The committee met at 10:32 a.m.

[B. D’Eith in the chair.]

Deliberations

B. D’Eith (Chair): We are deliberating on the draft report of the Budget 2020 consultation.

If I could have a motion to go in camera.

R. Leonard: So moved.

Motion approved.

The committee continued in camera from 10:32 a.m. to 12:32 p.m.

[B. D’Eith in the chair.]

B. D’Eith (Chair): Thank you very much, everyone, for your outstanding deliberations.

Before we go to the motions, I did want to just say how grateful we were to the staff, everyone — and, I must say, to the committee members for working so well together and having really good-natured but tough conversations. That’s fine. That’s what this is all about. Thank you very, very much for that.

Also, of course, the Deputy Chair. Thanks, Dan.

And everyone. Karan, Katey, Josée, Jennifer, everyone — Susan, of course — thank you so much.

Thanks, everyone from Hansard. Wonderful effort.

D. Ashton (Deputy Chair): Thank you. I would just like to emphasize that to the staff members and to all those at Hansard that travelled with us, specifically. It’s a tough slog on top of your normal duties that you have inside the Legislature here, but it’s greatly appreciated, very much appreciated.

To the committee members, I just want to say thank you. It’s a pleasure. I guess I’ve been around on this committee for quite a while, and each time I can’t say enough about the opportunity that we present to the people of British Columbia to hear their concerns directly. I think this committee is incredibly important.

It is an absolute pleasure to work with all the members representing from the House. I’ll be frank again. I really wish we did have somebody from the Green Party, the Third Party, here. I understand their work commitments and that too. In my opinion, there isn’t a committee that I’ve had the opportunity to serve on that gets out and has the ability to hear directly.

Just to come back to the committee members, it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with you on it.

[12:35 p.m.]

I just wish that more people in the province of British Columbia and outside of this province could see how people from different political leanings work together for those individuals in the province. They always see the other side of it. They don’t get to see the side where we work like this. To me, that makes me very, very proud of this entity, the Legislature, and the service that each one of us provides to those that we represent. So thank you again.

To Mr. Chair, outstanding as always. Keep up the good work. I hope the opportunity is that we’re both back again next year.

B. D’Eith (Chair): Yeah. Well, thanks so much, Dan and everyone.

We have a couple of motions. Who’s going to be making those?

Committee Report to the House

BUDGET CONSULTATION REPORT

R. Coleman: I don’t have it in front of me. Do you want me to read it?

I move:

[That the Committee approve and adopt the report on the Budget 2020 Consultation as amended today and further, that the Committee authorize the Chair and Deputy Chair to work with committee staff to finalize any further editorial changes to complete the supporting text.]

Motion approved.

D. Ashton (Deputy Chair): I move:

[That the Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services present the Committee’s report on the Budget 2020 Consultation to the Legislative Assembly at the earliest available opportunity.]

Motion approved.

B. D’Eith (Chair): Well, thank you again for all your wonderful efforts. It was great that we were able to make this happen and go in June and be able to…. I do want to appreciate the fact that this is meeting in the summer. I wanted to say that to the committee members. I really appreciate you making that extra effort to come out during the summer.

I look forward to presenting this report to the province, and all of the recommendations.

Motion to adjourn?

Motion approved.

The committee adjourned at 12:37 p.m.