1993 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 35th Parliament

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

Nos. 36 and 37

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Thursday, April 29, 1993

Ten o'clock a.m.

Prayers by Mr. Chisholm.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

By leave, on the motion of the Hon. M. Sihota, it was Ordered that leave be given for the Select Standing Committee on Justice, Constitutional Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations to meet while the House is in session this morning.

By leave, on the motion of the Hon. M. Sihota, it was Ordered that leave be given for the Select Standing Committee on Finance, Crown Corporations and Government Services to meet while the House is in session this afternoon.

Order for Committee of Supply called.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply to consider the estimates of the Minister of Labour and Consumer Services.

The House resumed the adjourned debate on the amendment to the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 3) intituled Build BC Act.

The debate on the amendment continued.

The House divided.

The motion was negatived on the following division:

The debate resumed on the main motion.

Mr. Tanner moved the following amendment--

That all of the words after "that" be deleted, and be followed by: "Bill 3 now be read a second time, but that the subject matter be referred to the Select Standing Committee of Finance, Crown Corporations and Government Services."

The debate on the amendment continued.

On the motion of Mr. Anderson, the debate on the amendment was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

(In Committee -- Section A)

Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress.

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.

Thursday, April 29, 1993

Two o'clock p.m.

The Hon. G. Clark (Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:

David C. Lam
Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 18) intituled Motor Fuel Tax Amendment Act, 1993 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.

Government House,
April 29, 1993.

Bill introduced and read a first time.

Bill Ordered for second reading at the next sitting after today.

On the motion of Mr. Farrell-Collins, Bill (No. M 217) intituled Vehicle Transfer Consumer Protection Act 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 "Oral Questions by Members."

The Hon. G. Clark (Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations) tabled the Annual Report of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Mr. Farnworth presented the First Report of the Select Standing Committee on Economic Development, Science, Labour, Training and Technology for the Second Session of the Thirty-fifth Parliament, regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Resolved, That the Report be taken as read and received.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply to consider the estimates of the Minister of Labour and Consumer Services.

The House resumed the adjourned debate on the amendment to the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 3) intituled Build BC Act.

The Speaker delivered her reserved ruling as follows:

Honourable Members:

The Chair has now had the opportunity to examine the amendment moved by the Honourable Member for Saanich North and the Islands to the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 3) shortly before the House adjourned at 12:00 noon.

Sir Erskine May's 20th edition of Parliamentary Practice states at page 531:

"An amendment, urging the setting up of a select committee to consider the subject matter of a bill, might be moved and carried, if the House were averse from giving the bill itself a second reading and so conceding its principle."

The propriety of this type of amendment at the second reading stage of a bill is further conceded in Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms at page 200.

This House has also accepted such amendments in the course of second reading debate on various bills.

The essence of this amendment is an expression of the House that it is, in the words of Sir Erskine May:

"averse from giving the bill itself a second reading and so conceding its principle."

The amendment submitted to the Chair by the Honourable Member from Saanich North and the Islands reads as follows:

"That all of the words after 'that' be deleted and followed by 'Bill 3 now be read a second time, but that the subject matter be referred to the Select Standing Committee on Finance, Crown Corporations and Government Services.' ''

It seems to the Chair that the motion itself contains clearly contradictory principles, which may or may not have been intentional in that it requests on the one hand that the bill be now read a second time, and on the other hand that the subject matter of the bill be referred to a Committee.

Under these circumstances, the Chair has no choice but to rule this amendment, as presently worded, out of order.

Joan Sawicki, Speaker

The debate on the main motion continued.

Mr. Chisholm moved the following amendment --

That all the words after "that" be deleted, and be followed by: "Bill 3 not now be read a second time, but that the subject matter be referred to the Select Standing Committee of Finance, Crown Corporations and Government Services."

The debate on the amendment continued.

On the motion of Mr. Serwa, the debate on the amendment was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

(In Committee -- Section A)

Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress.

Report to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

And then the House adjourned at 5.58 p.m.

JOAN SAWICKI, Speaker

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