SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES
2008 Legislative Session: Fourth Session, 38th Parliament
SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES
|
SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES |
|
Thursday, November 13, 2008
11 a.m.
Douglas Fir Committee Room
Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C.
Present: Randy Hawes, MLA (Chair); Bruce Ralston, MLA (Deputy Chair); Robin Austin, MLA; Harry Bloy, MLA; Dave S. Hayer, MLA; John Horgan, MLA; Richard T. Lee, MLA; John Rustad, MLA; Diane Thorne, MLA; John Yap, MLA
1. The Chair called the Committee to order at 11:02 a.m.
2. Resolved, that the Committee meet in-camera to prepare its draft report to the House. (John Rustad, MLA)
3. The Committee met in-camera from 11:03 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.
4. Resolved, that the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services adopt its Report to the House on the 2009 Budget Consultations, as amended. (John Rustad, MLA)
5. Resolved, that the Chair deposit a copy of the Report with the Office of the Clerk and that the report be presented to the Legislative Assembly at the earliest available opportunity. (John Horgan, MLA)
6. The Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair at 1:24 p.m.
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
(Hansard)
select standing committee on
Finance and
Government Services
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Issue No. 92
ISSN 1499-4178
|
contents |
|
|
Page |
|
|
Committee Report to the House |
2221 |
|
Chair: |
* Randy Hawes (Maple Ridge–Mission L) |
|
Deputy Chair: |
* Bruce Ralston (Surrey-Whalley NDP) |
|
Members: |
* Harry Bloy (Burquitlam L) |
|
|
* Dave S. Hayer (Surrey-Tynehead L) |
|
|
* Richard T. Lee (Burnaby North L) |
|
|
* John Rustad (Prince George–Omineca L) |
|
|
* John Yap (Richmond-Steveston L) |
|
|
* Robin Austin (Skeena NDP) |
|
|
* John Horgan (Malahat–Juan de Fuca NDP) |
|
|
* Diane Thorne (Coquitlam-Maillardville NDP) |
|
* denotes member present |
|
|
Clerk: |
Kate Ryan-Lloyd |
|
Committee Staff: |
Josie Schofield (Committee Research Analyst) |
[ Page 2221 ]
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2008
The committee met at 11:02 a.m.
[R. Hawes in the chair.]
R. Hawes (Chair): Let's call this meeting to order. Welcome, to those on the phone. Let's have a motion to move in camera.
J. Horgan: The motion, hon. Chair…. While we're in public session, I think the record should note that there are three Johns in the room, and the rest of the committee is on the phone. So I'm wondering if I could have support from a committee member to have your name changed for the in-camera session to John Hawes rather than Randy Hawes so that we can have four of a kind for the in-camera session. Do I have a seconder?
R. Hawes (Chair): This would be very good, but I'm looking at the three Johns as being wild cards anyway. You could be Randys or whatever we want you to be.
Given that, now we'll entertain a motion to move in camera.
Motion approved.
The committee continued in camera from 11:03 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.
[R. Hawes in the chair.]
Committee Report to the House
R. Hawes (Chair): Having now dealt with the recommendations and having come to some conclusions, I would entertain a motion that the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services adopt its report to the House on Budget 2009 consultations as amended.
Motion approved.
R. Hawes (Chair): So that's unanimous.
I will now entertain another motion that the Chair deposit a copy of the report with the Office of the Clerk and that the report be presented to the Legislative Assembly at the earliest possible opportunity.
Motion approved.
R. Hawes (Chair): With that, we will now look to having the report tabled, I guess, by Saturday, which is the statutory requirement. I think we have agreed that the final report as it's typed is going to be forwarded to the Chair and the Deputy Chair, and we will communicate our satisfaction or otherwise quickly to ensure that we do have a report.
It would appear that we now have a unanimous report, barring any editing changes that might occur in the final draft.
J. Horgan: I'd like to just thank staff who travelled with us and assisted us in collecting this information, as well as those in communities right across B.C. who offered us their hospitality.
I will say that although we've agreed on the substance of the document, we are political animals, and we have divisions and disagreements on certain elements. But it was in a spirit of cooperation that we produced this report, and I'm delighted to have been a participant. I thank my colleagues for their good humour, particularly in hanging around with me.
R. Hawes (Chair): I guess, as the Chair, I'll just thank you, John, for saying what I was going to say.
J. Horgan: Sorry.
R. Hawes (Chair): I know that when the report is tabled in the Legislature, I'm sure that Deputy Chair Ralston will have comments, as will I…. Same thing — thanking the staff and the hard work…. I know with the extra week that was allowed for the written submissions, that has made it an incredible onerous task for staff, and I really appreciate the work. I know they've worked weekends and late nights.
I also know that we all owe a vote of thanks for the thousands of people, actually, in British Columbia that took the time to give us their opinions. All of their opinions are valued. Unfortunately, all of their opinions can't be reflected in the recommendations that we make, but all have been read and carefully considered.
In the light of today's fiscal consideration or concerns, I think we have done the best job that we can do. I want to thank members of the committee on both sides of the House, because you've all been extremely cooperative. We've worked well together. So thank you very much.
With that, we would entertain a motion to adjourn.
The committee adjourned at 1:24 p.m.
Copyright © 2008: British Columbia Hansard Services, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada