1998/99 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 36th Parliament

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

[ Progress of Bills . . . ]

Nos. 156 and 157

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Thursday, April 15, 1999

Ten o'clock a.m.

Prayers by Ms. C. Clark.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

Bill (No. 51) intituled Nisga'a Final Agreement Act was again committed.

The Committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.

Bill to be considered at the next sitting.

And then the House adjourned at 11.52 a.m.

Thursday, April 15, 1999

Two o'clock p.m.

Order called for "Oral Questions by Members."

Mr. Calendino presented the Report of the Special Committee to Appoint an Ombudsman.

Resolved, That the Report be taken as read and received.

By leave of the House, it was moved that the Rules be suspended and the report adopted.

A debate arose.

Motion agreed to.

By leave, Mr. Calendino moved--

That this House recommend to His Honour the Lieutenant Governor the appointment of Mr. Howard Kushner as a statutory Officer of the Legislature, to exercise the powers and duties assigned to the Ombudsman for the province of British Columbia pursuant to the Ombudsman Act (RSBC 1996 c. 340).

Motion agreed to.

The Hon. I. Waddell (Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture) made a ministerial statement regarding B.C. Book Week.

Mr. Thorpe made a statement.

The Hon. I. Waddell (Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture) rose, pursuant to Standing Order 17 to correct a statement.

The Speaker stated that the Honourable Member could correct a statement but not debate it, and reminded all Honourable Members that their statements and replies should not contain material of a controversial nature.

By leave, the Hon. J. MacPhail moved--

That Mr. Jack Weisgerber, MLA be substituted for the Honourable Gordon Wilson, MLA as a member on the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Committee of Supply, Section A.

Motion agreed to.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

Bill (No. 51) intituled Nisga'a Final Agreement Act was again committed.

The Committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.

Bill to be considered at the next sitting.

And then the House adjourned at 5.53 p.m.

GRETCHEN MANN BREWIN, Speaker

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Tuesday, April 20

 

  61  Mr. Hartley to move--

Be it resolved that this Assembly deplores the continuing violations of human rights in Burma, including extrajudicial and arbitrary executions, rape, torture, inhuman treatment, mass arrests, forced labour, forced relocation and denial of freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement, as reported by the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur;

Be it further resolved that in the opinion of this Assembly these human rights abuses in Burma are the result of policy at the highest level and that the regime's officials bear political and legal responsibility for them;

Be it further resolved that this Assembly urges the military regime in Burma to:

(a) immediately and unconditionally release all detained political leaders and all political prisoners, to ensure their physical integrity and to permit them to participate in the process of national reconciliation;

(b) repeal all regressive laws;

(c) stop all the violations of human rights and in particular the unlawful coercion against the National League for Democracy (NLD) members leading to surrendering of their membership and the closure of NLD offices; and

(d) immediately initiate a substantive political dialogue with the Committee Representing the People's parliament before there is further violent upheaval in Burma.

Be it further resolved that the Legislature condemns the State Peace and Development Council (formerly named the State Law and Order Restoration Council) for:

(a) openly encouraging the production, trade and export of opium and heroin into North America; and

(b) racially-motivated genocide against the ethnic peoples in Burma, especially those in Karen, Karenni and Shan States;

Be it further resolved that the Legislature urges the Government of Canada to:

(a) recognise as the legitimate instrument of the will of the Burmese people the Committee Representing the People's Parliament formed by the National League for Democracy on 16 September 1998 as acquiring the legal authority of 251 MP's and support of the four non-Burman ethnic political parties;

(b) take all necessary action to achieve coordinated international action in support of the restoration of human rights in Burma;

(c) direct the federal drug enforcement agency to increase counter narcotics efforts specific to the flow of heroin into Vancouver from Burma; and

(d) appeal to the UN Secretary-General to send a special envoy to Burma to continue discussions with the leaders of the military regime as well as with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders in order to make significant advances towards the democratization of Burma.

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