1995 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 35th Parliament

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.

No. 56

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Two o'clock p.m.

Prayers by Mr. Weisgerber.

The Hon. P. Ramsey (Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:

Garde B. Gardom
Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 27) intituled Pharmacists, Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Amendment Act, 1995 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.

Government House,
May 15, 1995.

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 "Oral Questions by Members."

By leave, Mr. Chisholm tabled a copy of a document referred to during Oral Question Period.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

Order for Committee of Supply called.

Mr. Warnke rose on a point of order with respect to the calling of House business.

The Hon. J. MacPhail made representations.

Mr. Farrell-Collins made representations.

The Speaker stated that he would take the matter under advisement.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply (estimates of the Ministry of Health and Ministry Responsible for Seniors).

(In the House)

The House resumed the adjourned debate on the amendment to Motion 87: "Be it resolved that this House condemn the American Bonneville Power Administration for breaking a solemn commitment on the delivery and disposition of the Canadian Entitlement under the Columbia River Treaty."

The debate on the amendment continued.

The House divided.

The amendment was negatived on the following division:

On the motion of the Hon. G. Clark, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

The Hon. G. Clark advised that the House will sit Wednesday, pursuant to Standing Order 2 (2).

(In Committee -- Section A)

Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress.

Report to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

The Speaker delivered his reserved decision as follows:

Honourable Members:

At the commencement of this afternoon's sitting, the Honourable Member for Richmond-Steveston arose on a point of order relating to the order of business called by the Government House Leader on the commencement of Orders of the Day.

I have examined with great care the point raised by the Honourable Member, as well as remarks bearing on the same point of order made by the Government House Leader and the House Leader of the Official Opposition.

I have also examined the 21st edition of Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice and our own Standing Order 55 as it bears on the matter raised.

In my respectful view, the matter raised is almost identical to the one raised in this House on April 27, 1993, appearing in the Journals of that year at page 47.

In essence, the ruling referred to stands for the proposition that when the Government House Leader, under the authority of the sessional order authorizing the Committee of Supply to sit in two sections, calls for estimates to proceed in Section A, the remainder of the House remains intact and competent to consider such business as may properly be put before the House. This would obviously include the ability to resolve itself into Committee B for the purposes of considering estimates, Bills referred to Committee after second reading thereof or, as has been done on numerous occasions, remain sitting as a House with the Speaker in the Chair for the purpose of considering substantive motions and proposed amendments to those substantive motions.

The Chair notes that in the instance referred to on April 27, 1993, an amendment to the motion for second reading of a Bill was at that time before the House and debate was not only resumed at that sitting, it was further adjourned and resumed at the afternoon sitting of the same day. At both times Section A was simultaneously considering the estimates of the Ministry of Forests.

I have further concluded that our Standing Order 55 rather than restricting the ability of the House to deal with substantive motions under these circumstances, in fact affords the House several alternatives and, accordingly, it does not support the point of order ably argued by the Honourable Member.

I therefore confirm my earlier ruling which permitted Committee A to sit for the purpose of reviewing estimates while the House business proceeds in the Chamber.

Emery O. Barnes, Speaker

And then the House adjourned at 6.12 p.m.

EMERY O. BARNES, Speaker

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