Legislative Watch
2nd Session, 39th Parliament
Issue 7 - May 3, 2010
You can get more details on these topics at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia website - 'Documents and Proceedings' or 'Hansard (Debates)' sections.
Government Announcements and News
- PST Clean Energy Act introduced – Aggressive green house gas reduction targets, economic development and job creation, energy savings and energy self-sufficiency powered by clean, renewable energy, are some of the highlights on the new Clean Energy Act. - Read more
- Parking tax transferred to Translink - Bill 19, the Financial Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), will
transfer the administration and enforcement of the parking tax to TransLink, effective July 1, 2010. - Read more - Provincial Sales Tax is no more – Bill 9, the Consumption Tax Rebate and Transition Act, which
terminates the PST, was read a third time and passed with 46 votes in favour and 36 votes against. The Bill received Royal Assent and passed into legislation. - Read more - Some transitional HST rules take effect May 1 - Consumers who are purchasing property or services that will be provided on or after July 1, 2010, or entering into leases on or after July 1, 2010, will start seeing HST on their invoices or bills as of May 1, 2010.
- BC gets toughest impaired driving laws – Under changes to the Motor Vehicle Act, drivers who provide a failing breath sample above 0.08 per cent BAC or refuse to provide a breath sample at the roadside will face an immediate, 90-day driving ban and a $500 fine. As well, they will have their vehicle impounded for 30 days. They may also face criminal charges. The changes to B.C.’s impaired driving laws are expected to come into effect in fall 2010. - Read more
- New property tax exemptions for Legions - The Province is amending the Vancouver Charter to allow the City of Vancouver to provide property tax exemptions to non-profit organizations such as the Royal Canadian Legion. These amendments to the Vancouver Charter will bring Vancouver in line with other municipalities in the province, which have these powers under the Community Charter. - Read more
Legislative Debate – Exchange between the Finance Minister and
Opposition on the HST
Thursday, April 26, 2010
Doug Donaldson: Does the current minister agree with the former Finance Minister, Carole Taylor, that
hard-working B.C. families unfairly shoulder the burden of this government's HST?
Hon. Colin Hansen: …when in a letter to the editor in the Vancouver Sun this morning, Bill Vander
Zalm says that British Columbia could easily make the provincial sales tax work the same way as a
value-added tax. You know how he would do that? He says: "It could apply to all goods and services.
Reduce it to 3 or 4 percent, and provide input tax credits."
Perhaps the deputy Finance critic for the opposition could tell us whether he agrees with his leader, Bill
Vander Zalm, that we should actually be adding a 3 percent or 4 percent consumption tax to all
groceries, to all home heating costs, to gasoline, to prescription drugs. The question is: is he in fact on
side with his leader, Bill Vander Zalm?
Question Period Topics
- Comments by former Finance Minister on HST
- Implementation of HST
Status of Bills
BILLS INTRODUCED (first reading)
Government Bills
- Bill 12 – Gunshot and Stab Wound Disclosure Act
- Bill 13 - Forests and Range (First Nations Woodland Licence) Statutes Amendment Act, 2010
- Bill 14 - Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2010
- Bill 15 - Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2010
- Bill 16 - Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act
- Bill 17 - Clean Energy Act
- Bill 18 - Haida Gwaii Reconciliation Act
- Bill 19 - Finance Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2010
- Bill 20 - Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 3), 2010
- Bill 21 - Forestry Service Providers Protection Act
Members' Bills
- Bill Pr 401 - Horizons Unbound Rehabilitation and Training Society (Corporate Restoration) Act,
2010 - Bill Pr 402 - Vancouver Foundation Amendment Act, 2010
BILLS DEBATED (second reading)
Government Bills
BILLS PASSED (third reading)
Government Bills
Tabled Documents
- 2009 Annual Report for the Forest Appeals Commission
- Auditor General's report No. 1, 2010-2011, IT Continuity Planning in Government
