►
From YouTube: MARCH 25 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
1st Session
42nd Parliament
C
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Yesterday
the
premier
assured
british
columbians
that
when
it
comes
to
vaccine
supply,
it
is-
and
I
quote,
full
steam
ahead
over
a
million
doses
of
pfizer
and
846
thousand
modernist.
Shots
are
set
to
arrive
in
british
columbia
this
week,
thousands
of
astrazeneca
shots
expire
on
april,
the
2nd
and
there
are
more
on
the
way.
C
But
now
there
is
confusion
and
concern
about
the
growing
number
of
unused
covid
19
doses
because
of
the
lack
of
a
province-wide
online
registration
and
booking
system
with
five
different
health
authorities.
Five
different
phone
numbers
and
one
of
them
partially
online
people
are
worried,
and
rightly
so,
about
how
a
province-wide
online
and
booking
registration
system
will
be
up
and
running.
On
april,
the
6th
the
premier
made
a
promise.
He
said
that
the
transition
from
phone
booking
to
a
single
online
registration
system
will
be
open
on
april,
the
6th.
C
D
That
know
best
what
goes
on
in
their
communities,
and
I
used
an
example
yesterday
of
the
mass
immunization
and
prince
rupert
undertaken
by
northern
health,
and
all
of
us
will
know
that
we
get
correspondence.
We
get
case
work
in
our
constituency,
offices,
oftentimes
frustrated
by
health
authorities,
not
meeting
the
expectations
of
of
patients
of
british
columbians,
and
I
was
heartened
to
hear
from
the
member
for
north
coast
that
the
uniform
enthusiasm
for
the
hard
work
of
northern
health
spread
right
through
prince
rupert
and
into
port
ed.
C
Well,
thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
all
of
us
are
absolutely
grateful
that
people
across
british
columbia
are
receiving
vaccinations,
but
we're
also
equally
concerned
that
the
number
of
unused
doses
yesterday
actually
exceeded
200
000,
so
vaccines
arrive
in
british
columbia
and
what
we
want
to
ensure
is
that
they
get
into
the
arms
of
british
columbians
as
quickly
as
possible.
This
is
not
about
the
the
individual
health
authorities.
C
Basically
saying
that
the
vaccine
rollout
is
so
far
ahead
that
now
we
could
use
some
donations,
so
we
can
focus
on
other
things.
How
appropriate
is
that,
frankly,
the
premier
needs
to
keep
his
eye
on
the
ball.
Here
we
have
in
british
columbia
today
over
200
000
doses
of
vaccine
that
are
sitting
waiting
to
get
into
the
arms
of
british
colombians.
C
It
requires
a
province-wide
booking
and
registration
system
so
again
to
the
premier.
He's
made
a
promise
he
said.
Finally,
on
april
the
6th
we're
going
to
have
that
system.
My
question
is
very
specific:
will
that
transition
from
phone
in
five
health
authorities
to
an
online
system
be
fully
operational
and
effectively
operating
on
april?
The
6th.
D
Premiere,
thank
you
honorable
speaker,
and
the
straight
answer
to
the
member
is
the
same
as
the
first
one.
Yes,
it
will
be
up
and
running,
and
I
want
to
just
unpack
some
of
the
the
comments
the
member
made.
We
have
had
a
year
of
global
pandemic.
We
have
not
had
a
year
of
supply
of
vaccine,
we
have
had
a
year
of
people
holding
fast
against
an
extraordinary
enemy
one.
D
That's
not
seen
one
that
knows
no
boundaries,
it
knows
no
ethnicity,
it
knows
no
height,
it
knows
no
gender
and
canadians
and
british
colombians
particularly
have
been
resilient
in
that
in
that
fight
against
covet
19..
We
do
not
have
unallocated
vaccine
we're,
not
storing
things
up
for
a
sunny
day.
We
are
taking
the
vaccines
as
they
come
and
we're
apportioning
them,
as
the
public
health
officer
determines,
is
in
the
best
interest
of
quelling
outbreaks,
the
best
interest
of
going
through
the
vulnerable
populations.
D
We
are
on
to
75
year
olds,
today,
74
year
olds
tomorrow,
and
that
will
continue
as
we
move
into
april
and
into
the
next
phase
of
the
vaccination
program.
I
I
do
also
want
to
say
that
there
are
headlines
and
stories
about
concerns
about
supply.
We've
had
these
challenges,
not
just
british
columbians,
but
all
canadians,
because
we
don't
have
domestic
supply
and
that
blame
goes
back
over
decades
of
federal
irresponsibility.
D
Quite
frankly
over
successive
governments
of
different
political
stripes,
allowing
that
sector
to
atrophy
and
be
replaced
by
offshore
supply,
so
we're
dependent
on
others
to
get
vaccines
into
british
columbia.
But
we
are
absolutely
committed
to
making
sure
that
every
drop
of
vaccine
that
arrives
in
british
columbia
goes
into
a
british
columbian
so
that
we
can
get
back
to
normal
as
fast
as
possible.
E
Only
in
the
last
few
weeks
have
they
even
been
contacted,
while
other
canadian
jurisdictions
well
they've
announced
their
plans
to
engage
pharmacists
months
ago.
Pharmacies
are
critical
to
preventing
stockpiles
of
these
unused
and,
worse
yet
almost
expiring
vaccines,
but
they
need
six
weeks
to
actually
mobilize
the
premier's
decision.
To
not
involve
pharmacists
is
costing
valuable
time
and
results
in
more
transmission,
the
growth
of
variance
hospitalizations
and
sadly,
death
to
the
premier.
E
F
Well,
honorable
speaker,
I
don't
know
where
to
start
with
such
a
list
of
quite
inaccurate
statements.
As
of
sunday,
we
had
one
day
of
supply
of
pfizer.
We
were
left
with
14
000
doses,
because
we
used
it
all
up
to
that
point.
Then
this
week
we've
received
doses
of
more
than
well
over
a
hundred
thousand
doses
that
have
arrived
and
are
now
being
used.
F
So
when
the
when
the
member
states
that
their
unused
dose
is
not
being
used
because
of
the
vaccination
campaign,
this
is
just
simply
incorrect
on
the
facts
when
she
asserts,
as
she
did,
that
is
leading
to
people
passing
away.
She's
simply
incorrect
on
us
to
the
facts.
Yesterday
was
a
record
day
for
vaccinations
in
british
columbia.
Over
twenty
seven
thousand,
six
hundred
and
ten
thousand
doses
have
been
delivered
more
than
five
hundred
and
twenty
thousand
first
doses
have
been
delivered
and
the
reason
those
numbers
are.
The
cases
is
that's
the
vaccine
we've
received.
F
In
any
event,
we
have
a
vaccination
campaign
that
has
been
well
laid
out.
That's
focused
on
those
that
need
it
most.
Its
effects
already
have
been
profound
in
long-term
care,
and
I
appreciate
the
support
of
all
members,
because
I
know
all
members
are
doing
this
in
ensuring
that
members
of
the
public
have
the
information
they
need
to
go
forward.
Community
pharmacy
will
play
a
central
role
in
this,
as
well
as
we
go
forward
and
as
we
get
more
doses
to
immunize
people
with
thank.
B
You,
minister,
member
for
sorry
leader
of
third
party,.
G
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
today,
the
bc
supreme
court
is
hearing
forest
company
teal
jones's
application
for
an
injunction
against
the
protesters
at
ferry
creek.
If
the
injunction
is
granted,
we
could
see
people
arrested
for
attempting
to
stop
preparations
for
logging
in
the
last
intact
ancient
forest
valley
on
southern
vancouver
island.
G
This
could
take
place
no
less
in
the
premier's
own
riding
on
the
watch
of
an
ndp
government
that
has
promised
to
do
things
differently
on
oil
growth,
on
the
watch
of
a
premier
who
committed
during
the
recent
snap
election
to
implement
all
of
the
old
growth
panel's
recommendations,
including
immediate
deferrals,
in
ancient
forests.
Just
like
this
one,
honourable
speaker,
if
ferry
creek
doesn't
qualify
for
immediate
protections,
I'm
not
sure
what
does
my
question
is
to
every
member
of
government
really
but
I'll
direct.
H
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
I
appreciate
the
question
from
the
third
member
third
party
leader
of
the
third
party
bc.
Forests
are
a
big
part
of
what
makes
our
province
so
unique
and,
and
so
special
and
our
government
knows
that
old
growth
trees
are
an
integral
part
of
a
healthy
ecosystem
and
for
many
many
years,
the
former
liberal
government.
They
took
an
unbalanced
and
unsustainable
approach
to
managing
our
old
growth
force
and
we
are
making
different
choices.
H
You
know
we
received
clear
advice
and
clear
recommendations
from
the
independent
panel
on
how
we
can
do
this
and
we
are
dedicated
to
implementing
the
14
recommendations
and
the
work
has
already
started.
In
fact,
as
a
first
step,
we
worked
with
indigenous
nations
and
government
to
government
discussions
across
the
province
to
look
at
nine
deferred
areas
where
we
deferred
old
growth,
forests
that
are
protected
in
those
nine
areas,
and
we
will
continue
to
do
more.
We
know
that
this
is
just
a
first
step
and
there
is
much
more
to
do
and
we
will
do
that.
G
G
This
is
the
last
intact
old
growth
valley,
south
of
clackwood,
sound
on
vancouver,
island,
the
last
one
and
so
30
years
from
now,
we
will
have
to
look
at
our
grandchildren
and
say:
hey
either
we
let
it
go
because
it
didn't
matter.
We
didn't
value
it,
your
future,
your
ability
to
go
into
an
intact
old-growth
forest
didn't
matter
enough,
or
we
say
this
is
the
moment
to
make
the
decision.
This
is
the
time
this
is
the
government
that
promised
to
do
it
and
they're
going
to
follow
through
on
it.
H
H
H
I
don't
know
I
would
love
to
meet
with
her
to
talk
to
her
and
and
have
a
briefing
on
where
she's
getting
her
numbers
from,
because
they
are
inaccurate.
We
are
dedicated
to
implementing
the
recommendations
from
the
old
growth
forest
report
and
we
will
do
that.
We
are
also
dedicated
to
working
in
government-to-government
discussions
with
indigenous
nations,
and
we
are
doing
just
that
with
the
we
are
doing
just
that
with
the
the
patch
of
that
nation.
We
are
doing
that
with
other
nations
across
this
province
and
those
are
government-to-government
discussions
that
are.
H
I
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Well,
while
the
the
premier
doled
out
645
thousand
dollars
for
one
single
user
toilet
in
the
city
of
vancouver,
he
has
completely
botched
the
small
business
recovery
grant
program
for
small
businesses.
South
thompson
inn
owner
david
petricken.
Had
this
to
say,
and
I
quote
in
2019
we
invested
in
upgrades
which
resulted
in
us
not
being
profitable
for
that
year.
This
makes
us
ineligible
to
receive
the
recovery
grant.
I
If
all
else
fails,
we
would
happily
take
the
toilet
paper
holder
from
that
new
bathroom
in
vancouver.
It
must
be
worth
at
least
ten
thousand
dollars
and
quote,
unfortunately,
it's
too
late
for
lisa's
school
of
dance,
which
is
closing
its
doors
forever
owner
lisa
dew.
Had
this
to
say-
and
I
quote,
there
have
been
countless
tears
months
of
sleepless
nights
and
anxiety-ridden
days
between
financial
losses
and
the
government's.
Let's
wait
and
see
mindset.
There
is
no
way
to
sustain
our
business.
There
isn't
enough
support
for
small
business
right
now.
End
quote,
mr
speaker.
I
No
further
meetings
or
consultations
engagements
are
going
to
help
these
small
businesses
or
the
thousands
of
others
just
like
them
who
to
this
day,
are
still
not
eligible
for
the
business
recovery
grant.
So
my
question
is
this:
will
the
premier
make
a
further
changes
to
the
eligibility
requirements
of
the
business
recovery
grant
so
that
businesses
like
ohana
delhi
and
the
south
thompson
inn
will
not
have
to
make
the
same
gut-wrenching
decision
to
close
their
doors
forever?
Just
like
lisa's
school
of
debts.
A
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question
he
mentioned
some
of
the
businesses
my
office
did
rethrow
to
his
office.
I'm
sure
he's
aware
yesterday
when
he
raised
these
businesses
in
particular,
and
we
offered
to
reach
out
to
the
businesses
directly
to
to
help
them
navigate
what
programs
and
supports
are
available
to
them.
The
member
will
know
december
21st
december
december.
20
members.
A
The
member
will
know
december
21st.
We
went
to
the
business
community
said
what
changes
would
you
like?
We
accepted
all
their
changes
at
that
time.
Honorable
speaker,
we
saw
a
steady
increase
in
applications.
A
Then
we
followed
up
with
them
in
february
and
said
what
additional
changes
do
you
think
could
be
used
or
required
to
make
the
program
more
accessible
and
more
inclusive
to
more
businesses,
and
we
accepted
those
changes
as
well
we're
trying
to
be
as
flexible
and
nimble
as
we
can.
We
know
the
needs
are
changing
for
businesses
as
the
pandemic
changes
and
we've
been
adjusting
accordingly.
A
A
Speaker
between
all
the
supports
the
province
is
providing
as
well
as
the
dollars.
Canada
is
providing.
We've
been
able
to
help
a
lot
of
businesses.
Even
struggling
political
parties
have
benefited
from
the
dollars.
J
Thanks,
mr
speaker,
well,
sadly,
on
april
the
1st,
the
premier
and
his
government
will
once
again
discriminate
against
the
seventeen
thousand
workers
who
choose
not
to
become
a
member
of
a
trade
union
and
work
in
the
community
social
services
sector.
J
J
The
seventeen
thousand
workers
who
choose
not
to
belong
to
a
union
are
not
getting
the
same
wage
increase
as
others
merely
because
they
exercised
that
choice
and
that
right
they
are
being
discriminated
against
by
this
government
for
exercising
their
rights.
Mr
speaker,
will
the
premier
end
the
discrimination?
J
K
Thank
you
very
much,
mr
speaker,
and
I'd
like
to
thank
the
member
opposite
for
his
question.
This
is
a
historical
issue,
one
that
I'm
really
proud
that
our
government
is
taking
on
head
on.
K
People
who
work
in
the
community
social
service
sector,
who
I
know
and
who
I
work
with,
and
I've
worked
with
in
the
past-
are
valued
community
members,
valued
people
in
our
in
our
social
service,
support
sector
and
they're
appreciated,
and
our
our
continued
discussion
with
the
sector,
something
that
we've
done,
that
the
previous
government
didn't
do
we're
we're
actually
addressing
these
issues,
we're
getting
together
and
working
collaboratively
to
find
a
solution,
and
I
expect
that
that
work
is
going
to
continue
in
a
an
atmosphere
of
cooperation,
and
that
is
the
continued
work
of
our
government.
L
L
You've
already
heard
directly
from
a
lot
of
these
providers,
they're
very
upset,
and
these
please
have
been
ignored.
Here's
another
one
from
yesterday
nurture
early
childhood
education
center
here
in
victoria
holds
a
wait
list
of
180
families.
Mr
speaker,
as
a
direct
result
of
these
new
regulations.
L
They
are
cancelling
plans
for
two
new
facilities
with
60,
affordable
spaces
for
preschool
aged
children.
This
is
what
jennifer
delaney
has
to
say
about
the
april
1
changes
quote.
It
will
have
devastating
effects
on
the
child
care
sector.
This
will
negatively
and
severely
impact
the
creation
of
new
child
care
spaces
in
british
columbia.
End
quote:
will
the
premier
reconsider
this
devastating
change
before
thousands
of
of
child
care?
Spaces
are
lost?
On
april
1st.
M
M
N
N
O
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker.
I
thank
the
member
for
the
question
as
well,
and
I
would
like
to
thank
the
representative
for
children,
youth
and
especially
thank
all
the
families
who
helped
the
representative's
office
in
creating
that
report,
and
I
share
many
of
the
representatives
concerns
honourable
speaker,
and
we
did
actually
roll
out
some
emergency
measures
during
the
pandemic
because
we
recognized
the
struggle
facing
these
families,
especially
during
on
a
daily
basis.
P
P
P
O
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
raising
this
question
in
situations
like
this.
It's
an
absolute
tragedy
and
my
heart
goes
out
to
the
family
and
everybody
who
knew
the
young
person
and
knew
the
family
and
were
involved.
As
the
member
will
know,
it
is
not
possible
for
me,
as
the
minister
to
comment
on
any
individual
situations
or
even
comment
on
whether
the
ministry
has
been
involved
with
the
family.
Thank
you.
P
This
situation
unfortunately
happens
when
youth
are
in
care
and
families
seek
answers.
The
minister
does
not
want
to
speak
about
this
particular
individual
case,
so
I'll
reframe.
The
question
then
has
the
minister
has
the
premier
initiated
a
change
to
policy
so
that
grieving
families
of
youth
in
care
can
have
support
from
government
to
seek
answers
that
they
desperately
need
with
the
tragic
loss
of
life
instead
of
having
to
start
creating
gofundme
pages
to
seek
those
answers
from
government.
O
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
again
to
the
member
for
the
for
the
question,
and
I
can
assure
the
member
that
our
ministry
is
absolutely
committed
to
making
sure
that
children
and
youth
are
kept
safe
and
that
they're
able
to
thrive
and
they're
protected
every
single
day.
I
have
every
confidence
that
our
staff
in
the
ministry
is
supporting
all
children
and
youth
that
we're
responsible
for
and
in
situations.
Honorable
speaker,
where
there
is
a
tragedy
or
there
is
a
critical
incident.
O
I
can
absolutely
assure
the
member
that
our
staff
mate
takes
very
swift
action
and
makes
sure
that
all
children
and
youth
in
any
facility
or
related
to
any
home
situation
are
taken
care
of
and
that
their
safety
is
safeguarded
and
that
the
family
is
supported.
Honourable
speaker,
we
have
taken
many
actions
to
change
the
whole
system
of
indigenous
child
welfare
in
our
province.
O
There
is
a
lot
more
work
to
do,
but
we're
working
with
indigenous
communities
and
families
to
make
sure
that
indigenous
children
and
youth
stay
connected
to
their
family,
to
their
communities
and
to
their
culture,
and
we
currently
have
the
lowest
number
of
children
in
care.
In
30
years
and
indigenous
children
in
care
in
20
years,
thank.