►
From YouTube: MARCH 9 2023 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
4th Session
42nd Parliament
C
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
frustration
and
anger
is
building
as
people
grapple
with
the
impacts
of
this
NDP
government's
neglect
and
failed
forestry
policies,
despite
despite
the
ntp
promising
in
2017
that
there
would
never
be
a
mill
shut
down
under
their
watch.
Mills
are
actually
closing
or
being
curtailed
right
across
this
province.
C
Right
now,
I'm
now
being
also
told
that
BC
Timber
sales
has
not
had
a
sale
for
over
450
days
and
counting
more
proof
that
this
Premier
has
actually
no
intention
of
supporting
the
forestry
sector
or
the
tens
of
thousands
of
jobs
in
the
forest
that
forestry
families
depend
on
here
in
British
Columbia.
So
to
the
premier,
how
many
more
forestry
dependent
families
are
going
to
lose
their
jobs
because
of
this
ndp's
delays
and
failed
policies.
D
Thank
you
very
much
Mr
Speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question,
and
the
first
thing
I'd
like
to
say
is
that
I
I
very
much
am
thinking
about
those
workers.
Who've
been
impacted
by
milk
curtailment
and
I'll
share
with
the
house
Mr
Speaker
that
I
grew
up
in
a
forestry,
family
and
I.
Remember
I!
D
Remember
what
it
was
like
in
the
early
80s
living
in
Nanaimo
when
we
had
a
milk
curtailment
at
harmack,
it
impacts
individuals,
it
impacts
families
and
it
impacts
communities,
and
it's
so
important
that
we're
there
for
workers
and
we
are
Mr
Speaker.
There
are
a
number
of
supports
we
put
in
place
in
a
circumstance
of
milk
curtailment
and
we
have
workers
on
the
ground
doing
that
work.
Mr
Speaker,
it's
an
opportunity
for
us
to
ensure
that
folks
land
on
their
feet.
D
C
C
The
closure
of
Aspen
Planters
in
Merit
since
last
year
has
left
workers
without
a
job
and
a
community
in
shock.
Brian
hallford,
the
chair
of
the
local
United
steelworkers
union,
says
there
are
permit
applications
sitting
with
this
government
right
now
for
over
a
year
that
can
be
approved
to
put
their
workers
back
to
work.
Instead
of
doing
his
job,
though,
and
approving
permits,
the
minister
of
forests
actually
blundered
in
a
recent
interview
by
saying
and
I
quote
in
Merit
I
think
the
warehouser
Sawmill
is
operating
as
normal.
End
quote:
here's
the
problem.
C
There
is
no
warehouser
Mill
in
Merit.
In
fact,
it
closed
in
the
1990s
under
the
NDP
government
so
again
to
the
premier
how
many
more
Forest
dependent
communities
and
families
are
going
to
suffer
before
this
Premier
starts
doing
his
job
approving
permits
and
letting
these
Mills
open
and
get
families
back
to
work
where
they
want
to
be.
D
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question
we
know
getting.
Workers
working
is
the
most
important
thing:
Mr
Speaker
these
workers
matter
to
us
deeply
when
workers
in
the
regions
in
British,
Columbia
aren't
working,
British
Columbia
is
not
working,
Mr
Speaker
and
we
know
that
we
have
a
number
of
programs
we
put
in
place.
Let
me
tell
you
about
the
manufacturing
jobs
fund,
Mr
Speaker,
180
million
dollars,
Mr
Speaker,
to
drive
well-paying
manufacturing
jobs
into
the
regions,
Mr
Speaker.
D
D
E
E
They
don't
want
to
change
careers,
they're
generational
multi-generational,
loggers
and
multi-generational
Mill
workers
that
want
to
stay
employed
in
the
forest
sector.
That's
what
this
government
seems
to
be
disconnected
with
forestry
workers
and
contractors
have
been
rallying
in
downtown
Merit
and
outside
many
Ministry
offices,
demanding
immediate
action.
E
Shelly
Stewart
is
a
First
Nations
logging
contractor,
and
it's
just
one
of
many
that
wants
to
get
back
to
work
under
this
NDP
government.
However,
she
has
no
work
and
she's
had
to
lay
off
her
crew
of
30
people.
She
says,
and
I
quote,
the
permit.
Delays
are
just
one
example
of
how
the
NDP
government
is
ignoring
the
little
guy
during
action
is
holding
us
back
and
hurting
small
businesses
like
mine,
and
that
includes
First
Nations
forestry
operations.
It's
time
for
them
to
prioritize
our
livelihoods.
E
D
You
very
much
Mr
Speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question.
Everyone
agrees
that
we
need
to
move
past
the
boom
and
bust
cycles
that
are
too
often
leaving
forestry
workers
and
communities
behind,
and
that's
why
we're
making
important
Investments
I'll
share
one
with
the
member
opposite:
BC
Timber
sales,
where
we
just
launched
a
new
program
that
will
provide
dedicated
access
to
Timber
and
accelerate
the
growth
of
value-added
manufacturing.
And
what
are
people
saying
about
that?
Mr
Speaker.
D
Hear
not
my
thoughts
but
Joe
Namath
of
Pulp
and
Paper
Coalition,
who
said
on
January
19th
in
regards
to
Timber
Supply.
This
is
a
major
positive
step
towards
resolving
the
single
biggest
issue.
Bc
forest
sector
is
facing
lack
of
economic
fiber.
It's
supported
by
the
work
of
government
and
Industry
and
they've
completed
since
the
fall
of
last
year
through
the
pulp,
fibers
Supply
force,
Mr
Speaker.
We
understand
these
issues
and
we're
addressing
them.
E
E
The
reality
is
as
governments,
inaction
is
having
devastating
impact
on
all
logging
contractors
out
there,
including
First
Nations
contractors
like
Shelley
Stewart.
This
is
the
time
of
year
that
they
need
to
be
logging
to
pay
the
bills
when
Shelly
and
her
crew
are
working.
That
means
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
a
month
in
the
Merit
area
are
going
to
fuel
suppliers,
suppliers
like
Lordco
and
other
parts
stores
to
keep
their
operations
running,
but
not
only
is
that
crew
of
30
not
working,
it
impacts
all
of
those
suppliers
in
their
Workforce
as
well.
E
And
what
do
we
get
from
this
government
excuses
and
dragging
a
feat?
Shelley
says
and
I
quote:
it's
a
slap
in
the
face
that
the
NDP
government
is
putting
the
brakes
on
forestry
in
this
province.
Their
actions
are
coming
at
the
expense
of
logging
contractors
like
mine.
This
government
needs
to
do
their
job,
so
we
can
do
ours.
End
quote
and
I'll
point
out
in
this
year's
budget.
The
revenue
projections
are
the
same.
As
last
year,
a
billion
dollar
decline.
E
E
D
You
Mr
Speaker
know
that
there
are
there's
forestry
sector
is
faced
with
today.
The
beetle
kill
forest
fires
softening
of
Timber
sales
in
the
U.S,
just
to
name
a
few
Mr
Speaker.
But
let
me
be
very
clear:
this
side
of
the
house
has
nothing
to
learn
about
the
forestry
sector
from
that
side
of
the
house.
D
Chirping,
on
the
other
side,
the
member
may
not
want
to
believe
this,
but
don't
take
my
word
for
it.
These
numbers
come
directly
from
statistics
Canada
in
2021
when
they
came
to
power.
The
forestry
sector
pardon
me
2001,
when
the
fort,
when
they
came
to
power,
the
forestry
sector
provided
good
family,
supporting
jobs
to
85
000
workers
in
British
Columbia.
By
the
time
they
were
done,
there
were
56
000
jobs
left
in
the
forestry
sector,
Mr
Speaker.
These
are
the
facts.
B
F
Thank
you
honorable
speaker
in
2021
BC
had
the
largest
mass
casualty
event
caused
by
weather.
619
British
Columbians
died
from
heat-related
deaths
during
the
heat
Dome
of
2021..
Many
of
them
were
elderly
women
and
many
were
disabled
and
poor.
This
government
promised
to
look
into
providing
air
conditioners
as
medical
devices
during
extreme
heat
events
and
now
they're
three
months
late
on
their
deadline
to
even
announce
their
plans.
My
question
honorable
speaker
is
to
the
premier:
will
he
ensure
that
British
Colombians
have
air
conditioners
which
are
necessary
life-saving
devices
during
heat
waves.
G
As
as
a
member
will
know,
we've
taken
a
substantial
action
in
response
to
the
circumstances
of
the
heat
Dome.
Honorable
speaker,
the
member
will
know
that
includes
the
launching
of
the
BC
heat
alert
and
response
system,
the
release
of
the
preparedness
guide,
the
supporting
of
local
authorities
and
First
Nations
by
creating
an
extreme
heat
funding
stream
under
the
Community
emergency
prepared
in
that
preparedness
that
and
providing
guidance
and
funds
for
local
authorities
to
to
open
cooling
centers
as
well.
G
We're
reviewing
along
my
Ministry
in
the
Ministry
of
Social
Development
is
is
reviewing
the
very
issues
raised
by
The
Honorable
member.
These.
This
is
substantial
action.
In
addition
to
the
very
significant
action
that's
taken
place
in
BC's
emergency
Health
Services,
we're
going
to
continue
to
do
so.
I
would
be
happy
to
to
meet
with
the
honorable
member
on
this
question
to
discuss
the
progress
that
we've
made.
F
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
and
substantial
action
is
actually
what
Oregon
did
after
the
devastating
hit
heat
Dome
hit
Oregon
the
very
next
summer
the
government
provided
air
conditioning
units
to
low-income
housing,
heat
alerts,
preparedness
guides,
guidance
and
funds
are
important,
but
when
there
is
another
Heat
Wave
or
a
heat
dome
for
people
who
don't
have
the
ability
to
cool
the
air
in
their
housing
units
and
don't
have
the
ability
to
get
somewhere,
that
is
cool.
That
will
be
cold
comfort.
G
Of
Health
well,
thank
you
and
my
colleague,
the
minister
of
Social
Development,
myself,
are
working
and
are
focused
on
this
important
issue.
The
member
will
know
that
in
times
of
Crisis,
crisis
supplements
are
available
to
people,
in
addition
to
that,
honorable
speaker
we're
taking
systematic
action,
honorable
speaker
across
a
range
of
issues
that
I
detailed
to
The
Honorable
member
earlier,
including
the
issue
that
she
has
raised.
G
These
are
fundamental
issues
that
involve
action
for
people,
that's
crisis,
supplements
and
direct
supports
to
local
governments
and
organizations
and
others
to
ensure
that
cooling
stations
and
other
things
are
in
place:
action
across
the
range
of
of
health
services,
but
also
broader
services
in
that
in
communities
in
communities.
That
will
mean
I
think
working
closely
with
local
governments
to
support
all
communities,
especially
communities
that
require,
for
example,
supports
with
respect
to
to
Greening
neighborhoods
in
communities.
G
H
And
thanks
Mr
Speaker:
well,
if
you're
looking
to
take
a
bus
today
in
Abbotsford,
Mission,
Chilliwack
or
hope,
or
the
Fraser
Valley
connector
that
connects
those
communities,
I'm
afraid
you're
out
of
luck.
There
are
significant
disruptions
taking
place
if
you're
one
of
the
people
or
families
that
can't
afford
to
pay
the
highest
gas
prices
in
North
America.
H
H
The
government
going
to
sit
idly
by
once
again,
while
this
dispute
continues
or
will
the
premier
step
in
and
ensure
that
people
in
the
Eastern,
Central
and
Eastern
Fraser
Valley
have
the
transit
services
they
require
and
if
they
need
legal
advice
on
the
matter,
they
can
ask
one
of
the
lawyers
that's
Gathering
outside
this
afternoon.
In
protest,
the
other
labor
Fiasco
that
the
government
is
dealing
with
right
now.
Thank
you.
I
Mr
Speaker
I
am
fully
aware
of
the
situation
that
the
member
is
describing
a
situation
between
the
first
Transit
and
QP
local
561,
where
the
workers
have
decided
to
exercise
their
right
to
withdraw
their
services,
which
is
allowed
under
the
labor
code.
It's
a
normal
bargaining
process
and
I
want
to
make
it
clear
that
this
side
of
the
house
believe
and
support
free
collective
bargaining
in
this
province.
I
As
such,
Mr
Speaker,
we
must
we
must
respect
the
Integrity
of
a
pre-collective
bargaining
and
and
Mr
Speaker
and
a
member
knows
fully
well.
The
best
Collective
Agreement
is
negotiated
at
the
bargaining
table.
Not
in
this
house
not
outside.
Here,
Mr
Speaker
I
encourage
both
parties
to
get
back
to
the
bargain
table.
They
have
withdrawn
their
services
for
three
days,
I'm
advised
and
they
are
scheduled
to
go
back
to
the
parking
table
next
week
and
I
encourage
them
to
stay
at
the
bargain
table.
You
know
until
their
Collective
Agreement
negotiated.
J
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
and
in
view
of
the
minister
of
Labor's
last
response
and
hiding
behind
negotiations
here.
Let's
talk
about
another
set
of
negotiations.
Bc
government
lawyers
are
out
in
front
of
the
legislative
assembly
today
on
legislature,
Lawns
protesting
as
negotiations
have
broken
down,
and
the
NDP
only
have
themselves
to
blame
because
they
started
off
in
bad
faith.
Trying
to
force
the
lawyers
to
join
a
union
that
they
didn't
want
to
join.
J
K
K
That
thank
you
Mr
Speaker,
the
legislation
that
we
table.
It
creates
a
space
for
the
association
to
bargain
within
the
existing
structure
of
the
public
sector,
but
it's
important
to
note
that
we're
not
requiring
them
to
do
so.
The
legislation
offers
the
benefit
of
component
agreement,
which
they
will
be
able
to
use
to
negotiate
for
their
own
unique
needs
within
the
public
service.
L
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker.
Well,
despite
all
the
talk
and
big
promises
from
the
premier,
families
are
in
for
another
rude
and
cruel
Awakening.
This
Sunday,
it's
deja
vu
all
over
again.
Yes,
it's
that
least
wonderful
time
of
the
year.
Yet
again,
when
we
all
lose
one
hour
of
precious
sleep,
because
the
premier
couldn't
get
the
job
done,
we
we
all
know.
We
all
know.
L
Premier
could
not
get
the
job
done.
We
all
know
that
there
is
nothing.
The
premier
loves
more
than
making
big
flashy
announcements,
but
when
it
comes
to
results,
he's
all
talk
and
no
clock
instead
of
springing
forward,
instead
of
springing
forward
to
act
on
permanent
daylight
savings
time,
the
premier
is
falling
back
on
tired
excuses,
Mr
Speaker,
it's
time
it's
time
to
wake
up
and
smell
the
coffee.
Is
the
Premier
going
to
deliver
real
change,
or
is
he
going
to
keep
sleeping
on
the
job.
A
A
Honorable
speaker,
you
know
we
know
this
is
an
important
issue
for
many
families.
Certainly,
I
know
when
my
son
was
younger.
Having
that
shift
was
a
real
challenge
to
adjust
times.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
this
gets
done
right.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
it's
aligned
with
our
jurisdictions
on
the
west
coast.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
our
business
Community
is
engaged
and
understands
the
implications
of
what
this
means
we're
doing
that
work.
M
M
So
when
we
say
this,
we
say
we
have
one
Minister
saying
one
thing:
probably:
yes,
they
can
use
that
money
and
then
we
have
the
premier
now
saying,
probably
no
so,
which
is
it.
This
Premiere
is
still
flip-flopping
and
the
residents
of
Surrey
are
paying
the
price.
Will
he
take
responsibility
for
the
escalating
costs
and
end
this
uncertainty?
Now.
A
Thank
you,
honorable,
speaker
and
I
know.
This
issue
has
been
canvassed
at
Great
length
in
this
house.
Right
now.
The
solicitor
General's
office
is
reviewing
the
information.
That's
been
provided
to
make
a
thoughtful
decision
on
how
we
proceed.
I
know
this
side
of
the
house
is
very
proud
of
the
one
billion
dollars
that
are
going
to
communities
throughout
this
province.
A
I
appreciate
the
member
across
the
way
is
excited
to
find
ways
to
spend
the
money
he
didn't
support.
He
didn't
actually
vote
for
honorable
speaker
now.
The
city
of
Surrey
has
themselves
indicated
that
the
taxation
rate
that
they
initially
put
out
is
is
coming
down.
We
encourage
them
to
continue
to
find
ways
to
refine
their
numbers
to
give
the
public
a
correct
justification
of
what
they
see.
As
the
pressures
they're
facing
honor
speaker,
the
infrastructure
dollars
are
there.
A
N
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker.
One
of
the
very
first
promises
made
by
this
Premier
after
a
man
was
murdered
last
year,
was
to
put
an
end
to
tent
cities,
but
the
province
has
now
spent
three
quarters
of
a
million
dollars
towards
crab
Park
to
make
the
Tent
City
their
permanent.
Instead
of
spending
that
money
on
getting
these
campers
into
real
homes,
permanent
tent
cities
have
become
the
norm
for
this
Premier,
as
evidenced
by
his
personal
intervention,
as
attorney
general
when
he
sued
to
allow
permanent
tent
cities
at
Beacon,
Hill
Park.
N
A
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker
and
I
thank
the
member
for
the
question.
Honor
speaker,
we
have
said
many
times.
The
premier
has
said
many
times
and
I'll
reiter
this
right
now
that
we
believe
that
the
encampments
are
not
safe
for
the
people
that
are
living
in
the
accountments
and
they're
not
safe
for
the
community
at
large,
we
are
working
actively
with
our
partners
to
find
ways
to
get
people
into
housing,
get
them
out
of
the
encampments,
and
that
is
our
goal.
The
member
mentioned
crab
Park.
A
You
know
we
provided
dollars
to
the
city
of
Vancouver
to
support
the
community.
They
chose
to
have
dollars
available
for
providing
sanitary
services
and
other
services
for
some
of
the
folks
that
are
at
crab
Park,
honor,
speaker,
I,
remind
the
member
and
I
know.
The
member
knows
this
that
these
are.
These
are
our
loved
ones.
These
are
people's
Sons,
there's
people's
daughters
and
they
have
needs.
They
have
supports
that.
We
must
provide
them
and
and
I
know
that
it's
not
necessarily
a
comfortable
place,
always
for
the
the
opposition.
A
Honor
speaker,
the
the
the
the
par
party
president,
the
BC
Liberal
Party
president,
is
on
the
record
of
saying.
When
he's
talking
about
the
most
vulnerable
people
in
this
province,
he
says
we
should
focus
on
the
60
and
essentially
not
bother
with
some
demographics
that
will
not
likely
or
absolutely
never
support
us.
You
know
like
homeless
people
or
those
that
are
dependent
on
Social
Services.
A
Honorable
speaker,
this
is
the
president
of
the
BC
Liberal
Party
honorable
speaker,
and
so
we're
going
to
continue
to
do
what
we
need
to
do
to
ensure
that
people
that
are
in
encampments
have
the
supports
they
need
get
them
in
the
housing,
get
them
out
of
encampments,
because
we
know
that's
the
best
way
forward.
O
O
A
Yeah,
thank
you
honorable
speaker,
and
certainly
this
out
of
the
house
knows
that
these
services
are
needed
urgently.
The
the
site,
in
particular
that's
being
referenced,
was
in
the
process
of
city
of
Vancouver.
The
city
made
some
changes
to
their
bylaws,
which
required
further
changes
to
the
project
and,
and
that
work
is
being
is
happening
right
now
with
the
city
of
Vancouver,
to
make
sure
that
we
can
adjust
the
the
project
to
fit
within
the
changing
bylaws
that
they've
the
laws
that
they've
changed.
We
expect
construction
to
start.
This
fall.