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From YouTube: FEBRUARY 27 2020 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
5th Session
41st Parliament
C
Thank
You.
Mr.
speaker,
we
know
the
Minister
of
Environment
is
good
friends
with
foreign-funded
agitators
behind
these
illegal
blockades.
Mr
Speaker,
we
know
the
parliamentary
secretary
for
TransLink
supports
the
illegal
blockades
and
the
shutdown
of
the
resource
sector,
and
this
week
the
member
from
Nanaimo
added
her
voice
to
those
who've
act,
the
foreign-funded
agitators,
but
there's
also
public
money
being
expended.
Can
the
minister
of
advanced
education
confirm
if
she
supports
the
University
of
Victoria
staff,
who
are
organizing
and
advocating
for
these
illegal
protests?.
B
B
D
Consulting,
what's
insulting
honorable
speaker,
what
is
insulting
honorable
speaker
is
in
opposition
that
is
trying
to
sow
dissension
and
inflame
and
inflame
a
situation
which
all
of
us
in
this
on
this
side
of
the
house
provinces
across
the
country
and
the
federal
government
recognize,
is
at
a
critical
stage
and
we
are
working
to
find
solutions
to
get
the
blockades
down.
That's
what's
insulting
honorable
speaker.
C
On
a
supplemental,
Thank
You,
mr.
speaker,
I
remind
the
Solicitor
General
this
week.
If
Seoul's
Reid
poll
came
out,
sixty
three
percent
of
Canadians
want
their
government
to
show
their
backbone
and
do
something
about
these
blockades.
Instead,
that
side
of
the
house
keeps
playing
footsie
with
agitators.
C
Ndp's
friends,
Mr
Speaker,
we
have
UVic
profs
a
Bonet
who
has
helped
to
organize
the
shutting
down
of
government
ministries.
I
have
an
email
from
him
here
and
he
says
quote
a
whole
bunch
of
us
have
committed
to
coordinating
the
shutdown
of
as
many
BC
government
ministries
as
we
can
and
quote.
We
have
UVic
professors,
cancelling
classes
and
rescheduling
midterms.
I
have
an
email
here
from
a
third
year
of
Poli
Sci
instructor,
dr.
C
Gliese,
who
says
quote
several
students
have
been
in
touch
with
me
about
missing
class
tomorrow
to
participate
in
the
rally
at
the
legislature,
building
in
support
of
the
wet
sweatin
to
ensure
that
anyone
wishing
to
participate
can
I
will
be
cancelling
class
tomorrow,
other
classes,
other
classes,
miss
chambers,
other
classes.
Mr.
speakers
have
been
taking
field
trips
to
the
blockades
being
funded
by
foreign
money.
Does
the
minister
of
advanced
education
believe
this
is
an
acceptable
practice
for
a
publicly
funded
institution
premier
thank.
E
E
It's
been
our
objective
honorable
speaker
from
the
beginning
to
find
a
peaceful
resolution.
It's
been
our
objective
to
acknowledge
that
dissent
is
part
of
a
democratic
society,
but
it
is
also
important
that
lawlessness
and
unlawful
behavior
be
acknowledged
and
dealt
with
by
appropriate
authorities.
There
was
a
time,
not
that
long
ago,
honorable
speaker,
that
those
on
the
other
side
of
the
house
wanted
the
RCMP
to
be
directed
to
take
actions.
We're
not
going
to
do
that.
No.
E
Across
the
country
is
directing
law
enforcement,
I've
spent
the
past
two
weeks,
working
with
the
Council
of
Federation
and
premiers
of
different
political
persuasions,
different
levels
of
understanding
of
the
challenges
of
hereditary
versus
elected
governance
structures.
I
thought,
honorable
speaker
when
members
on
that
side
of
the
house
stood
with
us
and
members
of
the
third
party
unanimously
supporting
the
declaration
on
the
rights
of
indigenous
people
that
they
wanted
to
join
us
in
the
future.
Not
dwelling
in
the
past
the
good
old
days
when
they
were
in
government
and
they
just
direct.
A
B
A
Thank
You
mr.
speaker,
the
premier
mentions
appropriate
authorities.
It
would
seem
to
me
that
if
opposition
has
a
question
about
the
appropriate
use
of
taxpayer-funded
institutional
activities
like
the
University
of
Victoria,
the
appropriate
authority
to
ask
is
the
minister
of
advanced
education,
so
I'll
try
again
and
let's
be
clear,
that's
what
this
is
about
the
mission
statement,
the
mission
statement
of
the
University
of
Victoria,
Students
Society,
says
and
I
quote.
A
Our
mission
is
to
be
a
leader
in
providing
high
quality,
accessible
services,
advocacy
and
events
that
enhance
the
student
experience
and
to
build
a
campus
community
that
embodies
our
values.
End
quote
now.
The
student
society
is
actively
involved
in
the
illegal
protests
here
at
the
legislature.
They
even
enjoyed
a
movie
and
popcorn
night
last
night,
which
I
understand
was
powered
by
a
generator
I'm
curious,
what
fuel
they
put
in
the
generator.
Nevertheless,
so
mr.
E
E
A
You,
mr.
speaker,
this,
this
really
is
disturbing
that
the
answer
you
get
is
around
whether
or
not
they
think
we
like
movies
and
popcorn.
The
question,
though,
is
a
pretty
serious
one,
because
if
you're
a
student
at
UVic,
if
you're
an
undergrad
at
you,
think
that's
what
you're
required
to
pay
student
dues
and
you're.
Trusting
that
your
student
dues
are
gonna,
go
for
a
legitimate
purpose,.
A
B
B
B
H
Thank
You
mr.
speaker
last
night
we
heard
news
that
the
federal
and
provincial
governments
will
be
meeting
with
the
wetsuit
and
hereditary
Chiefs.
We
can
all
agree
that
that's
a
positive
development
for
all
Canadians.
Mr.
speaker,
we
have
to
be
honest
about
how
we
got
here.
The
people
in
this
chamber
today
are
not
responsible
for
a
hundred
and
fifty
years
of
colonial
policies
didn't
designed
to
undermine
and
exclude
indigenous
people,
but
they
are
responsible
for
their
votes
to
continue
that
legacy.
This
time.
H
Last
year,
nearly
every
member
of
this
chamber
voted
to
provide
the
ignition
point
for
this
conflict
bill.
Ten
handed
billions
of
taxpayer
dollars
to
LNG
Canada
inducing
their
final
investment
decision.
All
members
of
this
chamber,
excluding
the
BC
green
caucus,
voted
more
than
a
dozen
times,
knowing
full
well
of
the
long-standing
rates
and
title
challenges
in
that
territory.
When
the
BC
green
caucus
was
notified
of
the
government's
intention
to
push
forward
on
the
project,
I
asked
whether
they
had
a
plan
to
resolve
the
situation.
The
long-standing
situation,
I
was
told
not
to
worry
about
it.
H
It's
taken
care
of
well.
This
does
not
appear
taken
care
of.
Does
it
honorable
speaker,
my
question
is
to
the
Minister
of
indigenous
relations
and
Reconciliation?
Why
did
this
government
vote
to
advance
LNG
Canada
before
clarity
around
governance
and
reconciliation
in
the
territory
had
been
established.
G
Thank
You
honorable
speaker
and
I
thank
the
member
for
the
leader
of
the
third
party
for
his
question
and
I
also
want
to
thank
him
for
his
his
continued
work.
Work
on
on
addressing
reconciliation
issues
and
and
I
appreciate
the
question.
However,
we
have
secured
meetings
with
the
office
of
it,
so
it's
in
the
hereditary
Chiefs,
beginning
this
afternoon
and
tomorrow.
I
believe
that
this
is
a
hopeful
sign,
I'm,
an
optimist
of
course,
but
it
is
time
that
we
pull
together
and
not
reflect
on
the
past
work.
G
H
Thing
not
to
acknowledge
the
actions
that
got
us
here
and
over
over
generations
and
decades
actually,
and
now
that
the
on-and-off-again
talks
are
on
again.
It's
my
sincere
hope
that
the
representatives
going
to
the
wet
souldn't
territory
to
sit
at
a
table
for
as
long
as
it
takes
for
a
good
paid
solution
to
this
coastal
gasoline
conflict
and
not
just
deliver
an
ultimatum.
It
has
become
painfully
obvious
to
British,
Columbians
and
Canadians
that
this
system
is
broken
and
it's
not
serving
anyone
well
in
this
country
or
province.
H
This
legislature
is
how
to
select
Standing
Committee
on
Aboriginal
Affairs
for
the
past
30
years.
I'm
on
that
committee.
It
exists
in
title
only
because
the
government
has
not
empowered
it
to
be
effective,
and
that
is
a
fitting
symbol.
I
would
say
we
have
a
tool
for
all
of
us
here
to
work
together
across
party
lines
to
find
solutions
to
make
the
systemic
changes
that
are
needed
to
ensure
the
people
in
this
chamber.
H
Don't
just
continue
the
dysfunctional
cycle
that's
been
going
on
here
for
generations
to
the
Minister
of
indigenous
relations,
reconciliation,
I'm,
calling
on
this
government
to
immediately
strike
and
rename
the
committee
Aboriginal
Affairs
and
empower
it
to
better
inform
the
decisions
in
this
chamber.
Will
they
do
so
premier.
B
E
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
and
I
thank
the
member
for
his
question.
He
will
know
as
a
new
member
of
the
House,
he
will
know
that
Committees
of
this
place
are
struck
by
consensus.
The
committee
is
going
to
be
convened,
all
committees
are
going
to
be
convened
and
then
we
decide
within
this
place
what
we
charge
those
committees
to
do.
The
member
will
also
know
that
hello,
it
hasn't
received
a
lot
of
attention.
E
Earlier
this
week
the
First
Nations
Leadership
Council
was
meeting
with
government
officials
to
begin
the
work
to
put
in
place
a
work
plan
to
implement
the
Declaration
Act.
That
was
supported
unanimously
by
all
members
of
this
house
not
two
months
ago.
So
work
is
underway,
government
to
government
and
that
work
will
then
make
its
way
to
the
committee.
So
all
members
can
participate
in
that,
but
the
work
has
to
be
initiated
before
we
can
get
to
that
step,
but
I
thank
the
member
for
his
thoughtful
question.
I
Thank
you
and
mr.
speaker
last
fall.
The
Housing
Minister
rejected
our
proposed
solution
to
address
the
challenge
of
skyrocketing
property
taxes
on
undeveloped
airspace.
She
said
at
the
time
that
she
would
instead
and
I
quote,
have
a
solution
that
works
for
everybody
and
quote
well.
We
now
have
her
plan.
The
reviews
are
in
and
they're
not
very
good.
I
Vancouver
mayor,
Kennedy
Stewart
had
this
to
say
and
I
quote:
this
law
fails
to
provide
tax
relief
for
small
business
and
nonprofits,
and
it
could
wind
up
costing
them
even
more
there's
a
huge
gap
between
what
we
are
asking
for
and
what
this
is
and
quote
so
my
question
that
the
minister
of
housing
would
be
this:
will
she
a
scrapped
her
bill?
Take
the
advice
of
the
mayor
of
Vancouver
and
adopt
the
the
solution
that
was
not
just
developed
but
was
proposed
by
a
broad
range
of
stakeholders.
Minister.
J
So,
first
of
all,
I
want
to
certainly
acknowledge
that
we
have
arrived
in
this
place
with
the
stratospheric
property
taxes
because
of
the
rising
value
of
land,
because
the
previous
government
didn't
do
what
was
asked
of
them.
Honourable
speaker,
and
again
we
heard
we
thought
we
received
a
letter
from
the
CFIB
just
a
year
and
a
half
ago
that
said
that
they've
been
asking
for
10
years
for
someone
to
do
something
and
they
failed.
They
absolutely
failed
on
speaker
and
I
was
very
proud,
very
proud
to
get
a
working
group
under
way.
J
That
working
group
came
up
with
a
number
of
solutions.
Honorable
speaker,
they
came
up
with
about
a
half
a
dozen
different
solutions.
We
are
continuing
to
work
with
them
to
work
it
through
to
make
sure
that
it
works
for
everybody.
But
honorable
speaker,
the
solution
that
was
proposed
is
not
actually
a
keen
for
a
number
of
communities.
The
community
of
Whistler,
for
example,
and,
for
example,
is
not
interested
in
the
proposal.
There
are
other
communities,
I
believe
it's
in
the
caribou
as
well.
They
had
some
serious
concerns
about
that
proposal.
J
We
absolutely
have
lots
of
work
to
do
honorable
speaker.
We
are
not
backing
away
from
that.
Honorable
speaker,
we
we
are
prepared
to
continue
working
with
local
governments.
However,
however,
speaker
in
the
meantime,
businesses
were
struggling,
they
were
struggling
because
they
didn't
do
their
work.
So,
honorable
speaker,
we
have
a
bill
before
the
House
I
hope
they'll
join
us
in
supporting
it
to
make
sure
that
businesses
will
finally
get
the
support
that
they
deserve.
I
On
a
supplemental,
thank
you
very
much
mr.
speaker.
Well,
the
the
mayor
of
Vancouver
actually
had
this
to
say
with
respect
to
there
not
being
enough
time
he
said
and
I
quote
on
on
Monday
the
the
ministry
said
there
wasn't
enough
time
to
address
those
issues
for
2020,
but
we
started
talking
about
this
with
the
province
in
late
2018.
There
has
been
time.
End
quote:
those
are
the
words
of
the
mayor
of
Vancouver.
It's
actually
the
proposed
solution.
It
was
actually
a
solution
that
came
up
that
the
the
Intergovernmental
working
group
developed.
I
That
was
a
working
group
that
was
convened
by
by
the
by
her
ministry,
and
she
has
turned
her
back
on
the
solution
that
they
that
they
brought
forward.
When
I
urged
the
minister
to
adopt
my
bill
last
fall,
she
had
the
gall
to
say
and
I
quote
clearly
they're
not
interested
in
hearing
about
what
local
governments
have
to
say.
They
don't
care
what
local
governments
have
to
say
and
quote
those.
That's
that's
what
the
minister
said
when
we
brought
forward
a
solution.
I
Here's
here's
here's
more
of
what
Vancouver
Mayor
Stewart
had
to
say
and
I
quote.
What
scares
me
is
how
many
businesses
will
go
down
before
we
get
this
fixed
and
quote
so
again
to
the
minister
of
housing.
Will
she
scrap
her
bill?
Call
the
private
member's
bill
that
that
we
had
put
forward
that
actually
embodies
the
solution
that
local
governments
and
all
the
other
impacted
stakeholders
have
been
calling
for
an.
J
J
Today,
president
of
the
you
be
see,
ya,
boo
is
very
clear:
wants
us
to
continue
working
with
her
working
with
them
and
making
sure
it
can
address
the
issues.
There
are
absolutely
communities
that
are
very
keen
to
do
this
work.
We
spiced
both
with
ice
I,
spoke
with
the
mayor
of
Port
Coquitlam.
Honorable
speaker,
he's
excited
to
take
a
look
at
this
opportunity
to
deliver
relief
to
his
community.
Furthermore,
furthermore,
burst
staff
did
look
at
the
opposition's
bill.
We
took
a
look
at
it
because.
B
J
Come
from,
and
they
actually
tell
me,
I
was
speaker
and
looking
at
it,
looking
at
the
technical
details
that
it
will
not
give
relief
to
the
small
businesses
who
need
it.
In
fact,
in
fact,
it
would
impact
the
tax
treatment
of
thousands
of
properties
in
British
Columbia,
and
it
would
leave
small
businesses
worse
off,
because
they're
proposing
to
give
tax
cuts
to
speculators
and
big
developers
who
will
benefit
from
Terra.
K
Well,
that's
not
what
this
person
I'm
just
going
to
quote,
said
about
your
bill.
Linda
Buchanan
is
the
Mayor
of
the
City
of
North
Vancouver,
and
she
had
this
to
say
and
I
quote.
The
proposed
changes
of
your
bill
won't
allow
us
to
target
businesses
who
are
disproportionately
being
affected
by
property
values
and
could
even
possibly
result
in
tax
relief
for
large
international
companies.
K
She
goes
on
to
say,
I'm
disappointed.
The
province
hasn't
delivered
the
solution
recommended
by
the
Intergovernmental
working
group,
which
was
convened
by
your
ministry.
When
will
the
Housing
Minister
stop
talking
and
actually
listen
to
the
mayor's
and
adopt
a
solution
laid
out
in
our
private
member's
bill?
Minister.
J
B
J
You
very
much
honorable
speaker,
this
bill
that
is
before
the
house
and
I
expect
there'll
be
some
further
debate
will
be
an
opportunity
for
local
governments
to
very,
very
carefully
designate
which
properties
need
the
greatest
amount
of
relief.
Honourable
speaker,
they
have
an
opportunity
to
do
that
and
I
look
forward
to
the
debate
in
the
house
on
that
as
we
go
through
second
reading,
honorable
speaker,
but
again,
I
want
to
assure
this
chamber
that
this
government
is
committed
to
working
together
with
local
governments
to
working
together
with.
K
F
K
Thank
You
speaker
mayor
Buchanan,
what's
really
really
clear
and
I'll
quote
her
a
game
I'm
asking
the
province
to
reconsider
their
approach
and
work
with
cities
towards
a
solution
that
will
actually
deliver
results.
End
quote
so
one
more
time
to
the
Minister.
When
will
she
listen
and
deliver
the
solution
that
the
mayor's
are
asking
for.
J
You
very
much
honorable
speaker.
Well,
we
are
working
with
municipalities
on
a
permanent,
fixed
honourable
speaker,
because
that's
what
we
all
want.
We
all
want
a
permanent
fix,
and
so
we
did
an
interminable
working
committee
with
a
handful
of
business
of
local
governments
in
the
Lower
Mainland.
But
the
members
seem
to
forget
that
they
also
represent
Whistler.
They
were
in
separate
the
caribou
they
represent
for
st.
John,
but
honorable
speaker.
They
want
to
take
a
look
at
numbers.
J
They
want
to
understand
how
any
tax
changes
will
be
implicated
for
those
communities.
I
just
spoke
with
the
president
of
the
UBC
m
and
she
also
wants
us
to
proceed
with
caution.
She
wants
us
to
make
sure
that
we
consult
with
the
UBC
m.
She
wants
to
make
sure
and
I
want
to
make
sure
that
we
consult
with
the
business
community,
and
you
know
an
honourable
speaker
we're
doing
that,
but
in
order
to
get
all
that
work
done
and
give
relief
to
businesses
now
for
2020,
we
want
to
be
able
to
do
that.
I
mean.
J
L
Thank
You
mr.
speaker,
mr.
speaker
last
week
when
I
raised
questions
on
behalf
of
the
residents,
the
contractors
the
forest
workers
in
Clearwater
and
the
North
Thompson
valleys.
The
the
forest
minister
played
a
little
cute
with
his
wording
of
his
answer.
Although
it
was
technically
correct
that
the
paperwork
had
not
crossed
his
desk.
L
The
people
in
the
valley
that
have
been
impacted,
the
people
in
the
valley
that
have
been
impacted
for
the
last
nine
months
of
inaction
by
this
Minister,
were
not
as
impressed
when
on
Friday,
the
minister
admitted
on
Kamloops
radio
stations
that
in
fact
he
had
been
talking
back
and
forth
with
his
staff
since
early
November
for
four
months
on
this
exact
file
doesn't
sound
like
he
wasn't
aware
of
what
was
going
on
with
the
tenure
transfer.
We
then
found
out.
L
The
camphor
has
announced
that
if
they
don't
have
an
answer
from
this
minister
by
tomorrow,
the
deal
is
off
and
all
bets
are
off
what
happens
in
the
north
Thompson.
We
know
the
indigenous
community
in
the
North
Thompson
is
not
happy
either
with
these
delays
so
again,
I'll
ask
again.
Today
it's
been
nine
months
since
this
file
started.
L
It's
been
four
months
since
all
sides
submitted
their
proposal
all
sides
which,
by
the
mayor
of
clear
waters
own
words,
the
none
of
them
love
all,
can
live
with
when,
as
the
minister
going
to
actually
do
its
job
and
get
an
answer
for
the
people
in
the
north
Thompson
Valley.
What
is
happening
with
the
tenure
transfer,
given
that
he's
had
to
file
for
four
months.
M
L
Thank
You
mr.
speaker.
Well,
let's
be
very
clear.
The
minister
seems
to
be
all
over
the
map
with
his
answers
on
this
last
week
on
Tuesday.
He
wasn't
even
really
aware
of
the
proposal.
The
way
he
framed
it
up
in
this
house
by
Friday
he'd
been
working
on
it
for
four
months
on
Friday.
He
also
said
there
would
be
a
decision
this
week.
He
also
was
aware
last
Friday
that
tomorrow
is
the
deadline
for
can
for
now.
He
just
answered
sometime
in
the
near
future.
There
will
be
an
answer
which
is
it
Minister?
M
M
N
Mr.
speaker,
when
the
NDP
announced
retirement
bridging
program
for
forest
workers,
people
were
told
if
they
took
the
money
they
couldn't
work
in
forestry
for
18
months,
but
now,
all
of
a
sudden,
the
NDP
have
changed
the
parameters,
so
you're
not
allowed
to
work
at
all
for
18
months.
My
constituent
sandy
Davidson
wants
to
know
and
I
quote:
how
can
the
government
change
the
parameters
like
that
midway
through?
In
quote,
my
question
is
to
the
Minister:
what's
going
on,
Minister.
O
Mr.
mr.
speaker,
mr.
speaker,
due
to
the
fact
that
pine
beetle
epidemic
unprecedented
fires
in
2015,
that's
out
of
the
house
when
they
were
government,
they
knew
that
the
13
Mills
were
gonna
go
down,
but
they
did
nothing.
But
mr.
speaker
when,
when
those
Mills
start
to
go
down-
and
we
knew
that
we
need
to
act-
we
dedicated
69
million
dollars
to
help
those
workers
numbers.
O
For
retraining
for
four
job
policemen
and
pension,
bridging
Mr,
Speaker,
I,
am
glad
to
say
here
today.
Mr.
speaker,
810
applications
have
been
processed,
$6,000,000
has
been
dedicated,
there's
another
amount,
$3,000,000
is
being
processed.
Mr.
speaker
and
248
workers
have
actually
benefited
from
the
from
the
pension,
bridging
plan
and
there's
a
lot
more
work
to
be
done.
We
have
boots
on
the
ground
and
there
are
five
offices
open
in
all
regions
of
the
people
can
get
help
in
and
near
their
communities.
Mr.
speaker
and
there's
another
six
under
workers
who
have
contacted
those
offices.
Mr.