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The printed version remains the official version.
Ten o’clock a.m.
Prayers by Mr. Dalton.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Order called for “Private Members’ Statements.”
12 By leave, Mr. Pimm moved —
Be it resolved that this Legislature support hydraulic fracturing in British Columbia.
A debate arose.
The debate continued.
On the motion of Mr. Lekstrom, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
And then the House adjourned at 11.58 a.m.
One-thirty o’clock p.m.
The Speaker made the following statement:
Honourable Members:
Members have asked me to seek clarification regarding the intentions of the Auditor General of British Columbia with respect to his acceptance of a recommendation contained in the Report of the Special Committee to Appoint an Auditor General and media reports concerning an offer of employment as Auditor General for the State of Victoria, Australia.
I can inform the House that the Auditor General of British Columbia will be vacating his office on or before May 28, 2013.
HON. BILL BARISOFF, Speaker
The Hon. M. de Jong (Minister of Finance) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Administrator, which read as follows:
Lance Finch
Administrator
The Administrator transmits herewith Bill (No. 14) intituled Auditor General Amendment Act, 2013 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Vancouver Law Courts,
March 4, 2013.
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.
On the motion of Mr. Dix, Bill (No. M 209) intituled Promoting Youth Vote Act, 2013 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.
Order called for “Members’ Statements.”
Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”
Ms. Huntington presented a petition regarding the protection of farmland.
The Hon. B. Bennett (Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development) tabled the Property Assessment Appeal Board Annual Report, 2012.
The Hon. T. Lake (Minister of Environment) made a ministerial statement regarding the second anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Mr. Fleming made a statement.
The Hon. S. Cadieux (Minister of Children and Family Development) made a ministerial statement regarding Stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week in B.C.
Ms. Hammell made a statement.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Bill (No. 3) intituled Destination BC Corp. Act was again committed.
Section 28 of Bill (No. 3) passed, on division.
Bill (No. 3) reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 15) intituled Justice Reform and Transparency Act was committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 11) intituled Criminal Records Review Amendment Act, 2013 was committed.
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 6.27 p.m.
HON. BILL BARISOFF, Speaker
Wednesday, March 13
Ms. Conroy to introduce a Bill intituled Representative for Seniors Act, 2013.
Tuesday, March 12
13 Hon. S. Bond to move —
Be it resolved that pursuant to section 6(2) of the Judicial Compensation Act the Legislative Assembly:
a. reject the following recommendations of the Final Report of the 2010 British Columbia Judges Compensation Commission as laid before this Assembly on February 20, 2013 as unfair and/or unreasonable for the reasons outlined in the Government Response to the Report of the 2010 Judges Compensation Commission filed in this House today; and
b. set the remuneration, allowances or benefits that are to be substituted for the rejected recommendations;
as follows:
1. The recommended salary increase for April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 of an amount based on the cumulative change in the British Columbia Consumer Price Index (the “BC-CPI”) over the preceding three-year period is rejected. The salary increase for April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 is set at 1.5%.
2. The recommended increase in the pension accrual rate for judges from 3% to 3.5% effective April 1, 2013 is rejected. The pension accrual rate is set at 3%.
3. The recommended increase in the pension contribution period for judges from age 71 to age 75 effective April 1, 2011 is rejected. The end of the pension contribution period is set at age 71.
4. The recommendation that the cost of long-term disability benefits for judges over age 65 be separately funded by government outside of the budget of the Office of the Chief Judge is rejected. The cost of long-term disability benefits for these judges will remain within the budget of the Office of the Chief Judge.
5. The implementation date for the recommendation that judges be enrolled in the government flexible benefits plan is rejected. Instead of an implementation date of April 1, 2011, the judges will be enrolled in the government flexible benefits plan commencing September 1, 2013.
6. The recommendation that, effective April 1, 2011, the Senior Judges Program be expanded to increase the possible number of sitting days for senior part-time judges is accepted in part, with the following substitution:
The statutory limitation on a senior part-time judge’s salary may be exceeded by no more than 20% when
i. the Chief Judge authorizes the senior part-time judge to sit in excess of that part-time judge’s scheduled sittings for the year; and
ii. the extra sittings are necessary, in the Chief Judge’s opinion, to meet urgent and unforeseen needs of the court, including needs arising from the illness or injury of another judge.
The recommended implementation date is accepted, as is the recommendation that the change should be reviewed after three years.
That the Legislative Assembly accept the remaining recommendations contained in the report.
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