►
From YouTube: MARCH 8 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
1st Session
42nd Parliament
C
D
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
and
happy
international
women's
day.
I
appreciate
the
member
opposite
raising
this
important
issue.
Of
course,
there
are
no
boundaries
for
this
pandemic
and
tourism
has
been
devastated.
The
report
highlights
how
it's
impacted
all
of
our
postal
codes
and
the
the
limitations
are
in
the
sector
because
we
can't
travel,
the
borders
aren't
open
and
we
don't
have
the
mobility
that
we
enjoy
before
the
pandemic.
D
On
december
3rd
december
9th
we
received
the
recommendations
from
the
task
force.
It
was
a
call
to
action
from
our
government.
We
implemented
the
task
force.
We
received
the
report
in
the
ninth
and
on
december
22nd
we
announced
that
more
relief
was
coming
strictly
to
the
tourism
sector,
because
we
know
that
the
sector
has
been
hard
hit.
It
was
a
call
to
action.
They
wanted
a
grant,
not
loans
up
to
45
thousand
dollars
to
be
available
to
those
in
the
sector
that
have
been
hardest
hit.
D
D
We
are
working
around
the
clock
to
implement
the
recommendations
from
the
tourism
task
force
and
I
appreciate
the
leadership
from
the
tourism
task
force.
The
industry
told
us
what
we
needed
to
do
and
we
are
responding
because
we
value
the
importance
of
the
tourism
sector
and
the
women
that
are
working
in
this
field
to
bring
home
family,
paying
jobs.
C
Thank
you
very
much
honorable
speaker.
Well,
tourism
businesses
can't
keep
waiting
and,
as
the
minister
herself
describes
it,
it
was
a
call
to
action
that
means
actually
doing
something
before
the
end
of
this
month.
This
month,
small
travel
service
companies
must
pay
the
government
nearly
eight
hundred
dollars
in
mandatory
licensing
fees,
not
some
arbitrary
collection
of
money.
They
owe
the
government
money
at
the
end
of
march
travel
businesses,
as
everyone
in
this
house
would
recognize,
have
essentially
been
shut
down
and
instead
of
help,
the
premier
of
british
columbia
sends
them
a
bill.
C
C
Over
75
of
these
travel,
businesses
are
managed
and
owned
by
women.
So
once
again
to
the
premier,
will
the
premier
implement
all
of
the
tourism
task
force
recommendations
and,
most
specifically,
will
he
deal
with
the
issue
of
paying
fees
to
government
or
will
travel
companies
be
forced
to
pay
the
fees
to
the
government.
D
D
We
all
every
member
in
these
chambers
wants
this
pandemic
to
be
over
and
and
we
are
getting
close
to
the
peak,
the
vaccine
is
rolling
out
and
our
communities
are
going
to
be
safer
for
people
to
travel.
The
member
is
not
accurately
reflecting
the
facts
that
we
did
move
quickly
on
the
recommendations.
The
member
must
appreciate.
D
We
are
working
with
other
levels
of
government
because
we
know
how
critically
vital
the
tourism
sector
is,
and
is
there
more
to
do
most
definitely,
and
we
will
continue
doing
that
work
and
we
will
continue
to
work
on
the
recommendations
from
the
task
force.
So
again,
I
thank
the
member
opposite
for
raising
the
question
for
her
advocacy.
E
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker.
I
don't
know
why
the
minister
doesn't
think
that
paying
the
mandatory
license
fee
is
crucial.
It's
one
of
the
most
important
recommendations.
Just
listen.
I
have
letters
from
68,
68
travel
agency
protesting
this
mandatory
licensing
fee
and
the
premier's
incompetence
they
write,
and
I
quote:
we
have
suffered
an
income
loss
of
over
95
percent
95
and
are
desperately
in
need
of
any
government
assistance
in
order
to
survive.
E
D
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
raising
the
question.
On
international
women's
day
we
are
going
to
lift
up
women
and
the
important
work
that
they
do
in
this
community.
When
we
talk
about
insult
to
injury,
it's
insulting
to
say
that
the
ministry,
my
staff
are
not
working
around
the
clock
to
try
to
get
resources
out
the
door.
We
no
one
called
for
this
pandemic.
We
want
this
pandemic
behind
us
and
there
is
light
the
vaccine
is
coming.
Grants
have
gone
out
the
door.
D
Grants
will
continue
to
go
out
the
door,
not
loans,
but
grants,
because
this
was
a
call
to
action
from
industry
just
as
we're
investing
in
indigenous
businesses
across
the
province.
Our
government
is
investing
in
people
because
that's
the
business
we're
in
we
believe
in
people.
We
believe
that
we
need
to
be
on
the
side
of
people
so
that
when
we
can
turn
the
switch
and
it's
safe
to
do
so,
we
can
travel
across
our
province
and
all
of
our
area
codes
that
it's
going
to
be
safe.
D
One
of
the
recommendations
from
the
task
force
is
to
ensure
that
we
have
certification
for
businesses
so
that
consumers
know
that
it's
safe,
that's
what
british
columbians
are
looking
for.
Good
news
is
coming
stay
tuned,
honourable
member,
we're
going
to
continue
doing
that
work
with
our
ministry,
but
we
can't
move
any
quicker
than
we
are
because
our
focus
right
now,
our
laser
laser
focus,
is
getting
the
grants
out
the
door.
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker.
E
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
from
the
response
from
the
minister.
It
looks
like
that
the
minister
is
not
listening
to
the
voice
of
the
tourism
sector.
Let
me
try
once
again
over
75
percent
of
these
businesses
are
managed
by
women
and
they
are
paying
the
price
for
this
premium.
Incompetence
lily
chill
of
orient
travel
center
in
richmond
says.
Let
me
quote
her:
we
haven't
had
sale
since
march
2020.
E
E
D
D
It
was
a
call
to
action
for
the
sector
to
have
money
to
pay
for
the
rent,
keep
their
staff
we're
working
and
advocating
with
the
federal
government
to
ensure
that
that
wage
subsidy
is
in
place
so
that
people
stay
employed,
we're
working
with
the
federal
government
to
ensure
that
the
highly
affected
sectors
can
support
businesses
across
bc.
Remember
I
agree
with
you.
This
sector
is
important.
Empowering
women
is
important.
Let's
not
forget
the
investments
that
we
made
in
child
care,
the
investments
to
support
women
to
go
to
work,
to
lift
them
up.
D
Our
government
is
taking
a
whole
of
government
approach,
a
holistic
approach
to
understanding
that
when
we
support
women
in
the
workplace,
we're
supporting
them
at
home,
we're
supporting
them
in
the
community,
we're
our
government's
going
to
continue
doing
that
work.
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
for
the
question.
Sorry,
thank
you.
Honorable
speaker.
F
F
F
Their
prescribed
narcotics
have
been
low
potency
compared
to
the
street
grade
fentanyl
currently
in
circulation.
It's
not
curbing
their
addiction.
We
must
do
better.
My
question
is
to
the
minister
of
mental
health
and
addictions.
There
are
gaping
holes
in
our
patchwork
for
safe
supply.
We
need
immediate
non-stigmatized,
effectively
dosed
and
consistent
access
to
save
people
from
the
poisonous
drug
supply.
What
many
have
shared
with
us
is
that
safe
supply
needs
to
be
a
realistic
alternative.
If
it's
not,
people
will
just
return
to
the
supply
on
the
street.
G
G
G
Increased
toxicity
of
illicit
drugs
has
lost
more
lives
this
year
than
this
past
year
than
ever,
and
to
the
families
that
have
lost
loved
ones
and
to
those
that
are
working
hard
to
save
them.
I
just
say
I'm
so
sorry.
G
I'm
grateful
to,
for
example,
nurse
prescribers,
who
are
stepping
up
that.
We
now
have
30
new
practitioners
standing
out
across
the
province
in
every
health
authority
that
we
have
an
increasing
number
of
addiction,
medicine
doctors
that
are
working
on
developing
the
guidelines
for
safe
supply,
for
expanding
additional
substances,
both
medication,
assisted
treatment
and
safe
supply
is
is
vital,
and
in
every
case,
because
this
hasn't
happened
in
canada
before
patient
safety
is
at
the
forefront.
G
So
we
continue
to
take
our
guidance
from
addiction,
medicine
doctors
who
are
working
on
prescriber
guidelines
on
the
framework
to
deliver
safe
supply,
but
to
do
it
in
a
way
that
keeps
patient
safety
at
the
forefront
again
my
gratitude
to
those
who
are
breaking
new
ground
in
canada.
No
one
else
has
done
this
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
for
the
advocacy
you're
right
we
are.
We
are
going
further
and
there's
much
more
to
do.
F
As
as
the
minister
noted,
30
registered
and
psychiatric
nurses
in
our
province
were
to
receive
or
to
be
trained,
to
receive
prescribing
powers
for
suboxone
a
prescription,
opioid
and
the
alternative
to
the
illicit
street
supply,
and
they
were
supposed
to
have
this
this
training
and
be
in
place
by
the
end
of
february.
Now.
This
is
an
important
step,
as
the
minister
noted
and
one
that
is
a
precedent
for
jurisdictions
in
north
america,
but
we
are
a
province
of
millions
and
the
overdose
crisis
affects
all
communities.
F
I'm
I'm
happy
to
hear
that
these
psychiatric
nurses
will
be
in
communities
across
the
province,
but
just
30
nurses
with
prescribing
power
after
nearly
five
months
after
safe
supply
measures
were
promised,
does
not
reflect
the
urgency.
That's
needed
to
support
drug
users
in
british
columbia,
allowing
for
greater
access
to
one
prescription.
Opioid
alternative
does
not
reflect
the
diverse
range
of
substances
used
in
this
province,
nor
the
efficacy
of
providing
pharmaceutical
grade
versions
of
listed
substances
that
reduce
reliance
on
the
toxic
street
market
and
can
save
lives.
F
G
You,
mr
speaker,
meeting
on
friday
with
the
first
nations
health
authority,
they
were
able
to
report
that
they
have
nurse
prescribers
in
some
of
their
communities
already.
These
are
people
that
were
trained
in
early
february,
so
that
that
access
particularly
to
remote
and
northern
communities
is
particularly
welcome.
G
That
was
just
the
first
cohort
of
of
nurses
that
were
trained
to
be
medicationists
prescribers.
This
isn't
the
same
as
safe
supply,
although
that
is
our
long-term
hope,
but
that
guidance
is
still
being
developed
by
the
medical
community.
This
isn't
a
question
of
what's
happening
inside
the
ministry.
This
is
the
work
that
doctors
and
medical
professionals
are
doing
to
ensure
that
the
right
types
of
medications
are
included
in
the
guidance
and
that
the
guidance
supports
both
patient
safety
and
prescribers.
Again
in
canada,
we
are
breaking
new
ground
on
this.
G
We
are
taking
new
trainees
all
the
time
and
the
the
additional
guidance
that
that
dictates
how
the
medical
community
will
make
decisions
about
what
type
of
medication,
assisted
treatment
or
safe
supply
is
delivered
to
people
with
addiction.
Use
disorders
is
something
that
is
entirely
in
the
hands
of
the
medical
community.
We
are
working
as
fast
as
we
can
to
to
expand
that
work
to
support
that
work,
because
it
can
save
lives.
A
It's
not
just
travel
service
companies
that
are
suffering
because
of
the
premier's
bungling.
The
bc
hotel
association
says
46
of
properties
report
that
if
they
don't
receive
access
to
government
supported
financing,
they
will
not
stay
in
business
past
the
end
of
march
internal
numbers
from
the
ministry
of
tourism
from
six
months
ago
paint
an
even
bleaker
picture.
A
An
internal
ministry
document
says
quote:
68
of
hotel
and
resort
firms
need
additional
funding
in
order
to
survive
the
next
six
months.
End
quote
so
my
question:
why
is
this
premier
standing
on
the
sidelines
when
nearly
70
percent
of
hotels
which
employ
so
many
women,
are
about
to
close
their
doors.
D
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question.
Of
course,
we
recognize
how
deeply
impacted
the
hotel
industry
has
been.
The
hospitality
industry
has
been
the
tourism
industry
has
been
because
we
cannot
travel.
We
don't
have
the
mobility
that
we
once
had
before
the
pandemic
to
invite
international
visitors,
because
our
laser
focus
at
the
moment
is
to
focus
on
everyone's
health
and
safety.
D
Our
focus
is
on
making
sure
that
we
get
the
vaccine
roll
out
and
that
people
are
safe
and
ready
to
travel
and
what
my
ministry
is
doing
with
the
sector.
Listening
and
working
with
this
industry
is
to
make
sure
that
we
are
ready
to
turn
the
switch
when
it's
safe
to
do
so,
and
this
means
being
responsive
one
of
one
of
the
things
we
recently
announced,
minister
for
jobs,
economic
recovery
and
myself
was
to
amend
the
criteria
so
that
tourism,
the
tourism
sector,
would
receive
up
to
forty
five
thousand
dollars
in
a
grant.
D
D
One
of
the
programs,
the
highly
affected
sector's
credit
sustainability
program,
is
going
to
help
businesses
with
non
with
100
sorry,
one
million
dollar
loans.
There
is
help
on
the
way
we
recognize
that
the
industry
has
been
hard
hit
and
we
look
forward
to
the
day
that
people
can
travel
and
occupy
those
buildings
and
support
those
people
that
are
vitally
important.
I
know
thank.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
82
of
hotels
in
british
columbia
are
small
and
medium-sized
businesses
and
60
of
their
workers
are
women
and,
according
to
the
bc,
hotel
association
pulse
check.
Only
two
percent
of
the
properties
reported
being
eligible
for
the
disastrous
small
and
medium-sized
business
recovery
grant.
D
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
and
speaking
of
women.
Half
of
our
cabinet
are
women.
Half
of
our
cabinet
are
going
to
work
each
and
every
day
to
support
child
care
universal
child
care
so
that
women
have
the
empowerment
that
they
need
to
help
with
our
economy
and
bring
that
important
work
that
they
do
as
small
business
owners.
We
value
the
sector,
there's
no
question
and
I
appreciate
the
advocacy
on
behalf
of
the
member.
D
45
000
is
available
to
them,
encourage
your
constituents
to
apply
for
that
money,
encourage
them
to
apply
for
the
the
wage
subsidy
program
of
the
federal
government,
encourage
them
to
work
with
the
indigenous
tourism
vc
association
to
access
those
grants,
and,
let's
not
forget
that
we've
also
committed
to
infrastructure
programs
and
and
making
it
safe
for
the
tourism
sector
to
be
ready
to
go
when
we
can
turn
on
that
switch
and
it's
safe
for
people
to
travel
again.
But
honorable,
honourable
speaker,
I
want
to
remind
the
member
opposite
that
we
deeply
value
the
tourism
sector.
D
H
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker.
I'm
really
glad
that
the
minister
has
been
talking
about
the
grants,
because
we've
been
asking
about
this
very
thing
you
see.
Last
month
the
premier
was
asked
about
his
government's
mismanaged
small
and
medium
business
recovery
grant,
and
the
premier
said-
and
I
quote,
we're
looking
at
how
we
can
get
those
dollars
out
the
door
by
the
31st
of
march.
We
need
to
spend
the
money
by
march
31st
or
it
goes
back
into
servicing.
The
public
debt
end
quote
so
imagine
everyone's
surprise
that
the
botched
program
has
been
extended
to
august
31st.
H
I
You
honorable
speaker
and
appreciate
the
question
from
the
member.
The
theme
seems
to
be
about
the
challenges
that
women
are
facing
in
the
pandemic
and
that's
certainly
the
case.
You
know
dr
henry
uses
saying
that
we're
all
in
the
same
storm
but
we're
all
in
different
boats
and
that's
certainly
the
case
in
this
pandemic.
The
impacts
are
being
felt
differently
by
different
people,
and
women
have
certainly
felt
that
we
know
that
women
of
color
black
indigenous
and
new
immigrant
women
have
felt
that
more
than
than
the
than
women
overall.
I
So
honorable
speaker,
we're
proud
of
the
grant
program-
and
I
know
tourism
is
the
line
of
question
today.
There's
no
province,
that's
offering
grants
as
high
as
we
are
for
tourism
operators,
there's
no
other
province.
The
next
closest
is
twenty
thousand
dollars
and
we're
offering
forty
five
thousand
dollars.
I
know
my
colleague,
the
minister
for
tourism,
arts
and
culture
is
working
closely
with
the
tourism
sector
to
find
the
solutions,
but
so
far
they've
appreciated
the
cooperative
approach
we've
taken.
I
J
Mr
speaker,
this
government's
incompetence
is
all
around
us.
Last
summer
the
tourism
sector
called
for
680
million
dollars
of
relief,
and
the
government
hasn't
been
able
to
deliver
even
a
fraction
of
that.
An
internal
document
from
the
ministry
of
tourism
reveals
quote
due
to
the
timing
of
the
recovery
plan's
announcement.
J
The
terms
of
reference
for
the
tourism
task
force
were
not
finalized.
Prior
to
the
writ
of
election
being
issued,
end
quote,
and
the
same
document
shows
quote
due
to
the
inter
interragam
period.
The
tourism
task
force
was
unable
to
consult
during
the
month
of
october.
End
quote:
will
the
premier
admit
that
he
stalled
recovery
efforts
and
will
he
fix
it
by
providing
tourism
businesses
with
the
relief
that
they
have
repeatedly
asked
for.
D
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question
our
government
asked
and
put
together
the
task
force
representative
of
those
leading
the
industry.
First
nations
leaders
laborers
labor.
They
put
forward
a
final
report
to
us
on
december
9th
and
on
december
22nd
we
announced
that
we
were
amending
the
small
and
medium-sized
business
grant,
which
was
a
call
to
action.
D
D
We
were
responsive
to
the
grant
the
request
for
more
funding
for
the
indigenous
tourism
sector,
one
of
the
fastest
growing
sectors
in
in
the
province
and
will
continue
being
responsive,
there's
a
call
to
action
to
make
it
safe
and
have
a
certification
program
so
that
consumers
know
that
when
they
go
into
any
facility
that
that
we've
got
the
highest
test
of
safety
and
cleanliness
and
all
the
other
public
protocols
that
worksafe
is
calling
for
directed
by
the
pho.
We're
going
to
continue
being
responsive
because
we
know
how
valuable
the
tourism
sector
is.
D
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Well,
I
think
that's
cold
comfort
to
most
of
the
tourism
and
folks
in
the
province.
There's
a
lot
of
rhetoric
there
and
not
a
lot
of
answers
about
how
they're
going
to
support
the
tourism
sector.
But
let's
move
on
a
little
bit
because
it's
a
little
or
it's
a
very
known
fact
that
bc
has
one
of
the
worst.
If
not
the
worst
gender
pay
gap
in
the
country,
the
premier
has
a
chance
to
fix
it.
A
K
You
very
much,
mr
speaker,
and
we
have
taken
significant
strides
as
a
government
towards
gender
equality
and
the
pandemic
for
sure
for
sure
it
has
highlighted
really
how
much
further
we
absolutely
need
to
go.
How
much
further
we
need
to
go
as
a
government
how
much
further
we
need
to
go
as
a
society.
K
We
do
know
that
women
make
up
a
greater
proportion
of
the
lower
paid
service
sector,
jobs
that
was
hardest
hit
at
the
beginning
of
the
pandemic,
and
I
know
that
everyone
in
this
house
agrees
that
all
workers,
regardless
of
gender,
should
be
paid
the
same,
whether
you're,
a
man
or
a
woman
doesn't
matter
how
you
identify.
You
should
get
paid
the
same
and
we've
taken
significant
historic
steps
as
a
government
to
close
the
wage
gap.
Our
investments
in
child
care
have
been
absolutely
significant
and
probably
the
most
impactful
to
close
that
wage
gap.
K
We
are
absolutely
focused
on
making
women's
lives
better
and
we're
going
to
continue
we're
going
to
continue
to
close
the
wage
gap
and
the
member
does
bring
forward,
has
brought
forward
a
bill
and-
and
I
think
it's
important
to
recognize
that
the
nature
of
that
bill.
98
of
businesses
in
bc
have
fewer
than
50
employees.
So
the
legislation
that
that
that
she's
proposed
wouldn't
really
affect
the
vast
majority
of
women.
K
Honorable
speakers,
so
we're
putting
our
attention
on
a
broader
view,
recognizing
that
there
are
many
ways
to
facilitate
women,
having
good
paying
jobs
in
the
workforce
and
and
making
sure
that
we
are
addressing
all
the
systematic
barriers
that
impact
on
pay
equity.
There's
absolutely
more
work
for
us
to
do,
and
I
look
forward
to
to
talking
with
the
member
going
forward
and
making
sure
that
we're
continuing
to
address
this.
This
ongoing
challenge.