►
From YouTube: FEBRUARY 13 2020 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
5th Session
41st Parliament
C
Thank
You,
mr.
speaker
yesterday
we
saw
the
Granville
Street
Bridge
blocked
for
a
few
hours.
Thousands
of
people
were
marooned
downtown,
including
my
own
family
members,
stuck
in
buildings.
They
couldn't
exit
even
through
the
fire
exits.
Today
we
hear
that
the
attorney
general's
office
has
been
occupied
on
Broadway
in
Vancouver,
and
we
also
understand
that
there's
been
a
complete
blockage
at
UBC,
where
the
occupying
group
has
issued
a
statement
that
says
universities
have
long
served
as
engines
of
genocide,
producing
Eurocentric
knowledge
and
a
colonial
elite
intent
on
eliminating
indigenous
people
altogether.
C
C
So,
in
the
face
of
all
this
and
the
stated
need
to
maintain
the
rule
of
law,
we
have
an
entirely
passive
approach
from
the
premier
in
the
face
of
implacable
protestors,
who
were
intent
on
shutting
down
constituency
services,
shutting
down
the
university
shutting
down
our
transportation
arteries.
And
so
will
the
premier
eyes
in
this
house
and
tell
us
what
he's
going
to
do
that.
It
is
anything
more
than
passive.
B
D
Thank
You,
honorable
speaker
and
I
appreciate
the
leader
of
the
Opposition,
wants
to
highlight
the
conflict
in
constituencies.
They
wants
to
highlight
the
conflict
across
the
country
and
I.
Think
that's
what
separates
me
from
he
and
as
much
as
I
want
to
try
and
address
these
issues
in
a
thoughtful
and
compassionate
way,
not
to
just
be
hyperbolic,
not
to
just
say
that
it's
all
someone's
fault.
These
issues
have
been
emerging
over
150
years
and
I'm,
confident
the
member
understand,
so
they
won't
be
resolved
with
more
force.
D
I
believe
the
vast
majority
of
British,
Columbians
and
Canadians
agree
with
me
and
with
him
that
this
is
inappropriate
behavior.
But
we
can't
just
say
honorable
speaker
that
that
inappropriate
behavior
should
be
dealt
with
by
force.
It
needs
to
be
dealt
with
by
cooperation
by
consultation
by
discussion
so
that
we
can
all
move
forward
together.
I
thought
we'd
agreed
on
that
with
respect
to
indigenous
rights,
just
last
fall.
C
With
that
evasive
and
conciliatory
answer,
the
premier
neglects
the
fact
that
it
was
him
who
said,
if
scant
two
weeks
ago,
that
we
must
maintain
the
rule
of
law
in
the
society.
That's
what
the
courts
are
for.
Premier.
That's
why?
Premier
Pallister
in
Manitoba
has
gone
through
the
Manitoba
Court
of
Queen's
Bench
to
get
the
appropriate
injunction.
It
is
incumbent
on
this
government
to
use
the
courts
where
appropriate,
like
infrastructure
being
blocked,
like
universities
being
shut
down
like
constituency
office,
is
being
blockaded
and
occupied.
That
is
the
role
of
the
courts.
C
B
D
Your
honorable
speaker
and
as
a
learned
lawyer,
he
would
know
that
you,
you
don't
need
injunctions
when
unlawful
activities
taking
place
law
enforcement
has
law
enforcement
law
enforcement,
has
appropriate
skills
and
abilities
to
address
these
issues.
I
am
I
am
dumbfounded
that
the
backbench
of
the
BC
Liberal
Party
assumes
that
law
enforcement
is
not
doing
their
job,
of
course
here,
and
what
they
need
is
the
support
of
this
place.
E
E
Premier
sits
here,
as
the
premier
sits
here
in
the
legislature
today,
British
Columbians
are
watching
as
ports,
bridges
and
other
critical
infrastructure
is
blocked.
As
we
speak,
a
rail
blockade
in
northern
BC
is
stopping
companies
from
shipping
their
goods,
whether
its
lumber,
whether
its
grain
and
other
commodities,
to
quote
the
president
of
CN
Rail,
the
port
of
Prince
Rupert,
is
effectively
already
shut
down.
And
what
do
we
hear
from
this
premier?
Nothing?
There
are
6,000
jobs
at
risk.
When
will
this
premier
get
up?
Do
his
job
and
seek
an
injunction
to
remove
the
rail
blockade.
D
Members
premier
thank
your
honorable
speaker
and
I
thank
the
member
for
her
passion.
This
is
an
issue
that's
being
addressed
by
CN,
it's
also
being
addressed
by
the
Prime
Minister
of
myself.
Both
of
us
have
written
to
the
hereditary
leadership
in
the
gets
and
territory
and
agreed
that
we
would
be
happy
to
meet
with
them
sent
government
representatives
at
the
earliest
opportunity.
D
When
the
people
of
British
Columbia
look
at
the
behavior
on
that
side
of
the
host,
they
shake
their
head
to
say.
Thank
goodness,
the
erratic
people
on
that
site
are
not
trying
to
move
forward
in
a
situation
that
was
not
created.
Yesterday
was
not
graded.
Two
years
ago
was
created.
150
years
ago,
I
thought
we
had
agreed
unanimously.
Members
thought
we
had
agreed
unanimously
that
we
were
going
to
work
on
these
issues
together.
Apparently
that
doesn't
matter
to
the
people
on
that
side.
E
E
Have
to
suggest
he's
done,
everything
he
can
is
simply
false.
Apparently
the
premier
of
Manitoba
has
figured
out
that
there's
a
tool
he
can
use.
Why
isn't
our
premier
standing
up
and
following
that
example,
job
creators
have
grave
concerns
and
the
prima
knows
that
and
recently
they
said
they
cannot.
They
cannot
continue
to
afford
this
government's.
E
This
government's
lack
of
involvement,
in
fact,
the
Canadian
Chamber
of
Commerce
appealed
on
Thursday
to
all
levels
of
government,
including
this
one
that
law
enforcement
needs
to
restore
rail
service
by
removing
the
blockades
industry
leaders
are
concerned,
the
premier
knows
that
British
Columbians
expect
action.
The
premier
knows
that.
So
will
the
premier
stand
up
today
and
follow
the
example
of
the
premier
of
Manitoba
and
seek
an
injunction
to
end
the
rail
blockade.
B
D
It
will
be
enforced
by
law
enforcement
as
they
are
able
to
do
so.
Those
operational
decisions
as
again
she
should
well
know
as
a
former
Solicitor
General
and
Attorney
General
will
be
done
on
their
terms,
not
on
terms
in
this
legislature
and
I
will
add
that
to
cast
aspersions
at
the
minister
of
reconciliation
for
sitting
here
in
this
house
and
doing
his
job
is
absolutely
outrageous.
D
B
A
Our
concern
is
that
this
engagement
has
been
secondary
to
ensuring
that
LNG
Canada
and
its
associated
projects
can
proceed
late.
Last
month
it
was
reported
that
a
key
environmental
assessment
report
that
is
necessary
for
construction
to
proceed
in
the
Morris
River
technical
boundary
area,
the
same
area
that
includes
the
eunice
Stoughton
healing
center
still
needed
to
be
submitted
and
approved.
The
ministry
was
quoted
in
the
media
as
stating
that
quote.
This
process
is
part
of
our
work
to
ensure
that
industry,
in
this
case,
coastal
gas
link
is
meeting
the
requirements
of
their
environmental
approval.
A
Environmental
assessment
office
requirements
will
need
to
be
met
for
cgl
to
proceed
with
construction.
End
quote
my
question
through
your
honorable
speakers
for
the
Minister
of
Environment.
What
steps
did
this
government
take
to
work
with
the
federal
government
and
with
CGL
to
hold
off
seeking
an
extension
of
their
injunction
in
order
to
allow
more
engagement
with
wet
so
attend
her
edit
era
Chiefs,
particularly
since
the
missing
report
meant
that
no
construction
could
take
place
in
the
Morris
River
area
anyway,
Minister.
B
Thank
you
very
much
honorable
speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
the
member
for
the
question.
As
the
member
knows,
the
environmental
assessment
certificate
for
coastal
gas
link
contains
33
legally
binding
conditions.
It
was
issued
in
2014
the
first
condition
the
the
member
is
correct,
addresses
the
Morris
River
technical
boundary
area,
which
includes
the
wilderness
lodge
and
the
Healing
Center
on
November
20
19
CG
L
submitted
the
required
report
to
the
environmental
assessment
office
and
the
environmental
assessment
office
is
currently
reviewing
the
report
submitted
by
the
company.
As
part
of
that
review.
B
It
is
consulting
and
seeking
feedback
extensively
from
all
parties,
including
both
the
hereditary
and
the
elected
leadership
of
the
wetzel
weten.
Since
the
environmental
assessment
certificate
was
granted,
the
e
AO
has
met
directly
with
the
office
of
the
wet
sweatin
on
a
number
of
times
to
hear
the
specific
concerns
that
they
raised
to
the
details
of
the
members
question
under
the
terms
of
the
environmental
assessment
certificate
and
british
columbia
law.
B
The
company
c
GL
cannot
undertake
construction
activity
in
the
Morris
River
technical
boundary
area
until
the
report
has
been
accepted
and
that
condition
is
deemed
to
have
been
met.
They
can,
however,
undertake
construction
in
other
areas
covered
by
other
terms
and
conditions,
and
they
can,
as
has
been
affirmed
by
the
courts,
have
access
to
those
areas
through
that
area,
and
that
is
where
the
matter
currently
stands.
A
You
honorable
speaker
as
my
colleague
from
San
Anora
and
the
Islands
made
clear
yesterday,
the
issue
that
the
wet
sweat
and
hereditary
Chiefs
have
raised
is
not
new.
The
immediate
issues
concerning
the
coastal
gas
link
pipeline
have
been
known
for
years.
The
broader
territorial
rights
and
title
issue
have
been
known
for
decades.
A
My
questions
for
you
honorable
speakers
for
the
minister
of
indigenous
relations
and
reconciliation,
given
almost
everyone
involved
in
the
respect
table,
discussions
has
described
it
as
a
positive
step
and
constructive
in
the
reconciliation
process.
Why
did
it
take
the
threat
of
a
pending
injunction
enforcement
for
a
respect
table
discussion
to
be
struck,
especially
given
how
long
government
has
been
aware
of
the
outstanding
issues
related
to
this
pipeline.
F
We've
been
engaging
in
meaningful
government-to-government
negotiations
with
the
office
of
its
alton
since
last
spring
I
was
grateful
to
have
been
invited
to
a
smoke
feast
in
the
territory
by
the
chief
says,
the
first
formal
step
in
that
process
and
as
a
member
also
knows,
there
has
been
there
had
been
access
agreement
in
place
between
the
company,
the
RCMP
and
the
hereditary
Chiefs
since
last
January.
But
when
the
with
the
BC
Supreme
Court
ruling
on
the
injunction,
the
agreement
ended.
So
since
then,
our
government
made
a
committed
effort
to
to
work
with
the
Oh
W.
F
The
officer
were
told
in
the
hereditary
Chiefs
to
find
a
peaceful
resolution,
including
the
talks
at
the
respect
table.
Now
we
goose
is
the
hereditary
is
the
term
that
was
explained
by
the
hereditary
Chiefs.
When
we
were
there.
It
was
clear
from
the
discussions
that
all
of
us
came
together
in
good
faith
and
and
that
that
good
faith
continues
and
we
remain
committed
to
continuing
to
build
that
relationship
together.
G
Thank
you.
Mr.
speaker,
you
know
what
we
have
witnessed.
The
last
few
days
is
not
some
spontaneous
uprising,
but
a
well-funded
and
coordinated
national
strategy
to
shut
down
vital
infrastructure
and
inconvenience
the
public
presently
protesters
are
blockading
a
road
at
UBC,
and
initial
reports
also
show
that
protesters
have
entered
the
attorney
general's
constituency
office.
My
understanding
is
his
constituent.
The
assistant
needed
a
police
escort
to
remove
sensitive
documents
from
his
office,
so
the
Attorney
General
has
lost
control
of
his
community
office
to
radical
activists.
G
These
same
active
is
also
disrupted
goods
and
services
and
people
at
the
Swartz
Bay
terminal
on
January
20th,
Delta,
Port
and
Port
of
Vancouver
berate.
The
ninth
Vancouver
City
Hall
February,
9th
Johnson
Street
Bridge
Bay
Street
Bridge
for
every
tenth
helijet
Victoria
Terminal
February
11th
Vancouver
can
be
intersection
for
every
11th
Granville
Street
Bridge.
Yesterday
and
tomorrow
we
have
a
plan,
shutdown
of
government
offices.
It
doesn't
end
there.
Mr
Speaker
I
have
a
letter
here
from
Ken
Feldman
he's
vice
president
at
the
Prince
Rupert
port.
G
That
port
has
been
severely
impacted
by
these
very
actions
as
well.
So
I
wanna
read
a
quote
from
his
letter.
He
says:
quote:
operations
are
being
wound
down
at
the
port
of
Prince
Rupert,
with
terminals
receiving
no
rail
and
working
with
current
cargoes
on
hand
and
capacities
available,
terminal
operations
are
being
severely
curtailed,
labor
is
not
being
called
in
and
the
situation
is
expected
to
deteriorate
even
more
in
the
next
couple
of
days
and
will
likely
cascade
into
BC
and
Canadian
exporters
curtailing
operations
in
multiple
industries,
including
mills
and
mines.
G
Moreover,
full
recovery
of
the
terminal
terminals,
gateway
and
railway
network
from
this
disruption
will
take
months
even
after
service
is
resumed.
End
quote
mr.
speaker
to
this
premier.
I
would
say
his
job
is
not
a
passive
Roy's,
not
passive
at
all.
Preserving
the
rule
of
law
is
his
responsibility.
Will
the
premier
stand
up
for
the
hard-working
men
and
women
of
BC
and
bring
back
the
rule
of
law
premier
thank.
D
D
It
does
not
in
any
way
in
any
way
assist
the
people
of
British
Columbia
to
have
an
opposition
that
prefers
to
give
an
inventory
of
the
legal
behavior
and
say
what's
the
deal
with
that,
if
they
just
woke
up
yesterday,
sometimes
honorable
speaker,
when
I
think
of
things
like
ICBC,
when
I
think
of
how
they
drape
drove
that
corporation
into
the
ground,
then
they
go
hey
it
wasn't
us.
We
just
showed
up
two
years
ago
we
just
arrived
two
years
ago.
These
issues
have
been
percolating
for
generations,
generations
and
I.
D
G
Mr.
speaker,
I'm
gonna
read
a
quote
from
a
politician
not
making
excuses.
Here's
Brian
Pallister,
and
this
is
what
he
had
to
say
quote
as
much
as
we
will
always
respect
the
right
of
protesters
to
have
a
voice.
They
don't
have
a
veto
and
they
don't
have
the
right
to
put
their
rights
ahead
of
everyone
else
and
to
disregard
the
laws
of
our
province.
End
quote
mr.
speaker:
blocking
critical
infrastructure
cannot
be
tolerated,
so
can
there
premier
please
get
off
his
Duff
and
do
something.
B
B
B
D
D
You
thank
you.
Thank
you,
honorable,
speaker
and
again
I've
answered
the
question:
we're
working
with
law
enforcement,
we're
working
with
the
federal
government's
on
these
issues
and,
more
importantly,
we're
working
with
people
across
British
Columbia
to
try
and
find
a
way
forward.
No
one,
no
one
accepts
unlawful
behavior.
I
was
pretty
clear
on
that.
Yesterday,
I'll
be
clear:
I'm,
not
every
single
day
that
I'm
in
this
position.
D
It's
not
acceptable
to
intrude
on
the
liberty
and
rights
of
other
people
when
you're
expressing
your
discontent
with
a
policy
question,
and
that
is
a
pretty
fundamental
part
about
being
Canadian
citizens.
I
know
the
members
on
that
side
agree
with
me.
They
should
put
the
politics
aside.
Why
don't
we
band
together
for
a
better
outcome
for
all
British
Columbia.
H
H
Premiums
are
going
up
between
50
and
400%.
Deductibles
are
going
numbers.
Thank
you,
deductibles
are
going
up
from
50
are
25%
to
as
high
as
750,000
25,000
to
750,000.
So
a
simple
question
to
the
minister
of
housing
would
be
this.
What
is
she
planning
to
do
to
help
those
thousands
of
British
Columbians
who
are
hurting
from
skyrocketing
strata
costs.
I
Thank
you
very
much
honorable
speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
Certainly
we're
very
concerned
about
the
impact
of
the
insurance
increases
for
strata
owners,
but
also
for
tenants,
because
many
tenants,
rent
through
Stratus
and
we're
worried
that
those
costs
will
be
passed
on
to
them.
So
we're
taking
a
look
at
the
challenges
that
are
being
faced
right
now.
We
are
working
with
the
BC
Financial
Services
Authority,
who
regulates
insurance
companies
as
the
member
knows.
I
Well,
this
is
private
industry
and
they
are
facing
as
they've
raised
challenges
around
climate
challenges
around
increasing
real
estate
prices,
but
we
are
working
with
the
strata
sociation
z--.
We
are
working
with
individuals
and
we're
working
with
the
insurance
corporation
as
well
insurance
companies
to
be
able
to
take
a
look
at
options
that
are
available
to
be
able
to
ease
the
pressure.
This
is
not
unique
to
British,
Columbia
I.
Think
that's
important
to
note.
H
Thank
You
mr.
speaker
and
and
the
the
the
minister
of
housing
is
the
individual
in
this
chamber
who's
responsible
for
the
strata.
That's
the
the
the
person
I
have
asked
the
question
to
the
the
she
is
the
minister
who,
under
under
her
watch
over
the
last
two
and
a
half
years
rents,
have
have
shot
up
as
you're
darn
right
renters
are
concerned.
In
fact,
in
Metro
Vancouver
the
average
rent
a
renters
are
paying
two
thousand
sixty
four
dollars
more
per
year
under
the
NDP
than
they
did
before.
H
The
NDP
came
to
town
so
now
we're
talking
about
layering
on
a
whole
other
level
of
unaffordability,
for
renters
and
for
for
anyone
in
the
strata
market.
Mr.
speaker,
anyone
who
lives
in
a
condo
anyone
who
lives
in
a
town
home
anyone
who
lives
in
an
apartment
is
that
duplex
is
at
risk.
We're
talking
about
half
of
the
of
the
citizens
of
Metro
Vancouver
that
this
potentially
impacts.
People
are
worried
about
this
and
they
deserve
and
expect
action
from
this
Housing
Minister
so
again
to
the
minister
of
of
housing.
I
I
I
Companies
we
are
talking
to
the
Financial
Services
Authority,
which
is
part
of
my
mandate
as
finance
minister.
We
are
taking
a
look
at
insurance
companies.
We
are
talking
with
the
strata
owners
as
well
to
look
at
what
solutions
are
possible,
given
the
fact
that
again
remember
this
is
an
individual
private
industry
decision
that
they
make
around
prices.
It's
common
across
the
country
with
our
colleagues
across
the
country,
because
this
is
not
unique
to
British
Columbia,
so
we
are
talking
to
them
as
well
and
we
will
continue
as
a
government
standing
up
for
affordability
for.
B
J
J
Some
people
in
my
constituency
are
facing
insurance
rates
that
have
gone
double
in
one
year
and
you
talk
all
you
want
about.
Affordability,
having
insurance
rates
doubling
and
one
year
is
the
actually
the
opposite
of
affordability
for
a
senior
on
fixed
income,
who
suddenly
must
pay
hundreds
of
dollars
more
every
month.
This
is
a
crisis
that
demands
immediate
action.
J
A
J
I
You
very
much
honorable
speaker,
I've,
answered
question
but
I'm
happy
to
answer
it
again.
We
are
concerned
for
strat
owners.
We
are
concerned
for
decisions
that
are
being
made
right
now
by
insurance
companies
when
it
comes
to
strata
costs.
This
is
not
a
unique
issue
to
British
Columbia.
This
is
an
issue
across
the
country.
That's
why
we've
had
a
call
with
our
federal
colleagues
and
provincial
colleagues
as
well
to
talk
about
the
pressures
that
are
being
faced.
This
relates
to
everything
from
rising
real
estate
prices
to
climate
action.