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CONTENTS

Routine proceedings

Speech from the Throne. Hon. W.S. Owen –– 1

Outlawries Act (Bill No. 1) Hon. Mr. Macdonald

Introduction and first reading –– 2

The House met at 3 p.m.

This being the first day of the fourth session of the 30th Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia for the dispatch of business, pursuant to a proclamation of the Hon. Walter Stewart Owen, Lieutenant-Governor of the province, dated December 6, 1973, 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.

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Hon. W.S. Owen (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly:

I welcome you to the fourth session of the 30th Parliament of British Columbia.

Under legislation approved at the 1973 fall session of the Legislature, Phyllis Florence Young assumed full cabinet responsibility as Minister of Consumer .Services, and Lorne Nicolson as Minister of Housing. I wish the two Ministers every success in the future administration of these two new important departments.

It is with sadness that we learned of the death of Mrs. Clarence Wallace, wife of Colonel the Honourable Clarence Wallace, Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia from 1950 to 1955. Mrs. Wallace endeared herself to all during their term of office at Government House and will be fondly remembered. The death occurred also of Herbert (Bert) Gargrave, who represented the Mackenzie Electoral District in this Legislature. We honour the memory of Mr. Gargrave, who served the province well.

It is with much pleasure that we have received the news of the appointment of Jules Leger as Governor-General of Canada to succeed His Excellency the Right Honourable Roland Michener. Mr. Leger was sworn to office on the 14th of this month and on this occasion indicated that he will be visiting all provinces and territories. We will be happy to welcome the new Governor-General and Mrs. Leger to this province at an early date. On behalf of the people of the Province of British Columbia, I extend best wishes to His Excellency Roland Michener and Mrs. Michener for the outstanding contribution they have made to Canada.

My government's considerable achievements in repatriating our economy, and recovering and repatriating alienated lands, are a source of considerable pride. The effectiveness of swift steps taken regarding British Columbia Petroleum Corporation since the last session adds to the considerable benefits these programmes mean to all the people. The ownership of resources resides with the people of this province – that is an unarguable fact. You will be asked to take further legislative steps to make the benefits of this ownership more directly available to the people of this province than ever before. My government was pleased to announce the new Task Force on Forest Policy, and shortly the first recommendations of that new task force will be placed before you. This study is the first major review of this fundamental industry since the Sloan Royal Commission in the 1950s. Legislation regarding the early "temporary tenures" will be brought forward subsequent to the recommendations of the task force.

My government is deeply concerned over national energy problems and has expressed its willingness to share our bounty with other parts of Canada if prudent and public control can be developed and maintained.

Since the last session my government has announced its Pharmacare programme for senior citizens. This universal programme, providing as it does essential prescription drugs free of charge to our senior citizens, is again the first programme of its kind in Canada.

Also, during this coming session you will be asked to consider legislation covering a wide range of important matters. For a number of years now police forces and others have asked for the formation of a British Columbia Police Commission. I am pleased to say that my government intends to bring in a bill which will establish such a commission with the power to set standards for police performance, recruitment policies, training programmes, ongoing research and discipline procedures.

In addition to this initiative in the justice field, my government intends to place before you legislation which will remove from the municipalities the financial burden of the courts system, and it will provide a mechanism to carry on future research, reorganization, and general improvement of the administration of justice in British Columbia.

Amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Act and an Act respecting public disclosure will also be forthcoming. To assist the consumers of British Columbia, my government intends to present measures designed to promote honesty and integrity in the marketplace. The Members will also be asked to consider measures by which the courts of this province may be properly assisted in processing the consumer's total picture of indebtedness, thereby being in an improved condition to consider the question of discretionary relief. A fair balancing of interest will benefit honest consumers and responsible creditors alike.

Amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Act will be placed before you as will an Act respecting Community Resource Boards. You will be asked to complete discussions on the review started

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last session on the Acts under the jurisdiction of the Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources.

The continuing difficulties in the housing field must still rank as one of the major problems facing our peoples. The recently created Department of Housing has for the first time committed all federal housing funds allocated to this province. The land-banking programme will be expanded, but with greater emphasis on immediate development of Crown land in all parts of the province.

The Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs placed before the House previously its report on the Gulf Islands. My government now intends to proceed to the next step dealing with this important part of British Columbia, and you will be asked to consider legislative provisions to ensure the continued protection of these unique islands.

Many of our citizens, our municipal councils, and indeed Members of this House, are conscious of the difficulties surrounding the complex question of property assessment and the effects of a realistic assessment of property values, which must be the first step in a rational tax policy. This subject matter will be referred to a special committee of the House for study during this session so that all points of view may be heard from our legislators, elected officials and the public generally.

The public accounts and the reports of the departments of my government will be laid before you, and you will be asked to grant to Her Majesty the ways and means of supply.

To these and all other matters which may come before you, I ask your most careful attention, praying that Divine Providence may guide you. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, I leave you now to the discharge of your legislative duties.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was pleased to retire from the chamber.

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

THE OUTLAWRIES ACT

Hon. Mr. Macdonald presents a message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled The Outlawries Act.

Bill 1 introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.

Hon. 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 the introduction of bills, until disposed of.

Motion approved.

Hon. E. Hall (Provincial Secretary): Mr. Speaker, I move that 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.

Hon. Mr. Barrett: Mr. Speaker, I move that the select standing committees of this House for the present session be appointed for the following purposes:

1. On Standing Orders and Private Bills;
2. On Public Accounts and Economic Affairs;
3. On Agriculture;
4. On Municipal Affairs and Housing;
5. On Labour and Justice;
6. On Health, Education and Human Resources;
7. On Transportation and Communications;
8. On Environment and Resources; 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 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, Bennett and D.A. Anderson.

Motion approved.

Mr. D.E. Lewis (Shuswap): Mr. Speaker, I move that Hartley Douglas Dent, Member for Skeena Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this session of the Legislative Assembly.

Motion approved.

Presenting reports.

The following papers were presented: Hon. E. Hall (Provincial Secretary) -

Eighteenth annual report of the business done in pursuance of the Members of the Legislative Assembly Superannuation Act.

Thirty-eighth annual report of the business done in pursuance of the Civil Service Superannuation Act.

Thirty-fourth annual report of the business done in pursuance of the Municipal

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Superannuation Act,

Fifth annual report of the business done in pursuance of the College Pension Act.

Thirty-second annual report of the Teachers' Pension Act.

Thirteenth annual report of the business done under the Public Service Group Insurance Act.

A report from the Library Development Commission.

A report from the Department of the Queen's Printer.

A report from the Capital Improvement District Commission.

The annual report of the British Columbia Department of Travel Industry.

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

The fifty-first annual report of the Fire Marshall for the year ended December 31, 1972.

Annual report of the British Columbia Racing Commission for 1973.

The fifty-second annual report of the Liquor Control Board covering the fiscal year ended March 31, 1973.

The fourth annual report of the Law Reform Commission of British Columbia for the calendar year 1973.

The report of the Law Reform Commission of the Province of British Columbia on Landlord and Tenant Relationships, project No. 12, residential tenancies.

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

The 102nd annual report of the Department of Education.

Hon. Mr. Barrett: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the Public Accounts of British Columbia for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1973. Return submitted in accordance with section 46 (2) of the Revenue Act, Revised Statutes of British Columbia.

Also I have the honour to present the annual report, fiscal year March 31, 1973, the office of the Assessment Appeal Board for the year ended December 31, 1973.

A statement of unclaimed money deposits under authority of the Unclaimed Money Deposits Act.

The thirty-first annual report of the Purchasing Commission, January 1, 1973 to December 31, 1973.

Mr. Speaker: The Minister of Finance files reports.

Hon. Mr. Barrett (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, I move that report No. 9 of the Select Standing Committee on Standing Orders and Private Bills adopted by this House on February 27, 1973, relating to oral questions, be adopted by this House for the present session.

Motion approved.

Hon. L.T. Nimsick presents the annual report of the Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources for the year ending December 31, 1973.

Hon. Mr. Barrett: Mr. Speaker, I move that on each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this session that there will be two distinct sittings on each day. One from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and one from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. And on each Friday there will be one sitting from 10 a.m. until I p.m. unless otherwise ordered.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Barrett moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 3:22 p.m.