Fifth Session, 39th Parliament

OFFICIAL REPORT OF

DEBATES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
(HANSARD)

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Afternoon Sitting
Volume 42, Number 7

THE HONOURABLE BILL BARISOFF, SPEAKER

ISSN 0709-1281 (Print)

ISSN 1499-2175 (Online)
 CONTENTS

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Afternoon Sitting

Page

Routine Business

Introductions by Members ................................................................................................................................................... 13121

Introduction and First Reading of Bills .............................................................................................................................. 13122

Bill 17 — Senate Nominee Election Act
Hon. S. Bond

Statements (Standing Order 25B) ....................................................................................................................................... 13123

Prevention of bullying
D. Barnett
Prevention of bullying and democratic process
S. Chandra Herbert
Rotary International
M. Dalton
Bullying prevention initiative at Senator Reid School
S. Hammell
B.C. Creative Futures
J. Thornthwaite
Energy conservation initiatives in Colwood
M. Karagianis

Oral Questions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 13125

Multicultural outreach strategy and partisan activities by government staff
J. Horgan
Hon. J. Yap
C. James
J. Kwan
Waste incinerator proposal for Fraser Valley
J. van Dongen
Hon. T. Lake
Multicultural outreach strategy and partisan activities by government staff
M. Farnworth
Hon. J. Yap
H. Bains

Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13129

Hon. R. Sultan

Tabling Documents ............................................................................................................................................................... 13129

B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, Annual Report 2011-2012
B.C. Ferry Commission, Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2012

Ministerial Statements .......................................................................................................................................................... 13129

Pink Shirt Day and prevention of bullying in schools
Hon. D. McRae
R. Austin

Orders of the Day

Budget Debate (continued) .................................................................................................................................................. 13130

Hon. I. Chong
D. Routley
B. Simpson
Hon. B. Stewart
K. Corrigan
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 British Columbia Debates
lations for their homes.
[1400]
Colwood has seen the light. Here's hoping that other
communities will too. Congratulations to Colwood on
the award, and thank you to those community leaders
who are showing the way forward to a cleaner, better
energy future.
Oral Questions
MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH
STRATEGY AND PARTISAN ACTIVITIES
BY GOVERNMENT STAFF
J. Horgan: A new round of partisan ads began last
night — taxpayer-funded ads to promote the govern-
ment's bogus budget and to address the government's
credibility gap, which was identified in a leaked docu-
ment not long ago. Another leaked document last fall
highlighted the political manipulation of the Burnaby
Hospital consultation process — again, supported by
taxpayers dollars.
Today another leaked Liberal document details a plan
to target ethnic voters across British Columbia, blurring
the line between partisan activity and public service. The
document demonstrates the folding together of govern-
ment services and resources into the election machinery
of the B.C. Liberal Party. A central objective of the plan
is "making sure that government, caucus and the party
are all working together…in a coordinated…manner."
Can I put this question to the Minister for
Multiculturalism? How does he justify using public re-
sources to advance his partisan political purposes?
Hon. J. Yap: Multiculturalism is a bedrock of British
Columbia. This government…. I'm sure all members of
the House support multiculturalism. We have a robust
program that includes outreach to multicultural com-
munities, including a great program called EmbraceBC,
where we reach out to communities throughout British
Columbia, providing support for multicultural commun-
ities. It's important as a province to continue to support
multiculturalism, and that's what we will do.
Mr. Speaker: The Opposition House Leader has a
supplementary.
J. Horgan: Certainly, this side of the House supports
multiculturalism in British Columbia. What we don't
support, however, is the blurring of lines between parti-
san activity and public service.
Again referring to the document that was leaked today,
it's a document that's sent out by the Premier's deputy
chief of staff, and it states on seven separate occasions
that the objective of the plan is to facilitate coordination
between the party, government and caucus — the party,
13125
government and caucus, hon. Speaker — ministerial staff,
minister's office staff working outside of the public ser-
vice to a particular partisan end.
It goes on to say, further, that the plan will break down
government silos in sharing information with the party.
Another quote: "…creating a contact database…via co-
ordination between constituency assistants, the party, the
ministry of state for multiculturalism, Intergovernmental
Relations Secretariat and GCPE."
My question is to the Minister for Multiculturalism.
Again, how do you justify taking your partisan political
ends and trumping public service in British Columbia?
How does that do any service to the multicultural com-
munity in this province?
Hon. J. Yap: This side of the House doesn't have to take
advice from the NDP on partisan advertising. Perhaps
the House Leader for the NDP should talk to the member
for Fraser-Nicola about partisan advertising, where the
member admitted to using constituency funds for parti-
san advertising. The NDP should reflect on what they're
doing, as mentioned — the member for Fraser-Nicola
and what he had done.
Mr. Speaker: The Opposition House Leader has a fur-
ther supplemental.
J. Horgan: With respect to the member for Fraser-
Nicola, the political party he's a member of, the NDP,
paid for those ads. I'm wanting to know now if the
Minister for Multiculturalism is going to start paying
back the taxpayers for the hundreds of thousands of
dollars that have been put into this coordinated effort to
bridge government work with party work.
[1405]
The minister will know…. The Public Service Act is
quite clear. Political staff may not "engage in political ac-
tivities during working hours or use government facili-
ties, equipment or resources to support…these activities."
Yet Brian Bonney, the same Liberal operative involved in
the Burnaby Hospital affair, was directly involved in co-
ordinating the activities of party hacks, political opera-
tives and public servants.
Again, my question is to the Minister for
Multiculturalism. How can he possibly justify using
public resources, the people of British Columbia's re-
sources, for pure partisan political purposes? How do
you justify that?
Hon. J. Yap: Well, I'll tell you what we're not doing.
We're not placing partisan ads using taxpayers' funds, as
the member for Fraser-Nicola has admitted to. I'll tell you
what we're doing to support multiculturalism.
We've supported, funded, 85 community groups, en-
gaging more than 12,000 participants around British
Columbia — nearly $1.3 million to 34 organizations to
13126 British Columbia Debates
support projects that celebrate diversity, address racism
and help build inclusive communities. We also deliv-
ered the Safe Harbour: Respect for All program to over
900 locations across British Columbia. This is an award-
winning program that supports people from the multi-
cultural communities who may need support throughout
British Columbia. We have a great multicultural program,
one that we continue to invest in.
C. James: This is a very serious issue. These documents
show that an entire strategy was developed by the B.C.
Liberals based on using taxpayer dollars for their own
partisan purposes. The then communication director for
multiculturalism was assigned to develop comprehensive
lists that would help the B.C. Liberal Party — and I quote
from the document — "bypass the media to get our mes-
sage out. Be very well prepared when the writ is dropped."
This is a clear violation of the rules, and accord-
ing to this leaked Liberal document, the Minister for
Multiculturalism has full responsibility for implementa-
tion of this plan. So my question is to the minister. Will
the minister tell us how many names of individuals and
organizations have been passed on by government staff
directly to the Liberal Party to feed into its election data-
base?
Hon. J. Yap: I'll tell the member and members of the
House what we are doing in multiculturalism. We hosted,
this past fall, the most successful fourth annual provincial
Nesika multiculturalism awards. A record number, 165
nominees from throughout the province, were nominat-
ed for the provincial Nesika multiculturalism awards, and
over 400 attendees came to attend this awards ceremony.
We also had 2,700 people who participated in the
2012 Celebrate Your Roots interactive campaign,
which was held to celebrate multiculturalism during
Multiculturalism Week in November last year. It was a
great success. This side of the House continues to sup-
port multiculturalism in British Columbia.
Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.
C. James: I'd like to say to the minister that what the
public is concerned about is once again the B.C. Liberals
using taxpayer dollars for partisan purposes. That is the
issue here.
This scheme also outlines clearly hiring partisan out-
reach staff with public dollars. Mr. Bonney, the former
director of communications for multiculturalism, wrote
the job descriptions. Mr. Bonney directed who would
be hired. Mr. Bonney directed those individuals to do
partisan work. All this was done using taxpayer dollars
— 100,000 taxpayer dollars.
[1410]
So my question is again to the Minister for
Multiculturalism. How can he justify this direct use of
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
taxpayer dollars for partisan activities?
Hon. J. Yap: One of the programs we're very proud
of that we implemented as part of our multicultural
program is our multiculturalism grants program. Over
$324,000 was granted to 40 different community organ-
izations in the first phase of the multiculturalism grant
program.
Let me share with members of the House which com-
munity groups received these funds, these multicultur-
alism grants. We have the African Canadian Soccer and
Cultural Association, located in the riding of Burnaby–
Deer Lake. We also saw a grant go to DIVERSEcity
Community Resources Society, located in the riding
of Surrey-Newton; and a whole bunch in the riding of
the member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, includ-
ing Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia,
Canadian Club of Vancouver and NEC, Native Education
College.
We have a great program in multiculturalism, sup-
porting communities around the province.
J. Kwan: What we are talking about is the Liberal gov-
ernment's program using taxpayers' money to do parti-
san work. The Liberals are consumed with any and all
activities that they perceive to be able to enhance their
political fortunes. We saw it in the $17 million taxpayer-
supported advertising plan that was just recently leaked.
We now have it again — another Liberal leaked docu-
ment.
On page 3 of that document it says: "Quick wins." Mr.
Speaker, I can't tell you how dismayed I was when I read
it. It involves the Premier's office staff defining apologies
for wrongful treatment based on race as "quick wins."
Eleven weeks to an election, and the B.C. Liberal gov-
ernment is now attempting an apology to the Chinese
community for historical wrongs.
To the minister again: why is the Liberal government
using apologies for historical injustices experienced by
the ethnic community as quick wins for political gain?
Hon. J. Yap: I hope she is not suggesting that this
House should not consider making an historic apology
to a community in our province, in our country, that
was wronged 100 years ago, during the early years of the
province of British Columbia. I hope that's not what the
member is suggesting — that we should not work to-
wards reaching out and apologizing to a community that
was discriminated against.
Let me tell you what we are doing in multicultur-
alism, for the benefit of all members. We hosted the
first-ever Embracing Difference, Engaging Community
Symposium, with 25 diverse sessions held in the Lower
Mainland, encouraging multiculturalism, challenging
racism. It was attended by over 230 delegates — a great
success.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 British Columbia Debates
We also, as I mentioned, have a great program of multi-
culturalism grants that are provided to communities
throughout the province, throughout British Columbia.
Again, for the benefit of the member, we provided grants
to the NEC, Native Education College; Association
of Neighbourhood Houses, Mount Pleasant; Chinese
Cultural Centre, greater Vancouver. The list goes on —
all of these located in that member's riding, Vancouver–
Mount Pleasant.
Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.
J. Kwan: What I'm suggesting is that the acknowledg-
ment of historical wrongs for the Chinese community
or any other community should be done because it's the
right thing to do, not because it's politically expedient.
[1415]
This leaked document — and I refer the minister to it —
lays out very clearly that the real motivation for why the
Liberals are now talking about issuing an apology to the
Chinese community, after 11 years in office, is because it
is a "quick win" for election purposes. It is not about ac-
knowledging historical wrongs.
Again, my question to the minister is this. Why is the
minister allowing his government to use partisan polit-
ical opportunism, trump significant historical injustice
issues, for a quick political win? Why is he doing that?
Hon. J. Yap: Again, we should not take advice from
the NDP on that side of the House. I've just been hand-
ed a publication, what appears to be a Korean-Canadian
community publication, where no less than the Leader
of the Opposition has placed a full-colour ad where he
talks about the New Democrat official opposition change
for the better, etc.
The Leader of the Opposition in this partisan ad lists,
as the address, the address here, in Room 201, Parliament
Buildings, Victoria, British Columbia. We should not
take advice from that side of the House.
What we will continue to do is support multicultural
communities through programs like the multicultural-
ism grant. I can go on and on talking about what great
community groups have received these multiculturalism
grants, including la Société francophone de Victoria in
Victoria–Beacon Hill; Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions
Society, Victoria–Swan Lake; Nikkei National Museum
and Cultural Centre, Burnaby-Edmonds. The list goes on
and on — great support for multicultural groups.
WASTE INCINERATOR PROPOSAL
FOR FRASER VALLEY
J. van Dongen: In July 2011 the Minister of
Environment made a very controversial decision when
he approved a solid waste management plan that opened
the door for a large garbage-burning incinerator in the
13127
Lower Mainland. The minister approved this controver-
sial plan over the strong objections of the citizens in the
Fraser Valley; the objections of local and regional repre-
sentatives; the objections of MLAs such as myself; and
even the objections of the member for Chilliwack, the
minister's own colleague, when that member correctly
said: "The minister's approval is regrettable and wrong."
Despite the minister's naive assurances, it is abun-
dantly clear that Metro Vancouver is thumbing its nose
at everyone, from the minister on down. When is the
minister going to face the fact that Metro Vancouver has
absolutely no intention of living up to his conditions, es-
pecially the requirement for real and meaningful consul-
tation with the FVRD, the Fraser Valley regional district,
as the minister promised during the desperate days of the
Chilliwack-Hope by-election?
Mr. Speaker: Just before I recognize the minister, I
want to remind members not to be using BlackBerrys
during question period.
Hon. T. Lake: First of all, I have to say that the mem-
ber is absolutely wrong. I did not approve any incinerator
waste-to-energy proposal in Metro Vancouver.
We were abundantly clear when we approved the sol-
id waste management plan for Metro Vancouver. They
were instructed that if they were to consider in-region
waste-to-energy, they would have to consult fully with
the Fraser Valley regional district.
The Premier and I made a commitment, too, that if
such a proposal was put forward, it would be subject to
a full environmental assessment review.
[1420]
Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.
J. van Dongen: I repeat what I stated. The minister
approved a solid waste management plan with an op-
tion for a large incinerator. The facts are that Metro
Vancouver has repeatedly defied the minister's stated
requirements, and they have dismissed democratically
elected representatives, such as Mayor Sharon Gaetz and
Coun. Patricia Ross.
Metro Vancouver recently denied a Fraser Valley
regional district seat on a third-party expert review
panel that is supposed to discuss scientific and technic-
al issues. Last month the chair of the Metro Vancouver
waste committee, Malcolm Brodie, summed it up this
way, "Whether people like it or not, the decision has been
made" — referring to the incinerator proposal.
Again, Metro Vancouver shows no respect for the cit-
izens of the Fraser Valley and no respect for the condi-
tions in the minister's letter of August 2011.
When will the minister act decisively on this serious
threat to air quality in the Fraser Valley and just say no
to a $400 million garbage-burning incinerator by remov-
13128 British Columbia Debates
ing that option from Metro Vancouver's solid waste man-
agement plan on the basis of their non-performance on
consultation with the FVRD?
Hon. T. Lake: I'm surprised that the member has
adopted the NDP method of environmental assessment,
which is just say no before any process occurs at all.
We've made it very clear that if an in-region waste-
to-energy facility is considered by Metro Vancouver, it
will undergo a full B.C. environmental assessment pro-
cess and full consultation with the Fraser Valley region-
al district.
MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH
STRATEGY AND PARTISAN ACTIVITIES
BY GOVERNMENT STAFF
M. Farnworth: I listened intently to the non-answers
from the Minister for Multiculturalism. I felt…. You
know what? We really have to go back and ask some more
questions. I think it is really important, because I've come
to understand why the minister doesn't get what has been
going on in his own ministry: because it was run out of
the Premier's office.
The tenth of January, 2012. The Premier's deputy chief
of staff, Kim Haakstad, sends a draft version of the multi-
cultural strategic outreach plan to Liberal staffers in the
Office of the Premier, to the minister of state for multi-
culturalism, to the caucus and to the B.C. Liberal Party.
What becomes clear when you go through the documents
is an effort to subvert the public service and make it a
wing of the B.C. Liberal Party for its own partisan polit-
ical purposes. The problem is that we've seen this before.
They keep getting caught, and they still don't learn.
Just think back to the smear attack website against the
Leader of the Opposition that was developed by taxpayer-
funded staffers, launched by the Liberal Party, in this very
building.
Who can forget the Burnaby Hospital — their so-
called community consultation committee, led by the
members for Burnaby-Lougheed and Burnaby North,
a committee which used good-minded people who
thought they were doing the right job. They were used
by this government for their own partisan political aims.
Again, to the Minister for Multiculturalism: does he
not understand that telling people to forward names to
list for the Liberal Party is not the role of a public ser-
vant — that subverting the public service is wrong? Will
he stand and at least acknowledge that?
Hon. J. Yap: This question from the NDP, whose leader
was recently called out by the Vancouver school board
for handing out partisan red-packet lucky money to stu-
dents in Vancouver….
[1425]
As I have said, we have a great program in multicultur-
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
alism. We are supporting multiculturalism.
The member talks about: what are we doing to support
multiculturalism in different communities? Well, let me
share once again what we are doing. Through the B.C.
multiculturalism grant program, we are continuing to
provide support to societies like the Visible Art Society
in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant; the W2 Community
Media Arts Society, also Vancouver–Mount Pleasant;
the Belfry Theatre Society, Victoria–Beacon Hill; and
also the Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions Society in
Victoria–Swan Lake.
We continue to support multiculturalism. It's very
important to promote multiculturalism. This side of the
House will continue to do this, providing support to com-
munity groups to fight racism, to encourage inclusiveness
and to promote multiculturalism in the province of B.C.
Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.
M. Farnworth: Everybody in this House, in this prov-
ince, supports multiculturalism. What they don't support
is a government that uses public taxpayer dollars to pur-
sue a private partisan agenda by the Liberal government
of this province and using the public service to do it.
So my question to the minister is this. What part of
using the public service to pursue their political agen-
da doesn't he get? Does he not understand that that is
wrong?
Hon. J. Yap: Once again, the member should ask his
own colleague, the member for Fraser-Nicola, why he
placed partisan attack ads using taxpayers' funds. That's
what he should do.
H. Bains: Nine questions have been put to this minis-
ter today by the opposition about government breaking
the rules, using taxpayer dollars for political personal
uses. Not a single answer is coming from their side.
The leaked document clearly shows that the Liberals
are breaking the rules meant to ensure that taxpayer
money isn't being used for political partisan reasons. In
fact, the document sets out rule-breaking as a primary
goal. Crossing the lines between government, caucus and
the party is mentioned seven times in this document. For
example, on page 3: "Explain and break down govern-
ment silos, and share info with the party."
How does this minister justify just blatant instructions
to break the rules by instructing staff to use taxpayers' re-
sources for political partisan purposes?
Hon. J. Yap: I appreciate this opportunity to continue
to talk about the great work we're doing in supporting
multiculturalism. EmbraceBC, the signature program of
the government of British Columbia, as I said, funded
over 85 community projects, engaging more than 12,000
participants throughout the province of B.C. It's import-
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 British Columbia Debates
ant to promote multiculturalism, and this side of the
House will continue to do that.
Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.
H. Bains: Let's look at the pattern of behaviour of
this Liberal government. Mr. Speaker, $17 million in
taxpayer-funded partisan pre-election ads in the lead-
up to the election, a new set of taxpayer-supported ads
that started yesterday and will ramp up as we get close to
the election, an $11 million taxpayer-supported awards
show to give Liberals more photo ops before the elec-
tion, Liberal operatives…
Interjections.
Mr. Speaker: Members.
H. Bains: …gaming the Burnaby Hospital consulta-
tion process for political gain and a multicultural out-
reach strategy with the express purpose of breaking the
rules to spend taxpayer money for partisan political gain.
[1430]
The Liberals have no shame. That's clearly what is
shown in their….
Interjections.
H. Bains: Can the minister offer any justification for
so blatantly spending taxpayer resources on their elec-
tion campaign?
Hon. J. Yap: Once again, through to the member. I'll
tell you what we are doing, Member. We are supporting
programs like the B.C. Hate Crimes Team and organ-
izing against racism and hate, and the Safe Harbour:
Respect for All programs. These were all recognized
by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Award of
Excellence in 2012.
We also will be soon publishing the annual report on
multiculturalism, which will show the great programs
throughout the province, including the public sector, in
supporting multiculturalism.
[End of question period.]
Hon. R. Sultan: I would like to present a petition.
Mr. Speaker: Proceed.
Petitions
Hon. R. Sultan: I am pleased to present to this House
a petition signed by 100 North Shore seniors asking the
government to revisit the SAFER rental subsidy program.
13129
Tabling Documents
Hon. S. Bond: I have the honour to present the fol-
lowing reports: the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal Annual
Report 2011-2012 and the B.C. Ferry Commission
Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2012.
Hon. D. McRae: I seek leave to make a ministerial
statement.
Leave granted.
Ministerial Statements
PINK SHIRT DAY AND
PREVENTION OF BULLYING IN SCHOOLS
Hon. D. McRae: Today is Bullying Awareness Day
in British Columbia, or as you can see from the fashion
choices on both sides of the House, it is also known as
Pink Shirt Day. It's a day for all of us to get together and
take a stand together to erase bullying for good. It's a day
to teach our children about how they can prevent bully-
ing and how they can help others from being bullied.
Today, as we recognize Pink Shirt Day, we're also en-
couraging youth to stand up against all kinds of bullying,
including cyberbullying. We've seen all too clearly that
bullying can happen anywhere, whether it's on line, at
school or at the mall.
Over lunch hour today I was joined by the MLA for
Oak Bay–Gordon Head and the Minister of Aboriginal
Relations and Reconciliation. We visited Hillside Mall,
with mall employees and construction workers who wore
pink shirts. Middle school students from Lansdowne
Middle School also joined us.
The message we heard loud and clear from everyone
was that to stop bullying in its tracks, we need to involve
the whole community. It's the kind of message that is get-
ting through to people in towns and cities across British
Columbia — that we're all in this together.
Bullying is an issue that has been close to the Premier's
heart for a long period of time. In fact, for six years Pink
Shirt Day has successfully raised awareness about bully-
ing in schools and homes and on line, and this year is no
exception. Last year the Premier announced the ERASE
Bullying strategy and is putting tools in the hands of edu-
cators, parents and students to help make schools safer
and a more positive place to learn.
As a teacher and as a parent, I can tell you emphatic-
ally that bullying has no place in our schools, and par-
ents deserve to know that their children are safe when
they go off to class.
That's why we're working hard to encourage students
to be helpful bystanders and to intervene or speak out
when they see bullying happening. It is one of the keys
to creating safe learning environments, because there is a