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From YouTube: MARCH 1 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
1st Session
42nd Parliament
C
C
D
Thank
you
honorable
speaker,
thank
you,
speaker,
and
I
thank
the
leader
of
the
opposition
for
her
question
and
we
were
very
pleased
today
to
speak
about
the
move
to
phase
two
of
our
vaccination
plan.
Already,
as
the
member
will
know,
275
000
british
columbians
have
been
immunized
with
another
400
000
on
the
way
the
plan
is
comprehensive.
D
So
I'm
confident
that
as
question
period
goes
by
and
the
minister
of
health
gets
up
and
addresses
that
specific
question
about
hope
that
will
give
some
comfort
to
the
mayor.
I
will
say
in
my
own
community,
which
is
a
suburb
of
victoria
mayor
mayor
young,
has
already
committed
the
the
dry
floor,
eagle
ridge
center.
There
are
other
large
facilities
in
smaller
and
larger
communities
around
bc.
That
will
be
available.
D
Municipal
leaders
want
to
help
community
leaders
want
to
help,
and
it's
that
level
of
support
and
enthusiasm,
I
think,
will
get
us
through
phase
two
and
then
finally
into
phase
three,
when
the
general
public
will
be
accessing
massive
massive
immune
immunization
programs
that
the
likes
we've
never
seen
before
there
will
be
bumps
along.
The
way
today
was
to
announce
the
the
arrival
pending
arrival
of
astrazeneca
having
a
third
tool
in
our
tool.
D
C
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
I
I
appreciate
the
premier's
answer
to
that
question,
and
I
know
that
he
knows
how
anxiety-ridden
many
families
have
been,
and,
in
particular
the
frail
elderly
across
british
columbia,
and
I
think
one
of
the
the
significant
challenges
is
that
for
a
year
now,
the
frail
elderly
in
our
province
have
been
told
not
to
leave
their
community
to
stay
local
to
make
sure
they
they
stay
close
to
home.
So
you
can
imagine
how
surprised
the
mayor
was
to
hear
that
there
was
contemplation.
C
C
This
is
what
else
mayor
rob
had
to
say,
and
I
quote
this
plan
is
wrong
on
so
many
levels
and
needs
to
be
rethought
to
include
clinics
in
our
communities.
Smaller
towns
and
villages
are
under
enough
coveted
stress
without
adding
another
layer,
end
quote
so.
What
I
would
ask
the
premier
to
do
today
is
to
stand
up
and
guarantee
that
elderly
residents
in
smaller
towns,
including
hope
or
other
remote
communities,
will
not
will
not
be
required
to
leave
their
communities
to
receive
their
vaccination.
B
D
Thank
you
ronald
speaker,
and
again
I
thank
the
the
leader
of
the
opposition
for
the
tone
and
the
and
the
content
of
her
question.
I
agree
absolutely
agree
that
we
have
spent
just
under
12
months,
it'll
be
next
week
that
we
announced
our
pandemic
response
plan
a
year
that
none
of
us
had
ever
anticipated
and
it's
been
challenging.
We
all
know
that,
and
people
are
tired,
they're
afraid
fatigue
does
not
come
close
to
us.
Exhaustion,
exasperation
and
the
anxiety
that
the
member
talks
about
is
genuine
and
real.
E
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Frontline
essential
workers
have
been
told
that
they
will
be
prioritized
for
vaccination
and
had
expected
to
receive
details
of
that
plan
today,
but
there
remains
a
complete
lack
of
clarity
and
utter
confusion
on
the
order
and
criteria
for
vaccinating
priority
groups
to
the
premier.
F
Well,
thank
you
on
on
january
19th,
the
the
premier
minister,
myself,
as
minister
of
health,
dr
balum,
dr
henry,
released
a
detailed
vaccination
plan
for
the
province.
So
far,
as
the
premier
has
said,
275
000
immunizations
have
taken
place
and
they've
taken
place
in
exactly
the
areas
we
said.
We
would
take
place
based
on
exactly
the
values
and
the
criteria.
The
clinical
criteria
that's
required.
F
Our
task
is
to
protect
those
most
vulnerable
and
we
have
done
that
more
than
90
percent
of
residents
of
long-term
care
and
insisted
living
more
than
90
percent
of
staff
and
long-term
care,
46,
000,
health
care
workers,
many
rural
and
remote
indigenous
communities,
etc.
That
was
laid
out
specifically,
and
it's
been
followed,
extraordinarily
well
by
all
of
the
people
working
in
public
health.
Our
strategy
with
respect
to
the
pfizer
and
modernity
vaccines
that
work
very
well
in
our
elder
elder
populations
is
to
focus
on
an
age-based
approach.
Why?
F
F
The
the
as
stated
by
health,
canada
and,
as
stated
in
our
plan
on
january
19th,
would
be
used
to
to
work
with
the
essential
workers
in
groups.
We
got
approval
last
friday.
We
understand
now
that
the
vaccine
will
arrive.
We
were
informed
on
the
weekend
starting
the
week
of
march,
the
8th
and
we'll
be
laying
out
a
plan
for
that.
So
it's
fairly
straightforward.
It
was
pretty
clear
on
january
19th,
it's
pretty
clear
today,
our
core
is
to
protect
the
most
vulnerable
people
in
society.
E
Thank
you.
I
would
disagree
with
the
minister
because
it
is
not
clear.
This
pandemic
has
been
with
us
for
a
year
and
these
workers
expected
clear
answers
and
detailed
information.
Today,
british
columbians
on
the
front
lines
are
stressed:
they're,
exhausted,
they're
even
traumatized,
and
the
lack
of
answers
just
makes
it
worse.
E
F
If
you'll
remember,
and
people
who
watched
the
presentation
today
will
see
the
chart,
we
have
consistently
delivered
vaccine
as
it
has
been
received
in
bc,
and
we
will
continue
to
do
so.
The
issue
as
to
when
people
will
be
immunized,
at
least
in
part,
depends
on
when
we'll
get
vaccine
with
respect
to
respect
to
essential
workers.
We
were
clear
on
january
the
19th.
It's
clearly
stated
in
our
presentation
then,
and
today,
as
we
receive
other
vaccines,
we
can
use
those
to
assist
essential
workers.
F
We
discuss
we
found
out
on
friday
on
friday
that
astrazeneca
was
approved
in
canada.
We
found
out
on
the
weekend
that
we
would
be
receiving
a
some
astrazeneca
the
week
of
march,
the
8th,
and
we
will
be
proceeding
from
there.
I
think
that
is
the
evidence-based
thoughtful
way
that
we
have
always
proceeded
in
british
columbia.
It's
why
british
columbia
has
had,
I
think,
such
a
successful
record,
especially
assisting
the
most
vulnerable.
G
Thank
you
honorable
speaker.
In
the
last
year,
nearly
eighty
000
british
columbians
have
tested
positive
for
covert
19
and
more
than
1300
of
them
have
died
from
the
virus.
We
know
their
age
and
their
gender.
Those
who
have
died
have
been
predominantly
seniors
more
of
them
men
than
women.
But
beyond
that,
we
know
little
else
about
them.
G
Their
race,
income,
living
conditions,
access
to
medical
care
and
work
environment
are
all
relevant
and
important
factors,
not
just
because
they
provide
more
information
about
the
patient,
but
because
each
of
these
elements
can
be
deeply
impacted
by
government
policy
and
yet
of
the
12
determinants
of
health,
as
defined
by
the
canadian
government.
This
government
is
only
collecting
coveted
data
about
gender
as
bc.
Human
rights,
commissioner,
has
restated
repeatedly.
G
G
F
F
These
are
an
analyzed
on
a
systematic
basis
and
on
an
individual
basis.
Contact
tracing
occurs
for
all
individuals
and
we
focus
on
the
cases
and
respond
to
it.
You
see
this
in
our
immunization
plan,
which
will,
which
is
focused
in
in
particular
on
a
number
of
groups:
people
in
long-term
care,
who
represent
the
majority
of
people,
who've
passed
away
tragically
from
coven
19
in
bc,
and
that
has
been
a
priority.
F
So
you
see
that
in
health
policy,
95
of
residents
90,
I
think,
a
number
higher
than
that
in
terms
of
staff,
more
than
70
000
people
and
essential
visitors.
That
reflects
the
data
and
our
focus,
I
think,
which
I
don't
think
is
unmatched
in
canada,
on
supporting
indigenous
communities
on
supporting
people
living
in
congregate,
living
in
circumstances
of
using
what
we
know
about
the
the
pandemic,
to
focus
our
vaccination
campaigns.
All
that
is
a
demonstration
of
our
determination
to
do
that.
F
G
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
I
I
appreciate
the
minister's
response.
However,
the
data
collection
beyond
race
and
gender,
our
age
hasn't
really
age
and
gender
hasn't
really
been
made
public
or
been
used
to
explain
to
how
the
government
is
informing
their
decisions.
There
is
an
important
exception,
however.
Honourable
speaker
bc
does
collect
more
health
data
on
the
experiences
of
indigenous
british
colombians
and
during
the
pandemic.
G
That
data
has
helped
us
make
vital
policy
decisions,
as
outlined
in
today's
vaccine,
rollout
briefing,
because
the
ministry
of
health
has
information
that
indicates
that
indigenous
people
face
a
disproportionate
risk
from
covet
19,
both
in
terms
of
illness
and
fatalities.
They
were
able
to
change
the
vaccine
rollout
strategy
to
reflect
that
saving
precious
lives
in
the
process.
G
G
F
I
think,
first
of
all,
I
would
say,
with
respect
to
indigenous
people,
first
nations
people
across
bc.
It's
been
at
the
heart
of
our
response,
not
since
the
vaccination
campaign
began,
but
from
the
beginning
of
the
pandemic
from
january
2020
on.
In
fact,
the
first
nations
health
authority
has
been
involved
at
every
level
at
all
times,
and
we
have
worked,
I
think
closely
with
indigenous
groups
across
the
province,
not
just
first
nations
but
of
course
metis
and
inuit
groups
as
well.
F
So
I
think
we've
had
some
real
success
there
by
focusing
in
on
the
problem
working
together
and
recognizing
the
vulnerability
of
those
of
groups,
especially
in
rural
remote
communities,
but
also
in
urban
communities
and
working
together
to
address
that.
I
think
we've
systematically
doing
that,
and
you
see
that
reflected
in
our
vaccination
campaign
as
well.
F
We've
used
the
tools
that
we
have,
because
we
understand
everybody
understands
that
those
most
vulnerable
from
covid19
are
also
most
vulnerable
for
all
other
conditions,
conditions
such
as
diabetes
and
others,
and
so
we
have
taken
steps
consistently,
both
in
our
testing
programs
in
our
vaccination
programs
and
our
programs
across
the
board
to
address
those
issues.
I
think
the
efforts
by
public
health
in
this
regard
have
been
excellent.
F
They
can
always
improve
and
they
can
improve
and
they
will
improve
and
they
must
improve-
and
I
appreciate
the
comments
of
the
honorable
member
and
no
and
she'll
know
because
we've
talked
about
this
on
a
number
of
occasions
and
she's
made
this
case
to
me
personally
repeatedly
during
the
pandemic
that
we're
continuing
to
improve
work
and
improve
our
response.
The
covet
19
pandemic,
particularly
thank.
A
A
Mr
speaker,
31
million
dollars
is
earmarked
for
the
administration
of
this
program,
and
yet
to
this
point,
only
21
million
dollars
has
actually
reached
those
small
businesses
who
desperately
need
the
help.
So
my
question
to
the
premier
would
be
this:
why
is
more
money
being
being
spent
on
red
tape
in
this
grant
program
than
in
the
dollar
value
of
the
very
supports
that
struggling
businesses
and
communities
all
over
this
province
desperately
need
to
survive.
H
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
We
certainly
know
that
there's
some
businesses
in
bc
that
are
struggling.
We
also
know
some
businesses
are
doing
really
well,
and
so,
when
we
put
our
package
together,
it's
one
of
the
most
comprehensive
packages
in
across
the
country.
As
the
member
who
asked
the
question
knows,
we
wanted
to
ensure
that
all
sectors
saw
the
benefit,
so
what
we
have
is
we've
got
tax
credits
for
businesses
that
are
either
hiring
or
rehiring
employees,
pst
waived
for
businesses
buying
manufacturing
equipment.
H
We've
created
a
new
program
launch
online
on
our
speaker,
which
helps
businesses
pivot
to
having
more
online
presence
to
be
able
to
set
up
their
e-commerce
to
sell
to
greater
markets.
We
also
lowered
liquor
prices
for
restaurants,
not
on
a
permanent
basis,
not
on
a
temporary
basis,
but
a
permanent
basis.
Member
will
know
that
this
was
the
member
will
know.
H
This
was
a
request
made
to
their
government
numerous
times,
but
we've
taken
action
thanks
to
the
solicitor
general
now
the
program
has
45
million
dollars
out
this
week,
we've
seen
the
applications
continue
to
increase
week
over
week.
Since
we
made
the
changes
we've
seen
over
80
percent
increase
in
applications,
so
that
we,
that
means
that
the
changes
we've
made
were
good.
We
can
continue
to
consult
with
small
businesses
across
the
province.
H
A
A
Only
to
then
make
the
eligibility
criteria
and
the
application
process
so
complicated
so
onerous
that
those
very
businesses
who
need
the
help
cannot
access
the
funds
there
to
support
them.
Mr
speaker,
small
business
owners
are
are
tapped
out,
they've
tapped
out
their
savings,
they've
run
up
their
lines
on
of
credit,
they've
used
all
the
space
they
have
on
their
credit
cards,
they're
struggling,
and
they
need
this
government
to
fix
this
botched
program.
Mr
speaker,
to
the
premier.
A
Why
is
31
million
dollars
being
spent
on
red
tape
to
administer
an
application
process
which
is
essentially
a
four
box
form?
Why
is
that
much
money
being
spent
on
what
is
essentially
a
box
ticking
exercise
instead
of
getting
those
funds
immediately
out
to
the
small
businesses
who
need
those
dollars
to
make
sure
that
they're
still
standing
on
the
other
side
of
this
pandemic?.
H
You
speaker
and
again
thank
the
member
for
the
question,
as
I've
mentioned
many
times
and
I'll
continue
to
do
so.
We
have
one
of
the
most
comprehensive
support
programs
in
all
of
canada.
A
recent
report
just
came
out
that
said
bc
had
the
highest
capital
per
capita
direct
contributions
to
businesses
and
people
than
any
other
jurisdiction
in
canada.
H
H
He
remember
also
failed
to
mention
honorable
speaker
that
surveys
also
share
that
70
percent
of
all
businesses
are
relying
on
government
supports
right
now,
so
we
know
the
programs
that
we
put
in
place
are
helping
businesses
and
we're
going
to
continue
to
provide
those
supports
as
long
as
they
need
them.
Thank
you.
I
Thanks,
mr
speaker,
well,
21
million
out
of
300
million
is
hardly
the
envy
of
the
nation.
These
businesses,
mr
speaker,
have
followed
all
of
the
rules
and
they're
drowning
they're
drowning.
Mr
speaker,
they've
been
treading
water,
they
have
been
treading
water
and
they
are
exhausted,
and
what
does
the
government
do?
The
government
has
pretended
to
create
a
lifeline
for
them
and
when
these
desperate
businesses
reach
out
to
grab
hold
of
that
lifeline,
the
government
snaps
it
away
and
waves
a
bunch
of
paper
in
their
face.
I
A
drowning
business.
Mr
speaker,
doesn't
have
time
to
design
the
perfect
website.
A
drowning
business
doesn't
have
time
to
design
the
perfect
spring
ad
campaign.
A
drowning
business
needs
money
to
pay
their
employees
to
pay
their
rent
and
to
pay
their
suppliers.
Mr
speaker,
why
is
the
government
spending
more
money
on
bureaucracy
on
red
tape,
on
paperwork
than
it's
actually
contributing
to
the
women
and
men
who
run
small
business
in
bc
and
are
desperate
for
assistance.
H
You
speaker
clearly,
the
member
didn't
look
up
the
program
launch
online
because
if
he
had,
he
would
know
that
we're
not
requiring
the
businesses
to
build
the
websites
themselves,
we're
giving
them
up
to
seventy
five
hundred
dollars
to
bring
in
another
company
to
do
the
work
for
them
up
to
seventy
five
hundred
dollars
for
each
business
to
hire
a
consultant
to
come
and
do
the
work
for
them.
We
heard
from
businesses
honorable
speaker.
H
They
said
that
some
of
them
created
websites,
but
they
found
that
they
weren't
adequate,
and
so
this
dollars
will
be
able
to
support
them
and
getting
the
professional
services
that
they
need
on
a
speaker
we're
going
to
continue
to
provide
those
supports,
they're
critically
important
sports.
The
the
amount
of
applications
we're
seeing
for
that
program
is
through
the
roof.
Businesses
know
they
need
to
pivot
and
we're
here
to
support
them.
While
they
do
that.
Thank
you.
I
Well
thanks,
mr
speaker.
Well
I
know
if
the
member,
the
minister
has
read
his
own
application
form.
The
government
wants
to
know
about
new
e-commerce
platforms,
wants
to
know
about
advertising
to
reach
new
markets.
These
businesses
are
drowning.
Mr
speaker,
I
don't
know
if
they're
drowning
today,
they're
drowning
today,
and
instead
of
actually
throwing
them
a
lifeline,
the
government's
saying
well,
what
kind
of
new
boat
would
you
design
sometime
in
the
future?
Mr
speaker?
I
They
don't
have
the
time
or
the
means
to
build
the
new
boat
they're,
trying
to
keep
the
lights
on
they're,
trying
to
keep
their
employees
employed,
and
instead
this
minister
and
this
government
are
throwing
a
bunch
of
paperwork
at
them.
Instead
of
the
funds
and
the
support
they
need
to
keep
the
lights
on
and
keep
people
working
in
british
columbia.
I
21
million
out
of
300
billion,
the
minister
calls
that
a
success
bureaucracy
that
is
going
to
cost
another
31
million.
How
does
the
minister
defend
spending
31
million
dollars,
31
million
on
a
program
that
thus
far
has
only
provided
21
million
dollar
support
to
the
hard-working
men
and
women
who
run
bc?
Small
businesses,
minister.
H
Thank
you,
arnold
speaker
again
the
member
failed
to
read
through
the
program.
He
failed
to
understand
that
the
businesses
don't
actually
themselves
have
to
create
the
online
website.
They
don't
have
to
create
their
e-commerce.
The
whole
purpose
of
the
fund
is
so
that
they
can
hire
a
consultant
to
do
the
work.
We're
not
asking
them
we're
not
paying
them
to
create
their
own
website,
we're
not
giving
them
money
to
set
up
their
own
e-commerce,
we're
giving
them
money,
so
they
can
hire
a
consultant.
H
H
H
J
J
It
took
until
september
for
the
300
million
dollar
program
to
even
be
identified
right
before
the
election.
Conveniently
enough
here
we
are
six
months
later,
seven
months
later,
and
we
know
that
out
of
that
300
million
dollar
program
that
was
announced
only
21
million
dollars
has
been
expended
to
the
businesses
in
need.
Yet
31.6
million
has
been
expended
in
the
bureaucracy
of
it.
J
So
I'll
read
something
to
the
minister,
because
this
is
a
real
person
with
a
real
livelihood
at
stake
whose
real
business
is
in
real
dire
straits,
and
this
business
has
actually
been
closed
by
health
order.
The
whole
time,
because
it's
a
nightclub
in
kamloops,
here's,
the
quote
from
the
owner.
This
has
become
very
fatiguing.
I'm
not
sure
this
grant
is
going
to
help
any
businesses.
When
you
put
this
much
stress
on
the
business
owners,
this
is
an
email
from
february
24th,
here's
another
quote,
I'm
sorry,
but
this
is
a
complete
travesty.
J
J
The
reality
is
the
businesses
that
need
the
help
that
need
the
support
that
have
mortgaged
everything
to
try
to
stay
open
or
even
have
a
physical
building
to
go
back
to
when
things
reopen
are
hurting,
and
this
minister
would
rather
spend
more
money
on
administration
and
that
red
tape
than
actually
putting
the
money
out
the
door.
When
will
the
premier
fix
this
mess,
get
the
money
in
the
hands
of
the
businesses
that
need
it
and
stop
trying
to
deflect
everything
when
it's
very
clearly
a
program
under
their
purview
that
they
have
messed
up
so
badly?.
H
You
speaker,
I
think
the
members
are
mixing
up
all
the
programs,
so
let
me
highlight
a
little
bit
for
them:
three
billion
dollars
on
our
speaker,
three
billion
dollars.
We've
spent
to
support
our
businesses
through
the
pandemic.
Early
on
we
cut
property
taxes,
we
prohibited
commercial
evictions,
we
forgave
hydro
bills.
H
We
worked
with
the
federal
government
on
a
wage
subsidy
and
commercial
rent
program.
We
put
tax
credits
in
place
for
hiring
and
rehiring
employees.
We
waived
pst
on
manufactured
goods.
We
created
launch
online
programs,
we
created
agritech
programs,
we
created
manufacturing
programs,
we
cut
25
percent
for
liquor,
pricing
for
restaurants,
tunnel
seeker.
That's
why
the
reports
are
saying
that
we
have
one
of
the
most
comprehensive
support
packages
in
across
the
country
and
we're
proud
of
that.
98.7
jobs
come
back
to
bc,
to
pre-pandemic
levels.