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 Lynne Block.
On the motion of Rob Botterell, Bill (No. M 218) intituled Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2025, was introduced, read a first time, and 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:
Last week, the Chair made a commitment to return to the House with guidance on language, given the use of unparliamentary language by some Members in debate over the course of the current sessional period.
The rules of this House prevent Members from engaging in debate in a manner that leads to disorder. In the current circumstances, the most applicable rule is Standing Order 40, which provides guidance and states: “No Member shall use offensive words against any Member of this House.”
An allegation that a Member is racist clearly imputes what most Members would regard as an offensive personal characterization and as such, it is out of order.
For the Chair to permit allegations of racism to be directed at other Members would encourage what is already a regrettable reality of this place: an undue personalization of issues and debate.
As someone who has fought against racism for decades, the Chair does not address this topic — or this word — lightly.
The Chair understands the feelings of Members who believe that the policies or views of other Members are objectionable. But in the Chair’s view, personal name calling or labels are not a robust or effective debating tactic.
An allegation of being a racist, if it is levelled against a Member or group of Members, clearly leads to disorder and does not encourage productive debate and distracts us from discussion of issues critically important to those we represent.
That said, the use of strong language, in terms that relate solely to policy or positions taken by a Member or party, may be permitted in debate — at the discretion of the Chair.
But rather than directing personal insults at one another, Members are asked to focus their comments on the policies and issues that are the subjects before the House.
The Chair is reminded of the wise words of Speaker Gretchen Mann Brewin, who delivered the following guidance to the House on December 3, 1998:
“It is very important in this House that we not reflect badly on this institution by the language that we use. […] It seems to the Chair that opinions can be expressed by Members without resorting to certain terminologies like implications of racism or personal attacks. The Chair wishes to encourage all Members to take that under advisement and to give more thought to the English language, which is indeed enormously rich and provides infinite scope for the expression of views in this Chamber.”
The Chair thanks all Members for heeding this direction and for always being mindful of the words they choose to use in the course of debate in this House.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker
Order called for “Oral Questions by Members.”
Dallas Brodie rose on a point of order regarding the subject matter of questions in Oral Question Period.
The Speaker stated that he would take the matter under advisement.
The Speaker made a statement regarding the use of electronic devices during Oral Question Period.
The Hon. Raj Chouhan (Speaker) tabled the Auditor General Report, Beyond the Bottom Line: Navigating the Province of B.C.’s 2024/25 Audited Financial Statements, October 2025.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of the Whole.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 31) intituled Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2025.
On the motion of Kristina Loewen, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
(In Committee — Section A)
Bill (No. 20) intituled Construction Prompt Payment Act was again committed.
On clause 1 of Bill (No. 20).
Section A of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 20) intituled Construction Prompt Payment Act and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
And then the House adjourned at 11.53 a.m.
One-thirty o’clock p.m.
The House proceeded to “Orders of the Day.”
Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of the Whole.
The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 31) intituled Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2025.
Á’a:líya Warbus moved the following amendment —
That the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 31) intituled Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, be amended by deleting the word “now” and substituting “six months hence.”
The debate on the amendment continued.
The amendment on the motion for second reading of Bill (No. 31) was negatived on the following division:
| Nays — 48 | |||
| Lore G. Anderson Blatherwick Routledge Chant Toporowski B. Anderson Neill Osborne Brar Krieger Davidson |
Parmar Sunner Beare Chandra Herbert Wickens Kang Sandhu Begg Higginson Phillip Lajeunesse Choi |
Rotchford Elmore Morissette Popham Dix Sharma Farnworth Eby Bailey Kahlon Greene Whiteside |
Boyle Ma Yung Malcolmson Gibson Glumac Arora Shah Chow Dhir Valeriote Botterell |
| Yeas — 40 | |||
| Wilson Kindy Milobar Warbus Banman Halford Hartwell L. Neufeld Van Popta Dew |
Clare K. Neufeld Bhangu Paton Gasper Chan Toor Hepner Giddens Rattée |
Davis McInnis Bird McCall Stamer Day Tepper Mok Maahs Williams |
Loewen Dhaliwal Doerkson Luck Block Brodie Armstrong Kealy Sturko Boultbee |
The debate resumed on the main motion.
On the motion of the Hon. Mike Farnworth, the debate was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.
(In Committee — Section A)
Bill (No. 20) intituled Construction Prompt Payment Act was again committed.
Misty Van Popta moved a proposed amendment to clause 1 of Bill (No. 20) which was defeated, on division.
Clauses 1 through 6 of Bill (No. 20) passed.
On clause 7 of Bill (No. 20).
Section A of Committee of the Whole reported progress on Bill (No. 20) intituled Construction Prompt Payment Act and asked leave to sit again.
Bill to be considered at the next sitting.
Committee to sit again at the next sitting.
The Speaker delivered his reserved decision as follows:
Honourable Members:
Earlier today, following Oral Question Period, the Leader of the Fourth Party raised a point of order on the application of the rule of anticipation to debate in the House, including Oral Question Period. The Chair thanks the Leader of the Fourth Party for her submission and is now prepared to rule on the point of order.
The rule of anticipation is a parliamentary practice that is designed to prevent discussion or decisions on a topic that has or will be the subject of substantive debate in the House during a parliamentary session. Its aim is to not pre‑empt a future debate and not to risk duplication or contradiction of decisions of this House through subsequent debate.
With respect to the application of this rule to questions pertaining to bills arising during Oral Question Period, Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia, 5th edition, notes at page 324: “Questions may be out of order if they deal with the details of a bill which stands on the Order Paper, or if they address proposed amendments. Such matters should be canvassed at committee stage consideration of the bill.”
However, a question may be canvassed if it is of a general or high‑level nature that may relate to the contents of a bill.
Furthermore, with respect to a bill that was introduced and subsequently defeated at first reading, the rule of anticipation is not relevant. Questions related to that bill, particularly in the context of its defeat, are not prohibited under this rule.
The Chair appreciates the opportunity to provide this guidance and clarity to the House and regrets any confusion that the application of this rule created during Oral Question Period earlier today.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker
And then the House adjourned at 4.18 p.m.
HON. RAJ CHOUHAN, Speaker
Wednesday, October 29
Dallas Brodie to introduce a Bill intituled Property Rights Protection Act.
Thursday, October 30
Tara Armstrong to introduce a Bill intituled New Residents Cost Recovery Act.
Peter Milobar to introduce a Bill intituled Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025.
Anna Kindy to introduce a Bill intituled Health Authorities Amendment Act, 2025.
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