►
From YouTube: MAY 13 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
A
Well,
thank
you,
mr
speaker,
in
december,
when
we
asked
the
premier
to
actually
do
something
to
save
major
tourism
destinations.
His
tourism
minister
said,
and
I
quote,
we're
going
to
move
quickly
in
march.
We
asked
again
and
this
time
it
was
the
jobs
minister
who
said-
and
I
quote,
the
minister
of
tourism
has
been
engaging
with
them
and
I
suspect,
she'll
have
more
to
say
on
that
very
soon
we've
been
engaging
with
them
for
months
now,
end
quote.
A
So
it
was
a
bit
of
a
bit
of
a
shock,
many
months
later,
to
hear
this
week
that
the
minister
of
tourism
still
has
no
plan,
and
I
quote:
it's
not
baked
we're
working
out
those
details.
Right
now
end
quote:
we
asked
for
specific
details
about
the
100
million
dollars
in
funding.
That's
been
set
aside.
We
wanted
to
know
specifically
how
much
is
set
aside
for
major
attractions
who
qualifies
and
how
much
they
could
actually
receive
pretty
basic
questions
for
a
hundred
million
dollar
fund
that
was
announced
with
much
fanfare.
A
The
minister
didn't
know,
and
once
again
told
struggling
tourism
operators
and
facilities
across
british
columbia.
They
had
to
wait
some
more
so
perhaps
today
the
premier
could
get
up
and
he
could
actually
provide
us
and,
more
importantly,
tourism
operators
across
british
columbia,
with
some
specific
answers
to
those
very
basic
questions.
C
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
I
thank
the
member
opposite
for
raising
this
important
question.
We
recently
completed
our
budget
estimates
and
the
critic
for
this
file
had
also
asked
similar
questions.
I
did
say
that
good
news
is
coming
that
the
program
is
being
developed
as
we
speak,
and
good
news
is
going
to
be
coming
to
the
sector.
This
is
this
was
an
important
announcement,
part
of
budget
2021,
recognizing
a
call
to
action
to
support
iconic
anchor
attractions
throughout
british
columbia.
C
A
Good
news
is
coming,
we
want,
and
so
do.
Tourism
operators,
specific
answers
to
basic
questions.
Tourism
operators
and
major
attractions
cannot
operate
without
support.
They
have
lost
millions
of
dollars,
let's
just
take
one
of
them,
barkerville
for
example,
which
of
course
the
premier
has
stood
in
this
legislature
and
been
a
very
big
fan
of
well.
I'm
not
sure
he's
aware
that
barkerville,
for
example,
is
responsible
for
25
million
dollars
in
economic
activity.
It
welcomes
more
than
70
000
visitors
every
single
year,
and
now
they
are
facing
a
significant
budget
shortfall.
A
When
asked
about
barkerville
in
touris
in
the
tourism
estimates,
the
minister
again
had
no
answers
except
to
say
this,
and
I
quote:
barkerville
is
on
my
to-do
list.
End
quote:
well,
she
absolutely.
She
may
not
have
the
opportunity
to
actually
visit
barkerville
because
it
may
close
permanently
if
she
doesn't
step
up
and
do
something
to
help
them.
So
let's
try
it
again.
It's
a
very
simple
question.
A
British
colombians
expect
this
government
and
premier
when
they
make
an
announcement
about
a
big
fancy
program.
Maybe
they
should
provide
the
details.
At
the
same
time,
we've
been
waiting
since
december
to
get
an
answer
from
this
tourism
minister.
So
let's
be
clear
straight
up:
who
can
apply
what
organizations
can
actually
apply
for
funding?
How
much
are
they
eligible
for
simple
question?
Let's
hope
we
get
an
answer.
C
So,
first
of
all,
when
the
member
talks
about
december,
one
of
the
first
things
that
we
did
was
respond
to
a
call
to
action
from
the
tourism
task
force
that
our
premier
appointed
led
by
industry
experts
who
asked
us
to
get
grants
out
the
door
which
we've
done
to
support
the
industry,
the
indigenous
tourism
bc
organization,
to
get
grants
out
the
door
to
invest
in
infrastructure,
which
was
a
major
call
to
action
from
the
industry
and,
in
fact,
honorable
speaker,
barkerville,
got
dollars
to
through
the
community
economic
recovery
infrastructure
program
upwards
of
six
hundred
thousand
dollars.
C
B
B
D
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
We
are
15
months
into
the
pandemic
and
the
minister
promised
to
move
quickly
six
months
ago.
So
the
key
word
is
quickly,
so
this
grant
to
the
major
attraction
should
have
been
announced
yesterday,
instead
of
asking
us
to
waiting
for
the
good
news,
they
are
dying
every
day.
Premier
and
minister.
The
premier
has
this
week.
The
minister
said
I
quote.
The
best
analogy
I
can
give
is
that
the
ink
is
still
wet.
D
Encore
people
in
the
tourism
sector
are
drowning
in
red
ink
and
have
been
waiting
and
waiting
and
hoping
that
major
attraction
would
get
support.
The
png
is
asking
for
8
million
in
age,
or
it
could
close
forever
to
the
premier.
Will
the
png
get
support
as
a
major
attraction
at
employer
british
columbians.
C
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker.
Of
course,
these
iconic
attractions
are
vital
to
british
columbians
when
the
member
speaks
about
the
peony
of
this
is
a
place
that
I've
gone
to
for
generations,
and
I
expect
that
the
peony
is
going
to
be
there
for
future
generations.
We
are
in
the
middle
of
a
health
crisis.
We
recognize
that
there
is
a
call
to
action
from
the
industry
to
support
anchor
attractions.
I
said
to
the
member
opposite
during
estimates
honorable
speaker,
that
the
program
is
being
developed
as
we
speak
and
that
good
news
is
coming.
C
In
fact,
what
I
said
on
the
record
was
within
a
couple
of
weeks:
the
ministry
is
working
as
quickly
as
possible
to
develop
the
programs.
We
can
get
the
money
out
the
door
grants
not
loans
to
iconic
anchor
attractions
that
have
been
deeply
impacted
by
this
global
pandemic.
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker.
D
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
minister
kept
saying
that
it's
going
to
be
announced
a
couple
of
weeks.
The
major
attractions
are
dying.
They
cannot
wait
for
one
more
day.
Why
couldn't
this
be
announced
together
with
the
budget?
I
don't
understand.
This
pandemic
has
been
going
on
for
more
than
a
year,
the
p
provides
45
4
300
direct
jobs,
9
500,
indirect
jobs
and
200
million
in
economic
activity,
but
the
fed's
debt
could
reach
15
million
by
the
end
of
the
year.
D
Laura
barlins
of
the
png
says
I
quote
every
day
we
go
deeper
into
debt
and
at
some
point
it
becomes
unsurmountable
end
quote,
but
the
premier
appears
too
incompetent
to
care
about
the
png
or
attraction
like
the
william
slick
stampede
and
the
richmond
night
market.
In
my
riding
the
question
to
the
premier,
once
again,
I
hope
he
will
stand
up
and
respond.
C
Thank
you
honorable
speaker.
Of
course
we
care
about
these
anchor
attractions.
Of
course
we
care
about
tourism,
and
this
is
why
we've
rolled
out
over
100
million
dollars
out
the
door
to
support
the
tourism
sector
when
the
member
opposite
is
talking
specifically
about
the
peony.
The
peony
is
owned
by
the
municipality.
C
We
are
working
with
the
p
e
and
the
municipality
and
the
federal
government,
who
also
announced
a
billion
dollars
in
their
budget
a
day
before
our
budget
setting
aside
money
for
events
and
festivals
anchor
attractions.
We
are
doing
this
work
together,
member.
It
is
important
that
we
do
the
work
together,
but
we
do
recognize
that
they
have
suffered
because
they
can't
have
events.
They
can't
have
large
crowds.
We
we
recognize
the
pandemic
impacts
the
people
industry,
and
that
is
why
good
news
is
coming
in
days
to
support
the
sector.
C
E
In
fact,
the
bc
center
for
disease
control
released
an
evidence
review
that
states
quote.
Detention-Based
services
are
contrary
to
best
public
health
practices
in
bc.
They
do
not
address
illicit
drug
toxicity
that
is
driving
deaths,
there's
a
lack
of
evidence
that
they
are
effective.
They
may
result
in
post-release
harm,
including
death,
and
that
involuntary
hospitalization
increases
stigma
and
reduces
the
likelihood
of
people
seeking
health
care.
F
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
thank
you
to
the
member
for
raising
the
question
and
reaffirming
what
we're
all
feeling
there's
nothing
more
important
than
protecting
children,
particularly
the
loss
of
such
young
lives
to
the
toxic
drug
supply
on
vancouver
island.
F
These
past
few
weeks
just
puts
that
much
more
importance
on
the
work
that
we're
doing
to
expand
voluntary
care
for
youth
in
mental
health
and
addiction
distress,
and
to
work
across
the
spectrum
on
decriminalization,
on
safe
supply,
on
a
historic
expansion
and
historic
investment
on
the
part
of
the
british
columbia
taxpayer
in
mental
health
and
addiction
support
almost
100
million
of
that
going
specifically
toward
children
and
youth,
we're
working
across
the
spectrum
and
and
when
we
revisit
the
lessons
learned
from
bill,
22
and
and
work,
because
we
continue
to
hear
parents
say
that
stabilization
care
post
after
an
overdose
is
an
important
consideration
and
one
of
the
tools
that
we
want
to
have
available
as
a
last
resort.
F
E
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
minister
for
her
response.
Unfortunately,
it's
not
just
the
tragic
death
of
children.
It's
six
british
columbians
a
day
who
are
dying
from
a
toxic
drug
supply.
E
They
say
quote:
there
is
little
to
no
evidence
to
support
compulsory
treatment
for
substance
use
disorders
in
general
and
for
youth
in
particular.
Compulsory
treatment
is
associated
with
relapse,
higher
levels
of
mental
duress,
homelessness
and
overdose.
According
to
the
bccdc
people,
especially
young
black
indigenous
and
people
of
color,
are
less
likely
to
seek
help
when
they
need
it
following
involuntary
care.
E
F
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
the
work
that
british
columbia
is
doing
to
expand
safe
supply
as
a
way
to
separate
people
from
the
toxic
poison
drug
supply
that
is
killing
so
many
british
colombians
tragically,
is
is
continuing.
It
is
leading
the
country
and
we
are
are
working
as
hard
as
we
can
to
continue
to
break
new
ground.
The
400
percent
increase
in
number
of
people
that
have
been
connected
by
their
doctors
or
primary
prescribers
to
connect
people
with
safe
supply
over
the
last
year
is
encouraging
and
there
is
more
to
do.
F
Let
me
be
clear,
though,
about
what
was
proposed
in
bill
22
and
some
of
the
conversations
that
we
will
have
across
british
columbia
before
that
in
that
legislation
or
some
form
that
is
reintroduced.
It
is
not
the
secure
care
that
the
opposition
has
been
proposing
and
what
exists
in
places
like
alberta.
It
is
not
forced
treatment,
it
is,
it
does
not
involve
the
police,
it's.
F
It
is
a
stabilization
post-youth
overdose
for
a
short
period
where
there
is
an
opportunity
to
connect
young
people
after
they
have
stabilized
with
an
option
for
care.
That
was
the
proposal
made
by
my
friend
and
predecessor
to
this
legislature
last
summer.
It
did
not
have
the
support
of
the
opposition
parties,
and
so
our
work
right
now
is
to
build
out
voluntary
care
which
is
badly
needed
in
british
columbia.
We
have
done
a
lot.
There
is
more
to
do
and
I
look
forward
to
the
broad
conversations
that
will
inform
next
steps.
G
Well,
thank
you
very
much,
mr
speaker.
Audio
visual
by
lee's
music
in
kamloops
had
30
employees.
Today
they
have
six.
Their
revenue
is
down.
80
percent,
as
small
business
owner
mike
miltmore
says,
and
I
quote:
we
desperately
need
to
hold
on
to
our
technicians
as
it
takes
a
long
time
to
train
these
guys.
You
can't
just
go:
go
to
school
to
be
a
navy
tech.
We
need
support
to
keep
these
staff
on
and
also
a
plan
moving
forward.
With
many
of
our
events
permanently
closed.
The
calendar
is
looking
bleak.
G
End
quote
mr
speaker:
lee's
music
does
not
qualify
for
the
circuit.
Breaker
grant
they've
had
to
sell
equipment,
taking
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars
out
of
their
savings
savings
that
no
longer
exist
just
to
survive.
So
my
question
to
the
premier
is
this:
will
the
premier
fix
the
circuit
breaker
grant
so
that
live
event?
Businesses
that
have
been
shut
down
during
the
pandemic
are
eligible
for
desperately
needed
support.
H
H
I
know
that
all
the
members
in
this
chamber
in
the
legislature
should
be
proud
of
that,
because
we
all
are
working
on
this
together.
The
member
knows
that
businesses
are
available
or
have
funds
available
right
now.
For
them
they
can
apply
for
the
small
and
medium-sized
business
recovery
grant
program,
which
is
up
to
thirty
thousand
dollars
and
up
to
forty
five
thousand
dollars.
If
there
are
tourism
operators
happy.
H
If
the
member
brings
that
particular
business
to
my
office,
many
of
his
colleagues
have
come
forward
with
specific
businesses
that
have
been
impacted
and
we've
been
able
to
navigate
and
support
many
of
them,
and
so
I
look
forward
to
having
that
conversation
after
question
period.
G
Thank
you
very
much,
mr
speaker.
Well
we're
16
months
into
this
pandemic.
There
there
there
are
our
businesses
and
their
workers
all
over
the
province
that
continue
to
to
struggle
wondering
what
the
future
is
is
going
to
look
like.
In
fact,
one
out
of
seven
businesses
in
bc
are
at
risk
of
closing
that's
25
000
businesses
and
300
000
workers.
G
Mr
speaker
sectors,
all
over
this
province
are
are
flapping
in
the
wind,
while
the
premier
trips,
over
his
shoelaces,
unable
to
push
grants
and
direct
supports
out
the
door
and
the
minister,
the
premier
and
the
government,
continues
to
say
to
to
to
say
that
that
there
that
this
government
is
number
one
in
supports.
That
is
not
true.
This
government
is
actually
number
eight
in
the
country.
G
G
These
businesses
have
been
completely
shut
down
due
to
the
health
measures
and
most
have
seen
their
revenue
decline
by
80
90
in
some
cases
close
to
100
percent.
It
doesn't
make
sense
that
businesses
impacted
by
these
health
orders,
don't
qualify
for
the
premier's
support
programs.
As
tim
lang
of
pro
show
audiovisual
says,
and
I
quote:
we
are
the
people
and
businesses
that
enable
all
the
conventions
concerts,
conferences,
business,
luncheons,
awards,
galas
and
ceremonies.
We
are
the
people
that
work
unseen
behind
the
scenes
and,
unfortunately,
when
we
now
need
government
to
see
us,
they
do
not.
H
Thank
you,
honor,
speaker
and
again
I'll
remind
the
member
that
we
do
have
the
highest
per
capita
supports,
and
I
think
the
member
may
not
know
this,
but
ontario
has
more
than
three
times
the
population
of
bc,
and
so,
when
he
talks
about
that,
the
fact
that
they
have
three
times
our
support
and
they
have
members
more
than
three
times
simple
math.
Honorable
speaker,
I'm
happy
to
share
more
details
with
the
member.
H
Yes,
as
I
was
saying
honorable
speaker,
I'm
happy
to
share
the
math
with
them.
In
fact,
he's
cited
many
times,
reports
that
have
highlighted
that
we
have
the
highest
per
capita
supports
in
this
in
the
country.
We're
proud
of
that.
On
our
speaker
again,
this
member
has
raised
small
businesses
in
this
chamber
for
his
own
political
purposes.
H
We've
actually
reached
out
to
many
of
the
businesses
that
he's
named
and
actually
got
them
the
opportunity
to
apply
for
small
business
recovery
grant
programs.
H
The
member
mentioned
a
small
business
in
comox,
which
we
were
able
to
reach
out
to
and
say
did
you
know
that
you
could
apply
and
so
and
they
didn't
know
that
they
could
and
we
were
able
to
get
them
in
the
door
to
apply
and
so
auto
speaker
again
happy
if
this
member
wants
to
bring
the
business
names
forward,
we're
happy
to
work
with
many
businesses,
as
we
can
we're
proud
of
our
supports
and
we're
proud
that
we're
at
99.1
percent
of
pre-pandemic
job
levels
on
old
speaker
and
we're
going
to
continue
that
good
work
as
we
come
out
of
the
pandemic.
I
Thank
you,
mr
speaker
and
respectfully.
The
minister
is
wrong.
Bc
does
not
have
the
highest
per
capita
or
the
highest
support
for
business.
It
is
actually
number
eight
ontario
is
spending
three
times
as
much
per
capita
than
bc
is
on
its
grant
program.
I
Chris
briere
of
briere
productions
has
written
over
60
6-0
letters
and
met
with
both
the
member
for
maple
ridge,
pit
meadows
and
the
mate
and
the
member
for
maple
ridge
mission,
but
has
received
none
of
the
support
he's
requested.
He
says,
and
I
quote:
we're
denied
the
bc
circuit
breaker
relief
grant.
That
applies
to
bars
and
gyms,
but
not
the
live
event
sector
and
he's
already
had
a
circuit
breaker
since
march
of
2020.
H
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
and
again,
we
do
have
the
highest
per
capita
supports
in
this
country.
We're
really
proud
of
that
reports
have
confirmed
it
outside
reports
have
confirmed
it
and
sorry,
if
I
don't
rely
on
the
numbers
the
bc
liberals
provide
on
that.
I
would
also
highlight
our
speaker
that
british
columbians
have
done
the
the
work
that's
needed
to
keep
the
the
numbers
relatively
low.
H
We
haven't
had
to
go
into
severe
lockdowns
that
ontario
has
had
to
do
because
of
that
work,
and
so
we
continue
to
encourage
the
public
to
do
what
we
need.
The
minister
of
health
has
been
clear.
Dr
henry
has
been
clear.
We
need
people
to
register,
we
need
people
to
get
vaccinated
so
that
we
can
see
the
economy
open
up
and
continue
to
see
a
strong
economic
recovery.
H
If
there
are
businesses
that
need
supports
for
applying
for
the
small
business
recovery
grant
program,
I'm
happy
for
them
to
bring
them
forward
again.
It's
up
to
forty
five
thousand
dollars
for
businesses
and
and
that
just
touches
on
only
a
small
portion
of
the
supports
that
are
available
on
our
speaker.
The
members
opposite,
of
course,
will
know
that
we
also
have
tax
credits
for
employees.
H
We
also
have
tax
credits
for
hiring
and
rehiring
employees.
We
have
commercial
and
property
tax
relief,
there's
also
programs
from
the
federal
government,
which
is
the
canada
emergency
business
account
which
is
up
to
sixty
thousand
dollars
and
interest-free
loans.
The
canada
emergency
rent
subsidy
program.
We
have
dollars
for
businesses.
Thank
you
get
online
honorable,
speaker,
there's
so
much
financial
support
available
and
we're
happy
if
the
members
are
not
able
to.
J
Vancouver,
mr
speaker,
the
minister
simply
continues
to
be
wrong.
He's
continuing
to
mislead
this
province
bc
doesn't
have
the
highest
support.
We
are
actually
number
eight
per
capita
when
it
comes
to
direct
supports
for
business.
Let's
take
live
event:
businesses,
they
aren't
the
only
group
the
being
shunned
by
the
premier.
Travel
agents
have
also
been
excluded.
One
has
written
to
us
and
he
says
quote:
things
are
about
as
bad
as
they
could
be
right
now
and
we
really
need
the
help.
End
quote.
J
H
Thank
you
honorable
speaker
again,
we
are
very
proud
of
the
highest
per
capita
supports
in
in
this
country,
for
people
and
businesses
and
and
the
members
should
know,
and
in
fact
I'm
surprised.
The
member
doesn't
know
that
tourism
operators
are
eligible
to
apply
for
up
to
forty
five
thousand
dollars
in
in
programming.
That
is
not
have
to
be
paid
back.
H
In
fact,
forty
five
thousand
is
the
highest
in
the
country,
and
I
know
that
they
can
do
the
three
times
math
to
compare
to
ontario
and
they'll,
see
that
our
program
is
significantly
larger
for
tourism
operators
and
so
again,
if
the
member
and
his
colleagues
don't
know
quite
how
to
navigate
to
apply
for
a
small
business
recovery
ground
program.
We're
certainly
happy
to
provide
that
support
in
our
ministry.
K
You,
honorable
speaker
and
the
minister
can
repeat
out
of
date
stats
all
he
wants,
but
he's
just
incorrect.
We
are
not
the
highest.
This
province
is
among
the
lowest
for
getting
money
out
the
door
and,
worse
than
that,
worse
than
that,
barely
half
of
the
allocated
funds
in
bc
have
actually
been
paid
out.
Thus
far,
this
minister
and
this
premier
continue
to
bungle
covet
supports
the
royal
canadian
legion
has
written
to
the
province.
K
They
have
been
directly
affected
by
the
circuit
breaker
health
order,
but
have
been
excluded
from
the
circuit
breaker
grant
veterans
who
have
given
and
continue
to
give
it's
astounding
shameful
and
cruel
that
the
premier
would
punish,
veterans
and
exclude
them
from
the
pandemic.
Supports
question
to
the
premier.
H
Thank
you
speaker
and
there's
not
many
people
in
this
province
that
are
as
proud
as
being
a
legion
member.
As
the
premier
he's
a
proud
member
of
his
local
legion.
We
everybody
in
this
house
are
proud
of
our
veterans
and
and
their
service.
My
grandfather
was
a
veteran.
He
was
a
member,
and
so
I
I
don't
think
that
the
members
should
be
implying
that
somebody
is
more
patriotic
and
more
proud
of
their
legion
than
others.
H
I
think
that
is
does
a
disservice
to
everybody
in
this
in
this
chamber,
the
legions
do
have
access
to
the
canada
emergency
business
loan
program,
which
is
sixty
thousand
dollars
interest-free.
They
do
have
access
to
the
rent
subsidy
program,
which
again
is
available
to
them.
They
do
have
eligib
access
to
the
wage
subsidy
program
as
well,
and
so
honorable
speaker,
to
suggest
that
we
are
not
allowing
the
legion
to
get
access
to
important
services
is
just
incorrect.
L
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Reo
rafting
and
yoga
resort
has
been
providing
internationally
acclaimed
experiences
since
the
1980s
they
applied
for
the
small
business
grant
and
were
rejected
only
because
they
chose
to
invest
in
their
business
prior
to
the
pandemic
and
had
a
negative
cash
flow.
They
say
I
quote.
The
grant's
criteria
demonstrates
a
profound
ignorance
of
how
the
adventure
and
seasonal
tourism
industry
works.
End
quote:
seasonal
tourism
businesses
continue
to
be
left
behind
by
this
premier.
H
Thank
you
honor
speaker,
and
that
the
member
is
again
incorrect.
Seasonal
based
tourism
operators
have
been
receiving
the
small
business
recovery
grant
program,
and
many
of
them
have
also
received
money
for
launch
online,
which
we're
very
proud
of.
I
know
that
the
opposition
thought
that
program
wasn't
needed,
but
that
program
has
been
huge
for
tourism
operators
which
have
been
able
to
now
set
up
online
presence
set
up
their
e-commerce
so
that
they
can
attract
customers
from
a
broader
audience
and
streamline
their
business
operations.
H
Many
tourism
operators
also
applied
and
received
dollars
for
the
digital
boot
camp,
honorable
speaker,
which
provides
businesses
the
opportunity
to
learn
about
how
to
set
up
an
online
pres
operations.
In
fact,
many
tourism
operators-
and
I
can
share
many
examples,
but
we're
running
out
of
time
have
actually
pivoted
to
brand
new
business
opportunities.