Nos. 67 and 68 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament

Monday, May 25, 2026

Ten o’clock a.m.

Prayers and Reflections by Sunita Dhir.

The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”

Order called for “Private Members’ Statements.”

Bill (No. M 217) intituled Dashboard Cameras in Commercial Vehicles Act was concurred in as amended at report stage.

On the motion that Bill (No. M 217) be read a third time, a debate arose.

Bill (No. M 217) read a third time and passed.

M 205  The House resumed the adjourned debate on Motion M 205, as amended, that the Legislative Assembly Management Committee institute a mandatory course in economics, public finance and numeracy for all newly-elected Members.

A debate arose.

Pursuant to Standing Order 25, division on Motion M 205, as amended, was deferred until 30 minutes prior to the ordinary time fixed for adjournment.

M 207  The House resumed the adjourned debate on the amendment to Motion M 207 that the House calls on the B.C. Government to allow small, independent movie theatres to serve liquor during mixed-age showings.

A debate arose on the amendment.

The amendment was negatived, on division.

The debate resumed on the main motion.

Motion agreed to.

M 208  Harwinder Sandhu moved —

That this House calls on the provincial government to address the gap in price regulation from private wastewater utility companies to ensure they charge fair rates to their customers.

A debate arose.

Donegal Wilson moved the following amendment —

That Motion M 208 be amended by deleting the text shown as struck out and adding the underlined text as shown:

That this House calls on the provincial government to address the gap in price regulation from for private water and wastewater utility companies to ensure they charge fair rates to their customers.

A debate arose on the amendment.

On the motion of Amna Shah, the debate on the amendment was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

And then the House adjourned at 11.56 a.m.

Monday, May 25, 2026

One-thirty o’clock p.m.

Order called for “Members’ Statements.”

The Speaker delivered his reserved decision as follows:

Honourable Members:

On Tuesday, May 19, the Member for Skeena raised a point of order regarding comments made by the Premier during Oral Question Period earlier that day. The Government House Leader made a submission on the point of order at the end of the sitting day on Thursday, May 21. The Chair took the matter under advisement, has had an opportunity to review the Hansard transcript, and is now prepared to rule on the point of order.

The Member for Skeena submitted that the Premier misled the House through his comments. As the Chair noted in a ruling delivered on April 20, such an allegation is extremely serious and the Chair must examine any evidence that proves that the statement was misleading, that establishes that the Member (in this case, the Premier) making the statement knew at the time that the statement was incorrect, and that establishes that the Member intended to mislead the House in making the statement. Based on the submissions made to the Chair, that high threshold of evidence has not been met in the matter at hand.

At the heart of matter is a dispute on the characterization and interpretation of words spoken by the Premier, which are not by their nature unparliamentary. The Member for Skeena felt that those words were a mischaracterization and took the opportunity to correct the record through her point of order. The submissions of the Member for Skeena and the Government House Leader point to what appears to be a matter of debate, which is not for the Chair to wade into. The Chair has no further remedy to offer and therefore deems the matter closed.

As the House enters its final sitting week this spring, the Chair implores all Members to be mindful of the language they use in this House and to be respectful toward one another in the course of debate.

HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker

Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”

The Hon. Raj Chouhan (Speaker) tabled the Merit Commissioner Annual Report, Upholding Fair Hiring in the BC Public Service, 2025/2026, May 2026.

Jennifer Blatherwick presented a petition regarding dog and cat breeding in British Columbia.

The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”

18  The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —

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.

Motion agreed to.

19  The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved, 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).

A debate arose.

Motion agreed to.

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.

Clauses 9 through 12 of Bill (No. 9) passed.

Rob Botterell moved a proposed amendment to clause 13 of Bill (No. 9) which was defeated on the following division:

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 opposition to the amendment.

The Hon. Diana Gibson (Minister of Citizens’ Services) moved a proposed amendment on the Order Paper to clause 13 of Bill (No. 9).

On the amendment to clause 13 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.

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.

M 205  Pursuant to Standing Order 25, in consideration of Motion M 205, as amended, the House divided.

Motion M 205, as amended, agreed to on the following division:

And then the House adjourned at 6.23 p.m.

HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker

NOTICE OF BILLS

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.

Wednesday, May 27

Tara Armstrong to introduce a Bill intituled Pharmaceutical Risk Management and Accountability Act.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

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.

Copyright © King’s Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada