The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Ten o’clock a.m.
Prayers by Mr. Bloy.
The Hon. M. Coell (Minister of Advanced Education and Minister Responsible for Research and Technology) presented a petition regarding pending ferry fare increases to coastal communities.
The Hon. K. Falcon (Minister of Transportation) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:
Steven L. Point
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 14) intituled Transportation Investment (Port Mann Twinning) Amendment Act, 2008 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
March 12, 2008.
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.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Order for Committee of Supply called.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply.
39 The Hon. M. de Jong moved —
Be it resolved that this House believes the electoral map for the Province of British Columbia must reflect a balance between the need for reasonable and effective representation and the constitutional requirement for relative voter parity; and, further, believes that none of the 12 regions identified in the Electoral Boundaries Commission’s preliminary report of August 15, 2007 should have its existing level of representation reduced under a new electoral map; and, accordingly, approves the establishment of an electoral map for the Province of British Columbia that will include 85 electoral districts on the following basis:
Adoption of the proposals contained in the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission as contained in its report entitled Amendment to the Preliminary Report (February 14, 2008), (“the Report”) with the following alterations:
a) The proposals for the North and Cariboo-Thompson Regions are not approved and the alternatives contained in Appendix P of the Report relating to these regions are approved in their place.
A debate arose.
Mr. Wyse reserved his right to raise a matter of privilege.
The debate continued.
Motion agreed to nemine contradicente on the following division:
| Yeas—65 | |||
| Falcon Reid Coell Ilich Chong Christensen Les Richmond Bell Krueger van Dongen Roddick Hayer Lee Jarvis Nuraney Whittred | Cantelon Thorpe Hagen Oppal de Jong Bond Hansen Abbott Penner Neufeld Coleman Hogg Sultan Bennett Mayencourt Polak | Hammell S. Simpson Fleming Farnworth James Kwan Ralston Austin Brar Thorne Simons Puchmayr Fraser Wyse Sather Hawes | Yap Bloy Horgan Gentner Dix Karagianis Krog Robertson Chudnovsky Chouhan Routley Conroy MacKay Black McIntyre Rustad |
Bill (No. 12) intituled Musqueam Reconciliation, Settlement and Benefits Agreement Implementation Act was committed.
The Committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
(In Committee — Section A)
Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 11.59 a.m.
One-Thirty o’clock p.m.
The Hon. O. Ilich (Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Administrator, which read as follows:
Lance Finch
Administrator
The Administrator transmits herewith Bill (No. 13) intituled Labour and Citizens’ Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2008 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Vancouver Law Courts,
March 11, 2008.
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.
The Hon. R. Thorpe (Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Deregulation) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:
Steven L. Point
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 11) intituled Small Business and Revenue Statutes Amendment Act, 2008 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
March 10, 2008.
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.”
Mr. Krog presented a petition regarding pending ferry fare increases to coastal communities.
Mr. Bennett presented the First Report of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services for the Fourth Session of the Thirty-eighth Parliament.
The Report was taken as read and received.
By leave of the House, Mr. Bennett moved that the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Order for Committee of Supply called.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply.
Bill (No. 12) intituled Musqueam Reconciliation, Settlement and Benefits Agreement Implementation Act was again committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 9) intituled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act, 2008 was committed.
Mr. Fraser moved a proposed amendment to add section 1.1 to Bill (No. 9) which was defeated on the following division:
| Yeas—25 | |||
| Hammell S. Simpson Fleming Farnworth James Kwan Ralston | Cubberley Austin Brar Thorne Puchmayr Fraser | Sather Horgan Gentner Dix Macdonald Karagianis | Krog Robertson Chudnovsky Chouhan Routley Conroy |
| Nays—37 | |||
| Falcon Reid Coell Ilich Chong Christensen Les Richmond Bell Krueger | van Dongen Roddick Hayer Lee Jarvis Nuraney Cantelon Thorpe Hagen | Oppal de Jong Bond Hansen Abbott Neufeld Coleman Hogg Sultan | Mayencourt Polak Hawes Yap Bloy MacKay Black McIntyre Rustad |
Bill (No. 9) was reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 10) intituled Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2008 was committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 6) intituled Electoral Reform Referendum 2009 Act was again committed.
The Committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
(In Committee — Section A)
38. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $103,657,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services, Ministry Operations, to 31st March, 2009.
Section A of Committee of Supply reported the Resolution and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services and further reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Transportation.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
By agreement, summary of debate of estimates passed in Section A (Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services) to be considered at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 6.25 p.m.
HON. BILL BARISOFF, Speaker
Monday, March 31
Mr. Krog to introduce a Bill intituled Accountability Act, 2008.
Monday, March 31
40 Mr. Wyse to move —
Be it resolved that this House acknowledges that the Trade Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) restricts provincial and especially local governments’ ability to implement policy decisions affecting issues such as the environment.
41 Mr. Wyse to move —
Be it resolved that this House recognize the value of the ambulance service provided by the Province of BC and the importance of continued improvement to this service.
42 Mr. Hawes to move —
Be it resolved that this House supports a phase out date for the use of propane cannons on blueberry farms, while working with the industry to develop and implement alternatives that balance the needs of the blueberry industry and the rights of those living adjacent to blueberry farms.
43 Mr. Hawes to move —
Be it resolved that this House strongly encourage and support the full use of information possessed by BC Hydro and other utilities under the Safety Standards Amendment Act, 2006 to track and shut down marijuana grow operations.
44 Ms. Roddick to move —
Be it resolved that this House supports The B.C. Agriculture Plan and the vision it sets out for the future of agriculture in British Columbia.
45 Mr. Sultan to move —
Be it resolved that this House supports the Provincial Transit Plan.
46 Mr. Hawes to move —
Be it resolved that this House supports a patient-centred funding model for British Columbia’s health care system.
47 Ms. Trevena to move —
Be it resolved that this House recognizes the value of a high quality, affordable, accessible and universal child care system.
48 Mr. Hawes to move —
Be it resolved that this House urge the Federal Government to introduce mandatory Federal sentences for those found guilty of producing and distributing crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy.
49 Mr. Hawes to move —
Be it resolved that this House support the concept of independent power projects to help achieve electricity self-sufficiency in British Columbia by 2016, and resolve that this House continues to support environmentally-friendly run-of-river hydroelectric projects as it has for two decades.
Tuesday, April 1
50 Mr. Fraser to move —
Be it resolved that this House request the BC Government to petition the Government of Canada to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to further enjoin the Council of the Federation to support this initiative.
Copyright (c) Queen’s Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada