1993 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 35th Parliament

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

Nos. 50 and 51

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Thursday, May 13, 1993

Ten o'clock a.m.

The Clerk of the House informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker, whereupon Mr. Barnes, Deputy Speaker, took the Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 12.

Prayers by Mr. Doyle.

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 (estimates of the Ministry of Attorney General).

(In the House)

Section A of Committee of Supply having reported the last vote of the estimates of the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry Responsible for Culture, debate on those estimates was summarized, pursuant to Sessional Order of March 31, 1993.

On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 15) intituled Advanced Education, Training and Technology Statutes Amendment Act, 1993, a debate arose.

The debate continued.

The House divided.

Motion agreed to on the following division:

Bill (No. 15) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.

(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.

On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 16) intituled Employee Investment Amendment Act, 1993, a debate arose.

Bill (No. 16) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.

And then the House adjourned at 11.59 a.m.

Thursday, May 13, 1993

Two o'clock p.m.

The House noted the retirement of Mr. Garth Gislason, Chief of Hansard.

The Hon. G. Clark (Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations) made a ministerial statement regarding the appointment of Mr. Jim Matkin to oversee a review of the Vancouver Stock Exchange.

Mr. Gingell made a statement.

Mr. Serwa made a statement.

The Deputy Speaker made a statement as follows:

Honourable Members:

In response to a point of order raised yesterday relating to the conduct of Question Period, I have examined Hansard Blues for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

This examination of Hansard discloses that several of the questions and many of the answers do not comply with the limitation expressed in Standing Order 47a (b), which I will repeat for the guidance of all Members at this time:

"(b) questions and answers shall be brief and precise, and stated without argument or opinion."

Question Period belongs to all Members of the House -- it is not the exclusive property of the Opposition nor is it the exclusive property of the Government. If preambles to questions are inordinately long or contain provocative material embodying argument and opinion, it might be expected that answers to such questions would tend to be disorderly. If answers to questions are excessively long and likewise contain argument and opinion, dissatisfaction and calls for order will undoubtedly follow.

While a robust exchange is the hallmark of a good Question Period, if Members on all sides of the House are uncomfortable with the present status of Question Period, I would ask Members themselves to take the time to examine the Hansard Blues and measure the propriety of their questions and answers against Standing Order 47a (b) which I have quoted.

Members will understand that while the Chair does not wish to continually intervene in Question Period, thereby interrupting the natural flow of questions and answers, it may be necessary to do so if dissatisfaction continues to be expressed.

Finally, all Honourable Members will realize that there are extensive rules in the parliamentary authorities limiting the scope of questions and answers during Question Period, and if these limitations were strictly enforced by the Chair, it seems that Question Period would be unduly restrictive.

The Chair will restate the most useful guideline which can be found in the parliamentary authorities:

"Questions and answers shall be brief and precise, and stated without argument or opinion."

The Chair seeks the co-operation of all Members in this matter.

Emery Barnes, Deputy Speaker

Order called for "Oral Questions by Members."

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 (estimates of the Ministry of Attorney General).

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section B of Committee of Supply (estimates of the Ministry of Health and Ministry Responsible for Seniors).

(In Committee)

Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress.

Report to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

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.

EMERY BARNES, Deputy Speaker

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Monday Next

63  Mr. Lovick to move--

That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly be amended as follows:

1. By replacing the phrase "Mr. Speaker" with "the Speaker";

2. By deleting "his" and substituting therefor the phrase "her or his";

3. By deleting "him" and substituting therefor the phrase "her or him";

4. By deleting the phrase "Mr. Chairman" and substituting therefor the word "Chair";

5. By replacing the word "Chairman" with the word "Chair";

6. By deleting the word "he" and substituting therefor the phrase "she or he";

wherever the said words or phrases appear.

MEETINGS OF COMMITTEES

MEETING RESCHEDULED

SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FORESTS, ENERGY, MINES
AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES

The Committee will meet at 3 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, in the Birch Room (Room 339). (Originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 19.)
Business: Draft Report.

C. Evans, Convener

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