►
From YouTube: MAY 18 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
C
We
will
look
into
this
important
matter
and
have
more
to
say
once
we
have
completed
this
work.
End
quote,
but
yesterday
the
premier
had
no
answers
for
the
families
impacted
by
the
decision
to
delay
declaring
outbreaks
and
the
minister
brushed
off
questions,
and
I
quote
said
not
supported
by
the
evidence.
End
quote
well.
That
response
seems
in
stark
contrast
to
the
statement
that
the
minister
issued
just
last
friday.
C
The
192
families
who
lost
loved
ones
deserve
answers
and
they
deserve
to
see
the
evidence
for
themselves.
They
deserve
full
accountability
so
to
the
premier.
What
are
the
terms
of
reference
for
the
review
announced
last
friday?
Will
they
be?
Will
they
be
made
public,
and
when
can
families
expect
a
report
as
promised
on
what
went
wrong.
D
Well,
thank
you
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
her
question.
The
member
will
know,
because
the
issue
here
is
the
declaration
of
outbreaks
in
long-term
care,
but
the
declaration
of
outbreaks
in
general
that
those
those
decisions
are
made
under
the
public
health
act.
The
authority
is
dedic
delegated
to
the
provincial
health
officer
and
medical
health
officers,
and
they
make
the
very
difficult
decisions
as
to
whether
to
proceed
or
not
to
proceed
with
outbreaks
outbreak
declarations
which
have,
of
course,
serious
implications.
D
They
are
very
well
trained
to
do
it
with
five
years
of
training
in
public
health.
That
doesn't
mean
that
their
decisions
can't
be,
and
certainly
won't
be
reviewed
or
questioned.
But
what
it
does
mean
is
that
it's
important
in
these
times
when
it
when,
of
course
there
is
a
desire
to
second
guess
those
decisions
depending
on
the
results.
After
the
fact,
I
think
it
it.
We
have
to,
I
think,
reflect
on
that
authority.
This
is
not
by
the
way,
an
avoidance
of
accountability
by
me.
D
I
strongly
support
our
public
health
teams
around
bc,
who
have
acted
consistently
and
not
just
consistently
but
courageously
to
respond
to
the
very
difficult
challenges
in
long-term
care
of
public
health.
I
think
all
of
these
issues
will
be
subject
for
questions
in
the
future,
but
for
the
moment,
what
we're
doing
in
public
health
is
a
vaccination
program
designed
to
protect
those
most
vulnerable,
and
that
program
is
having
a
very
positive
effect.
D
That
is
our
focus
now,
as
well
as
ongoing
measures
to
prevent
infection,
and
I
think
I
hope
all
members
of
the
house
will
recognize
that.
Well,
decisions
can
be
questioned
that
our
public
health
teams
are
doing
an
excellent
job,
giving
it
everything
they
have
and
that
their
authority
to
make
these
decisions
is
founded
in
the
best
principles
of
having
science
guide.
Our
response
against
the
spread
of
communicable
diseases.
C
Well,
while
I
appreciate
the
lengthy
answer
from
the
minister,
that's
not
at
all
what
I
asked
him
on
friday.
This
minister
went
out
of
his
way
to
issue
a
statement
in
response
to
what
was
a
serious
concern
expressed
about
the
deaths
of
192
people
in
long-term
care.
After
a
specific
policy
decision
was
made,
we're
well
aware
of
the
vaccination
numbers
in
british
columbia,
we're
well
aware
of
the
incredibly
hard
work
of
frontline
workers
and
public
health
officials.
C
C
What's
changed
since
friday,
the
answer
today
completely
ignores
the
concerns
of
192
families
who
lost
their
loved
ones.
Following
the
implementation
of
a
specific
policy,
the
minister
promised
a
review
and
accountability
last
friday
and,
let's
be
clear,
asking
legitimate
questions
on
behalf
of
british
columbians
is
important,
it's
necessary
and
we're
going
to
continue
to
do
just
that.
C
So,
let's
start
with
this
one,
the
premier
needs
to
stand
up
and
he
needs
to
explain
what
his
government
knew
about
the
policy
when
he
knew
it,
and
this
minister
needs
to
outline
for
192
families
and
british
columbians
exactly
what
the
review
will
entail
and
when
they
can
expect
answers.
That's
the
least
this
minister
can
do
today.
D
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
nobody
and
I
don't
believe
one
time
in
a
public
briefing
or
a
private
briefing.
Have
I
suggested
that
anyone
doesn't
have
the
right
to
ask
questions.
I
think
that
is
an
absolutely
legitimate
role
for
the
leader
of
the
opposition
to
play.
So
I
think
the
suggestion
that
I'm
saying
that
they
can't
ask
questions
is
just
incorrect.
D
What
I'm
saying
is
that
the
challenge
of
declaring
outbreaks,
which
is
something
that
public
health
has
taken
on
throughout
this,
is
based
on
their
authority
under
the
public
health
act
and
they
are
constantly
and
consistently
addressing
that
question
and
refining
those
policies.
What
I
said
yesterday-
and
this
is
clearly
a
response
to
those
questions-
is
that
the
suggestion
I
think
honorable
speaker,
the
suggestion
to
link
and
to
make
a
causal
link
is
not
supported
by
the
evidence.
That's
what
I'm
saying
and
that's
certainly
the
response
of
public
health.
But
that
said
all
of
these
decisions.
D
All
of
these
decisions,
of
course,
will
be
the
subject
of
questions
in
the
future.
They
absolutely
will
be,
and
the
response
and
detail
and
the
analysis
and
detail
the
response
of
public
health
to
these
questions.
Indeed,
my
response
and
ministers
will
be
the
subject
for
review,
but
for
the
moment
what
our
job
is
is
to
keep
british
columbians
safe.
D
What
our
job
is
is
to
pursue
a
vaccination
program
that
that
is
have
already
having
a
positive
effect
and
we'll
continue
when
our
job
is
ensuring
that
british
columbians
are
safe
across
the
province
and
that's
what
we
continue
to
intend
to
do.
E
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
hindsight
is
2020
and
it
does
help
us
actually
examine
what
happened
and
move
forward,
and
I'm
encouraged
by
the
minister
saying
all
of
these
issues
will
be
examined.
But
yesterday
the
minister
said
that
there
was
no
evidence
to
support
the
reports
of
government
mismanagement.
E
Unfortunately,
we
haven't
actually
seen
the
evidence
and
he
has
yet
to
answer
the
question
as
to
what
he's
actually
looking
for
you
see.
The
public
is
concerned
that
the
minister
and
the
premier
are
just
simply
trying
to
wash
their
hands
of
this
story,
but
let
me
read
from
the
policy
document
issued
by
the
government,
and
I
quote:
notification
of
all
residents,
families,
staff
and
other
service
providers
is
not
required.
E
D
Honorable
speaker,
with
with
great
respect,
the
member
is
conflating
what
I
said
yesterday.
She
made
some
specific.
I
think
allegations
yesterday,
which
I
disagree
with,
and
I
said
so
and
I
think
that's
a
reasonable
way
to
respond
to
those
things
to
conflate.
That,
with
a
suggestion
that
I
don't
think
questions
can
be
asked,
is
just
simply
incorrect.
D
There
was
a
series
of
issues
raised
by
the
member
from
rapid
testing
to
the
declarations
of
outbreaks,
but
what
we're
doing
in
british
columbia-
and
it
is
different
than
other
jurisdictions-
is
giving
the
authority
and
the
responsibility
on
issues
that
are
fundamentally
medical
issues
based
on
the
experience
of
public
health
to
public
health
professionals
and
then
supporting
them
when
they
take
action.
We
are
not
on
issues
such
as
testing,
as
the
opposition,
I
think,
is
suggesting
we
do
and
it's
a
legitimate
approach,
overruling
them
on
some
of
these
questions.
D
Instead,
we
are
providing
the
resources,
the
means
and
the
sports
necessary
to
ensure
that
public
health
does
its
work.
It
is
very
challenging
work.
Dozens
and
dozens,
for
example,
of
vancouver
coastal
health
employees,
went
in
to
support
people
at
little
mountain.
They
did
so
in
good
faith
and
with
great
dedication
showing
their
commitment.
Nobody,
I
think,
is
washing
their
hands
of
anything
and
not
an
hour
not
a
day.
Not
a
minute
goes
by
when
people
in
public
health
and
myself,
as
minister
of
health
aren't
concerned
about.
What's
going
on
in
long-term
care
in
the
pandemic,.
E
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Ultimately,
the
responsibility
is
this
government,
this
minister
and
this
premier,
the
government's
decision
to
delay
declaring
outbreaks
came.
At
the
same
time,
a
peer-reviewed
study
was
published,
showing
that
bc's
earlier
precautions
were
actually
working,
so
after
safety
measures
were
relaxed,
we
saw
42
outbreaks
and
192
deaths
of
seniors
cause
effect.
E
D
Well,
the
member
is
right,
to
this
extent,
studies
that
have
compared
the
response
of
british
colombian
long-term
care
to
other
jurisdictions
have
said
that
british
columbia
has
done
relatively
speaking,
a
good
job.
I
think,
though,
honorable
speaker-
and
I
think
this
is
important
to
recognize
the
costs
and
the
consequences
in
the
care
homes
mentioned
by
the
honorable
member
and
in
care
homes
across
bc
are
significant.
D
The
cost,
for
example,
of
the
limitations
on
visits,
which
we
change.
If
to
use
the
members
term,
we
weakened
in
june
30th
to
allow
social
visits.
We
again
changed
in
the
terms
of
the
honorable
member
weakened
in
march
of
2021
to
further
allow
visits
in
long-term
care.
This
was
not,
however,
I
in
my
view
a
weakening
of
those
provisions.
D
So
all
of
these
decisions-
whether
those
are
the
right
decisions
or
not,
will
be
the
subject
of
discussion,
but
we
are
in
the
middle
of
a
pandemic
and
our
goal
right
now,
I
think,
is
to
keep
people
safe
to
get
people
vaccinated
and
to
continue
to
do
the
work
that
public
health
needs
to
do
with
the
support
of
this
legislature
and
of
the
government
to
to
to
the
maximum
degree
deal
with
a
pandemic.
That
is,
that
has,
of
course,
harm
people
around
the
world.
F
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Last
week
we
saw
the
results
of
this
government's
damaging
and
short-sighted
approach
to
managing
our
forests.
Today,
the
rcmp
are
starting
to
remove
protesters
at
ferry,
creek
and
what
is
unfolding
is
an
unacceptable
failure.
This
bc
ndp
government,
the
lack
of
leadership,
is
causing
economic,
social
and
environmental
consequences.
F
F
F
One
of
the
recommendations
of
the
old
growth
review
panel
from
last
year
was
part
of
implementing
immediate
protections
for
high-risk
ecosystems,
and
it's
for
this
government
to
direct
bc
timber
sales
to
cease
auctioning
off
old
growth
timber.
My
question
to
you,
honourable
speaker,
is
to
the
minister
of
forests.
Will
the
minister
follow
through
on
the
premier's
promise
and
instruct
bc
timber
sales
to
immediately
cease
development
and
defer
selling
timber
in
high
risk
old
areas.
G
Bc's
timber
sales
is
addressing
the
board's
recommendations
and
it's
in
its
operations,
and
I
and
they've
already
begun
this
important
work
and
and
have
have
are
working
towards
completing
the
recommendations,
and
I
I
just
can't
stress
enough
how
our
government
understands
how
critically
important
old
growth
forests
are
to
british
columbians
and
and
that's
why
we
have
already
already
undertaken
to
complete
the
recommendations
that
were
made
by
the
old
growth
report.
F
The
minister
has
certainly
risen
in
this
house
on
on
a
regular
occasion
to
stress
how
important
it
is,
but
the
lack
of
action
is
what
the
people
of
british
columbia
are
seeing.
Mr
speaker,
the
fact
that
the
recommendation
number
six,
which
was
immediate
action
from
this
government
has
yet
to
be
completed,
is
proof
that
the
action
side
of
this
equation
has
not
been
followed
through
on,
because
you
know,
mr
speaker,
a
second
damning
report
came
out.
Last
week,
the
auditor
general
of
british
columbia
slammed
bc's
management
of
our
conservation
lands
program.
F
He
found
that
bc.
The
bc
government
failed
to
protect
species
at
risk
and
critical
habitats
that
they
rely
on.
The
ministry
lacks
strategic
direction.
They
lack
data.
Their
plans
are
decades
out
of
date.
This
is
an
embarrassing
list.
That
is
very
extensive.
Mr
speaker,
this
government
says
the
right
things.
This
minister
says
the
right
things.
F
She
promises
changes,
they
accept
recommendations
yet
over
and
over
and
over
again,
nothing
changes
status
quo
in
the
forests.
Lots
of
talk
in
here
not
a
lot
of
action
out
there.
Mr
speaker,
we
need
an
overhaul
of
this
ministry
and
we
need
a
minister
who
is
seized
with
the
urgent
need
to
create
substantial
change
on
the
ground.
My
question
through
you
is
to
the
minister
of
forest.
F
Will
she
acknowledge
that,
despite
the
rhetoric,
despite
the
empty
promises
that
our
own
ministry
is
systematically
failing
to
manage
our
force
responsibly
and
sustainably,
will
she
accept
that
urgent
systemic
change
is
needed
within
this
ministry,
and
will
she
commit
today
to
doing
this
work
with
the
urgency
that
is
needed?
Minister,
forest.
G
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
our
ministry
is
doing
the
work.
That's
needed
to
be
done,
and
I
want
to
thank
the
auditor
general
for
their
report
as
well
and
and
point
out
to
the
member
that
our
the
bc
actually
leads
the
country
with
the
highest
percentage
of
protected
areas
of
all
promises
and
territories
in
canada.
G
But
we
know
there
is
more
work
to
do
and
the
other
gen
auditor
general's
report
that
the
member
references
has
made
some
helpful
recommendations
on
on
how
we
can
do
better
and
which
we
accept
than
we
want
and
that's
what
our
ministry
does.
You
know
we
look
at
what
we
need
to
do
and
we
accept
that
and
move
forward
and
work
is
already
underway
to
accept
those
recommendations.
G
We
are
doing
the
work
that
needs
to
be
done.
You
know
we
have
been
doing
the
work
for
the
last
four
years
since
we've
been
government,
we
accept
those
responsibilities,
we
accept
there's
more
work
to
do
and
we
are
doing
it.
We
are
doing
it
in
collaboration
with
the
ministry
that
is
working
hard
to
ensure
that
we
get
the
work
done.
You
know
for
many
years.
Many
years
our
the
previous
government
refused
to
take
action
to
protect
old
growth.
G
They
refused
to
take
action
to
ensure
that
unique
ecosystems
and
critical
habitats
where
we're
protected,
and
we
are
working
to
fix
that
reckless
approach.
We
are
prioritizing
reconciliation.
We
are
prioritizing
environmental
protection
again,
we
are
doing
the
work
that
needs
to
be
done
because
we
accept
the
responsibility
so
stay
tuned
member.
We
are
doing
that
work.
H
I
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question.
This
is
a
bill
that
has
come
forward
from
the
alaskan
government,
we're
actively
in
discussion
with
our
federal
counterparts.
I
I
mean
the
most
important
thing
I
want
to
emphasize
honorable
speakers
how
valuable
the
cruise
ship
industry
is
to
our
tours
our
tourism
ecosystem.
All
hands
are
on
deck.
Minister
of
transportation
and
infrastructure
is
working
with
his
colleague
in
the
federal
government.
I've
had
active
conversations
with
minister
jolie,
the
premier's
meeting
with
the
alaskan
senators
in
the
coming
days,
and
you
know
I
just
want
to
make
it
really
clear
for
members
at
home
that
the
proposed
bill
is
a
temporary
measure,
and
I
you
know
I
just.
I
I
have
to
call
out
the
opposition
for
trying
to
drive
home
this
narrative
that
this
is
going
to
be
a
permanent
measure
when
it's
proposed
to
be
temporary,
the
ban
will
be
lifted
when
the
restrictions
are
lifted
from
the
federal
government.
The
most
important
thing
we
need
to
focus
on
right
now.
Honorable
speaker
is
the
vaccination
rollout
people
being
safe
and
we're
going
to
welcome
back
towards
right
to
our
ports
because
we're
a
magnet
for
visitors
all
across
the
world.
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,.
H
H
H
I
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker.
As
I
said,
our
government
is
all
hands
on
deck,
with
the
federal
government
we're
playing
close
to
paying
close
attention
to
the
issue,
but
I
want
to
just
correct
the
misinformation
that
the
member's
sharing
first
of
all
remember.
I
The
bill
may
have
passed,
it
still
has
to
go
through
the
house
of
representatives.
It
still
has
to
be
signed
off
by
president
biden.
It
still
needs
to
be
approved
by
the
u.s
center
for
disease
control.
There
are
steps
that
need
to
be
taken,
and
you
know
shame
on
the
member
for
coming
in
here
trying
to
suggest
that
there's
a
permanent
measure
when
the
bill
is
very
clear.
It's
a
temporary
measure,
let's
quote
the
senator.
I
Well,
we
have
sought
a
temporary
legislative
fix
to
the
domestic
laws
that
require
a
port
call
in
canada.
Our
long-term
goal
is
to
keep
the
system
of
mutually
beneficial
tourism
between
our
two
great
nations
intact.
That
are
those
are
the
facts.
Honorable
speaker,
the
member
opposite,
can
come
in
here
drumming
up
all
the
fear
that
she
wants.
We
are
working
with
the
sector
we're
advocating
with
the
federal
government.
I
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Well,
if
the
minister
truly
valued
this
this
industry,
she
and
the
premier
would
have
taken
action
many
many
months
ago
when
concerns
were
first
raised.
I
Speaker,
victoria's
port
vancouver's
port,
we're
a
magnet
for
tourists
for
international
tourists,
and
our
industry
is
going
to
continue
to
thrive,
but
right
now
there
is
a
travel
ban
right
now
there
are
limitations
for
a
report.
There
is
a
proposal
for
a
temporary
measure.
The
official
opposition
are
coming
in
here,
acting
as
though
somehow
they
have
a
looking
glass
into
the
future.
Drumming
up
fear
that
there's
a
permanent
measure
when
the
bill
is
unequivocal,
it's
a
temporary
measure.
It
will
be
lifted
as
soon
as
the
ports
are
open.
We
are
relentless
in
our
advocacy.
I
The
premier
is
meeting
with
the
alaskan
senators,
we're
an
active
conversation.
The
minister
for
transportation,
infrastructure
friday
monday's
on
the
phone
with
transportation.
They
are
alive
to
our
concerns.
We
are
the
west
coast,
we
are
the
best
coast
and
we're
going
to
ensure
that
we
have
a
thriving
industry,
but
to
speak
to
ian
robertson.
We
were
on
the
phone
with
him
yesterday
he
is
a
valued
partner.
I
A
A
Mr
mr,
mr
speaker,
then
again
when,
when
we
raised
concern
when
we
raised
concerns
two
months
ago,
we
were
dismissed
when
our
critic
wrote
to
the
minister.
A
month
ago
she
was
dismissed
when
questions
were
asked
in
estimates.
Last
week
we
were
dismissed
again,
while
the
premier
waits
he's
putting
at
risk
three
million
dollars
of
economic
impact
in
the
port
of
vancouver.
A
Every
ship
that
comes
in
is
is
at
risk,
three
million
dollars
of
economic
impact
in
vancouver
and,
let's
be
clear,
the
united
states
are
defending
themselves
and
they're
doing
so,
with
rare,
unanimous
cross-party
support.
You
know
senator
mike
lee,
who
represents
that
that
obviously
dominant
cruise
ship
state
of
landlocked
utah
is
blunt
that
the
changes
should
be
made
permanent.
He
has
said
that
on
the
record
multiple
times,
and
this
would
cost
bc's
tourism
sector
billions
of
dollars.
A
The
premier
prefers
to
bungle
along
the
minister,
chooses
to
to
bury
her
head
in
the
sand
and
the
20
000
men
and
women
whose
jobs
depend
on
the
cruise
ship
sector
are
going
to
pay
the
price.
Mr
speaker,
the
premier
has
terribly
botched
this
file.
What
is
he
going
to
to
do
to
ensure
that
bc's
cruise
ship
sector
has
a
future?
When
is
he
going
to
stand
up
and
fight
for
these
british
columbians
jobs?.
I
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
I
mean
it's
no
surprise
that
the
official
opposition
are
going
to
come
in
here
drumming
up
fear
as
they
always
do.
It's
not
as
though
the
tourism
industry
are
isn't
already
affected
by
a
global
pandemic,
to
add
extra
fear,
they're,
adding
salt
to
the
womb.
So
shame
on
the
members
opposite,
but
let's
go
to
the
facts.
They
talked
about
the
law.
You
know
they
talk
about
being
experts.
I
I
We
are
working
with
the
sector
because
we
know
that
we
are
and
we
are
confident
we
are
arrogant
in
our
confidence
that
we
are
a
port
of
choice.
There
is
a
mutual
mutual
interest
for
visitors
to
visit
our
port
here
in
victoria
and
vancouver,
and
we
want
to
do
this
same
in
alaska
there's
mutual
interest.
That
is
the
signal
that
the
senators
of
alaska
have
sent
in
their
proposed
bill,
which
is
intended,
I'm
going
to
say
it
very
slowly
intended
to
be
temporary.
I
J
Thanks,
mr
speaker,
two
months
ago,
when
we
brought
this
issue
to
the
minister's
attention,
she
didn't
even
know
about
the
legislation.
Mr
speaker,
she
wonders
why
people
don't
have
confidence
in
her
answers
today.
It's
because,
as
my
colleagues
have
said,
she
and
the
premier
were
openly
dismissive
when
the
warnings
were
fired.
Two,
two
and
a
half
months
ago,
a
mere
blip,
the
premier
said,
hasn't
got
a
chance
of
passing
in
the
u.s
congress.
J
Unanimously,
and-
and
it
might,
it
might
not
have
been
unanimous
because
there
were
members
in
the
u.s
senate
who
didn't
want
to
stop
at
making
it
a
temporary
measure.
Mr
speaker,
there
were
members
of
the
u.s
senate
that
wanted
to
make
it
a
permanent
repeal
of
the
legislation
that
helps
protect
the
tourism
sector
in
british
columbia.
J
I
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker.
What
I
will
do
is
I'm
going
to
stand
up
for
an
industry,
that's
been
impacted
by
a
global
health
crisis
and
what
I'm
going
to
do
is
continue
all
hands
on
deck.
With
my
colleagues,
including
the
premier,
the
minister
of
transportation,
advocating
with
the
federal
government
and
nothing's
off
the
table,
technical
stops
aren't
off
the
table.
We
are
working
around
the
clock
to
ensure
that
we
defend
our
ports,
our
cruise
ship
industry,
our
tourism
sector
and
to
remind
everyone
at
home.
This
is
a
temporary
measure.