Nos. 9 and 10 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Monday, July 8, 2013

Ten o’clock a.m.

Prayers by Ms. Larson.

The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”

Order called for “Private Members’ Statements.”

1  Ms. Reimer moved —

Given the importance of allowing taxpayers a say in how their money is managed, be it resolved that this House support subjecting new revenue sources for future TransLink projects to a referendum, to be held on the same day as the November 2014 municipal elections.

A debate arose.

The debate continued.

On the motion of Mr. Horgan, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

And then the House adjourned at 11.56 a.m.

Monday, July 8, 2013

One-thirty o’clock p.m.

Order called for “Members’ Statements.”

Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”

The Hon. L. Reid (Speaker) tabled the following documents:

Registrar of Lobbyists Investigation Report 13-01: Lobbyist: Joe Fieder; and,

Registrar of Lobbyists Investigation Reconsideration 13-01 (Investigation Report 13-01): Lobbyist: Joe Fieder.

By leave, the Hon. M. de Jong moved —

That the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services be empowered:

1. To examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to the budget consultation paper 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, 2013 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) Merit Commissioner

(vi) Ombudsperson

(vii) Police Complaint Commissioner

(viii) Representative for Children and Youth; and

b) To examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to other matters brought to the Committee’s attention by any of the Officers listed in 2 (a) above.

3. The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services shall be the committee referred to in sections 19, 20, 21 and 23 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2). 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:

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.

Motion agreed to.

By leave, the Hon. M. de Jong moved —

1. That the reports of the Auditor General of British Columbia deposited with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly during the First Session of the Fortieth 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 (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2), 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:

• Summary Report: Results of Completed Projects (December 2011)

• Development Initiative Trusts: An Audit of Legislative Compliance and Public Accountability Practices in the Three Statutory Trusts (April 2012)

• Audits of Two P3 Projects in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor (July 2012)

• The Status of IT Controls in British Columbia’s Public Sector: an analysis of audit findings (July 2012)

• Follow-up Report: Updates on the implementation of recommendations from recent reports (October 2012)

• Summary Report: Results of Completed Projects and Other Matters (December 2012)

• Observations on Financial Reporting: Summary Financial Statements 2011/12 (December 2012)

• Securing the Justin System: Access and Security Audit at the Ministry of Justice (January 2013)

• An Audit of Biodiversity in B.C.: Assessing the Effectiveness of Key Tools (February 2013)

• Striving for Quality, Timely and Safe Patient Care: An Audit of Air Ambulance Services in B.C. (March 2013)

• An Audit of Carbon Neutral Government (March 2013)

• Audit of the Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project (March 2013)

• Public Sector Board Use of Information in British Columbia 2012: Progress Update Since 2009 (April 2013)

• School District Board Governance Examinations (April 2013)

• Follow-up Report: Updates on the Implementation of Recommendations from Recent Reports (April 2013)

2. That the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts be the committee referred to in sections 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.

Motion agreed to.

By leave, the Hon. M. de Jong moved —

That the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth be appointed to be empowered to foster greater awareness and understanding among legislators and the public of the BC child welfare system, and in particular to:

1. Be the committee that receives and reviews the annual service plan from the Representative for Children and Youth (the “Representative”) that includes a statement of goals and identifies specific objectives and performance measures that will be required to exercise the powers and perform the functions and duties of the Representative during the fiscal year;

2. Be the committee to which the Representative reports, at least annually;

3. Refer to the Representative for investigation the critical injury or death of a child; and

4. Receive and consider all reports and plans delivered by the Representative to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

In addition to the powers previously conferred upon Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth 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.

Motion agreed to.

By leave, the Hon. M. de Jong moved —

That a Special Committee be appointed to select and unanimously recommend the appointment of an Auditor General, pursuant to section 2 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2). The said Special Committee shall have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition is 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 such 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.

Motion agreed to.

The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”

Pursuant to Order, the House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion “That the Speaker do now leave the Chair” for the House to go into Committee of Supply.

The House divided.

Motion agreed to on the following division:
Yeas — 48
Horne
Sturdy
Bing
Hogg
Pimm
McRae
Stone
Fassbender
Oakes
Wat
Thomson
Virk
Rustad
Wilkinson
Yamamoto
Sultan
Hamilton
Reimer
Ashton
Morris
Hunt
Sullivan
Cadieux
Lake
Polak
de Jong
Coleman
Anton
Bond
Bennett
Letnick
Barnett
Yap
Thornthwaite
Dalton
Plecas
Lee
Kyllo
Tegart
Martin
Michelle Stilwell
Throness
Larson
Foster
Bernier
Gibson
Huntington
Weaver
Nays — 30
Corrigan
Simpson
James
Horgan
Farnworth
Ralston
Fleming
Austin
Hammell
Donaldson
Chandra Herbert
Macdonald
Karagianis
Eby
Mungall
Bains
Elmore
Heyman
Darcy
Krog
Robinson
Trevena
B. Routley
D. Routley
Simons
Fraser
Chouhan
Rice
Shin
Holman

By leave, the Hon. M. de Jong moved —

Be it resolved that this House hereby authorizes the Committee of Supply for this Session to sit in two sections designated Section A and Section B; Section A to sit in such Committee Room as may be appointed from time to time, and Section B to sit in the Chamber of the Assembly, subject to the following rules:

1. The Standing Orders applicable to the Committee of the Whole House shall be applicable in both Sections of the Committee of Supply save and except that in Section A, a Minister may defer to a Deputy Minister to permit such Deputy to reply to a question put to the Minister.

2. All Estimates shall stand referred to Section A, save and except those Estimates as shall be referred to Section B on motion without notice by the Government House Leader, which motion shall be decided without amendment or debate and be governed by Practice Recommendation #6 relating to Consultation.

3. Section A shall consist of 17 Members, being 10 Members of the B.C. Liberal Party and 6 Members of the New Democratic Party and one Independent. In addition, the Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole, or his or her nominee, shall preside over the debates in Section A. Substitution of Members will be permitted to Section A with the consent of that Member’s Whip, where applicable, otherwise with the consent of the Member involved. For the first session of the Fortieth Parliament, the Members of Section A shall be as follows: the Minister whose Estimates are under consideration and, Norm Letnick, Mike Morris, Laurie Throness, Dan Ashton, Scott Hamilton, Ralph Sultan, Greg Kyllo, John Yap, Jackie Tegart, John Horgan, Shane Simpson, Mike Farnworth, Maurine Karagianis, Sue Hammell, Kathy Corrigan, and Vicki Huntington.

4. At fifteen minutes prior to the ordinary time fixed for adjournment of the House, the Chair of Section A will report to the House. In the event such report includes the last vote in a particular ministerial Estimate, after such report has been made to the House, the Government shall have a maximum of eight minutes, and the Official Opposition a maximum of five minutes, and all other Members (cumulatively) a maximum of three minutes to summarize the Committee debate on a particular ministerial Estimate completed, such summaries to be in the following order:

(1) Other Members;

(2) Opposition; and

(3) Government.

5. Section B shall be composed of all Members of the House.

6. Divisions in Section A will be signalled by the ringing of the division bells four times.

7. Divisions in Section B will be signalled by the ringing of the division bells three times at which time proceedings in Section A will be suspended until completion of the division in Section B.

8. Section A is hereby authorized to consider Bills referred to Committee after second reading thereof and the Standing Orders applicable to Bills in Committee of the Whole shall be applicable to such Bills during consideration thereof in Section A, and for all purposes Section A shall be deemed to be a Committee of the Whole. Such referrals to Section A shall be made upon motion without notice by the Minister responsible for the Bill, and such motion shall be decided without amendment or debate. Practice Recommendation #6 relating to Consultation shall be applicable to all such referrals.

9. Bills or Estimates previously referred to a designated Committee may at any stage be subsequently referred to another designated Committee on motion of the Government House Leader or Minister responsible for the Bill as hereinbefore provided by Rule Nos. 2 and 8.

Motion agreed to.

Order called for Committee of Supply.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A and Section B of Committee of Supply.

(In Committee — Section B)


Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

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 of the estimates of the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation.

Report to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

And then the House adjourned at 6.29 p.m.

HON. LINDA REID, Speaker