►
From YouTube: MAY 19 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
C
C
D
Premier,
thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
I
thank
the
leader
of
the
opposition
for
a
question.
I
I
just
before
we
give
the
field
to
the
minister
responsible.
Of
course
this
is
a
bill.
That's
before
the
house,
normally
not
the
subject
of
question
period,
but
that's
fine.
I
want
to
correct
a
couple
of
the
points
that
the
honourable
member
made.
First
and
foremost,
she
talked
about
hiding
reports.
No
such
thing
happened.
A
report
was
commissioned
by
the
ministry
of
health
and
when
it
was
received
by
the
minister,
it
was
made
public.
D
So,
at
the
very
moment
we
were
trying
to
put
in
place
restrictions
to
protect
and
keep
people
well
in
long-term
care.
Others
were
saying
we
need
to
open
up
the
doors
so
that
families
can
spend
quality
time
together,
and
I
agree
with
that.
Everyone
in
this
house
would
agree
with
that,
but
public
health
has
to
make
those
tough
decisions.
These
were
not
decisions
made
by
the
minister.
They
were
not
decisions
made
by
me.
C
And
when
it
comes
to
decisions,
a
policy
decision
was
made
and
192
people
after
that
decision
was
made,
lost
their
lives.
This
government
promised
to
review
and
it's
up
to
the
premier
to
deliver
so
that
those
families
have
some
degree
of
comfort,
but
I'm
sure
that
the
premier
is
aware
that
the
information
and
privacy
commissioner,
today
not
just
wrote
a
letter
but
in
fact
did
a
media
release
about
this
government's
latest
lack
of
transparency
and
it's
related
directly
to
the
minister's
refusal
to
make
nbc
subject
to
foi
legislation.
So,
let's
be
clear,
the
questions.
B
B
B
C
Thank
you
honorable
speaker,
so
let
me
refer
directly
then,
to
the
media
release
that
my
question
relates
to
mr
speaker.
In
fact,
the
privacy
bc,
information
and
privacy,
commissioner,
is
urging
the
provincial
government
to
do
something
very
specific
and
in
fact
it's
so
specific
that
the
minister
responsible
could
actually
do
it
this
afternoon,
it's
in
it's
within
her
regulation
making
authority.
Oh.
B
C
Mr
speaker,
the
question
relates
to
a
news
release
issued
today.
The
question
goes
to
the
premier:
will
the
premier
commit
to
responding
to
the
recommendation
in
the
news
release
issued
today
made
by
the
information
and
privacy
commissioner.
E
E
Now
the
member
will
also
know
that
fund
has
about
180
million
dollars
and
kensington
capital
in
fact
notified
the
government
at
the
time
that
this
would
have
a
chilling
effect.
The
possibility
of
sensitive
information
being
made
public
could
have
a
chilling
effect,
so
the
government
at
the
time
decided
that
they
were
not
going
to
put
it
under
fy
normal
speakers.
So
the
legislation
in
front
of
the
house
is
a
continuation
of
the
immigration
fund
to
make
it
into
the
nbc
corporation.
E
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
Well,
the
questions
that
we
are
are
trying
to
canvas
here
relates
to
a
very
strong
statement
that
was
put
out
by
the
freedom
of
information
and
protection
privacy.
Commissioner,
earlier
today
he
he
didn't
just
write
and
release
a
public
letter,
but
he
actually
put
out
a
a
news
release
on
this
topic.
A
The
the
the
the
reality
of
what
we're
asking
for
here
is
will.
Will
the
government
ensure
that,
on
on
in
the
best
interests
of
the
taxpayers
of
british
columbia,
will
they
will
the
government
ensure
that
the
minister
responsible
for
the
freedom
of
information
and
protection
and
privacy
act
uses
her
regulatory
powers
to
add
in
bc
to
schedule
two
of
the
act?
That's
the
question
and
in
in
in
the
members.
B
A
The
commissioners
in
the
commissioners
in
the
commissioner's
letter,
in
reference
to
statements
that
have
been
made
by
the
minister
of
jobs
and
the
minister
responsible
for
foib,
the
commissioner
says-
and
I
quote
it
would
be
no
answer
to
say
that
fitbit
coverage
is
unnecessary,
because
nbc
will
be
required
to
release
annual
reports
and
will
be
subject
to
external
reviews.
Its
annual
reports
are
to
be
in
a
form
and
manner
specified
by
the
minister,
and
external
reviews
will
occur
only
every
five
years.
A
This
is
the
important
part.
These
accountability
mechanisms
fall
far
short
of
what
is
needed
and
lack
the
ongoing
transparency
afforded
through
the
access
to
information
regime.
End
quote
so,
mr
mr
speaker,
the
question
to
the
premier
is:
will
he
direct
the
minister
responsible
for
the
for
for
the
freedom
of
information
act
to
include
in
bc
in
in
the
coverage
that
is
afforded
by
the
trade?
The
important
transparency
measures
that
are
afforded
through
the
freedom
of
information
and
privacy
act.
B
D
Powers
premiere,
thank
you,
humble
speaker
and
rare,
is
it
that
I
take
advice
from
the
minister
responsible
for
the
triple
delete
scandal
on
freedom
of
information.
D
But
I
will
say
this:
we
take
this
very
seriously
on
this
side
of
the
house.
I
am
not
aware
of
the
comments
from
the
freedom
information
privacy,
commissioner,
I
will
take
it
up
after
question
period
and
I
invite
the
leader
of
the
opposition
to
sit
down
with
me.
We
can
have
a
full
discussion
about
this
issue,
while
the
bill
that
is
in
question
is
before
the
house.
A
Well,
thank
you
very
much,
mr
mr
speaker.
The
the
government
is
is:
has
a
plan
to
to
risk
half
a
billion
dollars
of
taxpayers
money
through
through
nbc
the
the
bc
investment
management
corporation,
which
manages
hundreds
of
billions
of
dollars
of
of
assets,
is
covered
under
the
the
freedom
of
information
and
protection
and
privacy
act.
The
the
commissioner
actually
references
that
in
his
letter
and
his
news
release
that
he
put
out
only
hours
ago
today,
he
says
in
closing
that,
and
I
quote.
A
I
therefore
urge
the
government
to
support
the
minister
responsible
in
adding
nbc
as
a
public
body
under
schedule.
Two
of
fipa
using
her
regulation-making
powers,
end
quote
so
again
to
the
premier.
A
Will
he
commit
today
to
the
people
of
british
columbia
that
he
will
ensure
that
the
transparency
that
they're
entitled
to
not
that
the
government
feels
may
or
may
not
be
necessary,
but
that
the
public
is
entitled
to?
Will
he
direct
the
minister
responsible
to
include
in
bc
under
the
coverage
of
the
freedom
of
information
and
protection
privacy
act,
and
do
so
immediately.
B
D
Thank
you,
roman
speaker
and
again
I
don't
know
I've
not
seen
the
document
that's
being
referred
to.
If
I,
if,
if
the
member's
reading
at
all,
not
just
every
third
word,
then
maybe
there's
something
to
be
said
about
it,
but
the
the
challenge
we
have
here
honorable
speaker
is
youthful
know
full
well.
D
The
challenge
we
have
honorable
speaker
is
that
there
is
a
bill
before
the
house.
That
is
a
fact.
It's
undeniable.
The
debate
can
take
place.
I
believe,
shortly
after
question
period
is
terminated,
and
that
would
be
an
ideal
opportunity
for
the
members
to
raise
this
question.
I
have
committed
to
the
leader
of
the
opposition
to
review
the
material
from
an
independent
officer
of
the
legislature
and
sit
down
with
her
through
you,
honorable
chair,
and
have
a
discussion
about
how
best
to
manage
the
issue.
D
G
G
G
G
F
Thank
you
very
much,
mr
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
leader
of
the
third
party
for
her
question.
The
study
came
out
the
international
energy
agency
report
just
yesterday,
and
we
will
be
reviewing
how
its
key
findings
apply
here
in
british
columbia.
She,
the
report
is
focused
on
the
global
energy
market
and
it
will
take
a
little
while
to
to
decide
and
analyze
it
as
to
how
it
applies
in
british
columbia.
F
We
are
committed
as
a
government
to
strong
climate
action
through
clean
bc,
which
includes
actions
across
sectors
to
reduce
emissions
and
build
a
clean
economy
for
everyone.
We
have
ambitious
targets,
including
an
interim
target
and
sectoral
targets
and
leading
policies
to
help
us
make
progress
towards
our
goals,
to
cut
pollution
and
support
people.
So
we're
currently
developing
a
road
map
to
meet
our
greenhouse
gas
emission
targets
and
put
us
on
a
path
to
meeting
net
zero
by
2050,
which
will
be
released
later
this
year.
G
Meanwhile,
the
rest
of
the
world
seems
to
be
getting
on
board
with
net
zero.
We
are
going
in
the
opposite
direction.
Honorable
speaker,
the
international
energy
association
is
the
most
authoritative
energy
body
in
the
world.
This
isn't
a
report
from
an
environmental
group.
This
is
not
the
green
party
that
is
saying
this.
Iea
scenarios
drive
global
investment
strategies
and
government
policy,
their
warning
that
there
will
be
a
deep
decline
in
global
demand
for
oil
and
gas
and
that
we
do
not
need
any
new
lng
projects,
including
those
that
are
already
in
construction.
G
F
Sorry,
I
thought
I'd
left
it
on.
Thank
you
very
much
for
the
question.
The
report,
which
is
a
very
comprehensive
one
which
is
being
digested
globally,
came
as
a
bit
of
a
surprise.
I
think
to
many
observers.
Certainly
that's
the
view
in
many
of
the
financial
papers
around
the
world
as
they
analyze
this
report.
F
We
have
a
strong
climate
action
plan
and
we
are
pursuing
it.
Any
decision
to
make
further
investments
in
the
lng
sector
is
largely
a
private
sector
decision
and
are
the
the
one
project.
That's
proceeding.
The
lng,
canada
project
is
already
accounted
for
in
the
greenhouse
gas
modeling
for
lean
clean
bc.
So
that's
where
the
where
the
situation
is
in
british
columbia
and
the
private
sector
will
make
its
own
decisions
and
its
own
evaluation
of
that
report.
H
H
But
the
fact
is,
it's
simply
not
enough
not
enough
to
save
attractions
like
the
peony
and
no
support
for
festivals
events
and
locations
that
don't
operate.
Year-Round
like
billy
barker
days
or
the
cornell
rodeo
and
regional
factors
that
didn't
matter
when
it
came
to
pandemic
restrictions
now
do
matter
for
pandemic
supports.
I
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
I
appreciate
the
question
from
the
member
opposite
yesterday.
The
premier
and
I
did
respond
with
a
significant
investment.
50
million
dollars.
It's
a
it's
a
grant.
It's
not
a
loan.
It's
not
repayable!
It's
a
call
to
action
from
the
sector.
The
sector
has
told
us
that
they
can't
have
large
groups
of
people
large
groups
of
visitors
going
through
their
turn.
Styles
together.
This
has
been
a
call
to
action
from
the
sector.
I
mentioned
in
my
budget
debates
last
week
that
an
announcement
was
coming
this
week.
This
is
good
news.
I
It's
a
call
to
action,
it's
being
responsive
to
the
needs
to
help
some
in
urban
areas
receive
up
to
a
million
dollars,
half
a
million
dollars
in
rural
communities
and
up
to
half
a
million
dollars
for
tour
operators
to
help
visitors
to
get
to
these
destinations
of
choice.
I
believe
it's
a
good
news
announcement.
The
premier
and
I
stand
behind
this
announcement
because
it
was
a
call
to
action
from
the
sector
who
has
told
us
what
they
need
to
sustain
their
first
affections
once
we
get
out
of
this
pandemic.
H
Let's
take,
for
example,
one
of
the
most
iconic
anchor
properties
in
british
columbia.
Mr
speaker
barkerville
attracts
70
000
visitors
and
represents
25
million
in
tourism
activity.
They
face
a
nearly
seven
hundred
thousand
dollar
shortfall,
but
can't
access
the
full
support
simply
because
of
where
they
are
located.
H
If
barkerville
fort
steel
or
the
bc,
northern
exis
exhibition
were
located
in
the
premier's
riding,
they
would
be
eligible
for
twice
the
support
not
deemed
second-class
attractions
under
the
premier's
two-tier
system
of
supports.
Why
isn't
the
premier
providing
support
based
on
what
these
attractions
need
to
survive
instead
of
an
arbitrary
criteria
and
lines
on
a
map.
I
Tourism,
thank
you
honorable
speaker,
and
I
don't
really
appreciate
the
member
opposites.
Innuendo.
Around
this
being
partisan,
we've
worked
with
the
tourism
industry.
We've
sought
council
on
how
to
support
the
sector.
We
work
closely
with
the
sector.
I
know
the
members
opposite
kind
of
laugh
at
this
idea
of
listening
to
the
sector,
but
we're
listening
and
responding
yesterday
was
a
50
million
dollar
announcement
to
support
sectors.
Now
urban
communities
and
urban
attractions
are
going
to
have
a
higher
threshold
of
visitors
in
rural
communities.
They're
going
to
have
a
lower
threshold.
I
The
urban
is
75
000.
The
rural
is
15
000..
There
is
a
consideration
to
acknowledge
that
all
the
money
can't
go
to
the
city
because
then
the
member's
office
that
would
be
consid,
complaining
that
this
is
all
about
the
city.
We
are
taking
a
whole
of
government
approach,
we
are
supporting
the
provincial
tourism
ecosystem
and
I
will
welcome
the
member
opposite
to
encourage
folks
to
apply.
This
is
a
grant.
It's
not
alone
it's
to
support
these
really
vitally
important
attractions,
so
that
they're
there
to
welcome
visitors
when
it's
safe
to
do
so.
J
J
J
We've
been
asking
this
government
to
save
the
p
e
for
more
than
a
year,
and
just
last
week
the
tourism
minister
in
estimates
said
she
knew
that
the
peony
had
been
deeply
hit.
But
yesterday
the
primer
claimed
he
needed
to
quote
have
a
better
understanding
of
the
challenges
that
they
face.
End
quote:
everyone
knows
the
challenges
they
face.
Will
the
premier
step
up
to
provide
the
eight
million
dollars
or
not.
I
I
Yesterday
we
made
an
announcement
to
allow
people
like
the
peony
organizations
like
the
peony
to
apply
for
million
dollar
grant.
This
is
to
help
provide
relief.
I
want
to
go
back
to
the
member
opposites.
What
statements
around
the
city
of
vancouver
it
is
owned
by
the
city.
We
are
working
with
the
city.
We
are
working
with
the
federal
government.
I've
I've
raised
the
issue
numerous
times
with
minister
jolie,
the
federal
government's
budget
announced
relief
for
festivals.
We
just
announced
relief
yesterday
about
supporting
organizations
like
the
peony
we've
got
to
work
together
on
this.
I
Governments
must
come
together
to
support
the
p
e.
That
is
how
government
works.
I
appreciate
that
this
is
an
iconic
institution,
the
first
job
for
for
many
young
people,
and
it's
going
to
be
there
for
generations
to
come
as
long
as
we
continue
working
together,
but
for
right
now
I
would
encourage
the
feeney
to
apply.
This
is
a
signal
to
them
when
I
met
with
zapini
last
friday.
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker.
J
This
government
just
can't
get
it
right,
even
the
mayor
of
vancouver,
was
shocked
at
how
the
ndp
has
bungled
relief
funding.
This
is
what
the
mayor
said:
quote:
I'm
pretty
gobsmacked
about
getting
shafted
over
this.
The
province
decided
to
renege
on
the
federal
agreement.
End
quote
now:
the
mayor
is
saying
the
premier
has
left
the
p
e
quote
critically
short
of
the
funding.
They
need
to
continue
operating
as
we've
known
and
loved
for
over
a
century.
D
Premier,
thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
I'm
glad
that
the
member
from
vancouver
did
figure
out
that
the
ownership
of
the
p
e
resides
in
the
city
of
vancouver.
They
have
a
responsibility
to
work
with
other
orders
of
government,
the
province
and
the
federal
government
to
come
up
with
a
solution
for
the
p
e,
and
that
is
in
process.
We
announced
yesterday
that
our
part
as
a
first
step
is
a
bill,
a
million
dollars
in
grants.
I've
worked
with
the
prime
minister
on
on
other
tourism-related
issues
in
british
columbia.
D
The
city
of
vancouver's
gotta
have
to
step
up
a
little
bit
here,
and
the
three
orders
of
government
will
figure
it
out.
But
I
have
to
say
honorable
speaker,
I
have
to
say
we're.
Gonna
figure
it
out
with
no
help
from
the
member
on
the
other
side,
because
he's
too
focused
on
running
for
the
leadership
of
a
moribund
political
party.
K
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
since
the
premier
is
quick
to
get
on
his
feet,
maybe
he
can.
He
can
help
us
with
this
one.
K
Vesaki
has
been
cancelled
twice
now,
and
we
all
agree
that
we
need
to
ensure
that
it
comes
back
stronger
than
ever
after
this
pandemic,
we've
seen
enormous
support
for
this
community
they've
raised
money,
they've
driven
food
banks,
but
now
they
need
us,
and
this
government
has
again,
as
of
yesterday,
come
up
short.
My
question
is
the
premier:
why
aren't
major
events
like
vasaki
considered
as
anchor
attractions.
E
I
appreciate
that
they
have
a
line
of
questioning
to
your
honor
speaker
I'll,
encourage
the
member
to
maybe
visit
one
of
the
godvaras
and
he'll.
Learn
that
the
vasaki
isn't
the
the
megakitten
is
not
a
event
in
that
form.
It's
not
a
business
operation.
It's
not
trying
to
make
money.
This
is
a
religious.
E
I
I
suggest
they
do
their
homework.
I
I
appreciate
now
they
don't
have
any
members
from
the
south
asian
community
in
their
caucus
anymore,
honorable
speaker,
and
so
perhaps
they
don't
have
that
contact
in
the
community,
but
they
should
take
an
opportunity
to
learn
about
the
religious
significance
of
this
event
and
they'll
find
that
the
temples
do
this
as
a
service
to
the
community
not
to
make
money
not
to
run
a
profitable
business,
and
those
temples
will
continue
to
do
that
important
work.
L
L
They
are
on
the
hook
for
over
585
thousand
dollars
in
lisa,
since
they
asked
for
help,
but
the
minister
kept
on
telling
me
to
stay
tuned
for
an
announcement
due
to
this
premium
incompetence.
He
excluded
festivals
and
events
like
the
night
market
from
their
major
anchor
attractions
program
of
the
min.
I
hope
the
premier
can
get
up
and
respond
to
my
following
question:
why
is
the
premier
designing
support
to
festivals
and
events.
I
I
There
is
relief
through
the
tourism
grant,
the
small
and
medium
business
grant
that
is
available.
It
was
a
call
to
action
from
the
tourism
task
force
or
organizations
to
apply.
I've
suggested
to
the
member
to
encourage
the
night
market
to
apply
for
the
grants.
That
is
what
it's
available
for.
Yesterday's
targeted
funds
is
to
support
those
anchor
attractions
that
rely
on
large
groups
of
people
and
a
turnstile
to
gather
encourage
our
organizations
to
apply.
I
That
is
what
the
announcement's
about
it's
about,
investing
in
the
critically
important
tourism
ecosystem,
and
I
want
to
reiterate
that
the
federal
government
announced
just
one
day
before
our
budget
200
million
dollars
that
is
going
to
events
and
festivals,
200
million
dollars
to
community
festivals.
Those
are
investments
that
we've
had
advocated
for
and
we're
going
to
do
our
level
best
relentlessly
and
advocates
to
make
sure
that
that
money
comes
to
british
columbia.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
honorable
speaker.
M
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
williams
lake
stampede
listened
intently
to
that
announcement
yesterday
and
felt
that
they
don't
qualify
or,
at
the
very
least
they
were
very
confused.
In
march,
the
williams
lake
stampede
announced
that
they
would
be
canceling
their
event
for
the
second
year
in
a
row.
Mr
speaker,
this
year
would
have
marked
95
years
for
the
world
famous
williams
lake
stampede.
M
They
contribute
more
than
3
million
dollars
to
the
local
community
and
to
the
economy
of
the
caribou
chilton,
but
apparently,
unlike
the
p
e
they're,
not
able
to
get
a
single
dollar
from
the
major
attractions
program
because
they're
an
event.
Mr
speaker
to
the
premier.
Why
are
events
like
the
williams
lake
stampede
left
out
of
these
funding
opportunities.
I
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker.
Yesterday's
announcement
was
to
invest
in
major
anchor
attractions.
It's
a
grant.
It's
not
a
loan.
We
are
going
to
continue
doing
our
advocacy
with
the
federal
government
to
ensure
that
bc
gets
its
fair
share
or
events,
but
I
would
encourage
the
member
to
work
with
his
constituents
to
apply
for
this
grant
and
we
will
do
our
level
best
on
our
side
to
ensure
that
we
support
these
important
institutions
across
the
province.
That
is
what
our
min
our
ministries
mandate
is
to
do
we're
here
to
help
work
with
me.