Nos. 65 and 66 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Ten o’clock a.m.

Prayers and Reflections by Tony Luck.

On the motion of Tara Armstrong, Bill (No. M 245) intituled Young Workers Income Tax Relief Act 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.

Order called for “Members’ Statements.”

Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”

Mandeep Dhaliwal sought leave to move Motion M 213.

Leave not granted.

Jennifer Blatherwick presented a petition regarding pregnancy and infant loss research and support.

The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”

Pursuant to the motion adopted on May 19, 2026, with respect to Standing Order 16 (4), the House proceeded to deferred divisions.

Bill (No. 9) intituled Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, was again committed.

The proposed amendment moved by the Hon. Diana Gibson (Minister of Citizens’ Services) to clause 2 of Bill (No. 9) passed on the following deferred division:

Yeas — 49
Lore
Blatherwick
Dhir
Routledge
Chant
Toporowski
B. Anderson
Neill
Osborne
Brar
Krieger
Davidson
Parmar
Sunner
Beare
Greene
Wickens
Kang
Begg
Arora
Higginson
Sandhu
Lajeunesse
Choi
Rotchford
Elmore
Phillip
Popham
Dix
Sharma
Farnworth
Eby
Bailey
Kahlon
Chandra Herbert
Whiteside
Boyle
Ma
Yung
Malcolmson
Gibson
Glumac
Shah
G. Anderson
Chow
Morissette
Boultbee
Sturko
Brodie
Nays — 42
Loewen
Kindy
Milobar
Warbus
Halford
Rattée
Wat
Kooner
Banman
Hartwell
L. Neufeld
Van Popta
Dew
Clare
K. Neufeld
Rustad
Wilson
McInnis
Paton
Day
Bhangu
Toor
Hepner
Giddens
Dhaliwal
McCall
Maahs
Block
Stamer
Gasper
Mok
Davis
Williams
Chapman
Bird
Luck
Tepper
Valeriote
Botterell
Chan
Armstrong
Kealy

The Committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.

Bill to be considered later today.

Order called for Committee of Supply.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A and Section C of Committee of the Whole.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for 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 Finance.

Report to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

(In Committee — Section A)

Bill (No. 9) intituled Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, was again committed.

On clause 2, as amended, of Bill (No. 9).


Section A of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 9) intituled Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, and asked leave to sit again.

Bill to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

(In Committee — Section C)

Bill (No. 20) intituled K’ómoks Treaty Act was committed.

On clause 1 of Bill (No. 20).


Section C of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 20) intituled K’ómoks Treaty Act and asked leave to sit again.

Bill to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

And then the House adjourned at 11.59 a.m.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

One o’clock p.m.

On the motion of David Williams, Bill (No. M 246) intituled Small Farms Act 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 House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”

Order called for Committee of Supply.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A and Section C of Committee of the Whole.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for 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 Finance.

Report to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

(In Committee — Section A)

Bill (No. 9) intituled Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, was again committed.

Clause 2, as amended, of Bill (No. 9) passed on the following division:

Yeas — 5
Routledge
Neill
Choi
Gibson
Shah
Nays — 5
Maahs
Williams
Bird
Luck
Botterell

The Chair announced that the votes being equal, and in accordance with established practice to maintain the bill in existing form, he cast his vote in favour of the motion.

Clause 7 of Bill (No. 9) passed on the following division:

Yeas — 5
Routledge
Neill
Choi
Gibson
Shah
Nays — 5
Paton
Maahs
Williams
Luck
Botterell

The Chair announced that the votes being equal, and in accordance with established practice to maintain the bill in existing form, she cast her vote in favour of the motion.

Clause 8 of Bill (No. 9) passed.

On clause 9 of Bill (No. 9).


Section A of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 9) intituled Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, and asked leave to sit again.

Bill to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

(In Committee — Section C)

Bill (No. 20) intituled K’ómoks Treaty Act was again committed.

Clause 1 and clause 2 of Bill (No. 20) passed.

On clause 3 of Bill (No. 20).


Section C of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 20) intituled K’ómoks Treaty Act and asked leave to sit again.

Bill to be considered at the next sitting.

Committee to sit again at the next sitting.

The Speaker declared a short recess.

Her Honour the Administrator having entered the House, and being seated in the Chair —

Kate Ryan-Lloyd, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, read the titles to the following Acts:

Bill (No. 14) Forests Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

Bill (No. 16) Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

Bill (No. M 231) Veterans and First Responders Month Act.

Her Honour was pleased in His Majesty’s name to give assent to the said Acts.

The said assent was announced by Kate Ryan-Lloyd, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, in the following words:

“In His Majesty’s name, Her Honour the Administrator doth assent to these Acts.”

Her Honour the Administrator was then pleased to retire.

The Hon. Mike Farnworth made representations regarding the point of order raised by Claire Rattée on May 19, 2026.

The Speaker stated that he would take the matter under advisement.

And then the House adjourned at 5.27 p.m.

HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker

NOTICE OF BILLS

Monday, May 25

Lorne Doerkson to introduce a Bill intituled Crown Land and Financial Transparency Act.

Tuesday, May 26

Teresa Wat to introduce a Bill intituled Chinese Heritage Month Act.

Amelia Boultbee to introduce a Bill intituled Election (Leadership Contest Integrity) Amendment Act, 2026.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

Monday, May 25

18  The Hon. Mike Farnworth to move —

That, notwithstanding Standing Order 2 (1), the adjournment time of the sitting of the House commencing at 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, be modified to 9 p.m.

And further, that this modified time of adjournment extend to the application of Standing Order 3 and to the interpretation of the ordinary time fixed for adjournment of the House in the Sessional Order adopted by the House on February 19, 2026, enabling certain proceedings of the House to be undertaken in three sections.

19  The Hon. Mike Farnworth to move, seconded by Á’a:líya Warbus and Rob Botterell 

That, effective July 6, 2026, Jason Laidman be appointed Sergeant-at-Arms and hold the status of a permanent officer, in accordance with section 39 (1) of the Constitution Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 66).

Tuesday, May 26

M 214  Kristina Loewen to move —

That the House recognizes the need for urgent action on intimate partner violence and therefore:

a. calls on the Senate to expeditiously conclude its consideration of Bill C-225, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, commonly called Bailey’s Law; and,

b. calls on the Attorney General to table, with all possible expediency, an action plan outlining the steps being taken by the Government of British Columbia to prioritize prevention, strengthen supports for victims and improve systemic responses across relevant sectors.