Hansard — Thursday, January 25, 1973

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1973

The House met at 3:00 p.m.

This being the first day of the second session of the 30th of the Province of British Columbia for the dispatch of business, pursuant to a proclamation of Colonel the Hon. John R. Nicholson, Lieutenant-Governor of the province, dated November 9, 1972, Hon. Members took their seats.

Prayers.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor having entered the House and being seated upon the throne, was pleased to deliver the following gracious speech.

HON. J.R. NICHOLSON (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr. Speaker and Members of the, I am pleased to welcome you to this, the second session of the 30th Parliament of our province. I extend to you all my best wishes as you, my new Government and Legislature, embark upon the course of action required to face the changes of the 70's.

This last year has been an eventful one and we are mindful of the high level of expectation that our citizens have from governments across the nation. Consequently, the policies and programmes of my Government, as evidenced by the special session last October, will continue to be carefully designed to meet both the priorities and the expectations of our people in the most appropriate ways.

All Canadians have felt deep and abiding concern over the horrors of the war in southeast Asia. It is therefore with an overwhelming sense of relief that we welcome the Vietnam ceasefire and peace treaty announced earlier this week.

Since last September many of my Ministers have met with their counterparts in other provinces and with the Cabinet Ministers of our federal government. Sincere appreciation of our contributions has been expressed by many at these important discussions, and the expressions of optimism regarding the province's future role in Confederation and the future of Canada are highly significant.

All Canadians were recently saddened by the loss of the Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson, Canada's Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968. Mr. Pearson, a Nobel Prize winner, was a dedicated and a very highly respected diplomat who brought honour and dignity to the country that he loved and served so well.

I note with regret the passing on November 13 last, of Herbert Anscomb, a Minister of the Crown from 1941 to 1952. Mr. Anscomb was an able politician and a servant of the people whose passing was mourned by all who came in contact with him.

I am pleased to report that my First Minister and members of the Executive Council met with the Hon. Daniel J. Evans, Governor of the State of Washington, and members of his administration in Olympia earlier this month to discuss matters of mutual interest. Such discussions and the frank exchange of ideas should prove to be beneficial. While in Olympia, the Hon. Premier was afforded the high honour of addressing the joint houses of the Legislature. I note with pleasure that Governor Evans has been invited to visit British Columbia in the fall of this year in order to carry on with these discussions.

In mid-November of last year we were honoured by the visits of the Hon. William A. Egan, Governor of the State of Alaska, and Mr. James Smith, Commissioner of the Yukon Territory. These visits were for the purpose of discussing ideas as to the improvement of our environment and ecology and other matters of joint cooperation.

During this session of the Legislature you will be asked to consider, among others, the following measures:

A British Columbia Bill of Rights.

Legislation to implement a Government-operated automobile insurance plan.

Amendments to improve the pensions plans administered by the Government.

Amendments to The Constitution Act and a revision of some departmental Acts to reflect the new thrusts and priorities of my Government.

Amendments to The Park Act and The Litter Act.

Amendments to The Land Act and The University Endowment Lands Act.

In the important field of health care you will be asked to consider legislation for the following:

An Ambulance Services Act and amendments to the Medical Act and The Mental Health Act.

Major administrative and legislative changes will be made in the Department of Industrial Development, Trade and Commerce and you, the Legislative Assembly, will be asked to discuss measures to complement these changes.

Two major problems will come before you as a result of your actions in the special session last October. These are the continuing study of the effects of the consumption of, and the advertising of, tobacco and alcoholic products; and the report from the Speaker as a result of the passage of The Legislative Procedure and Practice Inquiry Act.

The administrative and legislative programmes will be carefully designed and will be based on the clear necessity to plan our future so that we may live in harmony with our special environment and at peace with our fellow men, and to depart from the acquisitive North American values that have seen profligacy and waste on all sides. To implement these programmes, our Government will bolster services to our country, our people, industry, and labour, to

[ Page 2 ]

catch up with modern society's demands for quality services provided by skilled people. Our citizens have spent vast sums educating our young people in special skills. These talents will be tapped as we update the Civil Service which has been handicapped for some time by lack of sufficient staff. Therefore, our Government will institute measures that will create close to 1,000 new government jobs in the Civil Service of our Province.

The complexities and burdens of government in these troublesome times clearly suggest that your wisdom and advice will be required more frequently than in the past.

It is my Government's intention to call you together as the work load expands and also to increase the work and the designed use of the standing committees of the House so that our citizens will be served best at all times. To these and all other matters which may come before you, I ask your most careful attention and I pray that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations.

Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, I leave you now to the discharge of your legislative duties.

Having concluded my formal part in these proceedings, namely the reading of the Speech from the Throne, I think it only fitting that on this special occasion I welcome, on your behalf, a man who for many years graced this chamber and, during my six years as a Member of the House of Commons of this country, graced that chamber. I refer to Mr. Harold Winch.

I know, Harold, I not only express my personal feelings, but I express the goodwill and the appreciation from the Premier and all Members of the House that you are with us here today. Glad to see you looking so well.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was then pleased to retire.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, in order to prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor's speech.

The Hon. Attorney General.

Hon. Mr. Macdonald moves introduction of Bill No. 1 intituled the Regulations Act.

Motion approved.

Bill No. 1 read a first time, and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Premier.

MR. D. BARRETT (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I move that the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant-
Governor be taken into consideration at the next sitting of the House, and that this order have precedence over all other business, except introduction of bills, until disposed of.

Motion approved.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Provincial Secretary.

HON. E. HALL (Provincial Secretary): Mr. Speaker, I would like to move, seconded by the Hon. Attorney General, that the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first perused by Mr. Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same.

Motion approved.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Premier.

MR. BARRETT: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Mrs. E.E. Dailly, that the Select Standing Committees of this House, for the present session, be appointed for the following purposes:

On Standing Orders and Private Bills;
On Public Accounts and Printing;
On Mining and Railways;
On Agriculture;
On Municipal Matters;
On Forestry and Fisheries;
On Labour;
On Social Welfare and Education;

which said committees shall severally be empowered to examine and inquire into all such matters and things as shall be referred to them by this House, and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon, with power, to send for persons, papers and records, and that a special committee be appointed to prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of Members to compose the above Select Standing Committees of this House under standing order 68(1), said committee to be composed of the Hon. A.B. MacDonald, the Hon. R.M. Strachan, and Messrs. Dent, Richter and D.A. Anderson.

Motion approved.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Second Member for Vancouver-Burrard.

MS. R. BROWN (Vancouver-Burrard): Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the Hon. Member for Omineca (Mr. Kelly), that Mr. H.D. Dent, Member for Skeena Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this session of the Legislative Assembly.

Motion approved.

[ Page 3 ]

The following papers were presented:

By the Hon. E. Hall (Provincial Secretary)-

Seventeenth annual report of the business done in pursuance of the Members of the Superannuation Act for the year ended March 31, 1972.

Thirty-seventh annual report of the business done in pursuance of the Civil Service Superannuation Act for the year ended March 31, 1972.

Thirty-third annual report of the business done in pursuance of the Municipal Superannuation Act for the year ended December 31, 1971.

Fourth annual report of the business done in pursuance of the College Pension Act for the year ended August 31, 1972.

Thirty-first annual report of the business done in pursuance of the Teachers' Pensions Act for the year ended December 31, 1971.

Twelfth annual report of the business done under the Public Service Group Insurance Act for the 12th policy year July 1, 1971 to June 30, 1972.

The report and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Employer and Employee Relations in the Public Service of British Columbia, December, 1972.

Department of the Queen's Printer balance sheet as at March 31, 1972 and the profit and loss statement for the 12 months ended March 31, 1972.

By the Hon. E. Hall in his capacity as Minister of Travel Industry-

Sixth annual report of the Department of Travel and Industry for the calendar year 1972.

Also the following-

The Capital Improvement District Commission financial statement as at March 31, 1972.

Overall Medical Services Plan of British Columbia financial statements as at March 31, 1972.

Regulations on the Provincial Elections Act, section 199, Ch. 306 of the Revised Statutes of British Columbia (1960).

By the Hon. A.B. Macdonald (Attorney General)-

Annual report of the Motor Vehicle Branch for the year 1971.

By the Hon. D.G. Cocke (Minister of Health Services and Hospital Insurance)-

The Twenty-fourth annual report of the British Columbia Hospital Insurance Group.

By the Hon. W.S. King (Minister of Labour)-

The annual report for 1972 of the Department of Labour.

By the Hon. L.T. Nimsick (Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources)-

Annual report of the Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources for the year ended December 31, 1971.

By the Hon. R.M. Strachan (Minister of Highways)-

Annual report of the Department of Highways for

the fiscal year 1971–1972.

By the Hon. E.E. Dailly (Minister of Education)-

The 101st report of the Public Schools of the provinces.

By the Hon. W.L. Hartley (Minister of Public Works)-

The annual report of the Department of Public Works for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1972.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Premier.

HON. MR. BARRETT: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour, at last, as Minister of Finance to present to the House the Public Accounts of British Columbia for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1972.

Return submitted in accordance with section 46(2) of the Revenue Act, Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1960; Refunds and remissions made under section 46(1) of the Revenue Act, Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1960, during the calendar year 1972.

Return submitted in accordance with section 85(4) of the Taxation Act: Remissions and refunds made under authority of section 85(1), (2), and (3) of the Taxation Act, Revised statutes of British Columbia, 1960, during the calendar year 1972.

The annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1972, Office of the Assessment Commissioner.

The annual report of the Assessment Appeal Board for the year ended December 31, 1972.

A statement of unclaimed money deposits, under authority of Unclaimed Money Deposits Act, Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1960, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1972.

Thirtieth annual report of the Purchasing Commission, January 1, 1972 to December 31, 1972.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of presenting to the House as President of the Council the report of the British Columbia Energy Board dated August 31, 1972.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House, at its rising, do stand adjourned until 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

MR. SPEAKER: All right, I think that's irregular but I must proceed with the motion, which is not debatable.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Barrett moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY