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From YouTube: FEBRUARY 9 2022 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
3rd Session
42nd Parliament
C
C
C
D
Thank
you
honorable
speaker,
and
I
too
want
to
acknowledge
with
soro
the
findings
of
the
coroner
and
the
loss
of
over
2
000
british
columbians
to
a
toxic
drug
supply.
We
have
been
discussing
this
issue
in
this
legislature
for
coming
on
half
a
decade
and
more
on
both
sides
of
this
house,
there's
a
sense
of
loss
of
people
in
our
community
who
have
succumbed
to
addictions
and
have
been
taken
down
by
a
drug
supply
that
is
more
toxic
today
than
it
has
ever
been.
Also
part
and
parcel
of
the
findings
of
the
coroner.
D
And
although
there
is
much
more
work
to
do,
I
think
it's
also
important
to
acknowledge
that
all
of
us
collectively
have
been
passing
legislation
in
this
house
working
to
ensure
that
budgets
are
increased
year
over
year,
500
million
dollars
last
year,
honorable
speaker,
so
that
we
can
double
the
number
of
treatment
beds
for
youth.
We
can
put
over
195
treatment
beds
for
adults
in
place,
as
well
as
building
on
the
work
that
has
been
going
on
since
the
the
advent
of
our
first
public
health
crisis,
that
of
of
a
toxic
drug
supply.
D
But
what
startled
me-
and
I
think
what
we've
all
been
grappling
with
wherever
we
sit,
whoever
we
represent
is
that
the
vast
majority
of
fatalities
have
been
males
between
the
ages
of
30
and
59..
There
is
a
perception-
and
all
of
us
know
that
this
isn't
correct,
that
this
is
a
vancouver
problem,
a
part
of
vancouver
problem.
It
is
not.
It
is
a
british
columbia
problem.
It
is
a
national
problem.
D
What
we
have
been
trying
to
do,
and
many
times
with
the
assistance
of
members
on
the
other
side,
is
to
make
appeals
to
the
federal
government
so
that
they
can
build
on
the
safe
supply
work
that
we
have
done
here
to
increase
to
some
twelve
thousand
citizens
that
are
being
able
to
access
safe
supply
to
meet
the
demand
that
is
estimated
by
some
to
be
50,
000
and
others
to
be
150
000
people
who
require
access
to
safe
drug
supply.
D
I
also
want
to
say,
while
I'm
on
my
feet-
and
I
think
there'll
be
unanimity
to
this-
to
just
condemn
those
who
prey
on
the
vulnerabilities
of
others,
those
who
are
making
a
fortune
out
of
bringing
fentanyl
and
other
toxic
drugs
into
our
system
with
no
regard
whatsoever
for
the
consequences
of
that
action.
Just
on
the
second
of
february,
the
rcmp
announced
a
bust
in
coquitlam
five
people
charged
and
that
and
the
rcmp
sees
not
just
firearms
and
a
bill
over
a
million
dollars
in
cash,
but
three
kilograms
of
fentanyl.
D
C
C
But
it's
time
for
this
government
and
this
premier
to
step
up
and
do
their
part
six
people
every
day
are
dying
in
our
province
and
I'm
heartened
to
hear
the
premier
speak
about
working
collectively,
because
numerous
times
the
leader
of
the
green
party
and
the
leader
of
the
official
opposition
have
asked
this
premier
to
do
the
right
thing
to
bring
the
health
committee
back
to
do
its
work
across
party
lines.
We
continue
to
ask
for
that
today
for
the
life
of
me.
I
cannot
understand
why
that
is
stubbornly
refused
back
in
2017.
C
This
premier
said,
and
I
quote,
think
of
wildfires.
We
never
wait
to
check
the
budget
before
putting
the
fires
out.
We
get
at
it
right
away,
end
quote,
and
yet
month
after
month
after
month,
here
in
british
columbia,
record
numbers
of
people
dying
and
the
ministry
responsible
for
working
on
that
program
has
a
budget
smaller
than
the
premier's
office.
C
The
chief
coroner
puts
it
simply,
and
I
quote
it's
not
a
lack
of
desire
or
motivation
on
the
backs
of
the
people
who
are
using
it's
just
that
there
are
no
services.
The
services
are
so
very,
very
limited,
end
quote.
So.
Will
the
premier
stand
up
today
and
make
a
commitment
to
british
columbians
that
he
will
bring
the
parties
to
the
table
to
work
together
and
finally
begin
to
try
to
mitigate
the
devastating
stories
that
we
hear
month
after
month?.
D
Thank
you,
rambo
speaker
and,
and
again
I
thank
the
leader
of
the
official
opposition
for
raising
these
important
issues.
It
is
important
to
know
that
when
the
opposition
says
the
office
budget
for
minister
xry
is
bigger
than
someone
else's.
It
completely
disregards
the
fact
that
the
services
that
she
speaks
of
that
have
been
increased
year
over
year
are
funded
through
health
authorities,
500
million
dollars
more
going
into
mental
health
and
addictions
work
over
the
past
five
years,
putting
in
place
an
innovation
that
did
not
exist
before
we
arrived.
D
That
is
having
complex
care
housing
for
those
who
are
clearly
not
getting
the
services
that
the
member
speaks
to.
We
need
to
make
sure
we're
building
the
tools
so
that
frontline
workers
who
have
been
struck
by
coved
and
the
challenges
that
that
entails,
meaning
that
people
are
separate
from
each
other
oftentimes
dying
alone
again
a
finding
by
the
coroner.
There
has
not
been
one
fatality
in
a
harm
reduction
facility,
that's
part
and
parcel
of
the
model.
D
A
A
E
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
devastating
losses
across
british
columbia
are
felt
by
those
on
the
front
line
by
the
families
by
our
government
by
our
caucus
that
the
increasingly
toxic
drug
supply,
particularly
exacerbated
by
the
effects
of
the
pandemic,
has
led
to
such
a
tragically
and
terribly
increased.
Loss
of
life
is
something
that
spurs
our
work
every
day
and
something
that
we
strengthens
our
resolve
to
continue
to
invest
more
continue
to
build
more
I'll,
remind
the
member
opposite
in
2017,
the
public
health
emergency
was
already
underway,
but
there
was
not
a
continuum
of
care.
E
This
has
been
widely
identified
and
we
have
been
working
simultaneously
as
a
health
care
system
and
as
a
government
to
both
fight
the
public
health
emergency
and
build
that
system
of
care,
and
so,
although
I
agree
with
the
members
characterization
of
the
unacceptable
loss
of
life
and
clearly
we
have
to
do
more,
I
do
not
agree
in
any
way
that
no
steps
have
been
taken.
E
British
columbia
has
already
added
several
hundred
new
addictions
treatment
beds
and
we
are
building
several
hundred
more.
We
have
already
added
20
youth
treatment
beds
just
in
the
year
2020
another
30
in
the
year
of
2021,
more
to
come,
integrated
child
and
youth
teams
coming
across
the
province
from
one
supervised
consumption
site
in
2016
to
42.
Today,
16
of
those
inhalation
sites
were
innovating
across
the
continuum
we
are
determined
to
do
more.
A
A
A
A
End
quote:
will
this
minister
today
get
up
in
this
house
and
commit
to
take
the
necessary
steps
to
make
sure
that
individuals
that
are
struggling
that
are
fighting
addiction?
Have
access
to
recovery
have
access
to
treatment
in
real
time?
So
we
do
not
have
people
waiting
dying
on
waitlists,
so
we
don't
have
moms
and
fathers
choosing
whether
or
not
they
are
going
to
re-mortgage
their
house
to
provide
treatment
for
their
child.
A
E
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
expansion
of
addiction
and
recovery
treatment
beds
in
british
columbia
is
unprecedented
and
more
is
needed.
The
addition
of
of
another
132
million
dollars
that
we
announced
this
fall
to
fill
gaps
in
the
treatment
recovery,
recovery
system,
meeting
people
where
they
are
in
their
recovery
journey,
whether
it's
care
before
detox,
whether
it's
the
step
in
between
detox
and
treatment,
where
people
often
fall
through
the
cracks,
whether
it's
after
leaving
treatment
having
the
post
recovery,
counseling
and
community
support
that
people
on
the
front
line.
E
People
with
lived
experience
have
told
us.
These
are
the
gaps
in
the
continuum
of
care
that
we
are
building
up
every
day
and
the
me
I
agree
with
the
member
more
needs
to
be
done.
That's
why
we
have
already
funded
it
in
last
year's
budget.
That's
why
we
are
working
every
day
to
implement
that
budget
and
to
build
out
that
continuum
of
care
more
needs
to
be
done.
There
is
no
question.
E
The
loss
of
life
is
testament
to
that
and
our
government's
commitment
to
continue
to
build
out
that
system
of
health
care
response
to
the
overdose
crisis
continues
in
every
way.
But
anybody
listening,
I
want
you
to
know
there
is
there
is
every
week
we
are
adding
new
supports
and
then
the
weeks
and
months
ahead
you
will
see
announcements
again
and
again
in
every
part
of
the
province,
building
that
system
of
care
that
should
have
been
in
place
to
care
for
people
and
to
finally
bring
it
into
this
overdose
crisis.
F
F
And
I
want
to
echo
the
the
words
of
the
leader
of
the
opposition
and
and
on
behalf
of
our
caucus,
we
are
very
happy
to
see
the
premier
back
and
well
and
doing
his
job.
Thank
you
very
much
premier
for
your
strength,
and
we
are
very
happy
to
see
you
well
again,
honourable
speaker.
More
than
ever
we
need
governments
that
public
feel
confident
about
and
I'm
afraid
that
we're
not
there.
F
People
are
confused
by
health
policies,
they're
confused
by
what
is
guiding
directions.
What
are
the
outcomes
trying
to
be
achieved?
How
are
we
measuring
success?
We
have
two
devastating
health
emergencies
in
bc
right
now,
and
we
need
this
more
than
ever
to
restore
that
crucial
confidence.
Governments
have
to
be
able
to
acknowledge
mistakes
and
be
willing
to
improve.
F
G
Thank
you
very
much,
honourable
speaker,
with
respect
to
the
covet
19
pandemic
and
the
member
will
know
this
in
british
columbia.
Our
efforts
in
this
area
and
in
all
others,
have
been
guided
by
the
science
guided
by
an
outstanding
team
of
public
health
leaders
led
by
dr
bonnie
henry
an
internationally
regarded
expert
in
these
areas,
and
her
position
in
bc
is
enshrined
in
statute
to
provide
independent
advice
to
the
government
with
respect
to
mask
wearing
in
bc.
G
What
the
strength
of
that
approach
has
been
has
been
over
the
course
of
the
pandemic,
to
adapt
to
the
science
and
the
circumstances.
Something
dr
henry
has
consistently
done,
and
why
overwhelmingly
in
bc?
People
have
supported
that
effort
because
they
know
it's
based
on
the
evidence,
and
they
know
it's
based
on
the
best
council
and
will
continue
to
be
with
respect
to
ppe
in
general
and
n95
mass
in
particular.
G
Part
of
my
task
has
been
to
ensure,
with
the
healthcare
system
that
people
have
the
mass
and
the
healthcare
system
that
are
required,
where
they're
required
to
protect
themselves
and
to
protect
their
patients,
and
that
has
happened.
We
have
built
an
inventory,
for
example,
in
the
healthcare
system
of
7.7
million
in
95
mass
to
do
so
and
our
work
and
our
guidance
will
continue
to
be
based,
as
it
has
been
from
the
beginning,
on
the
advice
of
public
health
professionals
on
dr
henry
and
her
team.
An
internationally
regarded
group
of
experts.
F
F
F
Why
will
he
not
stand
up
and
acknowledge
this
is
an
airborne
virus
and
the
best
protection
that
people
can
have
in
this
room?
100
of
people
in
this
room
are
vaccinated
and
we
are
all
wearing
masks
doing
the
right
thing
to
reduce
transmission
of
this
virus.
We
need
the
leadership
to
recognize
it's
time
to
acknowledge.
This
is
an
airborne
virus.
G
The
minister,
the
member
talks
about
international
comparisons.
Well,
an
important
international
comparison
is
the
fact
that
british
columbia-
and
this
isn't
dr
henry-
and
it's
not
me-
and
it's
not
the
premier-
and
it's
not
the
government.
It's
all
of
us-
has
one
of
the
highest
levels
of
vaccination
in
the
world
here
in
british
county.
G
One
of
the
highest
levels
of
compliance
with
public
health
guidance-
and
that
is,
I
think,
pretty
significant,
and
we
have
this-
is
our
success.
All
the
members
of
the
legislature,
all
the
people
of
bc,
one
of
the
lowest
levels
of
mortality
incomparable
jurisdictions
anywhere
in
the
world,
and
that's
because
dr
henry
is
giving
clear
advice
based
on
the
evidence
and
the
people
of
bc
at
two.
I
think
an
enormous
degree
have
followed
and
supported
that
effort
because
they
want
to
keep
each
other
safe
as
well.
H
Thank
you
very
much,
mr
speaker.
When
we
were
last
in
this
house,
we
raised
story
after
story
about
parents
of
neurodiverse
children
who
were
anxious
angry
upset
about
the
ndp
clawback
of
autism.
Funding
months
later.
Those
parents
have
continued,
in
fact
they're
on
the
legislature
on
the
legislature
lawn
earlier
today
and
in
the
gallery
today
to
send
a
message
to
this
government.
H
Monica
nunez
from
langford
says,
and
I
quote,
as
a
parent
of
a
child
with
autism.
I
am
not
only
infuriated,
but
I
am
scared
for
my
child's
future.
If
government
truly
wants
to
help
all
children,
they
will
reconsider
the
move
to
eliminate
autism
funding.
End
quote
so.
Will
the
minister
today
listen
to
monica
and
the
other
parents
that
are
in
the
gallery
here
today
and
reverse
this
heartless
claw
back.
I
Thank
you
honorable
speaker,
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
Thank
you
to
the
parents
for
being
here
today
as
well.
Honourable
speaker,
for
many
years
my
ministry
have
been
hearing
from
families
that
their
children
have
been
left
behind.
I
There's
a
patchwork
of
programs,
that's
available
for
some,
some
of
the
community
of
children
and
youth
with
support
needs.
We
did
consultation
in
2019
with
over
1500
individuals
and
honorable
speaker
at
just
in
the
month
of
december.
Last
year
alone,
we
engaged
with
about
850
families
as
well.
It
is
important
to
listen
to
families.
We
are
actively
doing
that.
The
next
sessions
of
engagement
with
families
start
on
february
the
28th
we're
committed
to
listening
to
families
and
to
make
this
transformation
as
successful
as
it
can
possibly
be
for
the
children
and
youth
in
our
province.
H
You,
mr
speaker,
groundhog
day,
was
last
week,
mr
speaker,
but
I
feel
that
it
is
today
because
we
continue
to
get
the
same
answer
to
different
questions
and
it's
never
a
real
answer.
The
ndp's
cold-hearted
clawback
affects
all
neurodiverse
children.
The
minister
is
ignoring
this
broad
coalition,
opposed
to
her
claw
back.
She
is
ignoring
the
parents
in
the
gallery
today,
she's
even
ignoring
her
friends,
her
political
allies.
H
The
president
of
the
bctf
said
this
morning
and
I
quote
it's
heartbreaking
to
think
that
government
would
knowingly
subject
disabled
students
to
significant
emotional,
physical
and
psychological
distress.
It's
time
for
government
to
listen
end
quote
so.
Will
the
minister
listen
to
parents,
listen
to
the
bctf
and
stop
the
claw
back.
I
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question,
because
it
is
very
important
to
listen
to
people
with
expertise
and
with
experience
and
with
knowledge,
and
for
many
years
the
ministry
has
been
listening
and
and
the
ministry
members
the
ministry
has
been
listening
to
families
and
to
advocates
and
to
very
experienced
service
providers
as
well.
Honorable
speaker,
the
community
of
children,
youth
with
support
needs
is
diverse,
and
so
are
the
people
who
serve
them
as
well.
I
We
need
to
listen
to
them
and
to
be
working
very
closely
with
them,
which
is
what
we
are
doing.
We
did
over
2
000.
Just
in
december
of
last
year,
we
had
engagement
sessions
with
over
2
000
people
from
families
and
from
service
providers.
We're
continuing
that
engagement,
honourable
speaker,
as
we
implement
this
really
important
transformation.
I
We've
heard
from
too
many
families
that
their
kids
are
getting
left
behind.
Honourable
speaker,
we
have
received
several
reports
from
the
representative
for
children,
youth,
the
independent
representative
for
children
telling
us
that
we
need
to
move
to
a
needs-based
system,
and
that
is
what
we're
doing
there.
There
was
an
all
party,
all-party,
select,
standing
committee
of
this
legislative
assembly
that
wrote
a
recommendation
that
we
should
be
moving
to
a
system
of
needs-based
services.
Honourable
speaker,
what
that
means
is
is
that
children
get
supports.
I
J
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
It's
very
clearly
the
minister
that
is
not
listening
and
failing
to
communicate
with
these
parents
failing
to
talk
with
them,
failing
to
engage
with
them
in
any
way.
In
fact,
this
is
likely
the
closest
most
of
these
parents
will
ever
get
to
actually
feeling
like
they've,
had
any
discussion
or
communication
with
this
minister.
J
The
minister's
false
attempts
at
division
is
disrespectful
to
the
broad
coalition
of
neurodiverse
children
and
their
families,
who
are
speaking
out
against
her
decision.
Absolutely
nobody
recommended
climb
back
individualized
funding,
but
that
is
what
this
ndp
government
has
chosen
to
do.
The
message
from
even
their
political
allies,
like
the
bctaf,
is
clear
and
I
quote:
stop
the
planned
clawback
of
individual
funding
for
children
with
autism
government
must
stop
with
the
political,
pandering
and
do
what's
right
for
the
kids
end
quote
so
again.
Will
the
minister
do
what
is
right
and
stop
the
claw
back.
I
I
have
heard
countless
stories
from
families
and
I
hear
from
families
who
tell
me
that,
even
if
their
child
has
a
diagnosis
and
they
have
access
to
individualized
funding,
there
are
many
families
that
aren't
able
to
find
services
to
be
able
to
support
their
child
and
many
other
families
are
burnt
out.
Honorable
speaker,
they
don't
want
to
be
a
case
manager
for
their
children.
They
want
to
be
able
to
be
a
parent
and
they
want
to
be
supported
in
having
services
delivered
and
available
and
supports
available
for
their
children
as
early
as
possible.
I
Families
have
been
asking
for
an
increase
in
respite
honourable
speaker,
and
our
government
has
increased
respite
funding.
Families
of
children
with
complex
needs
have
told
me
just
how
stressed
and
strained
they
are
because
of
a
lack
of
support
based
on
need
and
because
the
current
system
is
so
fragmented
and
families
who
live
in
remote
communities
find
it
really
difficult
to
access
services.
I
J
Thank
you
well,
the
minister
just
seemed
to
describe
the
system
she's
trying
to
claw
back
and
tear
apart.
Actually,
so,
let's
hear
from
a
fan,
let's
hear
from
someone
else
that
isn't
sure
the
minister
has
been
listening
to
her
noelle
smith
from
campbell
river
was
diagnosed
with
autism
as
a
two-year-old
and
has
overcome
the
trauma
and
stigma
being
told
she
would
never
graduate
not
only
did
noel
graduate
with
top
grades.
J
She
is
now
a
behavioral
interventionist,
supporting
herself
and
working
to
help
others
as
a
result
of
the
individualized
autism
funding
that
this
minister
is
now
so
cruelly
calling
back.
Nicole.
Has
this
question
noelle
has
this
question
for
the
minister
and
I
quote:
why
is
it
okay
to
remove
me
and
other
fellow
workers
from
a
child
and
youth
who
trust
us?
B
I
Thank
you,
honourable
speaker,
and
thank
you
for
the
to
the
member
for
the
question
as
well.
Of
course,
this
is
a
really
important
transformation
to
make
sure
that
we
get
the
services
that
are
needed
for
families
in
british
columbia,
get
the
services
to
them
and
to
their
children
as
soon
as
possible.
I
We
are
we're
engaging
with
families.
We
want
to
hear
from
families
about
how
they
envision
their
children
being
served
in
the
new
system,
how
we
can
work
in
partnership
with
them,
co-create
those
that
package
of
services
putting
the
child
and
youth
at
the
center
working
with
the
circle
of
care.
That's
so
important
to
that
child
and
youth,
making
sure
that
there's
a
package
of
services
that
are
there
to
meet
the
needs
of
that
child,
so
we're
working
with
families
and
listening
to
families
we're
working
with
service
providers.