2005 Legislative Session: 1st Session, 38th Parliament


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


[ Progress of Bills . . . ]

Nos. 1 and 2

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia


Monday, September 12, 2005


Ten o'clock a.m.

This being the first day of the first meeting of the Thirty-eighth Parliament of the Province of British Columbia for the dispatch of business, pursuant to a Proclamation of the Honourable Mary F. Southin, Administrator of the Province, dated the 18th day of August, 2005, the Members took their seats, having taken the prescribed oath and having signed the Parliamentary Roll.

The Honourable Iona V. Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, having entered the House, took her seat on the Throne.

The Honourable W. Oppal (Attorney General) said:

 
Members of the Legislative Assembly:

I am commanded by Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor to announce that she does not see fit to declare the cause of her summoning you at this time and will not do so until you have chosen a Speaker to preside over your Honourable Body. Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor hopes to be enabled to declare, later today, her reason for calling you together.

Her Honour was then pleased to retire.

E. George MacMinn, Q.C., Clerk of the House, advised the House that only one candidate had declared his intention to stand for the election of Speaker and, accordingly, Bill Barisoff, Member for Penticton-Okanagan Valley, was declared as the duly elected Speaker. He was then taken out of his place by the Hon. M. de Jong and Mr. Farnworth and conducted to the Chair and made a statement expressing his grateful thanks to the House for the great honour they had been pleased to confer upon him by electing him to be their Speaker.

The Speaker declared a short recess.

And then the House adjourned at 10.27 a.m.


Monday, September 12, 2005

Two o'clock p.m.

Prayers by The Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Roman Catholic Bishop, Diocese of Victoria.

The Honourable Iona V. Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, having entered the House, took her seat on the Throne. The Speaker standing on Her Honour's right, then spoke to the following effect:

 
May it please Your Honour:

The House of Assembly has elected me as their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfill the important duties thus assigned to me. If, in the performance of those duties, I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault be imputed to me and not to the Assembly, whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to the Queen and country, humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that they may have the freedom of speech in their debates, access to Your Honour's person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Honour the most favourable interpretation.

The Hon. W. Oppal then said:

 
Mr. Speaker:

I am commanded by Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor to declare to you that she freely confides in the duty and attachment of the House of Assembly to Her Majesty's person and Government, and not doubting that their respective proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, she grants, and upon all occasions will recognize and allow, their constitutional privileges. I am commanded also to assure you that the Assembly shall have ready access to Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from her the most favourable construction.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor was then pleased to open the Session by the following gracious Speech:

Honourable Speaker, Members of the Legislature:

As this parliament begins it is right for us to remember the contributions of fellow citizens who have passed away since parliament last sat.

We have lost those who took public service into the political realm: Robert Bonner, who was our longest-serving Attorney General, former members of this assembly Jeremy Dalton and Larry Guno, and Member of Parliament Chuck Cadman.

We join our friends in First Nations in mourning their loss of leaders: Grand Chief Archie Jack of the Penticton Indian Band, and George Watts of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.

We share the sense of loss felt by everyone touched by Sister Mary Alice Danaher's life-long work making post-secondary education accessible to the First Nations people of Canim Lake with exceptionally positive results.

We mourn the passing of Lilian To, whose extraordinary and dynamic efforts made life better for people who came from across the globe to make a new life in British Columbia.

In this the Year of the Veteran, we were reminded of the great sacrifices made by earlier generations when we lost Ernest (Smokey) Smith, Canada's last surviving recipient of the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Second World War.

On my way to this chamber, I offered a wreath of remembrance from us all at Victoria's Cenotaph in salute to all those whose service to our society insures the continuance of the parliamentary democracy that we celebrate here this afternoon.

In recent weeks, the hearts and prayers of all British Columbians have gone out to the victims of hurricane Katrina in the U.S. Gulf Coast, especially those still struggling in and around New Orleans.

We can all take pride in the compassion of the countless British Columbians who stepped forward to help, including the members of Vancouver's Urban Search and Rescue Team who did an exemplary job rescuing more than 100 hurricane victims in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.

Your government has pledged its continued support for the people of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi as they begin the long process of recovery and rebuilding. Their suffering is a sobering reminder to all of us of the awesome power of nature and of the need to constantly prepare for the unexpected, to protect and preserve the many blessings that we enjoy here in our province.

I am pleased to open the 38th Parliament of British Columbia and to congratulate all new and returning members on your electoral success.

On behalf of your government, I wish to thank everyone who participated in the recent provincial election.

From the many thousands of volunteers who supported the 412 candidates who ran for office across B.C., to everyone who worked on the election in our 79 electoral districts, to the more than 1.76 million registered voters who cast a ballot -- you all deserve our gratitude.

Your involvement reminds us all how fortunate we are to live in one of the world's most peaceful and prosperous parliamentary democracies.

Once again, the people have freely elected their representatives to form a responsible government that is accountable to them through this Legislative Assembly.

It is an achievement and honour for which all members and their families should be especially proud.

You are 79 of only 854 MLAs to have ever been chosen to serve in this Legislature since our first provincial election in 1871.

The task before you now, as it was for your predecessors, is of vital importance and consequence.

It is the chance to build upon the legacy of achievement that has marked our province from its inception, to help all British Columbians realize their full potential.

It is the opportunity to reach for the full promise of British Columbia and to reinforce this province's reputation as the best place on Earth to raise a family, live, work, visit, and invest.

Your government wants to involve all members in that endeavour.

It congratulates the new Official Opposition and welcomes its stated desire to serve as a constructive force for positive change.

Today, British Columbians are confident in their future and buoyed by the cresting tide of opportunity that is lifting B.C. higher.

The people have given this government a new mandate to lead British Columbia forward and make real progress on its five great goals for the golden decade ahead.

They have elected a strong Opposition to help accomplish that task and to hold your government accountable for its actions.

All members of this legislature have an opportunity to elevate public confidence through a common commitment to constructive debate, marked by civility, dignity, and decorum.

That is a fitting goal for this new parliament as your government seeks to advance its election platform and commitments.

That platform document will serve as the central policy framework and work plan for the term ahead.

It is a long-term plan that looks beyond the next four years to set out five great goals for the next decade that were outlined in some detail in the last throne speech.

Briefly, those great goals are as follows:

1. To make B.C. the best educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.
2. To lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness.
3. To build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, special needs, children at risk and seniors.
4. To lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none.
5. To create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

These are far-reaching and long-term objectives.

They oblige your government to reach beyond the status quo in the delivery of health care, education, support services, environmental management, and economic development.

The government has established these key goals in response to the demands of today's world.

We can no longer let institutional inertia and the fear of change hold back our children.

Nowhere is that more true than with respect to education.

There is much more that can and will be done to improve education for students at all levels, as your government's platform suggests.

When we speak of life-long learning we must remember that from the moment a child enters the world they are learning.

Already major efforts have been launched to improve access to early childhood development.

Those efforts will be expanded.

B.C.'s children deserve the best, and every effort will be made to establish public education services that celebrate excellence in teaching and excellence in achievement.

In British Columbia, every child should know the joy of reading and revel in the discovery of new knowledge and the excitement of learning.

Your government intends to capitalize on new knowledge to give our children the best education possible.

The annual Teachers' Congress will create an exclusive forum for teachers to join with parents and school trustees and educators to examine approaches that focus on the needs of children as we pursue our goal.

Education will move beyond our schools into our communities.

Literacy programs will open new doors of opportunity to provide students of all ages the foundation skills in literacy and numeracy that are essential in today's world.

Your government will aggressively pursue new initiatives in trade and skills development in concert with our colleges and the private sector.

It will add new opportunity for skills development by building on the success that has seen a 30 per cent increase in apprenticeships in the last two years.

It will work with other provinces and the federal government to develop a new, pan-Canadian skills partnership aimed at maximizing educational opportunities for all citizens.

These are just some of the steps that will be taken to advance your government's great goal on education.

Others highlighted in the Real Leadership, Real Progress platform will be taken as well, to increase accountability, access, achievement, parental involvement, and student health.

As your government moves forward to improve access, choice, and quality in public education, it will likewise act to make real progress on the other great goals.

For example, your government has committed to building the best system of support in Canada for B.C.'s seniors.

Several steps will be announced to advance that great goal and build on initiatives already announced that are today benefiting seniors, children at risk, and persons with special needs and disabilities.

The five great goals are deliberately far-reaching objectives.

They aspire to put British Columbia at the top in education, health care, social support, environmental management, and job creation.

They are by definition comparative goals that will be important to be defined by clear and consistent measurements.

In the months to come, your government will invite the Official Opposition, the B.C. Progress Board, First Nations, and others to help identify the most appropriate targets, benchmarks, and indicators for measuring progress on each goal.

The five great goals cannot be achieved overnight, or even in one term.

They are goals to guide government's strategic focus for the next decade.

They will be as difficult to attain as they are worthy of aspiration.

Each goal is dependant on the others.

Meeting them will require unprecedented cross-ministry coordination and relentless resolve.

Several overarching strategies will be crucial to that enterprise.

Your government has already piloted successful innovative approaches in cross-ministry coordination.

These will be expanded to include a permanent policy secretariat to work on cross-government priorities that will report to participating ministries through a deputy ministers' committee.

The province-wide ActNowBC program will unite strategies in education, health, transportation, and the environment to meet your government's great goal on health.

Strategies recommended by advisory bodies, such as the Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues; the Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions; the Premier's Technology Council; the B.C. Competition Council; and the Asia-Pacific Trade Council will all help advance the great goals.

The Asia-Pacific Gateway Initiative will play a crucial role in opening up every part of our province to new opportunities.

That initiative will include the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture to showcase our Pacific history and to tell our story to Canada and the world.

All of the great goals will be advanced by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Olympics offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to showcase the best of B.C. to the world as we reach out to one another with common pride and purpose.

The Games will be a Canada-wide catalyst for excellence in athletics, a flourishing of artistic talent, and untold economic opportunity.

Meeting the five great goals will also demand a new emphasis on citizen-centred service delivery from government.

It will require a strong British Columbia to exercise strong national leadership on several fronts.

Your government is committed to strengthening our country by leading the way in pursuit of a national pharmacare strategy, and by developing national strategies for literacy, wait-time reductions, and skills training.

It is committed to leading a new national transportation strategy that will open up Canada's Asia- Pacific Gateway as never before.

As British Columbia leads in these endeavours, we will be crossing new ground.

Mistakes will be made. Learning from them and building on our successes will be essential to our achievement.

Leadership requires an ongoing commitment to social innovation in addressing the large societal challenges of our times.

Bold, new, collaborative steps are needed to tackle the social challenges of housing, addictions, mental illness, poverty, literacy and skills development, and community safety.

Fresh, creative actions are needed to cope with the societal challenges of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, child protection, and women escaping abusive relationships.

British Columbia is leading the way in Canada with novel innovations in many of these areas.

Most involve partnerships with other levels of government and with private-sector organizations working shoulder-to-shoulder to make real progress.

Your government will build on that work with new measures this fall, including the establishment of a new Pacific Centre for Social Innovation.

The centre will serve to stimulate social innovation and the development of best practices reports from across the country and around the world.

It will engage governments, academics, and experts in various social disciplines to identify groundbreaking innovations now working in other jurisdictions to improve social outcomes and to successfully address contemporary socioeconomic challenges.

The centre will be asked to initially focus on three pressing social imperatives.

One is the question of what might be done to better serve the needs of today's families at home, in the modern workplace, and in our changing communities.

The recognition of these changes and a response to them will enhance the quality of life for all British Columbians.

The second priority will be to look at creative approaches being employed around the world to foster environmentally sustainable communities and other innovations to promote sustainable use of our natural resources.

In British Columbia, we are already recognized for the quality of our cities and towns.

As our population grows, we must find ways to maintain and improve air and water quality and maintain our natural landscapes for future generations.

The third focus of the Pacific Centre for Social Innovation will be the issue of how to improve voter participation in elections.

Voting is the most fundamental act of citizenship and it is on the wane.

We must search for the mechanisms of revitalization. The health of our public life depends on it.

None of the goals that have been laid out will be accomplished unless all British Columbians share in our achievements and success.

The government will work tirelessly to establish a new relationship with First Nations.

Allied with First Nation and aboriginal leadership, it will build upon and hopefully assist the work that aboriginal leaders are leading with provincial and territorial governments across Canada.

Innovative strategies are required to reverse the trends that have left too many aboriginal people behind in education, health, and economic opportunity.

There have been huge institutional and systemic impediments to progress in aboriginal communities.

We need to better understand those impediments and act with aboriginal leaders to overcome them.

Rampant poverty, inadequate housing, chronic unemployment, and notoriously low high-school completion rates are measures of our collective failure.

They should not be the fate of First Nations.

High suicide rates, lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, and intolerably high levels of substance abuse should not be the plight of Canada's aboriginal peoples and cannot be allowed to continue.

Portable, accessible, universal, comprehensive, publicly-administered health care should not be just words in the Canada Health Act that apply to Canadians who live off-reserve.

They should be principles that apply equally to aboriginal people and all citizens, in rural communities and urban communities alike.

Your government will also continue to press this point as a national imperative for a stronger Canada.

Later this fall, First Ministers will meet with aboriginal leaders to act on a 10-year vision and plans for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

The goal will be to eliminate, within 10 years, the inequities that have plagued First Nations and aboriginal people throughout Canada's history.

Your government is committed to forging a new relationship of reconciliation with First Nations in British Columbia and to working with First Nations and aboriginal leaders across Canada to accomplish this ambitious goal.

This new relationship with First Nations will help define Canada and will shape our country's future.

The new relationship must be based on mutual respect and recognition of Aboriginal Canadians' constitutional rights.

It must recognize the Crown's legal and moral duty to consult where decisions impact constitutionally protected aboriginal rights and title.

It will require all governments to build capacity that will enable aboriginal people to fully participate in the multiple bounties of British Columbia.

The path to prosperity does not lie in the denial of aboriginal rights or in the discredited approaches of the past.

The way forward is not to be found through confrontation or endless litigation that has held us back as a people and a province.

The future we all seek for our families and communities will not be won through the uncertain path of denial, resistance, and short-sightedness.

It is ours to claim together through a new relationship that is honourable, constructive, and grounded in immediate and practical progress for all British Columbians.

Your government will push to extend that vision from coast to coast to coast.

It will seek to build a new national relationship of reconciliation that brings First Ministers together with aboriginal leaders as never before.

For too long, Canadian federalism has been viewed through the narrow prism of the "two solitudes" that speak to its French and English duality.

The story of Canada has largely been how those two distinct cultures have existed and thrived together.

It is the story of how they have embraced many other cultures in building a nation that is a model of diversity, tolerance, and human generosity.

Yet there remains a "third solitude" in our nation's midst, one that has been largely ignored and discounted by governments throughout our history.

It is the solitude known by Canada's founding nations -- the First Nations -- who even today struggle for recognition as full partners in Confederation.

Your government believes that Canada's greatest duty and hope for the future is to reach out to First Nations and aboriginal people to forge a new relationship.

Aboriginal people are not peripheral to the Canadian fabric -- they are part of every fiber woven in the tapestry of Canada's history.

British Columbians are making great progress and their province is again a national leader.

There is newfound optimism and confidence throughout the province.

British Columbia's fiscal house is in order and our income tax rates are competitive. We are leading the nation in job creation and economic growth.

Families are keeping more of their paycheques and are feeling optimistic again.

Jobs and economic growth are providing the foundations for strengthening our public health, education, and social support systems.

Your government will continue to pursue B.C.'s economic advantages and to extend the current economic recovery to all families and all regions.

To secure a future for all our children, it will ensure that government does not fall back to the spendthrift ways of the past.

The burdens we have laid on the next generation must continue to be lightened through wise investment, continuing containment of the costs of government, and an acknowledgement that we cannot put off today's problems because they are inconvenient to deal with.

We must use the power of all we have learned to provide the next generation of British Columbians with the full range of opportunity.

Many challenges remain.

Managing debt, controlling cost pressures, and meeting the mounting demand for new and better services within available budgets are never easy imperatives to meet.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance will address those challenges in her Budget Update.

Indeed, the need to gain legislative approval for that spending plan is why this house is meeting earlier than scheduled.

In addition to the estimates, your government will introduce other legislation this session to honour previous commitments.

It will act to establish the Southern Interior Development Initiative and the North Island-Coast Development Initiative, and to further invest in the Northern Development Initiative.

Together, these three independently run regional development initiatives will invest, manage, and leverage some $300 million in provincial funding for the benefit of regional economies.

The goal is that regional actions to meet regional challenges will complement the government's endeavours to create a broad prosperity for all people in every region of the province.

Regional Development Boards will use this $300 million in seed capital to create new jobs and opportunities, free of provincial interference.

While our province strives to diversify its economy, we must never forget the traditional natural resources that create the foundation of our mutual prosperity.

Urban and rural families across British Columbia depend on those resources for their prosperity.

No single resource has contributed more to all of us than our forests.

Yet today, our forests are under an unparalleled attack from the mountain pine beetle.

That attack is more damaging than anything we have faced before and its effects will be felt for many generations to come.

Without unprecedented national action to thwart, contain, and recover from that epidemic, the pine beetle will cause even worse economic, environmental, and social damage.

The government's multi-pronged approach includes developing community partnerships, as well as two new separate partnerships with the Province of Alberta and the federal government.

New on-the-ground decision making, similar to an emergency response team, will be developed in the months ahead.

A 15-year partnership between the federal and provincial government is being pursued to provide:

• increased resources for economic diversification;
• improved silviculture to increase yields in immature but unaffected forest stands;
• immediate streamside, riverside, and fish habitat protection and improvements;
• increased reforestation and stream debris management programs;
• expanded science and research development into the best use of beetle-infested wood, and expanded product diversification; and,
• long-term land use opportunities with First Nations and other resource-dependent communities that have been directly impacted.

As your government pursues these initiatives, it will introduce other measures this session to help our province.

As promised, it will act to facilitate the creation of the new World Trade University in Chilliwack.

The WTU is a United Nations mechanism aimed at promoting education and commerce in global trade.

A Private Bill will be supported to formalize that exciting new institution.

Your government will bring forward the Civil Forfeiture Act that was tabled last April, as promised in its platform, to ensure that criminals do not profit from their crimes.

With a new parliament, it is timely to recall the purpose of scheduled fall sittings.

One reason was to give all members, their families, and the public greater certainty about the legislative schedule.

Another was to complete items introduced or announced in each previous spring session, and any other matters demanding the Legislature's urgent attention.

Consistent with that intent, and the added imperative this fall to debate and pass the Budget Estimates, the legislative agenda this session will not be onerous.

In future years, fall sittings will be convened as required, according to the set legislative calendar, to serve the purposes originally intended.

Your government will work with the Official Opposition to explore new ways of improving the Legislature's effectiveness for British Columbians.

It will build on British Columbia's growing reputation as a national leader in democratic reform with several reforms in representative and participatory democracy.

Your government wishes to acknowledge the input and support of the Official Opposition in advancing changes to improve and modernize the rules that guide the conduct of MLAs in this chamber.

Both parties have agreed that steps should be taken to give all members a stronger voice in this Legislature.

For the first time ever, a second Deputy Speaker of the House will be appointed from the ranks of the Official Opposition.

It has been 33 years since Question Period was introduced in this assembly.

In all that time, the 15-minute time block available for members' questions has never changed.

Your government will extend Question Period.

Question Period will be doubled from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

Other reforms will be initiated to help private members better represent their constituents and enhance the effectiveness of our legislative committee system during estimates debates.

The number of daily two-minute Members' Statements will be doubled from three to six.

That will give private members more than twice the time and frequency to address issues of particular importance to them and their constituents each day.

Select standing committees will be activated with clear and compelling mandates.

The Health Committee will be asked to help advance the great goal on fitness and health, focusing specifically on the growing problem of childhood obesity.

The Education Committee will be asked to focus on the specific challenge of adult literacy in helping B.C. meet its goal of becoming the most literate jurisdiction in North America.

A Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture will be struck this session to advance B.C.'s great goal of leading the world in sustainable fisheries management.

It will be asked to work with the Pacific Salmon Forum and others to identify viable improvements to our fish farming industries that balance economic goals with environmental imperatives.

The government will invite the Official Opposition to chair that special committee and to also hold the majority of that committee's members.

This will address an important issue of vital interest to B.C.'s Island and coastal communities, who elected so many Opposition members to represent their interests.

Indeed, all of these reforms will give the Official Opposition an unprecedented role in this Legislature.

At the same time, your government will continue to lead the way in Canada on electoral reform.

British Columbia was the first province to establish set election dates.

Your government has considered the date set for the next election and has resolved that the next general election will be held as scheduled, four years from the last provincial election, on May 12th, 2009.

The issue of electoral reform remains following the results of the referendum put before the public in May.

Nearly 58 per cent of all citizens who cast a ballot in the recent referendum on electoral reform supported the proposed STV electoral system.

A solid majority supported STV in all but two of B.C.'s 79 constituencies.

And yet that was not enough to pass, according to the rules this Legislature unanimously established.

Your government has been clear that it does not intend to rewrite those rules after the fact, or pretend that the vote for STV succeeded when it did not.

Nor can it ignore the size of the double majority that voted to change our current electoral system to the STV model.

There have been many interpretations of the electoral reform referendum's result.

Whatever the analysis, a troubling question remains: why did so many people vote so strongly to change the current system?

The Citizens' Assembly considered the question of electoral reform for over a year.

They, too, concluded that our current system of electing MLAs was lacking and that a better system could be found in the single transferable vote model.

They came to that conclusion after intensive investigation, public consultation, and consideration of academic advice.

Your government does not accept that the solution to a majority vote that failed to pass is to essentially ignore it and impose yet another electoral system.

It does not accept that the answer to the minority's rejection of the Citizens' Assembly's proposal is to redo its work.

It does not accept that the 79 members of this assembly are any better qualified than the 161 members of the Citizens' Assembly were to choose the best electoral model.

In any event, your government believes that the widely acknowledged success of the Citizens' Assembly flowed directly from its independence from traditional political interference.

The Citizens' Assembly had no political master and no partisan axes to grind.

It was not a body of elected politicians who were perceived to be guided by self-interest.

It was exactly what this Legislature intended -- citizen-centered, dedicated, and independent.

One task that was never assigned to the Citizens' Assembly was to show precisely how its proposed STV model might apply on an electoral map.

This was arguably a design flaw in its terms of reference that in retrospect may have impacted how people voted in the referendum.

Your government believes that establishing STV constituency boundaries may provide the public with a critical piece of information that was missing at the time of the referendum. The government will recommend that shortcoming be rectified.

The Legislature is obliged to appoint an Electoral Boundaries Commission this session.

Your government will use that opportunity to take the challenge of electoral reform to its ultimate conclusion.

Legislation will be introduced to enable that requirement.

The new Electoral Boundaries Commission will be given two tasks.

First, to redraft the provincial electoral map as is currently required.

The government will introduce an amendment that it hopes will protect northern representation in the Legislature.

The amendment will allow the commission to provide for up to 85 members under the current electoral system.

And having decided on the most appropriate number of MLAs within that cap to protect northern residents, it will set its sights on STV.

The commission will also be asked to identify the best and fairest way to configure British Columbia's electoral districts under the STV model.

In view of the double difficulty of this assignment and a new census not expected to be completed until 2007, the time frame for the commission to complete its work will be extended from the time prescribed in the current legislation.

The commission will be asked to submit its final report on electoral redistribution under both electoral systems by the spring of 2008.

That information will be put before the public as part of an extensive effort to better inform British Columbians about the two electoral options -- the current system and STV.

Equal funding will be provided to support active information campaigns for supporters and detractors of each model.

The two models will be put to a province-wide vote, along with the applicable electoral boundaries, in a referendum that will be held in tandem with the November 2008 municipal elections.

That question will be crafted by the government and will be debated and voted upon in this Legislature.

All members, including cabinet ministers, will be free to speak to it and vote as they wish.

In establishing electoral boundaries, it has been the practice that all members are invited to make representations to the Electoral Boundaries Commission.

All members will be encouraged to also use that opportunity to comment on the relative merits of both electoral models under the boundaries proposed.

No one is obliged to support STV or remain silent if they have concerns.

The Premier will remain neutral, but all government members will be free to support or oppose either model.

In the final analysis, the people will again decide -- not the politicians -- which electoral model and boundaries suit them best.

The people will have their final say on STV.

The same rules and thresholds that applied for passing STV in the recent referendum will apply in the November 2008 referendum.

Whichever model succeeds is the model that will be employed to elect the next parliament, on May 12th, 2009.

The government intends to launch a province-wide enumeration prior to that date to ensure that the British Columbia voters list is both up to date and accurate.

In Conclusion:

British Columbia has always had a public life marked by adventure and by challenge.

But more importantly, it is a public life fueled by dreams and by the imagination of those who came before.

Although we cannot be proud of all that was done through this province's history, we can be proud of what has been accomplished.

Those accomplishments are not owned by governments.

They were shaped by the contributions of aboriginal people and immigrants from lands in every hemisphere, and fashioned by engineers and public servants, by doctors and teachers, by farmers and foresters and miners.

They are accomplishments created by people committed to a dream of making a better place for their families to live.

In two years, British Columbia will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the colony of British Columbia.

Our sesquicentennial will be a time for us to look back at the story of this place and of the people who live here.

It will be a time when each of us can search for a new understanding of the history that produced our present.

As we look at that past, read about it, and examine its meaning, we will find new strength to build a future that reflects the best we have to offer.

Today we celebrate the beginning of a new parliament and, with it, the chance to build upon that proud legacy, and bring out the best in our province.

May the excitement of today reflect itself in the work you do tomorrow, so that in the future people will look back on this time and say, "They saw their province, knew its greatness, and acted to make it a better place for all who would follow."

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor was then pleased to retire.

Mr. Speaker reported that, in order to prevent mistakes, he had obtained a copy of Her Honour's Speech.

The certificate of the Chief Electoral Officer of the result of the election of Members to represent the respective electoral districts of the Province in the Legislative Assembly at the general election was read by Ian D. Izard, Q.C., Law Clerk and Clerk Assistant, as follows:

Chief Electoral Officer
"Elections BC
"Victoria, B.C., June 8, 2005

"E. George MacMinn, Q.C.
"Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
"Room 221, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4

"Re: General Election, May 17, 2005

"Dear Mr. MacMinn:

"Please consider this letter a certified report, per section 147 of the Election Act [RSBC 1996 c. 106], regarding the results of the 38th provincial general election.

"Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor dissolved the 37th Parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia via a Proclamation issued on April 19, 2005. A general election was required to fill vacancies caused by the dissolution.

"Writs of Election were issued in the afternoon of April 19, 2005, calling for a general election on May 17, 2005. The Writs were returnable on or before today, June 8, 2005.

"The general election was held pursuant to the provisions of the Election Act. In conjunction with that election, a referendum on electoral reform was also conducted.

"Recounts of candidate ballots were conducted by District Electoral Officers under section 136 of the Election Act in eight electoral districts, namely;

Burnaby-Edmonds
Burnaby North
Cariboo North
Cariboo South
Maple Ridge-Mission
Saanich South
Skeena
Vancouver-Burrard.

"In addition, the District Electoral Officer for the electoral district of Vancouver-Burrard was required to apply for a judicial recount of the ballots in that district in accordance with section 139 (5) (b) of the Election Act. The Supreme Court judge who conducted the recount will issue a certificate of the results of the election to the District Electoral Officer following the judicial recount appeal period. I will report the election result to you immediately after the District Electoral Officer returns the Writ of Election for that district.

"I hereby certify that the following members have been elected to represent their respective electoral districts as set out below:

Electoral District Name Political Party Affiliation
Abbotsford-Clayburn John van Dongen BC Liberal Party
Abbotsford-Mount Lehman Michael G. de Jong BC Liberal Party
Alberni-Qualicum Scott Fraser New Democratic Party of B.C.
Bulkley Valley-Stikine Dennis Edwin MacKay BC Liberal Party
Burnaby-Edmonds Raj Chouhan New Democratic Party of B.C.
Burnaby North Richard T. Lee BC Liberal Party
Burnaby-Willingdon John Nuraney BC Liberal Party
Burquitlam Harry Bloy BC Liberal Party
Cariboo North Bob Simpson New Democratic Party of B.C.
Cariboo South Charlie Wyse New Democratic Party of B.C.
Chilliwack-Kent Barry Penner BC Liberal Party
Chilliwack-Sumas John Les BC Liberal Party
Columbia River-Revelstoke Norm Macdonald New Democratic Party of B.C.
Comox Valley Stan Hagen BC Liberal Party
Coquitlam-Maillardville Diane Thorne New Democratic Party of B.C.
Cowichan-Ladysmith Doug Routley New Democratic Party of B.C.
Delta North Guy Gentner New Democratic Party of B.C.
Delta South Valerie Roddick BC Liberal Party
East Kootenay Bill Bennett BC Liberal Party
Esquimalt-Metchosin Maurine Karagianis New Democratic Party of B.C.
Fort Langley-Aldergrove Rich Coleman BC Liberal Party
Kamloops Claude Harry Richmond BC Liberal Party
Kamloops-North Thompson Kevin Krueger BC Liberal Party
Kelowna-Lake Country Al Horning BC Liberal Party
Kelowna-Mission Sindi Hawkins BC Liberal Party
Langley Mary Polak BC Liberal Party
Malahat-Juan de Fuca John Horgan New Democratic Party of B.C.
Maple Ridge-Mission Randy Hawes BC Liberal Party
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Michael Sather New Democratic Party of B.C.
Nanaimo Leonard Krog New Democratic Party of B.C.
Nanaimo-Parksville Ron Cantelon BC Liberal Party
Nelson-Creston Corky Evans New Democratic Party of B.C.
North Coast Gary Earl Coons New Democratic Party of B.C.
North Island Claire Trevena New Democratic Party of B.C.
North Vancouver-Lonsdale Katherine Anne Whittred   BC Liberal Party
North Vancouver-Seymour Daniel Morrison Jarvis BC Liberal Party
Oak Bay-Gordon Head Ida Chong BC Liberal Party
Okanagan-Vernon Tom Christensen BC Liberal Party
Okanagan-Westside Rick Thorpe BC Liberal Party
Peace River North Richard Neufeld BC Liberal Party
Peace River South Blair Lekstrom BC Liberal Party
Penticton-Okanagan Valley Bill Barisoff BC Liberal Party
Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Mike Farnworth New Democratic Party of B.C.
Port Moody-Westwood Iain Black BC Liberal Party
Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons New Democratic Party of B.C.
Prince George-Mount Robson Shirley Bond BC Liberal Party
Prince George North Pat Bell BC Liberal Party
Prince George-Omineca John Rustad BC Liberal Party
Richmond Centre Olga Ilich BC Liberal Party
Richmond East Linda Reid BC Liberal Party
Richmond-Steveston John Yap BC Liberal Party
Saanich North and the Islands Murray Robert Coell BC Liberal Party
Saanich South David Cubberley New Democratic Party of B.C.
Shuswap George Abbott BC Liberal Party
Skeena Robin Austin New Democratic Party of B.C.
Surrey-Cloverdale Kevin Falcon BC Liberal Party
Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammell New Democratic Party of B.C.
Surrey-Newton Harry Bains New Democratic Party of B.C.
Surrey-Panorama Ridge Jagrup Brar New Democratic Party of B.C.
Surrey-Tynehead Dave Hayer BC Liberal Party
Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston New Democratic Party of B.C.
Surrey-White Rock Gordon Hogg BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Burrard Judicial Recount Results Pending
Vancouver-Fairview Gregor Robertson New Democratic Party of B.C.
Vancouver-Fraserview Wally Oppal BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Hastings Shane Simpson New Democratic Party of B.C.
Vancouver-Kensington David Chudnovsky New Democratic Party of B.C.
Vancouver-Kingsway Adrian Dix New Democratic Party of B.C.
Vancouver-Langara  Carole Taylor BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Jenny Kwan New Democratic Party of B.C.
Vancouver-Point Grey Gordon Campbell BC Liberal Party
Vancouver-Quilchena Colin Hansen BC Liberal Party
Victoria-Beacon Hill Carole James New Democratic Party of B.C.
Victoria-Hillside Rob Fleming New Democratic Party of B.C.
West Kootenay-Boundary Katrine Conroy New Democratic Party of B.C.
West Vancouver-Capilano Ralph Sultan BC Liberal Party
West Vancouver-Garibaldi Joan McIntyre BC Liberal Party
Yale-Lillooet Harry Lali New Democratic Party of B.C.

"Sincerely
"Harry Neufeld
"Chief Electoral Officer"

A further certificate of the Chief Electoral Officer of the result of the judicial recount for the electoral district of Vancouver-Burrard certifying that Lorne Mayencourt had been elected was read by Ian D. Izard, Q.C., Law Clerk and Clerk Assistant, as follows:

Chief Electoral Officer
"Elections BC
"Victoria, B.C., June 10, 2005

"E. George MacMinn, Q.C.
"Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
"Room 221, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4

"Re: Certified Report of Election Results in Vancouver-Burrard Electoral District

"Dear Mr. MacMinn:

"A provincial general election and a referendum on electoral reform were held on May 17th, 2005.

"The District Electoral Officer for the electoral district of Vancouver-Burrard was required to apply to the Supreme Court for a judicial recount of the ballots in that district in accordance with section 139 (5) (b) of the Election Act.

"Associate Chief Justice Patrick D. Dohm conducted the judicial recount on June 6th and 7th, 2005. Following the conclusion of the judicial recount, a two-day appeal period was observed as required by s. 144 of the Act. This appeal period ended at the close of business on Thursday, June 9th. The decision was not appealed.

"This morning, Justice Dohm issued a certificate of the results of the election to the District Electoral Officer. I have now received the completed Writ of Election for the electoral district of Vancouver-Burrard.

"In accordance with section 147 (2) of the Act, I hereby certify the election of Lorne Mayencourt, affiliated with the BC Liberal Party, as the Member to represent the electoral district of Vancouver- Burrard in the Legislative Assembly.

"Sincerely
"Harry Neufeld
"Chief Electoral Officer"

On the motion of the Hon. W. Oppal (Attorney General) it was Ordered --

That the certificates of the Chief Electoral Officer of the result of the election of Members be entered upon the Journals of the House.

On the motion of the Hon. W. Oppal (Attorney General), Bill (No. 1) intituled An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

On the motion of the Hon. M. de Jong, seconded by Mr. Farnworth, it was Ordered --

That Sindi Hawkins, Member for Kelowna-Mission Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.

On the motion of Mr. Farnworth, seconded by the Hon. M. de Jong, it was Ordered --

That Sue Hammell, Member for Surrey-Green Timbers Electoral District, be appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.

On the motion of the Hon. M. de Jong, seconded by Mr. Farnworth, it was Ordered --

That Harry Bloy, Member for Burquitlam Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.

On the motion of the Hon. W. Oppal (Attorney General), it was Ordered --

That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first perused by the Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same.

The Hon. G. Campbell (Premier) moved that the Select Standing Committees of this House, for the present Session, be appointed for the following purposes:

1. Aboriginal Affairs;
2. Education;
3. Finance and Government Services;
4. Health;
5. Public Accounts;
6. Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills;
7. Crown Corporations;

and that Standing Order 68 (1) is hereby amended to so reflect, which said Committees shall severally be empowered to examine and inquire into all such matters and things as shall be referred to them by this House, and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon, with power to send for persons, papers, and records, and that a Special Committee be appointed to prepare and report with all convenient speed lists of members to compose the above Select Standing Committees of this House under Standing Order 68 (1), the Committee to be composed of the Hon. M. de Jong (Convener), Messrs. Cantelon, Hogg, Jarvis, Nuraney, Ms. Roddick, Messrs. Farnworth and Horgan, Ms. Conroy and Ms. Kwan.

Motion agreed to.

And then the House adjourned at 2.59 p.m.

BILL BARISOFF, Speaker


NOTICE OF BILLS

Wednesday, September 14

Mr. Yap to introduce a Bill intituled Volunteer Recognition Act.

Mr. Mayencourt to introduce a Bill intituled Apology Act.


NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Wednesday, September 14

 
  1 Ms. Karagianis to move--
Be it resolved that this House support the BC government's goal to lead the world in sustainable environmental management by calling upon the government to amend the Social Services Tax Act in order to extend tax concessions to include two-wheeled motorized vehicles such as power-assisted bicycles and electric motorscooters.
 
  2 Mr. Wyse to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the BC government for its failure to provide adequate housing for British Columbian consumers of mental health services.
 
  3 Mr. Chouhan to move--
Be it resolved that the House condemn the BC government for disbanding the Human Rights Commission and be it further resolved that this House urge the BC government to restore and strengthen the Human Rights Commission.
 
  4 Mr. Cubberley to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the Auditor General to review the propriety of the B.C. government's contracts with Maximus to manage MSP and Pharmacare.
 
  5 Mr. Mayencourt to move--
Be it resolved that this House offers its sympathy and support to our friends and neighbours in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama dealing with the horrifying aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and recognizes the dedication of British Columbians and Canadians who are providing assistance in dealing with this unprecedented natural disaster.
 
  6 Mr. Bloy to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the enduring legacy of hope Terry Fox has left not only in Canada but also around the world.
 
  7 Mr. Black to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the continued growth and development of British Columbia's high technology sector, and encourages the continued co-operation of public and private technology interests through joint organizations such as the Premier's Technology Council.
 
  8 Mr. Mayencourt to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the success of the Cooking Fun for Families program and encourages the government to expand this program to more communities in British Columbia.
 
  9 Mr. Chudnovsky to move--
Be it resolved that this House call upon the BC government to establish a public inquiry into the sale of BC Rail.
 
10 Mr. Chudnovsky to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the importance of keeping the BC Rail Port Division in public hands in order to ensure fair and efficient access to export markets for all BC businesses.
 
11 Mr. Hawes to move--
Be it resolved that this House commends the Fraser Health Authority for the expeditious manner in which they are building the new Abbotsford Hospital.
 
12 Mr. Hayer to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the importance of volunteers and recognizes their help in defining priorities and values within B.C. communities.
 
13 Mr. Jarvis to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the valuable and committed work of the Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue team as well as all other search and rescue groups in the province of British Columbia.
 
14 Mr. Krog to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the BC government for its drastic and heartless cuts to victims' services, and be it further resolved that this House call on the BC government to restore this funding, including reinstating victims' assistance counselors.
 
15 Mr. Krog to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the BC government for its devastation of legal aid services in this province.
 
16 Mr. Krueger to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes that sport and recreation freshwater fishermen have a valuable economic impact in our province.
 
17 Mr. Lee to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes that it is the tremendous diversity of cultures and ethnicities that make British Columbia uniquely positioned to compete in today's global economy.
 
18 Mr. MacKay to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the federal government's decision to allow the Tulsequah Chief mine to open, providing good family-supporting jobs in communities across north western British Columbia.
 
19 Mr. Lali to move--
Be it resolved that this House support the revitalization of publicly-owned liquor stores and be it further resolved that this House condemn the clandestine privatization of publicly-owned liquor stores.
 
20 Mr. Dix to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the BC government for its continued fragmentation and bureaucratic restructuring of children's services that has created chaos and hurt services to BC children and their families.
 
21 Ms. McIntyre to move--
Be it resolved that this House encourages and supports all involved parties in the remediation of the Cheakamus River, thus increasing its future environmental benefits for fish and wildlife habitat.
 
22 Mr. Nuraney to move--
Be it resolved that this House endorses February's Speech from the Throne commitment to "explore new ways to integrate alternative health care options into our mainstream health care system" in order to allow British Columbians more individual choice and freedom in the decision on when, where and how they, as patients, seek medical treatment, medical advice and preventative care.
 
23 Ms. Polak to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports initiatives to work with professional associations and unions to help expedite the credentials process for foreign-trained professionals in BC.
 
24 Mr. Dix to move--
Be it resolved that this House support a Public Inquiry into the Air India tragedy, and be it further resolved that this House urge the BC Government to advocate for such an inquiry to the Federal Government.
 
25 Mr. S. Simpson to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the BC Government to appoint a commissioner who will certify the environmental sustainability of its actions and ensure that development in this province does not compromise our ecological resources or their ability to sustain our current and future generations.
 
26 Mr. S. Simpson to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the BC Government to expand the mandate of the BC Utilities Commission to include consideration of environmental and community interests.
 
27 Ms. Roddick to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the value of greater provincial influence over federal fisheries management of the B.C. wild fishery to increase revenue and protect jobs.
 
28 Mr. Rustad to move--
Be it resolved that this House respects seniors and their families who, over their lifetime, have worked to impart the fruits of their labour to the next generation so that they may continue their family's legacy; and in support of that, this House opposes an inheritance tax on British Columbians.
 
29 Ms. Whittred to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognize that all food served in schools should meet accepted nutritional guidelines.
 
30 Mr. Horgan to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the use of potentially harmful herbicides on the E & N corridor.
 
31 Mr. Horgan to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the BC government to accelerate its planned seismic upgrade of all BC schools from fifteen years to ten years.
 
32 Mr. Fleming to move--
Be it resolved that this House call on the BC government to follow the lead of the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and take action to regulate the payday lending industry.
 
33 Mr. Yap to move--
Be it resolved that this House encourages the provincial government to enter into more partnerships with private, public and charitable institutions to provide long term care for seniors.
 
34 Mr. Black to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the role British Columbia's military veterans have played in protecting the rights and freedoms Canadians today enjoy, and the essential lessons future generations can learn from their sacrifice and bravery.
 
35 Mr. Bloy to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the investments in post secondary education made by this government and the benefits to students and athletes.
 
36 Ms. Trevena to move--
Be it resolved that this House agree to rename the Inland Island Highway near Cumberland, Ginger Goodwin Way.
 
37 Mr. Bains to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the BC government to support hospitals and care homes throughout the province in providing culturally appropriate food to those patients and residents that require them.
 
38 Mr. Hawes to move--
Be it resolved that this House encourages the federal government to support the expansion of the Abbotsford International Airport by providing funding for runway and apron improvements as well as federally supplied and funded customs service for international flights.
 
39 Mr. Hayer to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes that transportation infrastructure such as the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge is vital to the economy of British Columbia and that the efficient flow of traffic is paramount to ensuring the success of both domestic and international commerce.
 
40 Mr. Krueger to move--
Be it resolved that this House acknowledges the importance of expanding markets in Asia to the future of producers in the Heartlands communities.
 
41 Mr. Lee to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes British Columbia's Chinese community, the positive contributions they have made towards the betterment of British Columbians and the importance for the province to further expand economic, cultural and free trade ties with China and Chinese entrepreneurs worldwide, by delivering a message of "BC Open for Business" to the 8th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention to be convened in Seoul, South Korea, October 9-12, 2005.
 
42 Mr. MacKay to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the financial burden faced by northern residents who need to travel for health care reasons, and the role government can play in helping to ease that burden.
 
43 Mr. Mayencourt to move--
Be it resolved that this House does not support obstructive political activism in our classrooms.
 
44 Ms. McIntyre to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the importance of tackling crystal meth drug use, particularly among BC youth, before the problem worsens.
 
45 Mr. Rustad to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the important contribution -- academically, culturally and socio-economically -- made by international students attending schools, colleges and universities in British Columbia, to enriching and enabling British Columbia to become the best educated and most literate jurisdiction on the continent.
 
46 Mr. Yap to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the recent elimination of provincial income taxes for British Columbians earning less than $15,500 per year.
 
47 Mr. Bloy to move--
Be it resolved that this House acknowledges the Canadian Football League (CFL) holds a special place in Canada's heritage and national identity and proclaims the week of November 21, 2005 to November 27, 2005 as Canadian Football League (CFL) Week in the Province of British Columbia.
 
48 Mr. Hayer to move--
Be it resolved that this House honours and cherishes cultural diversity and the value it brings to communities across B.C. and particularly Surrey, where over 90 different languages are spoken.
 
49 Mr. Mayencourt to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the establishment of a teacher registry, so the names of teachers disciplined for misconduct involving emotional, physical or sexual abuse will be placed on a permanent record.
 
50 Ms. McIntyre to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the tremendous environmental and economic benefits associated with fostering the development of alternative energies.
 
51 Mr. Rustad to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the commitment to a New Relationship with First Nations that will lead to long-lasting benefits to all people in British Columbia and Canada.
 
52 Mr. Yap to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports British Columbia having the lowest personal income taxes in Canada for all lower and middle income levels.
 
53 Mr. Bloy to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the Gateway Transportation Strategy to help relieve current congestion in the Lower Mainland which costs the BC economy $1.5 billion per year.
 
54 Mr. Hayer to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the importance of focusing on students' results in British Columbia's education system.
 
55 Ms. McIntyre to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes BC's life sciences industry which is the fastest growing in Canada, and the seventh largest in North America, ensuring BC is not only a base for R&D but also for financing, and commercializing ideas, inventions and innovation.
 
56 Mr. Rustad to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the plan to more than double the number of doctors being trained in British Columbia and to train doctors in Prince George, Victoria and Kelowna.
 
57 Mr. Hayer to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the significance of early childhood education and the importance of ensuring our children are properly prepared for the K to 12 education system in British Columbia.
 
58 Ms. McIntyre to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the hiring of an additional 13 Conservation Officers this fiscal year with a commitment to hire further Conservation Officers over the next two fiscal years.
 
59 Mr. Cubberley to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the B.C. government to direct the Provincial Health Authority to develop a bid for in-house delivery of B.C. Nurseline.
 
60 Mr. B. Simpson to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the Minister of Forests to engage the forestry community in the development of a comprehensive, province-wide forest fire management strategy that embraces the recommendations of the independent Forest Practices Board and the Association of BC Forests Professionals, and addresses the impacts of the mountain pine beetle and other forest health agents on BC's forests.
 
61 Ms. James to move--
Be it resolved that this House call on the government to halt the BC Utility Commission hearing into the sale of Terasen Gas until such time as the softwood lumber dispute with the United States is settled.
 
62 Mr. Lee to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the mutual benefits provided by trade between British Columbia's resource industries and the countries of the Asian subcontinent.
 
63 Mr. MacKay to move--
Be it resolved that this House does not support organizations that call for boycotts of products from British Columbia's resource industries.
 
64 Mr. Brar to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the BC government to make emergency preparedness a top priority.
 
65 Mr. Brar to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the BC government for its continued expansion of gambling.
 
66 Mr. Routley to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the BC Government to protect the rights of tenants and landlords by reinstating the residential tenancy offices that have been closed since 2001.
 
67 Ms. McIntyre to move--
Be it resolved that this House supports the action being undertaken to address Crown-owned contaminated sites in BC, as exemplified by the Britannia mine clean-up which is now going forward after decades of inaction.
 
68 Mr. Nuraney to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the challenges related to homelessness and supports the efforts of various ministries and groups to promote effective solutions.
 
69 Ms. Polak to move--
Be it resolved that this House encourages initiatives to promote education program options within the K-12 Public School system.
 
70 Mr. Routley to move--
Be it resolved that this House urge the BC government to complete an inventory of all vacant or closed public buildings and offices for consideration for conversion to housing for low-income families, seniors, and persons living with physical and mental disabilities.
 
71 Mr. Puchmayr to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the government for failing to make workplace health and safety a priority for British Columbia workers.
 
72 Ms. Conroy to move--
Be it resolved that this House condemn the BC government for its practice of separating senior couples in the medium and long-term care system.
 
73 Mr. Dix to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognize the genocide of the Armenians as a crime against humanity. Be it further resolved that this House urge the BC government to designate April 24th of every year hereafter throughout BC as a day of remembrance for the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the first genocide of the 20th Century, and ask the Ministry of Education to develop appropriate curriculum materials to teach the history of the Armenian genocide in BC public schools.
 
74 Ms. Roddick to move--
Be it resolved that this House encourages all levels of government to recognize that dykes and ditches are an important part of our agriculture system and that they safeguard significant urban and agricultural areas in B.C.
 
75 Mr. Rustad to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic and supports the government's continued long-term strategy to diversify and protect our forest industry and its dependent communities.
 
76 Mr. Yap to move--
Be it resolved that this House is open to exploring viable options surrounding incentives for long term care insurance.
 
77 Mr. Bloy to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes British Columbia's Korean community, the positive contributions they have made towards the betterment of all British Columbians and the importance for the province to expand economic, cultural and potential free trade ties with Korea.
 
78 Mr. Hayer to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the importance of the contribution foreign-trained professionals make to the economy of BC and to addressing skills shortages, by ensuring that they are eligible to practice in this province without undue hindrance.
 
79 Mr. Ralston to move--
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the importance of BC's agricultural land base and, in particular, unique ALR parcels such as Barnston Island.

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