Speech From the Throne
2002 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 37th Parliament
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Speech from the Throne
The Honourable Iona Campagnolo
Lieutenant Governor
at the Opening of the
Third Session, Thirty-Seventh Parliament
of the
Province of British Columbia
February 12, 2002
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members.
It is a privilege to address you on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen
of Canada, to open the Third Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament
of British Columbia.
In the name of all British Columbians I have conveyed our thanks
and good wishes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on the recent observation
of the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne and expressed
our anticipation of her Golden Jubilee visit to British Columbia
in October. I have also sadly conveyed the sympathy of our citizens
to Her Majesty on the recent loss of her beloved and only sister,
Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret. A book of condolence has
been opened at Government House, which I am sure will provide some
sympathy and comfort to Her Majesty at this sad time.
When I spoke to you in my personal address on installation last
September, I was able to pay tribute to my immediate predecessor,
The Honourable Garde B. Gardom.
As this is my first Speech from the Throne, let me begin by saying
what an honour it is to serve in this Office that has been so ably
and admirably served by those who have preceded me in this place.
I am proud to acknowledge the presence in the Chamber today of The
Honourable Robert Rogers and Ms. Jane Rogers and The Honourable
Garde Gardom and Ms. Helen Gardom, who throughout their lives of
public service have acted in an exemplary manner, befitting our
pride in this beautiful province that is our home where they have
served as exemplars and inspirations to us all.
On behalf of all British Columbians, and Members of this place,
we thank them and wish them well in their honoured and well-deserved
retirement.
We also pay tribute to the many others who have left their indelible
mark on our province and have, sadly, passed away. This year as
every other, it is impossible to adequately recognize all those
who we have lost.
Some of those whose passing we mourn are former B.C. Supreme Court
Justice Tom Fisher, former MLA and B.C. Supreme Court Justice Jay
Gould, and former Surrey Mayor and Greater Vancouver Regional District
Chair Don Ross.
We shall miss Ted Peck, whose colourful fish tales and popular
television program, Tides and Trails, provided such pleasure, with
its memorable signature closing, "Tight lines and straight shooting."
British Columbians lost a precious soul and talent in the late
Donald Jarvis, whose teachings and paintings will forever live on
in West Coast culture. Norma Macmillan, too, will long be remembered
by us all as the gentle voice of Casper the Friendly Ghost and television's
beloved Gumby. And few people have worked harder for British Columbia
than Cyril Shelford -- a noted author, public servant and Member
of this Assembly for 22 years.
The world has changed dramatically since my government's last Throne
Speech, less than seven months ago.
The sobering events of September 11th have impacted our lives in
many ways, from our sympathy and support to our neighbours in their
loss, to our concern for resulting effects on our mobility, security
and global access to commerce. The global economy is still reeling
from the impact, and our provincial economy has been hit especially
hard.
Next week, my government will bring in its budget for the new year.
That budget will give all British Columbians a clear sense of the
fiscal challenges at hand and the tough decisions that must be made.
Change is never easy. Yet more than ever, fundamental change is
required to the size and scope of government -- and to the role
it serves in people's lives and in our economy.
Last Spring, British Columbians gave my government an overwhelming
mandate for change, and it is acting on that mandate to build a
solid foundation for economic and social renewal. Though that need
for change will never stop, my government's vision remains the same:
to usher in a new era of hope, prosperity and public service in
British Columbia.
My government's priorities will not waver, and its mission will
not be altered.
My government was not elected to follow the broken rut of the status
quo, or to run from the challenges that change presents. It was
elected to lead our province forward and to break new ground in
search of brighter horizons.
My government's course is clear, and its direction is firmly set.
It will revitalize British Columbia's economy, restore sound fiscal
management, and put patients and students first.
The changes my government has planned and initiated will do just
that. Over time, they will lead our province to new fields of hope
and opportunity.
Revitalizing the economy
My government's central mission is to revitalize the economy as
quickly as possible.
Economic growth is the bedrock for prosperity upon which all public
services depend. It is the vital base for stability and opportunity
in every community and the critical determinant of what government
can and cannot afford to do.
When our economy suffers, people pay the price. Jobs are lost.
Dreams are shattered. And vital public services are limited for
want of revenue.
No economy is immune from the volatility of global markets, and
British Columbia has been particularly exposed from its heavy dependence
on natural resources.
My government has a solid plan to turn our provincial economy around.
The steps it has taken -- and will be taking this Legislative Session
and beyond -- will make our economy more competitive, diversified
and attractive to investors. In time, they will provide a sustainable
framework to maximize growth and job creation, and once again establish
British Columbia as an economic leader in North America.
Last summer, my government acted upon all of the 22 commitments
it vowed to undertake in its first 90 days. Together, those measures
went a long way towards restoring a competitive footing for investment
and providing a major stimulus to our provincial economy.
My government cut personal income taxes, reduced corporate income
taxes, and eliminated other business taxes that were discouraging
job creation.
My government also acted to reduce the regulatory burden on small
businesses, restore workers' rights, and create a level playing field
for all B.C. businesses through the elimination of business subsidies.
Specific subsidies that have been identified for elimination were
outlined at last month's open Cabinet meeting in Fort St. John and
will be repealed by legislation as necessary this Session.
Within the next few weeks, the independent B.C. Progress Board
my government appointed will issue its first report. It has established
a series of benchmarks and performance measures to hold my government
accountable on a quarterly basis for progress in our economy.
While our provincial economy may not be as strong and healthy as
we would all like, there are signs it is on the mend. For example,
last year British Columbia posted Canada's largest increase in housing
sales. It had the highest percentage increase in residential construction
in the nation. Retail sales have been increasing at a faster rate
than the national average, and automobile sales have been strong.
With major sectors of our economy in distress, B.C. still has a
long way to go to once again lead the nation in overall economic
growth. But a winning framework is rapidly being put in place for
economic renewal.
This year, my government is consulting with British Columbians
on the steps needed to improve the Employment Standards Act,
the Workers Compensation Act and the Labour Code.
Following those reviews, changes to all three of those Acts will
be initiated in this next year to provide greater flexibility, fairness
and efficiency for employers and employees alike. And changes to
the Company Act will be made to cut red tape, improve efficiency
and encourage growth in the economy.
These measures will substantially advance my government's goal
of reducing the regulatory burden on B.C. businesses by one-third
within the next two-and-a-half years.
Later this Spring, the Premier will lead a series of round tables
on small business that will invite small-business owners, operators
and entrepreneurs to offer their input and advice in that most vital
of all sectors.
Small businesses are, by far, the biggest job creators in our economy,
and my government wants to hear from them directly on the barriers
to expansion and the opportunities for growth.
Nowhere have small businesses shown greater success or explosive
potential for growth than in the technology sector.
The Premier's Technology Council, appointed in my government's
first 90 days, is running and is showing positive leadership. The
Council's first quarterly report in November concentrated on a strategy
to bridge the digital divide. Its ongoing work will continue to
help tackle that challenge and achieve my government's goal of making
British Columbia one of the world's top 10 technology centres by
2006.
Another exciting new area of opportunity for private-sector investment
and involvement is in the wide range of possible public-private
partnerships.
Working with non-profit organizations and the private sector, my
government will explore new cost-effective mechanisms for the provision
of services and public-private partnerships. Considerable effort
will be focused on pioneering so-called "P3s," which have proven
very effective in attracting private capital to support public policy
objectives in B.C. and in other jurisdictions. Such opportunities
will be actively pursued this year in helping to spur more private-sector
investment in transportation and highways, information technology,
housing, land and resource-development, health support services
and facilities, and education infrastructure.
As promised in the Throne Speech last summer, my government is
aggressively supporting the bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympic
and Paralympic Games. Winning the Olympic Games would be a great
incentive to amateur sport and to communities in every part of our
province.
Combined with an expanded convention centre in Vancouver, the Games
would generate up to $10 billion in economic activity for our province,
228,000 jobs, and $2.5 billion in total revenues for all levels
of government. Tourism resulting from the Games would benefit every
community in our province. Just competing for the bid itself offers
a great opportunity to sell the world on British Columbia, and to
prove that we are indeed driven by dreams and nature.
Efforts will be intensified and focused to win that bid and to
market British Columbia to the world, working in partnership with
other levels of government and the private sector. Special effort
will be made to explore public-private partnerships in infrastructure
integral to the bid, including the expansion of the Vancouver Convention
and Exhibition Centre, and needed improvements to the Sea to Sky
Highway.
Another sector that has demonstrated spectacular potential for
growth is the energy sector. Nowhere is that more evident than in
oil and gas development that has generated so much wealth, energy
and job creation in British Columbia's Peace River Region.
My government's Energy Policy Task Force has been developing recommendations
for a comprehensive provincial energy strategy. Upon completion
of the current public consultation process, a final report will
be ready next month. This should ensure that my government properly
plans for our citizens' energy needs, and also takes full advantage
of the enormous opportunities for investment and job creation in
energy development.
Measures will be introduced this Session to boost investment and
job creation in both the energy and mining sectors. Steps will be
taken to enhance the effectiveness of the Oil and Gas Commission
and improve the investment climate for mineral exploration.
The Environmental Assessment Act will be updated to streamline
the major project assessment process. The Waste Management Act
will be amended to eliminate overlaps in the regulation of mines
and to clarify remediation and authorization requirements for various
activities conducted on land that may have been contaminated.
Other changes will be made to increase competitiveness, cut red
tape, and provide greater access to Crown land and resources.
Changes will be made to establish equality for operating mines
in the coal and mineral sectors, and to provide more certainty over
access rights to Crown lands with respect to coal tenures.
Recently announced changes will encourage investment in coal bed
methane extraction. More will be done in the coming months to develop
this resource and generate jobs in regions across our province,
from the Kootenays, to Vancouver Island, to the Northeast.
Last October, my government appointed an independent Scientific
Panel to assist in determining whether offshore oil and gas exploration
could be conducted in a manner that is scientifically sound and
environmentally responsible. My government will move with caution
to ensure that any activity taken in this regard will always be
guided by sound science and an unswerving commitment to responsible
environmental protection.
Yet it also wants Northerners to know that they too can look forward
to the future with hope and optimism from the opportunities that
might flow from the development of our offshore oil and gas deposits.
Obviously, there is no greater economic challenge or critical need
than to get our province's number one industry back on track.
The softwood lumber dispute has dragged on, despite my government's
best efforts to work with the federal government and other provinces
to negotiate a resolution with the United States. Every time progress
appears to have been made at the table, it has been frustrated by
U.S. lumber lobbies who are not working towards President Bush's
stated commitment to free trade. Our forest industry's patience
and willingness to work towards a cooperative solution is near the
breaking point. One way or another, a resolution must be reached
to this vexing problem that has hurt so many workers and employers
in British Columbia's forest industry.
In any case, my government will not wait to initiate the process
of desperately needed structural reform in B.C.'s forest industry.
It will move this year to deal with stumpage reform that shifts
our province towards market-based stumpage. It will move this year
to tackle the incredibly complex challenge of forest policy reform.
Obviously, change on this scale cannot be undertaken without some
sacrifice. By the same token, my government understands that the
only way our forest industry will become more globally competitive
and once again expand, is to embrace freer trade and market-based
reforms.
One critical reform needed is to streamline the Forest Practices
Code to make it more results-oriented, cost-effective and workable
on the ground, while maintaining the same standard of environmental
protection. That challenge too will be met this year. A White Paper
on possible reforms to the Code will be issued this Spring, with
the objective of tabling legislation this Fall.
Finally, my government will redouble its efforts to market British
Columbia forest products around the world, with funding equal to
one per cent of direct forest revenues.
My government is also acting to facilitate investment and job creation
in the salmon aquaculture industry. Recent changes will ensure that
this sector is enhanced, with the toughest environmental protection
framework in the world.
B.C.'s farmers too will benefit from a new structure to make the
Agricultural Land Commission more regionally responsive to the needs
of farmers and communities. The strategic shifts my government is
making in the agriculture sector will ensure greater competitiveness,
self-regulation and independence in farming that will gradually
phase out government subsidies.
All of these initiatives to stimulate our economy will help, as
will my government's efforts to promote greater dialogue among the
various levels of government and with First Nations.
On February 26th, my government will act on its commitment to sponsor
British Columbia's first ever Provincial Congress. The Congress
will bring together all of British Columbia's MLAs, MPs and Senators,
along with the Mayors from our province's 15 largest cities, the
Presidents of the five regional municipal associations, the President
of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, and First Nations leaders.
My government will act this Spring to engage all British Columbians
in discussion of the principles to guide the provincial government's
negotiating mandate in treaty talks.
A referendum will be conducted later this Spring by mail-in ballot
that will put forward questions that have been approved by this
Assembly. Those questions will build on the work done by the Select
Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. Last November, that Committee
released its draft questions for the referendum, after several weeks
of public hearings, submissions and deliberations.
The referendum will be overseen by Elections BC, and its results
will be binding on government policy. An independent Referendum
Office will be established to provide all British Columbians access
to information about the referendum process, the treaty process,
and issues of Aboriginal rights and title. It will also ensure that
information is provided on the various perspectives on the referendum
questions that may be held by different governments, First Nations
and citizens at large.
My government's aim is to help all voters to become informed about
the referendum questions and the issues they address in as fair
and neutral a manner as possible. All British Columbians should
know that my government's commitment to negotiated treaty settlements
and the treaty process is not in question, nor is it open to debate.
The referendum cannot and will not be a tool for interfering in,
or undermining, constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights and
title. The referendum is intended to help fast-track treaty negotiations
by giving all British Columbians a direct say on the principles
that they think treaties should reflect and that will guide my government
at the negotiating table. My government's clear intent is to foster
greater understanding of the treaty process and to build public
support for the critical need for treaties.
My government will continue to work with First Nations to expedite
interim measures agreements, build capacity and produce tangible
achievements that make a real difference for Aboriginal British
Columbians' economic opportunities, health and quality of life.
My government is also committed to giving local governments more
autonomy and better planning and revenue tools to reduce property
tax pressures and enhance community stability.
The Community Charter Council was appointed by legislation last
summer. The Council will table its report, including draft legislation,
in a White Paper that will be publicly released during this Session.
Following further consultation, Community Charter legislation will
be introduced in this Chamber within the next year.
All of these initiatives will help pave the way for greater prosperity.
However, another critical element to achieving that end is a plan
to get British Columbia's fiscal house in order.
Restoring sound fiscal management
Government must plan to live within its means and then do what
is necessary to keep within that budget.
People wanted and demanded more services each year, and it is difficult
to resist that political pressure. It is easier to say "yes" than
it is to say "no".
That is the story of escalating debt and deficit budgets that was
replayed for decades in every jurisdiction in Canada, until taxpayers
started making different demands. They started to say "no more".
No more deficits. No more wasteful spending. No more putting future
taxpayers in debt because governments lack the discipline to live
within their means.
B.C. taxpayers sent a new message in the general election last
year. They elected a new government to make the decisions necessary
to live within taxpayers' ability to pay.
By voting for my government's pledge to dramatically cut income
taxes within its first 90 days, British Columbians also made it
clear what they meant by their ability to pay. They wanted
the lowest base personal income tax rates in Canada on the first
$60,000 of income, and more competitive income tax rates across
the board. And that is what has been provided.
British Columbians voted to protect funding for health and education
this year, at the levels established in the former government's
last budget. My government did just that. In fact, it increased
health funding by $200 million beyond the amount it promised to
maintain.
British Columbians also voted for my government's commitment to
balance the budget by its third full budget, in 2004-05. Next week,
my government will spell out how it plans to meet that commitment.
In short, my government received a mandate to cut income taxes,
restore sound fiscal management, and focus resources first on patients,
students and people in need. The measures my government announced
and will implement in the coming years are aimed at honouring that
mandate.
It is simply not possible to pay for everything that government
used to do, and also balance the budget. It is simply irresponsible
to put off the tough changes that must be made to bring spending
into line with revenues.
My government will not break its trust with the people.
Spending will be reduced in areas other than health and education.
Revenues will increase as our economy recovers. The budget will
be balanced.
It won't be easy and it won't be without some hardship. But my
government will do what needs to be done to get its financial affairs
in order.
My government has done its best to focus its scarce resources where
they are needed most -- on patients, students and those in need.
My government has done its best to ascertain which services are
truly "core" services, and which ones are not. All of those decisions
have been shared in open Cabinet meetings.
My government has been frank about the impact of its difficult
choices on its employees, on programs and on community services.
Over the next three years, all ministries, not including health
and education, will experience an average reduction of 25% in their
budgets.
Avoidable costs will be avoided. Unnecessary expenditures will
be eliminated. Cost-effective innovations in service delivery will
be employed. Assets that make sense to sell will be sold.
Unfortunately, even that will not be enough to cope with the enormity
of the $4.4-billion deficit problem that is facing future generations.
The provincial debt has more than doubled in the last decade, and
this coming year it will grow by at least another 10%.
Regrettably, my government must eliminate or scale back a number
of services that many British Columbians would like to see maintained
or increased. It will seek to moderate the impact on people by phasing
out several less vital programs and services over the next three
years.
Every effort has been made to mitigate the impact, especially on
women, seniors, children and those most vulnerable in society. For
example, my government has had to scale back spending in other areas
to protect funding for vital services like transition houses for
women and children leaving abusive relationships.
My government also remains committed to long-term improvements
in services for women, children and families, including a sustainable
child-care strategy that is partnership-driven, community-focused
and targeted to those most in need.
In making the hard decisions that must be made to reduce spending,
my government will continue to put the interests of patients, students
and those most in need first.
Putting patients, students and people first
There is no greater or more pressing challenge than the need to
save and renew public health care. As Canada's 13 Premiers have
agreed, the current system is not sustainable. Indeed, that point
was made by Members of this Assembly on the Select Standing Committee
on Health in their recent report.
Health-care expenditures have tripled in British Columbia since
1985 -- yet the system has lost ground every year. In that same
period, the proportion that health-care spending consumes of the
annual budget has grown from 31% to nearly 40% -- and that is reducing
the amount available to be spent on other public services.
British Columbia now spends more each year on health care than
it raises in all the revenues combined from personal income
tax, Medical Service Plan premiums, federal transfer payments and
tobacco tax. And still that is not enough.
When Canada's national health-care program was launched almost
four decades ago, it basically covered only hospital and doctors'
fees. Pharmacare, home and continuing care, and other services now
included in the Medical Services Plan were not publicly funded at
that time. Then, the federal government contributed 50% of the costs
of the health-care system. Today, the federal government funds only
a small fraction of that amount, and the provincial government covers
the difference.
Our population has grown older, and life expectancy has increased.
The costs of drugs, equipment, technology, doctors' fees and health
workers' wages and benefits have all grown exponentially. British
Columbia's nurses recently received a 21% wage hike over three years,
making them the highest-paid nurses in Canada.
Community health workers and health support workers in B.C. are
also the highest paid in their fields in Canada.
When you have the highest-paid workers and runaway costs combined,
something has to give. That something is increasingly patient care.
Funding cannot keep up to the cost pressures needed to maintain
service levels, let alone improve patient care. This problem will
obviously not go away any time soon. It will take major structural
reforms that will not be very palatable to many and will challenge
us all to accept some short-term sacrifices for long-term improvements
in patient care.
In the past eight months, my government has done much to refocus
health care funding on patients' needs.
It restructured regional health governance and delivery, to provide
greater flexibility and strategic planning of health resources.
It gave health authorities new tools to find savings and efficiencies.
My government's comprehensive nursing strategy is already showing
results, as the number of nursing vacancies is being reduced. More
nurses are being trained. And much higher wages, along with Canada's
lowest income tax rates, are serving as powerful incentives to attract
and retain skilled nurses.
My government has committed significant funds to substantially
increase the number of medical school graduates, working in partnership
with the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria
and the University of Northern British Columbia.
Difficult decisions have been made to reduce costs and coverage
of supplementary benefits under the Medical Services Plan. Even
with an increase of $1.1 billion in the health budget this year,
the pressures on health care are mounting. Potential costs in higher
physician fees are sure to grow, without any adequate means to pay
for them.
This has left my government with two more unpleasant choices. It
could either accept increased service reductions to partially offset
wage costs and higher physician fees, or it could raise Medical
Service Plan premiums to increase the health budget. Last week,
in open Cabinet, my government decided to do the latter, while also
protecting lower-income earners.
Approximately 230,000 lower-income British Columbians will actually
see their premiums decreased. But for most citizens, monthly MSP
premiums are being raised significantly. This unwelcome measure
will substantially increase the health budget. It will provide extra
funding to help safeguard patients from the pressures of higher
health delivery costs. Yet it won't be enough.
Further changes will be required to make the public health-care
system sustainable.
Many of these were outlined very effectively in the Select Standing
Committee's report, Patients First: Renewal and Reform of British
Columbia's Health Care System. It was the product of extensive consultation
with British Columbians in communities across our province. Its
findings are echoed in other major recent studies on health care
in Canada, including the recent preliminary report by the Commission
on the Future of Health Care in Canada. In virtually every case,
the need for fundamental structural changes is inescapable to save
and renew our health-care system.
My government will continue to embrace that needed change in the
months and years to come, to build a sustainable health-care system
that is consistent with the five principles of the Canada Health
Act. In this Session, measures will be introduced to reduce
costs from duplication, administrative overlaps and overly prescriptive
regulatory regimes.
The Community Care Facility Act will be substantially improved
to establish a more responsive, results-based framework for community
care that provides greater flexibility for individual care and consistent
care standards.
My government will act this year to advance its target of creating
5,000 new intermediate and long- term care spaces by 2006.
British Columbians' health will be better safeguarded under new
legislation to strengthen drinking water and ground water protection.
As well, my government will be allocating more resources to the
monitoring of drinking water quality. It has already taken concrete
steps to improve the quality of drinking water. In conjunction with
our federal and local government partners, it has approved the first
15 of many community water and sewer projects planned under the
$800-million Canada-B.C. Infrastructure program.
My government has recently introduced other changes aimed at putting
students' interests first. It has acted on its election commitment
to provide greater flexibility and local autonomy to elected school
boards.
School boards are now able to better utilize and manage their districts'
schools, classrooms and resources for students, and they have important
new management tools to help them cope with cost pressures. New,
legislated class-size limits will also ensure that students' needs
are better protected and even enhanced, without the rigidity that
prevented common-sense solutions at the school and district levels.
Changes to the School Act this Session will be aimed at
improving student achievement through better system accountability
and increased flexibility and choice for parents and students.
A new school funding formula will be introduced to give school
districts a better chance to plan, through three-year funding allocations
that are fairer and better aligned with student populations and
classroom costs. As well, my government will establish new mechanisms
to give parents real and meaningful input into education delivery
and quality in our schools, and greater control and choice for their
children.
My government also looks forward to the report of the Select Standing
Committee on Education. That Committee consulted widely with British
Columbians last Fall, and its findings will provide an important
source of input.
Later this Spring, my government will organize a Dialogue on Education
at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. It will bring together
leaders in education from across B.C., including teachers, trustees,
business leaders, deans of education, superintendents and parents,
to discuss improvements and reforms to our education system.
In this Session, my government will introduce legislation to create
more choice for post-secondary students -- to ensure the system
serves students and school districts better, with greater flexibility
to allow them to take advantage of increased choices. This legislation
will build on the important new tools that were recently given to
colleges, institutes and universities to fully and properly utilize
their facilities and resources to put students' interests first.
My government understands that every student learns differently,
and has different needs and circumstances. Through the enhancement
of degree-granting opportunities for both private and public institutions,
students will have a wider variety of choice and flexibility in
pursuing their post-secondary education.
My government will allow post-secondary institutions to make their
own decisions about their tuition fee levels. This will restore
greater autonomy to the institutions themselves, because they should
be directly accountable to the students and communities they serve.
My government will also increase student spaces and restore certainty
for learners who have been attending the Technical University of
British Columbia. Simon Fraser University will assume responsibility
for TechBC students and assets, allowing students to graduate with
a degree from SFU while maintaining a presence in the growing community
of Surrey.
With a looming skills shortage facing the province, my government
recognizes the importance of skills and trades training to our future
prosperity and growth.
To pave the way for the introduction of a modern, flexible training
system that is more efficient and responsive to industry needs,
my government will disband the current Industry Training and Apprenticeship
Commission. An industry advisory committee will be appointed to
guide the transition to the new model, while the funding to institutions
for the delivery of skills and trades training will remain intact.
My government will also introduce legislation this Session to focus
employment and assistance dollars first on those who are most in
need. The legislation will replace four existing Acts. It will also
facilitate a strategic shift from a culture of welfare entitlement
to a culture of employment and self-sufficiency. The changes will
provide for those people who require continuous assistance, and
will encourage all individuals to reach their potential. In particular,
the changes will insist on greater individual responsibility for
those able to actively seek employment.
My government will put children and families first.
Legislation will be introduced this Session to streamline the process
for obtaining and enforcing family maintenance orders in cases where
one spouse lives in British Columbia and the other lives in a reciprocating
jurisdiction. Child protection legislation will be amended to reflect
the strategic shifts in child welfare that were outlined in open
Cabinet last November. The legislation will offer more options to
provide safe care for children within the environment of the extended
family. Other strategic shifts will allow for the greater protection
of children through the promotion of families and communities, and
an increased focus on family development approaches to parents and
families.
My government vowed to stop the expansion of gambling that has
increased gambling addiction in our province and put new strains
on families. That commitment has been kept, in keeping with existing
contractual obligations. This Session more will be done. A comprehensive
legislative framework will be introduced for regulating and managing
gaming more effectively and independently under the Gaming Policy
and Enforcement Branch and the BC Lottery Corporation.
My government's Administrative Justice Project will also result
in several major structural changes this year. Those changes will
be aimed at making our province's administrative justice agencies
more accessible, fair, efficient and affordable. New legislation
will be introduced that consolidates key functions of the Children's
Commission and Office of the Child, Youth and Family Advocate into
a new agency, the Children's Officer.
A modernized Residential Tenancy Act will also be introduced,
drafted in language that everyone can understand. It will protect
the rights of renters and landlords, addressing issues such as illegal
activities in rental accommodations, the rules for inspections,
and dispute resolution mechanisms.
All of the changes outlined here will help lead our province forward
to a more promising future -- to a new era of hope and prosperity
that is bright with possibility and brimming with potential.
Those changes will put our economy back on track, get our fiscal
house in order, and begin to correct the structural problems that
must be solved. Step by step, they will move us all beyond our fears
and expectations, to the limits of our imagination.
Though the storms of change may rage, and rain hard with their
resistance, they will not cloud our common purpose.
British Columbians know where my government is heading. And they
know it can't get there without the courage of its convictions.
Real progress is always difficult, but always worth the effort.
Let there be no doubt: British Columbia is on the move. It is charting
new ground and reaching out to claim a better future.
To all citizens, my government holds out this promise: British
Columbia's best days lie ahead. In time, we will amaze ourselves
at the distance we have travelled together.
Thank you.
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