HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 The Constitution Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 66, is amended by adding the following sections:

52.1  (1) At the commencement of each Parliament a Committee of Selection shall be appointed without notice, whose duty it shall be to prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of Members to compose the following Select Standing Committees of the House:

(a) Aboriginal Affairs;

(b) Agriculture;

(c) Arts and Culture;

(d) Crown Corporations;

(e) Children and Youth;

(f) Education;

(g) Finance and Government Services;

(h) Forestry;

(i) Health;

(j) Parliamentary Reform; and

(k) Public Accounts.

(2) The Committee of Selection shall consist of the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:

(a) the Speaker;

(b) the Minister;

(c) the Government House Leader;

(d) the Chair of the Government Caucus;

(e) the Opposition House Leader;

(f) the Chair of the Official Opposition Caucus;

(g) one member appointed from each additional party by the members of that party;

(h) for each member appointed under paragraph (g) one additional government member from the Government Caucus appointed by the Government House Leader.

52.2  (1) Each Standing Committee shall be comprised of Members of the Legislative Assembly from all parties, in proportion to their representation in the House.

(2) Each Standing Committee shall have a broad mandate overseeing a general area of policy.

(3) If it is later necessary to add or substitute a Member or Members of a Standing Committee, then the Committee of Selection shall add or substitute a Member or Members of a Standing Committee in accordance with subsection (1).

(4) At its first meeting, each Standing Committee shall elect the Chair of their Committee.

52.3  Once established, Standing Committees remain in existence for the duration of Parliament and will not dissolve due to prorogation.

52.4  If a report is tabled by a Standing Committee, the House shall debate and vote on the Committee report.

Terms of Reference for Standing Committees

52.5  (1) Standing Committees must inquire into, consider and report on any matter referred to them by the Assembly.

(2) Standing Committees may on their own initiative review any regulation, amendment to a regulation or prospective regulation, and legislation.

(3) Standing Committees may on their own initiative inquire into any matter concerned with the structure, organization, operation, efficiency or service delivery of any sector of public policy within its mandate.

(4) Standing Committees may meet and conduct their business regardless of whether or not the Legislative Assembly is in session.

(5) At its first meeting, each Standing Committee shall establish a meeting schedule for which all Members must adhere to.

52.6  Special Committees shall be established by a motion of the legislature.

2 Section 53 of the Act is amended

(a) by repealing subsection (1);

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out "authorized to sit under subsection (1)";

(c) in subsection (3) by striking out "authorized under subsection (1)".

 
Explanatory Note

This Bill establishes that Standing Committees shall be appointed at the beginning of each Parliament and will remain in existence for the duration of Parliament. This Bill ensures that the Standing Committees will be comprised of Members of the Legislative Assembly from all parties, in proportion to their representation in the House. This Bill also requires the House to debate and vote on reports submitted by Standing Committees. It also gives the Standing Committees broad terms of reference, allowing them to review matters on their own initiative.