2002 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 37th Parliament
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Nos. 38 and 39
OF THE
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
Ten o'clock a.m.
Prayers by the Hon. R. Neufeld.
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 Agriculture, Food and Fisheries).
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section B of Committee of Supply (estimates of the Ministry of Health Services).
(In Committee -- Section B)
Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(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 11.56 a.m.
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
Two o'clock p.m.
The Hon. C. Hansen (Minister of Health Services) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Administrator, which read as follows:
Frederick A. Melvin
Administrator
The Administrator transmits herewith Bill (No. 18) intituled Health Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2002 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Victoria Law Courts
March 26, 2002
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. S. Hawkins (Minister of Health Planning) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Administrator, which read as follows:
Frederick A. Melvin
Administrator
The Administrator transmits herewith Bill (No. 19) intituled Health Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2002 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Victoria Law Courts
March 26, 2002
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."
The Speaker delivered his reserved decision as follows:
Honourable Members:
On Monday, March 25th, the Member for Delta North rose and reserved his right to raise a matter of privilege relating to a purported leak of a draft report from the Education Committee and on Wednesday, March 27th, the same Member rose and presented the matter of privilege for consideration by the Chair.
I note that the Member has meticulously followed the practice of this House in presenting his matter of privilege in that he briefly stated the matter, tabled the newspaper article which disclosed the possible breach of privilege and tendered the motion he proposes to move should it be found that a prima facie case of breach of privilege has been established.
On Wednesday, March 27th, the Member for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant stood in her place and advised the House that she had shared the draft report with a group of people prior to the report being tabled in the House on what was she understood to be a "confidential basis". To her credit the Member went on to express her regret and apologized to the House for her part in the matter.
Before turning to the merit of the presentation of the Member for Delta North, let me briefly observe that the Chair considers matters of privilege and contempt and alleged breaches in a most serious vein. It is a tradition as old as Parliament itself that Members are entitled to conduct their deliberations without inappropriate harassment or intimidation being brought to bear on their work.
Let me further observe that the release of a draft report from a parliamentary Committee prior to that report being tabled in the House has been held to be a breach of privilege many times -- particularly where the release of the report interferes directly or indirectly with the Committee's deliberations. (See Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia, 3rd edition page 51).
I have examined with care the material laid before me in this matter and it would appear that the leaked report was used in such a way as to attempt to intimidate the members of the Education Committee. Among the material filed was an extract from the Vancouver Sun of March 18, 2002. If the allegations contained in that article are substantiated after an examination of this matter by a Committee of the House, the Chair would consider that a serious offence has been committed.
The precedents are clear that it is not within the Speaker's authority to make any final determination, but rather I must satisfy myself that the material and arguments presented are sufficient to constitute a prima facie breach of privilege or contempt of this Assembly.
The Chair finds that the material submitted, combined with the admission of the Member for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, establishes a prima facie case and, accordingly, I invite the Honourable Member for Delta North to move his motion.
Claude Richmond, Speaker
Mr. Masi moved--
That the matter pertaining to the premature disclosure of the Select Standing Committee on Education Report be referred to the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.
A debate arose.
Motion agreed to, on division.
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 Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Ministry of Human Resources).
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section B of Committee of Supply (estimates of the Ministry of Health Services).
(In Committee -- Section B)
Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(In Committee -- Section A)
11. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $54,428,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Ministry Operations, to 31st March, 2003.
12. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $980,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, British Columbia Marketing Board, to 31st March, 2003.
13. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $8,650,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authority, to 31st March, 2003.
Section A of Committee of Supply reported the Resolutions and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
By agreement, summary debate of estimates passed in Section A (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries) to be considered at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 5.52 p.m.
CLAUDE RICHMOND, Speaker
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