2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Nos. 45 and 46
OF THE
Monday, April 7, 2003
Ten o'clock a.m.
Prayers by Mr. Sultan.
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
Order for "Private Members' Statements" called.
Ms. Sahota moved the following amendment--
Be it resolved that this House call on the federal government to amend the Criminal Code so that
"street racing" is considered an aggravating circumstance for a person convicted of a offence committed
by means of a motor vehicle under section 220 (criminal negligence causing death) or 221 (criminal
negligence causing bodily harm) or subsection 249 (3) (dangerous operation causing bodily harm) or
249 (4) (dangerous operation causing death). those convicted of serious crimes of violence, including
the offence of criminal negligence causing death, arising out of street racing, cannot receive a
conditional sentence.
A debate arose.
The amendment was agreed to.
Motion 7, as amended, was agreed to.
A debate arose.
On the motion of Mr. Belsey, debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
A debate arose.
On the motion of Mr. Bray, debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
And then the House adjourned at 11.57 a.m.
Monday, April 7, 2003
Two o'clock p.m.
Order called for "Members' Statements."
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 and Section B of Committee of Supply.
(In Committee -- Section B)
30. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $1,417,493,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry Operations.
Section B of Committee of Supply reported the Resolution and completion of
the estimates of the Ministry of Human Resources.
Report to be considered later today.
Committee to sit again later today.
(In Committee -- Section A)
Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Management Services.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
The House recessed until 6.35 p.m.
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 16) intituled Coalbed Gas Act, a debate arose.
The debate continued.
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.
By leave, pursuant to Sessional Order, Order called for Section B of Committee of Supply.
(In Committee -- Section B)
31. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $38,218,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Management Services, Ministry Operations.
32. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $8,461,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Management Services, Public Service Employee Relations Commission.
Section B of Committee of Supply reported the Resolutions and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Management Services.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 8.56 p.m.
CLAUDE RICHMOND, Speaker
NOTICE OF MOTIONS
Wednesday, April 9
That the Honourable John van Dongen, MLA be removed from the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
That the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations be appointed to review the annual reports and service plans of British Columbia Crown Corporations.
In addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, the Committee be empowered:
(a) to appoint of their number, one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee;
(b) to sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;
(c) to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and
(d) to retain personnel as required to assist the Committee,
and shall report to the House on matters referred to the Committee during the Third Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament and the current session and as soon as possible or following any adjournment, or at the next following Session, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.
96 The Hon. G. Collins to move--
1. That the reports of the Auditor General of British Columbia deposited with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly during the Fourth Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be deemed referred to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, with the exception of the report referred to in section 22 of the Auditor General Act which is referred to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, and in addition that the following reports of the Auditor General of British Columbia be referred to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts:
• Managing Contaminated Sites on Provincial Lands (December 2002);
• Review of Estimates Related to Vancouver's Bid to Stage the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games (January 2003);
• Building Better Reports: Our Review of the 2001/02 Reports of Government (January 2003);
• Follow-up Report on TransLink (December 2002);
• Follow-up Report on Managing Interface Fire Risks (November 2002); and
• Follow-up Report on Earthquake Preparedness (July 2002).
2. That the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts be the committee referred to in sections 2, 6, 7, 10, 13 and 14 of the Auditor General Act.
In addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Committee be empowered:
(a) to appoint of their number, one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee;
(b) to sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;
(c) to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and
(d) to retain personnel as required to assist the Committee,
and shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment, or at the next following Session, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.
97 The Hon. G. Collins to move--
That the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services be empowered:
1. To examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to the pre-budget consultation report prepared by the Minister of Finance in accordance with section 2 of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act and, in particular, to:
(a) Conduct public consultations across British Columbia on proposals and recommendations regarding the provincial budget and fiscal policy for the coming fiscal year by any means the committee considers appropriate, including but not limited to public meetings, telephone and electronic means;
(b) Prepare a report no later than November 15, 2003 on the results of those consultations; and
2. (a) To consider and make recommendations on the annual reports, rolling three-year service plans and budgets of the following statutory officers:
(i) Auditor General;
(ii) Chief Electoral Officer;
(iii) Conflict of Interest Commissioner;
(iv) Information and Privacy Commissioner;
(v) Ombudsman;
(vi) Police Complaint Commissioner; and,
3. That the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services be the committee referred to in sections 19, 20, 21 and 23 of the Auditor General Act and that the performance report in section 22 of the Auditor General Act be referred to the committee.
In addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the committee shall be empowered:
(d) to retain personnel as required to assist the committee;
and shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment or at the next following session, as the case may be, to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.
PUBLIC WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Date answered: April 7, 2003
Generally speaking, all revenue collected from school taxes goes into the education system. Will the $187 million collected from the 3 year 2.5% increase go into the public education system?
The Hon. G. Collins replied as follows:
Thank you for your question regarding provincial tax policy.
As the Minister responsible for tax policy, I am pleased to respond that all provincial school tax revenue will continue to finance Kindergarten to Grade 12 education. In Budget 2003, the province announced a tax rate policy which will allow the province to maintain the provincial school tax as an important component of education financing.
As the Minister responsible for Land and Water BC Inc., why have you allowed an agreement to sell the Lannan Crown Forest to a private company to be signed without consulting local government, First Nations or local community groups?
The Hon. S. Hagen replied as follows:
Thank you for your Public Written Question submitted to the Speaker.
I have been informed by Land and Water BC Inc. (LWBC) that they consulted with the City of Courtenay commencing in the spring of 2002 and with the Comox-Strathcona Regional District (CSRD) commencing in the fall of 2002. The CSRD had been advised in the spring of 2002 that LWBC was reviewing options for the 16-hectare Lannan Road property
Where public consultation processes already exist (such as public rezoning hearings) LWBC would prefer to use such opportunities.
LWBC reviewed available information about aboriginal rights and title and treaty concerns, in accordance with established provincial practices, as part of its decision to make the Crown land available to stimulate employment and investment in the Comox Valley.
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