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From YouTube: MARCH 24 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
1st Session
42nd Parliament
A
C
D
You,
honourable
speaker,
and
I
thank
the
leader
of
the
opposition
for
her
question
and
the
spirit
with
which
it
was
offered,
and
I
agree-
and
I
know
all
members
of
this
house
agree
that
the
persistent
opioid
crisis
has
affected
families
in
every
corner
of
british
columbia.
Unacceptably
high
numbers
have
been
exacerbated
by
the
global
pandemic.
We've
not
been
able
to
have
people
get
gathering
and
congregating,
so
more
and
more
users
are
finding
themselves
alone
and
isolated
and
not
having
someone
at
their
side
when
they
most
desperately
need
it.
D
So,
as
we
see
public
health
orders
relieved
over
the
next
number
of
months,
I
think
we're
going
to
see
a
positive
outcome
when
it
comes
to
the
unacceptably
high
opioid
deaths,
but
there's
a
whole
host
of
other
initiatives.
We
can
and
have
been
working
on
and
I'll
inventory,
some
of
them
for
the
member.
Firstly,
of
course
we
want
to
make
sure
that
simple
possession
is
not
a
crime.
We
all
understand.
I
think
we
all
agree.
D
We
can
debate
the
edges
on
these
questions,
but
ultimately,
if
someone
has
an
addiction
challenge,
they
are
a
patient,
not
a
criminal,
and
we
need
to
make
sure
we
just
disaggregate
those
who
are
preying
on
vulnerable
populations
for
criminal
intent
and
those
that
are
just
trying
to
get
by
riddled
with
an
addiction.
So
we're
putting
resources
into
treatment,
we're
putting
resources
and
the
member-
and
I
will
be
talking
more
about
that
after
question
period,
but
we're
putting
money
into
resources,
we're
putting
money
into
housing.
D
We're
trying
to
build
up
the
capacity
within
communities
large
and
small,
to
address
these
challenges
in
a
compassionate
way,
not
in
a
crime-fighting
way,
which
had
been
the
approach,
as
all
of
us
know,
for
many
decades
prior
to
the
turn
of
the
century.
And
it's
only
now
that
I
think
many
communities
are
coming
to
terms
with
the
fact
that
a
four
pillars
approach
does
involve
enforcement.
But
it
involves
also
making
sure
that
harm
reduction
is
in
place,
making
sure
that
the
services
that
people
need
are
there
and
most
importantly,
treatment.
D
And
I
and
I'm
hopeful
that,
as
the
questions
continue
through
this
question
period,
that
we
all
burrow
down
and
get
to
that
focus
that
we're
going
to
need
to
make
new
investments
in
communities
while
we
grapple
with
kovid
to
come
through
this
stronger
than
we
went
into
it
and
making
sure
that
all
of
us
redouble
our
efforts
as
individual
legislators
and
as
people
as
part
of
communities
that
we're
doing
what
we
can
to
reduce
stigma
and
focus
directly
on
the
challenges.
These
people
face.
C
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
I
appreciate
the
answer
from
the
premier.
The
loss
of
155
lives
in
february
represents
107
increase
over
the
same
month
in
2020..
This
is
a
situation
that
continues
to
get
worse.
It's
taking
people
from
all
age
groups
and
economic
situations,
and
nearly
60
percent
of
the
deaths
are
occurring
in
private
residences.
D
Premier,
thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and,
and
I
I'll
have
to
take
a
step
back
to
fully
answer
the
members
question.
We
did
see
a
significant
decline
in
opioid
deaths
in
2018-2019
as
a
result
of
a
concerted
effort
by
front
line
workers
first
responders.
D
D
Those
congregate
settings
no
longer
were
available
to
people,
and
we
saw
more
and
more
people
isolating,
as
I
said
in
my
first
response,
but
we've
also
seen
an
increase
in
the
toxicity
of
the
drug
supply
because
the
borders
have
been
slammed
shut,
and
that
means
that
those
that
are
preying
on
the
vulnerable
are
using
more
toxins
to
spread
their
supply
out
and
do
damage
to
human
beings.
And
that
is
beyond
reprehensible.
D
But
it
is
a
challenge
that
we
try
to
address
working
through
public
safety
to
make
sure
law
enforcement
has
the
tools
they
need
to
continue
to
stamp
out
the
flow
of
of
toxins
into
the
supply
and
also
working
with
the
federal
government.
To
make
sure
that
we
can
have
initiatives
and
the
member,
the
minister
of
mental
health
and
addiction,
has
been
at
the
vanguard
on
this
to
make
sure
that
we
do
have
safe
supply
and
safe
alternatives
for
people
using
street
drugs
that
can
help
them
through
their
challenging
times.
D
So
we
can
get
them
into
treatment,
as
all
of
us
want
to
do.
But
it
is
a
multi-pronged
approach
and,
as
I
fully
agree
with
the
member-
and
I-
and
this
is
we
all
get
this-
the
numbers
are
going
up
because
we
cannot
congregate
together,
as
we
did
in
the
past,
because
we
cannot
regulate
the
drug
supply.
There
are
initiatives
underway.
We
need
leadership
at
from
both
orders
of
government
and
from
communities
as
the
member
full
knows,
and
I
look
at
the
regional
distribution
of
my
colleagues
across
the
way.
D
This
is
not
a
downtown
vancouver
issue,
it's
a
bc
issue
and
that's
the
first
order
of
business
that
we
all
go
back
to
our
communities
me
and
suburban
rural
victoria
and
the
member
leader
of
the
opposition
to
her
committee
of
prince
george
and
talk
about
this
as
not
someone
else's
problem.
It's
our
problem:
it's
our
brothers,
our
sisters,
our
moms,
our
dads,
it's
people
who
find,
through
no
fault
of
their
their
own,
addicted
to
an
insidious
substance
that
requires
intervention,
medical
intervention,
not
criminal
intervention,.
E
E
E
D
Thank
you,
rama,
speaker,
and
we
do
need
actions,
but
we
also
need
words,
because
we
need
to
talk
about
this
openly
and
candidly,
not
just
in
this
legislature
but
in
our
schools
in
our
healthcare
settings,
so
that
emma
and
ella
the
two
young
women
who
I
had
the
good
fortune
of
engaging
with
a
week
or
so
ago
had
received
what
they
characterized
as
positive
affirming
services
when
they
were
youth.
But
when
they
aged
out
and
became
adults.
The
situation
changed.
D
That
was
news
to
me
and,
of
course
the
minister
was
aware
of
this
and
she
is
taking
steps
and
I'm
sure
in
subsequent
questions.
She
can
answer
directly
the
member's
question,
but
what
I
took
away
from
a
discussion
with
two
young
women
living
in
suburban
victoria,
not
the
downtown
east
side,
not
in
a
far
and
remote
part
of
british
columbia,
but
in
basically
the
capital
city
of
british
columbia,
were
satisfied
with
their
services
as
youth
and
appalled
by
the
services
that
they
were
presented
when
they
became
adults.
D
That's
a
challenge
for
us
to
fix
that's
a
challenge
for
the
health
authority
and
practitioners,
but
this
isn't
about
throwing
people
under
the
bus.
What
those
young
women
did
was
what
we've
asked
them
to
do.
They
wanted
help
they
asked
for
help
and
when
they
went
to
receive
it,
it
wasn't
up
to
their
expectation.
So
that
means
we
all
do
better.
That
means
practitioners
have
to
do
better.
D
D
This
is
a
complex
world
that
we're
asking
young
people
to
come
into
with
little
or
no
expectation
of
how
they're
supposed
to
act,
and
we
need
to
be
there
as
adults
to
help
steward
them
from
their
childhood
into
their
adulthood,
and
when
it
comes
to
addressing
mental
health
issues,
I
believe
we
put
some
three
billion
dollars
into
public
into
into
mental
health
services
through
our
health
authorities
across
the
province,
and
if
we
need
to
do
more,
we
will
do
more,
because
this
is
the
challenge
of
our
times.
E
E
E
F
Good
ideas
can
come
from
all
sides
of
the
house
and
I
look
forward
to
the
members
support
for
our
budget.
We
have
been
on
a
path
of
committing
unprecedented
increased
supports
in
every
form,
since
we
first
formed
government
in
2017,
there
was
no
system
of
care
in
place
at
that
time.
We've
been
working
day
and
night
in
every
way
to
build
that
system
up
and
the
challenge
of
fighting.
Now.
F
Two
public
health
emergencies
has
put
tremendous
strain
on
the
health
care
system
in
british
columbia,
and
so
I'm
encouraged
to
hear
the
the
support
across
the
aisle
for
for
increasingly
deeper
spending.
That's
certainly
something
that
we
committed
to
british
columbians
again
in
our
second
election.
You
know
both
2017
and
and
2020,
and
that's
something
that
we
are
working
hard
towards.
F
B
B
B
B
G
I
needs
to
know
that
we
are
dedicated
to
bringing
in
a
fundamental
shift
in
forestry
to
to
make
sure
that
we
are
working
with
indigenous
nations
and
to
make
sure
that
we
are
protecting
and
preserving
forests
for
people
today
and
for
years
to
come
and
we're
going
to
do
this
important
work
while
supporting
forest
workers
and
communities,
and-
and
I
know
that
the
member
has
expressed
concerns
in
the
past
and
and
I
will
agree
with
him
and
that
for
too
long
communities
did
not
have
a
say
in
how
their
forests
were
managed
for
too
long,
the
people
in
the
region
did
not
have
a
say,
and
definitely
indigenous
nations
did
not
have
a
say.
G
B
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
let's
be
clear.
The
declaration
on
the
rights
of
indigenous
peoples
isn't
an
end
point.
It's
a
path
that
we're
walking
on
today
and
that
ferry
creek
watershed
is
the
very
definition
of
the
high
risk
ecosystem
that
the
old
growth
strategic
review
panel
recommendation
number
six
called
for
immediate
deferral.
B
While
an
old
growth
strategy
is
developed,
the
union
of
bc
indian
chiefs
is
calling
on
this
government
to
provide
critical
funding
needed
to
fulfill
its
obligations
to
indigenous
people,
to
implement
the
recommendations
of
that
old
growth
panel.
They
say-
and
I
quote,
the
current
landscape
of
old
growth
logging
has
been
exacerbated
over
years
by
successive
bc
governments
working
to
commercialize
all
old
growth
timber
and
foster
an
economic
dependence
on
old
growth
logging
in
first
nations
communities.
B
Tomorrow,
the
courts
will
hear
an
injunction
request
by
teal
jones
to
remove
blockades
from
ferry
creek
and
gain
access
to
logging.
In
this
valley,
my
question
again
is
to
the
premier:
will
he
direct
his
ministers
to
develop
a
package
for
our
relatives
in
pacitat
that
includes
conservation
financing
and
a
buy
back
of
the
cut
blocks
in
order
to
provide
real
options
to
save
fairy
creek.
G
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
we
are
moving
forward
with
the
report
that
the
member
has
referenced.
We
already
took
that
first
step
where
we
in
we
discussed
and
engaged
with
indigenous
nations,
to
ensure
that
we
could
defer
nine
areas
across
the
province
to
defer
those
forces
right
across
the
province,
and
we
recognize
that
the
number
one
recommendation
the
number
one
recommendation
in
the
report
was
to
engage
in
government-to-government
basis
with
indigenous
nations,
and
we
are
moving
forward
to
do
that.
G
To
ensure
that
we
have
those
discussions
with
the
nations
and-
and
we
are
starting
to
get
to
do
those
discussions,
but
re
reminding
the
member
that
it
is
critically
important
that
we
have
those
discussions
that
we
have
the
time
to
do
it,
but
that
we
also
make
sure
that
we
are
having
those
discussions
with
with
industry
with
the
with
the
working
people
with
the
communities
that
are
affected,
as
the
member
has
mentioned.
G
But
I
I
just
I
want
to
make
it
clear
that
the
the
girly
and
mortal
that
the
merkel
strat
the
reports,
the
recommendations
that
they
brought
forward.
You
know
it
said
to
make
sure
that
we
have
that.
That
discussion
with
indigenous
nations,
it's
critically
important.
We
do
that
and
we
are
committed.
We
are
committed
to
doing
that.
H
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
As
per
my
two-minute
statement
today,
communities
along
the
eastern
bc
border
have
been
forced
to
travel
long
distances
to
vancouver
for
health
care
needs.
Instead
of
what
has
been
historically
received
treatment
in
nearby
alberta,
six
mountain
passes.
A
thousand
kilometers
make
a
12
hour
trip
into
14
or
more
hours
in
the
winter,
sometimes
impossible
due
to
mountain
pass
closures
and
dangerous
winter
driving
conditions.
That
can
happen
in
a
moment's
notice.
H
For
example,
in
my
riding,
an
eight-year-old
child
with
reoccurring,
epileptic
seizures,
as
well
as
a
family
needing
neonatal
care
for
14
weeks,
was
forced
to
travel
12
hours
to
travel
to
vancouver
in
the
middle
winter
instead
of
three
hours
to
calgary.
These
trips
are
costly,
unsafe
and
stressful
for
families
so
to
the
premier.
What
is
a
premier
done
to
ensure
families
can
get
urgent
care
in
alberta
when
it
is
the
closest
and
safest
place
to
go.
I
I
The
reality
is
that
wait
times
in
many
clinical
areas,
the
majority
of
clinical
areas
are
less
in
bc
than
they
are
in
alberta,
and
that's
a
challenge,
of
course,
for
our
friends
in
alberta
as
well.
Although
the
member
will
agree
with
me
that
we
appreciate
the
ongoing
work
of
the
government
of
alberta
accommodate
especially
emergency
bc
patients
and
to
work
with
us
to
try
and
solve
these
problems
so
we're
in
regular
contact
with
them.
This
is
not
a
technical
issue.
I
Honorable
speaker,
we
have
done,
I
think,
an
excellent
job
or
the
interior
health
authority
has
done
providing
services,
but
we
clearly
have
to
continue
to
do
this
work
with
the
government
of
alberta
and
we
will
their
decisions.
Decisions
they
make
about.
Their
health
system
are
obviously
have
some
impact
on
people
in
british
columbia
and
people
in
the
countries
who
get
care
we're
going
to
continue
to
work
with
the
government
of
alberta
to
help
resolve
some
of
the
concerns
that
the
member
has
with
respect
to
local
issues.
H
Well,
thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
it's
very
disappointing
to
hear
this
minister
sing
from
the
same
song
sheet
that
he
has
for
the
past
two
years
on
capacity
issues.
When
it
clearly
is
not.
I
have
sworn
testimonials
from
physicians
in
bc
and
in
alberta
that
have
a
great
referral
system.
The
space
is
there,
but
once
again
so
that,
once
it
gets
to
alberta
health
services,
it
gets
shut
down.
H
The
lack
of
action
or
misaction
from
this
premier
is
concerning.
I
currently
have
con.
Can
I
right
now
have
a
constituent
in
dire
need
of
tertiary
eye
care
in
alberta
in
surgery,
an
interocular
gas
is
placed
in
the
eye
that
does
not
allow
for
travel
at
elevated
heights.
Driving
over
mountain
passes
or
flying
are
no
option.
If
you
can
go
to
calgary
for
the
procedure.
You
come
home
shortly
after
with
no
disruption
to
his
dialysis
treatments,
which
he
gets
three
times
a
day
and
carry
on
with
daily
life.
With
his
support
systems
in
place.
H
H
Ottawa
and
hull
quebec
have
membranes
memorandums
of
understanding
between
those
two
provinces
to
allow
health
care
to
to
pass
seamlessly
between
the
provinces
and
yet
no
action
on
this
minister.
So
maybe
the
premier
can
take
a
shot
at
it.
Since
the
ministers
of
health
is
not
helping
out
much.
Will
the
premier
commit
today
to
ensuring
my
constituents
can
get
needed
there
in
alberta
when
it
is
the
closest
option.
I
Well,
with
great
respect
to
the
member-
and
I
I
think
members
of
the
house
will
know
that
they
always
get
great
respect
when,
when
issues
of
constituents
are
brought
to
my
office,
we're
going
to
continue
to
work
with
the
government
of
alberta
to
resolve
resolve
issues.
Some
of
these
issues
remember
are
made
in
another
jurisdiction.
Some
of
the
decisions
are
made
in
another
jurisdiction,
but
we
work
closely
with
the
government
of
alberta
not
just
to
provide
ensure
that
british
columbians
have
access
to
service,
but
just
but
often
as
well.
I
The
citizens
of
alberta
receive
access
to
care,
both
well
in
british
columbia,
which
they
frequently
are
and
when
they,
when
they
need
to
travel
here.
So
these
are
issues
were
worked
out,
as
the
member
knows.
So
I
regularly
do
this
with
with
his
office
and
his
team,
I'm
happy
to
work
on
any
individual
case
with
his
office
or
anyone
else.
I
We
work
on
it
all
the
time
work
on
it
every
day,
and
I
I
don't
think
it's
an
issue
of
disrespect
or
commitment
by
people
in
the
ministry
of
health
as
the
member
suggests,
but
rather
some
real
challenges
that
are
faced
in
alberta
and
in
british
columbia
that
that
we
need
to
always
make
improvements
on.
I
think
people
in
the
deserve
that
and
that's
the
care
that
we
we
try
and
provide
every
day.
J
J
This
is
for
one
reason,
and
one
reason
only,
and
that
is
because
their
landlord
is
the
province
of
british
columbia
and
they
live
on
crown
land.
For
some
reason,
the
government
has
excluded
itself
from
its
own
rent
freeze
rules.
The
premier
is
holding
himself
and
his
government
to
a
different
standard
that
has
applied
to
every
other
landlord
in
british
columbia.
A
Attorney
general,
thank
you
very
much,
mr
speaker.
Obviously,
our
government
is
incredibly
proud
of
our
to
protect
and
support
renters
and
also
to
recognize
the
important
role
that
landlords
play
in
providing
housing
and
the
issue.
The
member
raises
an
an
interesting
one.
I
I'm
not
familiar
with
it.
I
look
forward
to
speaking
to
him
about
it
and
I'll
point
out
to
him.
Our
commitment
is
really
clear.
A
We
want
to
make
sure
that
all
british
columbians
can
find
affordable,
safe
housing
in
our
province.
We've
dedicated
billions
to
it.
We
pass
legislation
around
it,
sometimes
over
the
objection
of
the
members
across
the
way,
including
around
renovations,
but
this
doesn't
have
to
be
partisan
and
I'm
thrilled
to
hear
the
member
bring
forward
a
question
about
how
we
ensure
affordability
for
people,
and
I
look
forward
to
working
with
him
about
it.
I
I
look
forward
to
hearing
more
thanks.
J
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
that
is
good
to
hear,
although
we
have
been
corresponding
with
the
flnr
for
two
years
now
on
this
particular
issue,
but
clearly-
and
we
understand
that
there
is
a
yet
another
review
underway
that
has
been
going
on
for
some
four
or
five
years
now
in
the
minister
in
flnr.
J
Without
any
progress
but-
and
while
that
is
a
review,
is
nice,
it
is
of
cold
comfort
to
joan
emerson,
whose
rent
has
gone
from
fifty
six
hundred
and
fifty
dollars
last
year
to
potentially
nineteen
thousand
six
hundred
and
fifty
this
year
and
who
knows
where,
next
year
this
rent
increase
is
unconscionable
and,
frankly,
would
be
illegal.
J
A
G
Well,
I
thank
the
member
for
the
question
and,
and
I
ask
him
that
you
know
I'd,
advise
them
to
please.
You
know
reach
out
to
me
and
we
can
discuss
this
further.
It's
it's
an
issue
of
people
who
live
on
crown
lands
and,
and
they
are,
the
assessment,
is
being
done
to
ensure
that
they
are
charged
a
rent
based
on
on
the
assessment.
G
As
we
know,
assessments
are
going
up
across
the
province
in
some
areas
and
I
believe
in
in
the
in
the
member
zone
area
they're
going
up
there
and
there's
a
formula
that's
used
and-
and
I
know
the
ministry
is
looking
into
this
and
and
seeing
what
we
can
do
and
I
appreciate
the
member
raising
it.
Thank
you.
K
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
while
300
percent
or
86
percent-
and
can
you
imagine
that,
mr
speaker,
it's
pretty
good
if
you're
the
land
owner,
certainly
not
very
good,
if
you're
the
renter-
and
I
quite
frankly,
I
think
the
premier
and
everybody
on
that
side
of
the
house
would
agree.
K
G
Well,
I
thank
the
member
again
for
the
for
the
question
and
and
for
bringing
this
one
to
my
attention.
I'd
be
only
too
happy
to
discuss
it
with
the
mla
responsible
for
the
czechos
area,
and
I
encourage
them
to
to
reach
out.
K
You,
mr
speaker,
well,
it
might
be
fine
in
danby,
for
the
members
to
engage
and
and
the
the
ministers
want
to
engage,
and
I
accept
that-
that's
good-
that
they
want
to
engage,
because
this
is
a
serious
issue,
but
it
is
a
serious
issue
and
it's
a
real,
simple
answer.
K
G
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and,
and
I
again
I'll
say
that
we
are
the
ministries
looking
at
this.
This
is
a
policy
that
was
brought
in
place
under
the
previous
government,
the
previous
liberal
government,
just
to
clarify
and
that
it's
done
on
with
the
assessment
bc
and
assessment
bc,
looks
at
the
cost
of
a
price
of
property
around
the
area
and
makes
those
adjustments
based
on
that,
we
are
looking
into
it.