Legislative Watch
Issue: 9 - May 24 – June 5, 2008
Government Announcements
- Attorney General Wally Oppal tabled amendments to Bill 42, the Election Amendment Act 2008, that loosen some restrictions on the length of time election spending is regulated. The time period limiting third-party advertising spending will be cut from 120 to 60 days, prior to the start of the campaign, plus the 28-day campaign period itself. Time limits regulating spending for political parties and candidates will also be cut in half from 120 to 60 days prior to the writ being dropped. There are no changes in the amount third parties and candidates can spend within those time limits. However, the amendments will reduce the amount political parties can spend in the pre-writ period from $2.2 to $1.1 million. Read more
- The Province is providing a record $47 million in small community and regional district grants this year to local governments across BC. The unconditional grants include Small Community Grants (Nearly $43.5 million to be given to small and medium-sized municipalities to fund local and basic services) and Regional District Grants (Over $3.7 million to be given to 28 regional districts). Read more
- Premier Gordon Campbell and former premier William (Bill) R. Bennett officially opened the new William R. Bennett Bridge spanning Lake Okanagan between Kelowna and West Bank, nearly 50 years after the original bridge was opened. The new five-lane bridge, built as public-private partnership for $144.5 million, was completed 108 days ahead of schedule. Read more
- Premier Gordon Campbell announced that BC will establish a secretariat to support a new Western Water Stewardship Council to protect a safe supply of water. The Western Water Stewardship Council will undertake water supply monitoring and reporting for the four western provinces. Read more
- Environment Minister Barry Penner released Living Water Smart – a blueprint for cultural, environmental, industrial, community and agricultural change to help safeguard the province’s water resources. More than 40 actions items and targets, including planning, regulatory change, education and incentives, set out to protect BC rivers, lakes, streams and watersheds. Read more
- The BC Legislature adjourned on Thursday, May 29, 2008. The House is scheduled to sit again on October 6, 2008.
Question Period Topics
- Government action on forest industry
- Government support for forest workers
- Pacific salmon treaty
- Funding for post-secondary education
- Premier’s compliance with conflict of interest guidelines
- Funding for Buy BC program
- MRI wait times in Interior Health Authority
- Tree farm licence land removals in Interior BC
Status of Bills:
BILLS INTRODUCED
Government Bills
- Bill 44 – Supply Act, 2008-2009
Members’ Bills
- Bill 215 – Campaign Finance reform Act
- Bill 216 - Members’ Conflict of Interest Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 217 - Victims of Crime Compensation Act, 2008
- Bill 218 - Farm Workers Fairness Act, 2008
- Bill 219 - Funding Stability for Boards of Education Act, 2008
- Bill 220 - Accountability Act, 2008
- Bill 221 - Residential Tenancy Act Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 222 - Home Inspection Act, 2008
- Bill 223 - Wildlife Protection Act, 2008
- Bill 224 - Gaming Control Amendment Act, 2008
The Government invoked closure on a number of Bills;
- Bill 20 - Oil and Gas Activities Act
- Bill 21 - Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 24 - E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act
- Bill 32 - Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement Implementation Act
- Bill 37 – Carbon Tax Act
- Bill 41 - Patient Care Quality Review Board Act
- Bill 42 - Election Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 43 - Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2008
- Bill 44 - Supply Act, 2008 - 2009
By invoking closure the government ended debate and committee scrutiny of these Bill and initiated third reading and a vote. Given the governments majority, each of these votes passed.
BILLS PASSED
Government Bills
- Bill 18 - Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act
- Bill 22 - Health Care Costs Recovery Act
- Bill 23 - Public Health Act
- Bill 25 - Health Professions (Regulatory Reform) Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 26 - Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 29 - Environmental (Species and Public Protection) Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 33 - Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 35 – Social Workers Act
Reports Tabled
- Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, annual report, 2007
- Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, first report
- British Columbia Railway Co., annual report, 2007, and audited financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2007
- Forest Appeals Commission, annual report
2008 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 38th Parliament was adjourned at 6.27 pm. The motion to adjourn read:
“That the House, at its rising, do stand adjourned until it appears to the satisfaction of the Speaker, after consultation with the Government, that the public interest requires that the House shall meet, or until the Speaker may be advised by the Government that it is desired to prorogue the Fourth Session of the Thirty-eighth Parliament of the Province of British Columbia. The Speaker may give notice that he is so satisfied or has been so advised and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice, and, as the case may be, may transact its business as if it has been duly adjourned to that time and date.”
