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1998 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 36th Parliament

THIRD READING

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Certified correct as passed Third Reading on the 30th day of June, 1998

Ian D. Izard, Law Clerk

HONOURABLE DAN MILLER

MINISTER OF ENERGY AND MINES AND

MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT

BILL 27 – 1998

NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT ACT

Contents

Section

Definition

Purpose

Appointment of the commissioner

Commissioner's role

Advice to minister

Reports to minister

Reports to Executive Council

Considerations

Consultation

Participation by other governments

Staff

Applicability of Public Service Act

Yearly report to the Legislative Assembly

Head office

Consequential Amendment

Commencement

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Definition

1 In this Act, "commissioner" means the Northern Development Commissioner

appointed under

section 3.

Purpose

2 The purpose of this Act is to promote and encourage job creation and economic

development in northern British Columbia through the establishment of the office of

the commissioner.

Appointment of the commissioner

(1) The Northern Development Commissioner is to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(2) An appointment made under subsection (1) is for a term of up to 5 years and reappointments may be made.

Commissioner's role

4 To carry out the purpose of this Act, the commissioner must

(

a) act as an advocate for northern economic development,

(

b) promote private sector investments in northern British Columbia, and

(

c) coordinate with the northern economic development activities of other

economic development organizations, including aboriginal people's

economic development organizations.

Advice to minister

5 To carry out the purpose of this Act, the commissioner must advise the minister in an

independent manner on

(

a) issues affecting job creation and economic development in northern British

Columbia, and

(

b) the need for legislation, policies and practices respecting those issues.

Reports to minister

(1) At the request of the minister, the commissioner must prepare a report and make

recommendations on specific job creation or economic development projects or

initiatives affecting northern British Columbia.

(2) The report and recommendations prepared under subsection (1) must be

submitted to the minister within a time period specified by the minister.

Reports to Executive Council

7 The minister must submit reports and recommendations received from the commissioner

under

section 5 or 6 to the Executive Council.

Considerations

8 In undertaking activities associated with this Act and in submitting reports and recommendations,

the commissioner and the staff of the commissioner must have regard for

the following:

(

a) the role of the commissioner;

(

b) the importance of job creation and economic development to northern British Columbia;

(

c) the need to balance the interests of all parties in a fair and equitable manner through an understanding of the impact of any proposed recommendations;

(

d) other governments;

(

e) aboriginal people and communities.

Consultation

9 The commissioner must consult with northern residents as needed.

Participation by other governments

10 The commissioner may invite other governments or any of the agencies of those governments to join in activities under this Act.

Staff

(1) The commissioner may appoint other employees necessary to exercise the

powers and carry out the duties of the commissioner.

(2) The commissioner may engage or retain specialists or consultants that the

commissioner considers necessary to exercise the powers and carry out the duties

of the office and may determine their remuneration.

Applicability of Public Service Act

(1) The Public Service Act applies to the commissioner and employees of the

commissioner.

(2) The Public Service Act does not apply to the retention, engagement or remuneration

of specialists or consultants referred to in

section 12 (2).

Yearly report to the Legislative Assembly

(1) Each year the commissioner must give to the minister a report concerning the

commissioner's activities under this Act since the last report was made under this

section.

(2) The minister must promptly lay the report before the Legislative Assembly if it is in session and, if the Legislative Assembly is not in session, the report must be filed with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

Head office

(1) The head office of the commissioner must be in Prince George.

(2) The commissioner may establish and maintain offices at other places in northern British Columbia as he or she considers necessary or advisable.

Consequential Amendment

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Schedule 2 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 165, is amended by adding the following:

Public Body:

Office of the Northern Development Commissioner

Head:

Northern Development Commissioner .

Commencement

17 This Act comes into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Copyright

© 1998: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada