Third Session, 42nd Parliament

(2022) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Afternoon Sitting

Issue No. 176

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Blessings and Acknowledgments

B. Dick

S. Alphonse

Motions Without Notice

Permission for Indigenous leader to address the

House

Hon. M. Farnworth

Tabling Documents

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, action plan,

2022–2027

Introductions by

Members

Ministerial Statements

Action plan for Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples Act

Hon. M. Rankin

M. Lee

A. Olsen

Address by Indigenous Leaders

J. Jack

C. Casimer

D. Tom

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Madelene Vail Bird

Hon. B. Ma

Introductions by Members

Tributes

Pauline Lee

M. Lee

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

Kw’umut Lelum child and family services

A. Walker

Prince George community support for Ukrainian

refugees

S. Bond

Nidus personal planning services and representation

agreements

M. Elmore

Howe Sound Women’s Centre

J. Sturdy

Alana Cook and advocacy for youth participation in

sport

R. Glumac

Glenn Todd

T. Halford

Oral Questions

Child care fees and subsidies for child care

providers

S. Bond

Hon. K. Chen

T. Halford

LNG development impacts and government support for

industry

A. Olsen

Hon. B. Ralston

Hon. M. Farnworth

Crime in Terrace and handling of cases by justice

system

E. Ross

Hon. D. Eby

Community safety in Vancouver and supports for

persons with complex care needs

M. Lee

Hon. S. Malcolmson

Crime in communities and handling of cases by

justice system

R. Merrifield

Hon. D. Eby

Tabling Documents

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, revised service plan,

2022-23

Petitions

D. Davies

Orders of the Day

Committee of the Whole House

Bill 18 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2022

Hon. S. Robinson

Report and Third Reading of Bills

Bill 18 — Supply Act (No. 1), 2022

Committee of the Whole House

Bill 19 — Employment Standards Amendment Act,

Hon. H. Bains

G. Kyllo

Report and Third Reading of Bills

Bill 19 — Employment Standards Amendment Act,

Second Reading of Bills

Bill 14 — Wildlife Amendment Act, 2022

(continued)

T. Shypitka

M. Bernier

E. Ross

Hon. K. Conroy

Bill 13 — Passenger Transportation Amendment Act,

Hon. R. Fleming

B. Stewart

Hon. B. Ma

Bill 12 — Property Law Amendment Act,

Hon. S. Robinson

P. Milobar

Proceedings in the Douglas Fir Room

Committee of Supply

Estimates: Ministry of Agriculture and Food

(continued)

Hon. L. Popham

C. Oakes

D. Davies

M. de Jong

I. Paton

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022

The House met at 1:39 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Blessings and Acknowledgments

Mr. Speaker: I invite Elder Butch Dick of the Songhees Nation to offer a land

acknowledgment, followed by a blessing offered by Elder Shirley Alphonse of

the T’Sou-ke Nation.

B. Dick: [Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ was

spoken.]

Good day, my friends and family. Yux’wey’lupton is my First Nation

name, and I’m better known as Butch Dick from the Songhees Nation. Thank you

for the invitation to be here.

I acknowledge Premier John Horgan.

[1:40 p.m.]

It’s always good to see you, John. Thanks for the invitation to be

here today.

It’s always an honour to represent the Songhees Nation, along with the

chief and council of our nation.

[Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ was

spoken.]

I’d like to share a song with you today. This song originated in

Cowichan. It’s known as the paddle welcome song.

During the briefing today, there was a lot of talk about paddling

together, and I think that’s a vital message for the future foundation for

everyone, not only in British Columbia but Canada. I think the things that

are going on in the world bring us closer together, and the things that have

gone on in the world have brought us very close.

I’d, too, like to dedicate this song to the people that have been

affected by war and their families, and their families in British Columbia

and Canada. So this is the paddle welcome song.

[Lək̓ʷəŋin̓əŋ was

sung.]

Hay’sxw’qa si’em. Hay’sxw’qa.

Mr. Speaker: I request Elder Shirley Alphonse.

S. Alphonse: [SENĆOŦEN was spoken.]

O Great Spirit whose voice we hear in the wind, whose face we see in

the morning sun, blessed is your name. Help us to remember that you are

everywhere, and teach us the way of peace, the way of courage, the way of

truth, the way of kindness, the way of strength.

[1:45 p.m.]

O Great Spirit, we call upon those who have lived on this earth, our

ancestors, our relatives who hoped for the best for generations. We thank

them.

We call upon all that we hold most sacred, the presence and power of

the great spirit of love and truth, which flows through the universe, to be

with us today helping us walk together, work together, toward a world of

peace, of harmony and peace.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM.

Mr. Speaker: On behalf of all Members of the Legisla­tive Assembly, I extend

my sincere gratitude to Elder Butch Dick and Elder Shirley Alphonse for

their presence and their blessings.

I also would like to extend a warm welcome to all guests who are

joining us today.

Motions Without Notice

PERMISSION FOR INDIGENOUS LEADER

TO ADDRESS THE

HOUSE

Hon. M. Farnworth: I seek leave to move a motion.

Leave granted.

Hon. M. Farnworth: By leave, I move:

[That, further to the resolution of the House of March 29, 2022,

Chief Don Tom be permitted to address the House in place of Grand Chief

Stewart Phillip today.]

Motion approved.

Tabling Documents

Hon. M. Rankin: I rise today to table the first Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples Act action plan.

Mr. Speaker: The minister will continue.

Introductions by Members

Hon. M. Rankin: Perhaps before I begin, I might introduce guests who are here with us

today, both in the gallery and, eventually, seated on the floor of the

House.

I’d like to introduce, from the Assembly of First Nations, Chief Jerry

Jack, Mowachaht/Muchalaht.

From the First Nations Summit, the political executive members —

Cheryl Casimer, Robert Phillips and Lydia Hwitsum.

From the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and

his wife, Joan; Chief Don Tom; Kúkpi7 Judy Wilson.

From the Ucluelet First Nation, President Charles McCarthy.

From the Lake Babine Nation, Chief Murphy Abraham.

From the Heiltsuk Nation, Chief Marilyn Slett.

From the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, President Judith

Sayers.

From Skidegate Band Council, Chief Councillor Billy

Yovanovich.

Mr. Dave Porter, CEO of the First Nations Energy and Mining

Council.

Marlene Erickson, vice-president of the First Nations Education

Steering Committee.

Joining us on the floor later today: Elder Butch Dick, of course, from

the Songhees First Nation; from the T’Sou-ke First Nation, Elder Shirley

Alphonse; Si Sityaawks, also known as Jessica Wood, who is the associate

deputy minister of the Declaration Act secretariat.

We’re also joined in the gallery by Chief Leah George-Wilson, co-chair

of the First Nations Summit; President Lissa Dawn Smith of the Métis Nation

B.C.; Coun. Selina August of the shíshálh Nation; interim dean and professor

of law at the University of Victoria Prof. Valerie Napoleon; special adviser

Roshan Danesh; Leslie Varley, who is the executive director of the B.C.

Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres; and many more representatives

of First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations.

I’m also very pleased to welcome the Indigenous youth, including the

Urban Native Youth Association president, Matthew Norris, and

vice-president, Leila Williams. The BCAFN youth representative, Justin

Peters, is with us, and every member of this year’s cohort from the

Indigenous youth internship program.

Ministerial Statements

ACTION PLAN FOR DECLARATION ON

THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS

PEOPLES ACT

Hon. M. Rankin: I am immensely honoured to rise today to speak to B.C.’s first

Declaration Act action plan. I start by saying that British Columbia is

the first jurisdiction in the world to do anything of the sort. The

action plan is a legal requirement, yes, and a commitment, yes, in the

Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, but it is much,

much more than that.

[1:50 p.m.]

The action plan will serve as the vehicle to drive

transformational change across government. This action plan articulates

the vision that we see for meaningful reconciliation in our province — a

province where the rights of Indigenous peoples are fully realized,

respected, upheld and implemented.

We believe that in doing so, in realizing the full potential of

Indigenous rights, we realize the full potential of our province. This

ongoing work offers us a way to change the trajectory of our shared

history by addressing the ongoing harms of racism and colonialism and

ensuring a better future for all. This action plan, and the law that

supports it, has the power and potential to be a global beacon for peace

and reconciliation. It is inspiring, as well as humbling.

It must be said that while I am tabling this action plan here in

the House today, I do so not alone but in the company of countless

leaders and advocates who have worked so hard, so hard, to see their

aspirations become a living reality.

Today, as we’re joined by Indigenous leaders who’ve dedicated

their lives to the pursuit of the full expression of the inherent rights

of Indigenous peoples, we should be humbled by their contribution. I’ve

been honoured, as minister, to learn from their leadership, to benefit

from their ongoing counsel and to have them here to bear witness and to

speak today.

The action plan outlines 89 specific, concrete, measurable

actions, spanning each and every ministry of our government. It

articulates a vision for British Columbia through the goals and outcomes

that we will pursue together, from this point forward, throughout the

next five years, during the currency of this action plan and well

beyond.

Since passing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Act in 2019, the province, First Nations peoples, Indigenous peoples

across the province and their organizations have been engaged in this

work on a cooperative basis. We have worked together, in consultation

and cooperation, to produce what you see before you today. It’s been

complex work. It’s been challenging work.

As we all know, during the currency of this, we have experienced

two pandemics. We’ve experienced wildfires, a heat dome, atmospheric

rivers and the devastating findings at former residential school sites.

While addressing these challenges with us, Indigenous peoples have

continued to work with government to develop this action plan,

determined to create a better future.

I believe that how this action plan was developed is just about as

important as the document itself. We’ve listened deeply. We are still

learning, and we will continue to learn. The action plan embodies the

depth of our discussions. We’re making systemic changes to uphold

Indigenous human rights and respect Indigenous

self-determination.

The plan is organized into four themes that pull from the articles

of the United Nations declaration on Indigenous rights itself. These

themes include the following.

Self-determination and self-government, which inclu­des

implementing Indigenous institutions, laws, governing bodies, political,

economic and social structures, is the first theme.

Secondly, owning, using, developing and controlling lands and

resources within First Nations territory.

Thirdly, living without interference, oppression or other

inequities associated with Indigenous-specific racism and

discrimination.

And fourthly, maintaining Indigenous cultural heritage,

traditional knowledge, Indigenous languages, food systems, sciences and

technologies, participating fully in the economy and ensuring the rights

of all Indigenous people — Indigenous women, youth, Elders, children,

persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Those rights must be

upheld for all.

Together we’ve identified 89 specific actions — tangible and

measurable ways to move forward and advance the implementation of the

declaration in important areas like education, children and families,

justice and forestry. The actions touch on every part of our

government.

[1:55 p.m.]

In conclusion, we’re working hard to make meaningful progress on

the full implementation of the rights of Indigenous peoples in our

province and to do so in consultation and cooperation with

them.

We’ll know we’ve achieved those goals when the rights of First

Nations, Métis and Inuit are understood, respected, upheld and

implemented; when Indigenous peoples can pursue their dreams and raise

their families without experiencing racism or discrimination. Together,

we will advance reconciliation in a manner that is transparent and

accountable over the next five years.

We’ve got a lot of work to do ahead of us. Certainly, that work

will be challenging. But together, we can change the trajectory of our

shared history and create a future where the full potential of

Indigenous peoples’ rights is realized.

This is the province we want, this is the province we need, this

is the province we deserve, and this is the province we will finally

build together.

Mr. Speaker: I recognize the member for Vancouver-Langara to respond to the

ministerial statement.

M. Lee: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On behalf of the entire B.C. Liberal caucus, I would like to first

extend a warm welcome to the Elders, the youth, the esteemed guests,

Indigenous leaders and others who have joined us for this historic

day.

To Chief Jerry Jack of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, to

Cheryl Casimer of the First Nations Summit political executive and to

Chief Don Tom of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, I look

forward to your remarks shortly. Thank you, and welcome to the floor of

this chamber.

It is truly my honour to provide a response on behalf of our

caucus and as the official opposition critic for Indigenous Relations

and Reconciliation on this occasion of the tabling of the DRIPA action

plan with the Legislative Assembly.

On November 28, 2019, members of this Legislative Assembly

gathered alongside Indigenous leaders and Elders and esteemed guests to

honour a landmark day in our province’s history, or like the minister

just said, we witnessed the passing of the Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples Act, which established UNDRIP as the province’s

framework for reconciliation and helped our province take a crucial step

forward on the path of truth and reconciliation.

This DRIPA legislation is an essential step in

acknowl­edging Indigenous rights in this province and the

importance of our nation-to-nation relationship. It was a remarkable

day, and I’m so glad to see many of the same leaders and guests here

today who were present 28 months ago, as we stand here on the

traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt First

Nations.

That historic day came with great expectations, as UNDRIP is built

upon the principle of ensuring the rights, the freedoms, the dignity and

quality of life for Indigenous peoples. British Columbians expect all of

us in this House to meaningfully commit to moving reconciliation forward

in this province, including the implementation of UNDRIP, through the

DRIPA action plan. British Columbians also expect swift action and

progress from this government to advance reconciliation in tangible and

measurable ways, just like the minister just said.

Twenty-eight months ago in this chamber, I participated in five

days of committee stage debate of the DRIPA legislation with the former

minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Along with the

member for Abbotsford West, we examined the bill with the former

minister in an effort to better understand how this government was going

to implement UNDRIP here in B.C.

I and our caucus recognize the importance of the action plan that

is being tabled by this government here today in carrying out our

collective work and commitments towards truth and

reconciliation.

[2:00 p.m.]

While we acknowledge the work being done on behalf of British

Columbians through the DRIPA action plan, we must also recognize the

tremendous work that lies ahead of us. This government must move forward

with the urgency, the accountability and transparency that British

Columbians expect from all of us. The 89 actions in the DRIPA action

plan before us today are part of a legacy that began with previous

governments, including our own.

By 2017, working together with our First Nation partners, we had

signed more than 500 agreements across British Columbia with First

Nations — this beautiful province of ours. These agreements were signed

with nearly all of the more than 200 First Nations in British Columbia.

This work helped British Columbians to build a better understanding and

recognition of the needs and values of these communities. Meaningful

partnerships are critical to reconciliation.

When looking at these 89 actions, we must also acknow­ledge

that this vital work is not the sole responsibility of the Ministry of

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. These actions will require the

collective and collabora­tive work of all ministries of

government. It will be the responsibility of government’s ministers and

their respective critics to work collaboratively and in close

consultation with First Nations to see these actions carried out with

the utmost diligence and urgency.

These actions will, hopefully, help to move forward true economic

reconciliation, promote Indigenous education, protect language and

culture, improve health outcomes and help to recognize Indigenous rights

and identity within our legal frameworks. And much more work is

needed.

Accordingly, we expect to have the opportunity to review the

progress and implementation of this action plan, including in budget

estimates debates, which are going on over the coming weeks. But for

now, we certainly want to recognize the incredible work that has been

put into place to put this action plan in place by ministerial staff

along with the many Indigenous leaders and communities who are helping

to carry out this mandate.

Let us take a moment to acknowledge and recognize that today is a

historic day for this province and our relationship with the First

Peoples of this land. I am deeply humbled by the profound work ahead of

us, and I am proud to stand with all of my colleagues here today in our

commitment to this work. Future generations will reflect on the words

and actions of our leaders here today. Let us carry forward this work in

a good and humble way.

All my relations, thank you. HÍSW̱ḴE

SIÁM.

I raise my hands to all of you.

Mr. Speaker: I recognize the member for Saanich North and the Islands to

respond to the ministerial statement.

A. Olsen: I rise today to provide the B.C. Green caucus response to the

ministerial statement on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous

Peoples Act action plan. First off, I want to acknowledge Elders Shirley

Alphonse and Butch Dick, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Joan Phillip,

Chief Jerry Jack, Cheryl Casimer. HÍSW̱ḴE

SIÁM.

I raise my hands to my Chief, two

W̱SÁNEĆ people in the same place

— it’s fantastic — Chief Don Tom, vice-president of the Union of B.C.

Indian Chiefs.

It’s wonderful to see you here today, Chief.

HÍSW̱ḴE

SIÁM.

I recognize all the hereditary and elected Indigenous leaders,

Elders, Matriarchs and youth that are here today and that have remained

in their communities to do the important work to do on a daily basis.

HÍSW̱ḴE

SIÁM.

I’m grateful for your wisdom, your patience and your long

suffering. HÍSW̱ḴE

SIÁM.

I raise my hands to Jessica Wood. We celebrate your perseverance,

your expertise and your hard work today. HÍSW̱ḴE

SIÁM.

[2:05 p.m.]

I raise my hands to Scott Fraser, the former Minister of

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, who stewarded the first part of

this work through this Legislature. HÍSW̱ḴE

SIÁM.

Putting together this action plan has required a tremendous effort

and good faith, and expectations are high.

[SENĆOŦEN was

spoken.]

I’m SȾHENEP, from the Tsartlip

village, in the W̱SÁNEĆ territory. My

father is Carl Olsen.

I grew up fishing alongside him in the Saanich Inlet. I clearly

remember his instructions to me. He said: “Keep your rod tip up, Chum,

and tension on the line.” We didn’t celebrate the fish that got away,

the fish we almost caught, the fight, no matter how epic. It was nearly

good enough. When it comes to free, prior and informed consent, good

enough, almost there or even a majority of support does not exist. You

either have consent, or you don’t.

This provincial government, I encourage you to not celebrate

almost there or a job well done. I recognize the incredible work that’s

been put into getting this action plan to be where it is today, but I’m

not in this place, in this chamber, to cheerlead that work or this

action plan. So as we undertake the necessary work outlined in

section 4

of the Declaration Act, I will keep my father’s good advice in my heart.

Today and every day, I plan on keeping tension on the line.

The question we should be asking ourselves today is this: will the

actions in this document meet the objectives of the UN declaration? Do

they result in self-determination, self-government, recognition and

respect for rights and title? Will these actions end Indigenous-specific

racism and discrimination? Will they improve the social, cultural and

economic well-being of Indigenous peoples in British

Columbia?

In addition, I ask whether these actions in this plan are more

than what the ministers and ministries were already planning to do. And

once these actions become achievements, will they amount to the promise

of the Declaration Act?

This government has taken the first step forward, passing the

Declaration Act. Unfortunately, we have already seen them use it both as

a shield and as a sword. How many times in the past two years have we

heard it used as an excuse for action or inaction? Success is not

evaluated by the quality of this government’s or any future government’s

intentions but, rather, the outcomes for my relatives and all Indigenous

peoples in this province.

Can we self-determine? Are Crown government agents harassing and

haranguing us? Do we still en­counter aggressive racism when we

seek public services? Are the government officials on the other side of

the table there in good faith? As the action plan says, can we expect

government to develop relationships based on respect, recognition and

the exercise of Aboriginal title and rights and reconciliation of

Aboriginal and Crown titles and jurisdictions?

This has not been the experience of Indigenous peoples in the

past. And as the Nuchatlaht are learning, despite the passing of the

Declaration Act, it is still not happening today.

The framing of this document is fine. It’s important to note the

language in the opening letter attached to this document. I believe it

most clearly articulates what I fear we are to expect from this and

future governments: excuses. The opening letter is littered with

excuses. They linger and loiter in nearly every paragraph.

”This has been challenging work in challenging times. Over the

past two years, while we worked together on this plan, we faced

incredible adversities. We have been grappling with a global pandemic, a

toxic drug supply crisis, and our communities were ravaged by wildfires,

floods and heatwaves. Through all of these challenges, Indigenous

peoples have carried a disproportionate burden.”

[2:10 p.m.]

It certainly has been a challenging time, just as the last 170

years have been for Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. Imagine

living and governing in a system that was destined to fail the people

you are serving. Try governing with little or no access to resources, to

revenue. Attempt to solve the desperate problem created by legislated

poverty with no resources. Your homeland is made a wasteland; your

fisheries, collapsed; your culture and language, made illegal. Try

governing through the decades of built-up angst, mistrust and

frustration, all elegantly designed to divide you against your very own

family.

This needs to be said, because this government wasn’t too

challenged, even in the most challenging times, to do some things. As

the torrential rains pounded the south coast, as waters rose, on the

very same morning British Columbians were fleeing their communities,

this government was approving yet more resources for the police to raid

the Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders.

The letter continues: “Even in the face of these overwhelming

challenges, Indigenous peoples throughout the province continue to work

with us on this action plan, determined to create a better future for

all generations to come.” It’s this statement that captures the essence

of Indigenous leadership today and every day for the past 170 years in

this province.

Even as the Crown government delivered abuse, fruitless hours of

bad faith negotiations and, frankly, purposeful mischief, Indigenous

leaders continued to work with us. They continued to sit at the table

with the determination to create a better future for all generations to

come.

I’m wary. I’m wary that this document will become yet another

ready-made excuse why this government or future governments are acting

or why they cannot act, whichever benefits them at that point in time.

Our steady march forward must continue.

However, for me, I must temper this celebration today with a

warning. This document must not be weaponized in subtle and not so

subtle ways to benefit this Crown govern­ment. It must truly be a

document that benefits the Indigenous peoples in our province. There is

nothing we can say here today that will prove this to us. Only time will

tell.

I’d like to thank Mr. Speaker for the opportunity to say these few

words today. I’d like to thank the minister for tabling this action plan

and following through on

section 4 of this important Declaration Act.

I’d like to thank all of the Indigenous leaders that were here today. I

would like to thank you for all of the important work that you do on

behalf of our communities across our territories.

HÍSW̱ḴE SIÁM.

Address by Indigenous Leaders

Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, pursuant to the orders adopted yesterday and earlier

today, I will invite three members of the First Nations Leadership Council

to address the House.

On behalf of all members, I would like to extend a special warm

welcome to Chief Jerry Jack, Cheryl Casimer and Chief Don Tom.

Mr. Speaker: I invite Chief Jerry Jack of the British Columbia Assembly of First

Nations to offer his remarks.

J. Jack: Good afternoon, everybody.

I just want to start off by thanking our Elders for starting us off in

a good way and acknowledging that I’m in territory that doesn’t belong to

me.

I thank the Esquimalt, Songhees people for allowing me to be here

today and for you people allowing me to come into your house.

[2:15 p.m.]

My name is Klakwagiila. I’m a Hereditary Chief from

Mowachaht/Muchalaht Nation, and I come from the House of Tsee-sah-aht.

Tsee-sah-aht is the longhouse that we lived in that was ours in our

territory in Friendly Cove.

Jack because I live culturally and I acknowledge Klakwagiila, as opposed to

Jerry, but that’s just me.

I want to thank everybody for being here today. Grand Chief Stewart

Phillip, President Sayers, I didn’t acknowl­edge you earlier. Thank

you for being here.

Today it’s an honour to be here. I’m on the board of directors for the

B.C. Assembly of First Nations, and I’m here representing regional Chief

Teegee who couldn’t be here, and I’m speaking on his behalf. The B.C.

Assembly of First Nations commends the significant efforts that have brought

us to the launch of the DRIPA action plan today.

First and foremost, the advocacy of First Nations leaders has been

instrumental. First Nations have fought to make hard-won gains in the

recognition of inherent rights, interest and legal orders.

You know, my friend down at the end there was saying 170 years, and to

me it’s longer than that. I said that I’m a Hereditary Chief. When Captain

Cook landed on my beach in 1778, that’s when it started for me. It wasn’t

170 years ago. When he landed on my beach, he changed our lives. Now I’ve

got to fight for what’s mine, what belongs to my family, what belongs to our

people. That’s why I’m here today.

We acknowledge, also, the good faith of the Premier and his cabinet

and all members of the Legislature who have committed themselves to be

partners in the work of reconciliation. B.C. has made history with the

passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act made in

2019. Today we are pleased to see much-anticipated evolution and progress

towards the implementation. I think it’s really important, and I’m really

proud to be a British Columbian because none of the other provinces or

territories have done this. So I’m really proud to be here and speak on this

today.

DRIPA is bold, and while the action plan can be bolder, putting into

action commitments that lie within will create a systemic and much-needed

change. The milestone is worth celebrating, as is the relationship-building

and learning it has brought us to this point. We welcome the launch of the

plan and the work that has to come. Turn words upon these pages into

concrete actions — a better future for us and the generations to

come.

We look forward to how the spirit of the intent of the UN declaration

will permeate each and every sector of the government’s work and inform the

work of political leaders and the government and staff with any action plan.

I look forward to marking and evaluating the progress through annual reports

to this body and subsequent reviews to the plan in partnership with

Indigenous peoples.

First Nations of B.C. have been and continue to be impacted by

colonialism and discrimination and intergenerational trauma, yet we remain

strongly rooted in our laws, systems, governance and identities. For

decades, we have been doing the difficult work of re-elevating, revitalizing

and strengthening what was lost and stolen through residential schools and

many other tools of assimilation and genocide that were used to try to

remove us from our territories. We have been doing this through healing work

and building our capacity.

You know, I take my family for an example. My great-grandfather

Captain Jack went to jail for holding a potlach. My grandmother went to jail

in Vancouver city for fighting for rights of Indigenous women because they

lost their status because they married a non-status man. My dad went to jail

many times fighting for rights, fighting for land. And what did I do? I

became an RCMP officer.

I don’t know. All the trouble my forefathers probably went through,

and I joined the RCMP. Oh well. I put in 21 years of my life enforcing laws

of both Canada and Washington state. You know, it was an honour to work with

the RCMP and Washington state tribal police.

[2:20 p.m.]

Today we acknowledge that the government of B.C. is taking the steps

to do its own capacity-building and healing work, to get its own house in

order and to be able to work respectfully with First Nations peoples. We

hope that these early steps will be the first of many. The work of

reconciliation, of knowing the truth and of doing justice and the path we

must walk in order for there to be a true healing and wellness in

relationships, respect and the foundation of this work.

On behalf of regional Chief Terry Teegee and the B.C. Assembly of

First Nations, I thank you for your good work. I call on you to continue

down the path we have started together. I hope things go well.

Thank you for your time and for listening to me today. It’s an honour

to be here.

Klecko klecko. [Applause.]

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Chief Jack.

Now I invite Cheryl Casimer of the First Nations Summit to offer

remarks.

C. Casimer: Am I allowed to say: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker”?

[Ktunaxa was spoken.]

Good afternoon, everyone. I’m very happy to be here.

Before I begin, I’d like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the

welcome and the prayer by Elders Alphonse and Dick.

I also want to acknowledge some colleagues, Chief Lydia Hwitsum and

Robert Phillips, who are colleagues of mine with the First Nations

Summit.

I’m also sending healing prayers to Regional Chief Teegee and healing

prayers for a speedy recovery to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, who joined us

just a few minutes ago and who came straight here from the hospital, for

that matter.

I’d also acknowledge Chief Judy Wilson as one of the members and the

leads on this important file related to the United Nations Declaration

Act.

I think it’s also worth noting and acknowledging the young people that

were mentioned earlier today. They are the ones that are going to live with

the decisions that we as adults and as government make. So I’m happy that

they’re here to witness the government commitments that are being made here

today.

I also think that it’s imperative to acknowledge the Canadian

delegation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit who are presently in Rome. I

know that the AFN delegation is going to be meeting with His Holiness Pope

Francis tomorrow. They’re there seeking justice and an apology for the

crimes that were committed against First Nations and Indigenous peoples here

in this country. So my prayers and thoughts are with them to give them the

strength that they need to do that important work.

I’m honoured to be here today to speak to you about an important

milestone in our collective work of reconciliation between the Crown in

Right of British Columbia and First Peoples of this province.

I had the honour of attending the Legislature in October 2019 for the

introduction of the co-developed Bill 41, which was passed unanimously by

this Legislature on November 28 — again, at which time I was able to come

here and speak to you. That is a day that I will never forget. That is a day

that continues to give me the drive to work towards implementing the changes

that are necessary in order to change the circumstances within our

respective First Nation communities.

In passing this act, the B.C. government made the United Nations

declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples a foundation for

reconciliation here in British Columbia, committing to take legislative and

other actions to uphold and meet the human rights objectives of the

declaration.

In passing this act, the province of British Columbia took a historic

step forward in righting its relationship with First Nations, taking a

concrete step to move away from a tradition of rights denial towards a

modernized relationship based on human rights, cooperation and partnership.

This was a significant and necessary step in our collective work of

reconciliation.

[2:25 p.m.]

Today we are here to acknowledge another significant step, and that is

the development of the action plan to meet the objectives of the

declaration. In essence, it’s really the meat on the bones. It’s the

framework and the guideline for how we’re going to move together in

implementing Bill 41.

In doing this, we would be remiss to allow this moment to pass without

acknowledging the exceptional circumstances within which the plan was

developed, through efforts of consultation and cooperation with Indigenous

peoples. Most notably, and it’s already been mentioned, this was done in the

throes of a global health pandemic, which has required new approaches to

engaging with First Nation communities.

Today is actually my very first work-related trip that I’ve taken in

over two years. Last night was the first time that I saw my colleagues

Robert and Lydia in person in over two years, so it’s good to be back out,

although I had a little bit of anxiety. But we’ll get used to it again, I

guess.

It was also done through a series of significant climate emergencies

that many of us lived through, each of which had, and continue to have,

profound and extreme impacts around the province and within all of our

communities, all the while grieving and remembering the thousands of lost

children whose unmarked burial sites have been found and continue to be

discovered at former residential school sites across the country.

Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is visiting the site of former St.

Joseph’s Mission Residential School in Williams Lake. I’m sending my

heartfelt prayers and condolences to the families that, because of this, are

reliving that pain again.

I do not highlight these to explain the time taken to develop the plan

but rather to underscore the great need for the actions in this plan to be

carried out as shared priorities. The actions focus on pragmatic and

systemic changes needed so that our communities are supported in their

resilience, rights and self-determination each and every day, including in

the face of extraordinary circumstances.

Done right, taking actions to meet the objectives of the declaration

will uphold the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being

of Indigenous peoples. Done right, these actions will support our First

Nations governments and institutions to do their important day-to-day work

in improving the daily conditions and quality of our lives, of our families

and communities.

Done right, we will see progressive and effective

government-to-government relationships, agreements and initiatives that

reach the goals and outcomes set out in the action plan.

Done right, we will also transform and decolonize the legislative

process, overcome barriers like confidentiality to allow for direct

government-to-government participation.

I spoke to this earlier in the media, speaking about the importance of

making those changes. The way that laws are currently drafted are archaic

and colonial, and never really have the space created for Indigenous people

or people of colour. We need to make the systemic shifts necessary to allow

for that government-to-government relationship to take place in which, when

laws are being created, Indigenous rights and title holders need to be

sitting at the table and being a part of that conversation.

It is therefore with great hope and optimism that I stand here in the

Legislature to bear witness to the province acting on one of its key

obligations in the Declaration Act in bringing forward a meaningful and a

distinctions-based action plan, designed with Indigenous peoples to meet the

human rights objective of the UN declaration, improve the lives of our

citizens, foster partnerships and prioritize the imperative of

reconciliation.

There was a question that was asked by the media earlier today about

what were some of the pitfalls, or what did we see as pitfalls. The main

pitfall that I see is that it would be continued denial. We have an

opportunity to make some real headway here in terms of changing the

relationship between the Crown and First Nations people in this country, and

we need to remain committed to making that change happen.

We cannot continue to have denial of our existence, of our rights and

of our title. This plan sets the framework for making that change that’s

necessary, and so I’m really looking forward to this point in time, where we

actually roll up our sleeves now and we get down with the heavy

lifting.

Thanking you for the opportunity to have this moment to present to

you. Taxa. [Applause.]

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Casimer.

Now I invite Chief Don Tom of the Union of British Columbia Indian

Chiefs to offer his remarks.

[2:30 p.m.]

D. Tom: I’m going to follow suit with my colleague and say thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

[SENĆOŦEN was spoken.]

My dear respected family, Elders who are here and friends, it is my

privilege to be here. My name is Chief Don Tom of the Tsartlip First Nation.

I am vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

I would also like to extend my appreciation to Elders Shirley and

Butch for starting us off in a good way as well.

I would also like to recognize — as you know, you saw Grand Chief

Stewart walking in, Stewart Phillip — all the contributions and, I think,

ways that he has inspired many young leaders, inspired many British

Columbians to not accept, to really look through the lens: if better is

possible, is good, good enough?

I think with the work that we’re doing, the work that you all have

done passing this unanimously…. Now that we have the action plan, we’re

going to see the work now. We’re going to see the fruit of all of the hard

work that such people like the Grand Chief have put in — many years of

advocating and many years of growing moustaches and growing his long hair. I

keep encouraging him to grow his moustache back.

All right. On behalf of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, I am honoured

to be speaking today in support of the Declaration Act action plan, which

has been developed over the past two years and represents a tangible

commitment to implementing the United Nations declaration on the rights of

Indigenous peoples across all ministries.

I want to acknowledge the province for the work with First Nations to

develop the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act over two

years ago — the first jurisdiction in Canada to do so, as the minister

shared.

The UBCIC has been fully involved in this development at the direction

of our membership, and I want to acknowl­edge my colleagues, as I just

acknowledged Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. His lovely wife, Joan Phillip, is

here today and my good friend.

I would also like to acknowledge the UBCIC secretary-treasurer, who is

also here in the Legislature, Kúkpi7 Judy Wilson, for her leadership and

commitment to always moving forward and being the lead on this, as well, for

the union. My colleagues at the B.C. Assembly of First Nations — Regional

Chief Teegee and Chief Jerry Jack, who is here today. My colleagues at First

Nations Summit — Chief Lydia Hwitsum, Robert Phillips and Cheryl

Casimer.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, as I shared previously…. I kind of

dated myself, and some of you had dated yourselves earlier, as well, in the

media event.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs was formed in 1969 as a response to

the so-called white paper which provided a framework for assimilation. Of

course, First Nations completely rejected this. The UBCIC has been meeting

since then, bringing the leadership together on issues of common

concern.

Our mandate is to work towards the implementation, exercise and

recognition of our inherent title, rights and treaty rights and to protect

our lands and waters, through the exercise and implementation of our own

laws and jurisdiction.

[2:35 p.m.]

Today’s launch of the action plan is significant for many reasons.

Perhaps most important, it represents that we are moving forward

collectively on recognition and implementation of our inherent title and

rights. This is no small thing.

The colonial project was specifically intended to take away our

territories, break up our families, erase our culture. Laws were put in

place to specifically erode and take away our rights. Our children were

forcibly taken away from us, many forced to go to residential schools, and

we were not allowed to speak our language. There were laws that forbid us

from accessing lawyers to fight for our lands and our rights.

The Declaration Act is a law that we helped develop and is intended to

affirm our rights. We are so grateful to our ancestors for their leadership,

relentlessness and hard work to get us to this place.

The actions must be fully resourced and properly supported in order to

breathe life into the Declaration Act. They must be accompanied by a

significant cultural shift within the province. All politicians, bureaucrats

at every level, must receive training on the UN declaration and on working

from a trauma-informed, decolonial perspective. Significantly, we must work

collectively, using the action plan as the starting place, to effect

cultural change in the public as well.

One of the painful legacies of colonialism is the ongoing racism that

First Nations continue to experience. This is both institutionalized as well

as perpetuated by the public. The devastating impacts of this racism include

disproportionate levels of poverty, higher levels of our women and girls

going missing and being murdered, lower rates of mainstream educational

achievements, higher rates of suicides, mental and physical health

issues.

While we celebrate today, we must also acknowledge that our people

continue to very much be in crisis as a result of the ongoing impacts of

colonialism. We have worked hard to shape the action plan as a step towards

responding to this crisis. It’s going to be incredibly hard work.

One of the threads that we’ve sought to weave through the action plan

is commitment to transparency and to upholding First Nations’ jurisdiction

over our territories. With the climate emergency getting worse every year,

Indigenous peoples being disproportionately impacted, it is imperative that

we work to take care of our land and waters. Projects that stand to cause

environmental devastation, such as liquefied fracked gas development and the

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and Site C, simply cannot

continue.

The action plan will need to be shaped to support a much-needed shift

to real, clean energy projects to truly protect old growth and to keep our

waters clean. As Grand Chief Stewart Phillip famously said: “Reconciliation

is not for wimps.” I would add that it is also not cheap or easy. However,

it is no longer an option, and it must happen.

I am looking forward to the action plan’s implementation, because it

is another way that we can hold the province accountable to move forward

with us. I am hopeful that we are moving towards the end of unilateral

decision-making by the province into real, meaningful joint

development.

We are at an important time in our history, both for British

Columbians and for First Nations. We find ourselves having to all battle

floods, to all battle wildfires, and the impacts are great. I know that the

work that the province has put into the Declaration Act, the action

plan….

[2:40 p.m.]

I have high hopes, because this has to happen. This has to happen for

First Nations. This has to happen for the next generation of young leaders,

because too much time has gone past.

I think it’s time that Indigenous First Nations people begin to

realize and benefit from British Columbia, just as well as other British

Columbians have, and to have a seat at the table, to have meaningful

dialogue, to have meaningful decision-making. I look forward to that,

because it is something that many of our ancestors have dreamed of. We are

realizing that now through much of your hard work.

Just a friendly hello from my dad, Premier. I know that you guys were

lacrosse teammates at one point, and he says hello.

As I am one of the alumni for the Aboriginal youth interns, I’d like

to acknowledge our Aboriginal youth interns who are here today to also

witness this. What a pleasure it is to know that you guys are here too.

Thank you to the president of UNYA and the president of the Nuu-chah-nulth

Tribal Council for being here too.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great privilege to support the action

plan and to breathe life into it, because now is the time, and it must

happen.

Thank you. [Applause.]

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Chief Tom. On behalf of the Members of the Legislative

Assembly, please accept our sincere appreciation for addressing this House

today. It has been our honour to welcome you all to this chamber.

Now this part of the proceedings is over. For those who wish to stay,

to continue to watch question period and the rest of the proceedings, you

are most welcome to stay. For those who wish to go downstairs to attend the

reception, you can do so — except the members. The members will join the

reception at the end of question period.

Thank you very much again. We will have a short recess for two

minutes.

The House recessed from 2:42 p.m. to 2:49 p.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Mr. Speaker: Please take your seats.

Routine Business

Introductions by Members

D. Coulter: I’d like to introduce my cousin to the House. She came here today to

see where we work and what we do. She is an artist, an author, an art

teacher, and she lives in the Premier’s constituency.

[2:50 p.m.]

If everyone could welcome her and give her a hand, I’d much appreciate

it. Oh, her name. Sorry. Her name is Angela Menzies.

E. Ross: In the gallery today, we have with us Her Worship Mayor Carol Leclerc,

sitting up there. Carol Leclerc has been the mayor since 2014. She was on

city council from 2002 to 2011.

With her is Coun. Sean Bujtas, sitting right beside her. Sean is

currently serving his second term on Terrace council. He’s a huge soccer fan

and has worked for Chances Terrace for 24 years. He’s married to Kelsey

Wiebe and has three children — Alex, George, and Jane.

While I’m always pleased that some members of my constituency come

down to visit the Legislature, I wish that today’s visit was for more

positive reasons. Today they’re here to bring light to the challenges that

many small towns are facing when it comes to dealing with increased violence

and prolific offenders.

Otherwise, will you please join me in welcoming them, and give them a

warm welcome to the Legislature.

Hon. A. Kang: Joining us today in the gallery is Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes — she

is the president of Yorkville University; as well as Tyler Dunham, director,

national regulatory and government affairs.

Yorkville University received consent to operate in B.C. in 2015,

offering a bachelor of business administration with specialization in

accounting, energy management, project management and supply-chain

management. Yorkville first opened a campus in Vancouver in 2017 and moved

to a new space in New Westminster in 2020, where they operate

today.

Would the House please join me in making them feel very

welcome.

A. Olsen: Today I am honoured to welcome into the House and to have lunch with

Leslie McBain. She’s a friend and she’s a constituent from Pender

Island.

Leslie is a fierce and dedicated advocate for people who use drugs and

their families. She’s the co-founder of Moms Stop The Harm, a network of

Canadian families whose loved ones have died from drug-related harms or who

struggle with substance abuse. Moms Stop The Harm has called for the end to

the failed war on drugs and embrace of an approach that reduces harm and

respects human rights.

Leslie shared with me today that of the 3,400 members of Moms Stop The

Harm, 1,700 of them are from right here in British Columbia. I think that’s

a stark reminder of the challenge that we face.

It was wonderful to reconnect with Leslie. She’s a powerful advocate.

I just ask that this House please make her feel welcome.

R. Leonard: Every day since I have been elected, we’ve had somebody watching this

House. She moved from being my legislative assistant to the Whip’s office,

and she watches everybody attentively, but she’s no longer with us. Kaylee

Szakacs is now Kaylee Lironi. She was married on the weekend.

I hope this House will congratulate her and say that we look forward

to her watching us attentively, now as Kaylee Lironi.

Hon. M. Farnworth: Today in the gallery watching us is Adrian Scovell, the president and

CEO of the Automotive Retailers Association; along with Ron Tremblay, who is

the chair of the Automobile Retailers Association. The Automobile Retailers

Association has represented the needs of the after-market industry for over

65 years and has over 1,000 members. They’re here to see today’s

proceedings. Would the House please make them most welcome.

Hon. J. Whiteside: I’d like to welcome two guests to the House from the First Nations

Education Steering Committee on this important and historic day.

[2:55 p.m.]

Marlene Ericsson grew up in Nak’azdli, also known as Fort St. James.

She’s the executive director of aboriginal education at the College of New

Caledonia, where she’s worked for over 25 years advocating for systemic

change. She’s also served as a director for the Yinka Dene Language

Institute, and as a director, adviser and chairperson for the First Peoples

Cultural Council. She serves as a vice-president for FNESC. She chairs the

post-secondary B.C. aboriginal coordinators council, has a strong interest

in oral history, has been a longtime advocate for language and cultural

revitalization.

She’s joined today by Deborah Jeffrey, the executive director of

FNESC, who is a member of the Tsimshian nation and who has served as

executive director for FNESC since 2010. To say Deborah, in her role as

executive director, brings such incredible fierce advocacy and leadership on

behalf of First Nations children…. She collaborates both provincially and

nationally with First Nations leaders and educational technical

representatives, K-to-12, Indigenous education partners as well as

government representatives.

I want to say it’s very humbling, and I’m immensely grateful for their

role, for their advocacy and partnership, specifically at FNESC, as we work

together to ensure that Indigenous children and youth experience success and

see themselves in our education system.

Would the House please help me to make them welcome.

Tributes

MADELENE VAIL BIRD

Hon. B. Ma: We all know those individuals and people in our communities who

seem to be everywhere and know everybody. When they leave this world,

our communities are never quite the same.

Madelene Vail Bird, born November 7, 1941, was one of those people

in my community of North Vancouver. She passed earlier this month, March

13, at 80 years old.

She was well known for her work volunteering everywhere throughout

the community and also cared for many individuals as an LPN at Lions

Gate Hospital.

She loved her friends, of which she also had many. She loved life,

and she will be missed.

Would the House please join me in celebrating Madelene’s

life.

Introductions by Members

Hon. K. Conroy: I want to acknowledge two special birthdays today in the

House.

First, while we were on leave, on March 24, our oldest daughter,

Jennifer, celebrated what we call in our family a big “O” birthday, and you

can put a five in front of it. If any of are doing the math, no, I wasn’t 14

when I had her. She’s actually my stepdaughter but very much my

daughter.

Also, today is actually our son’s birthday. He’s 38. Just an

interesting fact: 27 years of his life he’s had a parent sitting in this

Legislature, and rarely has he been acknowledged on his birthday. So today

please join me in acknowledging Benny on his 38th birthday.

A. Singh: Through all of the birthdays of the last few days, I’d be remiss if I

didn’t remember my law partner, Justin Thind’s birthday. He turned 50 on

March 28, the day before yesterday. I would really like the Legislature to

wish him a happy birthday.

R. Russell: It’s my privilege today to welcome to the House my two kids, as well

as their friend. That’s Juno Russell, Gabriel Russell and Lincoln

Vanderkooi. I was proud to be able to invite them to come today to see some

of the good work that we do in this House — as was mentioned earlier,

paddling together as opposed to what we are about to get into. I did ask

them to leave just before question period. Would the House please join me in

welcoming them.

B. Anderson: Today I would like to wish a very happy 100th birthday to Tordis

Wegener. She was born in Oslo, Norway, educated in Norway, Sweden, Germany

and, after emigrating to Canada, went to McGill University. She was a

journalist and is fluent in five languages. Her first work was published

when she was 14. She writes even today, but that is for the enjoyment of

friends and family.

As you can imagine, a person that loves to write also loves to read,

and there was always a book, or three, on the coffee table being read or

re-read. The walls are lined with books in many languages.

[3:00 p.m.]

Tordis relocated from Montreal when she was 88, after the passing of

her husband, to be near her son and his family. It was at this time she

learned how to operate a computer to stay in touch with the outside

world.

I hope everyone in the House will wish Tordis Wegener a very happy

100th birthday today.

Happy birthday.

T. Shypitka: In fear of being repetitive, I would like to formally welcome to the

Legislature Cheryl Casimer, who we all know was here today speaking so

elegantly. She’s not in the gallery now. I think she’s in the precinct,

though, and I’ll be meeting with her a little bit later.

She’s a political executive with the First Nations Summit, but more

importantly, if I can boldly say that, she’s an old college friend of mine.

She comes from the community of ʔaq̓am,

which is within the nation of Ktunaxa, which is near Cranbrook. She always

brings such a genuine, warm smile. She’s been a friend of mine for a long

time, and I’m just so proud of her and what she’s accomplished over the

years.

I want to just formally welcome her and let the House recognize

that.

Tributes

PAULINE LEE

M. Lee: Given the number of other introductions today and tributes by

other members of this House, I just want to take a minute or two, if I

may, to pay tribute to my mother. My mother passed unexpectedly and

suddenly on March 17, after 87 years with us. I know that just today a

colleague of mine sent me a nice note that talked about the fact that,

like all of us in this House, we have our mothers and fathers and other

relatives, sons and daughters who watch us in this chamber. So I’ll miss

her.

I know that she often would tell me to sit up straight. She’d be

concerned if I had too many furrows on my brow, but she would typically

give me lots of positive feedback, so I appreciate the note from my kind

colleague who said that to me here.

She lived a full life. She came from Hong Kong in 1962, as some of

you have heard over the years. She was a nurse at VGH. She went into

home care nursing with the Victorian Order of Nurses and then wanted to

be working with the city of Vancouver Health Department, organizing home

care as a hospital liaison.

I know that in the last number of days, I’ve spoken to many of her

colleagues about her service and her compassion to others. She sang with

the Vancouver Chinese Choir for 34 years. Many of the members are coming

tomorrow to sing at her celebration of life. I’m grateful to them

through the community. I recognize that, as I was just saying, in the

mechanisms. I did not know that my mother…. I thought it was just to me

that she communicated positive, encouraging messages, but it turns out

she was communicating to many.

We know how hard it has been through the pandemic. I think it took

a toll on her, like so many other elderly people. But I don’t believe

it’s that. The coroner’s office is still reviewing the cause of death. I

do appreciate all the kind words of support from members of this

chamber.

I do want to pay tribute to my mother. She had a fine life, and

she was very grateful to others. In her passing, I will always remember

that.

Statements

(Standing Order 25B)

KW’UMUT LELUM

CHILD AND FAMILY

SERVICES

A. Walker: Twenty-five years ago nine nations on central Vancouver Island

came together with a common purpose: to better the lives of children in

care. Driven by their deep respect for their Snuw’uy’ulh, their sacred

ways of knowing and being, they formed Kw’umut Lelum — the Malahat, Lake

Cowichan, Lyackson, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz’uminus, Snuneymuxw,

Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nations — determined to fulfil their

inherent right to care for and to protect their children.

At a recent KL event, KL board president Robina Thomas shared her

deep connections to these lands and people and the importance of Kw’umut

Lelum for her community, saying that their children deserve to know who

they are and where they came from and the pride that children felt when

they were able to connect through traditional protocols and tribal

journeys. She reminds us how sometimes the work is really hard, but it’s

about the generations that come behind us.

Growing from just ten employees to the now 107, Kw’umut Lelum

offers a full spectrum of culturally appropriate child and family

services, striving to ensure that children and their communities are

safe and protected and that those outside of their communities are

returned home. Building on this success, Kw’umut Lelum Foundation was

formed.

[3:05 p.m.]

I want to add that this is the first Indigenous-led community

foundation of its kind in western Canada. It was formed to open the

doors to partnerships and collaborations and a shared responsibility to

move forward. It will support a wide range of youth development

programs. It is future-focused, and it builds both social and economic

prosperity for generations to come.

I also want to recognize the Mastercard Foundation, who recently

contributed $3 million to the Kw’umut Lelum Foundation, and Indspire,

who is committed to provide scholarships and bursaries for young people

from the nine nations who will be entering college and university in the

next two years.

Would the House please join with me in celebrating the

accomplishments and the successes of the Kw’umut Lelum board; the

executive director, Bill Yoachim; and their amazing staff.

PRINCE GEORGE COMMUNITY

SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN

REFUGEES

S. Bond: As we continue to watch the horror unfolding in Ukraine, the

people of my community and region, like so many others, are stepping up,

ready to do their part to help.

Recently representatives of five levels of government in our

region gathered at Prince George city hall to sign a joint letter to the

Prime Minister and the Premier. The letter outlined our collective

commitment and willingness to welcome and support Ukrainians who have

been forced to flee their homes. It was another powerful example of why

I love where I live. When there is a need, without fail, people step

up.

The overwhelming community support for Ukraine has also led to the

creation of a new volunteer working group, Prince George for Ukraine.

The group includes elected officials, including the Chief of the Lheidli

T’enneh, various community groups, volunteers and business

organizations.

The community efforts do not stop there. Multiple fundraising

efforts are also underway, including a fundraiser selling handmade

perogies. Our local legion, branch 43, is hosting a fundraising dinner

and silent auction in partnership with Share Hope, who have, for years,

supported refugee families and who will now turn their focus to

supporting Ukrainian families seeking to escape war-torn

Ukraine.

After being personally moved to support the people of Ukraine,

local artist Elmer Gunderson created an incredibly heartfelt piece of

art representing the pain Ukrainians are experiencing. That piece was

presented to Father Chornenkyii of Saint George’s Ukrainian Catholic

Church and will be auctioned off at an event in April.

I could not be more proud of the generosity of the region I

represent. Every day we receive additional offers of support and

assistance for families who will choose to come to British Columbia, and

I am confident that they will be received with kindness, care and

support when they arrive in Prince George, because Prince George stands

with Ukraine.

NIDUS PERSONAL PLANNING SERVICES

AND REPRESENTATION

AGREEMENTS

M. Elmore: Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry was

established in 1995 to be a resource for information and assistance with

representation agreements, which are a unique legal document for

personal planning. With the COVID-19 pandemic, this is something that

has really become top of mind for British Columbians, and personal

planning is something that we can undertake during our lifetime, while

we’re alive.

Many of us will be familiar with estate planning, which happens

after we die. But personal planning, and particularly representation

agreements, have to do with dealing with questions like: if we’re

hospitalized, who’s going to pay our bills, who’s going to make those

decisions, and who has the legal authority?

Representation agreements are a legal document in B.C. for

appointing someone to make those types of decisions. Nidus is the only

community-based organization in Canada devoted to personal planning and

supporting our aging population and also people with

disabilities.

It covers areas of health care, personal care, legal affairs and

financial affairs. Nidus, as well, has a very unique e-registry, where

folks can register their documents. Particularly during these challenges

of climate change and fires and emergencies, it’s really an incredible

resource.

Nidus was founded by the Alzheimer Society of B.C., the B.C.

Association for Community Living, the B.C. Coalition of People with

Disabilities and the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of B.C.

They inspired, as well,

article 12 of the United Nations convention on

the rights of persons with disabilities.

[3:10 p.m.]

I’d like to recognize the board: the president, Arlene Schouton;

the vice-president, Dawn Hemingway; the treasurer, Shelley Lecerf;

members at large Ron Usher, Sandy Tonaka, Susan Tolly, Valerie Jungaro,

Robin Humphries. I’d also ask everyone to please join me to thank Nidus

for their dedication for upholding the rights for self-determination for

all British Columbians.

I know they would urge us here in the House and all British

Columbians to take the time to fill out a representation agreement for

all of us.

I ask everyone to please thank Nidus, because they’re

great.

HOWE SOUND WOMEN’S CENTRE

J. Sturdy: In acknowledgment of the 2022 national Women’s History Month theme

of “Women providing healing, promoting hope,” today it is my pleasure to

recognize the team at the Howe Sound Women’s Centre for their

contributions to the well-being of women and families in the Sea to

Sky.

Recently I had the opportunity to again catch up with Ashley

Oakes, their executive director, to get an update on their COVID

experience and to tour their newly renovated building in

Squamish.

The Howe Sound Women’s Centre is a grassroots organization

dedicated to the prevention of violence against women, children and

youth. They offer drop-in resource centres as well transition and safe

houses throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. These services support women

and children who are escaping abusive relationships or otherwise need

support or advocacy.

As this House appreciates, the isolation of the pandemic was

particularly hard on women and children, with increased rates of

domestic violence and sexual assault. The rapidly escalating cost of

living and regional housing shortages have made transitional steps for

those needing alternative housing arrangements very

challenging.

Thankfully, the team at Howe Sound Women’s Centre has been working

hard to build supports for those in need. During the height of the

pandemic, they set up a temporary safe-home program using unoccupied

short-term rentals as well as securing additional long-term affordable

housing for local survivors of gender-based violence. They also added

support services and set up a 24-hour crisis line.

Howe Sound Women’s Centre funds some of its services by operating

Pearl’s Value and Vintage, a social enterprise thrift store in Squamish

that has the added value of diverting a significant number of items from

the landfill. This organization performs critical functions in the Sea

to Sky, Mr. Speaker.

I’m sure that this House will join me in recognizing the Howe

Sound Women’s Centre team for the tremendous and invaluable work that

they do.

ALANA COOK AND ADVOCACY FOR

YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN

SPORT

R. Glumac: I’d like to say a few words today about one of my constituents.

Her name is Alana Cook. She works with ISPARC, the Indigenous Sport,

Physical Activity and Recreation Council, promoting health and wellness

through physical activity. She works planning sports camps for youth and

strongly believes in the positive transformative effects of a healthy,

active lifestyle.

She’s been involved in sport most of her life, but in recent years

she’s been training to be an MMA fighter. Alana herself has Métis

heritage, and she says that Indigenous women often get portrayed as

victims in the media. She wants to change that narrative and show that

Indigenous women are capable, resilient and powerful.

Alana had her first professional MMA fight in January, and she

won. She won in the first round, at four minutes and 23 seconds into the

first round. Since winning that fight, so many of the Indigenous youth

that she’s worked with and many others have reached out, inspired by her

success.

Alana views herself as a female warrior, and she wants to set an

example. In her words, she says: “I want to be a role model to the next

generation watching me, particularly young women. I believe in walking

my talk, and I want to show the youth I work with that good things come

to those who work and that you can be an athlete for life.”

Mr. Speaker, her next fight is on April 28 in Vancouver. I welcome

the House to give her a cheer.

[3:15 p.m.]

GLENN TODD

T. Halford: I rise today to recognize the remarkable life of a leader in my

community. Glenn Todd is a legend in many aspects. As the founder of the

Canada Cup softball tournament and one of Canada’s most successful

racehorse owners, his legacy can be felt throughout the softball

community and thoroughbred racing industry.

His illustrious career in softball began as a coach in the South

Surrey White Rock Minor Softball Association, and soon after he was the

president. He expanded the association from 11 to 110 teams. He was also

the first ever head coach of the White Rock Renegades team in 1986, and

led the team for 17 years.

One only needs to pass by Softball City in South Surrey to see a

physical reminder of Glenn’s can-do attitude. When we needed a

first-class softball facility in B.C., Glenn Todd scraped together the

money, the grants and the bank loans to create the best facility

possible.

Now, I will bring it to the attention of the House that he

actually did that in partnership with Ian Paton Sr., who was then chair

of the ALC at that time. That is something that stands in my community

that we are very proud of.

Glenn passed away this weekend at the age of 75 and left behind a

tremendous legacy of advocacy and generosity. Surrey–White Rock has lost

an incredible community leader.

I offer my sincere condolences to Glenn’s family, his friends, who

I know miss him dearly.

Please join me in honouring this community hero, Glenn

Todd.

Oral Questions

CHILD CARE FEES AND SUBSIDIES

FOR CHILD CARE

PROVIDERS

S. Bond: On Monday, after hearing the serious concerns of child care

providers, the Minister of Child Care simply dismissed them as

fearmongering, and she claimed: “This is business as usual.”

Well, for Amber Lamanes of Leap Forward Childcare in the Premier’s

own riding, business as usual has meant 18 hours and 13 minutes of

frustration waiting on the phone on hold over a two-week period as she

tries to continue to serve families in British Columbia.

This is what Amber had to say: “The minister’s comments in

question period have left me incredibly frustrated, because they show no

understanding of the reality for child care providers under this

government. I met all the deadlines, but this government has messed up,

and as a result, I will not have the funds in my account on April 1, as

was promised.”

Can the minister of state today answer Amber’s question: why will

the funds that she was promised not be in her bank account on

time?

Hon. K. Chen: I thank the opposition member for the question.

We do understand the importance of receiving funds on time. If the

member opposite has a unique situation that we can look into, my office

and our team are more than willing and want to work with providers to

make sure payments are received on time.

From my understanding, all providers who submitted complete

applications have now received approval. They have been working with

providers to ensure that no timeline has been missed, and we are working

on processing applications as soon as possible.

We do understand that some providers may have incomplete

applications, or there may be unique situations. Again, our office is

more than willing to work on individual cases.

I would welcome the member to please bring the situation to us, so

we can look into it to make sure all providers can pass on the savings

to parents that parents are counting on, because this is a really

popular program that our government has rolled out since 2018, with tens

of thousands of families, for the first time, getting savings in their

child care fees.

Mr. Speaker: Leader of the Official Opposition, supplemental.

S. Bond: If it was a unique situation, we’d be happy to bring it to the

minister’s attention, but what she should know by now is that it’s not

unique. In fact, there are child care providers all across British

Columbia who are absolutely distressed by the mess that this government

has created.

Let’s be clear. This government had months to review the

applications, and it’s been a disaster.

[3:20 p.m.]

Vivian runs two child care centres in the Lower Mainland. She has

payroll that is due tomorrow and rent for both her facilities due on

April 1.

Child care providers were listening to the minister’s answers the

other day, and here is what Vivian had to say to the minister’s

comments: “I’m beyond emotionally distressed. I have worked so hard for

the past 15 years in providing safe and wonderful care and early

learning programs to the community. What more documentation could I

possibly provide to fulfil my nominal increase request, which would

barely keep me afloat?”

The pattern continues. It’s parents of children with autism,

families desperately trying to fill up their minivan, and now it’s child

care providers in British Columbia. Their concerns simply dismissed by

minister after minister and the Premier.

Can the minister stand up and try again? The members opposite can

shake their heads, but the fact of the matter is child care operators

are distressed, angry and upset.

What is this minister going to do to fix the mess she

created?

Hon. K. Chen: I think we all share the same goal: to make sure that the fee

reduction can be passed on to parents and to work with providers to

ensure that for the first time in B.C.’s history, parents are seeing

savings in their pocket. We have been delivering savings to parents’

pockets through the fee reduction program, the affordable child care

benefit program and the $10-a-day site, so now thousands of

families….

I do want to take this opportunity, of course, to thank all the

providers who have been partnering with us to work hand-in-hand

together. But I can assure the member opposite that from my

understanding, no timeline has been missed.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. K. Chen: Staff have been working really hard on processing individual

applications, addressing individual situations. All providers that have

submitted complete renewal applications have received

approvals.

For those who are seeking fee increases in April, they have been

offered a way to be granted temporary approval so parents can continue

to have savings. From my understanding, the vast majority of providers

that have been offered a way to receive temporary approval have accepted

that approval.

We are working hard with providers. If the member opposite has an

individual case that she would like us to look into, we are more than

happy to look into it and work on those applications. I hope the member

opposite…. Instead of creating unnecessary fear for parents and

providers, let’s work together to make child care more affordable for

families.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Okay, Members. Let’s get to the next question.

T. Halford: Well, the latest attack on child care providers is no surprise,

and we’ve seen that through the minister’s own decision note: “Make

these spaces unviable.” Those are the words in the minister’s decision

note.

There are consequences. There are consequences for people like

Angela Loeppky, a single mom of two children with autism. She also owns

Bouncing Babies and Toddling Tots in Coquitlam. Despite the minister’s

claim, Angela’s application, which doesn’t include an increase, has not

yet been approved.

Yesterday she wrote to us to say: “I have eight families who have

been advised that their April payment has gone up due to the lack of

CCFRI approval. The NDP government is slapping me with the autism

funding fiasco as well attacking my business and livelihood on every

front.”

Can the minister tell Angela and the families that rely on her

child care centre why she is actively making private child care spaces

unviable?

Hon. K. Chen: I want to assure the member again that all providers who have

submitted complete applications have received approval. For those who

are seeking fee increases in April, they have been offered a way to have

temporary approval so parents can continue to have savings. If providers

have incomplete applications, staff are working really hard,

hand-in-hand with providers, to ensure that there’s stability for

providers and parents. We will continue to look into all those cases to

make sure there’s stability.

For the past few years, the fee reduction program has been really

popular, and we really want to thank all the providers, the over 93

percent of providers partnering with us to deliver savings to parents

for the first time in B.C.’s history.

[3:25 p.m.]

We have so many providers who have been providing good feedback to

us. We would like to thank them again.

I know the members are shaking their heads, but we have been

working hard to deliver $10-a-day child care, affordable child care, to

bring down the cost of child care for B.C. families for the past few

years.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Surrey–White Rock, supplemental.

T. Halford: The words of the minister just basically call out the credibility

of a child care provider. The minister just said it’s not true. Those

were the minister’s words. We can go back in Hansard and check,

but those were the minister’s words. She said the person that we just

referenced, Angela Lutke, is not accurate in her assessment.

This minister has taken every opportunity to frustrate private

child care operators and put them out of business. That strategy was

detailed in her own decision note. Yet she stands here and dismisses the

legitimate concerns of hundreds of actual providers who are anxious,

upset and concerned for the families that rely on them.

There are operators across this province facing the same thing,

including Robert and Heather Southam in Kelowna and Jen Ratcliffe from

Pebble Lane Early Learning centre in my riding.

Why is this minister continuing to dismantle these centres that

families need and rely on?

Hon. K. Chen: Again and again, just to add, our government has been working hard

to lower parent fees through the fee reduction program, the affordable

child care benefit program and the $10-a-day site. The fee reduction

program has been a great success, with 93 percent of providers joining

this program, lowering parent fees for the first time in B.C.’s

history.

We definitely have a lot more work to do, and we’re continuing to

learn. How do we build a new social program, the core services that

families can count on for generations to come? We will continue to do

that and continue to….

I’m happy to look into the opposition member’s case, to look into

individual situations where there could be support needed for their

applications.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. K. Chen: Or maybe the provider may have a question. We’re more than happy

to connect, please.

Interjection.

Hon. K. Chen: Instead of heckling me, I would welcome the member to bring

forward the cases.

I hope the member opposite….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Order, Members.

Minister will continue.

Hon. K. Chen: I believe we all share the same goals. The reason for our

government to roll out the Childcare B.C. plan in 2018 was because

parents have been struggling in this province for many, many years with

a lack of affordable child care and a lack of access under your previous

watch. That is the reason why we have the fee reduction

program.

Again, no data has been missed. Staff are working really hard to

process applications. We will make sure….

I welcome the member opposite to bring forward the situations so

we can look into them individually and ensure parents continue to have

the savings.

LNG DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS AND

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR

INDUSTRY

A. Olsen: Mark Ruffalo and more than 65 celebrities launched a campaign

calling on their bank, a subsidiary of RBC, to stop financing the

Coastal GasLink pipeline.

Well, the Premier celebrated the final investment decision of

foreign investors on the LNG Canada project. He told Ruffalo and friends

that their public thoughts on their final investment decision were

unwelcome. The Premier dismisses the celebrities as lacking a full

understanding on the impact on Indigenous peoples and the impact on our

climate.

I’m concerned that this B.C. NDP government is unwilling to

understand the human and environmental impacts of LNG. The national

inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women found that man camps

in resource-extractive industries directly cause increased violence

against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. Scientific

studies have demonstrated birth defects, cancers and asthma among

communities neighbouring fracking sites.

In addition to the varied impacts on wildlife populations, ongoing

deforestation and water pollution, methane is 28 times more potent, by

weight, than carbon dioxide, meaning gases leaked from LNG production

are more highly polluting than coal.

[3:30 p.m.]

My question is to the Premier. How can he justify funding and

subsidizing LNG infrastructure, knowing full well LNG’s violations of

human, environmental and Indigenous rights?

Interjections.

Hon. B. Ralston: I’m not the Minister of Energy for nothing, I suppose.

Thank you very much to the member for the question. It really does

raise some important points about the LNG development here in British

Columbia.

We secured, our government secured, the biggest private sector

investment in LNG in the history of the country. That development is

following and meeting environmental standards of the very highest

quality.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members, let’s hear the answer, please.

Hon. B. Ralston: Whether it’s the liquefaction plant in Kitimat or whether it’s the

pipeline, the highest environmental standards are being met as this

project moves forward. It’s due to be completed at the end of 2024. It’s

a project which most of the people of British Columbia support and are

very proud of.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Saanich North and the Islands, supplemental.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

A. Olsen: It’s stunning, actually. I asked about the impact of the LNG

industry on missing and murdered Indigenous women, saying that the man

camps in resource extractive industries have a dramatic impact on

Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, and the minister stands

up and says that he’s celebrating the biggest investment

like….

On a day that we’ve just put the provincial action plan in place,

we’re just going to ignore it. We’ll just plow right along.

The B.C. NDP can flood us with the rosy rhetoric of reconciliation

and consultation, but the fact that their government leverages the

divide-and-conquer tactics used by all Crown governments in this

country, policy grounded in a very racist Indian Act…. They can promise

a transition to clean, environmentally sustainable energy, but the fact

is that the NDP continue to pad the pockets of the oil and gas industry,

$1.3 billion last year.

Last year B.C. witnessed a sample of the climate-related disasters

that will be the norm if we don’t act to prevent climate change. Yet

while floodwaters rose, this B.C. NDP Minister of Public Safety approved

yet another RCMP raid on the Coastal GasLink pipeline route. More money,

more time, more effort invested in the conflict that this government

created, rather than using the diplomatic process that they have

entirely abandoned.

How does the Minister of Public Safety reconcile diverting police

resources away from responding to a climate disaster to agitate

Indigenous people protecting their land from this pipeline?

Hon. M. Farnworth: I note the member had a number of questions in his

question.

First, I just want to make the observation that, as the Premier

said, we’ll make our own decisions in this province about how we develop

our natural resources, in consultation with Indigenous communities, with

local governments and the federal government, as opposed to listening to

somebody down in Los Angeles who is a celebrity and somehow thinks that

because they’ve made a movie and have millions of dollars, that somehow

gives them the ability to influence how we do things here in this

province.

I will also say this. When it comes to the rule of law in this

province, when there is an injunction, a court-ordered injunction that

is granted by a court of this province, the RCMP have a responsibility

to ensure that that injunction is enforced. That’s exactly what took

place.

[3:35 p.m.]

Part of that, hon. Member, is that when they request…. Because it

is a small detachment that may need additional resources, it is my

responsibility, as Solicitor General, to ensure that they have those

resources to deal with an injunction that a court, an independent court,

said needed to be enforced.

In terms of the ability of the RCMP to do that and, at the same

time, to respond to emergencies in this province wherever they are, they

have the ability and the resources to do so, and that is exactly what

they did.

CRIME IN TERRACE AND

HANDLING OF CASES BY JUSTICE

SYSTEM

E. Ross: Talking about the law being enforced is quite timely, quite

relevant, because the people of Terrace are worried, so much so that the

mayor and council have flown down here to be with us today to meet with

government over the level of violence in town. It’s not only affecting

Terrace but the constituents of Skeena, because Terrace is a hub of our

region.

Council has also drafted a resolution that reads: “In Terrace as

well as other communities across the province, individuals are often

arrested for crimes like theft and property damage, but the Crown does

not lay charges, citing it is not in the public interest to prosecute.

Offenders of these crimes repeat their actions, and businesses, workers

and the public are victimized as a result.”

The council, the Terrace community, the residents of Skeena, the

residents of B.C…. Everyone wants to know why it is not in the public

interest to charge these repeat offenders.

The question is simple. Why not?

Hon. D. Eby: I’ve seen the mayor’s comments in the media, and I can advise the

member that I asked our regional Crown counsel for the North, Lori

Stevens, to meet with the mayor and to go over statistics from Crown

counsel to reassure the mayor, the people of Terrace, the member and

anyone else who’s concerned about the record of Crown counsel and what’s

happening in the city of Terrace.

I’m happy to read into the record some of this. But suffice it to

say that the vast majority of charge assessments are completed within 30

days. On reports to Crown counsel received by Crown counsel over the

last two years, 1,716 were received from police, and 1,257 were approved

to court. Only 339 of those were no-charge decisions. The rest were

either alternative measures, were returned to police for more

investigation or are currently in progress.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Skeena, supplemental.

E. Ross: You know what? That’s precisely the problem. This government is

acting like there’s no problem, when there are problems being cited by

mayors and councils all across B.C. There would be no other reason for

the mayor and council to be sitting in the gallery today to actually

bring this to light. That answer that was just given by the Attorney

General doesn’t give any comfort to the people in Terrace or in our

communities across B.C. who are facing this violence every day, who are

being attacked.

I have a letter from the chief councillor at Kitsumkalum saying

that he is concerned about his community becoming a lawless land and

that it’s unsafe to go downtown at night, especially for women. The

Terrace Downtown Improvement Area Society is also concerned. “Why are

there no consequences of substance for people who attack businesses? The

answer is that the Crown counsel will not support the RCMP with

charges.”

Our communities are doing their part to assist those who are

struggling with mental health, addiction and homelessness. But my

constituents and, dare I say, the people of British Columbia need to

know that the government is going to do their part too.

My question, again to the minister, is: what will it take for the

province to stop the catch-and-release program and give communities

security from prolific offenders?

Hon. D. Eby: Well, a couple of pieces. One is that Crown counsel work within a

framework set up by the federal government, under the Criminal Code. The

member knows that. They’re bound by Supreme Court of Canada decisions

that interpret that federal law. So the first step, I would think, if

the member is concerned about the state of the criminal law, is to

approach his Member of Parliament.

The second piece is that the allegations the member is making, the

anecdotes that he is delivering, are not backed up by the statistics.

The vast majority of RCCs, reports to Crown counsel, are being approved

by Crown counsel. They’re going to court. Now, there is….

Interjections.

[3:40 p.m.]

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. D. Eby: The member, who doesn’t believe in climate change, is shouting at

me. Okay, there’s evidence for that too. There is evidence for that

too.

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members.

Hon. D. Eby: I’m not surprised he has a problem with facts.

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member.

Hon. D. Eby: Now, I’m not saying there’s not an issue with…. There’s not an

issue….

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members, please.

Hon. D. Eby: I’m not saying there’s not an issue, potentially, with violence in

the streets of Terrace. I’m not saying that at all.

I’m saying that when those charges…. When those investigations are

completed by police, they’re brought to Crown counsel, they’re being

approved, and they’re going to court. There may be issues with the

criminal law being applied by the court. As I say, that’s federal

jurisdiction. That’s an important issue. Let’s talk about that with the

federal government. But to blame Crown counsel for the state of the

federal law and Supreme Court of Canada decisions — that’s a different

story.

We’re also working on mental health and addiction issues that are

often conflated with these problems. With our complex care housing, with

supportive housing, in fact, I’m happy to say we’ve actually reduced the

number of people who are street homeless in Terrace. The last count was

96; the current count was 74.

We’re seeing progress on these kinds of issues in the community.

We’ve got more work to do. I’m happy to work with the member and the

mayor on that.

COMMUNITY SAFETY IN VANCOUVER

AND SUPPORTS FOR PERSONS

WITH COMPLEX CARE NEEDS

M. Lee: Day after day the pattern continues. This week it was an

18-year-old exchange student who was randomly attacked in

Vancouver.

Despite the government’s claims to be providing support, there is

no wraparound care today to prevent these attacks from happening. When

we raised the lack of wraparound supports three years ago, the now

Finance Minister claimed that we were misleading the public.

The deputy chief of the Vancouver police disagrees: “People are

saying we’ve got wraparound care. Well, no, you don’t. At three in the

morning, that wraparound care is a 24-year-old desk clerk who’s dealing

with someone screaming and yelling in his or her room.”

Why has the NDP delayed providing real wraparound supports for so

long, while people face random violence every day on our

streets?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: I appreciate the member’s question.

I want to say up front that it’s very important for all of us not

to conflate violence with mental illness or addiction. It’s very

important that we not further stigmatize people that are living with

extremely complex challenges.

That said, I share the member’s concern about reports of violent

attacks in our community, and of course I share the concern about people

that have fallen through the cracks, have been made marginalized in our

province, who have lived without supports for far too long. We are

pulling the province out of a hole, adding services on mental health and

addictions almost every week.

With the rising tide — the pressures of increased mental health,

mental isolation, increased toxicity of the drugs…. It is honestly a

rising tide. It means we just have to double our efforts and work that

much harder.

We are investing, in this year’s budget, $164 million into complex

care housing that, when it is fully implemented, will provide wraparound

supports for the people with the most complex needs — 500 people. We’ve

got, I think — actually today — the first people moving into complex

care housing in Surrey and, in the coming weeks and months, two sites in

Vancouver and another in Abbotsford.

There are more that we announced in the Interior last week and, in

the Victoria capital region, the week before. We are working hard to

build those wraparound supports and appreciate the member’s support for

those efforts.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Vancouver-Langara, supplemental.

M. Lee: People need to know that they can get home safely and live in

their own neighbourhoods without fear of random attacks, whether it’s

Yaletown, Chinatown, the West End, the Granville entertainment district,

the Downtown Eastside or East Vancouver. We need wraparound supports and

housing, but it’s clear that the NDP have not been providing them. We

have no reason to trust this government that claims that providing a cup

of tea is wraparound support.

The Attorney General promised complex care housing would

“interrupt this rotating door of the criminal justice system.” But the

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions has already admitted that

complex care housing is not being staffed: “We’re going to be

particularly challenged to deliver the service in a multitude of

ways.”

[3:45 p.m.]

After five years, with things getting worse and not better, why

has the NDP failed to provide the wraparound supports that we have

repeatedly called for?

Hon. S. Malcolmson: There is not a single complex care housing bed that will be opened

in the province that is not fully staffed by a range of professionals —

addiction care workers, social workers, peer workers, nurses. There is

no way that with the hole that this province is in and with the very

difficult lives of people with complex needs, untreated mental health

and addictions — often acquired brain injury, often living with

long-term and unresolved trauma — that we, as a government, on this

side, would leave these people without professional care.

The member alludes to that the fact that, yes, historically the

province had not trained up enough nurses and community care workers.

The Minister of Advanced Education and others on this side of the House

are doing that work, adding more beds to bring more people in. We’re the

first province in Canada to approve a peer worker curriculum and

standards of practice so that health authorities and other agencies can

have the confidence about drawing on the experience of people with lived

experience.

Our investment in this year’s budget of $164 million…. We’ve

already targeted and are in the course, right now, of opening 100

complex care housing beds. We’ve announced another 100. They will be

open in this year. They will be fully staffed by professional caring

people, giving people who have been made marginalized the care that they

deserved years ago, and under this government, they’re going to get

it.

CRIME IN COMMUNITIES AND

HANDLING OF CASES BY JUSTICE

SYSTEM

R. Merrifield: With all due respect, that minister’s comments were really all

hat, no cattle.

The rising crime rate is being felt in Terrace, Vancouver and

Kelowna. Kelowna RCMP Supt. Kara Triance says: “Far too many resources

are being used up rearresting prolific offenders.” This is after Kelowna

has actually spent years planning and years begging this NDP government

for complex care housing. But this government has only offered, oh,

funding for more planning, while people are worried about random attacks

today and every day.

Really, it’s no surprise, because the Minister of Finance thought

that wraparound supports meant sharing a cup of tea: “If someone wakes

me up in the middle of the night and they’re feeling distressed, there

is someone on site who will sit down and have a cup of tea. To me, that

is support, and that is what it means to be in supportive

housing.”

Well, unfortunately, having a cup of tea hasn’t fixed the problem

of repeat offenders being quickly released onto the streets of

Kelowna.

While people are desperately waiting for complex care, why won’t

the NDP prosecute the repeat offenders that are hurting people

today?

Hon. D. Eby: We had a really unusual situation where Kelowna RCMP went to

Kelowna city council and said that 78 percent of charges sent to the

B.C. prosecution service had not been assessed and the total number of

charges awaiting approval were nearly 80 percent.

Unfortunately, we reached the point where the prosecution service

— they’re independent of me — issued their own media

statement:

“These statements are grossly inaccurate, and they unjustifiably

cast doubt on the professionalism and effectiveness of hard-working

Crown counsel.

“There is no Crown charge assessment backlog, and this is not an

issue of differences in systems or tracking.

“The simple fact is the overwhelming majority” — it’s 97

percent-plus — “of the reports to Crown counsel we received from the

Kelowna RCMP in 2021 were assessed by Crown counsel within 30 days or

fewer of being received and have been approved and are currently pending

before the court, awaiting disposition, trial or sentencing.

“A small number, approximately 120 in total, are either waiting

assessment by Crown counsel or have been returned to the police for

further information or follow-up.”

[End of question period.]

Tabling Documents

Hon. A. Kang: I stand to table a revised 2022-23 service plan for the Ministry of

Advanced Education and Skills Training to replace the version tabled on

budget day 2020.

[3:50 p.m.]

An omission recently came to our attention, and we wanted to correct

it as soon as possible to ensure transparency and accountability. The

amended version I am tabling today includes information that was

inadvertently missing in the public version.

This information relates to the BCIT trades and technology complex.

The information can be found in the amended version on the bottom of page

18, in the

section on capital expenditures, in the table titled “Major

capital projects.”

Petitions

D. Davies: I’m here to present a petition, 300 letters sponsored by the B.C.

Wildlife Federation and signed by local Fort St. John and area residents

regarding the government’s proposed hunting regulation changes.

Orders of the Day

Hon. M. Farnworth: In this chamber, I call Committee of the Whole, Bill 18, Supply Act (No.

1).

In

Section A, the Douglas Fir Room, I call continued debate on the

estimates for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

Committee of the Whole House

BILL 18 — SUPPLY ACT (N o . 1),

The House in Committee of the Whole (Section

B) on Bill 18;

J. Tegart in the chair.

The committee met at 3:52 p.m.

Clauses 1 to 4 inclusive approved.

Title approved.

Preamble approved.

Hon. S. Robinson: I move that the committee rise and report the bill complete

without amendment.

Motion approved.

The committee rose at 3:54 p.m.

The House resumed; Mr. Speaker in the chair.

[3:55 p.m.]

Report and

Third Reading of Bills

BILL 18 — SUPPLY ACT (N o . 1),

Bill 18, Supply Act (No. 1), 2022, reported complete without

amendment, read a third time and passed.

Hon. L. Beare: I call Committee of the Whole, Bill 19, Employment Standards

Amendment Act.

I ask for a five-minute recess.

Mr. Speaker: This House will be in recess for five minutes.

The House recessed at 3:56 p.m.

Committee of the Whole House

BILL 19 — EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

AMENDMENT ACT,

The House in Committee of the Whole (Section

B) on Bill 19;

J. Tegart in the chair.

The committee met at 4:05 p.m.

The Chair: We’re dealing with Bill 19, Employment Standards Amendment

Act, 2022.

Does the minister wish to make some opening

statements?

Hon. H. Bains: I’d just like to introduce the staff that is with me. Trevor

Hughes is my deputy minister, here on my left, and Michael Tanner and

Jake Ayers, who are from the policy division, are here to assist us in

this debate.

Clause 1 approved.

On clause 2.

G. Kyllo: It certainly is my pleasure to ask a few questions with respect to

this particular bill. I want to thank the minister for providing his

staff an opportunity to brief me earlier on this particular bill. As we

know, this bill proposes a number of amendments to clarify some of the

shortcomings of the original Bill 13 that was tabled last year, in

May.

With respect to

section 2, I’m just wondering if the minister

could provide a bit of additional clarification on the purpose and

reasoning of why this change from the calendar year is having to be

proposed.

Hon. H. Bains: I thank the member. Since the implementation of five paid days,

effective January 1 of this year, a couple of issues and concerns were

brought to our attention, and we are trying to address those through the

changes to the Employment Standards Act here.

Section 2 is one of them.

Section 1 is passed, but

section 2 deals

with the area where we heard concern from the employers. The employers’

concern was that it is administratively challenging if you track the

employment year qualification and number of days that employees are

entitled to.

That means that if you have, say, 15 or 20 employees, each one of

them has a different employment year. It is difficult for them to track

each individually, because if there are 20, then there are 20 different

employment years. They are saying that this is administratively

cumbersome, difficult and challenging.

Then they recommend that we would allow them to go back to the

calendar year, where now all those 20 employees, in that example that I

used, will have one calendar year of qualification and those 20

employees will be entitled to five paid sick days in that calendar

year.

The first year, Member, of the implementation is usually

challenging, because your starting date…. Then your employees are

starting somewhere in the middle of the year, and then it continues on.

I think that after the first year, it will smooth out. And by providing

the employer the option of the calendar year, I think it’s helped them

in simplifying the administrative part of five paid sick

days.

[4:10 p.m.]

G. Kyllo: Thank you to the minister for the explanation.

It’s my understanding — I believe the minister made some reference

to this in his opening comments yesterday during second reading — that

the number of employees that potentially, depending on their hire date,

could be eligible for as many as twice as many paid sick leave days in

fiscal 2022. It was certainly first brought to my attention by

CFIB.

When the minister references that there were a number of employees

expressing concern, did the minister actually track how many different

businesses or organizations had actually expressed concern and were

recommending for this specific change?

Hon. H. Bains: Member, there were a number of businesses that contacted us. I

would mention one letter that came to me. It is signed by a number of

business organizations, each one of them representing thousands of

businesses. I think there were about 12 business organizations putting

this letter together. I could read them, if the member would like, who

signed this letter.

It’s the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Greater

Vancouver Board of Trade, also Restaurants Canada, CFIB, go2HR, Retail

Council of Canada, tourism industry, ICBA. Then we have British Columbia

Restaurant and Foodservices Association, CME, British Columbia Hotel

Association, Alliance of Beverage Licensees.

This is, I think, the essence of the letter, captured in one

paragraph. It says:

“Businesses and employees rely on payroll and human resources

information systems to track, store and provide accurate information on

use of paid sick days and payment for those days. Nearly all of these

systems are based on a workplace having a common employment year, which

is most often the calendar year or business fiscal year. The current

wording of the ‘employment year’ definition on the employment standards

website, from the policy

interpretation of illness or injury leave, at

part 6,

section 49.1, is causing confusion for employers and workers

alike.”

Since we introduced these amendments to the employment standards

to reflect the request that was made by the businesses, I would like to

advise the member that one member who signed that letter, Fiona Famulak,

the president and CEO of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, said: “Thank you

for your note, for hearing businesses’ concerns and taking appropriate

next steps. We will share the details with our network

today.”

[4:15 p.m.]

They requested it. We listened. We are making those changes here

through the legislation. I think, at least from this email, it is being

applauded, or at least accepted, that this is the right step.

G. Kyllo: Thank you to the minister.

Is the minister able to share with us…? In addition to the letter

that he referenced that was signed by a number of different business

organizations, if he could just share the volume of emails or concerns

that were actually brought to his attention after the tabling of this

legislation.

Hon. H. Bains: I don’t have all the emails, phone calls or other letters that,

individually, someone gave you or wrote to our ministry.

To me, when you’re looking at a number of organizations — these

are business organizations; they’re not individual employers — that

represent thousands of businesses, that, to me, is sufficient. In

addition, there are many other emails, or you hear their

concerns.

We listened to the concern that they raised. It was a legitimate

concern that they raised. That’s why the government moved. It is being

recognized that this is the right step to take, by the organizations

that wrote us letters.

G. Kyllo: Just, I guess, a follow-up question to that to the

minister.

Is it common practice for the ministry to actually track the

number of concerns that might be raised with the tabling of a piece of

legislation? If so, is that a number that the minister might be able to

provide to this House either now or at a later date?

Hon. H. Bains: Yeah. We do get emails or letters from businesses, from other

stakeholders who are impacted by any piece of legislation that comes

before this House and is passed. The government makes a decision based

on what we hear. Then the next steps are decided — whether to change

anything or not to change.

G. Kyllo: I appreciate the minister’s response. However, what I’m trying to

get a bit of a sense for…. I would assume that with different pieces of

legislation…. Some may be receiving many accolades and letters from

different industry and trade organizations that might be supportive of

legislation. In other instances, there may be concerns being

raised.

[4:20 p.m.]

I’m trying to get a bit of a sense of if it indeed is something

that the ministry tracks. I just wonder if the minister might be able to

share with this House a bit of a sense of the amount of concerns raised

with respect to this piece of legislation and how this might relate to

other pieces of legislation that might have been brought forward by the

Minister of Labour.

It’s certainly not a trick question. I’m just trying to get a bit

of a sense of the amount of interest — either positive or concerns that

might have been raised when the original Bill 13 was tabled May 13 of

last year. If the minister might be able to provide a bit more

information, that would be very helpful.

Hon. H. Bains: One thing…. We did not hear very much about these concerns when

the legislation was introduced and passed in May last year. When it came

into effect January 1, this is when we started to hear concerns coming

from different people, different sides and different

stakeholders.

We believe that a couple of those areas that were brought to our

attention made sense for us to move, and that’s why we’re

moving.

G. Kyllo: Chair, I’m getting a sense that the minister is not interested in

sharing with us the volume of concerns that may have been expressed or

raised with his office with respect to this particular

legislation.

One other question. The letter that the minister referenced that

was signed by a number of different industry and trade organizations —

could the minister share with this House if there are any other concerns

that were raised by these industry and trade organizations, and if so,

what those concerns were? And why is the minister choosing to not

address those further concerns that may have been addressed in that

letter?

[4:25 p.m.]

Hon. H. Bains: In the same letter, there was another issue raised. I will read it

to the member. It says that “there are additional problems faced by

business struggling to understand how to implement paid sick leave for

part-time and short-term employees.” So they’re asking how to implement

paid sick leave for part time and short term.

It went on to say: “Amend the illness or injury leave

section of

the employment standards paid sick leave guidance to add a new

section

which focuses on part time and short term. This will be

useful.”

My position on this is that this is something that the employment

standards branch can take care of as far as the

interpretation of the

bill is concerned.

G. Kyllo: Thank you to the minister for that.

Were there any other concerns that were addressed or raised in

that letter that you have referenced?

Hon. H. Bains: As I said, they identify…. My read of the letter was to those

issues. One we are fixing. The other one, I believe, is

interpretation,

and the employment standards branch is the right body to deal with

that.

G. Kyllo: Is the minister indicating that the only two issues that were

raised of concern in that letter, the letter that the minister has

referenced and has read from today, are the two issues that he shared

with us? Or were there other concerns that were raised in that letter to

bring them to the minister’s attention?

Hon. H. Bains: The way I read the letter, those are the two issues that they have

raised, just as they raised potential solutions. We are fixing one —

moving from the employment year to the calendar year. The other one is

an

interpretation part.

Unless the member has specifically anything else that he reads out

of that letter, this is the way I read it.

[4:30 p.m.]

G. Kyllo: Well, unfortunately, I don’t have the letter in front of me. The

minister is the one who is reading from the letter.

I take it from the minister’s

interpretation that the only two

issues that were raised in that letter are the two that he shared with

this House. I’ll just give the minister one more opportunity to either

confirm or provide additional information to this House.

Hon. H. Bains: For the benefit of the member, I will read the letter, and perhaps

he could pick up something that I may have missed.

“January 25

“Hon. Harry Bains, Minister of Labour”

And there’s the address.

“Re: Paid sick leave.

“Dear Mr. Bains:

“While it was not to be anticipated when paid sick leave was

introduced by government, the implementation of the new requirement for

business to provide five paid sick leave days effective January 1, 2022,

came at a difficult time for businesses, during the height of the new

omicron wave of COVID. This was particularly challenging for businesses

such as pubs and restaurants, which were not closed and, thus, many

ineligible for government assistance. Those businesses dropped

perceptibly.

“The omicron wave has universally challenged organizations across

the province and in all sectors. While data is emerging and not yet

fully clear, there are many examples of businesses experiencing

functional closures and seeing a significant portion of their employees

at home sick. Simply put, operationally and administratively, it has

been a very challenging start to the year.

“Businesses and employees rely on payroll and human resource

information systems to track, store and provide accurate information on

use of paid sick days and payment for those days. Nearly all of these

systems are based on a workplace all having a common employment year,

which is most often the calendar year or business fiscal year.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

“The current wording of the ‘employment year’ definition on the

employment standards website, from the policy

interpretation of ‘Illness

or Injury Leave – Act

Part 6,

Section 49.1,’ is causing confusion for

employers and workers alike. ‘Employment year’ refers to the specific

employee’s employment year based on their start date. Most businesses

remain unaware of this

interpretation of the policy. In fact, in a

recent CFIB survey, 86 percent of the members were unaware of the

employment year versus calendar year application of the policy.

“There are additional problems faced by businesses struggling to

understand how to implement paid sick leave for part-time and short-term

employees. In an effort to be constructive, we advocate the following

possible solutions.

“One, through order-in-council, amend

section 1 (3) of the

employment standards regulation. It currently reads: ‘For the purpose

section 52 of the act, employment year means a year beginning on a

common date that is used by the employer to calculate family

responsibility leave for all employees under

section 52 of the act so

long as this does not result in a reduction of any employees’ rights

under that section.’

“We suggest it be amended, with one option being to add and amend

this language: ‘For the purpose of sections 49.1 and 52 of the act,

employment year means a year beginning on a common date that is used by

the employers to calculate family responsibility leave for all employees

under sections 49.1 and 52 of the act so long as this does not result in

a reduction of any employees’ right under that section.’

“This would give organizations clarity that they are able to

continue the practice of choosing a common date for employment year and

eliminate confusion, costs and uncertainty caused by the existing

wording on the employment standards website.

“Two, amend the illness and injury leave

section of the employment

standards paid sick leave guidance to add a new

section which focuses on

part-time and short-term workers. This will be useful for both employers

and workers alike. Other potential solutions could be to pro-rate the

paid sick leave requirement from the employees’ employment start date or

reimburse businesses for the additional sick days paid over the annual

intended five days paid sick leave that businesses understood they were

required to pay.

“The undersigned associations look forward to hearing back from you

on this urgent matter, and we are prepared to discuss it further as soon

as a meeting can be scheduled.”

[4:35 p.m.]

That’s the way that I read it, Member, and those are the two areas

that they raised concerns about. We are fixing one. The other one is

with the employment standards branch.

G. Kyllo: Thank you to the minister for taking the time to read that out.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the purview to have that letter in front of

me, so I just wanted to make sure that the concerns that were brought

forward by those very strong and large industry and service

organizations were actually addressed. So I appreciate that.

The minister did reference that the employment standards branch

will be relied upon for providing clarity of any concerns around the

differences between the concerns raised around the part-time and

short-term workers. I am just wondering if the minister can share with

us if there’s been any additional resources provided to the employment

standards branch in order to ready themselves for additional concerns or

complaints that may be coming to the employment standards

branch.

Further to that, if the minister is able to share with this House

if they are tracking any of the concerns that come forward to the

employment standards branch — if they are tracking those concerns that

might be coming forward — with respect to the changes in legislation

around paid sick leave. So a bit of a long-winded question, but I think

just a bit of clarity — what additional resources the employment

standards branch is being provided this year in order to try and ready

themselves for additional workload that I think we all understand likely

will come as account of increased concerns being raised by employees

around the paid sick leave legislation.

Further to that would be to see if the actual concerns that are

coming forward are being tracked. If there’s any matrix being put in

place so that over the course of the coming years, the employment

standards branch will be able to clearly identify those complaints or

those concerns being brought forward to the employment standards branch

with respect to the paid sick leave legislation.

Hon. H. Bains: The first part of the question we canvassed during our estimates

debates at great length. The resources we added since we for