2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Nos. 108 and 109
OF THE
Monday, November 17, 2003
Ten o'clock a.m.
Prayers by Mr. Bloy.
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
Order for "Private Members' Statements" called.
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. M 203) intituled British Columbia Railway Asset Protection Act, 2003, a debate arose.
The debate continued.
On the motion of Mr. Bell, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
By notice from the applicants, Bill (No. Pr 401) intituled Ash Developments Ltd. (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2003 and Bill (No. Pr 402) intituled Kennett Contracting Limited (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2003 were withdrawn from the Order Paper.
And then the House adjourned at 11.59 a.m.
Monday, November 17, 2003
Two o'clock p.m.
Ms. MacPhail made a statement regarding the death of Gordon Dowding, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, on November 9, 2003.
The Hon. G. Collins made a statement.
The Speaker stated that he would convey to the family of the late Mr. Dowding, the condolences of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.
The Hon. C. Hansen (Minister of Health Services) presented to the Speaker a Message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:
Iona Campagnolo
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 92) intituled Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2003 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
November 12, 2003.
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."
Ms. Locke presented the Third Report of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services for the Fourth Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament.
The Report was taken as read and received.
By leave of the House, Ms. Locke moved that the Report be adopted.
The House divided.
Motion agreed to on the following division:
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YEAS -- 62 |
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Falcon |
Masi Lee Hagen Murray Plant Collins Clark Bond Nebbeling Stephens Abbott Neufeld Coleman Weisbeck Chong Penner |
Jarvis Anderson Harris Brenzinger R. Stewart Bell Chutter Long Mayencourt Trumper Bennett Christensen Krueger McMahon Hunter |
Les Locke Bhullar Wong Visser Lekstrom K. Stewart Bloy Suffredine Brice Sultan Hamilton Hawes Kerr Manhas |
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| MacPhail | Kwan | Nettleton | |
The Hon. C. Richmond (Speaker) presented the following:
Office of the Auditor General 2003/2004 Report 3: Adopting Best Practices in
Government Financial Statements -- 2002/2003, and
Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Recall Process in British Columbia.
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 85) intituled BC Hydro Public Power Legacy and Heritage Contract Act.
The debate continued.
The House divided.
Motion agreed to on the following division:
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YEAS -- 55 |
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Falcon |
Lee Murray Plant Clark Bond de Jong Stephens Neufeld Coleman Chong Penner Jarvis Anderson Harris |
Brenzinger R. Stewart Bell Long Mayencourt Trumper Bennett Hayer Christensen Krueger McMahon Hunter Les Locke |
Bhullar Wong Visser Lekstrom K. Stewart Bloy Suffredine Brice Sultan Hamilton Hawes Kerr Manhas |
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| MacPhail | Kwan | Nettleton | |
Bill (No. 85) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for commital at the next sitting after today.
The House recessed until 6.35 p.m.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 75) intituled Significant Projects Streamlining Act.
The debate continued.
On the motion of the Hon. K. Falcon, the debate was adjourned until later today.
The Speaker declared a short recess.
Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor having entered the House, and being seated in the Chair --
E. George MacMinn, Q.C., Clerk of the House, read the titles to the following Acts:
Bill (No. 46) Land Amendment Act, 2003.
Bill (No. 52) Private Career Training Institutions Act.
Bill (No. 56) Flood Hazard Statutes Amendment Act, 2003.
Bill (No. 60) Business Corporations Amendment Act, 2003.
Bill (No. 63) Youth Justice Act.
Bill (No. 72) Manufactured Home Act.
Bill (No. 77) Tenancy Statutes Amendment Act, 2003.
Bill (No. 78) Accountants (Chartered) Amendment Act, 2003.
Bill (No. 80) Police Complaint Commissioner Enabling and Validating Act.
Bill (No. 81) Health Professions Amendment Act (No. 2), 2003.
Bill (No. 82) Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act.
Bill (No. 83) Pacific National Exhibition Enabling and Validating Act.
Bill (No. 86) Business Corporations Amendment Act (No. 2), 2003.
Bill (No. 87) Unclaimed Property Amendment Act (No. 2), 2003.
Bill (No. 88) Private Managed Forest Land Act.
Bill (No. Pr 406) Ver-Tel Communications Ltd. (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2003.
Bill (No. Pr 407) Buron Construction Ltd. (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2003.
Bill (No. Pr 408) Buron Construction (1986) Ltd. (Corporate Restoration) Act, 2003.
Bill (No. Pr 409) Western Pentecostal Bible College Amendment Act, 2003.
Her Honour was pleased in Her Majesty's name to give assent to the said Acts.
The said assent was announced by E. George MacMinn, Q.C., Clerk of the House in the following words:
"In Her Majesty's name, Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor doth assent to these Acts."
Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor was then pleased to retire.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 75) intituled Significant Projects Streamlining Act.
The House divided.
Motion agreed to on the following division:
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YEAS -- 27 |
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Falcon |
Bray Masi Thorpe Murray Plant Stephens Jarvis |
Harris Chutter Long Trumper Hayer Christensen Hunter |
Bhullar Wong K. Stewart Hamilton Hawes Kerr |
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| MacPhail | Lekstrom | ||
Bill (No. 75) 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 9 p.m.
CLAUDE RICHMOND, Speaker
NOTICE OF PUBLIC WRITTEN QUESTIONS
The Hon. T. Nebbeling replied as follows:
Let me begin by stating that the process throughout the Bid has been very transparent, and we expect that the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games ("OCOG") will continue to be transparent as we move forward.
With respect to the financial affairs of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation ("Bid Corporation"), information will be documented and audited by the end of this year. At that time, the Bid Corporation is required to provide a detailed financial report to the International Olympic Committee ("IOC"). The audited financial results will be made available to the public once they have been shared with the Member Partners and the IOC.
Let me emphasize that the provincial government will continue to provide a high level of financial transparency to the public in all its contracts and dealings relating to the 2010 Winter Games. The Province is subject to Freedom of Information rules under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, one of the most stringent such Acts in the country.
In addition, the Auditor General is automatically the auditor of the financial statements of provincial government-reporting entities, all ministries, offices administered by officers of the Legislature and the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, and any fund or appropriation that is part of the consolidated revenue fund.
Legislation allows the Auditor General to "follow the money". He may audit an individual or organization where government, a government organization or trust fund has provided a grant, transfer, advance, loan, a guarantee or an indemnity to that individual or organization.
In his report, "Review of Estimates related to Vancouver's bid to stage the 2010 Winter Games" released Jan. 16, 2003, the Auditor General stated the methodology of estimating costs and revenues of the games is sound and reasonable.
In our commitment to show openness and transparency, the Province and the Bid Corporation invited the Auditor General to look at the methodology. We wanted independent eyes to go over the bid to confirm the methodology was reasonable and sound. An independent economic study shows that expanding the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, combined with hosting the Games could: generate over $10 billion in economic activity, create over 200,000 person years of employment, and bring in $2.5 billion in tax revenues.
British Columbia is one of the signatories to the Multi Party Agreement, an agreement that includes commitments around disclosure of financial information and reporting by the OCOG.
The OCOG will be required to provide to signatories of the Multi Party Agreement quarterly updates of its Business Plan with a financial statement including operating expenses statements, revenue statements, cash flow statements and balance sheets for the OCOG's activities for that quarter.
The OCOG will provide the signatories to the Multi Party Agreement with audited financial statements of the OCOG for each fiscal year of the OCOG, within 90 days of the fiscal year end. Final audited financial statements will be provided to the Parties within 180 days of the end of the Games. While it is a decision yet to be made by the whole of the Board of Directors of the OCOG, the Province will strongly recommend that the OCOG follow the Bid Corporation's practice of making its audited financial statement available to the public.
The Province will Chair the OCOG's Audit and Finance Committee, and has the right to approve the business plan for the Games, including the Budget and any material amendments to the Budget (amendments greater than $5 million).
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