking the government about how they’re manag- Ryan’s very proud parents, Naomi and Beryl Perks, ing public records. We’ve been asking repeatedly why it who I know are watching today, tell me that Ryan has re- is that when we put in freedom-of-information requests, quested donations from friends in lieu of birthday gift s we continue to get “no record” replies. since his fi ft h birthday, starting with giving to the New In fact, we asked the Minister of Citizens’ Services 18 Westminster Firefi ghters Charitable Society. His six-year- times why it was that political staff continued to ignore old sister Olivia has been doing the same thing since she documents or perhaps destroy documents so that they was three years old, mainly to the Terry Fox Foundation. could continue to produce these no record responses. Th e We can all follow Ryan’s story at #ryanschallenge as minister said in this House in reply to that: “When FOI it develops, because it is going viral — living proof that requests come in, professional public servants apply the good news about everyday heroes sometimes does make act judiciously, and whatever can be released is released.” the news. My question to the Premier is: does she support 8858 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

the position put forward by the Minister of Citizens’ J. Horgan: I’m gratifi ed that the Premier is sticking Services? fast to the talking points with the Minister of Citizens’ Services. But in a letter to the Privacy Commissioner Hon. C. Clark: Complying with the Freedom of a former staff member hired by her offi ce, by her chief Information and Protection of Privacy Act is done by of staff — the political staff in this place report to the professional public servants. Th ey do it within the rules, Premier’s chief of staff — wrote further about an inter- and we certainly have confi dence in the work that they do. action with the Liberal caucus research director, Jen Wizinsky. In the letter he says the following: “She too Madame Speaker: The Leader of the Official brushed off my concerns, explaining, ‘It’s like the West Opposition on a supplemental. Wing. You do what it takes to win.’” You do what it takes to win. J. Horgan: In November of 2014 we submitted Even when it comes to a fi le that is so, so drenched in freedom-of-information requests for any records that tragedy as the deaths of women along the Highway of the government had on their consultations with respect Tears, a simple request for what the contents of a consul- to the Highway of Tears. In February we received a re- tation were, the government continues to do whatever it sponse: “No records available.” We asked three weeks takes to win. Th ey did away with records about the fi ring later why this existed, and we continued to get no rec- of health care workers. Th ere were no records about the ord responses. behaviour of Ken Boessenkool. Repeatedly, repeatedly, Yesterday Timothy Duncan, the former executive as- repeatedly we get “no records” responses. sistant to the Minister of Transportation, wrote to the Now we learn in a letter to the Privacy Commissioner freedom-of-information and privacy commissioner that a former political staff er working in the Minister of about how FOI had been handled when he was working Transportation’s offi ce was told to delete documents, and in the minister’s offi ce. Th e letter says: “When the min- when he wouldn’t do it, his superior did it for him. Is that ister’s offi ce received this request, I searched my e-mail… appropriate behaviour in British Columbia? Is that the most open and transparent government in Canada, as and received over a dozen hits. I told George Gretes, the the Premier advertises? I think not. ministerial assistant in our offi ce…. He came over to my desk…and promptly directed me to delete them. When I Hon. C. Clark: I’m confi dent that I’ve answered the hesitated, he took away my keyboard, deleted the e-mails member’s question already, but I’ll add this. If someone and returned the keyboard, stating: ‘It’s done. Now you has made allegations about someone else, whether or not don’t have to worry about it anymore.’” they are substantiated, and I don’t know that these are…. My question to the Premier is: is that how professional If allegations have been made and suggestions have been public servants are managing freedom-of-information made about individual behaviour, I’d welcome the in- requests in ministers’ offi ces? dividual who is making those suggestions to forward them directly to the government, or the Leader of the Hon. C. Clark: All staff are expected to live by the Opposition to do the same, so that we can ensure that rules and make sure that they are abiding by all of the the allegations and the suggestions that he’s apparently expectations that are very clearly set out. made can be followed up. We’ve also embarked on a process to make sure that We do have clear rules about what should be kept everybody knows clearly what the rules are and under- and what is not kept. That’s clearly delineated in the stands how they can comply with them. Anyone who act. As I said, many documents in government under hasn’t complied with them has broken the rules and the act are considered transitory. But when a freedom- should not have done so. Any records that are available…. of-information request comes in with regard to those Even if they are transitory records that could have been, records, they become a permanent part of the freedom- under the law, very legally deleted, when the freedom-of- of-information request. Th ose are the rules. Staff need to information request comes in, all those documents are be all abiding by those rules. available to be provided under freedom of information If an individual who has left government is making — whether or not they were transitory documents before allegations that some of those rules were not respected, the FOI request came in. I’d hope that the Leader of the Opposition would for- If that rule hasn’t been observed by staff who are cur- ward that to government so that we could follow up ap- rently here or who are no longer in the employ of gov- propriately. ernment, they have not abided by the regulations and the rules. It’s something that, certainly, we do not tolerate. M. Karagianis: Mr. Duncan was appointed by the [1105] Premier as an executive assistant. He was then hired by the government caucus as a staff er. It follows that during Madame Speaker: Th e Leader of the Offi cial Oppos- his employment he would have gained quite a bit of in- ition on a further supplemental. sight into how the government operates. Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8859

According to his complaint, he worked closely with the D. Routley: Well, despite the rhetoric we just heard, Mr. ministerial assistant to the Minister of Transportation and Duncan’s complaint to the Privacy Commissioner makes the director of government caucus research. According it clear that this case was far from unique. According to to his complaint, when he tried to disclose records on an Mr. Duncan: “I want to stress that this is not an isolated issue as tragic the Highway of Tears, he was told to de- incident. It is my belief that the abuse of the freedom-of- stroy them. information process is widespread and most likely sys- Now, the Premier is saying that this kind of destruction temic within government.” is inappropriate, so my question to the Premier is: can she Last month the opposition revealed that the Minister tell this House if she will off er the Privacy Commissioner of Citizens’ Services’ chief of staff acted exactly as Mr. her fullest cooperation in a thorough, wide-ranging and Duncan describes. He destroyed more than 40 pages intensive investigation into this issue, or is she happy to of government records. Can the Minister of Citizens’ let her staff do whatever it takes to win? Services tell this House who instructed Mr. Facey that preserving key records was less important than doing Hon. C. Clark: We will, as we always do. what it takes to win?

M. Karagianis: If only that were true. Hon. A. Virk: The member opposite is operating, When Mr. Duncan e-mailed the opposition a copy fi rst of all, on a fl awed assumption as well. Th e fl awed of his complaint to the Privacy Commissioner, he ex- assumption is that every e-mail is a government record. plained why he was so troubled by destroying records The Document Disposal Act and the schedules with- about government actions on the Highway of Tears. He in it are very clear on that. Just a few days ago — the said: “I know what it is like to be the family member of member opposite was certainly here — the Information someone who is murdered. Th ere are well over 18-plus Management Act passed as well, and new schedules will victims. Th eir families deserve better.” be prepared. In the interim the schedules in the Document Disposal [1110] Act stay and are in force, and it’s quite clear that every e- Mr. Duncan has shed some signifi cant light on govern- mail is not a government record. If e-mails are kept, my ment’s attitude toward public records. Again, my ques- expectations are very clear of all staff . Th e documents tion to the Premier: can she tell the House how many that are kept, that need be to be kept…. If an FOI request other records have been destroyed, and who, in fact, is comes in, I expect those to be appropriately managed instructing political staff to do whatever it takes to win? within the FOI process. Hon. C. Clark: As I said in the previous answer to Madame Speaker: Member for Nanaimo–North the member, we will certainly work with the Privacy Cowichan on a supplemental. Commissioner, as we always do, to make sure that we support any inquiry she has in that. We really value the D. Routley: Pardon me, but the Premier just said that work that she does, and we know that staff must abide by even transitory e-mails are government records. Th e the rules for keeping records. minister responsible just told us that they’re not. You know, when it comes to winning, I just want to say this. If the members want to rehash, as they have Interjections. throughout estimates, all of the issues that were at stake in the last election, what they will discover is that the Madame Speaker: Members. Members. Th e Chair will reason that the B.C. Liberal Party and this government hear the question. was elected is because we stood for something that mat- tered to people. D. Routley: Certainly, documents and e-mails related We stood for jobs. We stood for economic growth. to the missing and murdered women on the Highway of We stood for attracting investment. We stood for grow- Tears can hardly be considered transitory. It’s an insult to ing the number of high-wage, family-supporting jobs all the families and every British Columbian that the minis- across the province. Th ose are the things we stood for: a ter takes that position. bigger private sector; a smaller government; support for [1115] responsible resource development in every corner of the In his e-mail Mr. Duncan says: “I have left the cesspool province; making sure that British Columbians have the that is the B.C. government, and I have no intention of training that they need to be able to take on those jobs. ever going back.” Despite being appointed to his job by If the member is mystifi ed about what it takes to win, the Premier, I think it’s safe to say that he found the re- I can off er her this advice. What it takes to win is to have ality of how this government works untenable. But his ideas that you believe in, principles that you stand by, val- allegations about the practices of political staff confi rm ues that you communicate and values that you share with the concerns that we’ve raised with this minister on 18 the people of British Columbia. occasions this session. 8860 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

Can the minister tell the House if he stands by his lect employment insurance for maternity leave when statement that all decisions about FOI requests are made she needs to take time off work to have a child. But this only by impartial public servants? government, instead of recognizing her right, penalizes her for taking that time off work to have a baby. It’s ab- Hon. A. Virk: Th e member started his dialogue, fi rst solutely ridiculous. of all, once again with an incorrect assumption — the in- Jessica and her husband, Tony, were already struggling correct assumption being that every e-mail forms part of to put food on their table for their two children but were a government record. excited to be welcoming baby Morgana into the world It’s not myself, and it’s not the Premier or the minis- all the same. Jessica thought that she could rely on her ters or any member that decides what a transitory record maternity leave benefi ts to help pay the bills and the new is. Th e previous Document Disposal Act and the sched- expenses that come with a new baby. ules contained within it are very clear. Once an FOI re- Instead, every month this government takes her mater- quest comes in, my expectations are clear. Once a request nity leave away. Th e stress and the bills are mounting, and comes in, those records are frozen, and they’re expected it’s harder to feed her kids. Just like every other parent to be released in accordance with the act. I talk to about this issue, Jessica and her husband, Tony, are struggling so much they don’t even think about what INCOME ASSISTANCE POLICY ON it takes to feed themselves. MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS Clawing back maternity leave is wrong. When is the Premier going to stop doing it? M. Mungall: When someone has a paying job, they [1120] pay into employment insurance for times of illness, job loss or when they need to have a child. Hon. Michelle Stilwell: Th ank you to the member Jessica Alford worked in retail, earning $800 a month, opposite for the question. What I can tell her is that, on as her husband and her are allowed to do when they’re this side of the House, we are working towards making on disability. A year ago Jessica had to leave work for life better for families. We are doing that by providing an early maternity leave due to complications with her multiple diff erent supports from various ministries, not pregnancy. She then applied for her EI. Th en she saw this just mine. government claw back her maternity leave each month, For instance, we provide subsidized housing supports. dollar for dollar. We’ve invested $4 billion since 2001 to provide aff ord- Th at $500 would help pay the bills and put food on able housing for low-income families. Not only that, we the table, but instead it’s helping to pay for the tax break, provide MSP subsidies for nearly one million British by this Liberal government, to the richest 2 percent in Columbians who receive the subsidies, including more British Columbia. Jessica, who’s here today, wants to than 800,000 residents who cannot pay the MSP pre- know why her family isn’t fi rst for this Premier. miums at all. We provide child care subsidies and free dental and Hon. Michelle Stilwell: I’d like to say that on this side optical for children and families. Th ere are so many pro- of the House we truly believe in the people of British grams we provide to ensure that we are supporting the Columbia being able to fi nd their independence, fi nd families that need it most when it is required. their passion in what they want to do with their future Th ere are also so many tax program systems in place and empowering them. We do that by wrapping supports for people who are raising families. Th ere are the single around them with our comprehensive social safety net. parents who have access to about $390 per month in We provide multiple programs and services. Just re- benefi ts that are provided through the income tax system, cently we have increased the earning exemptions for and there is the B.C. early childhood tax benefi t program people with disabilities to annualized earning exemp- — multiple ways that we are ensuring that we are making tions. We have helped single parents with the single-par- life better for British Columbians. ent family initiative. Th ere are multiple ways that we are providing for the families in British Columbia to make PERMIT FOR SOIL DUMPING IN life better for them in the future. SHAWNIGAN LAKE WATERSHED

Madame Speaker: Th e member for Nelson-Creston B. Routley: Th is Minister of Environment is on rec- on a supplemental. ord saying that the Shawnigan Lake’s contaminated soil dump will not be allowed to operate until all of the re- M. Mungall: Wow. Once again we see members op- quirements of their permit have been met, yet here is the posite just completely miss the point and totally try to situation right now. sidestep the issue at hand here. Th e water treatment system does not meet the permit Jessica — like Katie, who we talked about last week requirements. Th ere is no truck wheel wash. No com- — has a job. Th at’s the point. She also has a right to col- munity oversight committee has been put in place as re- Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8861

quired by the Environmental Appeal Board. Th ere is no Th ey will enforce the rules that are required in the per- amended mines permit to allow contaminated fi ll within mits. the mine footprint. Th e list goes on and on. Despite all that, two weeks ago the company involved GOVERNMENT ACTION ON LAND TITLES publicly announced that it is open for business and ac- WITH DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS cepting contaminated soil. Why won’t this Minister of Environment enforce her own permit and stop the con- J. Kwan: On May 15, 2014, there was a rare moment taminated soil dumping into Shawnigan Lake watershed? of non-partisan cooperation, where every member in Why are you allowing this company to operate above this chamber joined hands to make a formal apology to the law? members of the Chinese-Canadian community for B.C.’s past discriminatory laws and practices. We all vowed not Madame Speaker: All comments through the Chair. to let history repeat itself. We now know that tens of thousands of properties Hon. M. Polak: Th ere are a number of permits that still have discriminatory clauses forbidding ownership, cover two sites, lot 21 and lot 23. Th ere is a permit that renting or leasing of such properties by Asians and other does currently allow for them to receive contaminated ethnic minorities. I have a copy of a deed that shows one soils that are of a certain quality. Th ere are a range of ac- such racist covenant was put in place in 1965, just a mere tivities that the company is allowed to engage in. 50 years ago. As a gesture to honour those who had to We take our obligations to protect human health and endure this ugly chapter of our history, will the minister the environment very, very seriously. Th e civil servants commit to compiling a list of the properties with these in the environmental protection department, who have covenants so that they can be formally removed? dedicated their professional lives to the protection of hu- man health and the environment, make these decisions Hon. S. Th omson: Th ank you to the member opposite based on their professional qualifi cations, their review for the question. It’s an honour to stand and be the re- from experts both inside and outside of government, and cipient of perhaps the fi nal question — maybe there will they do that without political interference. be a supplemental — from the member for Vancouver– If the members think that that should operate in some Mount Pleasant. other diff erent system, then they should get up and say so. Th ese covenants are an issue that extends beyond one particular community. Th ey are covenants that I’m sure Madame Speaker: Th e member for Cowichan Valley members on the opposite side of the House and mem- on a supplemental. bers on this side of the House fi nd off ensive and repug- nant. It’s part of history that I know we all fi nd off ensive. B. Routley: Th e Minister of Energy and Mines has It’s important to note, as was pointed out, that these made a commitment in this House that he will work with covenants, by legislation, were voided and have no legal the member. He will work with the ministry, work with effect. When conveyancing takes place, they are re- the Cowichan Valley regional district and make sure that moved. Th ere are 2.3 million active land titles in British the district’s parkland will be fully remediated. Columbia. Th e process to address those covenants has [1125] signifi cant logistical challenges in addressing them. Th ere are no update plans to address the CVRD’s let- On this side of the House, we understand the issue. We ter that has outlined the many signifi cant encroachments agree that these are repugnant and off ensive, as we’ve said, and trespasses onto its park property, which is right be- as I know we all agree on. We will look to fi nd the means side South Island’s contaminated soil dump. Why has this to address the concerns, but we must recognize that this minister continued to allow this company to operate in extends beyond any particular community. It’s a part of violation of their permit? history that we recognize as off ensive, so we need to treat this in a very sensitive manner. Hon. M. Polak: As I’ve outlined before, the member wrongly associates all of the activities on the now three Madame Speaker: Vancouver–Mount Pleasant on a sites…. He’s mentioned a third site, lot 22. He continues supplemental. to attach the activities to one set of permitting require- ments. Th ere are a number of permits. Th e Minister of J. Kwan: I thank the minister for his answer. Let me Energy and Mines acts to enforce his permits. just put on the record the language of one such clause. Our Ministry of Environment staff developed a sam- It reads: “No person of the Asian or Asiatic race or of pling plan together with consultation with the CVRD. African or Asiatic descent, except servants of the occupier Th ey have been out conducting additional monitoring of the premises in residence, shall reside or be allowed to and testing. If there is any evidence of contamination, remain on the premises.” if there is any evidence of non-compliance, our staff act. [1130] 8862 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

According to the land titles offi ce, there is currently he is a force of nature and a force that is not easily put no established way to delete these off ensive clauses. Th e aside. But at the risk of undermining his fearsome repu- Land Title Act was amended, true, as the minister says, tation, I will say aft er having worked with him from 1996 in 1985 to nullify these racist covenants. But it is diffi cult to 2005, and now more recently from 2011 until today, he to get the language scrubbed from the property title. It is the gentlest of bears on the inside. He’s a man of tre- can be expensive as well, sometimes requiring recourse mendous wisdom, great compassion and great kindness. to the courts. He has taken on a lot of roles. Lots of us have called I know that it takes a lot of eff ort to get this done, a lot him the minister of everything. At the moment, he is of eff ort from staff to compile the list and to ensure that in charge of the most important economic portfolio such language is erased from the titles and deeds. But British Columbia has established in many decades, I if we can put people on the moon, surely you will agree would argue, and that’s to bring a new industry to British that we can actually get this list compiled and bring in Columbia in liquefi ed natural gas. It’s a generational op- legislation to actually erase this history and remove these portunity that could really, if we are successful, change clauses from properties, deeds and titles. the future of British Columbia and of the country. He has I’ve consulted with the members from Oak Bay– spent every day for the last many years making sure that Gordon Head and Delta South. Th ey have both agreed we can bring that to reality for the people of the province. to support such an action. You would think that that would be the thing of which, Will the Premier join with us on this side of the House aft er 19 years, he is most proud. But the thing, I believe, and support legislation to remove these discriminatory he is most proud of is the work that he’s done in housing covenants as a part of the legacy plan to honour the the homeless, in looking aft er the vulnerable — spending people to whom we apologize? $4 billion working to make sure that people have roofs over their head; recognizing that if you’re addicted, men- Hon. S. Th omson: As I’ve said — and I know members tally ill, perhaps living in the Downtown Eastside, you on both sides of the House agree that these covenants are can’t get better unless you have a roof. off ensive, a part of our history that we all fi nd off ensive [1135] — it is important to recognize and note that legislation This member, the member for Fort Langley– was taken to void the covenants. Th ey have no legal ef- Aldergrove, has put his nose to the grindstone and fect. Th ey are removed when conveyancing takes place. never failed to make that one of his priorities. I think We understand the concerns that have been raised. We all British Columbians, when we look back — when he will look to fi nd ways that we can address it within the fi nally retires, which I hope is no time soon — on what logistical challenges that will be there in terms of look- he’s accomplished, will be able to say: “Th ere’s a man who ing through this with, as I’ve said, 2.3 million active titles. understood how it all worked.” But again, this is something that we’re certainly aware of You grow the economy so that you can make sure that and will continue to address. you are looking aft er people. One cannot happen without the other. Social justice, equality, fairness and a compas- [End of question period.] sionate society are only possible when we do two things: when we make sure we’re creating the wealth that the Tributes private sector can create and then make sure that we are always, always fi nding ways to use that wealth to share it RICH COLEMAN equally amongst citizens. I know that today there are many other milestones Hon. C. Clark: Nineteen years ago, on this very day, to celebrate, including the departure of the member a political earthquake shook Fort Langley–Aldergrove. for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, but I would also like to And that earthquake — I know other geological forma- mark this day, the day that the member for Fort Langley– tions have been described in this House already today — Aldergrove joined this House, dedicated his life to pub- sits immediately to my right. lic service and to the people of Fort Langley–Aldergrove You would think that in all that time — in 19 years, and, of course, to all the people of British Columbia. aft er six Premiers, three Prime Ministers — all of the I hope the House will join me in thanking the member members on the other side of the House might have for Fort Langley–Aldergrove. [Applause.] learned not to poke this big bear who sits beside me. Occasionally they do, and we all look forward to the re- M. Farnworth: It’s my pleasure to rise in response to sults. I remember the other day when he got the only the Premier’s comments and also to acknowledge the 19 question, I think, that he had in question period all ses- years that the member for Fort Langley–Aldergrove has sion. His fi rst comment was: “Hold on. I have to get the served in this House. moths out of my book in order to open it and answer Some comments by my colleague earlier referred to the question.” what I think was referred to almost as a golden time, back He is so rarely approached by the opposition because in 2001, in his tribute to my colleague from Vancouver– Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8863

Mount Pleasant. I’d like to put my remarks in that con- of the co-Chair, who is not here right now — again, rec- text of a golden time when the member was elected back ognizing the hard work of the committee members over in 1996, and he sat on this side of the House, and I sat on the past while as well as the Offi ce of the Auditor General; that side of the House and got to do many of the func- also, the witnesses, the government witnesses, who ap- tions that he did. peared before the committee and stood the test of time In fact, one of the things that I think we have in com- in making their presentations for us. mon is we both shared in the Housing portfolio. Over [1140] the years we’ve got to know each other very well, both in the role as minister and as opposition critic. Each of Motion approved. us has had that. Th e thing that has struck me about the member, I think Petitions above all else, is that he has always been a member who has understood how this place operates and has always S. Robinson: I have a petition to present to the House. understood that we have our partisan diff erences but our It’s a petition to protect animals in distress. I have 151 role here is to serve the people. signatures. If I can pay him, I think, the ultimate compliment, “We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the hon. House which is the same as what my colleague from Mount urge the government of British Columbia to enact the animals Pleasant said earlier: as a minister, his door has always in distress act. Th is act would amend the Motor Vehicle Act, the been open. I think of all the government ministers that I Community Charter and the Vancouver Charter to ensure safer transportation of animals in vehicles. Th e act would require that have worked with over the years, he has been one of the animals be provided with proper ventilation and protection from most accessible and always been one to try, if you’ve got a extreme weather when being transported or when left unattended problem, to fi x it. For that, I can tell you, I’ve appreciated in vehicles. Th is bill would also give municipalities the ability to it and, in particular, the constituents that I have brought seize distressed animals when they are left unattended in vehicles.” problems from have appreciated it too. Congratulations on 19 years. I look forward to it com- Personal Statement ing full circle in 2017, with you sitting here and me sit- ting there. CLARIFICATION OF COMMENTS MADE IN THE HOUSE Reports from Committees Hon. N. Letnick: Yesterday during question period B. Ralston: I have the honour to present the fi rst report in an eff ort to condense my answer to a member’s ques- of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts tion, I accidentally grouped PRV with ISA and IHN. I for the fourth session of the 40th parliament. Th e report just want to make sure I put on the record the correct summarizes the committee’s activities in the second and answer. What I would like to clarify to the House re- third sessions of this parliament. garding PRV, or piscine reovirus, is that many reoviruses I move that the report be taken as read and received. are viruses without a disease. To date, PRV is common in B.C. farmed fi sh and some wild fi sh, but it’s not asso- Motion approved. ciated with any disease. Indeed, published scientifi c evidence indicates that B. Ralston: I ask leave of the House to move a motion PRV predates the introduction of salmon farming to our to adopt the report. province. Some scientists think PRV is the cause of heart and skeletal muscle infl ammation, HSMI, a disease that Leave granted. affects farmed Atlantic salmon in Europe. Recent re- search shows that the type of PRV in Europe is diff erent B. Ralston: I move the report be adopted and, in so from the type of PRV in B.C. Lastly, HSMI does not occur doing, I wish to make some very brief comments. in British Columbia. The report summarizes the committee’s activities Th ank you for allowing me to clear up the record. in 2014-15. Th e committee reviewed 21 reports of the Auditor General; approved the Auditor General’s annu- Petitions al workplan; and discussed ways, most importantly, to strengthen follow-up on audit report recommendations. R. Fleming: I present a petition from groups of par- I want to thank all committee members for their con- ents from around the province describing themselves tributions to the committee’s work. I also acknowledge as parents, citizens and taxpayers upset and concerned the eff ective support of the offi ces of the Auditor General by the government’s budget announced on February 17 and the comptroller general. and its eff ects on the public education system in British Columbia. Th ey call on the government to explain its ac- M. Morris: I’d like to off er a few comments on behalf tions in giving high-income earners a $200 million tax 8864 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015

cut and a $54 million cut to the public education system. You can’t share the wealth that the province produces I table it today in the House. in order to make sure that we create a kind of just soci- ety, which we hope to create, if we aren’t creating wealth. R. Lee: A petition initiated by Helen Hee Soon Chang Wealth comes from economic growth. Economic growth, and signed by 42 individuals asking the House to amend when it’s faster, is greater. the Name Act to provide more protection to people re- We hope that, as a result, we will be able to do more to questing a change of names. support the people of British Columbia. So I wanted to make sure that we started this debate today on that very Tabling Documents positive note. We set a goal to be the province that was in the top 1 or 2 for economic growth in the country. If Hon. M. de Jong: I have the honour to present a re- we meet the expectations that the Conference Board of port, the ’13-14 annual report for the gaming policy and Canada has set for us, then we will certainly meet and ex- enforcement branch of the Ministry of Finance. ceed them. Th at’s something to be very proud of. With that, I move Vote 10. Orders of the Day J. Horgan: I don’t want to be the dark cloud on the Hon. M. de Jong: A fi nal reminder to members about sunny day for the Premier, but as she is talking about your desks. Some of us must clean them out completely. news of the day, May 28 news from Teck Cominco…. Th e Th en I call Committee of Supply in this chamber, for Premier will be familiar with Teck Cominco because of the time remaining this morning — the estimates of the the number of zeroes behind the contributions they make Offi ce of the Premier. to the B.C. Liberal Party every year. “A prolonged metal- [1145] lurgical coal glut” prompts Teck Cominco to shut down fi ve coal mines in the Elk Valley. Committee of Supply It may well be that the bond raters and the Conference Board of Canada see a rosy future on the horizon for ESTIMATES: OFFICE OF THE PREMIER British Columbia, but, certainly, if you live in the Elk (continued) Valley, this is not good news. Five operations with 4,400 employees are looking at shutdowns over the summer. Th e House in Committee of Supply (Section B); D. Th at, of course, coincides with Tumbler Ridge, where Horne in the chair. I’ve visited. I don’t know if the Premier’s had the opportunity to Th e committee met at 11:46 a.m. visit Tumbler Ridge since the closure of the mines there. I know that she has been in Mount Polley, because I was On Vote 10: Offi ce of the Premier, $9,028,000 (con- there when the Premier arrived. We’re looking at poten- tinued). tial layoff s there as well aft er the catastrophic failure of the tailings pond in Likely. Hon. C. Clark: I move this motion today in light of this So it’s not all rosy. Imperial Metals, the owners of Red very promising news. In British Columbia we have a little Chris, not yet opened. Th ey have some cash fl ow chal- bit more to boast about today — the people of the prov- lenges, they have some issues around electricity sup- ince do — and that is that this will be the only province ply and they have some concern with their neighbours. that’s expected to have growth above 3 percent this year. Th ese are all issues that a responsible government that Th e forecasts for growth in British Columbia, accord- was focusing on governing rather than campaigning ing to the Conference Board of Canada, are that we will would be focused upon, but not so much with this gov- grow by 3.1 percent this year. Th ey say we should see ernment. fairly strong growth for exports and strong manufactur- In fact, when the Premier ran in the last election, she ing activity. Th at is very, very good news, not just for the talked about the most open and transparent government budget. Obviously, we’ve pegged, as members will know, in Canada. We learned just today in question period that our own internal growth estimate at about 2.3 percent. a former staff er, a former B.C. Liberal employee hired by Th is will far exceed that if we meet it — the expectations the Premier’s offi ce, an order-in-council appointment that have been set by independent groups. from the cabinet, was shocked to have e-mails deleted It’s great news for the people of British Columbia who from his computer not because he thought it was a good are looking for work, for the people all around the prov- idea but because a superior did. ince who are looking for family-sustaining, good, sol- [1150] id, long-term jobs that they can count on to raise their A ministerial assistant picked up his keyboard, accord- families. ing to the allegations made by the former executive as- That has always been what’s powered up British sistant, and deleted public records. Th at’s the most open Columbia. You can’t do that without economic growth. and transparent government in Canada. Thursday, May 28, 2015 British Columbia Debates 8865

When we asked for redress and apologies for the fi ring gests that they’re leaving more money in people’s pockets. of seven health care workers, we got a review that did not We see tuition fee increases. We see now what used allow the interviewer to compel testimony. Th ese are not to be a free service for British Columbians who want- the actions of the most open and transparent govern- ed to upgrade their education…. Adult basic educa- ment in Canada. tion fees are now reintroduced by a government that up In fact, these are the actions of a government that until 2007 seemed to think it was a good idea when the would prefer to keep a lid on information. Or as the NDP brought in free access to that — upgrades for your executive assistant in the Minister of Transportation’s Dogwood certifi cate, either to get one or to make sure offi ce reported to the Privacy Commissioner, the phil- that you have the appropriate prerequisites to get into osophy of just doing what it takes to win seems to be the higher education. Costs going up. order of the day. Camping fees. I like to camp. I like to go to provincial Yesterday the Premier talked about leaving more campsites. We are absolutely blessed in this province. We money in people’s pockets. Th at was a value of hers that have a rich abundance of opportunities for the citizens we’ve already canvassed, I think, fairly comprehensively. of this province and for others to come here and enjoy Th e notion of a debt-free British Columbia — hard to the wonders of B.C. Yet it’s going to cost a little bit more, imagine when you’ve seen a $135 billion increase in debt again, to do that this summer. and contractual obligations under the B.C. Liberal watch. I don’t know where the Premier comes up with this But somehow, in the fantasy world of the B.C. Liberals, notion, as she said repeatedly yesterday during these de- you can make the assertion that we will be debt-free. You bates, that she’s leaving more money in people’s pockets. just don’t have to realize it. It’s clearly not the case, unless you are in the top 2 per- It’s these assertions of reality that, I think, have most cent of wage earners. Th e only solemn promise that the British Columbians perplexed. You say we’re going to be B.C. Liberals kept from 2013 was to give a tax break to debt-free, yet the prospect of that is not even remotely on people making over $150,000 a year. the horizon. You say we’re going to be the most open and A $236 million hit to the treasury, no increases in wel- transparent government in Canada, yet you have political fare rates, no increases in disability programs, no in- staff deleting public records. creases for real wages, a 20-cent increase in the minimum We have an oral culture. Th e numerous reports and wage — two dimes to rub together for those working for reviews and investigations into political activity within the least amount that they can be paid. Twenty cents. But the B.C. Liberal cabinet have all led to the conclusion, for millionaires…. Millionaires will get a $17,000 rebate through the offi ce of the freedom-of-information and from the provincial treasury. Th at’s putting money into privacy commissioner, of an oral culture whereby records people’s pockets. Sadly, 98 percent of the people don’t are not kept of decisions, whereby if a request is made for have access to that. what the decision thought process was, no records exist. [1155] Th at, again, is perplexing for the most open and transpar- It’s my view, and it’s the view of the offi cial opposition ent government in Canada. — and I caution the Premier, although I know she will Th e issue that I want to canvass in the minutes that we take off on a fl ight now that will be so hyperbolic I will have remaining is the Premier’s assertion that she wants not be able to measure it — that people, real people out to leave more money in people’s pockets. Since the budget there where they live, are struggling. It’s getting hard- was tabled in February of this year, I’ve been travelling er and harder to get ahead. Th is generation will be the around the province with my colleague for Victoria– fi rst that’s worse off than the one before it since the First Beacon Hill, and we’ve been talking to people about that. World War. Th at is not a legacy to be proud of. It’s not a How do they feel? How do British Columbians feel legacy that I believe should be crowed about. But with about the government’s assertion that they’re leaving that, I’ll allow the Premier to close these estimates to more money in people’s pockets? Th ey say: “Well, my crow as she will. hydro rates are going up. Th at’s taking money out of my pockets.” Hon. C. Clark: Well, the member starts out and says Real wages, according to the very Conference Board that he doesn’t want to be the voice of negativity and that the Premier just referred to…. The Conference doom. I guess my political advice to him would be: “Hey, Board suggests that real wages in British Columbia have you’ve got to be who you are.” been stagnant since 2006. Not only have people not been Let me say this about mining. He did start with the given a raise in nine years. Th eir wages…. Th e value of issues around mining, which are issues for the entire that is going down. province. We are a province that still very much depends Th at’s the Liberal record: ferry fare increases, reduc- on our resource sector. It’s a sector that our government tions in service, medical services premiums going up has supported very strongly in expanding. every single year. Every January, just aft er Christmas, What Teck has announced today is that they will, rath- people can count on an increase in the costs of their er than laying anybody off …. He said that the people Medical Services Plan. Yet again, the government sug- were being fi red, I think. Th at’s not accurate. Th e people 8866 British Columbia Debates Thursday, May 28, 2015 were going to be required to take their vacation over the exempted child support from income assistance calcula- summer because of where commodity prices are. Just for tions. We’ve doubled the monthly income exemption for coal as an example: it was priced at $277 a tonne in 2011, families with children receiving income assistance from and the decrease has been almost 60 percent. $200 to $400. Starting in April, families with children Teck is a responsible employer. We all know that the under age six will have access to another $55 a month folks in the Elk Valley in particular depend on that com- through the B.C. early childhood tax benefi t. pany for their livelihoods. We strongly support the min- [1200] ing industry because of the wages it pays and the work As part of our early-years strategy, we created last year that it does across the province. Teck has been a very over 1,000 new child care spaces, and we are continuing good corporate citizen in making sure that they are put- to do that work — not to mention the fact that if you live ting thousands of people to work across the province. in British Columbia, you have the lowest taxes in Canada, Th is work that Teck is doing we hope will be short- up to $121,000. term. We hope that those people will be back at their If you are living in this province, as opposed to in regular jobs on their regular times as soon as possible. other provinces in this country, you are going to keep Part of that will depend, though, on where commodity more money in your pocket, have government take less prices go, and that’s something that’s beyond our control. away and be able to make more choices about how you We certainly wish all the employees at that company well. spend that money. Th at’s the single most important thing In terms of Teck’s support for the re-election of the that government can do to support individuals. In doing government, there was a very easily explicable reason so, the other thing that we accomplish is making sure for that. Since we’ve become government, there’ve been that while we grow the economy, we don’t grow govern- 30,000 direct jobs in mining exploration. Th at’s more ment. British Columbians don’t want a bigger govern- than double, aft er the member’s party had really killed ment. We saw what that looks like, and it’s not good for the mining industry and cut the number of jobs in half. the province. Th e average salary today is $114,000. Th at’s up from Th ose are the promises that we made to the people of $81,000 the last time this member had his hands on the British Columbia in 2013, and those are the promises that tools of government. Five new mines have opened, creat- ing 1,300 new jobs around the province. Five new mines we’re keeping — the lowest taxes in Canada, the fastest- under construction and permitted, seven expansions ap- growing economy in Canada, job creation, an LNG in- proved — all promises that we made and promises that dustry that we will work hard every day to make sure we we’ve kept. bring to life, a growing economy, a smaller government. Over 30 mines and expansions are currently in the Th ose are the commitments that we made, the promises environmental assessment permitting process. Th ey will that we made, and those are the promises that we kept. not all go ahead, but we hope that some of them will be- cause those provide great, family-supporting, commun- Vote 10: Offi ce of the Premier, $9,028,000 — approved. ity-sustaining jobs. If the member wonders why it is that mining com- Hon. C. Clark: I move that the committee rise, report panies, mining employees, unionized workers in the Elk resolution and ask leave to sit again. And I’d like to wish Valley are unlikely to support his party, it’s because his all members a very happy Beef Day. party has proven itself an enemy of the mining industry over the years. We’ve worked very, very hard to try and Motion approved. support that industry, recognizing how important it is for the people of British Columbia. Th e committee rose at 12:01 p.m. To keep things aff ordable for the people of the prov- ince, we’ve taken some other important initiatives. Th e Th e House resumed; Madame Speaker in the chair. single-parent employment initiative is an initiative that is going to support people in getting off social assistance Committee of Supply (Section B), having reported in a brand-new way — something that no government resolution, was granted leave to sit again. in the country has tried to do before. Rather than taking money away from people when Hon. T. Lake moved adjournment of the House. they get off social assistance, to support them going into the workforce, getting training and then supporting them Motion approved. through supports for child care and those other needs so that they can get off social assistance — which is what Madame Speaker: Th is House, at its rising, stands ad- most of the 16,000 parents who support their children journed until 1:30 this aft ernoon. on social assistance would dearly love to do — we’ve in- dexed and increased the minimum wage to CPI. We’ve Th e House adjourned at 12:02 p.m. Hansard Reporting Services

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