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The printed version remains the official version.
One-thirty o’clock p.m.
Prayers and Reflections by Ms. Sturko.
The Hon. A. Kang (Minister of Municipal Affairs) presented to the Speaker a Message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:
Janet Austin
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 11) intituled Vancouver Charter Amendment Act, 2024, and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
March 12, 2024.
Bill introduced and read a first time.
Bill Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.
Order called for “Members’ Statements.”
Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Order called for Committee of Supply.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A and Section C of Committee of Supply.
22 The Hon. R. Kahlon moved —
That, as an exercise of the Legislative Assembly’s exclusive right to regulate its own internal affairs as they relate to its legislative and deliberative functions, including control over the conduct of its proceedings, the use of videoconferencing technology be authorized to enable all Members to be present in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly through remote participation, counting towards quorum, while other Members continue to be present physically in the Legislative Chamber, thereby enabling hybrid proceedings of the House.
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
That, recognizing the importance of responsible government and the fundamental role of the Legislative Assembly to scrutinize the executive, the House affirm the expectation for Members of the Executive Council to make every effort to be physically present for proceedings of the House, particularly for Oral Question Period and when a Minister is to answer questions on any assigned Votes within the Estimates in the Committee of Supply or answer questions on a Bill in a Committee of the Whole House, for Members of the Executive Council to fulfill their collective ministerial responsibility to the Legislative Assembly.
And that, consequently, the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended by replacing Standing Order 8 as follows:
Attendance required. Remote participation.
8. (1) Every Member is bound to attend the service of the House and is expected to make every effort to do so in person. The expectation of in-person attendance is higher for Members of the Executive Council, particularly for Oral Question Period and when a Minister is to answer questions on any assigned Votes within the Estimates in the Committee of Supply or answer questions on a Bill in a Committee of the Whole House.
(2) When a Member is unable to attend the service of the House in person, the Member may be authorized, in accordance with subsection (3) (b), to attend the service of the House through the approved videoconferencing technology, and will be counted as present for the purposes of quorum and for the purposes of determining a majority of votes. A Member participating in the business of the House by such means must have the audio and video functions enabled with their face clearly visible in order to be counted towards quorum, to participate in debate, and to vote.
(3) In enabling remote participation of Members in proceedings of the House, the Speaker shall:
(a) approve the videoconferencing technology platform used to support hybrid proceedings of the House, and
(b) establish and publish rules, expectations and requirements for remote connectivity and participation by Members, and shall consult the House Leaders or Whips as required.
(4) When a Member is participating in proceedings of the House by remote means, the Speaker is empowered to:
(a) exercise discretion on the application of Standing Order 17A as it may relate to the facilitation of participation of Members in proceedings of the House remotely;
(b) exclude a Member from participating if the Member has failed to meet the rules, expectations and requirements for remote connectivity;
(c) intervene on any matter of decorum, including by muting a Member’s microphone and excluding a Member from sittings of the House in cases of serious misconduct;
(d) exercise discretion in the interpretation of the provisions of any Standing Order requiring Members to stand or speak in their assigned place and with respect to the transmission of documents, as these requirements may relate to Members participating via the approved videoconferencing technology; and
(e) exercise discretion, in consultation with the House Leaders or the Whips, in the interpretation of any provision of the Standing Orders that may require leniency or alteration in order to allow a Member to be able to fully exercise their duties.
A debate arose.
Mr. Walker moved the following amendment —
That Motion 22 be amended by adding the underlined text as follows:
8. (3) In enabling remote participation of Members in proceedings of the House, the Speaker shall:
(a) approve the videoconferencing technology platform used to support hybrid proceedings of the House, and
(b) establish and publish rules, expectations and requirements for remote connectivity and participation by Members, and shall consult the House Leaders or Whips and Independent Members as required.
(4) When a Member is participating in proceedings of the House by remote means, the Speaker is empowered to:
(a) exercise discretion on the application of Standing Order 17A as it may relate to the facilitation of participation of Members in proceedings of the House remotely;
(b) exclude a Member from participating if the Member has failed to meet the rules, expectations and requirements for remote connectivity;
(c) intervene on any matter of decorum, including by muting a Member’s microphone and excluding a Member from sittings of the House in cases of serious misconduct;
(d) exercise discretion in the interpretation of the provisions of any Standing Order requiring Members to stand or speak in their assigned place and with respect to the transmission of documents, as these requirements may relate to Members participating via the approved videoconferencing technology; and
(e) exercise discretion, in consultation with the House Leaders or the Whips and Independent Members, in the interpretation of any provision of the Standing Orders that may require leniency or alteration in order to allow a Member to be able to fully exercise their duties.
A debate arose on the amendment.
The amendment to Motion 22 was negatived.
The debate resumed on the main motion.
Motion agreed to.
23 The Hon. R. Kahlon moved —
That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended by replacing Standing Order 16 (2) as follows:
(2) When a division has been called, the division bells shall be rung forthwith. Not sooner than 5, nor longer than 10 minutes thereafter, the Speaker shall again state the question. No Member shall enter or leave the House or Committee of the Whole after the final statement of the question until the division has been fully taken, and every Member present shall vote. No Member participating remotely shall connect to or disconnect from the approved videoconferencing technology after the final statement of the question until the division has been fully taken.
Motion agreed to.
21 The Hon. R. Kahlon moved —
That the Sessional Order adopted by the House on February 20, 2024, enabling hybrid proceedings of the House, be discharged.
Motion agreed to.
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 9) intituled Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, a debate arose.
Bill (No. 9) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 10) intituled Commercial Transport Amendment Act, 2024, a debate arose.
The debate continued.
Bill (No. 10) read a second time and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for committal at the next sitting after today.
Bill (No. 8) intituled Athlii Gwaii Legacy Trust (Winding Up) Act was committed.
Clauses 1 through 4 and the title of Bill (No. 8) passed.
Bill (No. 8) reported complete without amendment, read a third time and passed.
Order called for Committee of Supply.
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section B of Committee of Supply.
(In Committee — Section B)
Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(In Committee — Section A)
Section A of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Forests.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(In Committee — Section C)
40. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $273,423,000 be granted to His Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Ministry Operations, to 31st March, 2025.
Section C of Committee of Supply reported the Resolution and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and further reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
By agreement, summary of debate of estimates passed in Section C (Ministry of Municipal Affairs) to be considered at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 6.35 p.m.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker
Tuesday, April 2
Mr. Walker to introduce a Bill intituled Forest and Range Practices Act Amendment Act, 2024.
Mr. Walker to introduce a Bill intituled Interpretation Amendment Act, 2019 Amendment Act, 2024.
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