The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Ten o’clock a.m.
Prayers and Reflections by Kiel Giddens.
The Hon. Josie Osborne (Minister of Health) presented to the Speaker a Message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor, which read as follows:
Wendy Cocchia
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor transmits herewith Bill (No. 9) intituled Health Care Costs Recovery Amendment Act, 2025, and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly.
Government House,
April 4, 2025.
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.”
The Speaker made the following statement:
Honourable Members:
Before we continue with this morning’s proceedings, the Chair would like to provide guidance to Members with respect to their responsibilities in ensuring that appropriate timelines are met to enable second reading debate of Private Members’ bills during Private Members’ Time on a Monday morning. The Chair is aware that the practices for Monday mornings as of the current Parliament are still new and this guidance is intended to better serve the House and all Members as we navigate this new reality.
As Members are aware, a Private Member’s bill requires two days’ notice before it can be introduced and read a first time. After introduction and first reading, sufficient time must also be provided to work with the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel to finalize the bill before it is authorized to be printed and distributed, and therefore noted as “printed” on the Order Paper. The length of time required is dependent on the bill’s readiness at introduction, and often whether the Member has received appropriate advice on the propriety of the bill during the drafting process. Generally, bills that are introduced in good form are printed within two or three business days of introduction.
The Chair will also note that, should a situation arise where a Member is first on the List of Precedence for Private Members’ Business and they do not have an eligible item of business on the Order Paper — such as a bill showing as “not printed” — the Member would be removed from the List of Precedence for the remainder of the Parliament, or until such time as the list may be re-established. The House would then proceed to the next Member on the List of Precedence to advance their item of business, as provided in Standing Order 27 (4).
The Chair has seen bills introduced only one or two sitting days in advance of their anticipated second reading debate, putting their eligibility to proceed at risk.
With these requirements in mind, it is incumbent upon Members to ensure that sufficient time has been provided to finalize and print their bill before they anticipate moving second reading during Private Members’ Time.
Members are also reminded that they may have more than one item of business on the Order Paper, whether it be a Private Member’s bill or a notice of motion. Although Private Members’ motions also require two days’ notice, they would be eligible to be called for debate as soon as they are listed on the Order Paper, providing another option for Private Members to bring their business forward.
Additional guidance is provided in the Private Members’ Time booklet that has been provided to all Members, and procedural support and advice is available from the Chair, the Table Officers, and the Office of the Clerk. I trust all Private Members will be mindful of these reminders as they prepare for Private Members’ Time.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker
Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”
Gavin Dew rose on a point of order regarding comments made by the Minister of State for Trade during Oral Question Period.
The Hon. Raj Chouhan (Speaker) tabled the Human Rights Commissioner Report, “We’re Still Here”: Report of the Inquiry into Detentions Under the Adult Guardianship Act, April 2025.
The Hon. Josie Osborne presented a petition regarding dog laws in British Columbia.
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 B of Committee of Supply.
(In Committee — Section B)
Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Health.
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 Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 11.55 a.m.
One-thirty o’clock p.m.
The Hon. Brenda Bailey (Minister of Finance) made representations with respect to the question of privilege raised yesterday regarding the ability of the Official Opposition to scrutinize the budget and main estimates given the introduction of recent legislation and tabled related documents.
The Speaker stated that he would take the matter under advisement.
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 B of Committee of Supply.
(In Committee — Section B)
Section B of Committee of Supply reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Health.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
(In Committee — Section A)
41. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding $3,515,868,000 be granted to His Majesty to defray the expenses of Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Ministry Operations, to 31st March, 2026.
Section A of Committee of Supply reported the Resolution and completion of the estimates of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and further reported progress of the estimates of the Ministry of Environment and Parks.
Report to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 6.24 p.m.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker
Thursday, April 10
Dallas Brodie to introduce a Bill intituled Tax Relief and Tariff Defence Act.
Hon Chan to introduce a Bill intituled Consumer Choice (Zero-Emission Vehicle) Amendment Act, 2025.
Paul Choi to introduce a Bill intituled Korean Heritage Month Act.
Wednesday, April 9
13 The Hon. Mike Farnworth to move —
That Steve Morissette replace Harwinder Sandhu as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.
14 The Hon. Mike Farnworth to move —
That a Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform be appointed to:
1. Examine and make recommendations related to:
a. increasing democratic engagement and voter participation, and
b. models for electing Members of the Legislative Assembly, including proportional representation
and report to the House thereon by November 26, 2025.
2. Review the administration of the 43rd provincial general election, including consideration of the Chief Electoral Officer’s report on the 43rd provincial general election, and make recommendations for improvements for future elections, and report to the House thereon by May 14, 2026.
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 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: Jessie Sunner (Convener), George Anderson, Rob Botterell, Sheldon Clare, Amna Shah, Ward Stamer and Qwulti’stunaat / Debra Toporowski.
15 The Hon. Mike Farnworth to move —
That Susie Chant replace Paul Choi as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth.
Thursday, April 10
1 Reann Gasper to ask the Hon. Minister of Education and Child Care the following questions: —
1. Were any concerns identified in the Ministry’s Preliminary Review Report on the $10-a-Day Prototype Sites shared with federal officials prior to the 2021 signing of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CW‑ELCC) agreement?
2. If any concerns from the Preliminary Review Report were shared with the federal government before the 2021 agreement was finalized, which concerns were communicated and through what method or documentation?
3. With respect to the administration of federal child care funds, has the Ministry submitted any reports to the federal government explaining delays in spending of the need to carry forward unspent funding?
4. What amount of federal child care funding carried over from each fiscal year between 2021–22 and 2024–25 remains unspent as of April 2025?
5. Has the federal government placed any specific restrictions, deadlines, or conditions on how B.C. is to use federal child care funds that were carried forward from previous fiscal years?
6. Has the Ministry received any formal notice, correspondence, or comment from the federal government regarding B.C.’s performance or compliance under the CW‑ELCC agreement?
7. Has the Ministry been asked by the federal government to return or reallocate any portion of unspent federal child care funding between the fiscal years 2021–22 and 2024–25?
8. Has the Ministry reprofiled any federal or provincial child care funding carried into future years for program areas that were not originally budgeted for in the prior year?
9. How much federal child care funding received under the CW‑ELCC agreement was carried forward from one fiscal year to the next, beginning with 2021–22?
10. Has the federal government provided any communication or guidance to the Ministry regarding the timing or release of the 2023–24 CW‑ELCC annual report?
11. Has the federal government provided any direction or informal guidance to the Ministry about releasing CW‑ELCC reports during an election period?
12. How many draft versions of the 2023–24 CW‑ELCC annual report were produced prior to the final version submitted to the federal government?
13. What deliverables were included in the Ministry’s contract with MNP for support on the 2023–24 CW‑ELCC annual report, and on what date was the final deliverable provided?
14. What rationale, if any, is documented in ministry records for not releasing the Preliminary Review Report on the $10‑a‑Day Prototype Sites to the public?
15. Was the Preliminary Review Report shared internally with the Premier’s office, Cabinet Policy and Priorities Secretariat, or the Ministry of Finance before the decision to expand the $10‑a‑Day program?
16. What internal briefing notes, memos, or decision documents were produced by the Ministry in response to the Preliminary Review Report on the $10‑a‑Day Prototype Sites?
17. How many policy options or alternative fee models did the Ministry consider between January 2020 and August 2020 in response to concerns about the $10‑a‑Day flat fee’s financial sustainability?
18. What policy or operational changes, if any, did the Ministry make in response to concerns raised in the Preliminary Review Report before or during the expansion of the $10‑a‑Day program?
19. On what date did the Ministry receive the internal evaluation timeline from Malatest & Associates that outlined decision options such as “Wind Down”, “Hold Steady”, or “Expand” for the $10‑a‑Day Prototype Sites, and which of those options was selected?
20. How many prototype sites were associated with each decision pathway in the Malatest evaluation (“Wind Down”, “Hold Steady”, “Expand”), and what were the estimated costs tied to each?
21. What factors were cited in Ministry records as justification for proceeding with the “Expand” decision prior to the release of the Final Evaluation Report?
22. On what date did Cabinet and/or Treasury Board approve the expansion of the $10‑a‑Day program beyond the original 53 prototype sites?
23. Has the Ministry conducted any financial modelling or risk analysis assessing the sustainability of the $10‑a‑Day program in the event of reduced or withdrawn federal funding?
24. Of the $772 million in federal and provincial funding allocated to $10‑a‑Day ChildCareBC Centres between 2024–25 and 2026–27, what portion is designated for operating existing centres versus creating new spaces?
25. Of the infant‑toddler spaces currently participating in the $10‑a‑Day program, how many were newly created and how many were converted from existing spaces?
26. What internal benchmarks or indicators does the Ministry use to evaluate the cost‑effectiveness of $10‑a‑Day child care spaces by age group?
27. What accountability measures are in place to ensure that $10‑a‑Day spaces are reaching families with the greatest need for affordable child care?
28. What measures has the Ministry implemented to prevent situations where families occupy $10‑a‑Day spaces on a part‑time basis while receiving full‑time subsidies (sometimes referred to as “space hoarding”)?
29. How many $10‑a‑Day ChildCareBC Centres have exited or withdrawn from the program since it began?
30. On what dates did the Ministry submit its Action Plans to the federal government under the CW‑ELCC agreement for the fiscal years 2021–22 through 2025–26?
31. What supporting documents or data were included with the Ministry’s CW‑ELCC Action Plan submissions to the federal government?
32. Has the Ministry received formal approval from the federal government for each CW‑ELCC Action Plan it submitted between 2021–22 and 2025–26?
33. Has the Ministry proposed any amendments to its previously approved CW‑ELCC Action Plans, and if so, on what dates were those amendments submitted?
34. What child care space creation targets were included in each CW‑ELCC Action Plan submitted by the Ministry since 2021?
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