WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1972

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

Prayers.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition.

MR. D. BARRETT (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, yesterday an issue was raised by the leader of the Liberal Party (Mr. McGeer) and was not concluded because the Minister of Rehabilitation (Hon. Mr. Gaglardi) was not in his seat.

It relates to the introduction of Bill No. 49, two days ago by the Minister. The Minister apparently introduced a bill that was distributed and known as No. 40. Later on in our bill books the bill intituled An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act was numbered No. 49 and appeared in our bill books with two sections that had not been introduced in Bill No. 40.

I would appreciate an explanation, either from the Minister or perhaps a proper introduction of Bill No. 49.

MR. SPEAKER: From my examination of the matter raised by the Honourable first Member for Vancouver–Point Grey (Mr. McGeer) and also the matter now raised by the Honourable the Leader of the Opposition. Our Votes indicate, and I am informed, that Bill No. 49 was the actual bill that was introduced by the Minister to the House, and quite properly appeared in the Votes and Proceedings. Nevertheless there was distributed a bill, Bill No. 40, which apparently was an earlier bill which had not been introduced to the House, and really of which the House has no knowledge.

It was my opinion when the matter was raised by the Honourable the first Member for Vancouver–Point Grey — but unfortunately during the absence of the Minister — that possibly the matter could be questioned, which the Leader of the Opposition has properly done, questioned of the Minister to properly give some light on the situation,

HON. P.A. GAGLARDI (Minister of Rehabilitation and Social Improvement): Mr. Speaker, the bill which I presented to the House was No. 49. It was presented properly. There was an error made in the distribution of a bill, of which I had absolutely no knowledge whatsoever. It was a submission that had apparently been worked on by some of the people of the department, and I don't even know how it came to be printed, or how it got its number or anything else. The bill that I presented here to the House is Bill No. 49 presented correctly and that's the bill.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the first Member for Vancouver–Point Grey.

MR. P.L. McGEER (Vancouver–Point Grey): Mr. Speaker, are we to understand from this that bills are printed by the Queen's Printer, and stored for distribution in the Sergeant-at-Arms' office, with no knowledge at all of the Ministers who would be responsible for a department? Because we've had two bills printed that are highly similar, and the Minister denies any knowledge at all of one. And yet the Queen's Printer has printed the bill, and it appeared at the Sergeant-at-Arms' office. The Sergeant-at-Arms thought that he was distributing the appropriate bill. I am astonished, Mr. Speaker, to say the least, that the Ministers are so ill informed of the bills that have gone to the Queen's Printer.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please! The Honourable Member for Cowichan-Malahat.

MR. R.M. STRACHAN (Cowichan-Malahat): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I was about to draw your attention to the fact that there was a stranger in the gallery. But I realise that while he's not a stranger he no longer has the right to sit on the Floor of this House. And I am referring to the former M.L.A. from New Westminster who served in this House for 17 years. He defeated the former Premier of the Province in the 1952 election. We are happy to have him with us today — Mr. Ray Eddy.

HON. MR. BENNETT: Forty-two below in Alberta, because they're in the cold freeze anyway now.

HON. G. McCARTHY (Minister without Portfolio): Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Members of the House to join with me in welcoming one of the representatives from one of the most respected and oldest schools in the City of Vancouver, and in the constituency of Vancouver–Little Mountain. That is the John Oliver High School, and they are here today with their teachers, Mr. Ashdown, and Mrs. Erickson. And I would ask the House to welcome them.

Introduction of bills.

HON. L.R_ PETERSON (Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, I have the Honour to present a message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

FRUSTRATED CONTRACTS ACT

MR. SPEAKER: The Lieutenant-Governor transmits herewith a bill intituled Frustrated Contracts Act, and recommends the same to the legislative assembly. Dated at Government House February 18, 197 2.

House in committee on Bill No. 34, Frustrated Contracts Act.

On the recommendation of the committee, Bill No. 34 introduced, read a first time, and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

HON. MR. PETERSON: Mr. Speaker, in respect of the bill that has just been introduced I would want to advise the Honourable Members that it is not my intention to proceed beyond the first reading at this session, of this bill. Because it is a subject that has been considered by the Law Reform Commission, and the uniformity conference to consider it before enacting the law so it will be submitted to them at that stage.

Orders of the day.

House in committee of supply. The committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.

The House adjourned at 6 p.m.

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The House met at 8 p.m.

Introduction of bills.

Hon. Mr. Chabot presents the annual report of the Workmen's Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 1971.

Orders of the day.

House in committee of supply. The committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.

HON. R.R. LOFFMARK (Minister of Health Services and Hospital Insurance): Section 37 of the Hospitals Act, the regulations made pursuant thereto must be published in the Gazette, and as soon as conveniently possible may be presented in the Legislature. I beg leave to file regulations under the Hospitals Act, three in number.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the annual 75th annual report of the Public Health Services of British Columbia for the year ended September 31, 1971.

Hon. Mr. Bennett moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 10:35 p.m.