The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Ten o’clock a.m.
Prayers and Reflections by the Hon. Jennifer Whiteside.
The Hon. Laanas / Tamara Davidson (Minister of Environment and Parks) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Administrator, which read as follows:
Leonard Marchand
Administrator
The Administrator transmits herewith Bill (No. 15) intituled Environmental Assessment Amendment Act, 2026, and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Vancouver Law Courts,
March 27, 2026.
Bill introduced and read a first time.
Bill Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.
Order called for “Members’ Statements.”
Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Pursuant to the motion adopted on March 30, 2026, with respect to Standing Order 16 (4), the House proceeded to deferred divisions.
M 203 In consideration of Motion M 203 that the application of the merit principle within the B.C. Public Service be overseen by an independent officer of the Legislature, the House divided.
Motion negatived on the following division:
| Nays — 46 | |||
| Lore Blatherwick Dhir Routledge Chant Toporowski B. Anderson Neill Osborne Brar Krieger Davidson |
Parmar Sunner Beare Greene Wickens Kang Begg Arora Higginson Sandhu Lajeunesse Choi |
Rotchford Elmore Phillip Popham Dix Sharma Farnworth Eby Bailey Kahlon Chandra Herbert |
Whiteside Boyle Ma Yung Malcolmson Gibson Glumac Shah G. Anderson Chow Morissette |
| Yeas — 45 | |||
| Loewen Kindy Milobar Warbus Halford Rattée Wat Kooner Banman Hartwell L. Neufeld Van Popta |
Dew Clare K. Neufeld Rustad Wilson McInnis Paton Day Bhangu Toor Hepner |
Giddens Dhaliwal McCall Maahs Block Stamer Gasper Mok Davis Williams Chapman |
Bird Doerkson Luck Tepper Valeriote Botterell Chan Boultbee Sturko Armstrong Kealy |
By leave, the Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That Claire Rattée replace Hon Chan as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills.
Motion agreed to.
By leave, the Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That Steve Kooner replace Hon Chan as a member of the Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act.
Motion agreed to.
Order called for Committee of Supply.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of the Whole.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section C of Committee of Supply.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 12) intituled Safe Access to Schools Amendment Act, 2026.
Bill (No. 12) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 13) intituled Safe Access to Places of Public Worship Act, a debate arose.
On the motion of Steve Kooner, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
(In Committee — Section A)
Bill (No. 2) intituled Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026, was committed.
Clauses 1 through 5 of Bill (No. 2) stood down.
On clause 6 of Bill (No. 2).
Section A of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 2) intituled Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026, and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(In Committee — Section C)
Section C of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 11.55 a.m.
One-thirty o’clock p.m.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
By leave, the Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That Qwulti’stunaat / Debra Toporowski replace Steve Morissette as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.
Motion agreed to.
Order called for Committee of Supply.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of the Whole.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section C of Committee of Supply.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 13) intituled Safe Access to Places of Public Worship Act.
The debate continued.
On the motion of Sheldon Clare, the debate was adjourned to later today.
(In Committee — Section C)
43. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $5,976,762,000 be granted to His Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry Operations, to 31st March, 2027.
Section C of Committee of Supply reported the Resolution and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section C of Committee of the Whole.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 13) intituled Safe Access to Places of Public Worship Act.
Bill (No. 13) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 11) intituled Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2026, a debate arose.
On the motion of Claire Rattée, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
(In Committee — Section A)
Bill (No. 2) intituled Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026, was again committed.
Clause 1 of Bill (No. 2) passed.
Clause 2 of Bill (No. 2) passed, on division.
Clauses 3 through 27 of Bill (No. 2) passed.
The Hon. Brenda Bailey (Minister of Finance) reserved her right to raise a question of privilege in Committee.
Clauses 28 through 39 of Bill (No. 2) passed.
On clause 40 of Bill (No. 2).
Section A of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 2) intituled Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026, and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(In Committee — Section C)
Bill (No. 8) intituled Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2026, was committed.
Macklin McCall moved a proposed amendment to clause 1 of Bill (No. 8) which was defeated, on division.
Clause 1 of Bill (No. 8) passed, on division.
On clause 2 of Bill (No. 8).
Section C of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 8) intituled Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2026, and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 6.26 p.m.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker
Thursday, April 2
Tara Armstrong to introduce a Bill intituled Transparency of Advocacy Organizations Act.
Wednesday, April 1
14 The Hon. Mike Farnworth to move —
That, notwithstanding Standing Order 2 (1),
a. the adjournment time of the sitting of the House commencing at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026, be modified to immediately following the conclusion of Oral Question Period; and,
b. the start of the afternoon sitting on Thursday, April 2, 2026, be modified to 2 p.m.
M 208 Harwinder Sandhu to move —
That this House calls on the provincial government to address the gap in price regulation from private wastewater utility companies to ensure they charge fair rates to their customers.
Thursday, April 2
M 209 Brennan Day to move —
That the Select Standing Committee on Health be empowered to examine, inquire into, and make recommendations respecting:
a. the growing demand for seniors’ health services in British Columbia, including the availability of long-term care beds, the management of long-term care waitlists, and the capacity of the current system to meet the needs of British Columbia’s rapidly aging population; and,
b. strategies to support the development of a coordinated, cross-government approach to seniors’ care, including improvements to transparency, system planning and the public reporting of data necessary to inform long-term care capacity, reduce delayed hospital discharges and improve patient outcomes.
That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon Select Standing Committees, the Select Standing Committee on Health be empowered to:
a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
b. sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;
c. conduct consultations by any means the Committee considers appropriate;
d. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and,
e. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.
That the Committee report to the House by February 26, 2027, and that during a period of adjournment, the Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.
Thursday, April 2
3 Reann Gasper to ask the Hon. Minister of Children and Family Development the following questions: —
1. How will the new funding model ensure that children who are currently working with trusted providers can maintain those relationships, rather than experiencing disruptions in care? Particularly regarding those who will not receive the Benefit or Supplement, or receive a minimal amount not sufficient to pay a provider.
2. What are the specific evidence-based curriculums/service models being provided in the community programming? What steps will be taken to ensure individualized services/support to clients and families?
3. If an individual/family is receiving individualized therapy services under the current Autism Funding model, how will the Minister ensure the continuity of individualized services under a reduced funding/community-based model?
4. If a family is receiving individualized therapy services under the current Autism Funding model (e.g., parent coaching, family support services), how will the Minister ensure the continuity of individualized services under a reduced funding/community-based model?
5. The Minister has stated that the community-based services will be neuroaffirming. What steps are being taken to ensure this? What research has been reviewed and what professionals have been consulted in preparing for neuroaffirming support?
6. Why was it decided to end the Autism Funding Unit (AFU) on March. 31, 2027, but not provide families with their Supplement until July 2027? How are families supposed to continue therapies without funds? How are service providers supposed to work without payment guarantee for three months?
7. If 85 percent of the service providers surveyed (currently 308 have completed a service provider impact survey), showed that they were not confident they would be open past March 31, 2027, who will be supporting the children should the parents wish to use their supplements for continued therapy?
8. What ownership/responsibility does the NDP government take over the potential reality of an estimated 85 percent of independent providers/small businesses shutting down as a result of this model being introduced?
9. It has been projected that services for youth will not be established for up to three more years from now. How does the government plan to provide for youth and their families during this time if they do not qualify for individualized funding/do not receive sufficient funds to continue with providers?
10. What research was consulted regarding:
a. Level 1/2 autism and suicide/suicidal ideation/self-harm
b. Level 1/2 autism and mental health co-morbidities (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, burnout)
c. Level 1/2 autism and risk for abuse (e.g., sexual, physical, emotional, substance)
d. Level 1/2 autism and need for gender-affirming care
e. Parent experience (e.g., burnout, trauma, risk factors)
f. Please state specific research reviewed.
11. With the three-year delay in youth services, how will they be supported into their adult transition (e.g., job skills training)?
12. If the child’s supplement is divided between two parents when a child is in shared custody, how does the government expect the parents to make decisions in the child’s best interest when it comes to how to use the supplement? Will parent mediation services be included in navigation? If one parent was the signatory for AFU why is one parent not receiving the supplement to make medical decisions with the funds?
13. Will there be grants or similar funding options available to private service providers/therapy agencies to allow them to continue to work with their ‘Level 1/2’ client base in collaboration with the community-based programming?
14. Why were various professional groups/frontline workers not consulted in this development? Who were the professionals/groups consulted in the development of this model (names/role requested)?
15. What research was reviewed with respect to therapeutic horseback riding that stated that it did not have therapeutic value? Please provide research.
16. With respect to an estimated 10-15 percent of children/youth with autism and existing services to lose all funds, what is the statement/demonstration of ownership from the NDP government for going back on their word to families?
17. How will the community-based programming provide hours/access to families that cannot attend Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and require full service care on early mornings, evenings, weekends and statutory holidays?
18. How will community-based programming provide flexibility in service location to meet the needs of families?
19. What duration of time (e.g., months, years) was data collected on the efficacy or inefficacy of the current AFU model as well as the ‘goodness of fit’ of a community-based model such as the piloted hubs? Specific dates requested. Additionally, what data sources were reviewed to come to these conclusions? Specific sources requested.
20. As the reduction/removal of access to trusted, continued care from existing providers poses a serious risk of crisis for individuals with autism and their families, what has been prepared in anticipation of mental health/behavioural crisis, specifically:
a. Access to 24/7 crisis ‘help-line’ to contact qualified professionals who can assist in de-escalation and crisis management
b. Access to mental health services (e.g., Child Youth Mental Health) without extensive waitlists
c. Accessibility to be re-assessed for ‘need’ under the Benefit to gain funding and access more private support
d. Guarantee of qualified professionals to support individuals and families through crisis (not students, brand new professionals, assistants, etc.)
e. Increased resources for schools/hospitals to buffer increased demand on their systems in response to urgent crises.
21. Why is it not an option to have some form of individualized funding like the AFU for all children/youth with Autism? Why is it acceptable to have up to 15 percent losing all funding and an even larger percentage not receiving enough to support a beneficial therapy team?
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