The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Ten o’clock a.m.
Prayers by Mr. Throness.
On the motion of Mr. Weaver, Bill (No. M 206) intituled Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2019 was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.
The Hon. L. Popham (Minister of Agriculture) presented to the Speaker a Message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:
Janet Austin
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 15) intituled Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, 2019 and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
March 5, 2019.
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 Hon. D. Plecas (Speaker) tabled the Ombudsperson Special Report No. 42, Committed to Change: Protecting the Rights of Involuntary Patients under the Mental Health Act, March 2019.
The Hon. D. Plecas (Speaker) presented the Third Report of the Legislative Assembly Management Committee for the Forty-first Parliament, March 6, 2019.
By leave, the Hon. M. Farnworth moved that the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
By leave, the Hon. M. Farnworth moved —
a) That the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., C.C., be appointed as Special Investigator to conduct a confidential, impartial and independent investigation into allegations concerning the Clerk, Craig James, and the Sergeant-at-Arms, Gary Lenz, that were raised by the Speaker in his Report to the Legislative Assembly Management Committee (“the Committee”) and made public by the Committee on January 21, 2019;
b) That the purpose of the investigation shall be a confidential fact finding to determine whether either or both Mr. James and Mr. Lenz, appointed to their office by resolution of the Legislative Assembly pursuant to the Constitution Act, engaged in misconduct in the course of their employment;
c) That the House Leaders, Hon. Mike Farnworth, Government House Leader; Mary Polak, Official Opposition House Leader; and Sonia Furstenau, Third Party House Leader (the “House Leaders”) establish terms of reference for the conduct of the investigation that provides for, among other things, a process that ensures procedural fairness and natural justice;
d) That in conducting the investigation, the Special Investigator shall review the following documents and any others the House Leaders deem relevant to the investigation:
i. the report of the Speaker released on January 21, 2019, and exhibits,
ii. the related addendum to the report of the Speaker distributed on February 4, 2019,
iii. the written responses from the Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms received on February 7, 2019,
iv. the legal submissions from the Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms received on February 7, 2019, and
v. the report on the written responses by the Speaker released on February 21, 2019, and exhibits;
e) That the Special Investigator be granted the powers to compel persons to meet with the Special Investigator and to compel documents and other evidence, except those protected by solicitor-client privilege, to be provided to the Special Investigator;
f) That the Special Investigator report on any findings and conclusions to the House Leaders at the earliest opportunity, making one or more interim reports as may be appropriate, and a final report no later than May 3, 2019, and that the Government House Leader report to the Legislative Assembly on the conclusions of the Special Investigator at the earliest opportunity;
g) For greater certainty, it is recognized that deliberations of the Legislative Assembly with respect to the appointments of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms fall within a sphere of activity that is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the Legislative Assembly and that nothing in this order shall be interpreted as limiting in any way the powers, privileges, rights and immunities of the Legislative Assembly or its Members.
Motion agreed to.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Order called for Committee of Supply.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply.
Bill (No. 12) intituled Supply Act (No. 1), 2019 was committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 2) intituled Protection of Public Participation Act was again committed and reported complete without amendment.
On the motion for third reading of Bill (No. 2) the House divided.
Motion agreed to nemine contradicente on the following division:
| Yeas — 81 | |||
| Chouhan Kahlon Begg Brar Heyman Donaldson Mungall Bains Beare Chen Popham Trevena Sims Chow Kang Simons D’Eith Routley Ma Elmore Dean |
Routledge Singh Leonard Glumac Darcy Simpson Robinson Farnworth Horgan James Eby Dix Ralston Mark Fleming Conroy Chandra Herbert Rice Malcolmson Furstenau |
Olsen Cadieux de Jong Bond Polak Lee Coleman Wat Bernier Thornthwaite Paton Ashton Barnett Yap Martin Davies Kyllo Sullivan Morris Stilwell |
Ross Oakes Johal Redies Rustad Milobar Sturdy Clovechok Shypitka Hunt Throness Tegart Stewart Sultan Gibson Foster Isaacs Letnick Thomson Larson |
Bill (No. 2 ) was read a third time and passed.
(In Committee — Section A)
Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 11.49 a.m.
One-thirty o’clock p.m.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
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. 4) intituled Witness Security Act, a debate arose.
The debate continued.
Bill (No. 4) 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. 9) intituled Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2019 was committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Bill (No. 3) intituled Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2019 was committed, reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
(In Committee — Section A)
19. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $2,064,727,000 be granted to Her Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Children and Family Development, Ministry Operations, to 31st March, 2020.
Section A of Committee of Supply reported the Resolution and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Children and Family Development and further reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
By agreement, summary of debate of estimates passed in Section A (Ministry of Children and Family Development) to be considered at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 5.38 p.m.
HON. DARRYL PLECAS, Speaker
Tuesday, March 26
Mr. Weaver to introduce a Bill intituled Business Corporations Amendment Act, 2019.
Monday, March 25
4 Mr. Ross to move —
Be it resolved that this House support real opportunity for Indigenous communities in British Columbia.
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