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From YouTube: MAY 4 2023 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
4th Session
42nd Parliament
C
You
Mr
Speaker
Mr
Speaker
after
a
year
of
hardship,
anxiety
and
stress
for
parents
of
children
with
autism.
This
Premier
announced
a
long
overdue
reversal
of
the
ndp's
planned
attempt
to
strip
individualized
funding
from
parents
and
force
them
to
transition
to
a
hub
model.
However,
his
actions
are
not
matching
his
words.
C
Yesterday,
the
First
Nations
Leadership
Council
wrote
to
the
premier
to
express
what
they
say
is
their
deep
concern
with
the
NDP
decision
to
plunge
forward
with
this
discredited
model
and
I
quote
from
the
letter
on
April
28
2023,
we
were
suddenly
informed
that,
despite
the
explicit
commitments
made
in
November,
the
ministry
of
Children
and
Family
development
has
progressed
with
its
unilateral
plan.
End
of
quote
this
stubborn
refusal
by
the
NDP
to
reverse
their
policy
will
have
disastrous
consequences
for
parents
with
autistic
kids
right
across
the
province.
D
Premier,
thank
you
honorable
speaker,
and
thank
you
to
the
member
for
the
question.
Our
government
believes
very
strongly
that
every
parent
that
has
a
kid
that
has
special
needs
needs
to
be
supported
in
the
services
that
are
responsive
to
their
child's
particular
needs.
What's
working
for
their
kid
and
that's
why
we
committed
to
parents
with
individualized
funding
that
they
will
be
able
to
continue
with
the
care
Arrangements
that
they
put
in
place
that
are
working
for
their
child.
D
We
have
redoubled
our
pledge
to
work
with
community
and
with
First
Nations
on
this
work,
and
there
have
been
a
number
of
meetings
to
further
that
engagement
to
make
sure
that
the
model
we
come
up
with
is
evidence-based
is
supportive
of
the
unique
needs
of
Kids
First,
Nations
kids,
as
well
as
kids
generally,
that
aren't
getting
the
support
under
the
current
system
and
and
we're
clear
about
that.
There
is,
however,
honorable
speaker
Challenge,
and
that
is
that
we
also
have
obligations
to
individual
First
Nations.
D
So
when
they
come
to
the
minister-
and
they
say
we
want
to
work
with
you
on
developing
something
that
works
for
our
kids
on
Nation.
They
have
that
right
to
have
that
discussion
with
the
minister,
and
that
is
a
separate
process
from
this
broad
provincial
strategy
that
we're
pursuing
we're
working
with
impersonations
Leadership
Council.
To
clarify
by
that,
we
believe
we
have
obligations,
these
individual
Nations
to
have
those
discussions,
and
we
hope
we
can
clear
all
of
this
up,
because
we
all
have
the
same
shared
goal,
which
is
making
sure
these
kids
have
the
sports.
C
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker.
Well,
the
problem
with
that
answer.
Premier
is
that's
diametrically
opposite
to
what
they're
actually
saying
in
their
letter
and
I
remind
this
house.
It
was
only
after
a
widespread
backlash
and
the
fierce
resistance
of
parents
from
across
the
province
that
this
government
eventually
backed
down
under
pressure.
C
But
it's
the
problem
we
have
here
is
we
have
the
government
saying
that
publicly
they
would
reverse
their
policy
and
then
privately
we're
doing
exactly
the
opposite.
This
is
what
else
the
First
Nation
Leadership
Council
wrote
in
their
letter
and
I
quote:
Mr
Speaker.
This
is
in
direct
violation
of
what
was
agreed
to
and
perpetuates
the
approach
that
was
explicitly
rejected.
D
D
That
is
my
commitment
to
them
is
one
of
the
first
actions
I
took
after
being
sworn
in
as
Premier,
because
it
is
important
to
me
it's
important
to
our
government
that
parents,
especially
parents
that
have
kids
that
have
these
unique
needs,
don't
face
additional
stress,
and
it
was
clear
that
they
were
under
additional
stress
when
the
whole
plan
was
to
provide
additional
supports
to
these
kids
that
didn't
have
the
care
so
reassuring
to
those
parents.
They
will
be
able
to
continue
with
those
care
Arrangements.
D
There
are
a
huge
number
of
families
that
are
not
covered
under
that
system.
Their
kid
doesn't
have
that
formal
autism
diagnosis.
They
are
under
as
much
stress.
They
are
worried
about
care
for
their
kids.
We
have
to
provide
care
for
those
kids
and
we
want
to
do
it
in
a
way
that's
respectful
of
First
Nations.
We
want
to
do
it
in
a
way,
that's
evidence-based
and
responsive
to
the
needs.
Those
families.
That's
why
the
minister
committed
she's
been
having
meetings
with
parents
with
key
stakeholders
with
First
Nations
on
designing
that
system.
D
Now
there
is
a
separate
process
when
a
nation
approaches
the
ministry
and
says
we
want
to
talk
to
you
about
how
we
deliver
care
to
our
kids
and
our
community
that
we
have
jurisdiction
over
the
minister
under
our
legislation.
We
Believe
has
an
obligation
to
engage
with
that
nation
and
find
a
path
forward
and
we're
doing
that
work
as
well.
So,
first
of
all,
you
know
any
parent,
that's
watching
right
now.
That
has
a
kid
with
special
needs
like
this.
D
We
are
working
to
make
sure
whether
you
have
individualized
funding
that
that
continues,
and
if
you
don't
have
access
to
that
program,
we
know
the
stress
you're
under
and
we
are
working
to
deliver
a
model
that
will
deliver
care
for
you,
this
evidence-based
that
looks
after
kids,
because
that's
what
we
want
to
prioritize
here.
That's
what
we
want
to
deliver
for
every
parent
in
British,
Columbia.
B
E
Rock,
thank
you.
Mr
Speaker
in
2020,
the
premier's
liaison
for
renters,
the
MLA
for
Vancouver
West,
End,
relocated
his
primary
residence
from
Vancouver
to
the
Greater
Victoria
region
on
Vancouver
Island.
Since
then,
he
has
charged
taxpayers
for
frequent
day
trips
on
helajet
Harbor
air
from
his
primary
residence
in
Greater
Victoria
to
his
constituency
in
Vancouver.
E
My
question
is
to
the
premier
as
Vancouver
renters
are
facing
the
most
expensive
rents
in
the
country.
Does
the
premier
think
it's
appropriate
for
his
liaison
for
renters
the
MLA
for
Vancouver
West
End
to
expense
the
cost
of
frequently
commuting
from
his
primary
residence
in
Greater
Victoria
to
his
constituency
in
Vancouver.
F
Thank
you
so
much
Arnold,
speaker
and
certainly
the
member
will
know
that
we
take
the
the
use
of
public
dollars
and
how
they're
spent
very
seriously
I'll.
Take
the
members
question
I'll
notice
and
and
report
back
to
the
house.
E
You
Mr,
Speaker
and
taxpayers
reasonably
expect
in
this
province
for
an
MLA
to
travel
from
their
constituency
to
work
at
the
legislature.
B
E
B
G
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker.
During
last
Fall's
legislative
session,
the
now
Minister
for
post-secondary
Education
said
our
children
are
quote
the
most
press,
precious
resource.
We
have
end
quote
I,
agree
with
the
minister
on
that,
but
this
government's
actions
do
not
reflect
the
rhetoric.
Mr
Speaker.
The
reality
is
public
schools
in
British
Columbia
have
been
chronically
underfunded
for
years
with
school
boards
across
the
province
continuing
to
face
budget
shortfalls.
G
As
a
result
of
this
government's
policies,
Vancouver
School
Board
is
facing
a
5.9
million
dollar
shortfall
this
year,
forcing
the
board
to
choose
between
actions
like
combining
High
School
classes
together
moving
or
discontinuing
discontinuing
valuable
educational
programs
or
relocating
students
to
cover
the
deficit.
The
much
smaller
Senate
school
district
is
looking
for.
1.7
million
dollars
likely
to
be
funded
out
of
reserves.
Mr
Speaker,
this
progressive
government
or
so-called
progressive
government
promised
to
do
better
for
our
children
than
the
16
years
that
they
complained
about
the
previous
government
Mr
Speaker.
F
Thank
you
so
much
honorable,
speaker
and
I
want
to
thank
the
member.
Our
first
question
the
member
will
know-
and
we
have
in
numerous
times
in
this
house,
spoken
about
the
importance
of
education
for
our
kids.
I
know
the
minister
of
Education
finds
that
the
the
most
important
role
that
she
has
and
most
important
role
is
both
as
a
mom
as
well
as
a
minister
of
education
is
making
sure
that
all
kids
in
our
communities
have
the
funding
that's
needed.
F
The
member
will
know
that
funding
per
student
has
gone
up
by
24
since
2017..
That's
a
significant
increase
in
funding
we've
seen
significant
funding
for
building
new
schools,
making
sure
that
we
have
Educators
available
and
we're
going
to
continue
to
do
that.
Honor
speaker,
because
we
know
that
investments
in
our
children
are
investments
in
the
future.
G
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker,
as
we
just
heard
in
this
response,
the
government
has
continually
claimed
that
they've
fixed
the
problems
in
public
education,
but
the
reality
that
many
school
districts
are
facing
in
this
province
reflect
a
completely
different
different
reality.
It's
essentially
an
austerity
system
in
our
public
education
system.
We
often
hear
about
the
record
Investments
that
have
been
made
under
this
bcndp
government,
but
those
Mr
Speaker
are
disingenuous.
G
The
court
required
many
of
those
Investments
to
be
made
and
a
new
agreement
with
teachers.
An
important
investment
absolutely
in
our
teachers
does
nothing
to
support
the
replacing
and
replacing
the
Aging,
Tech
and
teaching
materials
that
many
of
our
school
districts
are
facing,
and
many
other
structural
deficits
that
they're
facing
every
single
budget
year,
including
this
year
in
2018.
This
government's
review
panel
report
recommended
changes
to
the
funding
model.
In
the
first
couple
of
years.
There
was
a
flurry
of
activity,
but
in
the
last
couple
of
years,
Mr
Speaker
there's
been
silence.
G
Nothing
in
The,
Minister's
mandate,
letter
nothing
in
the
service
plan
about
those
recommendations.
It
appears
to
not
be
a
priority
for
this
Premier.
The
members
of
this
government
know
that
we
need
to
do
better,
given
how
frequently
they
eviscerated
the
official
opposition
now
for
underfunding
Education
when
they
sat
on
this
side
of
the
house.
The
needs
of
students
and
teachers
need
to
be
put
first,
Mr
Speaker,
we've
seen
this
preview
roll
out
the
homes
for
people
plan
and
the
jobs
for
workers
plan.
F
Thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
and
there
was
a
lot
there
and
I
want
to
thank
the
member
for
the
question.
Yes,
we're
very
proud
of
the
homes
for
people
plan
that
we've
launched
we're
very
proud
of
our
future
ready
plan
that
was
announced
just
recently
and
making
sure
that
all
people
in
British,
Columbia
Young
those
that
are
transitioning
in
their
workplace
have
the
opportunities
to
get
the
skills
they
need
to
be
able
to
be
competitive
in
the
in
the
market.
F
Honorable
speaker
I
think
it's
important
for
the
member
to
know
which
I've
already
highlighted
that
we've
increased
the
budget
for
Education
by
24
per
student
funding
by
24
since
2017.
I'm
glad
he
highlighted
the
agreement
that
we
had
with
the
teachers
honorable
speaker,
because
those
Investments
are
about
making
sure
we
support
our
Educators
to
make
sure
that
we're
able
to
provide
the
highest
level
of
Education.
Now
the
member
will
also
know
that
when
we
form
government,
we
were
the
second
worst
when
it
came
to
funding
in
the
country.
F
H
H
System
I've
asked
the
minister
of
Health
Mr
Speaker
to
pause
the
implementation
of
Bill
36
and
to
do
a
comprehensive
engagement
with
the
healthcare
professionals
across
this
province
to
the
premier,
since
the
minister
won't
commit
to
doing
this.
Will
you
instruct
the
minister
of
Health
to
stop
the
implementation
of
Bill
36
until
a
full
and
comprehensive
engagement
with
Healthcare
professionals
across
BC
has
been
undertaken?
I
Bill
36
honorable
speaker
represented
the
first
major
Amendment
to
the
Health
Professions
act
in
three
decades
in
2018,
I
asked
for
an
investigation
and
review
by
World
leading
expert
Harry
Caton
into
the
Health
Professions
Act,
subsequent
to
that
members
of
the
new
Democratic
caucus
myself
members
from
the
from
the
official
opposition
caucus
members
of
the
green
caucus
came
together
to
review
that
report
and
a
roommate
and
to
make
recommendations,
all
of
which
were
reflected
in
bill
36..
That
process
involved
extraordinary
public
engagement.
I
More
than
4
300
people
participate
in
that
public
engagement,
71
percent
of
whom
were
health
professionals.
Subsequent
to
that,
we
had
an
engagement
with
First
Nations,
because
in
the
midst
of
that
process
we
had
the
in-plane
site
report
and
we
had
honorable
speaker
a
significant
requirement
under
reconciliation
to
engage
with
First
Nations.
Subsequent
to
that
honorable
speaker,
we
had
a
47.5
hour
debate
in
this
legislature.
Honorable
speaker,
the
second
longest
debate
on
any
bill
in
this
century.
I
Minister
will
continue,
the
legislation
protects,
patients
empowers
patients.
Honorable
speaker
provides
protection
when
people
bring
forward
complaints,
vulnerable
speaker,
including
support
honorable
speaker,
honorable
speaker,
I,
just
say
to
the
members
opposite,
our
Focus,
the
focus
of
the
committee,
the
focus
of
the
opposition.
The
green
party
that
worked
on
that
committee
was
protecting
patients
honorable
speaker
and
that's
exactly
what
the
legislature.
I
Honorable
speaker,
I
can
tell
you
that
the
conflict,
the
consultation
we
did
unprecedented
in
the
history
of
the
province
did
not
involve
people
yelling
at
each
other.
Honorable
speaker,
I,
would
say
this.
Honorable
speaker,
I,
would
say
this
honorable
speaker
that
the
concerns
raised
by
The
Honorable
member,
including
concerns
about
access
to
patient
records,
reflect
areas
that
are
absolutely
unchanged
for
the
present
legislation
and
I
suggest
in
his
decades
in
the
legislature.
He
might
have
raised
those
concerns
if
he'd
had
them
at
the
time.
I
Honorable
speaker,
the
fact
of
the
matter
is,
there
is
no
change
when
an
independent
investigator
investigates,
for
example,
a
concern
around
sexual
abuse.
They
have
a
right
under
limited
circumstances
to
access
patient
records.
That's
what
it
is
now,
that's
what
it
will
be
after
Bill
36
is
proclaimed.
H
Thank
you,
Mr,
Speaker
and
I.
Think
the
minister
for
for
that
answer.
The
engagement
that
he
talks
about
this
broad
engagement
did
not
include
the
full
scope
of
what's
in
this
bill.
What's
in
Bill
36
that
engagement
with
the
opposition,
members
did
not
include
the
full
scope
of
what
is
in
that
bill.
H
There
is
a
crisis
in
our
Health
Care
system.
Today.
These
professionals
have
taken
time
out
of
their
profession,
away
from
being
able
to
provide
the
services
they've
taken
time
away
from
the
family,
they've
traveled
across
the
province
to
be
here
to
express
their
concern
because
they
have
a
legitimate
concern
about
our
Health
Care
system
in
the
province
of
British
Columbia.
They
have
a
legitimate
concern
for
their
patients,
Mr
Speaker,
to
me
to
the
thousands
of
people
that
signed
the
petition
that
I
will
be
introducing
after
question
period.
Today
they
have
expressed
these
concerns.
H
H
So
Mr
Speaker
two
two
parts
to
this
question.
The
first
is
an
asked
of
the
minister
to
meet
with
these
Health
Care
Professionals
that
are
here
and
the
ones
that
are
outside
to
be
able
to
answer
questions
that
they
have
around
this,
but,
most
importantly,
Mr
Speaker.
There
is
a
large
list
of
questions
that
these
Healthcare
Providers
have
gone
through.
H
This
is
a
very
large
Bill
they've
gone
through
in
detail
they've,
provided
these
questions
to
the
minister
and
I
want
to
ask
to
through
you
to
the
premier
if
he
will
commit
today
to
asking
his
minister
to
answer
these
questions,
so
these
Health
Care
Providers
can
be
fully
engaged
and
to
pause,
going
forward
with
Bill
36
until
that
full
engagement
can
be
had,
and
we
can
assure
the
people
in
this
province
that
our
Health
Care
system
will
be
improved
and
not
damaged
by
the
bill
36.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
B
I
Honorable
speaker,
this
piece
of
legislation
which
reflects
the
recommendation
of
the
in-plane
site
report,
the
reflects
the
recommendations
of
the
all
Party
Committee.
That
reviewed
it
on
will
speak,
takes
a
proactive
approach
to
the
elimination
of
discrimination
in
our
health
care,
System.
Anybody
who
read
the
in
plain
sight
report
and
doesn't
think
that
action
should
be
taken
urgently,
and
this
is
action.
That's
been
taken
after
five
years
of
consultation
of
thousands
of
health
professionals.
Honorable
speaker
and
my
my
strong
view
is
Honorable
speaker.
I
My
strong
view
is
that
a
bill
that
empowers
the
public
that
says
when
there's
a
contrary
action,
not
when
there's
a
complaint
when
there's
a
contrary
action
that
there
should
be
transparency
for
patients
in
our
Province.
That's
long
overdue!
Honorable
speaker,
when
you
have
a
member
members
members,
it
takes
proactive
action
against
discrimination
after
the
in-plane
site
report,
after
a
significant
consultation
with
First
Nations,
under
both
the
reconciliation
provisions
and
the
in-played
site
working
group.
Honorable
speaker,
that
is
time
to
act
against
discrimination
in
health
care.
It's
time
to
act,
to
protect
patients.
I
I
B
I
Speaker,
all
of
that
consultation
took
place,
I
think
in
an
atmosphere
of
respect
five
years
of
it,
thousands
of
Health
Professions,
full
involvement
of
the
opposition,
full
involvement
of
indigenous
people,
we're
proud
of
the
legislation,
honorable
speaker
and
we're
going
to
continue
to
work
on
its
implementation.
Since
we
passed
the
bill,
there's
more
than
50
meetings.
Honorable
speaker,
the
representative
groups,
we're
going
to
continue
to
do
the
work
and
continue
to
improve
protections
for
patients
and
the
regulation
of
Health
for
health
professionals
in
BC.
J
You
very
much
honorable
speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
member
opposite
for
the
question.
There's
no
doubt
that
a
number
of
businesses
are
faced
to
its
significant
challenges:
we've
seen,
Global
inflation,
we've
seen
tremendous
economic
uncertainty
and
we
have
taken
action
to
support
small
businesses.
Mr
Speaker.
During
the
pandemic
we
stood
up
almost
half
a
billion,
in
fact
more
than
half
a
billion
dollars.
That
shows
the
priority
that
small
businesses
have
to
this
government.
J
It's
so
important,
Mr
Speaker,
when
we
put
in
programming
for
small
businesses,
the
priority
is
to
ensure
that
the
programming
is
what
they
need,
it's
what
they
want,
and
it's
going
to
have
impact.
A
great
example
of
this
is
when
we
worked
with
restaurants,
talking
to
Industry
and
working
with
the
people
that
are
impacted.
We
put
in
two
supports
that
were
very,
very
beneficial.
One
is
ensuring
that
restaurants
had
access
to
wholesale
pricing
for
liquor
that
benefited
every
restaurant
in
our
province.
J
K
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker.
This
government
is
developing
quite
a
pattern
of
not
wanting
proper
scrutiny
and
questioning
of
things
that
they're
bringing
forward,
as
we
heard
with
Bill
36
400
sections
had
closure
brought
on
by
this
government,
regardless
of
debate
time
leading
up
to
that,
and
in
fact,
our
motion,
our
motion
to
refer
those
400
sections
to
the
health
committee
was
squashed
by
this
government
to
have
proper
review.
K
But
Mr
Speaker-
it's
not
just
these
types
of
things
that
this
government
wants
to
quash.
We
heard
two
months
ago
that
the
BC
housing
forensic
audit
had
been
completed
two
months
and
as
much
as
the
government
wants
to
try
to
say
that
they're
committed
to
full
disclosure.
It's
been
two
months
of
redaction
after
redaction
after
redaction
and
no
release
and
no
release
date.
K
Now
yesterday,
I
asked
the
premier
if
he
would
commit
to
releasing
the
report
before
his
budget
estimates
start
next
week.
Unfortunately,
the
housing
Minister
answered
and
decided
to
deflect
and
use
the
same
language
again,
no
commitment
convenient,
given
that
the
housing
Minister's
budget
estimates
are
now
over.
K
The
premier
full
well
knows
that
budget
estimates
would
be
the
best
way
to
have
full
transparency
and
full
questioning
of
the
forensic
audit
of
BC
housing,
especially
given
he
was
the
housing
Minister
for
the
better
part
of
two
years.
Will
the
premier
commit
today
to
releasing
the
full
unredacted
report,
forensic
Auto,
to
BC
housing
in
time
for
his
estimates
starting
next
week.
D
Premier.
Thank
you
honorable
speaker.
Two
two
issues,
racing
numbers
question
I'll,
take
them
both
in
order.
One
is
on
on
Bill
36.
now
I
understand.
The
opposition
now
is
taking
the
position
that
they
weren't
involved
in
all
the
engagement.
The
health
minister
laid
out
over
five
years
on
developing
this
on
developing
this
story.
C
B
D
Please
I
don't
agree
with
the
leader
of
the
conservative
party
on
his
position,
but
at
least
I
know
what
it
is.
Okay,
when
it
comes
to
the
opposition,
the
opposition
wants
to
have
it
both
ways
on
so
many
different
issues.
They
need
to
take
positions
now
on
the
issue
of
housing,
where
they
also
take
multiple
positions.
D
First
of
all,
on
the
BC
housing
audit,
absolutely
I
understand
it's
important
for
the
members
to
have
a
chance
to
ask
questions
on
this
report,
we'll
release
it
and
I
committed
to
this
house
to
table
it
in
this
place
and
to
to
table
as
much
of
the
report
as
the
law
allows
us
to
to
provide
them
and
to
the
public
and
to
have
ample
opportunity
for
them
to
ask
questions
about
it.
D
We
have
a
really
serious
housing
issue
in
this
province
and
I.
Think,
on
the
on
the
theme
of
the
opposition
and
housing
and
Clarity
of
position
to
have
the
opposition
standing
against
basic
ideas
like
allowing
someone
that
has
a
single
family
home
to
develop
more
than
one
unit
on
that
property,
for
them
to
stand
up
in
opposition
to
that
the
most
affordable
kind
of
housing
that
can
be
built
for
them
to
oppose
that
for
them
to
vote
against
the
housing
targets
before
they
voted
for
them.
D
K
K
C
K
K
D
Jamia,
thank
you
honorable
speaker,
two
issues
raised
by
the
member
in
that
question
the
on
the
issue
of
of
tabling
the
audit,
absolutely
the
the
audit
will
be
tabled,
and
this
has
committed
to
this
house,
so
the
members
will
have
opportunity.
D
D
Speaker
I
know
the
members
don't
want
me
to
get
to
the
second
issue,
but
I
will
get
there.
On
the
newspaper.
On
the
second
question,
honorable
speaker,
the
members
did
in
fact
vote
against
Bill
c-36
or
Bill
36,
but
of
course
that
was
after
they
voted
for
it.
At
second.