►
From YouTube: MARCH 3 2022 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
3rd Session
42nd Parliament
C
Mr
speaker,
british
columbians
have
done
and
are
doing
their
part
to
fight
covet
19..
They
have
overwhelmingly
got
vaccinated
and
boosted,
and
now
they
want
government
to
do
their
part
too.
People
are
asking
for
clarity,
mr
speaker,
in
how
british
colombia
is
moving
forwards
to
an
endemic
approach
to
managing
covet
19,
but
so
far
we
are
yet
to
see
clear,
specific
metrics
targets
or
timelines
for
lifting
the
remaining
restrictions.
D
She
repeated
that
statement
on
a
number
of
occasions
in
between
time,
as
did
I,
and
on
the
day
where
we
said
we
would
respond,
we
did
and
changes
were
made
to
ease
restrictions
when
that
announcement
was
made.
Specific
dates
were
given,
as
well
as
to
when
the
remaining
restrictions
would
be
considered.
We're
following
that
schedule,
precisely
we're
continuing
to
follow
the
advice
of
public
health,
and
I
think
it's
that
clarity
that
has
allowed
us
to
keep
schools
open
where
other
jurisdictions
have
not.
D
And
I
thank
honourable
speaker
to
work
very
closely.
I'm
very
proud
of
the
work
public
health
has
done
with
the
business
community
with
the
labor
community,
with
the
nonprofit
community,
with
those
who
work
with
people
with
developmental
disabilities
with
school
communities
and
with
many
others
about
coveted
restrictions
and
their
impact.
So
we've
been
clear
precise
to
the
day
and
we
will
continue
to
be.
C
You,
mr
speaker,
we
british
colombians
are
left
wondering
what
reviewed
means
they're
wondering
what
being
considered
means.
So
bc
is
an
outlier
when
it
comes
to
a
clear
and
transparent
specific
plan
for
lifting
covet
19
restrictions.
C
British
colombians
have
followed
the
rules
to
fight
this
virus,
so
it's
only
fair
to
ask
for
clear,
specific
metrics
when
it
comes
to
lifting
restrictions.
In
fact,
just
last
year
the
bc
restart
plan
had
targets
for
hospitalizations
case
counts
and
vaccination
rates.
It
makes
no
sense
that
we
don't
have
that
same
level
of
transparency
today.
Surely
there
are
specific
indicators
that
will
be
used
to
make
these
decisions
so
again
to
the
premier.
What
specifically,
are
the
clear
scientific
metrics
for
how
the
remaining
covet
19
restrictions
will
be
lifted?.
D
Minister
of
health,
honorable
speaker
every
day
we
provide
specific
metrics
on
how
covet
19
is
going
in
british
columbia.
The
member
will
know
that.
Yesterday
we
saw
two
things.
We
saw
the
number
of
people
in
hospital.
I
think
it
was
516
yesterday
and
that
is
less
than
half
than
it
was
at
the
height
of
the
omnicom
variant
of
concern
pandemic,
which
was
1058.
D
D
It's
why
we've
taken
a
balanced
approach,
as
we
have
from
the
beginning,
other
jurisdictions
have
moved
their
restrictions
up
and
down
more
quickly
and
clearly-
and
it's
true
other
jurisdictions
have
relied
less
clearly
on
public
health
than
we
have,
but
the
situation
continues
to
be
a
serious
one
and
it's
why
a
balanced
approach
is
required.
It's
why,
on
the
day
that
dr
henry
said,
she
would
address
the
lifting
of
restrictions
she
did.
She
gave
four
weeks
notice
of
that
repeatedly
updated.
D
It
gave
a
clear
plan
with
clear
metrics
as
to
why
that
was
happening
laid
it
out
remarkably,
including
yesterday.
She
also
at
that
time
gave
specific
dates.
I
don't
know
how
you
can
be
more
specific
than
giving
specific
dates
and
that's
existing
the
existing
restrictions
would
be
reconsidered,
so
the
information
is
clear.
The
evidence
is
clear.
The
challenge
continues
and
the
balanced
approach
remains-
and
I
don't
know
honorable
speaker
of
any
jurisdiction
in
north
america
that
can
be
prouder
of
public
health
in
british
columbia.
E
E
The
last
restart
plan
had
very
specific
targets
for
case
counts,
hospitalizations,
the
number
of
vaccinations.
We
don't
have
that
now
we
have
a
date
on
the
calendar
where
british
columbians
have
been
told
that
the
restrictions
will
be
reviewed.
I
think
the
minister
would
understand
that
there
is
uncertainty.
There
is
anxiety.
E
D
Last
week
about
13
500
health
care
workers
were
off
sick,
not
all
with
cobit
19,
there's
a
lot
of
health
care
workers
in
the
system,
but
that's
significantly
more
than
is
usually
the
case.
So
what
is
what
goes
into
the
consideration
modeling
and
that
has
been
routinely
provided
to
the
opposition
and
to
the
people
of
bc
by
dr
henry
in
public
health
hospitalizations,
test
positivity,
which
is
more
important
right
now
than
case
counts,
specifically
because
of
the
nature
of
the
omicron
variant
of
concern,
something
that
dr
henry
has
described
at
great
length.
D
The
number
of
people
in
critical
care
vaccination
rates.
All
of
these
go
in
to
the
consideration
by
public
health
and
making
the
decisions,
and
so
those
are
reviewed.
Our
progress
is
reviewed
every
day,
not
just
by
dr
henry
and
her
team,
but
by
the
people
of
bc,
who
see
the
results
both
in
the
number
of
people
in
bc,
who
are
who
are
still
struggling
and
will
continue
to
struggle
with
cloven
19.
For
some
time,
the
impact
of
measures
on
communities-
and
so
we
review
these
things
consistently.
D
The
people
of
bc
have
responded
with
more
adherence
to
public
health
measures
than
anywhere
else
in
d.c
and
that's
in
part
because
dr
henry
and
her
team
have
been
so
open,
I
think
thoughtful
in
their
communications
on
those
very
issues.
So,
honourable
speaker,
that
approach
will
continue.
The
members
can
expect
to
hear
on
specific
dates
the
next
steps
in
the
cloven
19
pandemic.
D
E
Well,
thank
you
very
much
and
I
I
think
what
the
minister,
the
point
the
minister
is
missing,
is
that,
as
british
colombians
have
continued
day
after
day
month
after
month
to
do
the
right
thing
as
they
sit
in
british
columbia
today.
What
they
hear
from
this
government
is
here's
the
next
date
that
we'll
let
you
know-
and
we
are
far
past
the
time
where
that
is
good
enough
as
they
as
british
columbians
sit
and
watch
other
jurisdictions
across
the
country.
E
E
F
E
E
E
E
They
have
timelines
in
place
specifically
about
when
those
mandates
will
be
lifted
and
ontario
has
dropped
their
vaccine
passport
every
province,
but
bc
have
announced
that
they
are
completely
ending
the
use
of
the
vaccine
passport.
We're
simply
asking
what
I
think
is
an
important
question
in
this
legislature.
E
D
Minister
of
health,
thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
I
think
the
leader
of
the
oppositions
knows
that
I'm
always
ready
to
discuss
with
anybody
at
any
time
and
answer
questions
at
any
time,
and
I
don't
consider
any
question
to
be
illegitimate
of
any
kind
about
the
covet
19
pandemic.
This
is
something
we're
all
living
through
together
and
that's
why,
during
the
period
of
the
omicron
variant
of
concern,
we
took
specific
measures
to
keep
people
safe
in
bc.
We
went
up
to
1058,
hospitalizations
were
now
down
at
516..
D
Yesterday
there
were
9
350
people
in
acute
care,
hospitals,
that's
more
than
our
base
bed
capacity,
but
significantly
less
than
our
base
and
surge
bed
capacities.
But
it's
a
significant
issue.
There
are
432
people
in
critical
care.
These
are
the
measures
that
we
look
at
every
day.
The
trajectory
is
in
the
right
direction,
but
again
it
is.
D
We
need
people
to
continue
to
do
what
they
have
been
doing,
which
is
overwhelmingly
following
the
mass
mandate
overwhelmingly
getting
vaccinated
overwhelmingly
using
their
bc
vaccine
card
to
continue
to
drive
down
those
rates,
because,
even
though
516
is
less
than
1558,
it's
still
516
people
and
even
though
73
people
are
in
critical
care.
Surely
we
all
agree
that
73
people
too
many
with
covid19,
so
we
continue
to
have
to
take
the
steps
necessary.
We've
laid
out
a
specific
time
frame,
it's
hospitalization.
G
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker.
This
is
a
quote
from
a
cbc
article
from
february
27th
advocates
say
the
lack
of
progress
on
a
safe
supply
of
drugs
in
bc
and
a
fixation
on
treating
addiction
instead
is
in
keeping
with
the
bc
ndp's
approach,
since
they
came
into
power
in
2017
and
hindering
any
efforts
to
stop
the
deaths.
G
G
If
every
person
with
substance
use
disorder
was
to
recover
in
british
columbia,
our
toxic
drug
market
would
still
kill
people,
because
not
all
people
who
use
drugs
are
addicted.
In
fact,
the
chief
coroner
made
it
very
clear
that
the
majority
of
people
dying
from
drugs
are
not
frequent
drug
users
and
do
not
have
a
substance
use
disorder.
G
This
is
fundamentally
not
about
addiction,
but
this
government
refuses
to
recognize
the
reality
that
in
this
province,
more
than
a
hundred
thousand
people
use
drugs
and
are
at
risk
of
dying
from
a
poison
supply.
This
is
a
health
emergency,
not
an
overdose
crisis
through
you,
honorable
speaker,
because
it
is
a
health
emergency
to
the
minister
of
health.
G
F
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
I
am
honored
to
be
the
minister
of
mental
health
and
addictions
and
with
the
assigned
responsibility
for
overdose
response,
mental
health
and
building
a
system
of
mental
health
and
addictions
care
that
did
not
exist
in
2017
when
we
took
government,
I
give
thanks
every
day
for
the
health
care
system
and
health
authorities
that
are
fighting
to
public
health
emergencies,
while
building
that
system
of
care
simultaneously.
F
The
budget
commitment
in
last
year's
budget
over
the
three-year
fiscal
plan
dedicates
over
half
a
billion
dollars
to
building
up
that
mental
health
and
addiction
system
of
care,
with
22.6
million
dollars,
dedicated
specifically
to
prescribe
safe
supply,
prescribe
safe
supply
being
the
the
bandwidth
that
the
provincial
government
has
within
a
federal
system,
that
is,
our
mechanism
to
deliver
prescribed
safe
supply
to
separate
people
from
the
toxic
drug
supply
with
the
use
of
prescribers.
F
We
are
grateful
to
health
authorities,
to
the
federal,
safer
programs
and
to
prescribers
nurse
prescribers
and
doctors
who
are
separating
people
from
the
toxic
drug
supply.
This
was
mentioned
in
the
finance
minister's
speech.
It
was
echoed
in
our
budget,
but
because
long-term
planning
is
needed,
it
was
in
last
year's
budget.
We
are
spending
at
an
unprecedented
level
on
treatment
and
recovery
on
fighting
stigma
through
our
decriminalization
application
and
our
work
with
the
construction
industry
and
other
partners
to
be
back
stigma
to
do
drug
testing
treatment,
recovery,
supervised
consumption
sites
and
prescribe
safe
supply.
G
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and-
and
I
think
this
reinforces
exactly
what
was
pointed
out
by
advocates,
which
has
been
pointed
out
by
experts,
which
has
been
pointed
out
by
health
professionals-
is
that
we
are
treating
this
like
an
addictions
crisis.
It's
not
an
addictions
crisis.
It
is
a
toxic
supply
crisis.
If
one
in
ten
bottles
of
wine
we're
killing
people
in
this
province,
we
wouldn't
have
a
minister
stand
up
and
say
we're
going
to
build
a
system
of
care.
G
This
government
applauds
itself
for
introducing
safer,
prescribed
alternatives
to
the
toxic
drug
market.
100
of
the
12
000
people
given
prescribed
safe
supply
in
2021
and
2020
were
given
withdrawal
management
substances,
not
true
safe
supply,
and
it
doesn't
mention
the
tens
of
thousands
more
people
who
don't
have
a
prescription
of
safe
supply
and
will
never
get
one.
G
It's
honorable
speaker,
it's
it's
hard
for
me
to
understand
the
acceptance
of
seven
people
dying
every
day
and
not
thinking.
Oh,
what
we're
doing
right
now
isn't
working,
because
things
are
getting
worse.
More
people
are
dying,
not
people
with
substance
use
disorders,
not
people
with
addictions.
People
who
use
once
in
a
while.
G
This
government
tells
you
its
priorities
by
where
it
spends
its
money,
and
this
government
is
not
spending
money
to
stop
these
preventable
deaths.
My
question
through
you,
honorable
speakers
to
the
premier:
why
does
this
government
lack
the
political
will
to
implement
true
harm
reduction
solutions
that
will
actually
prevent
the
death
of
seven
people
every
day.
F
Mr
speaker,
not
a
single
death
is
acceptable
in
this
province
and
never
has
there
been
so
much
spent
on
mental
health
and
addictions
2.8
billion
dollars
a
year
now
under
this
government
there
is,
there
are
a
multitude
of
reasons
where
people
fall
into
addiction
or
into
drug
use,
and
so
we
are
addressing.
F
We
are
hitting
that
crisis
with
everything
with
better
pain
management,
with
better
occupational
safety,
with
anti-stigma
campaigns
carried
out
with
the
construction
industry,
with
sports
organizations
like
bc,
lions
and
the
bc
canucks
we're
applying
for
decriminalization
to
more
clearly
assert
that
drug
use
is
a
health
care
problem,
not
a
criminal
justice
problem.
We
are
doubling
youth
treatment
beds,
we
are
adding
hundreds
of
treatment
beds
every
year
and
because
it
is
the
power
that
a
province
has
within
a
federal
framework,
we
are
offering
prescribed
safe
supply,
the
only
province
in
canada.
That
does
so.
F
I
am
very
encouraged
that
I
now
have
a
federal
counterpart.
The
federal
government
has
mirrored
british
columbia's
adoption
of
having
the
first
in
canada,
minister
of
mental
health
and
addictions
with
a
federal
counterpart
in
minister
carolyn
bennett.
There
may
well
be
conversations
about
how
to
expand
safe
supply
within
the
federal
framework.
These
are
the
powers
that
we
have.
British
columbia
is
hitting
this
with
every
tool
we
have
and
before
the
pandemic,
the
number
of
deaths
did
drop
and
then
the
toxicity
of
drugs
has
spiked
in
a
heartbreaking.
F
H
H
I
Thank
you
honorable
speaker,
so
I'd
like
to
let
all
the
members
of
the
house
know
that
the
current
bcbid
site
is
actually
more
than
25
years
old.
It
no
longer
meets
the
needs
of
people
and
the
businesses
who
do
use
it,
and
our
government
is
doing
what
the
members
opposite
failed
to
do
and
that
is
fix.
The
system
we
need
a
system.
I
H
H
H
I
I
This
is
a
huge
large,
complex
system
that
the
work
has
taken
longer
than
expected.
Of
course,
we
we
were
affected
by
the
impacts
brought
about
by
the
coven
19
pandemic
and
other
factors
associated
with
the
complicated
technical
redevelopment
of
a
25
year
old
legacy
program
that
was
falling
apart.
The
new
bc
bid
is
being
worked
on
now,
as
I've
said
in
my
previous
answer.
I
A
Mr
speaker,
the
minister
wonders
why
we
are
doubtful
about
the
accuracy
of
what
she
advises.
This
house,
her
own
documents
obtained
by
foi,
mr
speaker,
confirm
that
the
work
on
this
project
was
initiated
in
2015
and
she
deliberately
tries
to
suggest
to
the
house
that
that
is
not
so,
and
that,
mr
speaker
is
unacceptable.
A
A
J
A
After
page
after
page
of
documents
obtained
by
foi
confirm
mr
speaker
that
this
project
is
years
behind
schedule
significantly
over
budget
and
continues
to
be
plagued
by
problems,
and
the
minister
has
tried
deliberately
to
conceal
that
fact
from
this
house
for
the
past
three
years.
Why
has
she
done
that,
mr
speaker,
and
why
would
she
be
honest
about
this.
B
I
I
I
I
don't
know
what
the
members
don't
understand
about
fixing
a
25
year
old
legacy
system
that
was
left
falling
apart.
We
are
doing
the
hard
work.
We
are
testing
the
application
with
buyers
we're
preparing
suppliers
we're
on
boarding
as
we
speak,
we're
training,
government
buyers.
We
were
delayed
due
to
covid19
and
actually
fixing
a
25
year
old
legacy
system.
Honorable
speaker
we're
doing
the
hard
work
that
those
members
didn't.