Second Session, Thirty-sixth Parliament
REPORT: SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON PARLIAMENTARY REFORM, ETHICAL CONDUCT, STANDING ORDERS & PRIVATE BILLS
REPORT

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.

Committee email: ClerkComm@leg.bc.ca

Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders & Private Bills

Report

Second Session
Thirty-sixth Parliament

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

July 30, 1997

Graeme Bowbrick, MLA
Chair

TABLE OF CONTENTS Transmittal
Terms of Reference
Committee Process
Composition of the Committee
Recommendation
Biographical Note

Transmittal

July 30, 1997
To the Honourable,
The Legislative Assembly of
The Province of British Columbia,
Victoria, British Columbia
Honourable Members:
I have the honour to present herewith the Report of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. This Report covers the work of the Committee for the first and second sessions of the 36th Parliament in regard to recommending an appointment for Conflict of Interest Commissioner under the Members' Conflict of Interest Act.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Committee,
Mr. Graeme Bowbrick, MLA
Chairperson

Terms of Reference

On August 14, 1996, the House passed the following motion:

That this House authorize the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills to select and unanimously recommend to the Legislative Assembly the appointment of a Commissioner or Commissioners of Conflict of Interest pursuant to the Committee's Final Report on the matter of the Members' Conflict of Interest Act.

On June 17, 1997, the House passed the following motion:

That after the Committee has unanimously recommended the appointment of a Commissioner, Conflict of Interest and the Commissioner, Conflict of Interest is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council pursuant to the Members' Conflict of Interest Act (RSBC 1996 c.287 s.14(2)) the Committee is authorized to examine, inquire into and make recommendations on the matter of the Members' Conflict of Interest Act (RSBC 1996 c.287).

In addition to the powers previously conferred upon the said Committee by the House, the Committee be empowered:

(a) to appoint of their number, one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee (but to deal with matters in the order in which the Committee has been authorized to deal with them);
(b) to sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;
(c) to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and
(d) to retain such personnel as required to assist the Committee;

and shall report to the House as soon as possible, or following any adjournment, or at the next following Session, as the case may be; to deposit the original of its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly during a period of adjournment and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chair shall present all reports to the Legislative Assembly.

Committee Process

The Committee was initially referred the matter of recommending a new Conflict of Interest Commissioner to the Legislative Assembly on August 14, 1996. These terms of reference were renewed for the present session on June 17, 1997. Following organizational meetings during the fall, advertisements for the position were placed in major newspapers in January 1997, inviting applications from qualified candidates.

The Committee received a total of 205 applications, all of which were reviewed by a sub-committee. Of these, eleven were considered to possess all of the qualifications necessary for the position and were granted interviews.

Composition of the Committee

First Session, 36th Parliament

Mr. Graeme Bowbrick, MLA — Chairperson
Mr. Rick Thorpe, MLA — Deputy Chairperson
Mr. Ian Waddell, MLA
Ms. Joan Sawicki, MLA
Mr. Harry Lali, MLA
Mr. Tim Stevenson, MLA
Ms. Cathy McGregor, MLA
Mr. Fred Randall, MLA
Mr. Gary Farrell-Collins, MLA
Mr. Paul Nettleton, MLA
Ms. Katherine Whittred, MLA
Mr. Jack Weisgerber, MLA

Clerk to the Committee — Neil Reimer

Second Session, 36th Parliament

Mr. Graeme Bowbrick, MLA — Chairperson
Mr. Rick Thorpe, MLA — Deputy Chairperson
Mr. Ian Waddell, MLA
Ms. Joan Sawicki, MLA
Mr. Harry Lali, MLA
Mr. Tim Stevenson, MLA
Ms. Gretchen Brewin, MLA
Mr. Fred Randall, MLA
Mr. Gary Farrell-Collins, MLA
Mr. Paul Nettleton, MLA
Ms. Katherine Whittred, MLA
Mr. Jack Weisgerber, MLA

Clerk to the Committee — Neil Reimer

Recommendation

Your Committee unanimously recommends to the Legislative Assembly that the Hon. H.A.D. Oliver be appointed to the position of Conflict of Interest Commissioner, pursuant to the Members' Conflict of Interest Act.

Biographical Note

After practising law in London, England, H.A.D. Oliver came to Vancouver in 1952, when he was admitted to the British Columbia bar. He became a Queen's Counsel in 1982 and a bencher in 1984. In 1988, Mr. Oliver was appointed Judge of the County Court and Local Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He served most recently as a Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia from 1990-1996.

Mr. Oliver has held numerous other professional appointments, including serving on the National Council of the Canadian Bar Association and the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; he was named an Honorary Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is a member of the Council of the International Commission of Jurists (Canadian Section). He has been awarded, for legal services, National Orders of Merit from France, Germany and Liberia.

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