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The printed version remains the official version.
Ten o’clock a.m.
Prayers and Reflections by Lawrence Mok.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Order called for “Private Members’ Statements.”
7 Jennifer Blatherwick moved —
That this House condemns President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs as wrong and unjustified measures aimed at threatening Canadian sovereignty and endorses the nationally-coordinated “Team Canada” plan to respond with proportionate retaliatory action if necessary, including strategically targeting industries and regions such as products from Republican states, to maximize pressure to deter President Trump from implementing or continuing tariffs.
A debate arose.
The debate continued.
Pursuant to Standing Order 25, division on the motion was deferred until 30 minutes prior to the ordinary time fixed for adjournment.
And then the House adjourned at 11.51 a.m.
One-thirty o’clock p.m.
Order called for “Members’ Statements.”
The Hon. David Eby (Premier) made a ministerial statement commemorating three years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Á’a:líya Warbus made a statement.
Jeremy Valeriote made a statement.
Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”
The Hon. Niki Sharma (Attorney General and Deputy Premier) tabled the Property Assessment Appeal Board Annual Report, 2024.
The Hon. Christine Boyle (Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation) tabled the BC Treaty Commission Annual Report, 2024.
1 The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That a Special Committee to Review the Public Interest Disclosure Act be appointed to review the Public Interest Disclosure Act (S.B.C. 2018, c. 22), pursuant to section 50 of the Act.
That the Special Committee have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to:
a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Special Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
b. 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. conduct consultations by any means the Special Committee considers appropriate;
d. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and,
e. retain personnel as required to assist the Special Committee.
That the Special Committee report to the House by February 19, 2026, and that during a period of adjournment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.
That the Special Committee be composed of the following Members: Darlene Rotchford (Convener), Rosalyn Bird, Jennifer Blatherwick, Dana Lajeunesse and Lawrence Mok.
Motion agreed to.
2 The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services be empowered to exercise oversight of each of the following statutory officers: Auditor General, Chief Electoral Officer, Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Human Rights Commissioner, Information and Privacy Commissioner and Registrar of Lobbyists, Merit Commissioner, Ombudsperson, Police Complaint Commissioner, and Representative for Children and Youth. This includes:
a. considering and making recommendations on the annual reports, rolling three-year service plans, budgets, and any other matters respecting the effective and efficient administration of each statutory office;
b. inquiring into and making recommendations with respect to other matters brought to the Committee’s attention by a statutory officer; and,
c. considering and making decisions regarding the terms and conditions of employment of each statutory officer arising as a request of a statutory officer during their term of appointment.
That the Committee be designated as the Committee referred to in sections 6, 7, 19, 20, 21 and 23 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) and that the report in section 22 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) be referred to the Committee.
That the Committee be designated as the Committee referred to in sections 47.02 and 47.03 of the Human Rights Code (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 210).
That the Committee be designated as the Committee referred to in section 3 of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act (S.B.C. 2000, c. 23).
That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services be empowered to:
a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
b. 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. conduct consultations by any means the Committee considers appropriate;
d. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and,
e. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.
That the Committee report to the House as soon as possible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.
Motion agreed to.
3 The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That a Special Committee to Appoint Statutory Officers be appointed to select and unanimously recommend to the Legislative Assembly the appointment of:
a. an individual to hold office as Auditor General, pursuant to section 2 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2);
b. an individual to hold office as Chief Electoral Officer, pursuant to section 4 of the Election Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 106); and,
c. an individual to hold office as Conflict of Interest Commissioner, pursuant to section 14 of the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 287).
That the Special Committee have the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to:
a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Special Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
b. 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. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and,
d. retain personnel as required to assist the Special Committee.
That the Special Committee report to the House on each of its recommendations as soon as possible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.
That the Special Committee be composed of the following Members: Janet Routledge (Convener), Harman Bhangu, Linda Hepner, Stephanie Higginson and Qwulti’stunaat / Debra Toporowski.
Motion agreed to.
4 The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That all reports of the Auditor General of British Columbia transmitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly be deemed referred to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. For greater certainty, the following exceptions are provided:
a. the report referred to in section 22 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2) shall be referred to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services; and,
b. reports of the Auditor General respecting the Legislative Assembly prepared under the provisions of the Legislative Assembly Management Committee Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 258) shall be referred to the Legislative Assembly Management Committee.
That the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts be the Committee referred to in sections 10 and 14 of the Auditor General Act (S.B.C. 2003, c. 2).
That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon the Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts be empowered to:
a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
b. 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. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and,
d. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.
That the Committee report to the House as soon as possible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.
Motion agreed to.
5 The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills be empowered to consider:
1. Public Bills in the Hands of a Private Member committed to the Committee pursuant to Standing Order 84A and within 30 sitting days of a Bill’s committal:
a. report each such Bill back to the House with or without amendment; or,
b. recommend back to the House that any such Bill not proceed further.
2. Private Bills referred to the Committee pursuant to Standing Order 105 and to report to the House on any such Bill as soon as possible.
That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills be empowered to:
a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
b. 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. conduct consultations by any means the Committee considers appropriate;
d. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and,
e. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.
That the Committee report to the House as soon as possible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.
Motion agreed to.
6 The Hon. Mike Farnworth moved —
That the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth be empowered to foster greater awareness and understanding among legislators and the public of the B.C. child welfare system, including the specific needs of Indigenous children, youth, families and communities, and in particular to:
a. receive and review the annual service plan from the Representative for Children and Youth (the “Representative”) that includes a statement of goals and identifies specific objectives and performance measures that will be required to exercise the powers and perform the functions and duties of the Representative during the fiscal year;
b. be the Committee to which the Representative reports, at least annually;
c. refer to the Representative for investigation the critical injury or death of a child;
d. receive and consider all reports and plans transmitted by the Representative to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; and,
e. undertake, pursuant to section 30 (1) of the Representative for Children and Youth Act (S.B.C. 2006, c. 29), a comprehensive review of the Act or portions of the Act at least once every five years, but by no later than April 1, 2027, to determine whether the functions of the Representative described in section 6 are still required to ensure that the needs of children and young adults as defined in that section are met.
That, in addition to the powers previously conferred upon Select Standing Committees of the House, the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth be empowered to:
a. appoint of its number one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
b. 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. conduct consultations by any means the Committee considers appropriate;
d. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and,
e. retain personnel as required to assist the Committee.
That the Committee report to the House as soon as possible, and that during a period of adjournment, the Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.
Motion agreed to.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
On the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 2) intituled Acting Conflict of Interest Commissioner Continuation Act, a debate arose.
Bill (No. 2) 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. 3) intituled Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2025, a debate arose.
The debate continued.
On the motion of the Hon. Bowinn Ma, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
Pursuant to Standing Order 25, in consideration of Motion 7 regarding the implementation of proposed tariffs from President Donald Trump, the House divided.
Motion agreed to on the following division:
| Yeas — 86 | |||
| Lore G. Anderson Blatherwick Elmore Sunner Toporowski B. Anderson Neill Osborne Brar Davidson Kahlon Parmar Gibson Beare Chandra Herbert Wickens Kang Morissette Sandhu Krieger Chant |
Lajeunesse Choi Rotchford Higginson Routledge Popham Dix Sharma Farnworth Eby Bailey Begg Greene Whiteside Boyle Ma Yung Malcolmson Chow Glumac Arora Shah |
Phillip Dhir Valeriote Botterell Sturko Kindy Milobar Warbus Rustad Banman Wat Kooner Halford Hartwell L. Neufeld Van Popta Dew Gasper K. Neufeld Block Paton |
Boultbee Chan Toor Hepner Giddens Rattée Davis McInnis Bird Luck Stamer Tepper Mok Wilson Clare Day Williams Loewen Dhaliwal Doerkson McCall |
| Nays — 5 | |||
| Brodie Armstrong |
Maahs |
Kealy |
Chapman |
By notice from the Members, Macklin McCall and Jody Toor exchanged places on the List of Precedence for Private Members’ Business.
And then the House adjourned at 6.13 p.m.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN,Speaker
Tuesday, February 25
Kiel Giddens to introduce a Bill intituled Low Carbon Fuels Amendment Act, 2025.
Darlene Rotchford to introduce a Bill intituled Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act.
Wednesday, February 26
8 John Rustad to move, seconded by Á’a:líya Warbus —
That the motion on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne be amended by adding the underlined words:
We, His Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious Speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present Session, but Your Honour’s present government does not have the confidence of the Legislative Assembly.
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