Nos. 17 and 18 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Ten o’clock a.m.

Prayers by Mr. Stone.

The Hon. J. Horgan (Premier) made a ministerial statement regarding the death of David Barrett, a former Premier of British Columbia.

Mr. Wilkinson made a statement.

Mr. Weaver made a statement.

Order called for “Members’ Statements.”

Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”

Mr. Rustad reserved his right to raise a matter of privilege.

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:

And then the House adjourned at 11.55 a.m.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

One-thirty o’clock p.m.

Mr. Foster reserved his right to raise a matter of privilege.

The Hon. B. Ralston (Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology) presented to the Speaker a Message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:

Judith Guichon
Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 4) intituled British Columbia Innovation Council Amendment Act, 2018 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.

Government House,

February 25, 2018.

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 House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”

4  The Hon. M. Farnworth moved —

Be it resolved that this House hereby authorize 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 8 Members of the New Democratic Party and 8 Members of the BC Liberal Party and one member of the Green Party. 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 third session of the Forty-First Parliament, the Members of Section A shall be as follows: the Minister whose Estimates are under consideration and, Jagrup Brar, Mitzi Dean, Bob D’Eith, Mable Elmore, Anne Kang, Rick Glumac, Rachna Singh, Simon Gibson, Jane Thornthwaite, Peter Milobar, Coralee Oakes, Joan Isaacs, Mike Morris, Teresa Wat, Ellis Ross and Sonia Furstenau.

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 of Committee of Supply.

On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 3) intituled Tla’amin Final Agreement Amendment Act, 2018, a debate arose.

Bill (No. 3) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.

On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 2) intituled Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2018, a debate arose.

The debate continued.

On the motion of Ms. Redies, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

(In Committee — Section A)

Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

Report to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

And then the House adjourned at 5.49 p.m.

Hon. Darryl Plecas, Speaker

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Monday, March 5

5  The Hon. M. Farnworth to move —

That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended by adding the text shown as underlined:

23. If any Member takes notice that strangers are present, the Speaker or the Chairperson (as the case may be) shall forthwith put the question “That strangers be ordered to withdraw” without permitting any debate or amendment: provided that the Speaker, or the Chairperson, may whenever he or she thinks proper, order the withdrawal of strangers. A stranger does not include an infant being cared for by a Member.

6  The Hon. M. Farnworth to move —

That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended by adding the following:

17A. (1) Electronic devices must not be used by a Member who is in possession of the floor, or during the following proceedings:

(a) Speech from the Throne;

(b) Royal Assent;

(c) Prayers;

(d) Oral Question Period;

(e) Speaker’s rulings;

(f) divisions;

(g) at any other designated time pursuant to instructions by the Speaker.

(2) Members must ensure that electronic devices are used in a manner which does not disrupt the orderly conduct, or impinge on the dignity or decorum, of parliamentary proceedings.

(3) Electronic devices, such as laptop computers and handheld devices such as smart phones, must be operated silently at all times. Phone conversations are not permitted. Electronic devices must not be used to take photographs or to make a video or audio recording of proceedings.

(4) Ministry officials present during Committee of Supply or Committee of the Whole proceedings may use electronic devices to access information.

7  Ms. Dean to move —

Be it resolved that this House acknowledge the importance of supporting gender equity.

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