►
From YouTube: JULY 22 2020 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
5th Session
41st Parliament
B
C
Richmond
queensborough.
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
At
a
time
when
small
businesses
are
at
the
most
vulnerable,
the
minister
of
labor
is
choosing
to
make
it
more
difficult
for
job
creators.
The
business
community
is
pleading
with
this
government
and
I
quote:
surely
you
can
appreciate
the
harm
bill
23
poses
through
the
imposition
of
additional
long-term
costs
to
employers,
as
they
continue
to
cope
with
difficult
operating
decisions,
reopening
challenges
and
other
considerations
surrounding
whether
they
will
survive.
C
D
D
D
C
This
is
also
about
survival
of
these
very
businesses.
These
employees,
these
people
have
to
have
jobs
to
go
back
to
that's
what
we're
talking
about
here
just
three
weeks
ago.
I
remind
this
minister,
how
he
mishandled
the
layoff
policy
and
he
had
to
do
a
u-turn.
I
remind
him
of
that.
The
minister
talks
about
consulting.
He
did
that
yesterday,
the
problem
is,
he
doesn't.
Listen.
That's
the
problem
here.
Only
16
percent
of
bc
businesses
have
any
confidence
in
this
government
in
helping
them
succeed.
I
have
the
survey
right
in
front
of
you,
mr
speaker.
C
It's
done
by
the
greater
vancouver
board
of
trade,
the
bc
chamber
of
commerce
and
the
business
council
of
bc.
16,
not
even
one
out
of
five
people
or
sorry.
One
out
of
five
businesses
feel
that
this
government
is
working
for
them.
Mr
speaker,
I
have
here
a
quote
from
the
home
builders
association
they
sent
in
a
letter
to
this
government.
Saying
quote
many
businesses
are
not
in
a
position
to
pay
back
the
many
taxes
and
fees
that
have
been
deferred,
let
alone
bear
any
new
costs.
D
D
and
what
the
what
the
opposition
is
saying.
We
expect
you
to
go
and
care
for
our
loved
ones,
but
god
forbid,
if
you
are
contact
with
cover
19
you're
on
your
own.
That
is
a
wrong
approach.
Mr
speaker,
we're
going
to
stand
with
those
workers
we're
going
to
provide
them
the
support
that
they
need
during
the
toughest
time
that
they're
going
through.
At
the
same
time,
mr
speaker,
we
are
not
raising
premiums
for
the
employers,
it's
a
right
approach.
It's
a
balanced.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
well
to
listen
to
the
member
you'd
think
that
the
concerns
being
raised
are
somehow
being
raised
by
nameless,
faceless
corporations
and
that's
just
not
the
case
we're
talking
about
family
businesses.
They
aren't
sure
if
they're
going
to
even
survive
through
the
pandemic.
One
of
those
is
western
pacific
enterprises.
It
employs
1
000
british
columbians
and,
mr
speaker,
this
is
a
family
business.
It's
a
family
business,
that's
grown
into
one
of
western
canada's
largest
electrical
contractors.
D
Mr
speaker,
when
kova
19
hit
us
unexpectedly,
our
government
acted
very
quickly
to
provide
support
to
the
businesses
because
many
of
them,
the
members
said
we
haven't.
Five
billion
dollar
package
was
brought
in
by
our
minister
for
finance
five
billion
dollars
out
of
that
1.8
billion
dollar
for
businesses,
700
million
dollars
in
property
tax
break
permanent
break.
Mr
c
for
the
whole
year,
700
million
dollars,
that's
one
of
the
largest
tax
break
in
the
history
of
this
province.
For
the
businesses
up
member
we
have,
we
have
been
working
with
them.
D
We
have
been
working
with
with
businesses.
Mr
speaker,
we
are
listening
to
them.
That's
why?
All
of
the
other
benefits
for
the
employers,
support
for
the
employers,
defer
taxes,
cut
taxes.
Mr
speaker,
when
you
take
a
look
in
addition
to
what
I've
said,
we
have
worked
very
hard
with
the
federal
government
to
make
sure
that
they
get
75
waste
subsidy.
D
We
allow
restaurants
to
purchase
alcohol
at
wholesale
prices,
saving
them
25
percent.
We
provide
10
million
dollar
in
grants
to
tourism
organization
to
support
market
campaigns
for
summer.
Mr
speaker,
on
top
of
that,
wcv
have
also
allowed
employers
to
defer
their
their
their
premiums
for
six
months
and
weigh
premiums
for
certain
other
employers
and,
mr
speaker,
they
will
continue
to
enjoy
subsidized
rates.
D
So,
mr
speaker,
the
government
has
done
so
much
for
the
businesses
we
just
we
need.
We
understand
we
need
to
do
more,
1.5
billion
dollars
also
set
aside
to
for
for
reopening
our
economy.
We
work
with
the
businesses,
but
we
care
about
businesses.
By
the
same
time,
we
are
not
going
to
ignore
health
and
safety
and
the
rights
of
the
workers.
That
is
a
balanced
approach.
That's
why
we're
taking
it.
A
A
David
is
particularly
concerned
with
making
covid19
a
schedule,
one
presumption
and
here's
a
place
where
the
minister
might
want
to
listen
to
some
of
the
consultations,
because
92
percent
of
submissions
on
that
issue
have
been
from
employers
who
don't
support
the
measure
and
here's.
What
david
writes
quote
this
statutory
intervention
signals
your
support
for
a
manifestly
flawed
policy
measure
that
has
no
scientific
or
medical
evidence
to
support
it.
This
is
unacceptable.
A
End
quote:
this
is
not
the
opposition
making
up
concerns
from
business.
These
are
real
people
with
real
family
businesses
who
may
not
be
able
to
stay
in
business
and,
minister,
what
that
means
is
they
may
not
be
able
to
continue
to
employ
these
people.
They
need
their
jobs.
Will
the
minister
relent?
D
Mr
speaker,
I
have
a
letter
from
the
employers
groups
monday
and
I
have
another
letter
from
representatives
of
the
workers.
There
are
over
2
million
workers
working
today
to
keep
our
economy
going.
The
representatives
of
the
workers
are
saying
this.
On
the
other
hand,
employers
said
that
they
are
concerned
about
their
cost.
D
We
recognize
that
we
understand
that.
That's
why
we
are
bringing
the
package.
That's.
Why
bringing
the
package
that
is
very
modest.
We
are
not
proceeding
with
the
recommendations
that
came
with
mr
parr
had
be
had
be
gone
ahead
with
mr
park's
recommendation.
It
certainly
would
have
cost
employer
money,
700
million
dollars.
D
D
Here's
what
the
other
side
is
saying:
2002
bc,
liberal
government
brought
in
changes
that
continue
to
have
profound
and
devastating
impact
on
benefits
to
the
injured
workers
and
their
families
2000,
and
that
resulted
in
13
percent
loss
of
benefits
to
the
injured
workers
2002
to
2005
they're,
saying
rehab
budget
was
slashed
by
98
and
has
never
recovered
to
free
to
those
2007
to
2002
levels.
Mr
speaker
they're
also
saying
at
the
same
time
the
subsidy
to
the
employer
continue
on
and
between
2007
2018,
it
valued
at
1.8
billion
dollars.
D
So
they're
saying
mr
speaker,
while
bill
23
make
meaningful
improvement
for
injured
workers
and
their
families.
There's
much
more
work
to
be
done.
Bill
23
represent
an
initial
set
of
provisions
that
only
begin
to
repair
the
damage
done
by
the
previous
government.
Mr
speaker,
we
as
a
government
has
a
responsibility
to
balance
the
two
opposing
interests
here
and
that's
why
we're
bringing
in
a
package
that
is
modest
that
is
measured
and
it
will
not
raise
premium
for
the
employers.
D
E
It
was
a
it
was
a
multi-partisan
effort
to
ensure
the
people
of
british
columbia
were
supported
during
this
covet
19
crisis.
Mr
speaker,
this
government
has
promised
to
bring
in
reforms
to
the
forest
and
range
practices
act
that
governs
how
forestry
is
done
in
british
columbia.
The
regulations
and
legislation
that
govern
forestry
and
bc
are
entirely
focused
on
maximizing
timber
supply
values
like
biodiversity,
water
quality
and
wildlife
can
all
be
managed
for
yes,
but
only
without
unduly
reducing
the
supply
of
timber.
E
This
fundamentally
undermines
our
ability
to
manage
forests
and
our
forestry
industry
sustainably.
Reforms
are
absolutely
essential
to
begin
to
shift
our
management
regime
away
from
an
exclusive
focus
on
timber
supply,
to
the
detriment
of
all
other
values
and
towards
sustainable
management
of
our
forests,
for
all
the
values
they
hold
yet
so
far,
the
government
won't
bring
them.
F
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
interim
leader
of
the
third
party
for
the
question,
I'm
happy
to
discuss
our
plans
around
forestry
reform,
we're
committed
to
reforming
the
forest
sector
and
that's
to
improve
public
trust
in
how
we
sustainably
manage
forests
and
public
trust
that
was
damaged
under
the
previous
government
and
we're
committed
to
ensuring
that
the
publicly
held
natural
resource
the
force
benefit
first
and
foremost,
communities
and
workers.
We've
taken
policy
regulation
and
legislative
actions.
F
In
the
three
years
we've
been
government,
we've
created
fiber
recovery
zones
so
that
less
waste
is
left.
On
the
forest
floor
after
harvesting,
we
focused
on
increasing
value
over
volume
out
of
the
force
with
our
mass
timber
initiatives
and
we've
ensured
that
forest
stewardship
plans
must
be
updated
at
minimum
every
five
years,
we've
also
embarked
on
five
forest
landscape
planning
pilot
projects
around
the
province.
F
So,
honourable
speaker,
we
are
committed
to
introducing
more
positive
changes,
including
legislation
as
a
government
and
as
the
unpredictable
events
such
as
created
by
covet
19,
permit.
E
E
Over
the
past
number
of
decades,
we've
seen
the
loss
of
tens
of
thousands
of
forestry
jobs,
as
well
as
the
continued
liquidation
of
some
of
our
most
pristine,
highly
productive
old
forests.
Yet
this
government
is
delaying
bringing
in
the
basic
preliminary
reforms
to
legislation
to
start
us
down
a
better
path.
E
We've
spent
this
past
week
asking
the
government
what
steps
it's
taking
to
reform
the
industry,
protect
old
growth
and
support
workers
and
communities
to
transition.
While
the
minister
has
acknowledged
some
of
the
problems
before
us,
nothing
has
changed
on
the
ground
and
we
don't
see
a
plan
for
the
future.
E
In
fact,
a
friend
recently
recounted
to
me
that
he
has
personally
witnessed
recently
old
growth
being
quote,
hammered
on
our
coast,
the
longer
that
this
government
delays
on
changing
course,
the
worse
the
outcomes
in
our
forest
and
forestry
dependent
communities
are
so
once
again.
My
question
to
you,
honourable
speaker,
is
to
the
minister
of
forest
lands
and
natural
resource
operations
in
rural
development.
We've
heard
lots
of
words
in
the
last
couple
of
days,
I'm
looking
for
just
one.
E
F
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
once
again
I
am
happy
to
answer
questions
in
around
the
management
of
the
forest
resource
in
the
province
and
our
government
is
absolutely
committed,
honourable
speaker,
to
implementing
a
new,
sustainable
and
comprehensive
old
growth
management
strategy.
That's
why
we
commissioned
the
old
growth
strategic
review
and
the
panel
toured
the
province
and
provided
a
very
comprehensive
report.
As
I
said
in
my
response
to
the
member's
question
on
this
topic
on
monday,
we've
committed
to
release
publicly
that
report
within
six
months
of
receiving
it.
F
As
for
any
actions
that
will
arise
as
a
result
of
the
report,
it's
important
to
remember
that
the
terms
of
reference
clearly
outline
that
we
will
engage
in
a
government
government
consultation
with
first
nations
before
setting
policy
direction
in
response
to
the
report.
That's
in
the
spirit
of
respect
and
acting
unilaterally
without
first
conducting
that
government's
government
discussions
would
not
be
respected.
Thank
you.
G
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
well
to
use
the
labor
minister's
own
language.
The
person
that
needs
to
wake
up
is
the
minister
of
labor.
He
touts
his
work
with
businesses,
and
yet
that's
resulted
in
another
nine
page
document
where
businesses
express
significant
concerns
and
that's
the
second
time
in
mere
weeks
he
has
been
called
out.
The
minister
just
doesn't
get
it.
Workers
need
jobs,
and
this
bill
means
thousands
of
jobs
are
potentially
at
risk.
Yesterday,
the
labor
minister
even
called
the
significant
concerns
expressed
by
businesses
across
british
columbia,
an
ideological
block
once
again
being
dismissive.
G
This
year
we
are
at
the
edge
of
the
cliff
end
quote:
the
tourism
sector
has
been
devastated,
they
are
desperate,
so
maybe
the
tourism
minister
will
stand
up
today,
stand
up
for
the
sector
she's
supposed
to
represent
and
ensure
that
her
government
does
no
more
harm
so
to
the
tourism
minister.
Will
she
stand
up
and
tell
her
colleague
about
the
devastation
this
bill
could
cause
her
sector.
D
Mr
speaker,
as
I
said
before,
we
are
very
very
concerned
about
the
economic
situation
that
we're
all
going
through.
It's
a
worldwide
pandemic.
It
is
hitting
us
all
and
we
are
doing
everything
that
we
can
to
listen
to
businesses
work
with
them.
There
is
a
premier's
economic
recovery
task
force.
Those
issues
are
discussed
there.
How
do
we
help
them
to
restart
the
economy?
D
And,
mr
speaker,
I
think
we
should
be
proud
in
this
province
due
to
the
leadership
of
dr
bonnie,
henry
leadership
of
our
health
minister,
our
premier,
that
we're
listening
and
we
are,
then
you
know
moving
ahead
to
help
the
businesses
to
to
restart
the
economy,
and
that
help
is
there.
And
mr
speaker,
I
must
say
that's
why
our
package
that
we
have
brought
in
is
very
modest.
D
It
will
not
increase
cost
of
the
premium
of
the
employers
at
the
same
time.
It
will
at
the
same
time,
mr
speaker,
it
will
improve
workers,
health
and
safety.
Protecting
workers,
health
and
safety
should
be
everyone's
concern
here.
We
should
all
support
that,
mr
speaker,
when
they
are
injured
or
become
sick
at
workplace,
they
need
support
and
we
must
provide
them
with
that
support.
The
system
that
we
have
is
20
year
old,
isn't
working
for
the
workers
right
now.
So
that's
why
those
changes
are
being
recommended,
and
I
know
they,
the
bc.
D
D
You
don't
help.
You
don't
help
the
workers
in
this
province.
Mr
speaker,
why?
By
eliminating
the
benefits
for
the
injured
workers,
we
are
going
to
support
the
workers.
At
the
same
time,
we
are
going
to
work
with
the
employers
so
that
their
cost
is
an
increase.
That
is
the
right
thing
to
do.
That's
why
we're
doing
it.
G
Thank
you
very
much,
honorable
speaker.
Well,
you
know
it's
one
thing:
it's
it's
pretty
rich
for
the
minister
to
stand
up
and
talk
about
seeking
advice
and
input.
It's
a
completely
different
thing
to
actually
listen
to
it.
In
fact,
this
minister
has
a
track
record
as
well.
He
simply
ignores
the
concerns
that
are
expressed
by
businesses
and
job
creators
across
the
province.
So
let's
look
at
the
numbers.
G
A
hundred
thousand
full-time
and
part-time
jobs
have
already
been
lost
in
the
tourism
sector
alone
and
they're
warning
that
a
further
120
000
jobs
are
at
risk.
It
demonstrates
just
how
fragile
the
economic
situation
is
for
the
tourism
sector,
and
that
is
why
the
tourism
association
signed
the
letter.
That
says-
and
I
quote-
and
perhaps
the
minister
will
want
to
listen
to
this
part
bill
23
will
add
significant
costs.
It
is
ill-timed,
ill-considered
and
ignores
broad-based
and
repeated
requests
from
the
business
community
to
do
no
harm
end
quote
again
to
the
tourism
minister.
D
Mr
speaker,
the
background
noise
kind
of
really
really,
you
know,
helped
me
get
up
and
asked
it
seems
like
there's
some
song
going
on
in
the
back.
There's
someone
working
some
people
working,
but
let
me
say
this,
mr
speaker:
there
are
groups,
there
are
two
sides
to
this.
There
are
workers,
there
are
employers
both
have
opposing
interests.
D
D
Workers
representatives
are
saying
the
bill.
23
doesn't
go
far
enough
that
the
that
the
damage
of
last
20
years
isn't
going
to
be
fixed
by
bill
23.
We
need
to
do
more.
Businesses,
of
course,
on
the
other
side
are
saying
that
they
are
concerned
with
their
cost.
That's
why
we
as
a
government,
are
taking
responsible,
balanced
approach,
make
sure
that
the
businesses
cost
is
an
increase
at
the
same
time
improve
the
health
and
safety
and
the
concerns
of
the
workers
of
the
same.
Mr
speaker,
that's
why
what
we
are
doing?
If
we're
doing?
D
D
H
Well,
honorable
speaker,
I
think
we
just
heard
the
adversarial
nature
that
is
characterizing
the
minister
and
the
government's
approach
to
this
important
matter.
The
the
cards
and
letters
continue
to
to
flow
in
today
from
the
british
columbia
construction
association
who
write
quote
now,
is
not
the
time
to
introduce
measures
that
increase
costs,
add
to
the
regulatory
burden
or
create
further
uncertainty
for
bc.
H
Employers-
and
it's
not,
mr
speaker,
just
added
costs,
because
you
see
the
minister
and
the
government
also
want
to
impose
new
rules
regarding
directors,
personal
liability
that
is
going
to
make
it
even
more
difficult
for
small,
non-profits
and
community
service
agencies
to
retain
and
recruit
the
directors
that
they
need.
Who
was
asking
for
that
change?
D
Mr
speaker,
thank
you
to
the
member
that
provision
existed
in
the
employment
standard
act
right
now
that
provision
existed
in
ncra.
Mr
speaker,
it
is
enabling
worksafe
bc
to
collect
unpaid
premiums
by
very
few
employers,
who
don't
do
that.
It
is
to
create
a
level
playing
field,
and
I
think
they
would
agree
with
that.
There
are
employers
who
pay
their
bills
on
time,
timely
basis.
D
They
obey
the
rules,
but
there
are
few
who
don't
works
at
bc,
requires
certain
additional
tools
so
that
they
collect
those
unpaid
premiums
by
giving
them
these
extra
tools.
Mr
speaker,
let's
talk
about
some
of
the
other
changes
that
we
are
talking
about,
allowing
worship
bc
to
provide
preventative
medical
treatment
which
could
save
the
whole
system
money.
D
Mr
speaker,
providing
such
health
care
to
a
first
responder,
for
example,
on
a
timely
basis,
could
help
claim
that
would
end
up
being
more
severe
for
the
injured
worker,
more
costly
for
the
worker
compensation
system.
This
meaningful
change
is
it
good
for
the
whole
workers
compensation
system.
All
of
those
recommendations
that
we
are
talking
about
came
through
four
different
reports
that
we
commissioned.
D
They
consulted
widely
came
back
with
the
recommendations
by
mr
parr.
He
combined
all
those
recommendations
in
his
consultation,
came
back
with
the
recommendations
but
understanding
the
tough
times
the
challenging
times
that
the
business
and
economy
is
going
through
right
now
we
did
not
proceed
with
a
costly
recommendation
that
they
recommended.
D
We
that's
why
we
went
with
only
those
that
will
not
increase
the
cost
of
the
employers,
but
at
the
same
time,
have
meaningful
support
for
the
workers
when
they
need
it
and
enhance
their
health
and
safety.
That's
what
the
purpose
is
behind
this
bill.
Mr
speaker,
it
is
the
right
approach
and
it
is
a
prudent
approach.
Mr
speaker,.
H
Mr
speaker,
I
need
volunteers
to
help
guide
my
organization,
it's
already
tough,
because
in
the
midst
of
the
recession,
people
are
worried
about
whether
their
business
is
going
to
survive,
they're
worried
about
their
job,
they're
worried
about
the
safety
of
their
family,
and
now
now
I
have
to
tell
a
prospective
director
that
the
minister
and
the
government
have
decided
to
create
new
legal
tools
that
will
impose
an
additional
personal
liability
that
will
allow
worksafe
to
come
after
them.
Personally,
if
there
is
an
issue
involving
word
safe
for
that
community
service
organization.
H
Well,
what
does
the
minister
think
the
answer
is
going
to
be
from
these
people
and
how
do
you
think
community
service
organizations
are
going
to
fill
those
directorships
with
people
confronted
by
the
additional
challenge?
Again,
I
asked
him
who
asked
for
this
who
asked
for
this:
what
is
the
urgency
and
what
is
the
minister's
argument
for
imposing
this
additional
uncertainty
in
the
midst
of
the
worst
recession
and
living
memory?.
D
D
D
Mr
speaker,
that's
why
we
are
taking
small
steps
to
promote
and
enhance
their
health
and
safety
at
workplaces,
because
a
healthy
workplace
is
a
productive
workplace
and
we
all
want
all
workers
to
go
to
work.
Come
home,
safe
and
healthy
at
the
end
of
their
shift.
Mr
speaker,
that's
the
goal.
That's
why
we're
making
these
are
that's.
Why
we're
making
these
small
steps
at
a
tough
time,
at
the
same
time
supporting
the
employer,
the
businesses
by
not
raising
their
their
premiums?
D
Mr
speaker,
it's
a
balanced
approach
and
I
know
every
time
we
talk
about
improving
workers,
health
and
safety,
giving
additional
benefit
to
the
workers.
They
howl
that
the
sky
is
going
to
fall,
mr
speaker,
but
that's
their
track
record.
We're
not
going
there
we're
going
to
support
the
economy
and
the
employer
and
the
workers
and
their
health
and
safety
safety.
That
is
the
right
thing
to
do.
It's
it's
expected
of
the
government
to
do,
and
workers
of
this
province
expect
us
to
do
it.