►
From YouTube: MARCH 23 2020 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
5th Session
41st Parliament
C
Thanks
honorable
speaker,
well,
there
will
be
a
question
period,
unlike
any
other
right.
I
expect
I
wasn't
certain
the
Health
Minister
was
going
to
be
in
attendance,
I'm
pleased
that
he
is
so.
My
question
may
be
better
offered
to
the
Health
Minister.
He
in
contemplating
the
nature
of
the
questions
to
put
to
the
government
today,
I
thought:
what
are
the
questions
that
most
people
are
asking
and-
and
this
is
the
the
form
that
the
government
can
perhaps
offer
additional
insight
and
enlightenment
I
thought
of
two
and
the
first
one.
C
C
Ask
that
recognizing
that
those
are
are
questions
that
experts
the
world
over
have
have
grappled
with,
but
to
the
extent
that
the
minister
and
the
premier,
members
of
the
government,
are
receiving
up-to-the-minute
advice
from
experts,
I'm
sure
British
Columbians
are
interested
in
any
insight
that
can
be
offered
about
the
trajectory
we're
on
and
the
circumstances
that
we
will
be
confronted
by
a
week
in
a
month.
From
now.
D
Minister
of
Health.
Thank
you
very
much.
Honorable
speaker.
First
of
all,
I
wanted
to
express
my
appreciation
to
the
member
for
couch
and
the
member
for
Kelowna
light
country
they're,
not
only
colleagues
in
the
legislature,
there
are
important
advisers
of
of
our
joint
effort
to
address
this
situation.
I
want
to
express
that
that
appreciation
here,
I
think
sometimes
it's
important
to
hear
what
we
say.
Sometimes
it's
important
to
hear
what
we
do.
In
the
last
two
weeks,
we've
created
3632
empty
acute
care
hospital
beds
in
British
Columbia.
D
Generally
speaking
this
time
of
year
in
flu
season,
we
run
at
well
over
100
capacity.
So
if
anyone
you
can
understand
from
that
that
we
are
preparing
for
a
much
more
serious
situation
in
our
acute
care
sector
in
the
health
of
British
Columbians,
that
makes
it
very
clear.
We
are
actively
modelling
on
these
questions
of
what
people
can
expect
and
they
impact
those
models
guide.
These
sort
of
decisions,
some
of
the
most
difficult
that
I've
ever
been
involved
in,
would
ever
be
involved
in
that's
true
of
everyone
else
in
the
healthcare
system.
D
But
that
tells
you
what
we
were
facing
in
front
of
us
I
think
we're
going
to
be
sharing
those
models,
because
we
have
taken
the
view.
It's
the
reason
that
there's
briefings
every
single
day.
The
people
need
to
know
what
we
know
and
so
in
the
next
week,
some
of
those
models,
the
models
that
are
guiding
our
thing.
Our
approach
to
this
issue
will
be
shared
and
briefed
with
the
members
of
the
opposition
parties
with
members
in
the
government
side,
of
course,
throughout
the
public
healthcare
system
and
with
British
Columbians.
D
So
they'll
have
specific
information,
but
I'll
say
this,
but
I
don't
have
any
expectation
of
any
relief
from
the
extraordinary
measures
that
the
potential
health
officer
has
has
imposed
on
British
Columbians
and
the
measures
that
we
have
to
100%
comply
with
now,
as
people
say,
bend
the
curve
but
to
ensure
that
our
resources
are
sufficient
to
manage
the
situation
in
British.
Columbia
I
don't
see
any
prospect
before
the
end
of
April
of
those
orders
changing.
C
C
Knows
how
to
apply
the
term
I
didn't
in
this
context,
asymptomatic
transmission.
But
this
relates
to
the
the
interest
people
have
in
knowing
whether
they
have
the
virus
and
the
degree
to
which
testing
and
the
World
Health
Organization
has
offered
commentary
of
late
about
the
importance
of
testing
as
a
fundamental
part
of
the
strategy
for
combating
covet
19
is
the.
C
D
It
should
be
said,
and
that's
part
of
the
reality
of
it,
and
it
doesn't
change
the
reality
where
it
came
from
or
how
it
came
here
or
what
the
consequences
are,
but
it's
or
what
the
well
what
the
causes
are,
but
that's
significant,
On
February
rough
on
the
date
here
in
February
27th
we
had
tested
I
think
a
little
over
a
thousand
people,
we've
done
more
tests
than
that
1,000
people
the
following
week
that
more
than
doubled
the
following
week,
which
was
10
days
ago.
Now
we
had
done
6,200
tests.
D
As
of
this
Friday,
we
had
done
18,000
and
approximately
18,
just
under
18,000
tests
and
we're
doing
right
now,
in
the
last
two
days
over
the
weekend,
approximately
3,500
tests
a
day
so
doubled
and
then
doubled
and
tripled
and
then
more
than
doubled
again,
so
we
are
expanding
testing.
The
focus
of
our
testing
for
the
sake
of
everyone
has
to
be
in
priority
areas
to
limit
the
spread
of
the
disease.
D
So
people
are
sick
at
home,
sometimes
I
know
they
want
to
know
I
understand
it,
I
hear
from
them
every
day,
just
as
the
Honourable
member
asked,
but
people
are
sick
at
home.
It
is
so
important
to
self
isolate
and
come
back
to
them,
so
important
itself
isolate.
We
are
expanding
testing
dramatically
week
until
week
to
ensure
that
the
right
measures
are
taken
to
stop
the
spread
of
the
disease
by
necessity.
D
We
systematically,
for
example,
tested
for
people
who
get
tested
for
the
flu
that
gives
us
a
surveillance
testing
of
a
group
of
people
that
wasn't
associated
by
way
of
travel
or
other
circumstances
with
getting
kovat
19,
so
we're
expanding
our
testing,
but
all
of
it
all
of
it
is
going
to
be
based
on
science.
So,
as
we
plan
it,
we
have
to
target
the
testing.
D
We
do
all
the
time
to
ensure
that
we
give
the
maximum
protection
to
the
entire
BC
population
and
we
limit
we
limit
the
growth
of
kovat
19
and
of
cases
of
kovat
19
in
British
Columbia.
So
what
you're,
gonna
see
and
I
just
want
to
one
step
back
is
a
reflection
of
work.
That's
happened
in
British
Columbia
over
decades.
The
development
of
BC
CDC,
which
is
the
envy
of
the
country,
people
who
developed
a
test
for
this
prior
to
there
being
any
cases
in
Canada
and
started
testing.
D
So
we
could
isolate
and
break
change
as
much
as
possible
in
the
months
leading
up
to
this
period
and
they
have
been
increasing
our
capacity
to
do
tests
in
combination
with
health
authorities
around
the
province
and
life
labs.
Now
doing
some
of
the
tests,
the
testing
processes
to
increase
our
capacity,
so
I
can
say
to
British
Columbians
as
we're
going
to
be
doing,
of
course,
more
and
more
testing
and
we're
going
to
focus
it
where
it's
needed
most
based
on
the
science,
so
that
all
British
Columbians
can
be
protected
to
the
maximum
possible
degree.
E
You,
the
corporate
90
note
break,
has
shown
British
Columbians,
acting
with
great
kindness,
we've
seen
some
of
the
best
come
out
of
British
Columbia,
but
occasionally
some
of
the
worst.
Now
as
parents,
we
stay
at
home
to
take
care
of
the
kids,
but
of
course,
when
you
do
so,
you
also
need
essentials.
Most
British
Columbians
have
acted
responsibly,
purchasing
enough
goods
for
a
short
period
of
time,
knowing
that
supplies
will
be
there
when
needed
some
things
some
folks
have
taken
to
hoarding,
not
many
and
in
some
cases,
even
selling
the
products
that
they're
purchasing
online.
E
F
You,
honorable
speaker
and
I
thank
the
member
for
this
very
important
question.
I
can
assure
the
the
member
this
is
a
top
priority
for
us
as
government.
In
fact,
I
had
a
call
this
morning
with
my
provincial
colleagues
from
across
the
country
and
the
Federal
Minister
Minister
Blair,
dealing
with
key
issues
that
each
province
is
facing
and
how
we
can
work
to
deal
with
this
particular
issue.
This
was
raised
across
across
all
provinces.
F
One
of
the
things
we
we
want
to
see
the
federal
government
do
is
to
work
because
they
have
the
ability
to
do
that
in
terms
of
securing
supply
chains.
The
second
is
what
we're
doing
here
in
British,
Columbia
I
had
a
conference
call
this
morning
with
my
colleague,
the
Minister
municipal
affairs,
with
mayor's
from
right
across
British
Columbia,
outlining
what
they
can
expect
this
week,
and
there
will
be
a
series
of
ministerial
orders
coming
down
under
the
emergency
declaration
that
is
in
place
dealing
with
many
of
these.
B
Before
we
proceed
with
the
next
question,
I
just
wanted
to
ask
the
leave
of
the
house
to
have
two
questions
on
the
opposition
side,
as
opposed
to
one
which
was
in
the
motion
that
we
passed
earlier
today.
So
if
that's
okay
with
the
house,
we'll
move
on
so
slight
order
change,
but
acknowledging
the
member
for
Richmond
Greensboro.
Thank.
E
You
know
I'm
always
enthusiastic
and
regards
to
my
questions
so
I.
Thank
the
minister
for
his
response.
Adding
to
that
anxiety
regarding
spy
chain,
of
course,
is
the
economic
uncertainty.
The
premier
has
alluded
to
some
of
that
as
well
and
as
the
finance
minister,
tens
of
thousands
of
people
are
facing
potential
layoffs.
Small
business
owners
are
really
worried
about
meeting
payroll,
never
mind
keeping
employees
on
staff,
so
the
premier,
what
steps
where
does
colombians
be
taking
to
ensure
that
evictions
and
bankruptcies
don't
spiral
out
of
control?
Honorable.
G
You
will
chair
and
I
thank
the
member
first
question.
We
have
been
working
cooperatively
with
the
federal
government.
The
member
will
know
that
there
was
a
significant
federal
stimulus
package
tabled
last
week.
Eighty
two
billion
dollars
in
different
components.
We
awaited
the
delivery
of
that
package
before
the
Minister
of
Finance
and
the
cabinet
looked
at
how
British
Columbia
could
feel
potential
fill
potential
gaps
in
the
programs
are
being
put
forward
by
the
federal
government.
G
The
members,
some
members
on
the
other
side
will
know
that
in
the
normal
course
of
events,
British
Columbia's
government
doesn't
have
an
ability
to
flow
dollars
to
those
who
are
not
already
in
the
system
and
one
way
or
another
people
with
disabilities,
people
on
income
assistance
and
so
on
seniors
getting
upgrades
or
dollars
from
the
Treasury.
So
we
had
to
create
a
new
system
to
deliver
to
those
gaps
that
have
been
we've
identified
in
the
federal
program
and
that's
taken
some
time,
but
as
the
Minister
of
Finance
and
I
out
late
online.
G
Today
we
put
forward
a
five
billion
dollar
action
plan,
we'll
be
debating
the
substance
of
that
so
later
here
and
in
this
chamber.
But
the
message
is
quite
clear
and
I
thank
the
member
for
focusing
in
on
this
workers
are
concerned.
They
may
not
see
a
paycheck
for
some
period
of
time.
Businesses
are
concerned
with
cash
flow
liquidity.
G
When
we
talk
to
small
business,
our
operators,
when
we
talk
to
the
Chamber
of
Commerce,
the
boards
of
trade,
even
the
big
industry
is
represented
by
the
BC
Business
Council
cash
flow
seems
to
be
the
order
of
the
day.
So
we
put
in
place
a
package
to
ensure
that
those
businesses,
large
and
small,
could
have
some
relief
on
paying
those
fixed
costs
that
they
had
anticipated
coming
forward
before
Ovid
Maricopa,
the
19th
became
a
reality
for
us
here
in
British
Columbia,
so
we
put
in
place
steps
incremental
steps
to
make
sure
we're
filling
those
gaps.
G
H
You,
honorable
speaker
and
I
wanted
to
start
by
acknowledging
and
appreciating
government
for
making
this
time
available.
For
these
questions,
the
questions
from
the
official
opposition
members
have
been
for
me
very
valuable,
very
informative
and
I
very
much
appreciate
the
responses
that
we
are
getting
from
government
on
these
questions
that
are
coming
to
us
from
our
our
citizens
and
our
constituents.
H
I
want
to
start
with
hand-washing
we've
heard
the
message
very
loudly
very
clearly
that
the
most
important
thing
we
can
do
in
this
health
crisis
is
to
wash
our
hands
regularly
and
I
am
worried
and
in
a
call
with
my
with
the
service
providers
in
the
couch
in
Valley
who
are
supporting
homeless
people.
Access
to
hand-washing
for
people
who
are
homeless
is
limited
to
say
the
least,
and
so
my
questions
for
you,
honorable
speaker,
is
perhaps
to
the
Health
Minister
or
Public
Safety
Minister.
D
D
We
cite
the
importance
of
hand-washing,
which
is
still
other
than
I,
may
repeat
it
again,
staying
home
if
you're,
sick
staying
home
if
you're
sick
and
some
of
these
challenges
are
equally
challenging
for
people
who
are
homeless
in
terms
of
their
ability
to
do
that
are
the
central
messages
that
have
been
here
from
the
beginning.
Wash
your
hands
stay
home.
If
you're,
sick,
wash
your
hands
stay
home,
you're
sick,
it's
challenging
for
everyone,
and
obviously
the
additional
risks
to
people
who
are
homeless.
Who
may
not
have
access
don't
have
access
is
an
important
one.
D
On
Saturday
there
was
an
update
from
my
colleagues
of
Minister
Social
Development,
the
minister
of
housing,
that
was
an
update
on
work
to
support
vulnerable
British
Columbians.
They
included
new
isolation
protocols
for
vulnerable
people,
sites
available
for
social
isolation
in
so
far
16
communities,
new,
centralized
procurement
for
cleaning
supplies
and
personal
protective
equipment
for
housing
and
shelter.
Providers
to
protect
residents
and
staff
and
without
washing,
is
and
will
continue
to
be,
a
significant
challenge.
D
In
Vancouver,
for
example,
11
new
hand-washing
stations
were
set
up
last
Tuesday
throughout
the
Downtown
Eastside
to
help
protect
people
in
that
community
outreach
workers
across
BC
are
also
working
to
share
information
and
resources
with
those
that
they
serve.
We
are
passing
out
new
materials
with
information
on
hand
washing
for
people
experiencing
homelessness,
including
how
to
set
up
a
makeshift
hand-washing
station
for
those
in
shelters.
D
Bc
Housing
is
sharing
new
hand-washing
protocols
with
providers,
including
hand-washing,
when
guests
arrive
before
they
leave
and
before
and
after
in
treating
the
province
is
also
supporting,
enhanced
daily
cleaning
and
a
number
of
SROs
and
shelters.
This
is
only
a
start.
The
funding
that
was
announced
today
by
the
premier
and
Minister
of
Finance
will
continue
to
support
these
kind
of
critical
needs
in
the
communities
in
our
vulnerable
population.
Working
group
is
working
with
communities
to
identify
those
needs
just
want
to
say
this.
D
In
conclusion,
we
know
that
vulnerable
people
are
more
vulnerable
from
kovat
19
we've
seen
this
in
long-term
care,
and
we
know
its
significance.
We've
seen
it
in
our
own
province
and
we've
seen
it
elsewhere
in
the
world.
We've
seen
it
for
seniors,
we've
seen
it
for
people
who
deal
with
chronic
diseases,
we've
seen
for
people
who
don't
have
homes
and
are
homeless
and
need
our
supports.
D
These
are
central
areas
of
the
government's
response
and
they
have
to
be
central
areas
to
ensure
that
the
people
who
are
most
vulnerable
to
getting
the
most
sick
received
the
most
effort
that
we
can
give
to
support
them,
and
in
this
area,
as
in
others,
specific
actions
are
being
taken.
That
I
know
will
be
supported
by
the
Honourable
members
and
members
of
the
House.
H
You,
honourable
speaker
and
I
want
to
thank
the
minister
for
his
response
and
thank
him
for
his
ongoing
and
very
proactive
communication
with
our
caucus.
I
have
been
so
deeply
appreciative
of
the
information
that
he's
provided
and
being
able
to
put
questions
to
him
that
have
come
to
me
when
he
connects
with
us
I
again
just
really
want
to
command
and
thank
the
Minister
and
the
government
for
their
work
over
this
time.
H
There's
another
vulnerable
population
that
will
be
deeply
impacted
by
the
situation
that
we're
all
in
and,
as
we
ask
people
to
stay
home
and
social
distance
and
quarantine,
this
does
actually
create
conditions
for
increased
domestic
violence.
Isolation
due
to
fear
of
contracting
or
spreading
the
virus
has
distant
to
distance
victims
of
abuse
from
their
support
networks,
and
the
stress
on
our
stress
on
our
healthcare
system
has
made
it
even
less
likely
for
those
victims
to
seek
out
and
receive
treatment
for
their
injuries.
H
Current
provincial
services
for
victims
of
violence,
like
Victim
link,
BC
or
Kids
Help
Phone,
are
largely
offered
over
the
phone.
However,
when
their
abuser
is
also
at
home
during
quarantine,
many
victims
will
not
feel
safe
to
reach
out
for
help.
This
way,
other
jurisdictions
are
addressing
this
concern
by
exploring
options
to
expand
digital
media
services.
My
question
honorable
speaker
is
through
you
to
the
premiere
during
this
state
of
emergency.
How
can
we
better
support
victims
of
violence
who
are
isolated
with
their
abusers
at
home?.
A
You
very
much
honorable
speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
We
were
talking
about
vulnerability
and
the
previous
question
with
the
Health
Minister,
and
this
is
vulnerability
as
well.
It's
a
another
group
that
certainly
is
facing
vulnerability.
We
all
know
that
violence's
is
never
acceptable
and
safety
is
a
top-priority,
but
we
also
know,
as
the
member
has
pointed
out
so
well,
that
those
who
are
living
with
violence
may
not
have
a
safe
option.
A
I
had
a
discussion
last
week
with
a
service
provider
who
I
think
and
it
stuck
with
me
said:
what
do
you
do
when
home
isn't
a
safe
place
when
you're
in
this
position
and
when
you're
looking
at
self
isolation?
So
we
are
working
with
BC
housing
to
look
at
alternative
plans
so
whether
it's
hotels
or
other
options
for
people
who
are
fleeing
violence
or
need
to
self
isolate
and
are
in
a
situation
where
they
can't
be
at
home?
A
We
will
work
with
the
service
providers
and
communities
because
again
often
it's
the
frontline
that
provides
that
support
and
the
member
will
know
as
part
of
the
package
today.
We
confirm
that
not-for-profits
that
contract
with
the
government
will
continue
to
get
those
services,
even
if
they're
having
to
change
and
their
distribution
of
those
services
and
how
they
provide
them.
That's
going
to
be
in
place
as
well.
B
I
Thank
you
and
thank
you,
mr.
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
members
of
the
government
for
answering
these
questions.
One
question
that
I've
been
receiving
it's
kind
of
weird
to
be
standing
representing
the
most
isolated
communities,
I
think
on
the
opposition
side.
I
know
there's
other
communities,
but
rural
and
isolated
communities
have
been
sending
me
primarily
the
Gulf
island
communities,
but
I
think
lots
of
rural
and
isolated
remote
communities
in
this
province.
D
You,
honorable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question
I
think
for
the
first
thing
to
say,
is
that
every
Health
Authority
from
the
north
and
Health
Authority,
which
represents
many
isolated
communities
to
the
Vancouver
Coastal
Health
Authority,
has
an
Emergency,
Operations,
Center,
and
certainly
in
the
north
and
in
the
interior,
in
Vancouver,
Island
and
others.
These
issues
of
isolate
communities
are
fundamental
to
the
work
that
we're
preparing
and
doing.
D
It's
also
true
that
the
First
Nations
Health
Authority
has
its
own
Emergency
Operations
Center
and
is
doing
a
lot
of
work
now
with
First
Nations
communities
around
British
Columbia
to
prepare,
and
so
a
number
of
things
are
important
one,
as
the
members
suggest.
We
have
to
ensure
and
reinforce,
if
necessary.
If
there
is
a
case
of
outbreak
in
a
community
that
we
can
get
staff
and
supports
to
that
community
to
have
Rapid
Response
in
all
health
authorities
to
such
a
situation
should
it
develop.
D
That's
very
important
I
think,
secondly,
that
we
have
community
plans
in
those
communities
and
we
work
with
community
leaders
to
develop.
Those
plans
is
very
important
as
an
essential
and
fundamental
to
what
we
are
trying
to
do.
Obviously,
healthcare
workers
in
those
areas
in
remote
communities
are
stepping
up
every
day
to
be
part
of
those
efforts
to
date,
and
this
has
been
our
expectation
up
to
now.
D
I
think
it
brings
us
to
the
fundamental
question
that
everyone
in
British
Columbia
has
to
recognize
right
now,
no
matter
where
you
live,
whether
it's
an
alert
Bay
or
it's
an
abbotsford,
whether
it's
in
Vanderhoof
or
Vancouver,
you
can
catch
a
Cove
in
nineteen,
wherever
you
are
no
matter
what
your
age
you're
a
teenager
or
you're
60,
you
can
pass
on
Kovac
19.
So,
let's
not
mistake
and
make
any
mistake
about
we're
all
involved
in
this,
like
in
every
community,
we've
got
to
wash
our
hands
in
every
community.
D
We've
got
to
stay
home
for
six
100%,
it's
100
percent,
when
the
provincial
health
officer
makes
an
order
or
makes
a
proposal,
it's
100
percent
right
now.
That's
where
we
have
to
be
dr..
Henry
has
asked
us
to
do
some
extraordinary
things,
things
that
nobody
in
this
legislature
would
have
imagined
doing,
maybe
a
few
weeks
ago
in
the
last
number
of
weeks,
and
we
need
percent
compliance
in
every
community
100%
of
people
100%
of
the
time
in
this
fight
against
Cova
19.