[ Page 5117 ]

CONTENTS

Speech from the Throne

Hon. R.G. Rogers, Lieutenant-Governor –– 5117

An Act To Perpetuate A Parliamentary Right (Bill 1). Hon. Mr. Smith.

Introduction and first reading –– 5121

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1985

The House met at 2:04 p.m.

This being the first day of the third session of the thirty-third Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia for the dispatch of business, pursuant to the proclamation of the Hon. Robert Gordon Rogers, Lieutenant-Governor of the province, 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. R.G. ROGERS (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr. Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly, on behalf of our Sovereign I would like to extend greetings to you all on the opening of the third session of the thirty-third parliament of British Columbia. I trust and pray that the people of our province and their needs will remain in the forefront of your thoughts and deliberations, and that all members of this Assembly will strive during their service to work for the common well-being of all British Columbians, and to ensure that their hopes, dreams and aspirations are realized to the fullest extent possible.

As we gather here today, it is fitting that we pay tribute to the passing of old and valued friends. All British Columbians were saddened by the death of Major-General George Pearkes, a former representative of Her Majesty in British Columbia, and one of British Columbia's most distinguished citizens. The deep esteem in which General Pearkes was held by his fellow British Columbians was evidenced by the thousands who turned out to pay their respects at the state funeral.

The people of British Columbia also mourn the passing of Donald Campbell, who served his constituency of Okanagan North and the province with great dedication and enthusiasm; and of Arvid Lundell, a member of this Legislative Assembly between 1949 and 1963.

We mourn, too, the death of the legendary Archie McKinnon, one of our truly great athletic heroes.

Today, the thoughts of all of us are with Steve Fonyo, our fellow British Columbian who, in the tradition established by the late Terry Fox, is demonstrating that courage, determination and a brave spirit can overcome the most severe physical handicap.

During the past year, my government and the people of our province were honoured to welcome many important visitors, including His Holiness Pope John Paul II, whose visit was a unique inspirational event, not only for people of the Roman Catholic faith, but for all British Columbians.

I am pleased to make special note of the first official visit of Governor-General Jeanne Sauvé to British Columbia, and trust it will be only the first of many.

We also had the pleasure of hosting the King and Queen of Spain, the Prime Minister of Thailand and many other important visitors from around the world. We note, in particular, visits from the Pacific Rim, where we continue to strengthen economic and cultural ties in nations such as Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In the coming year my government will deepen and broaden contacts with other nations and peoples as we prepare to welcome the world to Expo 86. A committee under my Minister of Intergovernmental Relations will coordinate the many visits of heads of state and other foreign guests to Canada's Pacific gateway. This committee will ensure that all visitors, investors and countries participating in Expo leave with a greater understanding of our people and of the potential of every region of our province.

It pleases me greatly to note the successful conclusion of two international negotiations. After many years of discussion, my government's efforts culminated in the signing of a treaty between Canada and the United States of America which will safeguard the natural wonders of the Skagit Valley, while maintaining good relations with our neighbours in Seattle.

In recent days, too, Canada and the United States have reached agreement on the salmon fishery. I am advised that this agreement will help ensure that our commercial and sports fishing industries have a future in which they can trust. My government is hopeful that these two agreements will establish a pattern in the coming years for even deeper and broader contacts with our American neighbours in economic and cultural matters.

British Columbians, having shared the adversity of the international recession, are entitled to feel a quiet sense of optimism as our province enters what promises to be a time of economic renewal over this second half of the decade. Having restrained public sector costs, thus preventing the buildup of massive debt and corresponding tax increases, my government today has room to manoeuver to pursue its number one priority, the creation of real, permanent jobs for British Columbians.

As British Columbia continues to adjust and position itself within the next global economy, our people will face new challenges and new opportunities to work together for economic renewal. Our province, in terms of its people, natural resources, fresh water and energy, has a potential which is limitless. My government believes the road to economic renewal will be paved by harnessing the skills and talents of our people in a program of partnership for economic renewal. There are no easy or instant answers to the economic difficulties we still face.

But my government will introduce a number of initiatives to expand job opportunities in the private sector, to broaden British Columbia's economic base, to attract new investments, to increase exports, to train our young people for new opportunities, and to retrain those who have been most affected by the international recession.

[2:15]

Economic growth in British Columbia is highly dependent on demand in international markets for our products. Continuing low prices for our natural resources have had serious effects on critical sectors such as mining and forestry. These difficulties in our basic industries — the traditional engine of our economy — have constrained growth in other sectors and have reduced the revenues available to my government.

I am advised that our important forest industry continues to face increasingly competitive markets for its products, and, as as result, employment and earnings in the industry in 1984 remain significantly below the pre-recession levels of the late 1970s. Demand in the U.S. residential market for lumber remained relatively strong this past year as United

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States housing starts increased slightly to approximately 1.8 million units. I am advised that housing starts for 1985 are projected at a level equivalent to 1984.

Of major concern to British Columbia and Canada are attempts underway in the important United States market to limit Canadian lumber imports. My government will take whatever action is appropriate, in conjunction with business, labour and the federal government, to ensure that our access to this traditional market is retained and that quotas are not imposed.

I am advised that, in spite of the sorely depressed market for some minerals, the year 1984 saw an increase of 17 percent in the value of solid minerals produced in British Columbia.

This past year saw another gratifying development: more than 19 million metric tonnes of coal were shipped to destinations in the Pacific Rim, Europe, and other parts of North America. This represents a 68 percent increase in shipments.

Despite these positive signs, low prices and depressed global markets have had severe impacts on our most critical sectors — mining and forestry. While British Columbia cannot affect the price of, and demand for, the products of our mines and forests, I am advised that it is in our power to control costs. To this end my government will propose measures to facilitate a concrete partnership to restore jobs that have been lost and to save jobs that may be threatened.

My government will appoint an independent commissioner to provide an opportunity for interested parties to work together. The commissioner of critical industries will recommend measures, and assist in developing a partnership involving business, labour and government on the basis of common and equal commitment. As part of this partnership my government and its agencies stand ready to negotiate significant relief measures to aid our critical industries in the areas of taxation, transportation and energy costs.

My government is hopeful that strong federal leadership will assist in bringing about economic renewal in our province through lower interest rates and inflation in the months and years ahead.

Amendments to the Foreign Investment Review Act and changes to the national energy program are important steps in the process of convincing our friends, neighbours and trading partners that our country is again interested in attracting investment, new development and new employment.

I am advised that British Columbians now have strong representation in the national cabinet and in its most important committees, and that the diverse interests of our people will be promoted by a strong government caucus in Ottawa.

I am also advised that a positive and constructive atmosphere prevailed at the recent first ministers' conference on the economy, and that there was a recognition that investment within and from outside Canada is needed to help create jobs. As our province works in partnership with the federal government, with British Columbia's cabinet ministers and federal caucus, my government believes that a fair allocation of federal dollars will be directed to British Columbia in the key areas of forestry, agriculture, tourism, minerals, science and technology and manpower training.

After a full-scale public hearing, in July 1984 the British Columbia Utilities Commission recommended the southern route for the Vancouver Island gas pipeline. The commission also determined the magnitude of the federal contribution that would be required; this would represent equitable treatment for British Columbia relative to the pipeline constructed in Quebec and the Maritimes. My government will continue to assist British Columbia's representatives in Ottawa to press ahead with the federal government's commitment to the pipeline so as to ensure that construction begins as soon as possible.

My government will continue to pursue the early resolution of the question of offshore resources. A negotiated settlement of this long outstanding issue could provide the impetus to economic development for the benefit of both British Columbia and Canada.

I am advised that the western producing provinces and Canada are actively involved in negotiations on energy-pricing and taxation issues. My government views these negotiations as an excellent opportunity to stimulate the important oil and gas industries in our province.

I am advised that the immense potential of our food production industry will be enhanced by specific marketing initiatives which my government will undertake in cooperation with the private sector. These initiatives are intended to capture significant markets here and abroad, building towards an international food exhibition at Expo 86, which will provide global exposure of our industry to new markets and buyers from overseas.

The lower mainland's importance as a focal point for British Columbia's increasing trade and commercial links with the Pacific Rim will see my government intensify its efforts to develop a major international financial centre.

The channelling of international capital into resource and high-technology ventures in our province and elsewhere will continue to receive major emphasis. I am advised that British Columbia industry is already exploiting the leading edge of technology in underwater exploration and satellite communication, and that the future opportunities in the areas of biotechnology and mariculture are significant. In this regard my government views the development of the world's first rechargeable lithium batteries by Moli Energy Ltd. as an excellent example of job-creating partnerships between our universities, the private sector and agencies of government.

My Minister of Finance has undertaken a comprehensive review of taxation in British Columbia and its effect on economic development. Throughout the fall of 1984 extensive public hearings were conducted to seek the opinions of British Columbians on the topic. More than 350 submissions were made in 27 communities. This extensive public input will form the major underpinning of the plans my Minister of Finance will present to this assembly.

In the weeks and months ahead, led by my first minister, members of my government will travel across our province to communicate directly with ordinary British Columbians, our private sector, labour and management groups and local governments to put in place a program of partnership for economic renewal. At the same time my Minister of Municipal Affairs will offer to municipalities a program of partnership for economic renewal at the local level. In broadening the partnership, my government will harness the $2 billion a year purchasing power of municipalities and other public sector bodies, including Crown corporations, to create new opportunities for business and new jobs for British Columbians.

My government recently established the new B.C. Lottery Corporation. The coming year will see the hiring of more than 100 people from the Kamloops area to staff the headquarters. With an annual payroll of more than $3 million, the Lottery Corporation will be a significant addition to the business community of Kamloops, and the purchasing power

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of the corporation will provide the foundation for the spinoff of new jobs and high-technology industries.

In the coming year my Minister of International Trade and Investment will launch an intensive and aggressive campaign to expand exports and investment. As part of this campaign my government will move to increase British Columbia's presence in key markets by placing representatives in Canada's embassies and consulates abroad. This initiative is viewed by my government as a very high priority because of the importance of exports and investment to the provincial economy, and in the coming year these efforts will be supplemented by trade missions in which private sector participation will be encouraged.

Continued support will be extended to the Asia Pacific Foundation to aid in its valuable activities to promote and strengthen economic and cultural ties among British Columbia, Canada and the nations of the Pacific Rim. Our drive to penetrate new markets for our exports and to increase trade will be matched by our efforts to attract new industries in order to create new employment for British Columbians.

Given the present trade orientation of our province and our developing role in the Pacific economic community, my government will introduce special measures to promote enterprise in British Columbia in cooperation with the federal government.

In order to increase the attractiveness of our local communities as places for new job-creating investments, my government will propose measures to permit the negotiation of short- to medium-term discounts for incremental electricity and longer-term electricity discounts to encourage new investment.

An important factor in our province's drive to increase its exports and attract new job-creating investment is the continued improvement in labour-management relations in British Columbia. I am advised that significant improvements have, in fact, taken place since 1981 and that British Columbia's performance is improving steadily relative to other provinces in Canada. My government attaches great importance to demonstrating to our trading partners and potential investors a new level of maturity and stability in industrial relations.

My government will continue to assess ways and means to improve industrial relations. Toward this end, my Minister of Labour will consult with ordinary British Columbians on the future of industrial relations in our province.

My government will propose new measures to encourage ordinary British Columbians to invest their savings in existing and new businesses — particularly small business — and to help create new jobs.

To invest in the province's future and contribute to employment, my government has already undertaken several major projects. Ports, rail and highways are vital to our province's future, and I am advised that significant advances have taken place in the shipment of coal and grain from Prince Rupert, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Major initiatives such as Expo 86, the new Annacis bridge and the Coquihalla Highway are by conservative estimates expected to create up to 25,000 jobs between now and 1987. The Coquihalla Highway, I am advised, will provide a new connection for visitors to Expo — including international investors — to travel to the interior of our province and will provide new opportunities on the coast for interior businesses and residents.

My government is committed to the development of tourism and looks forward to welcoming new visitors to British Columbia during Expo 86. A healthy tourism industry, with its heavy reliance on small business entrepreneurs, will help provide jobs and employment opportunities for British Columbians now and in the years ahead. During 1984, more than 12 million visitors traveled in British Columbia, spending more than $2.2 billion. My Minister of Tourism will place increased emphasis on three major goals: the continued increase of tourism revenues through aggressive and effective marketing; the development of high-quality tourist facilities and services to complement British Columbia's stunning natural attributes; and the ongoing encouragement and coordination of training programs to enhance the high standards of service required for a truly effective and world-class tourism industry.

Expo 86 will be a benefit to all British Columbians. The world will see British Columbia in a way which has never been the case before. Investors in the key areas of transportation and communication will see our province as a good place to live and a good place to locate and create jobs. This $1.5 billion in expenditures will create a $4 billion increase in economic activity in Canada, $3 billion of which will be in British Columbia. Sixty-three thousand person-years of employment and $1.3 billion in wages and salaries will result.

[2:30]

The spirit of Expo 86 will live on through a legacy of permanent facilities and community benefits to be enjoyed by future generations throughout the province. But my government believes our greatest heritage will assuredly be the lasting spirit and reputation of having shown the world that we can achieve great things together.

The reform of our legislative and democratic process is an ongoing task. An enumeration of voters will be conducted in 1985 using computer technology to update voter lists.

Regulatory reform is underway across all levels and in every ministry of my government and ongoing efforts are being made to cut government red tape and end bureaucratic roadblocks in order to produce more cost-efficient and effective programs for the benefit of taxpayers.

My government believes that the family unit remains the cornerstone of British Columbia's society. My Attorney-General will initiate a number of reforms to strengthen, consolidate and update legislation in areas of family law related to children and spouses.

The civil rights of children and women will be further protected through measures designed to deal with the growing availability of materials, particularly those related to sex and violence. I am advised that law enforcement in British Columbia will be examined to determine that the most effective and cost-efficient procedures are being followed, and my Attorney-General will continue to view the reduction of child abuse and wife assault as matters of high priority. In addition, steps will be taken to bring provincial legislation into conformity with the equality rights provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which come into effect on April 17, 1985.

The year 1985 marks the conclusion of the United Nations Decade for Women. My government wishes to recognize the substantial and tangible contribution women make to the economy and society of this province. Many women in the public service have received special training and instruction in career advancement, and my government intends to continue this program in the coming year.

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My government continues to place its highest priority on the maintenance of our excellent health care system. My Ministry of Health will again receive the single largest spending allocation of all government ministries — approximately one-third of the total provincial budget.

My government's commitment to high-quality health care is exemplified by the recent opening of the A. Maxwell Evans Clinic, which offers 100 beds and a large ambulatory unit. The Cancer Control Agency of B.C. now provides British Columbians with access to facilities and services which are among the finest in the world.

I am advised that the hospitals and practitioners of British Columbia are to be commended for maintaining high-quality essential health services with only modest increases in expenditure. Improved efficiency, reductions in duplication and restrained settlements have all contributed to the maintenance of our excellent system.

In the area of higher education, my government is committed to consultation and cooperation with the universities and the Universities Council to promote excellence within a context of adjusting to changing priorities. I am advised that our universities have made specific commitments to review institutional academic priorities. My government will provide special assistance to permit our universities to strengthen areas of high priority and reduce areas of lesser priority. Measures will be introduced to improve technological and vocational training within the college system.

In 1985 — International Youth Year — my government will implement a new scholarship program to reward merit and achievement.

My government has strengthened its commitment to distance learning by establishing the Open Learning Consortium. Through this consortium, students can combine classroom and home study from member institutions to obtain a degree, no matter where they live or their financial or personal situation.

I am advised that the Knowledge Network has continued to improve the quality of its educational programming and its coverage of the province., Viewer ratings and correspondence confirm that it is highly regarded as a valuable service by many residents.

The establishment of the science and engineering complex at the University of Victoria and the new pulp and paper centre at the University of British Columbia are prime examples of partnership in economic renewal.

Employment training remains a high priority of my government. An extension of the federal-provincial National Training Act has been signed, and negotiations are being held with the federal government to ensure that British Columbia's labour force is adequately trained to meet future needs.

In keeping with my government's concern that young people find summer employment, last year's successful job creation programs — the Student Venture Capital program and the Jobs for Youth program — will be continued.

In the field of public education, I'm pleased to report that examinations and learning assessments show our young people are performing well in critically important areas. My Minister of Education will continue to discuss new directions and methods to bring about further improvements.

In recognition of our increasingly technological society, my government is proposing changes to high school graduation requirements that will place greater emphasis on mathematics and science. My government believes that effective teaching results in quality education, and I am advised that measures to reward teachers who display outstanding ability will be considered.

My Minister of Education will consult with the community on the future of our school system and will propose new measures for consideration by members. My government's commitment to help the disadvantaged, the handicapped and those British Columbians who encountered difficulties as a result of the recession, was met in a wide range of areas.

I am informed by my Minister of Human Resources that service levels were maintained in all programs despite increased workloads. My government commends the performance of the 79 non-profit societies providing services to approximately 4,500 handicapped adults. All British Columbians owe a particular debt of gratitude to the 4,000 foster families who care for the wards of the superintendent of family and child services.

Combatting child abuse will continue to be a high priority for my Minister of Human Resources. Increased public awareness of the resources available for reporting suspected incidents of abuse or neglect, such as the Helpline for Children, will be promoted. I am advised that the staff of the ministry will continue to undergo training in the crucial area of child protection.

My Minister of Environment, with sound environmental legislation now in place, will continue to fulfil his mandate to protect and enhance environmental quality in British Columbia.

Recent monitoring of air quality in the lower mainland has indicated emerging problems associated with acid rain and high ozone levels. My Minister of Environment will continue his cooperative program with the other western provinces and with the State of Washington on acid rain, and has initiated an ozone control program in the lower mainland.

Because of flood damage sustained last year at various locations throughout the province, provision will be made for an enhanced diking program this year.

The diverse cultural heritage of our province is an integral component of the fabric of British Columbia society. My government will propose a number of measures to further enhance British Columbia's heritage.

My government is proud to report that British Columbia, a province with 10 percent of Canada's population, sent 112 athletes — or 25 percent of the Canadian teams — to the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Nine of these athletes returned with gold medals, four with silver and eight with bronze. In addition, nine British Columbia athletes competed for Canada at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. In World Disabled Games competitions our athletes won 21 gold, 18 silver and 14 bronze medals.

My government will add a new dimension to sports programs aimed at increasing the number of B.C. athletes on the 1988 Olympic team. The first phase of the program — B.C.'s Best Ever — will channel $1.6 million to six Winter Olympic sports, with the objective of doubling the number of B.C. athletes on the Canadian team for the Calgary Olympics. I am advised that the second phase will focus on summer sports for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Last year thousands of athletes competed in the B.C. Winter Games in Fort St. John and the Summer Games in Burnaby. In 1985 about 275,000 British Columbians will be involved in playdowns leading to the games, making it the largest participation program in North America. Osoyoos and Oliver hosted the 1985 Winter Games last week, with

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nearly 2,100 athletes competing. These two communities, with a combined population of 4,500, provided 2,400 volunteers, working in a highly successful partnership. All British Columbians can look forward to equally successful Summer Games in Nanaimo, which will host more than 3,000 competitors in 1985.

Since they were initiated by my government in 1977, the B.C. Games have been consistently successful because of the thousands of local volunteers in the host communities, and my government wishes to pay tribute to them for their efforts.

My government believes in the power and potential of individuals. It is their initiative, their effort and their creativity that have made our country and our province great.

Hon. members, you are now poised to embark on a significant and challenging session. British Columbians, in every corner of our province, will watch and follow your activities and decisions with close interest as you work to bring about economic renewal. With the leadership provided by my government, our people have come through our most testing times together. I am confident that you will overcome our economic difficulties and, in a spirit of cooperation and partnership, help build a stronger British Columbia for all people.

May Divine Providence attend and guide you in your deliberations.

In the name of our Sovereign, I thank you.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, in order to prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy of the speech from His Honour.

Introduction of Bills

AN ACT TO PERPETUATE A
PARLIAMENTARY RIGHT

Hon. Mr. Smith presented a message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor: a bill intituled An Act to Perpetuate a Parliamentary Right.

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. MR. CHABOT: I move 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.

[2:45]

HON. MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I move that the select standing committees of this House for the present session be appointed for the following reasons:

(1) On Standing Orders, Private Bills and Members Services;

(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;

(9) On Crown Corporations; 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), the committee to be composed of Hon. G.B. Gardom, Hon. J.A. Nielsen, Hon. H.W. Schroeder, Messrs. Ree, Mowat, Veitch, Howard, Hanson and Ms. Sanford.

MR. HOWARD: Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a few comments with respect to this motion, and indicate to you and to the House initially and at the outset that I want to propose an amendment to it. Let me read that amendment and somehow or other get it to Your Honour and to others opposite.

The amendment is as follows: that the motion be amended by adding immediately after " (9) On Crown Corporations," the following: "(10) On Economic Reconstruction and Job Creation;" and by deleting the words "and Economic Affairs" from item (2). The effect of the amendment, Mr. Speaker, would be to establish an additional committee of this Legislature, one on economic reconstruction and job creation, and to remove an anomaly, I suppose, in item (2) on Public Accounts and Economic Affairs by removing the reference to economic affairs.

The removal of the reference to "economic affairs" is necessary because of the importation of the concept of economic reconstruction and job creation into this proposed new committee. In any event, the Public Accounts Committee, as it is loosely referred to, has never had an opportunity to examine economic affairs; it has only had the opportunity to look at Public Accounts and the auditor-general's report, which is basically looking into the past.

The amendment before you says that we should look into the future. What we need is to involve all of the elements in this Legislature — to travel, talk with people, to listen to people particularly, to work on the concept of reconstructing our economy — in doing something positive and helpful for the citizens of this province. I know, Mr. Speaker, that the speech from His Excellency that we just heard indicated that the First Minister and other ministers are going to travel throughout the province bringing the message, as the saying goes, but this government has indicated that it hasn't been able to do anything worthwhile for this economy. All it has brought is misery in the past. They've got a history of contributing miserable situations to the economy of this province. They've got a history of engaging in confrontational and attacking prospects with respect to people in this province. They have a history of making the recession worse than it possibly could have been by contributing to it. They have proved, Mr. Speaker, to be incompetent to manage the economy. Let me repeat that for the benefit of the Premier — incompetent insofar as managing the economy of this province is concerned.

So we have an opportunity and a chance to carve out a new direction, to involve all of the people in this Legislature, not just that select few that happen to be in the cabinet, in a non-partisan approach to economic matters in this province.

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1 urge the government — and I know it will; in my heart I know it will because it believes in this approach — to accept the motion and to follow up later on with the motion to refer some substantive matters to that committee so that all of the people in this Legislature, through a committee on economic reconstruction and job creation, can get on with the prospects of bringing this province into some realities insofar as jobs are concerned.

HON. MR. BENNETT: The member was so gracious in his remarks, I was almost tempted to accept the motion, but the government rejects it.

MR. LEA: Mr. Speaker, I am going to speak in favour of the amendment. I just can't wait to get in with this new cooperative approach that both sides are taking.

The New Democrats have put forward a motion that I think makes some sense, because it's true that there has never been a chance, in my experience, to discuss economic affairs in this province in the Public Accounts Committee. I think this amendment would give an opportunity for that.

But I suppose if we want the government to accept that, the best way to go about it is to tell them how we can work together in the future as opposed to telling them how big a flop they were in the past.

On the other hand, the Premier could have overlooked it and accepted it and we could have had some cooperation in this House. Maybe we could have moved forward. So if this is the kind of cooperation that is going to be in the House between the two major parties, I think we should go back to confrontation where we can get things happening.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to support the amendment because I think it makes some sense. I don't see it as a panacea, but I sure like the new spirit that I see in the House today.

Amendment negatived on the following division:

YEAS — 21

NAYS — 32

Division ordered to be recorded in the Journals of the House.

Motion approved.

HON. MR. GARDOM: I move, seconded by the hon. member for Skeena (Mr. Howard) that William Bruce Strachan, Esq., member for Prince George South, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this session of the Legislative Assembly.

Motion approved.

HON. MR. GARDOM: I also move, again seconded by the hon. member for Skeena, that Angus Ree, Esq., member for North Vancouver–Capilano, be appointed Deputy Chairman of Committee of the Whole for this session of the Legislative Assembly.

MR. HOWARD: Mr. Speaker, it might behoove us to examine what we are doing. We are — and I say this because this is a new benchmark for this chamber — formally choosing by motion at the outset a Deputy Chairman of Committee of the Whole. What we are doing is indicating to the person so chosen that there is unanimity of feeling within the House about his selection and appointment to that high office, and that that carries with it the obligation on the part of the person holding that particular office to exhibit, in conducting the affairs of Committee of the Whole, absolute impartiality in terms of rulings and the conduct of the business of the House. It's a time-honoured tradition that we go through with Your Honour, and with the Deputy Speaker on another occasion. I thought this occasion should not go by without saying that this is our obligation to ourselves, this is our hope and anticipation, and I'm sure the member chosen for this office pursuant to this motion will carry that out in the time-honoured tradition as well.

HON. MR. GARDOM: Well, I have the greatest confidence in the hon. member, and I'm sure that all hon. members fully appreciate that the hon. member in question totally appreciates both his obligations and his responsibilities.

Motion approved.

HON. MR. GARDOM: Mr. Speaker, before moving the final adjournment motion, I would very much like to express the best welcome and, indeed, best wishes to the many gifts — I'm sorry, guests — of all hon. members on the floor of this assembly and in the galleries. [Laughter.] The gifts have not yet come to my desk, but I'm looking forward to them. I would say to them, on behalf of all hon. members, that we do wish you would again visit us, bearing gifts if you wish to, and hear our deliberations in this third session of British Columbia's thirty-third parliament.

Hon. Mr. Gardom moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 3:00 p.m.