►
From YouTube: MARCH 16 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
1st Session
42nd Parliament
C
Honorable
speaker,
it
is
hard
to
believe
that
this
government
has
decided
to
make
it
harder
for
those
with
disabilities
make
it
through
this
pandemic.
The
coalition
300
to
live
is
hosting
a
rally
in
fact
this
week
to
protest
this
government's
cuts,
and
this
is
what
they
have
to
say,
and
I
quote
the
recent
slashing
of
the
supplement
has
not
gone
unnoticed.
D
D
D
The
member
well
knows
the
member
well
knows
that
in
march
of
2020,
as
we
entered
into
this
difficult
phase
into
the
covet
19
pandemic,
the
government
responded
quickly
and
nimbly
by
providing
assistance
to
people
on
income
and
disability
assistance,
as
well
as
seniors
and
low
income,
and
so
I'm
really
pleased
to
say
that
we
were
able
to
provide
that
support
throughout
for
nine
months.
In
fact,
and
in
fact
when
we
introduced
the
covert
recovery
benefit,
we
made
that
applicable
to
everybody
in
british
columbia,
making
under
125
000
a
year.
D
So
I
would
say
to
the
member
opposite
that
we
continue
to
work
to
ensure
that
our
together
bc,
poverty
reduction
strategy
is
on
target.
I
think
we
have,
unlike
the
previous
government,
that
rejected
repeated
efforts
on
the
part
of
the
opposition.
At
that
time
to
institute
a
poverty
reduction
strategy,
we
did
institute
a
poverty
reduction
strategy.
D
Something
they
failed
to
do,
and
so
I
I
would
just
say
to
the
member
opposite
that
we
will
continue
to
speak
for
people
who
live
in
poverty.
We
will
continue
to
work
to
ensure
that
everyone
comes
through
this
pandemic,
more
resilient
and
more
able
to
meet
the
challenges
of
the
future.
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
C
You,
mr
speaker,
what
I'd
like
to
do
is
encourage
this
government
to
take
accountability
for
the
cuts
that
they've
made
to
disabilities
recently
this
you
know
this.
This
minister
should
be
actually
paying
attention
to
the
voices
of
the
people
on
disabilities,
disability,
assistants
and
low-income
seniors.
Instead
of
trying
to
dodge
the
accountability
that
we're
seeing
right
now,
he
is
the
one
who
is
cutting
the
supplement
to
families.
C
C
B
D
Question
and
I
think,
and
I
and
I'd
like
to,
I
would
like
to
think
that
the
member
is
actually
very
concerned,
and
I
you
know,
I
think
that
he
raises
an
interesting
question
and
I
would
suggest
that
he,
like
everybody
else,
respect
the
fact
that
we
have
a
budget
coming
out
soon
and
people
will
realize
that,
and
I
would
just
say
that
in
2005
the
social
assistance
rates
under
the
previous
government,
they
r
they
went
up
about
a
hundred
dollars
in
about
12
years,
and
so
our
immediate
response.
D
You
know
as
much
as
I
enjoy
the
the
zoom
hybrid
model
being
in
this
house
and
being
able
to
to
actually
see
members
across
the
way
it
is
actually
heartening.
So
I'm
glad
to
have
this
opportunity
to
answer
the
member.
I
would
tell
them
that
the
first
thing
we
did
when
we
made
when
we
were
elected
in
2017
was
increase
the
rates
by
a
hundred
dollars.
D
Then
we
further
increased
them
by
50
dollars,
and
so
I
would
suggest
to
the
member
opposite
that
our
government
is
well
on
track
with
a
number
of
initiatives
that
we've
taken
to
reduce
poverty
from
child
care,
subsidies,
to
building
homes,
doing
all
sorts
of
things
that
have
actually
helped
us
achieve
the
the
rate,
the
poverty
reduction
strategy
goals.
I
think
we're
going
to
continue
to
do
that
and
I'm
proud
to
be
able
to
say
that
our
government
takes
these
issues
seriously.
Unlike
the
previous
government,.
E
F
Well,
thank
you
very
much
honorable
speaker
and
the
member
will
know
that
in
our
most
recent
influenza
vaccination
campaign,
more
so
than
ever
before,
more
than
a
million
immunizations
for
flu
during
a
pandemic
were
done
by
pharmacists
across
bc.
We
are
proud
every
day
to
work
with
pharmacists
and
in
our
vaccine
rollout
this
over
the
coming
months.
Pharmacists
will
play
a
critical
role
here
as
well
significantly
in
those
two,
but
now
that
we
have
access
to
fridge,
stable
vaccines
such
as
astrazeneca,
and
we
hope
at
some
point
in
the
future.
F
Johnson
and
johnson
they'll
continue
to
play
a
role
and
we're
as
you,
the
minute
member
would
expect
in
discussions
with
pharmacists
now
as
to
how
we
can
use
the
the
extraordinary
resource
and
talent
of
community
pharmacists
to
support
our
efforts.
So
the
member
is
incorrect.
We'll
be
working
with
pharmacists
strongly
here
in
our
campaign
to
ensure
that
we
deliver
vaccines
to
everyone.
I
also
want
to
to
note
that,
as
of
today,
a
majority
of
people
over
90
have
received
the
covet
19
vaccine
in
bc.
F
A
significant
share
of
people
over
between
85
and
89
have
already
received
the
next,
and
this
is
because
honorable
speaker
of
the
extraordinary
and
dedicated
work
of
healthcare
professionals
at
healthcare
workers
across
bc
and
the
desire
of
people
across
bc
to
be
immunized,
and
I
am
enthusiastic
about
this
effort
enthusiastic
to
see
the
faces,
people
individually
and
the
impact
of
vaccines
on
them
and
extremely
proud
of
the
work
all
of
our
public
health
officials
are
doing.
Thank
you,
minister.
E
That's
how
long
it
will
take
the
pharmacists
to
prepare
using
pharmacies
to
distribute
the
vaccine
has
been
efficient
and
responsive
in
other
provinces.
Pharmacies
could
vaccinate
460
000
british
colombians
per
week,
but
this
government
hasn't
started.
Getting
ready.
Government
should
have
engaged
them
months
ago
and
needs
to
do
so
now
to
the
premier.
Why
are
pharmacies
still
not
engaged.
F
Well,
the
member
knows-
and
I
think
everybody
in
bc
knows
that
the
principal
thing
standing
in
the
way
of
immunizing
bc,
there
will
be,
of
course,
and
is
an
extraordinary
effort
to
do
that
by
people
across
the
healthcare
system,
people
in
community
people
everywhere.
All
of
that
is
happening.
The
main
limitation
is
the
vaccine
we
receive
in
bc.
F
We
are
receiving
vaccine
and
we
are
delivering
it
in
people's
arms,
with
remarkable
efficiency
and
based
on
the
values
of
british
columbians,
which
is
to
protect
to
give
protection
to
those
who
are
most
vulnerable
first
and
to
stop
the
spread
of
covet
19.
That
is
what
we've
been
doing.
Pharmacists
will
be
playing
an
important
role
as
we
go
through
our
immunization
plan
in
bc.
We
have
to,
after
all,
up
to
immunize
up
to
4.3
million
eligible
british
columbians
with
dose
one
and
then
again,
4.3
million
with
those
two.
G
Party,
thank
you,
honourable
speaker.
In
the
last
few
days,
my
colleague
and
I
have
repeatedly
asked
the
minister
of
forests
about
when
she
will
fulfill
her
promise
to
implement
the
recommendations
of
the
old
growth
panel
and
provide
immediate
protections
to
the
most
endangered
old
growth
left
in
our
province.
G
It's
not
a
game.
It's
not
theater!
It's
about
whether
this
government
takes
seriously
its
responsibility
to
protect
these
astonishingly,
rare
and
disappearing
for
us
today.
My
question
is
to
the
premier
during
the
election
campaign
he
committed
to
implementing
all
of
the
recommendations
of
the
old
growth
review
panel,
beginning
with
immediate
deferrals,
to
stop
the
bleed
as
they
work
on
a
broader
shift.
H
H
For
many
years
the
old
government
took
an
unbalanced
and
unsustainable
approach
to
managing
our
old
growth
forests
and
and
we
are
making
different
choices.
Our
government
is
bringing
in
a
fundamental
shift
in
forestry
to
protect
and
preserve
old
growth
trees
for
today
and
for
years
to
come,
and
we
will
do
this
while
supporting
forest
workers
and
forest
dependent
communities.
H
We
received
advice
and
clear
recommendations
from
the
independent
panel
on
how
we
can
do
this
and
we
are
dedicated
to
implementing
all
14
of
the
recommendations,
and
this
work
has
already
started
and
as
a
first
step,
we
worked
with
first
nations
to
protect
all
growth
force
in
nine
areas,
considered
high
risk
ecosystems
across
bc.
Just
as
a
report
asked
us
to
do,
there
is
much
more
work
to
do
and
we
will
do
it.
G
G
The
old
growth
panel
recommendations
are
embedded
in
a
three-year
framework
with
six-month
stamps
steps,
starting
with
immediate
action
for
at-risk.
For
us
we
have
missed
the
first
deadline,
honorable
speaker
and
to
date,
the
bc
government
has
not
tied
its
implementation
promise
to
a
work
plan
with
milestone
dates.
G
H
I
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
It's
a
pleasure
to
rise
today
in
my
riding,
we're
lucky
to
have
a
team
in
the
western
hockey
league
and
the
bc
hockey
league
tyson
and
damon
jugnot
riley
charoon
are
excited
about
getting
back
to
play
for
the
west
side
warriors
dr
henry
has
done
her
job
working
with
the
leagues
so
that
they
can
return
to
play
in
a
safe
way,
but
the
premier
has
not
done
his
job
he's
sitting
on
hundreds
of
millions
of
approved
relief
dollars.
I
Two
weeks
ago
we
asked
the
premier
if
the
9.5
million
asked
for
in
support
was
coming,
and
he
said
quote,
we
need
to
make
sure
that
we
put
our
shoulder
to
the
wheel,
provide
the
resources
and
to
keep
these
organizations
going
until
they
can
get
back
on
their
feet
and
quote
so.
A
simple
question
to
the
premier:
where
is
the
money.
A
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
Not
many
members
in
this
house
will
appreciate
the
value
of
sport
as
much
as
I
do.
I
credit
the
opportunity
to
participate
in
sport
for
one
of
the
reasons
why
I'm
here
in
the
legislature
today-
and
it's
great
news
just
hear
that
there's
progress
being
made
and
these
athletes,
these
young
athletes,
are
going
to
be
able
to
participate
and
pursue
their
careers
as
they've
always
dreamt
of
it
I'll.
A
Let
the
member
know
that
there
are
grants
available
for
sports
teams
to
apply.
In
fact,
some
teams
have
applied
and
been
approved
already
for
money.
So
I
would
work
happily
with
the
member
to
get
in
touch
with
the
team
that
he
refers
to
and
help
them
navigate
the
system
so
that
they
can
also
apply
for
those.
J
J
K
Culture,
you
honorable
speaker,
and
I
think
the
member
opposite
for
the
question.
Of
course,
we
we
miss
all
of
those
activities
to
be
going
to
in
our
backyard.
We
miss
going
to
science,
world
bouchard,
gardens
the
festivals
and
the
night
markets
that
the
member
speaks
of
and
every
week
we're
making
progress
with
the
rollout
of
the
vaccine
every
week
we're
making
progress,
seeing
that
our
communities
are
getting
safer
and
that
advocacy
that
the
sector
has
impressed
upon
our
government
about
having
access
to
grants.
Tourism
specific
grants
is
on
the
table.
K
I
encourage
the
member
to
be
encouraging
the
businesses
in
her
backyard
and
all
of
the
members
in
these
chambers
to
be
accessing
the
45
000
grant.
That
was
a
call
to
action
from
the
task
force.
The
tourism
task
force
that
our
government
appointed
asking
them
for
direct
advice
on
what
our
government
should
do
and
what
they
called
on
us
to
do
was
to
deliver
on
forty
five
thousand
dollar
non-refundable
loans,
their
grants
and
they're
available
to
communities.
So
thank
you
very
much
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question.
L
Sadly,
mr
speaker,
many
of
the
groups
that
we
speak
of
today
are
falling
simply
between
the
cracks.
Perhaps
you've
heard
this
saying
all
hat
and
no
cows.
Well
today,
mr
speaker,
we're
saying
all
hat
and
no
money
which
sums
up
the
premier's
handling
of
support
for
groups
like
the
williams
lake
stampede,
the
interior,
pacific
exhibition,
festivals,
on
vancouver,
island
and
throughout
the
province.
Two
weeks
ago,
the
premier
stood
in
this
house
and
talked
while
the
cloverdale
rodeo
announced
their
postponement.
L
A
Yeah,
thank
you
oral
speaker
and
again
thanks
to
the
member
for
the
question.
I
believe
you
raised
this
question
last
week.
I
did
at
that
time
offer
the
member
to
to
reach
out
to
us
so
that
we
can
work
together
to
find
a
solution
and,
and
that
offer
is
still
there
to
the
members.
So
I
maybe
I'll
get
my
staff
to
proactively
reach
out
to
his
office
to
work
together.
M
You,
mr
speaker,
it's
been
actually
two
weeks
that
we've
been
having
this
conversation
across
the
aisle
and
pressing
the
government
for
this
kind
of
support.
Two
weeks
ago,
the
premier
was
full
of
good
humor
support
is
coming,
he
promised
and
since
then
silence
the
p
e
needs
support,
especially
the
small
vendors
who
are
hurting
the
vancouver
art
gallery
has
seen
revenue
fall
by
75
percent
science.
World's
revenue
has
dropped
by
85
percent.
M
A
Honorable
speaker,
and
certainly
we
know,
there's
a
lot
of
businesses
struggling
and
certainly
we
know
that
a
lot
of
non-profits
are
struggling
as
well.
I
think
the
public
understands
without
international
tourism,
without
the
ability
for
people
to
travel
and
visit
these
sites,
that
it's
going
to
be
a
difficult
time.
As
the
member,
the
minister
for
tourism
and
arts
culture
mentioned
we're,
starting
to
see
light
at
the
end
of
the
tunnel,
we're
starting
to
see
vaccination
with
that
comes
hope
that
we'll
be
able
to
again
visit
those
iconic
places.
I
am
a.
A
I'm
a
member
of
science
world.
I
appreciate
the
the
the
good
work
the
science
world
does.
That's
why
I
continue
to
support
them.
The
member
mentioned
many
organizations
that
are
struggling
with
ensuring
animals
have
are
being
fed.
I
want
to
ensure
the
member
that
we
also
in
stronger
bc,
had
4.2
million
dollars
to
help
organizations
to
ensure
that
they
had
the
money
to
continue
to
feed
their
animals.
I
can
happily
share
that
list
with
the
member
after
question
period.
If
he
likes.
K
K
K
Donna
spencer
of
the
professional
performing
arts
venue
and
independent
cinemas
group
has
been
waiting
for
a
plan
from
the
premier.
She
says,
and
I
quote,
these
businesses
that
live
in
communities
are
not
being
mentioned,
sitting
dark
when
they
could
be
providing
economic
stimulus,
as
well
as
emotional
health.
End
quote,
while
the
premier
has
waited
a
year
to
come
up
with
assistance
for
venues
like
the
rio
theater,
he
should
really
read
their
marquee,
which
says,
and
I
quote,
I
can't
believe
we're
a
sports
bar
end
quote
through
you,
mr
speaker.
A
A
Just
recently,
I
got
a
message
from
a
theater
in
trail
bc,
which
was
a
thank
you
note,
because
they
had
received
it
and
they
were
sharing
what
that
meant
for
them
as
a
theater
and
the
important
work
that
they
do
to
keep
their
community
united
and
how
they
build
community,
and
so
I
would
say
to
the
members,
if
you
have
businesses
that
are
struggling,
that
perhaps
could
use
access
to
the
forty
five
thousand
dollars.
Non-Repayable
grant
certainly
reach
out
to
us.
The
information
is
available,
there's
actually
a
webinar
online
as
well,
very
short.
A
Also,
the
minister
of
tourism
and
arts
and
culture
has
recently
announced
infrastructure
dollars
for
theaters
for
other
tourism
and
arts
related
facilities
that
want
to
upgrade
their
facilities
so
that
they
can
welcome
more
tourists
and
have
more
opportunities
when
they
do
reopen,
which
we
all
hope
is
going
to
be
very
soon,
and
that
money
is
available
for
these
organizations
to
access
as
well.
N
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Well,
the
answers
today
simply
have
not
cut
it.
Two
weeks
ago,
when
we
raised
these
questions
in
the
house,
the
premier
was
very
clear.
Good
news
was
on
its
way
in
december,
when
we
were
raising
these
types
of
issues,
they
were
working
on
it.
The
tourism
minister
said
they
were
working
on
it
they're
having
good
discussions
that
was
in
december
we're
getting
the
exact
same
answer
today
at
the
end
of
march.
N
Good
news
was
coming
two
weeks
ago,
that's
two
more
weeks
that
all
the
employees
in
these
groups
and
businesses
have
been
waiting
wondering
if
they're
going
to
have
a
job.
On
april
1st,
two
more
weeks,
they've
had
to
wait
not
knowing
what
the
future
holds
for
their
organization
and
today
asking
questions
on
behalf
of
those
same
organizations
that
don't
qualify
for
the
thirty
thousand
or
the
forty
five
thousand
dollars
we're
getting
the
same
answers
back
from
this
minister.
N
A
Honorable
speaker
and
thanks
to
the
member
for
his
question-
and
I
think
we
should
be
proud
here
in
british
columbia-
we
have
the
highest
per
capita
supports
for
businesses
and
people
in
all
of
canada
by
a
long
stretch.
A
We
should
be
extremely
proud
here
in
canada
that
we've
had
a
very
steady
hand
on
the
health
side
from
both
dr
henry
and
minister
dix,
because
we've
collectively
with
the
work
of
people
across
bc,
avoided
that
second
lockdown,
which
I
know
has
been
crippling
for
our
provinces
across
across
canada.
We
see
that
reflected.
We
know
over
70
percent
of
businesses
here
in
bc
are
relying
right
now
on
government
supports
to
continue
to
operate,
and
so
we're
proud
of
the
support
for
putting
in
place.
That's
why
we're
at
99.4
percent
of
jobs
returned
to
bc.
A
A
So
so
so
speaker
we're
not
out
of
the
pandemic,
yet
we're
still
in
it.
It's
going
to
be
a
challenging
few
months,
we
know,
but
we
have
hope
we
have
light
at
the
end
of
the
tunnel,
which
is
getting
brighter
and
brighter
that
vaccines
are
continuing
to
be
rolled
out,
and
I
would
say
to
the
member
across
the
way
he
should
be
hopeful.
We've
done
a
good
job
collectively
in
this
house
and
we're
going
to
continue
to
support
businesses
and
people
for
as
long
as
they
need
to
get
out
of
this
pandemic.
N
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Well
march
23rd,
this
house
met
last
year
and
unanimously
approved
five
billion
dollars
to
help
support
businesses
and
people
in
british
columbia.
1.5
billion
of
that
was
held
back
and
announced
only
a
week,
or
so
before.
An
election
was
called
by
the
premier
as
part
of
the
election
platform.
N
N
I
guess
it's
silly
of
the
citizens
of
british
columbia
to
take
the
premier
at
his
word,
because
he
breaks
it
time
and
time
and
time
again
when
it
comes
to
things
like
this.
So
again,
when
will
we
hear
the
announcements
of
whether
or
not
all
these
organizations
that
desperately
need
the
funds
to
survive
are
going
to
see
the
money
or
not
give
an
honest
answer
as
to
whether
or
not
they
will
actually
see
funds
or
not?.
A
Recovery,
thank
you
speaker
and,
as
I
mentioned
earlier
to
the
question
to
the
member
we
have
provided
the
highest
per
capita
supports
for
people
and
businesses
in
canada,
the
highest
and
the
member
mentions
the
amount
of
dollars
that
we
collectively
approved.
25
million
dollars
for
job
creation
projects
through
obc,
that's
gone
out.
Forest
employment
program,
money's
gone
out
invasive
species,
work,
money's
gone
out
dollars
for
digital
marketing,
for
small
businesses,
money's
gone
out,
agritech
dollars,
money's
gone
out.
Honorable
speaker,
the
list
is
huge.
A
The
list
is
huge
of
the
amount
of
supports,
and
this
is
not
even
mentioning
all
the
other
pieces
that
we
put
in
place:
tax
credits
for
businesses
for
hiring
and
rehiring
employees,
commercial
property
tax,
and
that
and
that's
not
even
mentioning
there
was
a
recent
remember
that
came
out
arnold
speaker
from
the
cfib
that
mentions
that
highlights
that
majority
of
the
businesses
in
bc
are
relying
on
government
right
now
and
we're
proud
of
that
support.
We're
going
to
continue
to
provide
that
support
until
we
get
out
of
this
pandemic.