This issue contains the prorogation of the 3rd session, 32nd parliament.

[ Page 6607 ]

CONTENTS

Morning Sitting

Routine Proceedings

Prorogation –– 6607

Appendix –– 6608

The House met at 10 a.m.

Prayers.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor entered the chamber and took his place in the chair.

HON. MR. BELL-IRVING (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr. Speaker and members, of the Legislative Assembly, in closing this third session of the thirty-second parliament, it gives me much pleasure to remark on the conscientious manner in which you discharged your duties in all matters which were put before you.

While you were deliberating the business of the people of British Columbia, we were all saddened by the death of a courageous young British Columbian, Terry Fox, whose Marathon of Hope has inspired people throughout the world. It is heartening to know that my government, in addition to awarding a large grant for the furtherance of cancer research while this young man was still among us, also established the Terry Fox Memorial Research Foundation to accelerate that work and later further enshrined his name in British Columbia's historical record by dedicating one of our majestic mountains in his name.

We also mourned the passing of two men well respected by this assembly: Robert Martin Strachan, who served this House with distinction for 23 years as a member, Leader of the Official Opposition, a minister of the Crown, and in later years as British Columbia's agent-general in London, England; and James Knight Nesbitt, an honoured member of the Fourth Estate who reported on the deliberations and accomplishments of this assembly for some four decades.

During the short recess you have had from this assembly, your Speaker received the most gracious letter of appreciation from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the illuminated copy of your unanimous resolution, signed by you all, of congratulations on the engagement of His Royal Highness to Lady Diana Spencer. A similar message of thanks was also delivered to my government's agent-general in London in appreciation of British Columbia's wedding gift of matching, hand-knit Cowichan sweaters. At the conclusion of his formal message, His Royal Highness personally wrote: "Would you please convey our warmest thanks to the government and people of British Columbia for their most generous gift."

Also during the recess, my government was the host of a most successful conference of all the Premiers of our nation. I'm particularly pleased, as favourable conferences of this type assist immeasurably in our common cause of national unity.

Turning to your accomplishments of the past year, it was most gratifying to learn of your concern for the rights of all people of our province, with the passage of legislation designed to protect those rights from abuse by those who would not consider all people to be equal under God. In response to the United Nations General Assembly declaration of 1981 as the International Year of the Disabled, my government initiated a provincial program of awareness of the contribution of disabled persons to the continuing development of British Columbia. Under the guidance of my Minister of Education the year has been an unqualified success and will continue beyond the year to carry its message to all our people.

Ours is a vast province, rich in natural wealth that must be shared by all. It pleased me to learn that in your discussions you have taken the first important steps toward development of our untold underground riches in the northeast section of British Columbia. At the same time, because of the potential danger in harvesting those natural resources, you approved legislation to protect our environment. Our people must not only be guaranteed a comfortable life from the earnings of our resources but must be safe in the knowledge that the beauty of our natural inheritance is not threatened by that harvesting.

In that same vein, my government is to be commended for steps it has taken to almost totally remove from use the leg-hold trap and, without impeding the trapping industry, introduce a more humane method of continuing with this productive and historic trade.

You took a major step toward the conservation of energy, and the convenience of the people of our lower mainland, through legislation that will initiate a public transportation system that will move people quickly and economically.

For the second consecutive year you showed fairness and consideration to the important small business sector of our province's economy through a reduction in income tax, benefiting some 50,000 small business operators.

It was with great satisfaction that I noted your legislative actions to improve safety standards in our huge and vital building industry, and that you established an advisory council to ensure that all regulations respecting structural design, construction and alteration of buildings are made only after consultation and concurrence of this commission.

In the matter of the health of our people you moved swiftly to ensure that health care remains within the financial reach of all, and with the Financial Administration Act you provided for more stringent control of the financial affairs of our province.

Concern for our senior citizens was exhibited in your decision to ease the financial burden of automobile insurance by establishing a program of financial assistance.

You also took legislative action to assist those people who rely on highly trained dogs to overcome a sight impairment by allowing those people to take their dogs with them into places of business.

During the period of your discussions you were joined by a new member for Kamloops, Claude Harry Richmond. I congratulate him on his success, and wish him well in his labours on behalf of his constituents and all of our people.

These are but a few highlights of your most recent deliberations to ensure that the people of this bounteous province are guaranteed the basic aims of life.

Honourable members, I now relieve you of your legislative duties, and I trust the blessing of Divine Providence will be with you as you shortly resume these duties.

HON. MR. WOLFE: Mr. Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly, it is His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor's will and pleasure that this Legislative Assembly be prorogued until 2 o'clock this afternoon, and this provincial Legislative Assembly is hereby prorogued accordingly.

The House prorogued at 10:19 a.m.

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Appendix

42 Mr. Skelly asked the Hon. the Minister of Forests the following questions:

During the fiscal years 1976-77 to 1980-81—

1. What pesticides did the Ministry purchase in each year, in what quantities and at what cost?

2. What quantities of each pesticide were used in each year, for what purpose and what was the total cost of each program?

3. What amount of each pesticide remained in storage or was disposed of at the end of each year?

4. What pesticides, in what quantities are presently in the possession of the Ministry?

The Hon. T. M. Waterland replied as follows:

"1, 2 and 3. The information is contained in the annexed tables headed 'Ministry of Forests Pesticide Inventory' for the respective fiscal years.

"4. The information is contained in the annexed table headed 'Ministry of Forests Pesticide Inventory, August 1981'."