2002 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 37th Parliament
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Nos. 17 and 18
OF THE
Monday, March 4, 2002
Ten o'clock a.m.
Prayers by Mr. Bray.
The Hon. C. Richmond (Speaker) presented a Report of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner Pursuant to Section 19 (1) of the Members' Conflict of Interest Act in the Matter of an Application by Joy MacPhail, Member for Vancouver-Hastings and Leader of the Opposition, with respect to alleged contravention of provisions of the Members' Conflict of Interest Act by the Honourable Sindi Hawkins, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kelowna-Mission and Minister of Health Planning.
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
Order for "Private Members' Statements" called.
The House proceeded to "Adjourned Debate Private Members' Motions on Notice."
The House resumed the adjourned debate on Motion 4 as amended.
Pursuant to the Sessional Order of February 13, 2002, division on Motion 4 (as amended) was deferred to later today.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on Motion 9.
Mr. Halsey-Brandt (Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations) moved the following amendment --
Be it resolved that this House recognizes small communities throughout British Columbia
experience unique challenges and that those challenges and the people who face them are as important
as any other citizen and should therefore have equal strong and effective representation at the
Government's annual Provincial Conference Congress.
On the motion of Mr. Bell, debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
And then the House adjourned at 11.58 a.m.
Monday, March 4, 2002
Two o'clock p.m.
The Hon. R. Coleman (Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General) presented to the Speaker a Message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:
Iona Campagnolo
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 6) intituled Gaming Control Act and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House
February 27, 2002
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 "Members' Statements."
Order called for "Oral Questions by Members."
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
By leave, the Hon. G. Collins moved --
Be it resolved that this House hereby authorizes the Committee of Supply for this Session to sit in
two sections designated Section A and Section B; Section A to sit in such Committee Room as may be
appointed from time to time, and Section B to sit in the Chamber of the Assembly, subject to the
following rules:
1. The Standing Orders applicable to the Committee of the Whole House shall be applicable in both Sections of the Committee of Supply save and except that in Section A, a Minister may defer to a Deputy Minister to permit such Deputy to reply to a question put to the Minister.
2. Subject to paragraph 3, within one sitting day of the passage of this Motion, the House Leader of the Opposition may advise the Government House Leader, in writing, of three ministerial Estimates which the Opposition requires to be considered in Section B of the Committee of Supply, and upon receipt of such notice in writing, the Government House Leader shall confirm in writing that the said three ministerial Estimates shall be considered in Section B of the Committee of Supply.
3. All Estimates shall stand referred to Section A, save and except those Estimates which shall be referred to Section B under the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Order and such other Estimates as shall be referred to Section B on motion by the Government House Leader, which motion shall be governed by the provisions of Standing Order 60A. Practice Recommendation #6 relating to Consultation shall be applicable to this rule.
4. Section A shall consist of 19 Members, being 17 Members of the B.C. Liberal Party and 2 Members of the New Democratic Party. In addition, the Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole, or his or her nominee, shall preside over the debates in Section A. Substitution of Members will be permitted to Section A with the consent of that Member's Whip, where applicable, otherwise with the consent of the Member involved. For the third session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament, the Members of Section A shall be as follows: the Minister whose Estimates are under consideration and Messrs. Bennett, Bloy, Bray, Hamilton, Hunter, Jarvis, Lee, McKay, Manhas, Penner, R. Stewart and Visser, Mmes. Locke, Orr, Sahota, Trumper and Mmes. Kwan and MacPhail.
5. At fifteen minutes prior to the ordinary time fixed for adjournment of the House, the Chair of Section A will report to the House. In the event such report includes the last vote in a particular ministerial Estimate, after such report has been made to the House, the Government shall have a maximum of eight minutes, and the Opposition a maximum of five minutes, and all other Members (cumulatively) a maximum of three minutes to summarize the Committee debate on a particular ministerial Estimate completed, such summaries to be in the following order:
(1) Other Members;
(2) Opposition; and
(3) Government.
6. Section B shall be composed of all Members of the House.
7. Divisions in Section A will be signalled by the ringing of the division bells four times.
8. Divisions in Section B will be signalled by the ringing of the division bells three times at which time proceedings in Section A will be suspended until completion of the division in Section B.
9. Section B is hereby authorized to consider Bills referred to Committee after second reading thereof and the Standing Orders applicable to Bills in Committee of the Whole shall be applicable to such Bills during consideration thereof in Section B, and for all purposes Section B shall be deemed to be a Committee of the Whole. Such referrals to Section B shall be made upon motion without notice by the Minister responsible for the Bill, and such motion shall be decided without amendment or debate. Practice Recommendation #6 relating to Consultation shall be applicable to all such referrals.
10. Bills or Estimates previously referred to a designated Committee may at any stage be subsequently referred to another designated Committee on motion of the Government House Leader or Minister responsible for the Bill as hereinbefore provided by Rule Nos. 3 and 9.
Motion agreed to.
Bill (No. 5) intituled Vancouver Island Natural Gas Pipeline Amendment Act, 2002 was committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Pursuant to Order, the House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion "That the Speaker do now leave the Chair" for the House to go into Committee of Supply.
The debate continued.
Motion agreed to.
Motion 4 as amended agreed to on the following division:
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YEAS -- 72 |
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| Falcon Coell Hogg L. Reid Halsey-Brandt Hawkins Whittred Cheema Hansen J. Reid Bruce Santori van Dongen Barisoff Roddick Wilson Masi Lee |
Thorpe Hagen Murray Plant Campbell Collins Clark Bond de Jong Nebbeling Stephens Abbott Neufeld Coleman Chong Jarvis Anderson Orr |
Nuraney Brenzinger R. Stewart Bell Chutter Long Mayencourt Trumper Johnston Bennett Belsey Hayer Christensen Krueger McMahon Bray Les Locke |
Nijjar Bhullar Wong Visser Lekstrom MacKay Cobb K. Stewart Bloy Suffredine Brice Sultan Hamilton Sahota Hawes Kerr Manhas Hunter |
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| MacPhail | Kwan | ||
The House recessed until 6.30 p.m.
Pursuant to Order, the House resumed the adjourned debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech of Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor at the opening of the Session.
The debate continued.
Motion agreed to.
And then the House adjourned at 8.38 p.m.
CLAUDE RICHMOND, Speaker
PUBLIC WRITTEN QUESTIONS
All farmers in B.C. suffer, due to the world market, due to lack of financial assistance, due to high cost of fuel, due to lack of caring by the same people who rely on farmers to produce their daily food needs. It seems we can help forestry, mining, and private enterprise in "bailouts" but not farmers. The A.L.R. in the minds and hearts of citizens is a good thing because it gives us the green space that makes B.C. supernatural. At the time of initiating the Act, farmers were upset until they were promised by the N.D.P. that financial help would be provided to all farmers whose land was affected by the legislation. Mr. Minister, will this government initiate a financial policy for the well being of all farmers in B.C.?
"Office of the Minister,
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
"Victoria, B.C., March 1, 2002
"Rolly Hein
"Mayor
"District of Lake Country
"Dear Rolly Hein -- Thank you for your question submitted through the Office of the Speaker as a Public Written Question.
"The vision for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is for a competitive and profitable industry providing safe, high-quality food for consumers and export markets. The government and ministry's role is to create an environment that will help the industry to become more self-reliant.
"By lowering taxes, making government services more affordable and reducing regulations, we will create a supportive business climate for the individual entrepreneur or large-scale business.
"Other programs and initiatives assist British Columbia farmers as well:
"The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) sets aside a stable land base for farming of five percent of the province's land. Under the right to farm provision of the Local Government Act, regions and municipalities can create farm bylaws to regulate farm practices subject to the minister's approval.
"The Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act (FPPA) protects farmers from nuisance actions against their farm operations provided they follow normal farm practices on land within the ALR or on land zoned for agriculture. The FPPA enabled the creation of a Farm Practices Board, which formally hears complaints and determines what is `normal farm practice.'
"British Columbia farmers benefit from a competitive tax regime that includes cuts to personal income taxes, lowered income taxes on businesses, a higher small-business tax threshold, and cutting red tape and reducing the regulatory burden on businesses. The government's review of all regulations will ease the administrative burden on food producers and processors.
"The federal and provincial governments share the cost to farmers of managing the risks they face:
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"· Crop insurance for adverse weather conditions provides coverage of two hundred million dollars against weather-related losses. The premiums are cost shared by the federal government, provincial government and farms. |
| • |
"· The Whole Farm Insurance Program provides commodity price protection with more than fifteen million dollars for unexpected drops in farm incomes. |
| • |
"· The Net Income Stabilization Account helps farmers even out good and bad years with more than twelve million dollars to match farmers' contributions. |
"Changes to the Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authority replant program help orchardists change over to more productive and marketable varieties. This program is being maintained to meet the original commitment of the previous government.
"The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries will use its extensive expertise to be the advocate for industry, helping industry to solve specific problems that create a barrier for doing business and working with other levels of government: international, federal, provincial and local.
"British Columbia is working with the federal government and the other provinces and territories to put in place a comprehensive Agriculture Policy Framework. The national Agriculture Policy Framework aims to increase the public knowledge of and support for the agrifood sector in Canada and in British Columbia.
"Yours Sincerely,
"John van Dongen,
"Minister"
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