[ Page 6589 ]

Election of Speaker

Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is my duty pursuant to standing order 11 to inform you that only one candidate has declared an intention to stand for election as Speaker. Therefore it is my duty to announce that Gretchin Brewin, the member for Victoria-Beacon Hill, is declared elected as Speaker.

Hon. G. Brewin took her place in the chair.

The Speaker: Hon. members of the assembly, most humbly I would like to thank you for the great honour that you have bestowed upon me this day by selecting me to be your Speaker. In keeping with the tradition of this high office, I will endeavour at all times to carry out my duties with fairness and integrity.

I now ask for your patience while I declare a short recess in order to assume the appropriate attire.

The House recessed from 10:06 a.m. to 10:13 a.m.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

The Speaker: I recognize the Premier.

Hon. G. Clark: Thank you very much. It's a privilege for me, on behalf of all of the government members, to congratulate you on your new job as Speaker of this august chamber. I actually noticed, hon. Speaker, that you fought a little harder coming up here than the last Speaker did. I'm sure that's just my imagination. But I know that as a former mayor of Vancouver. . . .

Interjections.

Hon. G. Clark: Sorry -- mayor of Victoria. . . .

Interjections.

Hon. G. Clark: That's that guy. I get confused, you know.

As a former mayor of Victoria and as the member for Victoria-Beacon Hill for some seven years now, we know you're going to do a superb job, a fair job for all parties in the House. We really do offer our heartfelt congratulations to you. I think you'll do a superb job. Congratulations.

G. Campbell: As a former mayor of Victoria. . . . [Laughter.] As a former mayor of Vancouver, I want to say that I know you are used to non-partisan presiding over a community like this. Your task is often a difficult one. I want to offer you the support of all of this side of the House as we strengthen the Legislature and improve legislative debate, so that the people of British Columbia can be proud of what takes place in this chamber. I'm sure they will be proud of your performance as well.

[10:15]

G. Wilson: Hon. Speaker, I would also, on behalf of members of the not-Liberal opposition, like to congratulate you on your appointment and wish you well in your job. I know that if this House is to work well, it's important that all members have access to debate and that all members are free to be able to participate in the governance of this province. I congratulate you on your appointment, and I look forward to working with you.

J. Weisgerber: As a non-PDA opposition member. . . . [Laughter.] As the saying goes, Madam Speaker, there but for the grace of God. . . .

Interjections.

J. Weisgerber: I expect that a number of members will take aim before the. . . . [Laughter.]

Hon. Speaker, in all sincerity I want to wish you the very best. I can assure you that no matter what issues you face, you'll have my wholehearted support.

The Speaker: Thank you very much. I'll refrain from remarks about decoys.

I recognize the hon. member for Matsqui.

M. de Jong: This being my first opportunity to do so, I rise to reserve the right to raise a matter of privilege involving the member for Surrey-Whalley.

The Speaker: Thank you. So noted.

The Lieutenant-Governor is in the precincts. We will proceed to the next order of business.

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

The Speaker: May it please Your Honour, the House of Assembly has elected me as their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfil the important duties thus assigned to me. If, in the performance of those duties, I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault be imputed to me and not to the assembly, whose servant I am and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to the Queen and country, humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that they may have freedom of speech in their debates and access to Your Honour's person in all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Honour the most favourable interpretation.

Hon. U. Dosanjh: Hon. Speaker, I am commanded by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor to declare to you that he freely confides in the duty and attachment of the House of Assembly to Her Majesty's person and government, and not doubting that their respective proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, he grants, and upon all occasions will recognize and allow, their constitutional privileges.

I am commanded also to assure you that the assembly shall have ready access to His Honour the Lieutenant-

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Governor upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from him the most favourable construction.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

Clerk of the House:

September 29, 1997
The Honourable Dale Lovick
Speaker
Parliament Buildings

Hon. Speaker:

Re: By-election --
Electoral District of Surrey-White Rock,
September 15, 1997

The May 7, 1997, resignation of Wilf Hurd, the member for the electoral district of Surrey-White Rock, created a vacancy in the membership of the Legislative Assembly.

A writ of election was issued on August 18, 1997, requiring that a by-election be held to fill the vacancy. Accordingly, September 15, 1997, was designated as general voting day.

The by-election was held in accordance with the provisions of the Election Act, and the completed writ of election has been returned to me.

I hereby certify the election of Gordon Hogg as the member to represent the electoral district of Surrey-White Rock in the Legislative Assembly.

Yours very truly,
Robert A. Patterson
Chief Electoral Officer

Motion approved.

G. Campbell: Hon. Speaker, I have the honour to present to you Gordon Hogg, the member for the electoral district of Surrey-White Rock, who has taken the oath, signed the parliamentary roll and claims his right to take his seat.

Tabling Documents

Hon. members, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor is available and about to re-enter the chamber.

[10:30]

Prorogation Address

Further, hon. members, in closing the second session of the thirty-sixth parliament of British Columbia, may I also 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. On behalf of all British Columbians, I wish to thank you for the care and attention that you have given to your deliberations.

I now relieve you of your legislative duties for a while, because time and tide prevailing, I look forward to returning this afternoon.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor retired from the chamber.

[The Speaker in the chair.]

The Speaker: Hon. members, just before the Attorney General makes his motion, I'd like to say a few words to the House, if I might.

First of all, I'd like to say thank you for the honour that you have bestowed on me and to recall, for all of us, previous Speakers. For myself there is the honour of following in the footsteps of the Hon. Nancy Hodges some years back; more currently, the member for Burnaby-Willingdon; and then, most recently, the member for Nanaimo.

I'd also like to draw to your attention that I would be happy to send, on your behalf, our best wishes to Mr. Emery Barnes, a former Speaker. He is, as we all know, not well.

With that, I call on the Attorney General.

Hon. U. Dosanjh: Hon. 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 10:34 a.m.

Copyright © 1998: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada