Nos. 1 and 2 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Ten o’clock a.m.

This being the first day of the first meeting of the Fortieth Parliament of the Province of British Columbia for the dispatch of business, pursuant to a Proclamation of the Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, dated the 13th day of June, 2013, the Members took their seats, having taken the prescribed oath and having signed the Parliamentary Roll.

The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, having entered the House, took her seat on the Throne.

The Hon. S. Anton (Minister of Justice) said:

Members of the Legislative Assembly:

I am commanded by Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor to announce that she does not see fit to declare the cause of her summoning you at this time and will not do so until you have chosen a Speaker to preside over your Honourable Body. Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor hopes to be enabled to declare, during the afternoon, her reason for calling you together.

Her Honour was then pleased to retire.

Craig James, Clerk of the House, advised the House that only one candidate had declared their intention to stand for the election of Speaker and, accordingly, Linda Reid, Member for Richmond East electoral district, was declared as the duly elected Speaker. She was then taken out of her place by the Hon. M. de Jong and Mr. Horgan and conducted to the Chair and made a statement expressing her grateful thanks to the House for the great honour they had been pleased to confer upon her by electing her to be their Speaker.

The Speaker declared a short recess.

The Hon. R. Coleman (Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing and Deputy Premier) made a statement.

Mr. Dix made a statement.

And then the House adjourned at 10.21 a.m.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Two o’clock p.m.

Prayers by Reverend Tim Schindel, Leading Influence Ministries, Victoria.

The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, having entered the House, took her seat on the Throne. The Speaker standing on Her Honour’s right, then spoke to the following effect:

May it please Your Honour:

The House of Assembly has elected me as their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfill the important duties thus assigned to me. If, in the performance of those duties, I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault be imputed to me and not to the Assembly, whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to the Queen and country, humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that they may have the freedom of speech in their debates, access to Your Honour’s person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Honour the most favourable interpretation.

The Hon. S. Anton then said:

Madam Speaker:

I am commanded by Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor to declare to you that she freely confides in the duty and attachment of the House of Assembly to Her Majesty’s person and Government, and not doubting that their respective proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, she grants, and upon all occasions will recognize and allow, their constitutional privileges. I am commanded also to assure you that the Assembly shall have ready access to Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from her the most favourable construction.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor was then pleased to open the Session by the following gracious Speech:

Fellow British Columbians, Members of the Legislative Assembly:

Since the chamber was last addressed from the throne, we have learned of the loss of some prominent, beloved British Columbians. They all contributed to making this province a better place to live, and I would like to acknowledge a few of them today.

We were saddened to hear about the recent passing of former Lieutenant-Governor Garde Gardom. His dedication to public service was an example for us all.

We have also lost First Nations leaders and elders who inspired us all, such as Hereditary Chief and Judge Alfred Scow.

We mourn the loss of former members of this legislature, who all served their constituents with distinction: Larry Chalmers, Harold Long, Bill Reid, and Graham Richard Lea.

We also recognize the passing of 30 public service employees.

Across this great province, local leaders work tirelessly to make a difference close to home. These include community leaders, municipal politicians, and community activists such as, John Jeffery, Neville Cox, Art Phillips, Allan Sheridan Huddlestan, Bonnie Fournier, Frank Waring, Raymond White, and Maureen Milgram Forrest.

We honour those veterans who risked their own lives to protect us: J. W. Bradley, Peter Bazowski, John Mills Calder, and Peter G. Bunn.

We pause to remember those British Columbians whose success made a difference in people’s lives both at home and abroad: Hugh John Todd Young, Paul Heller, Bob Wright, David Wilson, Helen Beirnes, Tom Owen, and Dr. Wesley J. Koczka.

We remember fondly those who made us cheer, and represented British Columbia so well on the national and international stage: Leona Margaret Smith, Harold Nikirk, Shirley Firth, Alan Clapp, and George Norris.

We also mourn those who were taken from us in tragic circumstances, or far too soon: Xavier Pelletier and Anthony Sedlak.

Each has made contributions to this great province. As we mourn their loss, we will honour their memory by adding to their legacy.

I also want to recognize British Columbians and our friends from Southern Alberta who are struggling with the floods and the recovery from the high water that has so significantly affected their lives deeply.

My thanks go out to the civic leaders, civil servants and members of the emergency services who have dealt with these crises with such dedication.

Fellow British Columbians.

Since I had the honour of last addressing you from this chair, citizens across our province have participated in an election.

I want to thank all the men and women who put their names forward as candidates. Whether you won or lost, by contributing to the democratic process, you made it stronger.

In the election, British Columbians spoke clearly. And your voice was heard across the country.

Today, the government you have chosen begins the task of honouring the obligation and opportunity you have bestowed upon it.

Your new government is optimistic for the future, alive to the challenges of our times. But the global economy is fragile, and recovery has been slow. In British Columbia, we must protect our economy and the jobs and citizens who depend on it.

Your government is already at work to meet these challenges with a bold plan. A bold plan for a bold province.

Your government will work to seize the economic opportunity of a lifetime presented to all of us by our surplus natural gas.

It will begin to chart a course to a debt-free B.C., so the next generation will be able to make choices for themselves when it is their time to lead.

It will protect the economy by controlling spending and balancing the budget.

Your new government will act on the mandate you have given it, to keep B.C.’s economy strong so we can secure tomorrow, together.

Strong Economy

Fellow British Columbians. There are shared values that define us as British Columbians.

• Giving our children greater opportunities than we had;

• Caring for those who cared for us;

• And leaving our province as magnificent and beautiful as we found it

Your government believes the best way to protect these values is by growing and strengthening our economy.

Tomorrow, your government will reintroduce Balanced Budget 2013. This will be the first of four consecutive balanced budgets in its mandate.

And to ensure that future budgets are balanced, your government will toughen the balanced budget law.

A strong economy also means low taxes for families and job creators. Your government will freeze personal tax rates and carbon tax rates for five years.

Controlling spending so that we can hold the line on taxes for families is one pillar to keep our economy strong. The other requires action to grow the economy.

Through the creation of a new Ministry of Natural Gas Development, your government will bring the liquefied natural gas opportunity home, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and leading to the establishment of the B.C. Prosperity Fund, which will be protected by law to eliminate our debt.

Your government will accelerate the BC Jobs Plan to drive growth — not just in the natural gas industry, but across all of B.C.’s most competitive export sectors.

Your government will continue to improve efficiencies and timeliness of the permitting process, where backlogs will continue to be dramatically reduced.

Your government will launch a core review to make sure government is structured for success.

Your government will also drive growth in the clean energy sector and continue the development of Site C and other new sources of renewable energy to ensure reliable and affordable electricity for future generations.

In the area of technology and innovation, your government is creating a new ministry to ensure we are doing all we can to grow this industry, as we said we would do in the BC Jobs Plan.

More B.C. ideas need to move from labs to the market. This means working with our post-secondary institutions to stay on the cutting edge of research and providing better support for the innovators who want to shape the economy of the future.

Growing our province’s economy also depends on getting four fundamental things right:

• Working in partnership with First Nations;

• Making sure citizens have the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow;

• Infrastructure to get the goods created by industry and people to customers;

• And expanding markets in Asia.

Your government will continue ongoing efforts to secure non-treaty economic benefit agreements with First Nations, and is committed to finalizing long-term treaties and partnerships, including additional revenue-sharing agreements, to seize economic development opportunities, particularly in the area of liquefied natural gas — which must, can, and will create a legacy for all British Columbians, including those who were here first.

Preparing the workforce with skills that match current and future job opportunities where people live and in the communities they love, is essential to ensuring that British Columbians are first in line for jobs.

To continue equipping our institutions, set targets to match skills to jobs and ensure a seamless delivery of skills training from high school through to entry in the workforce, your government will develop a comprehensive 10-year skills-training plan.

Ensuring our products connect to markets and to each other is fundamental to economic growth. Your government will continue its historic investments in transportation infrastructure.

This year will see the completion of the South Fraser Perimeter Road. Several other major improvements will move forward, including the ongoing completion of Trans-Canada Highway four-laning program and the next phase of consultations to replace the George Massey Tunnel.

Asia is the ancestral homeland of so many of our citizens. It is also the home of incredible opportunity for new investment that creates jobs here in British Columbia.

Your government will continue to knock down barriers and open doors in Asia and grow our trade surplus.

This is why the provincial government is creating a new ministry uniquely focused on developing and executing the international trade strategy, with a particular focus on Asia.

Your Premier will also continue to lead annual trade missions to Asia on behalf of all British Columbians.

Secure Tomorrow

Fellow British Columbians. A strong economy makes it possible to afford the vital programs and services we need to care for each other, to educate our children, to keep B.C. a safe, just, and clean place for everyone to live.

A strong economy secures tomorrow.

Today, British Columbia leads the country for best health outcomes. Your government will work to maintain this by continuing to drive innovation and change across the system, and keep spending focused on patients.

Your government will deliver on an end-of-life care plan to double the number of hospice beds by 2020 so we can better care for those we love in their last days.

Your government will also work to better care for the well-being of our province’s most vulnerable citizens.

Significant reforms have been made at Community Living British Columbia. Your government will ensure they are fully implemented and benefitting the families who depend on us.

Your government will also act to implement the Early Years Strategy, announced in the previous budget, and to be recommitted tomorrow in this House. And preparatory work will commence for the future implementation of the Early Childhood Tax Benefit, to help make life more affordable for young families.

Children and families need stability, in their homes and in our schools. Continuous labour disruption does not help our children compete in the world. And it does not help our kids learn.

Your government will work to bring together teachers, parents, and school boards to achieve long-term labour stability in our classrooms.

For parents and families, your government will bring in the $1,200 BC Education and Training Grant for every child born after January 1, 2007, to help parents save for their children’s post-secondary education.

This money does not belong to government to spend at taxpayers’ expense. It belongs to parents to save on behalf of their children.

A safe and just province is also central to preserving our quality of life. Your government will work to enhance public safety and security for all British Columbians, and implement the Domestic Violence Prevention Strategy.

Your government will also maintain its leadership in the effort to stop bullying. A new online reporting tool and threat assessment guidelines for all school districts, backed by protocols and comprehensive training, set B.C. apart — and we must do more.

Our province is a better place when children have the courage to stand up to bullying and when parents, teachers and friends stand strong with them.

Fellow British Columbians. Your government is honoured by your choice and is committed to drive forward with passion and resolve so that British Columbians can prosper today and tomorrow.

This is an historic opportunity for our province.

This can be the generation that strengthens the economy to secure tomorrow.

This can be the generation that puts our province on the course towards a debt-free future.

It is the greatest of gifts we can give to our children and to their children — the opportunity to be unburdened by the choices of generations before and free to make choices for theirs and generations ahead.

This is the opportunity and the obligation you have given your government.

Let that work begin.

To the members of the Legislative Assembly, I congratulate each and every one of you for standing up and running for office.

You and your families have already sacrificed much to be here, but on behalf of all British Columbians, I appeal to each and every one of you to continue to put the citizens you represent first and strive every day to make this wonderful province only more magnificent in every way possible.

I wish you all success in this first session of the 40th parliament of the Province of British Columbia.

Splendor sine occasu.

Splendor without diminishment.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor was then pleased to retire.

Madam Speaker reported that, in order to prevent mistakes, she had obtained a copy of Her Honour’s Speech.

The certificate of the Chief Electoral Officer of the result of the election of Members to represent the respective electoral districts of the Province in the Legislative Assembly at the general election was read by Craig James, Clerk of the House, as follows:

 
“Elections BC
Victoria, B.C., June 5, 2013

Craig James
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Room 221, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4

Dear Craig James:

Please consider this letter a certified report, according to section 147 of the Election Act, RSBC 1996 c. 106, regarding the results of the 40th Provincial General Election.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor dissolved the 39th Parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia via a Proclamation issued on April 16. A general election was required to fill vacancies caused by the dissolution.

Writs of election were issued on the morning of April 16, calling for a general election on May 14. The writs were returnable today, June 5.

The general election was held pursuant to the provisions of the Election Act.

A recount of candidate ballots was conducted by the District Electoral Officer for Saanich North and the Islands under section 136 of the Election Act.

In addition, the District Electoral Officer for the electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville was required to apply for a judicial recount of the ballots in that district in accordance with section 139 (5) (b) of the Election Act. The judicial recount began on June 4 and is currently underway.

I hereby certify that the following 84 members have been elected to represent their respective electoral districts as set out below:

 

Electoral District Ballot Name Political Party Affiliation
Abbotsford-Mission Simon Gibson BC Liberal Party
Abbotsford South Darryl Plecas BC Liberal Party
Abbotsford West Michael de Jong BC Liberal Party
Alberni-Pacific Rim Scott Kenneth Fraser BC NDP
Boundary-Similkameen Linda Margaret Larson BC Liberal Party
Burnaby-Deer Lake Kathy Corrigan BC NDP
Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan BC NDP
Burnaby-Lougheed Jane Shin BC NDP
Burnaby North Richard T. Lee BC Liberal Party
Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett BC Liberal Party
Cariboo North Coralee Oakes BC Liberal Party
Chilliwack John Martin BC Liberal Party
Chilliwack-Hope Laurie Throness BC Liberal Party
Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald BC NDP
Comox Valley Don McRae BC Liberal Party
Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Douglas Horne BC Liberal Party
Cowichan Valley Bill Routley BC NDP
Delta North Scott Hamilton BC Liberal Party
Delta South Vicki Huntington Independent
Esquimalt-Royal Roads Maurine Karagianis BC NDP
Fort Langley-Aldergrove Rich Coleman BC Liberal Party
Fraser-Nicola Jackie Tegart BC Liberal Party
Juan de Fuca John Horgan BC NDP
Kamloops-North Thompson Terry Lake BC Liberal Party
Kamloops-South Thompson Todd Graham Stone BC Liberal Party
Kelowna-Lake Country Norm Letnick BC Liberal Party
Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson BC Liberal Party
Kootenay East Bill Bennett BC Liberal Party
Kootenay West Katrine Conroy BC NDP
Langley Mary Polak BC Liberal Party
Maple Ridge-Mission Marc H. J. Dalton BC Liberal Party
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Doug Bing BC Liberal Party
Nanaimo Leonard Eugene Krog BC NDP
Nanaimo-North Cowichan Doug Routley BC NDP
Nechako Lakes John Rustad BC Liberal Party
Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall BC NDP
New Westminster Judy Darcy BC NDP
North Coast Jennifer Rice BC NDP
North Island Claire Felicity Trevena BC NDP
North Vancouver-Lonsdale Naomi Yamamoto BC Liberal Party
North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite BC Liberal Party
Oak Bay-Gordon Head Andrew Weaver Green Party of BC
Parksville-Qualicum Michelle Stilwell BC Liberal Party
Peace River North Pat Pimm BC Liberal Party
Peace River South Mike Bernier BC Liberal Party
Penticton Dan Ashton BC Liberal Party
Port Coquitlam Mike Farnworth BC NDP
Port Moody-Coquitlam Linda Reimer BC Liberal Party
Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons BC NDP
Prince George-Mackenzie Mike Morris BC Liberal Party
Prince George-Valemount Shirley Bond BC Liberal Party
Richmond Centre Teresa Wat BC Liberal Party
Richmond East Linda Reid BC Liberal Party
Richmond-Steveston John Yap BC Liberal Party
Saanich North and the Islands Gary Holman BC NDP
Saanich South Lana Popham BC NDP
Shuswap Greg Kyllo BC Liberal Party
Skeena Robin Austin BC NDP
Stikine Doug Donaldson BC NDP
Surrey-Cloverdale Stephanie Cadieux BC Liberal Party
Surrey-Fleetwood Peter Fassbender BC Liberal Party
Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell BC NDP
Surrey-Newton Harry Bains BC NDP
Surrey-Panorama Marvin Hunt BC Liberal Party
Surrey-Tynehead Amrik Virk BC Liberal Party
Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston BC NDP
Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Fairview George Heyman BC NDP
Vancouver-False Creek Sam Sullivan BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Fraserview Suzannne Anton BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson BC NDP
Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore BC NDP
Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix BC NDP
Vancouver-Langara Moira Stilwell BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Wai Ching Kwan BC NDP
Vancouver-Point Grey David Eby BC NDP
Vancouver-Quilchena Andrew Franklin Wilkinson BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-West End Spencer Chandra Herbert BC NDP
Vernon-Monashee Eric Bailey Foster BC Liberal Party
Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James BC NDP
Victoria-Swan Lake Rob Fleming BC NDP
West Vancouver-Capilano Ralph Sultan BC Liberal Party
West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Jordan Sturdy BC Liberal Party
Westside-Kelowna Ben Stewart BC Liberal Party

If you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to call me.

Sincerely,

Keith Archer, Ph.D.
Chief Electoral Officer
British Columbia”

A further certificate of the Chief Electoral Officer of the result of the judicial recount for the electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville certifying that Selina Mae Robinson had been elected was read by Craig James, Clerk of the House, as follows:

 
“Elections BC
Victoria, B.C., June 7, 2013

Craig James
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Room 221, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4

Dear Craig James:

As you know, a provincial general election was held on May 14.

The District Electoral Officer for the electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville was required to apply to the Supreme Court for a judicial recount of the ballots in the district in accordance with section 139 (5) (b) of the Election Act. This resulted in a delay in returning the writ of election for this electoral district.

Mr. Justice Barry M. Davies conducted the judicial recount on June 4, 2013. Following the conclusion of the judicial recount, a two-day appeal period was observed as required by s. 144 of the Act. The appeal period ended on June 7, with no application made for an appeal.

Mr. Justice Barry M. Davies has since issued a certificate of the results of the judicial recount to the District Electoral Officer. The District Electoral Officer for Coquitlam-Maillardville has now returned the writ and signed certificate of election to my office.

In accordance with section 147 (2) of the Election Act, I hereby certify the election of BC NDP candidate Selina Mae Robinson, as the Member to represent the electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville in the Legislative Assembly.

Sincerely,

Keith Archer, Ph.D.
Chief Electoral Officer
British Columbia”

A letter of resignation by the Member for Westside-Kelowna Electoral District (Mr. Stewart) was read by Craig James, Clerk of the House.

On the motion of the Hon. S. Anton (Minister of Justice), it was Ordered

That the certificates of the Chief Electoral Officer of the results of the election of Members be entered upon the Journals of the House.

On the motion of the Hon. S. Anton (Minister of Justice), Bill (No. 1) intituled An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

On the motion of the Hon. M. de Jong, seconded by Mr. Horgan, it was Ordered

That Douglas Horne, Member for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.

On the motion of Mr. Horgan, seconded by the Hon. M. de Jong, it was Ordered

That Raj Chouhan, Member for Burnaby-Edmonds Electoral District, be appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.

On the motion of the Hon. M. de Jong, seconded by Mr. Horgan, it was Ordered

That Marc Dalton, Member for Maple Ridge-Mission Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.

On the motion of the Hon. S. Anton (Minister of Justice), it was Ordered

That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first perused by the Speaker, and that she do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as she shall appoint do presume to print the same.

The Hon. R. Coleman (Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing and Deputy Premier) moved that the Select Standing Committees of this House for the present Session, be appointed for the following purposes:

1. Aboriginal Affairs;

2. Education;

3. Finance and Government Services;

4. Health;

5. Public Accounts;

6. Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills;

7. Crown Corporations;

8. Children and Youth;

and further that a Select Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives be appointed for the present Parliament,

which said Committees shall severally be empowered to examine and inquire into all such matters and things as shall be referred to them by this House, and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon, with power to send for persons, papers, and records, and that a Special Committee be appointed to prepare and report with all convenient speed lists of members to compose the above Select Standing Committees of this House under Standing Order 68 (1), the Committee to be composed of the Hon. M. de Jong (Convener), Eric Foster, Scott Hamilton, Linda Reimer, Jackie Tegart, John Horgan, Sue Hammell, Maurine Karagianis, and Shane Simpson.

Motion agreed to.

By leave, the Hon. M. de Jong moved —

That effective immediately, the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended as follows for the duration of the First Session of the Fortieth Parliament, which commenced on June 26, 2013:

1. That Standing Order 2 (1) is deleted and the following substituted:

Sittings

Daily sittings.

2. (1) The time for the ordinary meeting of the House shall, unless otherwise ordered, be as follows:

Monday: Two distinct sittings:

10 a.m. to 12 noon

1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Two distinct sittings:

10 a.m. to 12 noon

1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday: Two distinct sittings:

10 a.m. to 12 noon

1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

2. That Standing Order 3 be deleted and the following substituted:

Hour of interruption.

3. If at the hour of 6:30 p.m. on any Monday and Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, the business of the day is not concluded and no other hour has been agreed on for the next sitting, the Speaker shall leave the Chair:

On Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday

On Tuesday until 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday

On Wednesday until 10 a.m. on Thursday

On Thursday until 10 a.m. on Monday

subject to the provisions of Standing Order 2 (2) (b).

Motion agreed to.

Pursuant to section 33 (3) of the Constitution Act:

A declaration by the Member of the Electoral District of Westside-Kelowna (Mr. Stewart) of his intention to resign his seat as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, effective June 11, 2013, was delivered to the Speaker.

And then the House adjourned at 2.45 p.m.

HON. LINDA REID, Speaker