Legislative Watch
Issue: 8 - April 1, 2009
Special Note: The current session of the B.C. Legislature ended March 31. The House will not sit again until after the May 12 Provincial Election.
Government Announcements
- British Columbia’s 2009 budget has earned encouraging commentaries from the Dominion Bond Rating Service and Moody’s Investors Service. Dominion stated that prudent financial management in recent years has left B.C. in good shape to weather the world economic crisis. Read more
- The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) between B.C. and Alberta comes into full force this month, getting rid of trade barriers and allowing full labour mobility in more than 100 regulated occupations. Read more
- The $2 billion Canada Line rapid-transit link from the airport to downtown Vancouver will open three months early (before Labour Day) and on budget. Read more
- British Columbia has hired its first trade and investment representative to represent the province in India. The office will promote BC as a destination for trade and investment, as well as advance research and innovation partnerships and help research inquiries by B.C.-based companies and organizations. Read more
- B.C. doctors and the Provincial Government reached a two-year agreement on compensation that includes funding aimed improving recruitment and retention of specialists as well as of family physicians in rural and remote communities. Read more
- The Province joined the federal government in announcing a total of $225 million being invested in five infrastructure improvements to enhance rail and port operations on the North Shore in Vancouver and help build British Columbia’s trade links to the world. Read more
- Forests Minister Pat Bell released Generating More Value from Our Forests, a vision and action plan to mobilize industry stakeholders, investors, researchers, governments and communities around generating more value from wood and wood residue through furthering manufacturing. Read more
- B.C.’s capital will be able to attract larger cruise ships thanks to the Provincial Government kicking in $1.5 million of the $4.5 million cost of a new offshore mooring pile at Ogden Point cruise ship terminal in Victoria. Read more
- The 2008-09 fiscal year set an all-time high of $2.4 billion for oil and gas land rights sales. This shattered the previous record by $1.2 billion, and broke every tracked record for oil and gas land rights sales in B.C. Read more
- Home inspectors now have to be licensed in BC – the first jurisdiction in Canada to require such designation to better protect buyers and ensure qualified inspections. Read more
Question Period Topics
- B.C. Rail contract with Patrick Kinsella
- Meetings between Patrick Kinsella and government ministers
- Role of Patrick Kinsella in Accenture contract
- Impact of Olympic security on air travel from rural B.C.
- Gravel extraction proposal and Hopington aquifer
- Health care travel assistance for disability benefits recipients
- Ombudsman report recommendations on income assistance
- Government support for logging contractors
- Education funding
- Call for Review of Okanagan Health Service Area laboratories
Opinion Leader Roundup
- Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer takes a look at Premier Gordon Campbell’s speech to the Legislature on the plan to recognize aboriginal rights and title in provincial law. Read the article
- Columnist Les Leyne from the Victoria Times-Colonist goes beyond the headlines and puts some perspective on the BC Rail court case. Read the article
Status of Bills
BILLS INTRODUCED
Government Bills
- Bill 11: Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 12: Strata Property Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 13: Forest Amendment Act, 2009
Member Bills
- Bill M204: Government Integrity Act, 2009
BILLS DEBATED
Government Bills
- Bill 6: Police (Misconduct, Complaints, Investigations, Discipline and Proceedings) Amendment Act, 2009 *
- Bill 7: Police (Police Complaint Commissioner) Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 9: Labour Mobility Act, 2009 *
- Bill 10: Public Safety and Solicitor General Statutes Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 11: Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 12: Strata Property Amendment Act, 2009 *
- Bill 13: Forest Amendment Act, 2009
*indicates bills that were not passed before the end of the Legislative session
BILLS PASSED
Government Bills
- Bill 7: Police (Police Complaint Commissioner) Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 10: Public Safety and Solicitor General Statutes Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 11: Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2009
- Bill 13: Forest Amendment Act, 2009
Reports Tabled
- Office of the Ombudsman, report No. 45, Last Resort: Improving Fairness and Accountability in British Columbia's Income Assistance Program
- Environmental Appeal Board, 2007-2008 annual report.
- Report on the Crown Proceeding Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.
- Capital project plan report for the Sierra-Yoyo-Desan upgrade project.
- Chief Electoral Officer, Report on the Vancouver-Burrard and Vancouver-Fairview by-elections of October 29, 2008.
