BC Today – Daily Report February 14, 2020 Quotation of the day “If the police find that there is an activity that is in contravention of the law, I ​ expect the law to be fully enforced.” With dozens of demonstrations planned outside government ministries and offices today, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth warns that unlawful activities will not be tolerated. ​ ​ Today in B.C. On the schedule The house is adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18, for the Family Day long weekend. Question period will take place in the morning. Finance Minister Carole James will deliver the budget speech during the afternoon session. ​ ​ Thursday’s debates and proceedings Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claire Trevena introduced Bill 2, Motor Vehicle ​ ​ ​ ​ Amendment Act, which, if passed, will alter training requirements for various classes of driver’s licences. The bill also makes “minor clarifications” to the act, including designating sheriff’s ​ ​ vehicles as emergency vehicles and clarifying residency requirements for B.C. driver’s licences. The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services tabled its report, Annual ​ Review of the Budgets of the Statutory Offices. ​ The Special Committee of Selection tabled its report, outlining the membership of house ​ ​ committees for this session. At the legislature Health Minister Adrian Dix welcomed representatives from Resident Doctors of B.C. and ​ ​ Genome BC to the house. Provincial, federal officials to meet with Indigenous hereditary leaders to resolve pipeline protests as public service braces for demonstrations Premier John Horgan, in a letter to Gitxsan Chief Norman Stephens, said he or a senior ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ minister from the government will meet Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs about the ongoing pipeline protests that have captured national attention in recent weeks. Gitxsan hereditary chiefs and supporters blocked rail lines near New Hazelton for several days, ​ ​ disrupting commerce at the port at Prince Rupert, but said they would end their efforts once a ​ ​ meeting was agreed to. Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Scott Fraser said he’s more than willing to ​ ​ make the trip to meet with the chiefs. “The discussion with Chief Stephens is that, with an agreement to this meeting, there will be a stand down on the blockade," Fraser said at a media availability. "That's heartening.” ​ ​ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office confirmed Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Bennett will also attend the meeting. A date and venue have not yet been set. ​ Horgan and Trudeau spoke by phone about the situation on Thursday. ​ ​ Protesters will target dozens of government buildings throughout the Capital Regional District according to planning information posted online. In a letter to all provincial public service employees, Don Wright, deputy minister to the premier ​ ​ and head of the public service, emphasized the situation is being monitored. “It is important to note that we know very little about what is real and what is not real about the ​ group’s plans, and whether there may be other plans in development,” he said. “Nonetheless, we need to be prepared for any eventuality. I want you all to know that the emotional and physical safety of public servants was our top priority as we prepared our plan on how to respond to this. We will not ask public servants to put themselves into any situation where they do not feel safe.” Wright described the treatment of public service employees during Tuesday’s demonstration at the legislature as “reprehensible and unacceptable.” “We have a very professional public service — they have dealt with protest before,” said Public ​ ​ Safety Minister Mike Farnworth. “There are plans that are in place. The public service is aware ​ ​ of that … they also liaise and work with police on what to do if situations arise.” Keeping public employees safe is of “paramount concern,” he added. “Let's be clear — we live in a democratic society and peaceful protest is allowed,” Farnworth ​ ​ told reporters. “That has included noisy protests out on sidewalks ... I've seen ... a constituency office where you have a peaceful sit in. But what is not acceptable are protests that intimidate people … what is not acceptable are protests that frighten people, and if people engage in activities that cross lines of what is the norm in our society, then there will be consequences.” The Speaker’s office obtained an injunction to prevent any future protesters from “intimidating, molesting or interfering” with MLAs and others who work in the legislative precinct and from “blocking or physically obstructing” people from going about their business on the legislature grounds. The injunction allows immediate enforcement by police once the injunction is posted. The legislature remains closed to the public and Family Day celebrations planned for Monday have been cancelled. Today’s events February 14 at 9 a.m. — Abbotsford ​ ​ Liberal MP Ron McKinnon (Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam) will join NDP MLA Garry Begg ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (Surrey—Guildford), Independent MLA Darryl Plecas (Abbotsford South) and Abbotsford Mayor ​ ​ ​ ​ Henry Braun to celebrate the completion of the Mt. Lehman Road four-laning project at the ​ ​ Threshold Drive intersection. February 14 at 10 a.m. — Abbotsford ​ ​ Health Minister Adrian Dix will make an announcement about increasing access to primary care ​ ​ for people in Abbotsford and the surrounding area at 2692 Clearbrook Road. February 14 at 1 p.m. — Delta ​ ​ Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough, who ​ ​ represents Delta, will be joined by NDP MLA Ravi Kahlon (Delta North) at 8100 Nordel Way for ​ ​ an announcement regarding the Highway 91/17 upgrade project. February 14 at 1:30 p.m. — Nanaimo ​ ​ Health Minister Adrian Dix will be joined by NDP MLA George Chow (Vancouver—Fraserview) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and representatives from the BC Care Providers Association for an announcement about improving services for people in long-term care. Weekend events February 15 at 10 a.m. — Parksville ​ ​ The BC Green Party will hold a formation meeting for a Parksville—Qualicum riding association ​ at the Parksville Community Centre. February 15 at 1:30 p.m. — Nanaimo ​ ​ The BC Green Party will hold a formation meeting for a Nanaimo riding association at the Beban Park Social Centre. Topics of conversation ● “I fully support the right to protest,” Attorney General David Eby said in reaction to the ​ ​ occupation of his Point Grey constituency office by demonstrators opposed to the ​ Coastal GasLink pipeline. “But where that jeopardizes the safety of my staff or the security of the information we have about our constituents as we try to help them — ​ that’s not okay.” ● British Columbians are divided over the protests in support of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, according to a survey from Angus Reid. Nearly half say they oppose ​ ​ the disruptive demonstrations while 46 per cent support them, compared to 39 per cent of Canadians. Fifty-two per cent are in support of the Coastal GasLink pipeline while 43 per cent oppose the project. ○ Nationally, 39 per cent of respondents said they support Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and protestors in solidarity against the pipeline while 51 per cent say they support the CGL project. ○ The majority of Canadians surveyed (57 per cent) believe the pipeline will be delayed due to protests, but will still get built. ● Lower Mainland commuters who use the West Coast Express were out of luck yesterday as protesters blocked the Canadian Pacific Rail tracks over the Pitt River Bridge. Via Rail ​ ​ cancelled all passenger trips across the country due to widespread protest action, and CN Rail also cancelled some of its services. Question period During Thursday’s question period, Liberal MLAs focused on the government’s response to demonstrations in support of the hereditary Wet’suwet’en chiefs that continue across the province. ‘Can the premier please get off his duff and do something?’ ● Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson accused Premier John Horgan of being passive in ​ ​ ​ ​ the face of widespread and disruptive protest action — even as Manitoba Premier Brian ​ Pallister sought an injunction to remove protesters blockading rail lines in his province. ​ ● Horgan agreed that “the vast majority of British Columbians” (himself included) see the protests as “inappropriate … but we can't just say that that inappropriate behavior should be dealt with by force.” ○ The premier stressed a need for “cooperation ... consultation ... discussion so that we can all move forward together.” ● “It's not a matter of some police state where the dictator calls in the police to crack heads,” Wilkinson said. “This is a matter of using the vehicles of the courts to maintain the rule of law. Why won't this premier obtain injunctions to clear these protests like the premier of Manitoba?” ● Horgan insisted that law enforcement officials were adequately addressing the situations. ● Liberal Finance critic Shirley Bond cited the rail blockade disrupting commerce at the ​ ​ Prince Rupert port. “There are 6,000 jobs at risk,” she said, calling on Horgan to take action. ● “This is an issue that's being addressed by CN,” Horgan said. “It's also being addressed by the prime minister and myself.” ● Liberal ICBC critic Jas Johal picked up the thread. “What we have witnessed over the ​ ​ last few days is not some spontaneous uprising but a well-funded and coordinated national strategy