2001 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 37th Parliament
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Nos. 3 and 4
OF THE
Thursday, July 26, 2001
Ten o'clock a.m.
Prayers by Mr. Manhas.
The Hon. R. Thorpe (Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise) tabled the British Columbia Securities Commission Annual Report 2000-2001.
The Speaker delivered his reserved decision as follows:
Honourable Members:
On July 25th, the Leader of the Opposition sought to move adjournment of the House under Standing Order 35 to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely the transit strike in the lower mainland. Under Standing Order 35, a Member may raise the issue but before debate the matter must qualify under the rules of the House in the opinion of the Speaker.
I have considered the arguments offered by the Member, the Government House Leader and the Member for Vancouver-Mt. Pleasant, and reviewed the written statement of the matter which was tendered by the Leader of the Opposition. I have also noted that in keeping with the practice of this House the Leader of the Opposition gave prior notice that the issue would be raised.
If Standing Order 35 is invoked the ordinary daily business of the House is set aside and for that reason the matter must not involve an issue that could be raised during the ordinary daily business of the House.
On July 24th, His Honour the Lieutenant Governor read the Throne Speech and the only item of business on the Order Paper at this time is the consideration of the Address in Reply, during which the scope of debate is sufficiently broad to allow consideration of the issue at hand.
I appreciate that the transit strike is an urgent matter to those affected. The test of urgency is described in the Third Edition of Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia as follows:
"Urgency has been consistently interpreted as urgency of debate and not urgency of the subject matter. Thus when the House is engaged in the Throne Debate or the Budget Debate leave has often been refused on the grounds that an immediate parliamentary opportunity exists to debate the matter in question. See B.C. Journals, March 23, 1994, p. 23 and April 21, 1994, p. 57."
Accordingly, I am of the opinion that the matter does not qualify under Standing Order 35.
Hon. C. Richmond, Speaker
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
Pursuant to Order, the House resumed the adjourned debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor at the opening of the Session.
The debate continued.
On the motion of the Hon. L. Reid, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
And then the House adjourned at 11.51 a.m.
Thursday, July 26, 2001
Two o'clock p.m.
Order called for "Oral Questions by Members."
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
Pursuant to Order, the House resumed the adjourned debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor at the opening of the Session.
The debate continued.
On the motion of Mr. Lee, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
And then the House adjourned at 5.55 p.m.
CLAUDE RICHMOND, Speaker
NOTICE OF BILLS
Tuesday, July 31
Ms. MacPhail to introduce a bill intituled An Act to Restore Transportation Services in Greater Vancouver.
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