2002 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 37th Parliament

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

[ Progress of Bills . . . ]

Nos. 111 and 112

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Thursday, November 7, 2002

Ten o'clock a.m.

Prayers by Mr. K. Stewart.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 74) intituled Forest and Range Practices Act.

The debate continued.

On the motion of Mr. Christensen the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

And then the House adjourned at 11.54 a.m.

Thursday, November 7, 2002

Two o'clock p.m.

Order called for "Members' Statements."

The House observed a minute of silence in honour of our veterans.

Order called for "Oral Questions by Members."

Mr. K. Stewart presented the Report of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations for the Third Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament.

The Report was taken as read and received.

By leave of the House, Mr. K. Stewart moved that the Report be adopted.

Motion agreed to.

Mr. Penner presented the Report of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills, as follows:

Report

Legislative Committee Room
November 7, 2002

Honourable Speaker:

Your Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills begs leave to report as follows:

That Bill (No. Pr 403) intituled Hansler Ozone Canada Inc. (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2002 and Bill (No. Pr 404) intituled Gold Standard Resources Ltd. (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2002 be considered, notwithstanding the filing of materials occurred later than 14 days after the beginning of the Session in light of the House sitting after the summer adjournment.

That the preamble to Bill (No. Pr 403) intituled Hansler Ozone Canada Inc. (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2002 has been proved, and the Committee recommends that the Bill proceed to Second Reading.

That the preamble to Bill (No. Pr 404) intituled Gold Standard Resources Ltd. (Corporation Restoration) Act, 2002 has been proved, and the Committee recommends that the Bill proceed to Second Reading.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

B. Penner, Chair

The report was taken as read and received.

By leave of the House, Mr. Penner moved that the Report be adopted.

Motion agreed to.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 74) intituled Forest and Range Practices Act.

The debate continued.

The House divided.

Motion agreed to on the following division:

Bill (No. 74) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.

Bill (No. 70) intituled Residential Tenancy Act was again committed.

Section 14 of Bill (No. 70) passed, on division.

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 6.00 p.m.

CLAUDE RICHMOND, Speaker

PUBLIC WRITTEN QUESTIONS

 

  13  Louise Scott, Chairperson, Quesnel School District, to ask the Hon. the Premier and the Hon. the Minister of Education, the following question:--

The communiqué regarding Safe Schools Task Force states "the Government recognizes that education is the cornerstone of our society". During the election campaign, the Liberal Party promised to protect education funding. Government subsequently legislated a salary increase and failed to fund that salary increase. Our Teachers' Association recently submitted a list of classes whose size exceeds last year's Collective Agreement limits. Next year's legislated salary increase will continue to erode educational programs.

Our question is, "Why won't this Government live up to its election promise and fund the legislated salary increase?"

The Hon. C. Clark replied as follows:

Thank you for your question submitted through the Office of the Speaker as a Public Written Question.

Our government's New Era promise was to protect education funding. We have done that, even while reducing spending elsewhere to restore fiscal responsibility to British Columbia. Government will spend $4.8 billion on Kindergarten to Grade 12 education this year. That's $20 million more than last year -- despite the fact we have declining enrolment across the province.

Although the decision to legislate a 7.5 percent increase for teachers was not a perfect solution, failing to give teachers a fair raise would have had a devastating impact on our education system. However, given the tremendous financial constraints currently facing government, it was not possible to fund the entire cost of the legislated contract. The increases for the second and third years of the teachers' contract will have to be managed by school boards within the constraints of their operating budgets. Recognizing that funding part of the contract would create a new cost pressure for school districts, government provided school districts with significant new tools to manage these costs.

Our bottom line is improving individual student performance -- and that's what we are focusing on. There are many factors that affect student performance like parental involvement, leadership from our principals and effective teachers. We are focused on:

· Improving province-wide evaluation of student achievement through measures like the Foundation Skills Assessment and provincial exams.

 

· Ensuring school boards are accountable for student achievement by requiring districts to sign accountability contracts.

 

· Establishing individual school planning councils to develop and implement plans for improving student achievement.

We have also given school boards more autonomy and control over how they deliver education services, so that they can put resources into areas they identify as priorities. I know school boards are working hard to ensure resources go first and foremost into the classroom.

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