2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Nos. 117 and 118
OF THE
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Ten o'clock a.m.
Prayers by Ms. Orr.
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 97) intituled Municipalities Enabling and Validating (No. 3) Amendment Act, 2003, a debate arose.
Bill (No. 97) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.
The Hon. G. Collins (Minister of Finance) 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:
Supplementary Estimates No. 2 -- Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2004;
and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
November 22, 2003.
Ordered, that the Message, and the Supplementary Estimates accompanying same, be referred to the Committee of Supply.
Order for Committee of Supply called.
The House resolved itself into Committee of Supply (Supplementary Estimates of the Officers of the Legislature - Information and Privacy Commissioner).
(In Committee)
5 (S). Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $274,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Officers of the Legislature, Information and Privacy Commissioner, to 31st March, 2004.
Committee of Supply reported the Resolution.
Report to be considered forthwith.
That the report of resolution from the Committee of Supply on November 25, 2003, be now received, taken as read and agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
That there be granted from and out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund the sum of $274,000. This sum is in addition to that authorized to be paid under section 1 of the Supply Act, 2003-2004 and is granted to Her Majesty towards defraying the charges and expenses of the public service of the province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004.
Motion agreed to.
That there be granted from and out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund the sum of $18,000. This sum is in addition to that authorized to be paid under section 2 of the Supply Act, 2003-2004 and is granted to Her Majesty towards defraying the capital expenditure requirements of the province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004.
Motion agreed to.
The Hon. G. Collins (Minister of Finance) 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. 98) intituled Supply Act, 2003-2004 (Supplementary Estimates No. 2) and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
November 21, 2003.
Bill introduced and read a first time.
The Speaker declared a short recess for distribution of the Bill.
Bill (No. 98) was read a second time.
On the motion of the Hon. G. Collins, Bill (No. 98) was referred to Committee of the Whole House to be considered forthwith.
Bill (No. 98) was committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 94) intituled Health Sector Partnerships Agreement Act was committed.
The Committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 11.55 a.m.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Two o'clock p.m.
The Hon. J. Reid (Minister of Transportation) presented to the Speaker a Message from His Honour the Administrator, which read as follows:
Lance Finch
Administrator
The Administrator transmits herewith Bill (No. 89) intituled British Columbia Railway (Revitalization) Amendment Act, 2003 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Vancouver Law Courts,
November 24, 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."
The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 96) intituled Timber Licences Settlement Act, a debate arose.
Bill (No. 96) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.
Bill (No. 94) intituled Health Sector Partnerships Agreement Act was again committed.
In consideration of section 1 of Bill (No. 94) the Committee divided as follows:
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YEAS -- 57 |
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Falcon |
Hagen Murray Plant Collins Clark Bond de Jong Nebbeling Stephens Neufeld Chong Penner Jarvis Anderson |
Orr Harris Nuraney R. Stewart Bell Chutter Trumper Johnston Bennett Belsey McMahon Hunter Les Locke |
Nijjar Bhullar Wong Visser MacKay Cobb K. Stewart Bloy Suffredine Sultan Hamilton Hawes Kerr Manhas |
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| MacPhail | Kwan | Lekstrom | Nettleton |
In consideration of section 2 of Bill (No. 94) the Committee divided as follows:
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YEAS -- 40 |
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|
Halsey-Brandt |
Lee Hagen Bond de Jong Nebbeling Neufeld Penner Jarvis Harris Nuraney |
R. Stewart Bell Long Johnston Bennett Belsey Krueger Hunter Les Locke |
Nijjar Bhullar Wong K. Stewart Bloy Suffredine Sultan Hawes Kerr Manhas |
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| MacPhail | Kwan | Lekstrom | Nettleton |
In consideration of section 3 of Bill (No. 94) the Committee divided as follows:
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YEAS -- 49 |
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Hogg |
de Jong Nebbeling Neufeld Coleman Penner Jarvis Anderson Harris Nuraney R. Stewart Bell Chutter |
Long Trumper Johnston Bennett Belsey Krueger McMahon Hunter Les Locke Nijjar Bhullar |
Wong Visser MacKay Cobb Bloy Suffredine Brice Sultan Hamilton Hawes Kerr Manhas |
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| MacPhail | Kwan | Lekstrom | Nettleton |
The Committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
The Speaker made the following statement:
Honourable Members:
I wish to comment to the House on matters that occurred at the opening of the afternoon session relating to the introduction of a Message Bill and during Question Period. I have reviewed the Hansard transcripts and replayed the event through the live web cast in order to ensure accuracy of my observations.
Firstly, when the Speaker is on his feet attempting to read the Message from the Lieutenant Governor or the Administrator, irrespective of the Member's opinion on the Message itself, it is axiomatic that the Message is listened to with courtesy and without interruption. It is extraordinary when the Speaker must call for order during this proceeding, but unfortunately he had to earlier today. During the two minute explanation of the Bill that is permitted on first reading, inappropriate interjections not only continued, but the tape indicates they accelerated.
During Question Period, the Opposition was, as always, afforded the courtesy of the first question, but it became apparent during the attempts to answer, that the Opposition was determined to continue with their interruptions. A supplementary question was permitted to the Opposition -- again during the attempt to answer, interruptions became more persistent making it difficult, if not impossible, for either the Members or the Chair to hear the answers.
As has been the practice in the past, and faced with what appeared to the Chair to be concerted effort to interrupt answers to the questions posed, the Opposition was denied the normal second supplementary.
The Chair wishes to observe that this process is neither new, nor should it come as any surprise to any Member of this House. The Members involved are both experienced Members and know the rules.
The Chair is charged with the responsibility of seeing that the legislature runs in accordance with the Standing Orders as developed by the Members.
The Chair also understands that passion and tempers may be inflamed from time to time during debate. It is the Chair's responsibility to see that Parliament is able to do its work.
On a more serious vein, the replaying of the proceedings around Question Period reveals that both Members of the Opposition levelled a charge that the Chair was not conducting the proceedings with impartiality and, indeed, the word "partisan" was directed at the Chair. Such behaviour will not be tolerated in this House and brings the institution into disrepute.
The Members with their persistent interruptions and lack of respect for this Assembly, brought the situation on themselves, but even the newest Member of this House understands that an attack on the impartiality of the Chair, is totally unacceptable -- and these are experienced Members.
Under normal parliamentary rules, an apology is given by the offending Members for such an attack -- in this instance the Chair will leave it to the judgment and conscience of the Members involved.
Finally, the Chair does not intend to engage in a debate in the media with the Members involved in today's proceedings or any other Member. Let it be clearly understood that any repeat of today's performance will not be tolerated.
In issuing this admonition, the Chair is also aware that the Government benches are not without fault and they must accept some responsibility for contributing to the general disorder that took place this afternoon.
Claude Richmond, Speaker
And then the House adjourned at 5.56 p.m.
CLAUDE RICHMOND, Speaker
NOTICE OF MOTIONS
Wednesday, November 26
PUBLIC WRITTEN QUESTIONS
The Hon. S. Hagen replied as follows:
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