SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES
2008 Legislative Session: Fourth Session, 38th Parliament
SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES
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SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES |
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Monday, December 8, 2008
11 a.m.
Douglas Fir Committee Room
Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C.
Present: Randy Hawes, MLA (Chair); Bruce Ralston, MLA (Deputy Chair); Robin Austin, MLA; Harry Bloy, MLA; Dave S. Hayer, MLA; John Rustad, MLA; Diane Thorne, MLA; John Yap, MLA
Unavoidably Absent: Richard T. Lee, MLA; John Horgan, MLA
1. The Chair called the Committee to order at 11:12 a.m.
2. Resolved, that the Committee meet in-camera to discuss its draft report to the House. (Randy Hawes, MLA)
3. The Committee deliberated in-camera from 11:13 a.m. to 12:49 p.m.
4. The Committee met in public session from 12:49 p.m. to adjournment.
5. Resolved, that the budget submissions made by each of the Legislative officers be approved as amended.
6. Resolved, that the Legislative Officers work with the Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees to standardize their budget submissions to provide more clarity, consistency and continuity.
7. Resolved, that statutory officers obtain prior approval from the Committee on items that will increase their budgets in subsequent years, before a financial commitment is made.
8. Resolved, that the Committee adopt their report as amended.
9. Resolved, that the Chair will present the report to the House as soon as practicable. (John Yap, MLA)
10. The Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair at 12:56 p.m.
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
(Hansard)
select standing committee on
Finance and
Government Services
Monday, December 8, 2008
Issue No. 97
ISSN 1499-4178
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contents |
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Page |
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Statutory Officers Budget Submissions |
2303 |
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Committee Report to the House |
2303 |
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Chair: |
* Randy Hawes (Maple Ridge–Mission L) |
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Deputy Chair: |
* Bruce Ralston (Surrey-Whalley NDP) |
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Members: |
* Harry Bloy (Burquitlam L) |
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* Dave S. Hayer (Surrey-Tynehead L) |
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Richard T. Lee (Burnaby North L) |
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* John Rustad (Prince George–Omineca L) |
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* John Yap (Richmond-Steveston L) |
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* Robin Austin (Skeena NDP) |
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John Horgan (Malahat–Juan de Fuca NDP) |
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* Diane Thorne (Coquitlam-Maillardville NDP) |
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* denotes member present |
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Clerk: |
Craig James |
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Committee Staff: |
Josie Schofield (Committee Research Analyst) |
[ Page 2303 ]
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008
The committee met at 11:12 a.m.
[R. Hawes in the chair.]
Statutory Officers Budget Submissions
R. Hawes (Chair): Today we are going to deliberate over the budgets for the independent officers. That deliberation, of course, is always in camera. We will be ultimately reporting out through the Legislature as to what the decisions on these budgets are. But for now, I would accept a motion to move in camera.
The committee continued in camera from 11:13 a.m. to 12:49 p.m.
[R. Hawes in the chair.]
R. Hawes (Chair): So we have a series of motions. Let's start with: resolved that the budget submissions made by each of the legislative offices be approved as amended.
We'll call the question on that.
Motion approved on division.
R. Hawes (Chair): Now, the other one that we need to talk about here is trying to move towards a standardized, consistent budgeting format that I think will make it much easier for all of us, including the legislative officers. So I would be looking for a motion to be made that would read something like: that the Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees work with each of the legislative offices to standardize their budget submissions to provide more clarity, consistency and continuity.
D. Thorne: Can I move that?
R. Hawes (Chair): Yes, you may. As moved by Diane. Wait, Bruce has a question.
B. Ralston (Deputy Chair): Just so long as it's consistent with…. There are obviously very different operations, whether it's the conflict commissioner and the scale of budget…. I mean, I don't think you want to saddle someone that's got a three- or four-line item with a huge paper burden. I don't think that's very helpful. But for the more complex budgets, obviously that'll be of assistance.
D. Thorne: I absolutely think it's easy to do. You'd only complete what you needed to complete. But a standard form…. I mean, doing this, especially by phone, has been a horrible experience.
R. Hawes (Chair): Okay. We'll call the question on that motion.
Motion approved.
R. Hawes (Chair): I would also be looking for one more motion. That would be a motion that we send a letter to each of the statutory officers reminding them that if they plan to commit to future expenditures that have not come in front of this committee, which are going to impact on their budgets in subsequent years, before they make a commitment they come to the committee to seek approval.
J. Rustad: May I offer an amendment to that? I agree with that entirely, but they would either have to seek it within their existing budget or come to the committee to ask for approval.
R. Hawes (Chair): Yeah, but I think what the motion says is that if they're going to make commitments that are going to impact on their future budgets…. You know, I don't think we want to be in a position of micromanaging.
J. Rustad: Sorry, Randy. I just didn't want to fetter them. If they want to make a commitment for dollars and it's within their existing budget, they have the right to do that, and away they go. If they want to make a commitment for dollars that is outside of their budget and based on an assumption of an approval, that is something they need to bring to us before they make the commitment.
R. Hawes (Chair): Correct. So that would be just a motion that we send a letter like that. Call the question.
Motion approved.
Committee Report to the House
C. James (Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees): There are just two more motions. One is that the report be adopted as amended. In saying that, all members would get a copy of the report prior to its release.
R. Hawes (Chair): So we're looking for a motion to adopt the report as amended.
D. Hayer: I will move that.
R. Hawes (Chair): And all members will then get a copy prior to its release.
B. Ralston (Deputy Chair): Would that be recorded — on division?
[ Page 2304 ]
Just for clarity on a procedural point and on the earlier one, adopting the report as amended, I stated that my position was opposed. Would that be recorded as well?
D. Thorne: And mine as well.
R. Austin: And mine.
Motion approved on division.
R. Hawes (Chair): And I need a motion to say that the Chair will present the report to the House as soon as practicable.
D. Hayer: Randy, one more question.
R. Hawes (Chair): Is it about this motion?
D. Hayer: No.
R. Hawes (Chair): We have a motion, and then you can ask your question.
The motion is that we present this report to the House as soon as practicable. Moved by John Yap.
Motion approved.
R. Hawes (Chair): Can we move back?
Dave, you had a question.
D. Hayer: Yes. We had discussed previously in different parts of the committee that in case some officers need some other funding because of extraordinary circumstances, they can come back, and that will be in the report — that part of it.
R. Hawes (Chair): Yeah.
C. James (Clerk of Committees): Just so you know, the process would be, the House being in a period of adjournment, that once you are happy with the final draft of the report to the House, it will be deposited with our office and it will be made a public document. At that point we will contact the various legislative officers to let them know in advance of the recommendations, and then it'll be a public document.
J. Yap: On that point, Craig, what do you foresee as the timing of that?
C. James (Clerk of Committees): Oh, I would think within the week. Then of course we also let Treasury Board know in terms of including the amounts in the budget estimates.
D. Thorne: I'm sorry, Craig. I can't hear you.
R. Hawes (Chair): Treasury Board will be advised, Diane, as to the amounts that are in the budget so they can incorporate it within the budget planning cycle for February.
D. Thorne: And what did Craig say was the time line of the report?
R. Hawes (Chair): Within a week, likely.
With that, if there are no further items….
B. Ralston (Deputy Chair): Just for clarity, because we are in the public record at this point. The motion that was passed is the submissions as amended, with a division on that and the government voting in favour and the opposition voting against. But are the specific amounts now public, or is that to await the release of the report? I just want to be very clear what my obligations are as a member of the committee.
C. James (Clerk of Committees): Nothing is public until the report has been finalized and deposited with our office. At that point we will advise members of the date and time, and from there, it would be a public document.
B. Ralston (Deputy Chair): So at this stage, then, for those who may be interested in this, what do you anticipate the date will be?
C. James (Clerk of Committees): I would think within a week to ten days, but once we get the draft out to you, we'll have a better idea of when it would be. But I would think a week to ten days.
J. Yap: Craig, at what point will the officers be advised?
C. James (Clerk of Committees): At the moment that it is deposited with our office, it being a public document. Then following that, we will circulate it, and we will place it on the Web.
R. Hawes (Chair): We will entertain a motion to adjourn. We have one, and we are adjourned.
The committee adjourned at 12:56 p.m.
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