2004 Legislative Session: 5th Session, 37th Parliament
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
No. 30
OF THE
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Two o'clock p.m.
The Clerk of the House informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker, whereupon Mr. Weisbeck, Deputy Speaker, took the Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 12.
Prayers by Mr. Bloy.
Mr. Weisbeck (Deputy Speaker) delivered a statement on behalf of the Hon. C. Richmond (Speaker) as follows:
Honourable Members:
I have reviewed the Blues relating to yesterday's Oral Question Period and several matters arise which require comment by the Chair.
The broad principle applicable to Question Period is that for questions to be in order, the questions must fall within the administrative responsiblity of one or more Ministers of the Crown. Superimposed upon that basic principle is that one Minister may answer for another, or indeed no Minister is obligated to answer at any time.
As questions related to internal caucus proceedings clearly do not fall within the administrative responsibility of any Minister of the Crown, such questions are out of order.
When, however, caucus procedure impacts upon the spending of public funds, we have a different set of guidelines.
Caucuses have a funding formula which can be affected by the numbers in any particular caucus, but at the same time it must be pointed out that those funds are payable under and by virtue of Vote 1 for which no Minister of the Crown has a designated responsibility.
Indeed, Vote 1 falls squarely under the jurisdiction of the Speaker of the House, subject to motions of or directions of the Legislative Assembly Management Committee which is chaired by Mr. Speaker.
Under the long standing practice in the British Columbia House, the Speaker is not able to answer questions during Question Period nor does he speak in Committee of the Whole when Vote 1 comes before that committee for scrutiny.
Detailed questions in relation to the financial provisions of Vote 1 have traditionally been thoroughly examined by the Legislative Assembly Management Committee (or its predecessor, the Board of Internal Economy) in that committee. It should be noted that the Leader of the Opposition is a member of that committee, and that the minutes of that committee are filed in the House on an annual basis.
Any member of the committee may ask the Speaker to convene a meeting for the purposes of inquiring into matters relating to Vote 1, and the Speaker does his very best to accommodate any such request.
The net result is that during Question Period questions relating to internal caucus matters are not in order as they do not fall within the administrative responsibility of any Minister of the Crown. Questions such as the Leader of the Opposition's second question yesterday relating to financial implications to Vote 1 arising from caucus actions are in order, and while in theory should be directed to the Speaker (who, for the reasons stated, cannot answer in the House), could be answered with the Minister's consent, taken on notice or directed to the Legislative Assembly Management Committee.
Claude Richmond, Speaker
The Hon. B. Barisoff (Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection) 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. 13) intituled Environmental Management Amendment Act, 2004 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
February 26, 2004.
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."
Order for Committee of Supply.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A and Section B of Committee of Supply.
The Committee recessed until 6.40 p.m.
(In Committee -- Section B)
Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Health Services.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(In Committee -- Section A)
Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 8.58 p.m.
JOHN WEISBECK, Deputy Speaker
PUBLIC WRITTEN QUESTIONS
The map of the Sea-to-Sky upgrade included in the Auditor General's Review of the 2010 Games Estimates shows upgrades only along the current highway route. Can the Minister confirm whether or not the new upslope route being considered through Eagle Ridge Bluffs at an estimated cost of $115 to $170 million depending on the option chosen, will increase the $600 million estimated for the total upgrade with the extra cost coming out of the $139 million 2010 Games contingency budget?
The Hon. K. Falcon replied as follows:
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