[ Progress of Bills . . . ]

Two o'clock p.m.

Prayers by Ms. Walsh.

Order called for "Oral Questions by Members."

Mr. Campbell asked leave, pursuant to Standing Order 35, to move adjournment of the House to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the northern and rural health care crisis.

The Hon. J. MacPhail made representations.

Mr. Farrell-Collins made representations.

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

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

Order for Committee of Supply called.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply (estimates of the Ministry of Attorney General).

  43   The Hon. J. MacPhail moved--

That this House continue to pressure the Government of Canada to undertake a broad public consultation on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) and be it further resolved that this legislature urges the federal Liberal government to ensure that Canadian Medicare and social services are fully excluded from the provisions of the MAI and to refuse to sign any version of this agreement which compromises the ability of British Columbians to manage and conserve their natural resources as they see fit, or the power of the Province to lever jobs and economic benefits for the residents of British Columbia;

That the Government of Canada not sign the draft Multilateral Agreement on Investment or agree to lock in any part of the existing text at the OECD Ministerial Council meeting on April 27-28 in Paris, France;

That the Government of Canada suspend its participation in the MAI negotiations until the Canadian public have been thoroughly consulted through parliamentary hearings in all regions of the country; and

That the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia establish a special committee to examine, inquire into and make recommendations respecting all aspects of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

A debate arose.

Mr. Campbell moved the following amendment--

That the motion that the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia establish a special committee be amended to read: That the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia direct the Select Standing Committee on Economic Development, Science, Labour, Training and Technology to examine, inquire into and make recommendations respecting all aspects of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

The amendment was negatived on the following division:

YEAS -- 32
Sanders Gingell C. Clark Campbell Farrell-Collins de Jong Plant Reid	Coell Chong Whittred Jarvis Anderson Nettleton Penner Weisbeck	Nebbeling Hogg Hawkins Coleman Stephens Hansen Thorpe Symons	van Dongen Barisoff Dalton Masi Krueger McKinnon J.D. Wilson Reitsma
NAYS -- 37
Evans Zirnhelt McGregor Kwan Hammell Boone Pullinger Lali Orcherton Stevenson	Calendino Goodacre Walsh Randall Gillespie Robertson Cashore Conroy Priddy	Petter Miller Dosanjh MacPhail Lovick Ramsey Farnworth Waddell Hartley	Sihota Smallwood Sawicki Bowbrick Kasper Doyle Giesbrecht Janssen G. Wilson

The debate was resumed on the main motion.

Mr. Nebbeling moved the following amendment--

That the statement "That the Government of Canada suspend its participation in the MAI negotiations until the Canadian public have been thoroughly consulted through parliamentary hearings in all regions of the country" be amended to read: That the Government of Canada consult the Canadian public through parliamentary hearings in all regions of the country.

The amendment was negatived on the following division:

YEAS -- 33
Sanders Gingell C. Clark Campbell Farrell-Collins de Jong Plant Reid Coell	Chong Whittred Jarvis Anderson Nettleton Penner Weisgerber Weisbeck	Nebbeling Hogg Hawkins Coleman Stephens Hansen Thorpe Symons	van Dongen Barisoff Dalton Masi Krueger McKinnon J.D. Wilson Reitsma
NAYS -- 37
Evans Zirnhelt McGregor Kwan Hammell Boone Pullinger Lali Orcherton Stevenson	Calendino Goodacre Walsh Randall Gillespie Robertson Cashore Conroy Priddy	Petter Miller Dosanjh MacPhail Lovick Ramsey Farnworth Waddell Hartley	Sihota Smallwood Sawicki Bowbrick Kasper Doyle Giesbrecht Janssen G. Wilson

The debate was resumed on the main motion.

The debate continued.

The House divided.

Motion agreed to nemine contradicente on the following division:

YEAS -- 67
Evans Zirnhelt McGregor Kwan Hammell Boone Pullinger Lali Orcherton Stevenson Calendino Goodacre Walsh Randall Gillespie Robertson Cashore	Conroy Priddy Petter Miller Dosanjh MacPhail Lovick Ramsey Farnworth Waddell Hartley Sihota Smallwood Sawicki Bowbrick Kasper Doyle	Giesbrecht Janssen Sanders Gingell C. Clark Farrell-Collins de Jong Reid Coell Chong Whittred Jarvis Anderson Nettleton Penner G.F. Wilson Weisbeck	Nebbeling Hogg Hawkins Coleman Stephens Hansen Thorpe Symons van Dongen Barisoff Dalton Masi Krueger McKinnon J.D. Wilson Reitsma

  42   The Hon. J. MacPhail moved--

That a Special Committee be appointed to examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) and in particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to consider:

1. The application of key issues arising out of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment to British Columbians;

2. The most effective and appropriate means for representing the views and interests of British Columbians on matters relating to the proposed Agreement;

3. The implications for British Columbia and Canada of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment and on related matters;

4. Representations and expressions of views from individuals and groups from British Columbia or elsewhere;

5. Proposals related to the Multilateral Agreement on Investment brought forward within British Columbia or from elsewhere;

6. Evidence on the issues likely to be subject to further negotiations in the future; and

7. The most effective and appropriate means of enhancing the levels of awareness and knowledge of British Columbians concerning the issues involved.

Further, that the House authorizes the committee to provide opportunities for all citizens of British Columbia to express their views on these matters.

The said Committee shall have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition is empowered:

(a) to appoint of their number, one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee;
(b) to 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) to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient;
(d) to retain personnel as required to assist the Committee; and
(e) to permit television broadcasting of any public hearings the Committee may have;

and shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment, or at the next following Session, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly; and
That the Special Committee of Selection be empowered to compile the list of Members for the said Committee.

The House divided.

Motion agreed to nemine contradicente on the following division:

YEAS -- 67
Evans Zirnhelt McGregor Kwan Hammell Boone Pullinger Lali Orcherton Stevenson Calendino Goodacre Walsh Randall Gillespie Robertson Cashore	Conroy Priddy Petter Miller Dosanjh MacPhail Lovick Ramsey Farnworth Waddell Hartley Sihota Smallwood Sawicki Bowbrick Kasper Doyle	Giesbrecht Janssen Sanders Gingell C. Clark Farrell-Collins de Jong Reid Coell Chong Whittred Jarvis Anderson Nettleton Penner G.F. Wilson Weisbeck	Nebbeling Hogg Hawkins Coleman Stephens Hansen Thorpe Symons van Dongen Barisoff Dalton Masi Krueger McKinnon J.D. Wilson Reitsma

The Hon. J. MacPhail 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.

And then the House adjourned at 5.54 p.m.

GRETCHEN MANN BREWIN, Speaker

NOTICE OF BILLS

Wednesday, April 29

Ms. Stephens to introduce a Bill intituled Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation Act.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Wednesday, April 29

  44   Mr. G. F. Wilson to move--

That the Members of the Legislative Assembly urge the provincial Minister of Health to develop a plan to compensate those British Columbians who contracted Hepatitis C through tainted blood prior to 1986 in keeping with the spirit of Justice Krever's recommendations.

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