Fourth Session, 41st Parliament

OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES (HANSARD)

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Morning Sitting Issue No. 270

THE HONOURABLE DARRYL PLECAS, SPEAKER

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

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC

Fourth Session, 41st Parliament

SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Darryl Plecas

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council ...... Hon. Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance...... Hon. Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training...... Hon. Minister of Agriculture...... Hon. Attorney General...... Hon. , QC Minister of Children and Family Development ...... Hon. Minister of State for Child Care...... Hon. Minister of Education ...... Hon. Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources ...... Hon. Michelle Mungall Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy...... Hon. Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development ...... Hon. Doug Donaldson Minister of Health ...... Hon. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation ...... Hon. Scott Fraser Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology...... Hon. Minister of State for Trade...... Hon. Minister of Labour ...... Hon. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions...... Hon. Judy Darcy Minister of Municipal Afairs and Housing and Minister of Citizens’ Services ...... Hon. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ...... Hon. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction...... Hon. Shane Simpson Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture...... Hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure...... Hon.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Ofcial Opposition...... , QC Leader of the Tird Party ...... Dr. Andrew Weaver Deputy Speaker...... Assistant Deputy Speaker...... Joan Isaacs Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole ...... Acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly...... Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ...... Susan Sourial Sessional Law Clerk...... Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Parliamentary Counsel ...... S. Suzie Seo Acting Sergeant-at-Arms...... Greg Nelson ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal) ...... Penticton Abbotsford-Mission ...... Simon Gibson Bains, Hon. Harry (NDP)...... Surrey-Newton Abbotsford South ...... Hon. Darryl Plecas Barnett, Donna (BC Liberal) ...... Cariboo-Chilcotin Abbotsford West ...... Michael de Jong, QC Beare, Hon. Lisa (NDP)...... Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Boundary-Similkameen...... Linda Larson Begg, Garry (NDP) ...... Surrey-Guildford Burnaby–Deer Lake ...... Bernier, Mike (BC Liberal) ...... Peace River South Burnaby-Edmonds ...... Raj Chouhan Bond, Shirley (BC Liberal)...... Prince George–Valemount Burnaby-Lougheed...... Hon. Katrina Chen Brar, Jagrup (NDP)...... Surrey-Fleetwood Burnaby North...... Cadieux, Stephanie (BC Liberal)...... Surrey South Cariboo-Chilcotin...... Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) ...... Vancouver–West End Cariboo North ...... Chen, Hon. Katrina (NDP)...... Burnaby-Lougheed Chilliwack...... John Martin Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...... Burnaby-Edmonds Chilliwack-Kent...... Laurie Troness Chow, Hon. George (NDP)...... Vancouver-Fraserview Columbia River–Revelstoke...... Clovechok, Doug (BC Liberal) ...... Columbia River–Revelstoke Coquitlam–Burke Mountain...... Joan Isaacs Coleman, Rich (BC Liberal) ...... Langley East Coquitlam-Maillardville...... Hon. Selina Robinson Conroy, Hon. Katrine (NDP)...... Kootenay West Courtenay-Comox ...... Ronna-Rae Leonard Darcy, Hon. Judy (NDP) ...... New Westminster Cowichan Valley ...... Davies, Dan (BC Liberal) ...... Peace River North Delta North ...... de Jong, Michael, QC (BC Liberal) ...... Abbotsford West Delta South...... Dean, Mitzi (NDP)...... Esquimalt-Metchosin Esquimalt-Metchosin...... D’Eith, Bob (NDP)...... Maple Ridge–Mission Fraser-Nicola...... Dix, Hon. Adrian (NDP)...... Vancouver-Kingsway Kamloops–North Tompson...... Donaldson, Hon. Doug (NDP)...... Stikine Kamloops–South Tompson ...... Eby, Hon. David, QC (NDP)...... Vancouver–Point Grey Kelowna–Lake Country...... Elmore, Mable (NDP)...... Vancouver-Kensington Kelowna-Mission...... Steve Tomson Farnworth, Hon. Mike (NDP)...... Port Coquitlam Kelowna West...... Fleming, Hon. Rob (NDP)...... Victoria–Swan Lake Kootenay East ...... Foster, Eric (BC Liberal)...... Vernon-Monashee Kootenay West ...... Hon. Katrine Conroy Fraser, Hon. Scott (NDP) ...... Mid Island–Pacifc Rim Langford–Juan de Fuca...... Hon. John Horgan Furstenau, Sonia (BC Green Party) ...... Cowichan Valley Langley...... Mary Polak Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ...... Abbotsford-Mission Langley East ...... Rich Coleman Glumac, Rick (NDP)...... Port Moody–Coquitlam Maple Ridge–Mission ...... Bob D’Eith Heyman, Hon. George (NDP)...... Vancouver-Fairview Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ...... Hon. Lisa Beare Horgan, Hon. John (NDP) ...... Langford–Juan de Fuca Mid Island–Pacifc Rim ...... Hon. Scott Fraser Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) ...... Surrey-Cloverdale ...... Isaacs, Joan (BC Liberal) ...... Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Nanaimo–North Cowichan...... James, Hon. Carole (NDP)...... Victoria–Beacon Hill Nechako Lakes ...... Johal, Jas (BC Liberal)...... Richmond-Queensborough Nelson-Creston...... Hon. Michelle Mungall Kahlon, Ravi (NDP)...... Delta North New Westminster ...... Hon. Judy Darcy Kang, Anne (NDP)...... Burnaby–Deer Lake North Coast...... Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal)...... Shuswap North Island ...... Hon. Claire Trevena Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) ...... Boundary-Similkameen North Vancouver–Lonsdale ...... Lee, Michael (BC Liberal) ...... Vancouver-Langara North Vancouver–Seymour ...... Jane Tornthwaite Leonard, Ronna-Rae (NDP) ...... Courtenay-Comox Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...... Dr. Andrew Weaver Letnick, Norm (BC Liberal)...... Kelowna–Lake Country Parksville-Qualicum ...... Michelle Stilwell Ma, Bowinn (NDP)...... North Vancouver–Lonsdale Peace River North...... Malcolmson, Sheila (NDP) ...... Nanaimo Peace River South...... Mark, Hon. Melanie (NDP) ...... Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Penticton...... Martin, John (BC Liberal)...... Chilliwack Port Coquitlam ...... Hon. Mike Farnworth Milobar, Peter (BC Liberal)...... Kamloops–North Tompson Port Moody–Coquitlam ...... Morris, Mike (BC Liberal) ...... Prince George–Mackenzie Powell River–Sunshine Coast ...... Mungall, Hon. Michelle (NDP)...... Nelson-Creston Prince George–Mackenzie ...... Oakes, Coralee (BC Liberal) ...... Cariboo North Prince George–Valemount...... Olsen, Adam (BC Green Party)...... Saanich North and the Islands Richmond North Centre ...... Paton, Ian (BC Liberal)...... Delta South Richmond-Queensborough ...... Jas Johal Plecas, Hon. Darryl (Ind.)...... Abbotsford South Richmond South Centre...... Linda Reid Polak, Mary (BC Liberal) ...... Langley Richmond-Steveston...... John Yap Popham, Hon. Lana (NDP)...... Saanich South Saanich North and the Islands...... Ralston, Hon. Bruce (NDP) ...... Surrey-Whalley Saanich South...... Hon. Lana Popham Redies, Tracy (BC Liberal) ...... Surrey–White Rock Shuswap ...... Reid, Linda (BC Liberal) ...... Richmond South Centre Skeena ...... Rice, Jennifer (NDP)...... North Coast Stikine ...... Hon. Doug Donaldson Robinson, Hon. Selina (NDP) ...... Coquitlam-Maillardville Surrey-Cloverdale...... Marvin Hunt Ross, Ellis (BC Liberal)...... Skeena Surrey-Fleetwood ...... Jagrup Brar Routledge, Janet (NDP)...... Burnaby North Surrey–Green Timbers ...... Routley, Doug (NDP) ...... Nanaimo–North Cowichan Surrey-Guildford ...... Rustad, John (BC Liberal) ...... Nechako Lakes Surrey-Newton...... Hon. Harry Bains Shypitka, Tom (BC Liberal) ...... Kootenay East Surrey-Panorama...... Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ...... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Surrey South...... Simpson, Hon. Shane (NDP)...... Vancouver-Hastings Surrey-Whalley...... Hon. Bruce Ralston Sims, Jinny (NDP)...... Surrey-Panorama Surrey–White Rock...... Tracy Redies Singh, Rachna (NDP) ...... Surrey–Green Timbers Vancouver-Fairview ...... Hon. George Heyman Stewart, Ben (BC Liberal) ...... Kelowna West Vancouver–False Creek...... Sam Sullivan Stilwell, Michelle (BC Liberal)...... Parksville-Qualicum Vancouver-Fraserview ...... Hon. George Chow Stone, Todd (BC Liberal)...... Kamloops–South Tompson Vancouver-Hastings ...... Hon. Shane Simpson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal)...... West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Vancouver-Kensington ...... Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal)...... Vancouver–False Creek Vancouver-Kingsway ...... Hon. Adrian Dix Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal)...... West Vancouver–Capilano Vancouver-Langara ...... Michael Lee Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ...... Fraser-Nicola Vancouver–Mount Pleasant ...... Hon. Melanie Mark Tomson, Steve (BC Liberal)...... Kelowna-Mission Vancouver–Point Grey...... Hon. David Eby, QC Tornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) ...... North Vancouver–Seymour Vancouver-Quilchena ...... Andrew Wilkinson, QC Troness, Laurie (BC Liberal) ...... Chilliwack-Kent Vancouver–West End...... Spencer Chandra Herbert Trevena, Hon. Claire (NDP) ...... North Island Vernon-Monashee...... Eric Foster Wat, Teresa (BC Liberal) ...... Richmond North Centre Victoria–Beacon Hill ...... Hon. Carole James Weaver, Dr. Andrew (BC Green Party) ...... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Victoria–Swan Lake ...... Hon. Rob Fleming Wilkinson, Andrew, QC (BC Liberal)...... Vancouver-Quilchena West Vancouver–Capilano ...... Ralph Sultan Yap, John (BC Liberal)...... Richmond-Steveston West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ......

Party Standings: BC Liberal 42; NDP 41; BC Green Party 3; Independent 1

CONTENTS

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Morning Sitting Page

Routine Business

Introductions by Members...... 9937

Introduction and First Reading of Bills...... 9937 Bill 36 — Gaming Control Amendment Act, 2019 Hon. D. Eby

Introductions by Members...... 9938

Statements (Standing Order 25B) ...... 9938 SurreyCares Community Foundation S. Cadieux Library Month and School Library Day R. Singh Darrin Yusishen and room dedication at Royal Inland Hospital T. Stone West End Seniors Network S. Chandra Herbert Cariboo-Chilcotin residents’ response to community issues D. Barnett Community Inclusion Month M. Dean

Oral Questions...... 9940 Police investigation of former Citizens’ Services Minister and government response to allegations M. Polak Hon. J. Horgan S. Bond Hon. D. Eby Soil disposal site in Shawnigan Lake watershed S. Furstenau Hon. M. Mungall Police investigation of former Citizens’ Services Minister and government response to allegations J. Johal Hon. D. Eby P. Milobar A. Wilkinson M. Polak

Petitions ...... 9946 Hon. C. Trevena

Motions Without Notice...... 9946 Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Hon. M. Farnworth

Orders of the Day

Second Reading of Bills ...... 9946 Bill 35 — Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2019 Hon. D. Eby M. Lee Hon. K. Conroy N. Letnick

9937

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019 across to Dawson Creek, the largest opposition caucus in British Columbia history is very efectively represented by Te House met at 10:05 a.m. 56 constituency assistants here today and another 40 or so who work part-time who aren’t here. We have to thank them [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] for doing that front-line work that makes the government of British Columbia efective for all of its citizens. Routine Business We all know that constituency assistants serve everyone. Tey never, ever ask someone how they vote or what their Prayers. preferences are. Teir job is to serve them as citizens. Tese people do it with great style, to the point where on a good Introductions by Members day, we’re not even sure they’re doing it because they do it so well and so efectively. Hon. J. Darcy: I have two very, very special guests in the With that in mind, I’m going to ask our enormous caucus galleries today. Chief Rhonda Larrabee of the Qayqayt First not to get up one by one to introduce 56 people. Instead, can Nation and the Coast Salish people — I think it’s fair to we have a rousing round of applause to welcome the con- say that in our community, Rhonda Larrabee is an incred- stituency assistants from across British Columbia who hap- ibly courageous leader. She has single-handedly, over the last pen to work for the opposition. [Applause.] decade or so, put the issue of reconciliation on the agenda in our community. She’s such an active part of our community M. Dean: It’s my honour today to introduce someone who and a wonderful leader. is here in the gallery, the fre chief from View Royal, who She’s accompanied by her husband, Bryan Larrabee, has given decades of service to our province. He is chief Paul who previously worked as an emergency management dir- Hurst, and he received the rare Medal of Bravery in 2014. ector with Vancouver Coastal Health and now teaches Would everybody please make him very welcome. emergency management at the Justice Institute. Would the [10:10 a.m.] House please join me in welcoming these two very, very special guests today. Hon. L. Popham: In the precinct, wandering around, hav- ing an amazing tour, is a Saanich South class of grade 5s D. Davies: It gives me great pleasure to introduce two from McKenzie Elementary School, with their teacher, Ms. people in the House today, all the way down from Fort St. Sunny Jun. John. First of all is my constituency assistant, Tamara I visited this class a few weeks ago. I told them about Wilkinson. She’s also joined by her husband, Barry Wilkin- this amazing apple that we produce in British Columbia son — his frst time here in the Legislature today. Would the called the Ambrosia. Tey’ve got an apple to take home as House please make them feel welcome. a souvenir. I also told them that the member for Penticton has given us all some apples from his orchard to enjoy, which Hon. R. Fleming: As members of the House know, Octo- are the Aurora Golden Gala. Tere are a lot of great apples ber is Library Month in British Columbia. It’s a time to celeb- that we produce, and we have 28 apples for the teacher from rate library staf, board members and volunteers who work McKenzie Elementary School today. hard every day in our communities to make sure that British I welcome them here. I know they haven’t made it into the Columbians can access a world of information at their fn- chamber yet, but they’re very excited to be here. gertips in fantastic library facilities. I would like to introduce a number of guests in this regard Introduction and First Reading of Bills who are part of the Greater Victoria Public Library system. We have with us Irwin Henderson, who is president of the BILL 36 — GAMING CONTROL volunteer-run Friends of the Greater Victoria Public Library. AMENDMENT ACT, 2019 We have Deborah Begoray, who is board chair of the Greater Victoria Public Library system. Councillor Andy MacKin- Hon. D. Eby presented a message from Her Honour the non is vice-chair of the GVPL. Jennifer Windecker is a dir- Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled Gaming Control ector of the Greater Victoria Public Library. Her colleague Amendment Act, 2019. Daphne Wood, also a director, is here. Tracy Kendrick is a coordinator with the public library system. Andrea Brim- Hon. D. Eby: I move the bill be introduced and read a frst mell, also a coordinator, has joined us today. Sheila Gregg is time now. a dedicated Greater Victoria Public Library patron. I’m pleased to introduce the Gaming Control Amend- I would ask the House to join me in welcoming all of these ment Act, 2019. Tis bill provides for the sharing of annual special guests here today to celebrate Library Month. provincial gaming revenue with the B.C. First Nations Gam- ing Revenue Sharing Limited Partnership. It increases the A. Wilkinson: From Parksville to Fernie, to Kitimat, maximum number of directors of the B.C. Lottery Corp. to 9938 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019

11, to facilitate the appointment of one position for a First in February of 2016, just three or so years ago, more than 200 Nations nominee. volunteers have contributed 70,000 hours for 45,000 patient Provincial gaming revenue will support self-government; trips, totalling more than 1.3 million kilometres. strong, healthy communities; and services that make life bet- [10:15 a.m.] ter for families. Te provincial government has already In the Special Needs category, the 2019 SurreyCares transferred nearly $200 million to the newly formed B.C. grants recipients were numerous. Tey were the ALS Society First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing Limited Partnership, of British Columbia; the Centre for Child Development; providing the frst two years of shared gaming revenue as Horizon Church; the Lower Mainland Down Syndrome part of its long-term commitment to revenue-sharing Society; the Progressive Intercultural Community Services announced in connection with Budget 2019. Society, which so many of us know as PICS; the SuperChefs Our government is putting in place a long-term revenue Cookery Society; and the Kindred Farms Sanctuary, which stream for First Nations as part of our commitment to recon- was formerly SALI. ciliation through supporting self-determination. Tis fund- In the Youth Initiatives category, the 2019 SurreyCares ing will make it possible for nations to provide important grants recipients were Dan’s Legacy and VAYA Youth Arts new economic, social and cultural opportunities that dir- Society. ectly beneft the people who live in their communities. As we all know, much work goes on behind the scenes, and we have hundreds of people who give their time to Mr. Speaker: Te question is frst reading of the bill. serve on the boards of community agencies and charities in our local communities. So I’d also like to take a moment to Motion approved. thank the board of the SurreyCares Community Foundation for their commitment to our city and our people — John Hon. D. Eby: I move that the bill be placed on the orders Lawson, Debbie MacDougall, Jef Hector, Mike Bose, Sonia of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House Parmar, Linda Stromberg, Sue Anderson and Peter Unruh. afer today. Congratulations to the SurreyCares Foundation and the recipients of the 2019 SurreyCares grants on their continued Bill 36, Gaming Control Amendment Act, 2019, community service. introduced, read a frst time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of LIBRARY MONTH the House afer today. AND SCHOOL LIBRARY DAY

Introductions by Members R. Singh: I’m honoured to stand in the House today to cel- ebrate Library Month and School Library Day. For the entire Hon. B. Ralston: I’d like to make an introduction. Joining month of October, libraries and library partners throughout us in the members’ gallery this morning is His Excellency B.C. and Canada are raising awareness of the valuable role Urban Ahlin, the Ambassador of Sweden to Canada. His libraries play in Canadians’ lives. Excellency joined us for the economic mission to British Libraries are so much more than just a place to fnd Columbia last week and is back here for more meetings. I’ll books. Libraries promote cultural awareness, engage in the be meeting with His Excellency later today to discuss new community, provide educational programs, support free- areas of cooperation between British Columbia and Sweden. dom of expression and so much more. Libraries are part- Would the House please make him feel very welcome. ners in fostering lifelong learning and fulfl a vital role, helping people of all ages and from all backgrounds so Statements (Standing Order 25B) they can access the information and services they need to learn, work and thrive. SURREYCARES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Families throughout the province beneft every day from library and literacy programs. Last year over 50,000 children, S. Cadieux: Twenty-fve years ago Francisca and Edwin parents and caregivers attended 2,500 family literacy ses- Darts created a trust for their land to be preserved as a sions made possible with support from Raise-a-Reader, in botanical garden. Teir endowment for the park was the addition to thousands of books and learning materials dis- seed for the SurreyCares Community Foundation. Since that tributed to family literacy programs, schools and libraries time, the SurreyCares Foundation has invested in the people throughout B.C. of Surrey through grants to community agencies. Tis Sep- In just a few weeks, on October 21, students throughout tember SurreyCares dispersed another $32,000 in com- B.C. will celebrate School Library Day, also known as Drop munity grants. Everything and Read, as a part of Library Month. It’s a cel- Te SurreyCares grants recipient in the General Com- ebration of reading designed to remind people of all ages to munity category this year was the Volunteer Cancer Drivers make reading a part of their lives. At a certain time, students Society, and it’s a worthy cause, no doubt. Since conception in all classrooms are encouraged to stop what they are doing Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9939 and take some time to read, drawing attention to the import- WEST END SENIORS NETWORK ance of reading just for fun. School Library Day is coordinated and supported by the S. Chandra Herbert: Members should know that some B.C. Teacher-Librarian Association, a specialist association days I feel like the late, great Marx — I speak of Groucho, of the B.C. Teachers Federation. Library Month is also a not Karl, but apologies to the members opposite — when he time to recognize dedicated library staf, board members and said: “I don’t care to belong to any club that would have me volunteers throughout the province, who enhance the qual- as a member.” Sometimes we all get that way, I’m sure. ity of our life every day. Tank you for all that you do. However, there is a club that I’m very, very glad to be an I encourage all of you to head down to your local library honorary member of. It’s an organization in my community, and fnd an exciting new book to read or participate in one the West End, that I would describe as the West End’s best of the many activities that your community library ofers. friend. Tat organization is the West End Seniors Network. Our community would not be the same without it. DARRIN YUSISHEN AND ROOM DEDICATION I think sometimes we don’t say thank you enough or cel- AT ROYAL INLAND HOSPITAL ebrate the things that are good, so today I choose to celebrate the network. It’s a community of friends. I say “best friend” T. Stone: Te human condition is inherently fawed. because they are all best friends of our neighbourhood — the Tankfully, however, failure is instructive, and we have the volunteers, the board, the staf — every one of them looking ability to learn from mistakes. out for the well-being of our neighbours, of those who aren’t It was a warm summer day, July 20, 2017. Darrin Yusishen connected to anybody, newcomers, to be part of the great, of Kamloops begrudgingly went to Royal Inland Hospital great community of the West End. seeking treatment for an agonizing headache. He returned Tey have three locations. I mention this now because I home with medication for a bad migraine. Less than a week fnd that sometimes people in my community aren’t aware of later Darrin lay awake for a six-hour surgical procedure to the good work they do. Of course, at Barclay Manor, where remove an aggressive brain tumour known as a glioblas- they ofer over 50 diferent programs. You want to learn Itali- toma. Sadly, from the beginning of this unfortunate story, an, Spanish, English, Farsi, karaoke? You want to learn chess? several mistakes were made — from accidentally being You want to learn computers? How to fx that darn cell informed about his cancer by a nurse to spending several phone that your kid gave you that you can never quite make days in a hospital hallway to delayed treatment. work, or to teach somebody how to use that cell phone? A devoted husband and father, Darrin always put others Tey’ve got incredible volunteers. One of them, Vlad, I’d frst, especially his children, son Kellen and daughter Bella. like to mention. He just won the senior of the year award in But when the health care system failed Darrin, his sister Vancouver because of his service to that community, to my Crystal became his Rock of Gibraltar, his devoted advocate. community. And so many more — Pamela as well. Led ably When we frst met Crystal, we were impressed. Laser- by Anthony Kupferschmidt with an incredible board, it’s an focused on the issues facing her brother, she was calm, brave organization that I learn from every single day. and reasoned at a very difcult time, over many months. I know every community’s got one, but I just want to say Crystal’s determination was big picture — to ensure that no thank you to the West End Seniors Network, to Kay’s Place, others would endure the same sufering as her brother, who Clothes and Collectibles, Barclay Manor. You’re an incred- sadly died at age 40 on January 23 of last year. ible gif to our community. Keep on giving. We’ll keep on [10:20 a.m.] trying to give our best back to you. Now, I’d like to express my appreciation to the Minister of Tank you, West End Seniors Network. Health for his empathy surrounding Darrin’s story. Recently the minister and I were honoured to take part in a ceremony CARIBOO-CHILCOTIN RESIDENTS’ to announce that a room in the new Royal Inland Patient RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY ISSUES Care Tower will be named afer Darrin Yusishen. It will be named afer him so that his memory lives on forever and D. Barnett: Yesterday the member for Cariboo North so that the focus will always be on the future patients who spoke about her riding and how resilient the people in the enter that room and the care, dignity and respect that they Cariboo are. It’s true. In my riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin, you deserve. will fnd some of the most resilient people in this province. At that ceremony, Darrin’s sister Crystal said: “Tere is Spanning from Tweedsmuir Park in the west to Bridge Lake no greater power than that which stems from unconditional in the east, our population of over 33,000 is truly resilient. love, a force that propels you forward to work until you’ve In times of emergency, whether it be fooding or record achieved the results required to bring a sense of peace, a wildfres, a neighbour will help defend their home against sense of what is right.” Crystal reminded us that no matter high water and forest fres. Strangers will help people they what happens, no matter who tells you otherwise, one per- have never met before, just like Leslea and Duane Destree son can indeed make a diference. did last week. Afer seeing over 200 logging trucks descend on a UBCM 9940 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019 in Vancouver to draw attention to the crisis in the forest Oral Questions industry, the couple organized a highly successful barbecue fundraiser for local families afected by the mill closures POLICE INVESTIGATION OF FORMER held at Margetts Meats in Williams Lake. Companies like CITIZENS’ SERVICES MINISTER AND Still North Design, Interior Properties, Lorne Doerkson, Old GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS Dutch and people like Tammy Tugnam, Finning all pitched in and raised nearly $6,000 in a matter of two hours. M. Polak: When the Premier was asked about the crim- Forestry used to be the top employer, but unfortunately no inal investigation into the activities of the former Minister more. And while our region has many family ranches rais- of Citizens’ Services, he said: “I am well aware of the alleg- ing beef cattle, many are also disappearing or downsizing ations that the member raises. My chief of staf received a because no one in the family wants to take over. letter from the secretary to cabinet in March. He reviewed [10:25 a.m.] the allegations to the extent that he could…. An appropriate Tis is unfortunate because the Cariboo region has so investigation was done at that time.” much to ofer. We have the highest concentration of copper Will the Premier tell us what that investigation entailed? and gold ore in North America. We also have some of the best lakes, resorts, guided fshing, bear viewing and ecotour- Hon. J. Horgan: I think it’s appropriate that the House ism in the country. And thanks to the member for Kam- understand that there was no criminal investigation at the loops–South Tompson, we now have a fully refurbished time the questions were raised in this Legislature. I know the Northern Sea Wolf ferry bringing visitors to the region from member understands that, but she might want to review the all over the world. handwritten note she has there and ensure that the House is Whether you are a visitor, an investor or just looking for a clear on that question. home in a beautiful place, come to the Cariboo, a land where Issues were raised last spring. A letter came to the sec- people are resilient, helpful and friendly. retary to cabinet that made reference to allegations from a former employee. Tat was transmitted to my chief of staf. COMMUNITY INCLUSION MONTH He conducted a review of the information that was available in that correspondence. He translated that to the deputy to M. Dean: It was not that long ago when people labelled the Premier. Tat was the end of the story because there was with a developmental disability had to surrender their rights no basis in the allegations that had come to government at and have all decisions made for them. Tey were completely that time. segregated and faced lifelong isolation from their friends and Subsequently the ofcial opposition raised a myriad of families and from society. Tey were forgotten, and their issues, waved paper in the air, had a great deal of indigna- voices went unheard. Tey were discriminated against in tion, but nothing further came forward. We asked them, if every aspect of their lives and had no choice in how to live. they had anything, to take it to the RCMP. Trough self-advocacy, community advocacy and deter- Fast forward to Friday. At 2:30, I was advised by the Attor- mination, these same people are reshaping society and help- ney General that a special prosecutor had been appointed to ing to ensure that people who live with a developmental dis- review the actions of the Minister of Citizens’ Services. Te ability have the same rights and opportunities as everyone minister resigned, and at 5:15, the public was advised that else. Tat perseverance has led to each October in British she had lef her position. Te member for Coquitlam-Mail- Columbia being recognized and celebrated as Community lardville, the Minister for Housing and Municipal Afairs, Inclusion Month. took over the responsibilities for Citizens’ Services. First celebrated in 1998 and originally called Community [10:30 a.m.] Living Month, Community Inclusion Month recognizes that Te press release would have gone out earlier, but I was people with diverse abilities make our province stronger. Te at an awards ceremony with the Minister of Education — month also recognizes the important role families, friends, the Premier’s Excellence Awards in Education — giving out caregivers, volunteers, community groups and employers awards. I reviewed the press release, sent it out. Tat’s what play in ensuring the full participation of those living with happened on Friday. developmental disabilities in our communities. Progress for inclusion is made through actions big and small. Mr. Speaker: Te House Leader for the opposition on a Tis year the theme for Community Inclusion Month supplemental. is: “Te future is accessible.” Troughout October, Com- munity Living B.C. will be hosting events around the M. Polak: Originally, the Premier said that he had no province. I would like to encourage all members to fnd knowledge of the whistle-blower’s allegations, even though, events in their constituency to participate in. Together we as he’s stated now, there’s certainly an email chain that reveals can continue to work towards raising awareness and pro- that that’s not the case. In fact, on March 7, the chief of staf moting equality for all. to the Premier emailed the Deputy Minister to the Premi- er and, referring to an email from the whistle-blower, said: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9941

“Afer reviewing the email, I have followed up with Roseanne Mr. Speaker: Member. Moran, executive director of the NDP caucus, and the mem- ber for Surrey-Panorama, the Minister of Citizens’ Services.” Hon. J. Horgan: I appreciate that maybe it was a better Tat’s what we know from this email that we received day in the spring than it is in the fall for the ofcial oppos- through FOI. We don’t know what’s in the body of the email. ition. But the reality of the situation is that allegations were We don’t know how the investigation was conducted. If we’re made. Tey were looked into. A note was given. She’s read to take this email at face value, it sounds like all they did from it. I have given her the substance of the letter that the was make a couple of phone calls. People said everything was Liberals had for months and months and months. okay, and that’s what they rested their assurances to British On Friday at 2:30, I was advised that a special prosecutor Columbians on. had been appointed. By 5:15, that was public knowledge. We British Columbians deserve to know. What was the Pre- proceed to make B.C. a better place. You should get on board mier told at that time that gave him confdence that there with that. was nothing to the allegations? S. Bond: Te Premier says he has confdence in the former Hon. J. Horgan: Te correspondence that was received Minister of Citizens’ Services because his chief of staf made by the cabinet secretary made references to events that a phone call, said, “Everything is all right,” and dismissed were charity events, not fundraising events. Tat was con- serious allegations from the whistle-blower. Now a special frmed to be inaccurate through the investigation that did prosecutor has been appointed to look into potential crim- take place. Tere was a claim that there were visa applic- inal wrongdoing by the former Minister of Citizens’ Services ations that had been fabricated. Tere was no evidence of and others. that happening. Tere was notice of an invoice that was It’s important to remember that it wasn’t just the member incorrectly issued for a website design. All of these issues for Surrey-Panorama who faced allegations from the were canvassed at the time. whistle-blower. Te former minister’s political staf were also Te issue, I believe, for the people of British Columbia, for singled out. the people of this Legislature, is that on Friday a special pro- [10:35 a.m.] secutor was appointed to do an investigation. Tat investiga- To the Premier, were Mindy Bansal and Shannon Russell tion is underway, and I know at least one member of the bar at the political staf briefng that he organized last Friday on the other side would understand that. We should let that before the public became aware of the issue, and if so, what investigation run its course. specifc instructions were they given?

Mr. Speaker: Te House Leader for the opposition on a Hon. D. Eby: I can advise the member that the ministry second supplemental. staf member who was in the former minister’s ofce was placed on administrative leave, and her devices were taken. M. Polak: Te fact is the Premier himself said that there She’s on administrative leave as well. was an investigation. He has yet to tell us how that invest- igation unfolded. What exactly did they do to fnd out, to Interjections. determine, whether or not the facts were as he seems to think they are? Hon. D. Eby: I hear the members shouting questions, but More troubling than that is now, afer we have been maybe they’ll stand up and ask them. We’ll do one at a time. stonewalled in fnding out any information with respect to Te member asked about a Friday afernoon meeting. Te notes or documentation that was provided to the Premier, opposition has literally made up a meeting that didn’t hap- he seems to have possession of sufcient notes and infor- pen. On Friday afernoon, “there was an NDP staf meeting, mation around what was discovered in that investigation and that’s where” — they use my name — “the Attorney Gen- — so-called. eral told the NDP insiders to cover their tracks. And then Why, then, does this government refuse to provide to the they told the public.” Tis is what the Leader of the Opposi- public, provide to the opposition, the results of that invest- tion said happened on Friday. I attended no such meeting. igation and what was reported to the Premier that gave him that confdence? Interjections.

Hon. J. Horgan: A letter that was in the possession of the Mr. Speaker: Members, please. ofcial opposition before it was in our possession outlined a series of allegations. We looked into those allegations. Tey Interjections. were unfounded. We closed the fle. Tere is an investigation underway. Hon. D. Eby: He did say it outside. He said it on CKNW.

Interjection. Interjections. 9942 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Mr. Speaker: Members, the Attorney General has the should do it outside. But regardless, we don’t control foor. access to WhatsApp.

Hon. D. Eby: Now, I attended no such meeting. I said no Interjections. such thing. Tey are making it up. It is unacceptable. Mr. Speaker: Members. Interjections. Hon. D. Eby: What we control access to is government Mr. Speaker: Members. email, calendar, records — those…. Te member for Prince George–Valemount on a supple- mental. Interjection.

S. Bond: Well, let’s talk about making it up on the fy. We Hon. D. Eby: Tat’s right, and the log-in was terminated discovered yesterday that the former Minister of Citizens’ on Friday. Services was allowed to keep her devices for hours and days without any precautions taken by this Attorney General. Interjections. Let’s talk about making it up on the fy. Let’s be clear. We know…. Mr. Speaker: Members. I’ll be asking the Attorney General to take a rest for a Interjections. minute, until it’s quiet.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Tank you. Hon. D. Eby: Tank you, hon. Speaker. I can also tell the member that prior to the triple-delete S. Bond: Tank you, Mr. Speaker. scandal, which the member might remember, it was possible We know that the former minister actively used iMessages to eliminate an email record if it was deleted on the day it and WhatsApp as her preferred approach of communication was created, before the daily backup. But of course, our gov- with her political staf Mindy Bansal and Shannon Russell. ernment did change that. We know the member for Surrey-Panorama had access to Following the Loukidelis review, it was changed so you her devices and all those private channels for days. can no longer circumvent the daily backup. Te daily backup When exactly were the minister’s former staf…? When is held for a minimum of 13 months. Tat can be extended. were their devices confscated, and what steps did the Attorney General take to make sure that that information SOIL DISPOSAL SITE IN is protected? SHAWNIGAN LAKE WATERSHED

Hon. D. Eby: Another unfortunately inaccurate repres- S. Furstenau: On May 14, the Ministry of Energy and entation. In fact, on Friday, the former minister’s log-in was Mines issued an order to South Island Aggregates pertaining terminated. She lost all access to…. to a piece of property the company owns in the Shawnigan watershed, a piece of property known as lot 21, on which Interjections. the company has deposited somewhere in the neighbour- hood of 100,000 tonnes of industrial soil. Tis lot is directly Mr. Speaker: Members. adjacent to lot 23, where the same operators have deposited 100,000 tonnes of contaminated soil, much to the dismay of Hon. D. Eby: She lost all access to government email and Shawnigan residents. her calendar. We don’t control…. Te member is foating [10:40 a.m.] that perhaps there’s information in private apps like What- Te Mines order reads: sApp and others. We don’t control that. If the member had “Te permit holder shall remediate the mine site by removing all used applications like that, she would know that you could soils imported since the date of issuance of permit G8331. Upon com- access that from any computer in the world. pletion, the permit holder will provide the inspector with a written report showing that the volume of material removed from the site corresponds to the volume imported since the date of issuance of the Interjections. permit. Tis remediation shall be completed by September 30, 2019.” My question is for the Minister of Energy, Mines and Pet- Mr. Speaker: Members. roleum Resources. It is now October 8. Has the company responded to the order that your ministry issued, and has Hon. D. Eby: We don’t control that. We can’t shut down the soil been removed from the site, as ordered? access to it. If the member is making a substantive alleg- ation against the former minister, she should do so. She Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9943

Hon. M. Mungall: First, I just want to acknowledge the Hon. M. Mungall: I get that the opposition is quite upset hard work that this member has done on behalf of her by the fact that we put $20 million into this ministry to put community on this issue. I remember the very frst time I more boots on the ground to make sure that inspections actually met her. She was bringing this issue to the Legis- are taking place. Tose inspections are now taking place. lature with the then MLA, Bill Routley. I just wanted to Tat’s why we have people on the ground knowing exactly acknowledge her hard work on this, because we do have a what’s going on with lot 21, knowing exactly what’s happen- problem on our hands. ing there and taking action to make sure that we’re bring- In May, as the member mentioned, we did issue a com- ing South Island Aggregates into compliance — something, pliance order on South Island Aggregates, because they were when they were in government, they never did. out of compliance with their permit. Tey had until Septem- ber 30 to get in compliance with that order. POLICE INVESTIGATION OF FORMER Te site has recently been inspected, and what we found CITIZENS’ SERVICES MINISTER AND was that they were still out of compliance. Tey had not GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS taken our order seriously. Tat is unacceptable. Tis issue is now before a statutory decision–maker so J. Johal: Te former minister has a very clear record of that we can proceed, moving forward, in terms of how we breaking the very laws she was sworn to enforce. Whether can bring them into compliance and the punishment, or it’s hiding emails or using private communication channels, should I say the penalty, they will have to pay in reference to the minister always went out of her way to block the public’s being out of compliance longer than they should have been. access to information. Even the Ofce of Information and Privacy slammed Mr. Speaker: Te House Leader, Tird Party on a supple- her for putting roadblocks up to legitimate requests. Tat’s mental. why it was shocking to hear the member for Surrey-Pan- orama tell reporters she had devices for four days before S. Furstenau: Tank you to the minister for her response. turning them in. I harken back to May 2016, when the B.C. Auditor Gen- [10:45 a.m.] eral released an audit of compliance and enforcement in A simple question to the Premier: why was the minister, the mining sector. One of the report’s main fndings was with a record of deception, who now faces an active police that both Ministry of Mines’ and Ministry of Environment’s investigation into criminal wrongdoing, allowed to keep her enforcement responses have signifcant defciencies and phone and iPad? Ministry of Mines’ enforcement tools are, in some cases, inefectual. Tis is resulting in delayed or unsuccessful Hon. D. Eby: Tere were about four months between the enforcement by ministries and inaction in several instances. time when the opposition wrote their letter to the RCMP Nearly 3½ years afer this report was released, we have a and the appointment of the special prosecutor. During that company with a long history of non-compliance with both time, we can assume that the RCMP were looking at the let- its mines and environment permits, essentially disregarding ter that the member for the opposition had written. Dur- an order from the ministry. I hear that the minister is saying ing that time, if they deemed that there were government that they intend to take action. However, Shawnigan has records or other materials that they needed for their work, I been hearing that story for a very long time. assume they would have asked. My question is to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Pet- In fact, they may have asked. I may not have knowledge roleum Resources. If the ministry doesn’t seem to have the of that, because the request could well have gone through capacity to enforce the rules of its orders and to bring about members of the public service or through the Speaker’s compliance, who is, in this province, looking out for the pub- ofce. I don’t know. In any event, I have no knowledge of any lic interest? requests at that time. What I do know is that when the Premier received Hon. M. Mungall: I appreciate that the people of Shaw- notice from me that a special prosecutor had been appoin- nigan Lake lost confdence in government when they saw, ted, he accepted the resignation of the former minister. time and time again, their issues not being considered and Her access to her government email and her devices not being addressed. It was part of a larger problem under through her log-in was terminated on the Friday. It was the previous government. the same day. It all happened on the same day. Te devices Tis government takes its responsibilities as a regulator are currently in the possession of the public service, phys- very seriously — so seriously that we put…. ically, as are the devices of her ministry stafer who was located in her constituency ofce. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Te member for Richmond-Queensbor- Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, the minister has the ough on a supplemental. foor. Tank you. 9944 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019

J. Johal: At the end of the day, of course, using WhatsApp, the right thing and ensure the former minister’s emails, texts, Signal, iMessage, all of those…. She had access to those for WhatsApp, any other messages and any other information is four days. You know, she could have tampered with them. properly preserved? We don’t know. Let’s be clear for a second. Te member for Surrey-Panor- Hon. D. Eby: It sounds like a similar question, hon. ama is a serial ofender. Speaker, but I will point out to the member to underline gov- ernment’s commitment. I was trying to think about a way to Interjections. do it properly, because I certainly am concerned about writ- ing to the special prosecutor about perceptions of independ- Mr. Speaker: Members, the member for Richmond- ence of the prosecutor and, at the same time, making sure Queensborough has the foor. Tank you. that everybody knows that government is fully committed to preserving any records that are a matter of concern, as well J. Johal: Te member for Surrey-Panorama is a serial as providing them to the police investigation. ofender when it comes to breaking the laws she was sworn I have directed my Deputy Attorney General to write to to uphold. Te Premier is the one who talked to her, advised the commissioner of the RCMP to underline what I believe her on a lawyer and called a meeting for political staf to dis- would be understood by everybody involved. But just in case cuss how to proceed, all before the public is told that the it’s not, the government is fully ready to cooperate with pre- minister is under an active police investigation into criminal serving any records at all, with providing any records at all wrongdoing. that will assist them in their investigation. Tat is the com- In what world does the Premier think it’s okay for the sus- mitment of government. pect to have access to evidence for almost four days? [10:50 a.m.] I have now directed the deputy to write. Te deputy will Hon. D. Eby: Te member listed three or four private be the contact for the commissioner, if necessary, not me. apps that we don’t have access to shut down. I’m glad he’s I’m trying my best to preserve independence yet, at the same not the critic for technology. Te way these things work time, respond to what are obviously concerns from the other is you can log into them from any computer in the world, side that maybe this government, for some reason, has not and we can’t stop that from happening. I do appreciate committed to that, when we have said repeatedly we are. his concern. Te police can access records through various Good to have some paper on it and to write to the commis- technology providers. sioner and say: “We’re here for you if you need us.” As for the records within the control of government, the log-in and password access for the former minister were ter- Mr. Speaker: Te member for Kamloops–North Tomp- minated. son on a supplemental.

P. Milobar: I have absolutely no idea how the Premier P. Milobar: Tis really isn’t that complicated. We know still has confdence in the member for Surrey-Panorama there’s an active police investigation into criminal wrong- — as late as yesterday still espousing this great confdence. doing featuring the member for Surrey-Panorama. I guess, Te member for Surrey-Panorama has a track record of thankfully, for once, we’re not worried about whether or not being completely derelict when it comes to preserving things have been backdated with the records. We’re just wor- public documents, seems to have no problem knowing ried whether the records actually exist or not still. how to delete emails and messages. I would note that her Tis is about preserving those records of a serial ofend- social media pages still list her as the minister responsible er when it comes to breaking FOI laws — someone who for Citizens’ Services. Maybe the Premier can take care of was allowed to keep her phone for four days and still had that problem too. access to government information. If the Premier actually Te Attorney General yesterday said, though…. has confdence in the former minister, why not ensure all of those records are preserved and available for this crim- Interjections. inal investigation?

Mr. Speaker: Members. Hon. D. Eby: A few times I have said that she did not have full access, that her log-in and password access were termin- P. Milobar: “If we have any requests from law enforce- ated on Friday. ment or a special prosecutor or anyone else for preservation of any documents related to any subject matter, of course A. Wilkinson: It’s unfortunate that when a minister has we’ll make sure that that happens.” Tat’s what the Attorney been forced to resign because of allegations of criminal General said yesterday. wrongdoing and when a very senior special prosecutor is Well, the Premier and the Attorney General can consider in place and the RCMP are conducting an in-depth invest- this a request from anyone else. When will the Premier do igation, the members opposite fnd it appropriate to laugh Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9945 about it. Tey mock the need to protect the evidence that Hon. D. Eby: Well, there are a number of challenges with could be used to convict the member for Surrey-Panorama. what the Leader of the Opposition has said, both inside this What has this chamber descended to when these members House today and outside of the House — wildly inaccurate mock the judicial process? statements, to try to use parliamentary language. First of all, there is an RCMP investigation. As I under- Interjection. stand it, there haven’t been any charges. Tere haven’t been any specifc accusations yet against the former Minister of A. Wilkinson: I just heard the Premier say he’s mocking Citizens’ Services. We shall let that investigation continue me, not the judicial process. and that work continue. So that is one point. [10:55 a.m.] Interjections. On a second point, I look forward to the withdrawal, from the member, of the accusation he made against me on Mr. Speaker: Members. CKNW on the seventh, that I held an NDP staf meeting where I advised NDP insiders to “cover their tracks.” I look A. Wilkinson: Perhaps it won’t be so amusing if the mem- forward to that withdrawal, and I expect that withdrawal, ber for Surrey-Panorama is convicted. Tat’s what’s at stake. because it is not true. Yet we have an Attorney General who sits here… With respect to other suggestions about preserving evid- ence, of course I’ve responded to many of his colleagues’ Interjections. questions about the fact that the log-in and password for the member were terminated, terminating her access to govern- Mr. Speaker: Members. ment records that we control. Physical records in her ofce are being archived by members of the public service, as they A. Wilkinson: …and implicitly states he did nothing to do when any member leaves cabinet and goes into either preserve the evidentiary record. opposition or into another position. Tat is all being done independent of the political level. Interjections. Maybe that provides some assurance and also an oppor- tunity for him to withdraw. Mr. Speaker: Members. Mr. Speaker: Te Leader of the Ofcial Opposition on a A. Wilkinson: A frst-year associate having been called second supplemental. to the bar for a few months knows the frst thing you do Member, will you be withdrawing your comment? when the allegations arise is preserve the record. Instead, the accused perpetrator over there took her machinery home Interjections. and had the opportunity to wipe out all of the texts. Tis is a fagrant failure on the part of the Attorney Gen- Mr. Speaker: Well, there was some language used here in eral, and it begs the question: is this a manifestation of the the House, Member. incompetence of the Attorney General? Or perhaps this was just a convenient oversight to let the accused perpetrator go Interjections. home with her devices for four days. Mr. Speaker: Member, if I may say, you used the term Interjections. “accused perpetrator.” Tat is not true. I’m requesting that you withdraw. Mr. Speaker: Members. Member, was that your question? A. Wilkinson: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m quite happy to use the police language of “perpetrator.” Is that your preference? A. Wilkinson: So we now see the question arrives. Does You have extensive experience with the police, I understand. the Premier continue to mock this criminal investigation, to You know perfectly well that’s how the person is described. make fun of the need to preserve evidence? Does the Pre- What’s your choice, Mr. Speaker, of term for the member mier think this is a funny joke? for Surrey-Panorama? Maybe we should start with a very simple question. Will the Premier now stand up and apologize for intimidating Mr. Speaker: I’m saying…. As per the request from the the whistle-blower, for having the NDP caucus legal counsel Attorney General, I’m asking for you to withdraw. send her letters of intimidation, now that the police and the Member, again…. special prosecutor have decided that, yes, indeed, it is worth looking into? It’s over to you, Premier, whether you want to Interjections. apologize or sit smugly and smile and mock the process. 9946 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Mr. Speaker: Please be seated. staf meeting, and that’s where the Attorney General” — Proceed. he used my name — “told the NDP insiders to cover their tracks.” So I do look forward to the member’s withdrawal of M. Polak: Mr. Speaker, I’m trying to understand if we that, because it was completely false. are…. Te Attorney General asked for something to be with- drawn that was said in the public sphere on radio, not for [End of question period.] something to be withdrawn that was said here in this House. Interjections. Mr. Speaker: Well, I was understanding it’s the language used in here: “accused perpetrator.” Mr. Speaker: Members.

Interjections. Petitions

Mr. Speaker: In any case, the term “accused perpetrator” Hon. C. Trevena: I have two petitions to present. would not be appropriate in here under the circumstances. Te frst is from the citizens of the village of Tahsis. Tey respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of the M. Polak: Te former Minister of Citizens’ Services, by province of British Columbia immediately protect and pre- statement of, I believe, the justice branch, is under investiga- serve McKelvie Creek, in Tahsis, for drinking watershed, tion for criminal wrongdoing. In that instance, the language wildlife and recreational values. is entirely appropriate and descriptive and accurate. Te second petition is from the Sierra Club of B.C., Quadra branch, about old-growth logging. Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Ofcial Opposition: would you like to ask another question as a supplement? Motions Without Notice

A. Wilkinson: Indeed I would, Mr. Speaker. ACTING SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Tis is a very basic question. It turns to the role of the Attorney General as the protector of the legal system of the Hon. M. Farnworth: By leave, I move: province, as the chief legal ofcer of their entire judicial sys- [Tat Greg Nelson be conferred the duties and responsibilities of the tem, as a man who has obligations far beyond elected ofce, Sergeant-at-Arms on an acting basis, and be styled Acting Sergeant- which is why he is presented with the Great Seal of the at-Arms, until the appointment of a Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Nelson is authorized by the Legislative Assembly to undertake any responsibil- province of British Columbia the day he is sworn in. Tat ities prescribed to the Sergeant-at-Arms by statute, the Standing Or- obligation extends to protecting the criminal trial process, ders, and any other authority.] and it extends to protecting evidence. [11:00 a.m.] Leave granted. It’s a very simple question. Will the Attorney General admit that by failing to ensure that the member for Surrey- Motion approved. Panorama’s electronic devices were not removed the moment that she became aware of these accusations of crim- Orders of the Day inal wrongdoing, he actually made an error? Hon. M. Farnworth: I call second reading of the Miscel- Hon. D. Eby: On accepting the resignation of the mem- laneous Statutes Act. ber, access to her computer was terminated. Te log-in and [11:05 a.m.] password access was terminated. I’ve heard the member and others talk about private apps that we have absolutely no [R. Chouhan in the chair.] control over, that can be accessed from any computer in the world. So I’m not sure how I could do better than that. Second Reading of Bills With respect to the member’s continuing inaccurate com- ments, I do look forward to his withdrawing this comment BILL 35 — MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES that he made on CKNW, which was: “Tere was….” AMENDMENT ACT (No. 2), 2019

Interjections. Deputy Speaker: Te second reading of Bill 35 now starts.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, the Attorney General Hon. D. Eby: Mr. Speaker, thank you for a moment to has the foor. change gears here. I move that the bill be now read a second time. Hon. D. Eby: On Friday afernoon, there was “an NDP Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9947

Tis bill amends subsection 3(1) of the Family Main- Judge of the Provincial Court upon recommendation of the tenance Enforcement Act. Tis amendment clarifes that Judicial Council, rather than with government. child and spousal support provisions in a family law arbit- Amendments to the Public Interest Disclosure Act ration award may be fled with the director of maintenance enhance the existing anti-reprisal protections for those who enforcement. Te amendment supports the use of arbit- disclose a wrongdoing, seek advice about making a disclos- ration to resolve family law disputes by ensuring that the ure or cooperate in an investigation. family maintenance enforcement program can enforce the [11:10 a.m.] support awards for the beneft of children and families in Tese amendments will ensure that reprisal protections British Columbia. apply whenever adverse measures listed in the act are taken Amendments to the Judicial Compensation Act update by reason of a person’s good-faith participation in a disclos- pension provisions for Provincial Court judges and align the ure, request for advice or investigation under the act. act’s language with recommendations from the 2016 Judicial Tese amendments also clarify that adverse measures Compensation Commission. Te 2016 Judicial Compensa- taken for the purpose of managing or terminating an em- tion Commission’s recommendations refect the changes to ployment relationship, contract or agreement are not pro- the Pension Benefts Standards Act, which was repealed and hibited as reprisals, as long as they are not taken by reason replaced efective September 30, 2015, as well as changes to of a person’s good-faith participation in a protected whistle- the early retirement pension reduction formula contained blowing activity. in the public sector pension plan rules. Te commission’s Other amendments to the Public Interest Disclosure Act recommendations were enacted by resolution of the Legisla- include clarifying that the prohibitions on the disclosure of tive Assembly in 2017. confdential information in other B.C. enactments do not Tese amendments update the language in the act to prohibit a person from disclosing that information under the ensure that the act refects current practice respecting the Public Interest Disclosure Act, including the newly appoin- pension vesting period, the early reduction factor for mem- ted Human Rights Commissioner within the scope of the bers with less than two years of contributory service and act; and correcting cross-referencing errors. options for receiving the commuted value of a pension if a Te amendment to the Trespass Act adds “aircraf” to the member retires before age 55. defnition of “premises.” Tis amendment makes the Tres- Te amendment to the Professional Governance Act will pass Act consistent with the Occupiers Liability Act and provide regulatory bodies with the interim authority to brings B.C. in line with Ontario and Saskatchewan. Te increase annual membership fees under their current stat- omission of “aircraf” from a defnition that includes ships, utes to ensure they have sufcient resources while they trains and other vehicles was noted by the legislative com- transition to the new professional governance legislation mittee that reviewed the Trespass Act revision in 2018. over the coming year. Tis interim authority flls a gap until Amendments to the Child, Family and Community Ser- the professional associations are fully under the authority vice Act are in response to feedback received from Indigen- of the Professional Governance Act, which already provides ous communities following the implementation of previous regulatory bodies the authority to set annual fees. To use this amendments to the act made in 2018. Tese amendments authority, the professional associations must be prescribed will enable Indigenous communities to be more involved in by regulation. planning for the needs of all their children in care, not just In addition to this amendment are housekeeping amend- those in continuing custody. Additionally, Indigenous com- ments to amend an error in wording in section 31 and to munities will be able to provide services to any child and correct a cross-reference in section 118 of the act. family, not just members of their community. Amendments to the Provincial Court Act address the Te Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy term and reappointment of judicial justices, in response to Act has two purposes: to promote accountability by provid- concerns from the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court about ing a right of access to information and to protect personal losing a number of experienced judicial justices at the same information held by public bodies. Te two amendments to time, due to the expiry of their term-limited appointments. this act are urgently required to ensure that the public sector In 2017, the fxed term of appointment for judicial justices can continue using the technology it needs to provide quality was extended from ten years to 12 years as an interim meas- services to British Columbians. Without these amendments, ure to address the issue. Tese amendments reduce the term public bodies would be forced to choose to operate in non- of part-time judicial justice appointments from 12 years compliance, forgo the use of basic tools or invest millions of back to ten years and provide for the reappointment of judi- public dollars to develop custom technology solutions. I’m cial justices for one additional fxed term of ten years. not talking about specialized systems. I’m talking about basic Judicial justices who have served on either a full-time or business tools such as email or presentation sofware. a part-time basis may be reappointed, but a reappointment Te Carbon Tax Act, Provincial Sales Tax Act, Motor will only be available on a part-time basis. To help ensure Fuel Tax Act and Tobacco Tax Act have service-of-notices there is no infringement on judicial independence, the pro- provisions which describe how and to whom a notice or posed amendments will vest reappointment with the Chief other document is conclusively deemed to have been 9948 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019 served. Currently it is not clear when these provisions ofcers, Doctors of B.C. and the coroner for its ability to apply, as the language in provisions where notices are prevent accidents. required is not consistent. Amendments to the Employment and Assistance Act and Te amendments provide consistent terminology respect- the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities ing the giving of notices. Te intent of the amendments is to Act support the poverty reduction strategy TogetherBC and provide clarity for taxpayers and government and improve the government’s action on homelessness. government’s ability to efectively and consistently give Tese amendments aim to improve income and disability notices under these acts. assistance by ending the need for clients to pursue Canada Also included are three minor language changes to the Pension Plan retirement benefts before age 65, protecting Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act. Tese are housekeeping vulnerable youth by eliminating the two-year independence amendments for the provision of good governance, clarity rule as a barrier to assistance, improving fairness for couples and consistency across all provincial tax acts. and children in need by recognizing modern living arrange- Te Health Care Costs Recovery Act was enacted in 2008 ments when calculating assistance, ensuring that informa- to permit government to recover from a wrongdoer the costs tion and verifcation requirements do not create homeless- and expenses incurred in providing health care to an injured ness, enabling maximum repayments for client debt, redu- person in circumstances where injury is caused by a wrong- cing delays in determining eligibility by clarifying the treat- ful act or omission. Amendments to section 24 are made to ment of evidence on appeal and removing the requirement clarify that the act does not apply to a particular wrongdoer for reporting forms to be prescribed in regulation. who is insured by ICBC when that wrongdoer’s use or oper- Tese measures continue the ministry’s eforts to make ation of a motor vehicle causes personal injury or death. assistance more compassionate and efective, ultimately Amendments to section 4 are made to impose a require- reducing poverty and preventing homelessness for the most ment for defendants in class proceedings initiated in vulnerable citizens. provinces and territories other than B.C. to provide written Technology is rapidly changing the way people use streets notice of the proceeding to the B.C. government. Te goal of and sidewalks in the province. To support the use of new, these amendments is to enable the government to maxim- clean modes of mobility, it is important that people know ize the recovery of health care costs under the act. Tere are when, where and how emerging forms of transportation also a few amendments to include gender-neutral termino- technologies can be used. Amendments to the Motor Vehicle logy within the act. Act by the Ministry of Transportation will provide an Te amendment to the Assessment Act will provide that important tool to drive reform in this regard. solar power plants are “power plants” for the purpose of As part of government’s active transportation strategy, assessing those plants in the same manner as other inde- amendments to the act will provide enabling authority to pendent power producers. It will also ensure there is suf- establish regulations for new and emerging forms of person- fcient authority to apply exemptions under the assessment al mobility devices that are increasingly prevalent on road- authority regulation. Tis amendment will result in an equit- ways in the province. Further amendments enable pilot pro- able property assessment and tax outcome for existing and jects to research, test and evaluate new approaches to regu- future solar power plants. Without it, the future develop- late what happens on our roads. ment of solar projects may be discouraged. Tese amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act will ensure Te amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act by the Min- that the province fnally has a mechanism to shif the act istry of Public Safety and Solicitor General will create a stat- from a statute governing the roads of the last century to a utory presumption on the presence of a speed sign to sup- modern framework of laws supporting people on our road- port the successful prosecution of intersection safety camera ways and sidewalks in this century. speeding tickets and will clarify that the visibility of a speed limit sign is a defence to a charge of speeding, rather than an M. Lee: I rise today to speak on the proposed amend- essential element of the ofence. ments to the 17 statutes in Bill 35, Miscellaneous Statutes [11:15 a.m.] Amendment Act (No. 2), 2019. Te intersection safety camera program began issuing First of all, I’d like to thank the Attorney General’s ofce tickets for speed in July of this year. Fourteen of the 35 for quickly arranging briefngs on the numerous amend- planned speed enforcement sites are governed by a sign ments being proposed yesterday afernoon. Tere certainly rather than the legislated speed limit, 50/80 kilometres per will be a number of sections of this bill that my colleagues hour, and so rely on the presence of a sign. Te presumption will speak to here on second reading. We will all want to and clarifcation on sign visibility will provide greater legal explore in more detail these amendments at the committee certainty for prosecutions. Te program will monitor the stage. presence of the signs every 14 days to support the presump- Let me just say frst that it’s really disappointing that when tion. Tere is wide support for this program expansion by members were called back for four days of sitting this week, municipalities, police, health authorities, public health on the frst day, yesterday, there wasn’t sufcient business for the House to sit. It rose 2½ hours earlier than scheduled. Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9949

Given that this government doesn’t have any other legisla- Another example of this is the Freedom of Information tion to put forward this week, other than the Gaming Con- and Protection of Privacy Act. Certainly, we’re glad to see trol Act amendments — this is the only bill — it makes you the government continuing to update our laws and proced- wonder, Mr. Speaker, what other priorities this government ures to keep up with technological advancements. However, is focused on when it doesn’t have its act together in the when we were in the briefng yesterday, questions were orders of the House and the business of this House. raised by my colleagues and myself as to what really is driv- When you look at the majority of the amendments in this ing this particular change in respect of this bill. bill, they’re primarily amendments of a housekeeping nature. Were the changes that deal with enabling temporary pro- In fact, some of these amendments, including to the Tres- cessing and metadata handling ofshore — through the pass Act, went through the Standing Committee on Parlia- United States, for example…? Tat would still be in compli- mentary Reform. Tat being said, certainly — I’m sure, Mr. ance with FOIPPA, the Freedom of Information and Protec- Speaker, you’ll agree — there are better uses this week for tion of Privacy Act. Was that necessary due to the signifcant the time of the members of this House. We certainly could amount of personal data that over 1.6 million British Colum- have used that 2½ hours yesterday for more pressing matters, bians had to provide to this government in connection with more urgent priorities for British Columbians. the speculation and vacancy tax? Is that the reason why this Tat being said, there are a number of points of interest government is now flling in the gaps of how it was able to that this set of amendments to the various statutes provides. manage that data — again, now under the former Minister Certainly, there are some jumping-of points, I would sug- of Citizens’ Services, under her oversight? gest, as to other priorities that we need to focus on as British When it comes to something as critical as personal data Columbians. that British Columbians had to provide to this government, [11:20 a.m.] we’ll be asking questions at committee stage as to what the For the last two days, there has been tremendous focus on, procedures were that government put in place in order to in part, the allegations made by a whistle-blower against the have this happen, to manage that data and why the need for now former Minister of Citizens’ Services. Of particular note this gap to be addressed. in this bill are amendments to the Public Interest Disclosure Under the Health Care Cost Recovery Act…. We’ve seen Act, or PIDA. Tese changes include the defnition of “ofce” examples, of course, and concerns around the continued to include that of the Human Rights Commissioner, reword- function of this government as it props up ICBC, with the ing the act to make it clear that PIDA overrides other enact- continued rise of premiums and an inability for British Col- ments and providing protections for employees who, in good umbians, including young British Columbians, to purchase faith, seek advice, make a disclosure or cooperate with an insurance for vehicles that they have just bought to go to investigation under the act. All of these amendments serve school or to go to work. to improve the act and make it easier for whistle-blowers to [11:25 a.m.] come forward about wrongdoing. Tere are amendments in this miscellaneous statutes bill It’s curious — the timing of this. Tis government is mak- that raise concern around whether this government is ing changes to this act, an act that was introduced to this attempting further to ensure that the playing feld between House 16 months ago yet has not been enacted by this gov- ICBC and any other insurance company that might provide ernment. All during this time, there has been this whistle- auto insurance in this province, including optional insurance blower coming forward, with respect to allegations that are coverage, is being made to be an un-level playing feld…. On now, presumably, under investigation by the special prosec- the read of the bill, as the Attorney General just indicated, if utor and the RCMP, forming the basis of that investigation. the desire is to maximize recovery of health care costs…. Is it Yet this government has delayed bringing in force this act, that, or is it to ensure and put another roadblock in front of this act that would certainly be a beneft to this whistle- insurance companies that want to provide insurance to Brit- blower and other whistle-blowers that might have other ish Columbians in this province? allegations against this government. So we question the Under this arrangement, under the Health Care Costs delay. It’s one thing to continue to tweak a bill they intro- Recovery Act, ICBC is under a separate agreement with gov- duced 16 months ago. But why is it that this government has ernment, whereas any other insurance provider that is not not yet put this bill and this act into force? covered under that agreement needs to provide for those I know that the member from Chilliwack will be speaking health care costs on a recovery basis under this bill. We’ll to the Trespass Act and appreciate that there is one amend- be looking at that in committee stage as to whether that ment here that’s proposed, but certainly, there are other con- provides and puts up another block or barrier to other insur- cerns of British Columbians as to the rights of private prop- ance companies coming forward. erty owners, landowners and farm owners, given recent Tere is also an amendment in this bill to the Assessment activities by protesters and the like. So again, when this gov- Act, under part 6. It is another good step forward in promot- ernment looks at those concerns of British Columbians, why ing the use of clean energy in this province, ensuring that is it that it’s only addressing one specifc technical amend- with solar power, in this case, their plant and their assets ment at this time? are potentially taxed, from an assessment point of view, at a 9950 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019 lower rate. Tat is something that is good for this province Esquimalt First Nations where we meet here every day in this to consider for its future, in terms of its energy security and Legislature. renewable power. I’d also like to introduce a friend that’s in the gallery. I Again, with what has happened since the last spring sit- know this is a little unusual, but I just happened to notice ting of this House, there’s been a continued press and a her. Amanda McDonald is from Castlegar, has just moved need for this government to consider other aspects regard- to Victoria. She’s here with a friend from Victoria. Every- ing the Assessment Act, and that includes the considera- body knows her as Mme. McDonald because she used to tion by that joint task force, including with the city of Van- teach French immersion to many, many kids in the Castlegar couver, for split zoning. school district for a number of years, including a lot of my Mr. Speaker, I ask this House: why is it that this govern- relatives, and they love her. It was great to see her in the gal- ment has not considered, on an expedited basis with the lery today. Minister of Municipal Afairs and Housing, that proposal Welcome. which was supported by the Vancouver city council to create I just have to tell you, Mr. Speaker, how happy I am to be a property subclass for unused airspace above small busi- here for a fall session and how great it is to be able to have the nesses? Tis would allow that subclass to be taxed at a lower fall session. It’s our third fall session since we became gov- rate than the existing businesses and keep costs lower for ernment. It is an unusual thing, because this is…. owners and operators of the local businesses that play such vital roles in our communities. Interjection. In my own riding of Vancouver-Langara, there are many examples of businesses that are fghting to stay afoat and Hon. K. Conroy: I know, this is somewhat new, because many others that have been forced to relocate to areas where when I was in opposition, we rarely had a fall session. In property taxes are lower, resulting in the loss of valuable fact, I think we might have had one or two — one. One parts of our community. Implementing the split-zoning pro- in 16 years. In 16 years, we had one fall session. Maybe I posal by amendments would lower property taxes dramat- might be…. ically, enough to make a real diference to those who are Te member for Vancouver-Langara is relatively new to challenged with making ends meet, and we would revitalize the Legislature, so you know, fall sessions are new to him. I neighbourhoods that have sufered the loss of local shops, think he would appreciate that we actually have a fall session. restaurants and other businesses to fnancial pressures. It’s great to be here and to be able to speak in the chamber It is clear that such a change will be welcomed by local and to have a number of weeks to deal with very important businesses and communities. So it would be important to see legislation, including this bill, Bill 35, the Miscellaneous Stat- this government move forward to the necessary changes to utes Amendment Act. enable this to occur. Tis bill does contain some minor amendments to the Lastly, I will say, to part 9 under this bill, changes to the Child, Family and Community Service Act. Tese proposed Motor Vehicle Act include further ability by this government amendments — they clarify the intention that Indigenous to regulate motorized personal mobility devices. Of course, communities have the ability to plan for their children and with the growth of the use of e-scooters and other similar youth in care and are able to deliver a broad range of sup- devices on our city streets and bike lanes, we need to ensure ports and services to their children and families, as well as the safety of the public, to work with municipalities to have to the children who identify as non-Indigenous or members the right regulations in place for pedestrians and others who of other nations. Tese proposed changes are in response are on our bike lanes and our city streets. to feedback that was received from Indigenous communities I welcome this particular amendment under this bill and following the implementation of previous amendments to also see the need for the necessary updating and modern- the act, to Bill 26. izing of the use of terminology around the defnition of Now, Bill 26 was the frst bill I introduced as Minister of “pedestrian” and the new language, which is more appropri- Children and Family to give Indigenous communities great- ate, around person-centred mobility, including for those in er involvement in child welfare decisions. Tese changes are wheelchairs and other persons with disabilities. helping Indigenous children out of care, safe in their home As I mentioned, we’ll be looking forward to discussing in communities and connected to their cultures, and they detail many aspects of this bill in committee stage. I look for- speak to the mandate letter given to me by the Premier. Tis ward to joining other colleagues of mine to do so, as there letter was very clear: things need to change in the child wel- are many questions, as I mentioned, including the ones that fare system for Indigenous peoples. We all know that that I have outlined in my comments here. system has failed them. We know it needs to change, and we [11:30 a.m.] have been acting on that. Bill 26, introduced in spring 2018, was brought into force Hon. K. Conroy: I’d like to recognize the territories of in April. It was incredibly important for me to introduce that the Lək̓ ʷəŋin̓ əŋ-speaking peoples of the Songhees and the bill, my frst bill, for a number of reasons. For years now, Indigenous communities and leaders have Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9951 demanded urgent changes to keep Indigenous children out And the numbers have grown. Fewer Indigenous kids of care. One of the sad realities of our colonial history is that have come into care, with the tabling of Bill 26. Te with- more than half of the children in government care are Indi- drawal provisions came into efect a year ago and are helping genous. It’s a legacy of colonialism that must change, and Bill keep kids out of care. Te changes give social workers the 26 helped to start that change. Te amendments in this Mis- ability to withdraw from court proceedings when there are cellaneous Statutes Act, Bill 35, continue the change. agreements between the parents and an Indigenous com- Shortly afer taking on the role as the Minister of Children munity that will keep a child safe. and Families, the leaders of the September 2017 First Te proposed changes in this miscellaneous statutes bill Nations Leaders Gathering told me that I needed to make are in response to feedback received from Indigenous com- changes now, in order to ensure that our social workers do munities during consultations that continued on the imple- the work they needed to do. Tis message was again driven mentation of Bill 26. It became really clear that some of the home to me at the emergency meeting on Indigenous child wording in the act was too narrow to fully make the changes welfare called by the federal government in January 2018. we were intending and that Indigenous communities had Reducing the overrepresentation of Indigenous children been asking for. Te original wording in the act allowed in the child welfare system by working with Indigenous Indigenous communities to enter into an agreement with communities is a priority for our government, as we move the ministry to plan for the needs of children in continuing towards meaningful and lasting reconciliation. Bill 26 gave care only. Tis has been amended to include children in care us practical, meaningful ways to do just that. Our govern- under any legal status. Tese proposed amendments respond ment believes that Indigenous children connected to their to these concerns that we’ve heard. community and culture are Indigenous children growing up Amending legislation is one way we’re acting on our in a safe, healthy and loving environment. commitment to help Indigenous children remain safely in Te changes to the Child, Family and Community Service their families, with their family’s communities and con- Act…. It gave Indigenous communities greater involvement nected to their culture. We’re working in partnership with in child welfare decisions to help keep their children out of First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners to reduce the num- care, safe in their home communities and connected to their ber of Indigenous children and youth coming into govern- cultures. Te message was further strengthened in speci- ment care. fc recommendations in Grand Chief Ed John’s report. His Trough the Tripartite First Nations Children and Fam- report was developed afer extensive consultation with First ilies Working Group, we’ve been working with the First Nations and Indigenous peoples and called for changes to Nations Leadership Council and the government of Canada the legislation that commits government to work more col- to explore systemic changes to the child welfare system, laboratively with Indigenous communities, right at the including governance and jurisdiction. beginning of a child protection concern. Additionally, we have committed to ensure the new feder- While we’ve reduced the number of Indigenous children al Indigenous child welfare legislation aligns with the work in care by almost 100 in our frst year by focusing on preven- we are doing in B.C. We’ve also started meeting quarterly tion and supporting families in communities, we needed to with the First Nations Leadership Council executive — an do more. important opportunity to hear from the leadership what’s [11:35 a.m.] working and what’s not. For that, we needed to change the legislation. We listened Our work includes partnering with individual First to what communities were telling us, and we reviewed Grand Nations and the federal government to sign agreements that Chief Ed John’s report to inform us of what aspects of the will ultimately see the nations exercise their jurisdiction over legislation we needed to change urgently, in order to reduce child and families themselves. We’ve entered into separate the number of Indigenous children coming into care. We agreements with the Cowichan Tribes, the Wet’suwet’en also looked to what the United Nations declaration on the Nation and the Secwépemc Nation. Every time I meet with rights of Indigenous peoples and the Truth and Reconcili- diferent nations, I’m struck by their commitment to their ation calls to action tell us about the best interests of Indi- children — their belief that what happened in the past can’t genous children and their entitlement to connection with be forgotten but that we must ensure that children are raised family and community. in healthy and happy communities. I knew we were heading in the right direction when I At the Wet’suwet’en gathering, at the ceremony, we had a learned that because of Bill 26…. Two children from the huge feast to celebrate the signing of this agreement. Before Interior were returned to their community because of the the ceremony, I met with the Hereditary Chief and Elders withdrawal provisions. Tey were able to stay in their com- who talked about their past and why this agreement was munity with their extended family, learning their culture. so important to them and why their children needed to be Now, some people might say to me: “Well, that’s just two raised in their community learning their culture. kids.” But to those two kids, it meant an incredible diference Te young children from the school danced, and they in their lives, the lives of their family and the lives of their sang for us in their language. I could see the pride and hap- community. piness on the faces of the Elders and Chiefs as they listened 9952 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019 to the children sing in their language — something that Not only are we better supporting those who care for their one Elder said to me she never got a chance to do as a relatives, but we are better supporting expectant parents to child. Whenever I get frustrated that things don’t always help keep families safe and newborns together. We’ve also move quickly enough, I’m reminded of those Elders and how ended the practice of birth alerts. Health care providers and happy they are that these changes are happening in their life- social workers will no longer share personal information time, and it inspires me to work harder. about expectant parents without their consent. Instead we In June 2018, I signed a joint commitment with Métis are providing voluntary early supports and preventive ser- Nation B.C. to work toward their authority over child wel- vices to help them plan and safely care for their babies. fare. We signed it in Kamloops at the Lii Michif Otipemisi- Tis change to practice allows for a more trusting, col- wak, the Métis family and children services organization. laborative relationship with service providers right from the I’ll never forget when I was told that of all the kids they beginning. It empowers women, their families and their provided supports to, none had to come into care, because communities to work together to care for the children. they had been able to keep kids with their families. Tey Tis change was welcomed by B.C.’s independent Repre- also said none were adopted, because again, they were able sentative for Children and Youth, and professors and lead- to keep kids with extended families. ers across the country are calling on other jurisdictions to Another thing I learned: adoption doesn’t always work for follow our lead. Mary Malebranche, clinical lecturer at the everyone, especially Indigenous kids. We know children do University of Calgary, has said all provinces and territories better when they live and are connected to their families, should promptly end birth alerts. Additionally, Cora Morgan their communities and their cultures. We want to support of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has said our province is families to stay together. One way we are doing that is by leading the way and hopes our actions will start a trend. ofering more fnancial assistance through the extended fam- We are working with Indigenous peoples and local com- ily program. We have nearly doubled the monthly rate paid munities to put the practices of the UN declaration on the to family members caring for young family members under rights of Indigenous peoples into action. Together we are the program. making progress to build a more prosperous future through [11:40 a.m.] agreements with First Nations, agreements that support eco- Tis is a long-standing practice with Indigenous com- nomic development that’s making a diference on the ground munities to help keep kids connected to their families. Now to everyone. We’re creating a predictable path forward for a granny caring for her grandchildren is receiving the same everyone that means good jobs and opportunities while pro- amount of monthly fnancial assistance as a foster parent. tecting our environment. Meaningful reconciliation takes Last week I had the honour of kicking of Foster Family time, but we’re committed to getting there with a balanced Month at a dinner for foster parents from lower Vancouver approach and a real plan. Island. I got to meet all the foster parents there who were And we do have a plan. We have a plan that…. We’re being honoured for the incredible work they do each and working to provide afordable, quality child care for all every day. families that need it and want it, including Indigenous Parenting can be hard. I think any of us in this room families. We are working closely with Indigenous com- would be stretching the truth a little bit if we all said that par- munities to understand how our child care plan can better enting was a breeze and we’d never had any trouble or things support their families. that didn’t quite go right with our kids, because I’m sure we We’re investing $3.6 million to support 11 early learning all have had those issues. I’m sure we all had. I’m the frst to and child care planning and navigator positions. We’re say I did. investing $30 million for our early learning and child care agreement with the government of Canada to create and Interjections. expand Aboriginal Head Start programs in more than 30 communities across the province. In addition to this Hon. K. Conroy: Maybe not you, Minister of Health. investment, Indigenous governments are eligible for up to When we are raising kids who have had a difcult start to $3 million through the childcare B.C. new spaces fund to begin with, that makes it even tougher. create new licensed child care spaces in their communit- At the dinner, I met some couples who are grandparents ies, with Indigenous non-proft organizations eligible to raising their grandchildren. All of them spoke about how up to $1.5 million. incredibly helpful the MCFD staf have been, but one grand- I have to tell you that when I was in Grand Forks recently mother in particular got quite choked up when she talked with the COINS society, where we announced the expansion about the support and the diferences the extra funds have of Aboriginal Head Start in the Kootenays…. We are actually made in their lives. No one expects to retire and then sud- going to have one in Grand Forks. Te excitement and hap- denly be raising your grandchildren. But none of them piness, especially of the elders that were at the ceremony would have changed what had happened other than to have to announce the opening of this Aboriginal Head Start had their grandchildren stay with their child — their own centre…. son or daughter. I also saw it in Prince George, where I was actually at an Tuesday, October 8, 2019 British Columbia Debates 9953

Aboriginal Head Start centre that has been built, that has Te other one is protecting vulnerable youth by elimin- been working for a number of years and that is going to ating the two-year independence rule as a barrier to receiv- expand their program. Te fact that the kids were learning ing income assistance. We are talking to youth. We are chan- their language…. Little three, four and fve-year-olds did a ging the way we look at agreements with young adults as demonstration for us on what they had learned in the pro- they transition out of care into adulthood, and we are look- gram. It made me realize that we are on the right track here ing at ways that we can ensure that we can provide supports and that we are doing the right things. to young adults. We still know that we need to do better for Indigenous We have made some incredible changes. We’ve increased children and families. We are helping to increase the rate of the amount that they can apply for. We’ve extended it to a family preservation for both Indigenous and non-Indigen- year. I talk to youth who, when they didn’t have the AYA pro- ous families. gram for a whole year, were homeless for four months of the [11:45 a.m.] year while they weren’t going to school. We’ve made sure that Te number of Indigenous children and youth in care is we’re looking at the way we provide those supports so we can starting to go down, but there is still an overrepresentation provide more supports to youth aging out of care. of Indigenous kids in care in B.C. It’s unacceptable, and we Tis is another way of helping youth that are not…. You are working to change this. I know the amendments in Bill cannot expect youth to be independent the minute they turn 35 will help that. 19. Tis is eliminating a barrier that will help youth. I know A change in child welfare will take concerted eforts and that working together, we can carry on ensuring that youth meaningful collaborations by all levels of government. It’ll aging into adulthood out of care can get the supports they take some time, but we are committed to this work to ensure need, through this amendment but also through the work that children or youth are living in strong, healthy families that we are doing with the agreements with young adults in where they are connected to their cultures and tradition. the ministry. Te amendments that are part of this bill, Bill 35, the Mis- I just want to recognize those amendments that the min- cellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, will do just that by cla- ister is bringing in because they so afect me — on a personal rifying the intention that Indigenous communities have the level, from work that I did in the past, but also as it afects ability to plan for all their children and youth in care and our ministry. are able to deliver a broad range of supports and services to With that, I thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill their children and families, as well as to children who identi- 35, and I’ll sit. fy as non-Indigenous or members of other nations who live in their community to get the supports they need in their N. Letnick: Tank you to the members present and those community. watching on TV worldwide for this fall session. Absolutely. I would just be remiss if I didn’t comment on a few…. I I’ll be speaking about Bill 35, intituled Miscellaneous Stat- know all of us, as ministers, are getting up to talk about how utes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2019. I won’t be too long. the amendments in Bill 35 afect our ministry. I just have to I don’t want to keep people from their lunch plans, lunch say there’s a…. I do want to just acknowledge the changes meetings. that the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduc- Two particular sections I want to speak on. None of them tion is bringing in, because they are amazing in so many are health-related, to the Health Minister, so he can go about ways. Kudos. his business. I have to say that when I was on the other side of the [11:50 a.m.] bench, in opposition…. I was the Seniors critic. For many I do have one piece, which is the speculation and vacancy years, I would meet with senior women who talked about tax that’s being amended. Te other one is the Motor Vehicle how they struggled to make ends meet. And when we would Act. I’m glad to see that the Minister of Transportation actu- go to food banks, the food banks would tell us that the ally looks like she’s following me. So afer lunch, I’ll get to largest-growing sector of people accessing food banks in hear, maybe, some of the answers to these questions. the province were senior women who just couldn’t aford to First, on the spec tax…. I’ll be very simple, very blunt make ends meet. on this. It’s being proposed to be amended. I would actually By improving the fnancial security of low-income seni- propose it be abolished. It’s done a very bad job for the ors, by taking away the punitive action of not having them Okanagan — Kelowna, in particular, and West Kelowna — apply early for Canada Pension — to not have to apply until and the places around British Columbia where it has been they’re 65 — is a step in the right direction. It’s a step to instituted. It’s not a tax on speculation; it’s a tax on wealth. It ensure that we can get those numbers of senior women who should be removed so we can get back to the business of cre- do live in poverty down, so they don’t live in poverty. It’s ating wealth for all British Columbians by ensuring that we something that women, once they reach over the age of 65, have a robust industry and robust economies. shouldn’t have to face. Kudos to the Minister of Social Devel- On the Motor Vehicle Act, I would say that of all the opment and Poverty Reduction for ensuring that that is part pieces in this miscellaneous bill, one of the pieces people will of the amendments of Bill 35. actually see the most and interact with the most, I would 9954 British Columbia Debates Tuesday, October 8, 2019 think, would be this particular change. Even though it’s in that. Maybe I misread the statute and the minister would be part of a miscellaneous statutes act, I would ask the Minister happy to correct my limited interpretation of that. of Transportation to actually get her own bill and really Now, the city of Kelowna — I have to really thank Coun. expose this to the public, because when this passes — and I Ryan Donn on this; he’s been a champion for these kinds hope it does — it’s going to have a very diferent feel for all of vehicles in the city of Kelowna — completed a pilot this British Columbians, motorists and pedestrians, around the past summer with the scooters, the e-scooters. Tey had over province. 25,000 trips in three months — really a great testimony to I go back…. A couple of years ago I was travelling abroad, the city of Kelowna and what they were afer. and I saw this thing. A child was on this beast that I’d never I just have some of the words that they used to get seen before in my life. Basically, it was a unicycle with a bat- the system up and running. Tey said: “Shared low-speed tery and an engine, and it was called an Airwheel. He just electric stand-up scooters are a new type of service that zoomed past me, and I was going: “Whoa, isn’t that great? has provided safe, sustainable and low-cost ‘last-kilometre’ I’ve got to get one of those so that I can go through my streets transportation to tens of millions of riders across North and areas of my community without having to incur green- America. In doing so, they have reduced carbon emissions house gases. I can go and commute to work without having and relieved congestion.” a negative impact on the environment.” [11:55 a.m.] Lo and behold, I come back to home, and I fnd out that Absolutely right. If we are going to reduce our greenhouse they’re actually not legal on roadways in British Columbia. gases, we need to look at ways that, individually, we can So there went that dream. But as you know, you don’t quit help, and collectively. I know people who have looked at buy- afer the frst no, you keep trying and trying. Tat’s exactly ing local as a way of doing that, people who have put more what people around British Columbia have been doing insulation in their homes, people who walk and bike and together to really get to the 21st century when it comes to use transit for transportation. Now, of course, in addition to pedestrian uses on the roads and also on the sidewalks. the electric vehicles that we’re all supporting, we now have, potentially, these low-speed e-vehicles. [Mr. Speaker in the chair.] I would, again, continue to ask the minister to move for- ward. She did a public consultation on this. She heard back, Now, Mr. Speaker, I’ve seen that you’ve taken your chair, government heard back, that this is something we should so I’m going to go on longer than the time. Just give me a move forward with — obviously, keeping public safety in nod when you want me to make any motions. mind. But the day has come when we will see, I hope, these e-vehicles, with due regulations and safety measures, Mr. Speaker: Tank you. brought in to British Columbia streets. I look forward, during committee stage, if it’s not clarifed N. Letnick: Okay, so what are we doing here? Trough during second reading, to asking further questions as to how this amendment, we’re actually empowering the govern- we make sure that the balance is there so we have these ment, through regulation, to defne what can and what can- vehicles that people can use in a safe manner, in particu- not be used on our roadways. Now, when I say roadways or lar on our roadways, and make sure that we continue to highways in British Columbia, I mean streets in our cities, so improve our transportation options throughout British Col- that, for instance, if you want to use an e-powered scooter umbia that reduce greenhouse gases. or an Airwheel or something else — I’ve seen hoverboards that have motors in them as well, and other things — you N. Letnick moved adjournment of debate. could, if and when this passes and if and when the regula- tions pass, be on the bike path, for example, and use these Motion approved. modes of transportation. What I’ve also seen in the legislation — and I’m hoping Hon. A. Dix: I move that the House do now adjourn and the minister can clear this up during her speech — is that look forward to seeing everyone at 1:30. it looks like there’s also going to be an opportunity to use the same vehicles, e-vehicles, on sidewalks. If that’s the case, Hon. A. Dix moved adjournment of the House. then there might be some safety concerns. Tere might be some really tough regulations as to speed limits, because Motion approved. obviously, someone choosing to be on their e-vehicle on a roadway is one thing. Tey’re the ones taking the risk, Mr. Speaker: Tis House stands adjourned until 1:30 this because they’re now competing with cars. But by putting afernoon. them on the sidewalks, now you’re making the pedestrian take the risks. I think we need to have some discussion on Te House adjourned at 11:56 a.m. Hansard Reporting Services

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