1972 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 29th Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1972

Afternoon Sitting

[ Page 705 ]

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1972

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

Prayers.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition.

MR. D. BARRETT (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker,

yesterday an issue was raised by the leader of the Liberal Party (Mr.

McGeer) and was not concluded because the Minister of Rehabilitation

(Hon. Mr. Gaglardi) was not in his seat.

It relates to the introduction of Bill No. 49, two days ago by the

Minister. The Minister apparently introduced a bill that was

distributed and known as No. 40. Later on in our bill books the bill

intituled

An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act was numbered No. 49

and appeared in our bill books with two sections that had not been

introduced in Bill No. 40.

I would appreciate an explanation, either from the Minister or perhaps a proper introduction of Bill No. 49.

MR. SPEAKER: From my examination of the matter raised by the

Honourable first Member for Vancouver–Point Grey (Mr. McGeer) and also

the matter now raised by the Honourable the Leader of the Opposition.

Our Votes indicate, and I am informed, that Bill No. 49 was the actual

bill that was introduced by the Minister to the House, and quite

properly appeared in the Votes and Proceedings . Nevertheless

there was distributed a bill, Bill No. 40, which apparently was an

earlier bill which had not been introduced to the House, and really of

which the House has no knowledge.

It was my opinion when the matter was raised by the Honourable the

first Member for Vancouver–Point Grey — but unfortunately during the

absence of the Minister — that possibly the matter could be questioned,

which the Leader of the Opposition has properly done, questioned of the

Minister to properly give some light on the situation,

HON. P.A. GAGLARDI (Minister of Rehabilitation and Social Improvement):

Mr. Speaker, the bill which I presented to the House was No. 49. It was

presented properly. There was an error made in the distribution of a

bill, of which I had absolutely no knowledge whatsoever. It was a

submission that had apparently been worked on by some of the people of

the department, and I don't even know how it came to be printed, or how

it got its number or anything else. The bill that I presented here to

the House is Bill No. 49 presented correctly and that's the bill.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the first Member for Vancouver–Point Grey.

MR. P.L. McGEER (Vancouver–Point Grey): Mr. Speaker, are we

to understand from this that bills are printed by the Queen's Printer,

and stored for distribution in the Sergeant-at-Arms' office, with no

knowledge at all of the Ministers who would be responsible for a

department? Because we've had two bills printed that are highly

similar, and the Minister denies any knowledge at all of one. And yet

the Queen's Printer has printed the bill, and it appeared at the

Sergeant-at-Arms' office. The Sergeant-at-Arms thought that he was

distributing the appropriate bill. I am astonished, Mr. Speaker, to say

the least, that the Ministers are so ill informed of the bills that

have gone to the Queen's Printer.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please! The Honourable Member for Cowichan-Malahat.

MR. R.M. STRACHAN (Cowichan-Malahat): Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

I was about to draw your attention to the fact that there was a

stranger in the gallery. But I realise that while he's not a stranger

he no longer has the right to sit on the Floor of this House. And I am

referring to the former M.L.A. from New Westminster who served in this

House for 17 years. He defeated the former Premier of the Province in

the 1952 election. We are happy to have him with us today — Mr. Ray

Eddy.

HON. MR. BENNETT: Forty-two below in Alberta, because they're in the cold freeze anyway now.

HON. G. McCARTHY (Minister without Portfolio): Mr. Speaker, I

would ask the Members of the House to join with me in welcoming one of

the representatives from one of the most respected and oldest schools

in the City of Vancouver, and in the constituency of Vancouver–Little

Mountain. That is the John Oliver High School, and they are here today

with their teachers, Mr. Ashdown, and Mrs. Erickson. And I would ask

the House to welcome them.

Introduction of bills.

HON. L.R_ PETERSON (Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, I have the Honour to present a message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

FRUSTRATED CONTRACTS ACT

MR. SPEAKER: The Lieutenant-Governor transmits herewith a

bill intituled Frustrated Contracts Act, and recommends the same to the

legislative assembly. Dated at Government House February 18, 197 2.

House in committee on Bill No. 34, Frustrated Contracts Act.

On the recommendation of the committee, Bill No. 34 introduced, read

a first time, and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second

reading at the next sitting after today.

HON. MR. PETERSON: Mr. Speaker, in respect of the bill that

has just been introduced I would want to advise the Honourable Members

that it is not my intention to proceed beyond the first reading at this

session, of this bill. Because it is a subject that has been considered

by the Law Reform Commission, and the uniformity conference to consider

it before enacting the law so it will be submitted to them at that

stage.

Orders of the day.

House in committee of supply. The committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.

The House adjourned at 6 p.m.

[ Page 706 ]

The House met at 8 p.m.

Introduction of bills.

Hon. Mr. Chabot presents the annual report of the Workmen's Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 1971.

Orders of the day.

House in committee of supply. The committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.

HON. R.R. LOFFMARK (Minister of Health Services and Hospital Insurance):

Section 37 of the Hospitals Act, the regulations made pursuant thereto must be published in the Gazette ,

and as soon as conveniently possible may be presented in the

Legislature. I beg leave to file regulations under the Hospitals Act,

three in number.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the annual 75th annual

report of the Public Health Services of British Columbia for the year

ended September 31, 1971.

Hon. Mr. Bennett moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 10:35 p.m.

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