(Hansard)
Morning
Volume 2, Number 25
[ Page 2083 ]
The House met at 11:35 a.m.
Prayers.
The Speaker: Hon. members, I have the honour today to present the following documents: auditor general 1996-97 report No. 1, Management of Child Care Grants: Ministry of Women's Equality, Performance Audit; auditor general 1996-97 report No. 2, Crown Corporations Governance Study; auditor general 1996-97 report No. 3, Vancouver Island Highway Project: Planning and Design, Performance Audit; auditor general 1996-97 report No. 4, Trucking Safety: Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Motor Vehicles Branch, Performance Audit; auditor general 1996-97 report No. 5, A Review of Government Revenue and Expenditure Programs Relating to Alcohol, Tobacco and Gaming; a report of the chief electoral officer relating to the statement of votes of the thirty-sixth provincial general election held on May 28, 1996, pursuant to section 13 of the Election Act; and a report entitled, Opinion of the Acting Commissioner of Conflict of Interest in the Matter of Alleged Contravention of Provisions of the Members' Conflict of Interest Act by the Honourable Member for Esquimalt-Metchosin.
Members, I am advised that the Lieutenant-Governor is in the….
I'm sorry. Opposition House Leader.
G. Farrell-Collins: Point of order. I believe that under the provisions of the Election Act there is a requirement for the Speaker, under section 5, to appoint, during the first session of the Legislature following the second general election after this section comes into force, a committee to review electoral boundaries. I'm wondering if the Speaker intends to do that before we prorogue. Otherwise, I suspect that the chief electoral officer will be after you, as he has been after a number of people in this province.
The Speaker: I thank the member for his point of order. This is to advise him that I am in the process of sending out letters of invitation to various people to serve on that committee. I recognize that our deadline seems to have passed. We had some difficulty finding the appropriate bodies, getting the appropriate nominations. However, I will take action to remedy the situation as promptly as I can.
G. Farrell-Collins: Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I would say to the Speaker that my interpretation of the act would be that the House should not be proroguing until such time as the requirements of the statute are fulfilled. I think you would do yourself a disservice if you were to allow this House to prorogue and put yourself in violation of the Election Act. There is no provision for the Speaker to decide whether he chooses to comply with the act. The act is there; the act is explicit. It has been eight months that the Speaker has had an opportunity to do that. I assume that the minute this House prorogues, the Speaker has then violated the Election Act and would subsequently be sanctioned by the chief electoral officer.
The Speaker: I thank the member for the cautionary note. All I can do at this point is simply say that I have not had that legal opinion about the legislation expressed to me. I will take the matter under advisement. As I say, I certainly appreciate the member's caution that perhaps we — "we" meaning the Chair — put ourselves in that awkward position. I don't think, however, that at this point I am prepared to stop all the proceedings of the government: of British Columbia and the business of the Legislature. Having said that, I don't think.... I'm sorry. Member.
G. Farrell-Collins: Then I would like to advise the Speaker that I would like to reserve the right of privilege on this matter.
The Speaker: I thank the member for extending that courtesy to the Chair. I appreciate that. Members, I believe the….
I'm sorry. The member for Delta South.
F. Gingell: This being my first opportunity, I also reserve the right to raise an issue on a matter of privilege concerning documents earlier tabled in this House by the member for Saanich South, the Minister of Finance.
The Speaker: Thank you, member, for that courtesy. I appreciate it.
M. de Jong: This being my first opportunity, I also seek to reserve the right to raise a matter of personal privilege respecting the member for Saanich South.
The Speaker: Thank you, member. I appreciate that.
Members, I would just ask you to please remain seated until the Lieutenant-Governor arrives.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor entered the chamber and took his place in the chair.
Hon. G. Gardom (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr. Speaker, Hon. members, in closing this first session of the thirty-sixth parliament of British Columbia, I wish to commend you on the accomplishments of the past year. This session has seen the passage of measures of wide-ranging and significant importance to the people of our province, and on behalf of all British Columbians, I wish to express my appreciation for the care and attention you have given to your deliberations. I now relieve you of your legislative duties.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor retired from the chamber.
[11:45]
Hon. U. Dosanjh: Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is His Honour the Lieutenant Governor's will and pleasure that the Legislative Assembly be prorogued until 2 p.m. today, and this provincial Legislative Assembly is hereby prorogued accordingly.
The House prorogued at 11:46 a.m.