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From YouTube: Speech from the Throne - APRIL 12 2021
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
A
Good
day,
friends,
as
always,
it's
important
that
we
start
by
acknowledging
the
lakuangan
peoples
the
song
is
in
esquimalt,
upon
whose
traditional
territory
we
gather
today,
and
to
thank
them
for
sharing
these
lands
in
peace
and
friendship.
I
would
also
like
to
acknowledge
elder
butch,
dick
for
the
gift
of
a
traditional
blessing.
A
It
is
with
great
sadness
that
I
also
acknowledge
the
passing
of
his
royal
highness,
the
prince
philip,
duke
of
edinburgh
at
the
age
of
99
on
april
9
2021,
as
the
devoted
husband
and
consort
to
her
majesty,
the
queen.
The
marriage
of
her
majesty
and
his
royal
highness
formed
a
foundation
of
leadership
of
the
united
kingdom
and
the
commonwealth
for
nearly
eight
decades
on
the
occasion
of
the
queen's
diamond
jubilee
in
2012.
A
A
A
Other
community
leaders
include
political
watchdog,
derma
travis
war
heroes,
george
chow
and
norman
kirby.
Youth
homelessness
advocate
catherine
mcparland
and
veteran
and
founder
of
the
canadian
chinese-canadian
military
museum,
colonel
hau.
Yet
lee
we
honor
their
contributions
to
our
province
as
we
mourn
their
loss.
A
Of
course,
this
has
been
a
year
like
no
other.
Tragically,
we
have
also
lost
over
1400
british
columbians
to
covet
19
and
over
1800
to
the
overdose
crisis.
Since
the
pandemic
began.
These
are
not
just
numbers.
They
are
our
grandparents
and
elders,
our
parents
and
siblings,
our
colleagues,
neighbors
and
friends.
A
A
A
Small
business
owners
changed
the
way
they
operated
to
keep
workers
and
customers
safe.
This
year,
british
columbia's
medal
of
good
citizenship
will
recognize
those
who
have
gone
above
and
beyond
in
their
efforts.
During
this
extraordinary
time,
we've
come
a
long
way
by
looking
out
for
each
other.
The
lessons
we
have
learned
over
the
last
year
will
serve
us.
Well,
as
we
turn
toward
recovery,
we
open
the
sitting
of
the
legislature
at
a
turning
point
in
our
fight
to
end
the
pandemic.
A
The
threat
of
new
variants
means
we
cannot
relax,
even
as
your
government
accelerates
the
largest
mass
immunization
program
in
bcc
history.
Thanks
to
the
hard
work
of
public
health
officials,
community
leaders
and
volunteers,
our
age-based
vaccine
rollout
is
ahead
of
schedule.
More
than
a
million
british
columbians
have
already
received
their
first
dose.
A
A
A
This
pandemic
is
no
different,
as
the
last
few
weeks
have
proven.
High
case
counts
mean
we
must
all
continue
working
together
to
keep
each
other
safe
as
we
get
vaccines
into
arms
as
quickly
as
possible.
We
must
not
let
down
our
guard
or
give
up
on
our
layers
of
protection,
not
when
we
are
this
close
to
the
end.
A
Despite
the
challenges
of
the
last
year,
our
strengths
remain.
We
have
abundant
natural
resources
and
clean
technology.
We
are
a
gateway
to
asia
and
major
ports
to
north
america,
and
our
biggest
strength
is
our
people
hardworking,
highly
skilled
and
with
a
culture
of
entrepreneurship
and
innovation.
A
A
Not
only
will
their
work
help
to
bring
us
out
of
the
pandemic,
it
will
position
our
province
for
success
in
the
years
ahead.
We
are
already
seeing
positive
indications
that
the
recovery
is
well
underway
here
in
bc.
Our
province
has
seen
months
of
sustained
growth
and
currently
has
the
highest
job
recovery
rate
in
canada.
A
A
A
While
these
are
encouraging
signs,
there
is
a
lot
more.
We
need
to
do
to
help
the
businesses
and
workers
in
our
hard-hit,
tourism
and
hospitality
sectors
rebound
and
recover
to
ensure
charitable
organizations
and
the
non-profit
sector
are
supported
so
that
they
can
support
people
and
communities
to
create
good
jobs,
while
tackling
the
climate
crisis
and
protecting
the
environment
and,
ultimately
to
position
british
columbia
to
come
back
even
stronger.
Once
we
have
put
the
pandemic
behind
us
later
this
month,
your
government
will
introduce
a
new
budget.
A
All
budgets
are
about
choices.
This
budget
will
choose
to
help
people
now
and
create
the
conditions
for
a
strong
economic
recovery
that
reaches
every
british
columbian.
It
will
make
health
care
better
while
creating
new
opportunities
for
people.
It
will
target
help
to
small
businesses,
so
they
can
grow
and
hire
and
it
will
invest
in
the
infrastructure.
We
need
to
strengthen
local
communities.
A
A
A
A
A
A
As
we
move
forward
toward
better
days,
your
government
will
make
targeted
investments
to
ensure
the
recovery
does
not
leave.
People
behind
the
work
of
investing
in
people
starts
with
improving
health
care.
The
pandemic
has
shown
that
keeping
people
healthy
and
safe
is
the
foundation
for
a
strong
and
resilient
british
columbia.
A
Four
years
ago,
your
government
set
out
to
deliver
faster,
more
personalized
health
care
closer
to
home.
While
much
has
been
accomplished.
There
is
a
lot
more
to
do
in
the
year
ahead.
Your
government
will
continue
to
improve
care
for
seniors
by
hiring
thousands
of
new
workers
for
long-term
care,
and
by
fixing
the
cracks
covered
19
has
exposed.
A
It
will
reduce,
wait
times
by
permanently
changing
the
way
we
deliver
surgeries
in
bc
to
get
more
patients
their
surgeries
faster,
and
it
will
build
more
hospitals
and
urgent
primary
care
centers
to
ensure
quality
health
care.
Is
there
when
you
need
it
where
you
need
it?
This
includes
building
a
new
hospital
in
surrey
and
an
expanded
richmond
tower
to
deliver
more
services
in
fast
growing
communities.
A
Coven
19
has
not
just
affected
our
physical
health.
It
has
also
taken
a
toll
on
our
mental
health.
People
everywhere
are
experiencing
increased
anxiety,
stress
and
depression
prior
to
the
pandemic.
Canada's
first
standalone
ministry
of
mental
health
and
addictions
was
making
good
progress.
Now
we
will
redouble
our
efforts
through
the
upcoming
budget.
Your
government
will
make
new
investments
in
the
pathway
to
hope
plan
to
improve
mental
health
and
addictions
care
for
people.
A
A
For
the
last
four
years,
your
government
has
worked
hard
to
make
things
a
little
easier.
It
eliminated
msp
health
care
premiums
and
road
tolls.
It
cut
hydro
rates
and
put
money
back
into
the
pockets
of
families
with
the
child
opportunity
benefit
it
eliminated
interest
on
bc
student
loans
and
launched
a
grant
program
to
make
post-secondary
education
more
accessible,
and
it
took
steps
to
rein
in
skyrocketing
housing
prices
by
introducing
a
speculation
tax
that
has
helped
turn
18
000
empty
condos
into
long-term
rentals.
A
A
A
A
Life
becomes
more
affordable,
not
just
when
costs
go
down,
but
also
when
incomes
go
up
in
june,
bc's
minimum
wage
will
increase
to
over
fifteen
dollars
an
hour
for
the
first
time.
This
will
give
the
lowest
income
workers
a
well-deserved,
raise,
many
of
whom
have
worked
in
essential
services
throughout
the
pandemic.
A
A
A
The
george
massey
crossing
replacement
will
continue
to
be
a
priority,
and
steps
will
be
taken
towards
building
the
suri
langley
sky
train,
ensuring
the
line
extends
fully
to
langley
to
support
coastal
communities.
Your
government
will
also
launch
a
made
in
bc
shipbuilding
strategy
and
fight
to
bring
construction
of
canada's
next
polar
icebreaker
back
to
bc.
Shipyards.
A
A
When
the
pandemic
hit,
your
government
acted
fast
to
meet
the
growing
demands
and
connect
more
people
and
businesses
in
more
communities.
Now
over
10
000,
more
households
across
the
province
have
better
internet
funding,
provided
through
the
stronger
bc.
Recovery
plan
will
add
hundreds
of
kilometers
of
cell
coverage
on
bc
highways,
making
life
safer
for
people.
A
A
There
is
an
old
saying
that
necessity
is
the
mother
of
invention.
Some
core
services
were
maintained
by
moving
online
or
finding
appropriate
new
locations.
For
example,
bc's
courts
never
closed
with
the
court
of
appeal
meeting
remotely
and
some
jury
trials
move
to
safer
locations
in
theaters
in
the
year
ahead.
Your
government
will
look
carefully
at
public
service
innovations
that
came
about
during
the
pandemic,
with
an
eye
to
maintaining
those
elements
that
offer
greater
efficiency
and
make
life
more
convenient
for
people.
A
A
Your
government
is
working
with
leaders
in
the
arts
community
and
dr
bonnie
henry's
team
to
plan
a
safe
return.
Until
that
return
is
possible.
Your
government
is
stepping
up
and
providing
additional
support
to
people,
arts
organizations
and
venues,
while
the
pandemic
has
brought
out
the
best
in
most
people.
Unfortunately,
we
have
also
seen
it
bring
out
the
worst
in
some
hatred
and
racist
actions
have
been
on
the
rise
since
coveted
19
began.
A
Anti-Asian
hate
crimes
have
increased
by
over
700
percent
in
vancouver
in
2020
alone.
Racism
has
no
place
in
our
communities.
Everyone
has
a
right
to
feel
safe
and
respected.
Your
government
is
committed
to
the
work
that
must
be
done
to
dismantle
systemic
discrimination.
That
is
still
a
lived
reality
for
too
many
in
our
province.
A
It
launched
resilience
bc,
a
new
anti-racism
network.
It
has
committed
to
introducing
race-based
data
collection
to
help
identify
gaps
in
services
and
how
to
address
them.
In
the
months
ahead.
Your
government
will
continue
working
with
communities
to
develop
bc's
first
anti-racism
law
and
to
reform
our
outdated
police
act.
A
It
will
also
introduce
landmark
legislation
to
remove
barriers
to
accessibility
and
inclusion
experienced
by
british
columbians
with
disabilities
to
honor
their
contributions
and
celebrate
the
diversity
of
british
columbia.
Your
government
will
continue
building
on
the
recently
established
chinese
canadian
museum
and
legacy
investments
that
recognize
south
asian
canadian
heritage,
diversity
and
inclusion
are
what
make
bc's
communities
so
special.
A
A
Even
in
normal
times
it
takes
skills
and
tenacity
to
run
a
successful
small
business.
Faced
with
thin
margins
in
an
ever-changing
marketplace,
the
pandemic
has
only
com,
compounded
these
challenges
with
new
ones
that
none
of
us
could
have
expected
from
the
outset.
Your
government
made
it
clear
that
it
would
help
small
businesses
and
their
employees
get
through
it
early
on
it,
cut
property
taxes,
prohibited
commercial
evictions
and
forgave
hydro
bills.
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
Your
government
is
determined
to
continue
tackling
the
environmental
challenges
that
were
neglected
for
too
long
this
year.
It
will
continue
the
work
of
reforming
the
forest
act
and
the
forest
and
range
practices
act
to
meet
the
challenges
of
the
21st
century.
Your
government
will
continue
to
take
action
on
the
independent
report
on
old
growth,
which
recommended
important.
New
protection
for
remaining
old
growth
stands
not
already
protected.
A
A
At
the
same
time,
your
government
will
move
forward
with
other
measures
to
protect
bc's
environment,
including
improving
waste
management,
particularly
of
plastics.
These
actions
will
build
on
the
progress
we
have.
We
have
made
already
like
removing
over
120
tons
of
marine
debris
from
bc
coasts
and
shorelines,
protecting
wildlife
and
habitat
and
planting
a
record
300
million
trees.
Last
year.
A
Our
economic
recovery
must
become
an
opportunity
to
accelerate
environmental
protection,
not
an
excuse
to
relax
our
commitment
to
sustainability
central
to
achieving
our
goal
of
a
more
sustainable
economic
future.
On
the
other
side
of
covid19
is
british
colombia's
clean
bc
plan.
It
is
north
america's
most
progressive
plan
to
reduce
carbon
pollution
while
creating
good
new
family
supporting
jobs
in
the
year
ahead.
Your
government
will
build
on
the
progress
already
made.
It
will
continue
to
foster
clean
tech
innovation
through
electrification
through
electrification.
A
It
will
move
more
industrial
activities
from
fossil
fuels,
to
clean
hydroelectric
power,
to
make
life
more
affordable
for
people
and
reduce
emissions.
Your
government
is
making
it
easier
to
buy
electric
vehicles
and
working
to
support
emission
reductions
in
transit
fleets
and
heavy-duty
trucking,
and
newly
announced
sectoral
emission
targets
will
keep
government
accountable
as
it
works
with
each
sector
of
the
economy,
to
reduce
emissions
while
remaining
globally
competitive.
A
The
last
year
has
challenged
our
province
and
our
people
in
ways.
We
could
never
have
imagined
from
the
daily
sacrifices
made
by
frontline
essential
workers
to
the
small
businesses
that
have
endured
countless
obstacles.
We
owe
a
day
a
huge
debt
of
gratitude
to
those
who
have
helped
us
come
through
it.
The
difficult
times
are
not
yet
over.
As
we
begin
this
legislative
session,
your
government
urges
you
not
to
lose
sight
of
what
has
made
our
province
so
resilient.
A
A
We
know
is
possible
together
we
can
build
a
bc
where
strong
public
services,
like
health
care,
are
there
when
people
need
them
where
we
can
create
good
jobs
that
help
us
meet
the
challenges
of
today
and
tomorrow
and
where
we
always
work
in
partnership
with
indigenous
peoples.
So
everyone
shares
in
the
prosperity
of
this
land.
A
The
future
for
our
province
is
bright.
It
is
one
of
hope
and
opportunity.
Now,
let's
get
to
work.
Ensuring
bc
comes
back
stronger
than
ever
for
everyone,
and,
finally,
I
will
add
my
personal
thanks
to
all
british
columbians
for
the
generosity,
compassion
and
resolve
you
have
demonstrated
over
the
past
year,
like
you,
I've
been
humbled
by
the
selfless
work
of
our
healthcare
and
essential
services,
workers
inspired
by
the
unwavering
commitment
of
our
public
health
leaders
and
deeply
moved
by
the
humanity
of
those
who
house
and
care
for
the
most
vulnerable.
A
Let
us
not
forget
them
when
this
reality
has
passed
from
you
as
it
surely
will
this
time
has
been
difficult
for
all
of
us,
but
especially
so
for
those
who
have
lost
family
members
and
friends,
we
hold
them
in
our
hearts
and
to
all
of
you
who
serve
together
in
bc's
legislative
assembly,
indeed
to
all
who
hold
elected
office.
I'm
deeply
grateful
for
your
leadership
for
your
collaboration,
your
tireless
work
during
these
extraordinary
times.
A
Finally,
as
a
representative
of
her
majesty
queen
elizabeth
ii,
queen
of
canada,
I
want
to
thank
british
colombians
for
all
that
you
do
to
care
for
each
other,
not
only
those
who
share
your
lives,
but
also
those
whom
you
will
never
meet.
We
look
forward
to
better
days,
meanwhile,
take
good
care
and
stay
safe.
Thank
you.