1973 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 30th 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)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1973

Afternoon Sitting

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1973

The House met at 3:00 p.m.

This being the first day of the second session of the 30th

of the Province of British Columbia for the dispatch of

business, pursuant to a proclamation of Colonel the Hon. John

R. Nicholson, Lieutenant-Governor of the province, dated

November 9, 1972, Hon. Members took their seats.

Prayers.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor having entered the House

and being seated upon the throne, was pleased to deliver the

following gracious speech.

HON. J.R. NICHOLSON (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr. Speaker and

Members of the, I am pleased to welcome you to this, the

second session of the 30th Parliament of our province. I extend

to you all my best wishes as you, my new Government and

Legislature, embark upon the course of action required to face

the changes of the 70's.

This last year has been an eventful one and we are mindful

of the high level of expectation that our citizens have from

governments across the nation. Consequently, the policies and

programmes of my Government, as evidenced by the special

session last October, will continue to be carefully designed to

meet both the priorities and the expectations of our people in

the most appropriate ways.

All Canadians have felt deep and abiding concern over the

horrors of the war in southeast Asia. It is therefore with an

overwhelming sense of relief that we welcome the Vietnam

ceasefire and peace treaty announced earlier this week.

Since last September many of my Ministers have met with

their counterparts in other provinces and with the Cabinet

Ministers of our federal government. Sincere appreciation of

our contributions has been expressed by many at these important

discussions, and the expressions of optimism regarding the

province's future role in Confederation and the future of

Canada are highly significant.

All Canadians were recently saddened by the loss of the Rt.

Hon. Lester B. Pearson, Canada's Prime Minister from 1963 to

1968. Mr. Pearson, a Nobel Prize winner, was a dedicated and a

very highly respected diplomat who brought honour and dignity

to the country that he loved and served so well.

I note with regret the passing on November 13 last, of

Herbert Anscomb, a Minister of the Crown from 1941 to 1952. Mr.

Anscomb was an able politician and a servant of the people

whose passing was mourned by all who came in contact with

him.

I am pleased to report that my First Minister and members of

the Executive Council met with the Hon. Daniel J. Evans,

Governor of the State of Washington, and members of his

administration in Olympia earlier this month to discuss matters

of mutual interest. Such discussions and the frank exchange of

ideas should prove to be beneficial. While in Olympia, the Hon.

Premier was afforded the high honour of addressing the joint

houses of the Legislature. I note with pleasure that Governor

Evans has been invited to visit British Columbia in the fall of

this year in order to carry on with these discussions.

In mid-November of last year we were honoured by the visits

of the Hon. William A. Egan, Governor of the State of Alaska,

and Mr. James Smith, Commissioner of the Yukon Territory. These

visits were for the purpose of discussing ideas as to the

improvement of our environment and ecology and other matters of

joint cooperation.

During this session of the Legislature you will be asked to

consider, among others, the following measures:

A British Columbia Bill of Rights.

Legislation to implement a Government-operated automobile

insurance plan.

Amendments to improve the pensions plans administered by the

Government.

Amendments to The Constitution Act and a revision of

some departmental Acts to reflect the new thrusts and

priorities of my Government.

Amendments to The Park Act and The Litter

Act .

Amendments to The Land Act and The University

Endowment Lands Act .

In the important field of health care you will be asked to

consider legislation for the following:

An Ambulance Services Act and amendments to the

Medical Act and The Mental Health Act .

Major administrative and legislative changes will be made in

the Department of Industrial Development, Trade and Commerce

and you, the Legislative Assembly, will be asked to discuss measures to complement

these changes.

Two major problems will come before you as a result of your

actions in the special session last October. These are the

continuing study of the effects of the consumption of, and the

advertising of, tobacco and alcoholic products; and the report

from the Speaker as a result of the passage of The

Legislative Procedure and Practice Inquiry Act .

The administrative and legislative programmes will be

carefully designed and will be based on the clear necessity to

plan our future so that we may live in harmony with our special

environment and at peace with our fellow men, and to depart

from the acquisitive North American values that have seen

profligacy and waste on all sides. To implement these

programmes, our Government will bolster services to our

country, our people, industry, and labour, to

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catch up with modern society's demands for quality services

provided by skilled people. Our citizens have spent vast sums

educating our young people in special skills. These talents

will be tapped as we update the Civil Service which has been

handicapped for some time by lack of sufficient staff.

Therefore, our Government will institute measures that will

create close to 1,000 new government jobs in the Civil Service

of our Province.

The complexities and burdens of government in these

troublesome times clearly suggest that your wisdom and advice

will be required more frequently than in the past.

It is my Government's intention to call you together as the

work load expands and also to increase the work and the

designed use of the standing committees of the House so that

our citizens will be served best at all times. To these and all

other matters which may come before you, I ask your most

careful attention and I pray that Divine Providence may guide

your deliberations.

Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, I leave you now to the

discharge of your legislative duties.

Having concluded my formal

part in these proceedings, namely

the reading of the Speech from the Throne, I think it only

fitting that on this special occasion I welcome, on your

behalf, a man who for many years graced this chamber and,

during my six years as a Member of the House of Commons of this

country, graced that chamber. I refer to Mr. Harold Winch.

I know, Harold, I not only express my personal feelings, but

I express the goodwill and the appreciation from the Premier

and all Members of the House that you are with us here today.

Glad to see you looking so well.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was then pleased to

retire.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, in order to prevent mistakes, I

have obtained a copy of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor's

speech.

The Hon. Attorney General.

Hon. Mr. Macdonald moves introduction of Bill No. 1

intituled the Regulations Act .

Motion approved.

Bill No. 1 read a first time, and ordered to be placed on

orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after

today.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Premier.

MR. D. BARRETT (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I move that the

speech of His Honour the Lieutenant-

Governor be taken into consideration at the next sitting of

the House, and that this order have precedence over all other

business, except introduction of bills, until disposed of.

Motion approved.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Provincial Secretary.

HON. E. HALL (Provincial Secretary): Mr. Speaker, I would

like to move, seconded by the Hon. Attorney General, that the

Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first

perused by Mr. Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing

thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do

presume to print the same.

Motion approved.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Premier.

MR. BARRETT: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Mrs.

E.E. Dailly, that the Select Standing Committees of this House,

for the present session, be appointed for the following

purposes:

On Standing Orders and Private Bills;

On Public Accounts and Printing;

On Mining and Railways;

On Agriculture;

On Municipal Matters;

On Forestry and Fisheries;

On Labour;

On Social Welfare and Education;

which said committees shall severally

be empowered to examine and inquire into all such matters and things as shall

be referred to them by this House, and to report from time to time their observations

and opinions thereon, with power, to send for persons, papers and records,

and that a special committee be appointed to prepare and report, with all

convenient speed, lists of Members to compose the above Select Standing Committees

of this House under standing order 68(1), said committee to be composed of

the Hon. A.B. MacDonald, the Hon. R.M. Strachan, and Messrs. Dent, Richter

and D.A. Anderson.

Motion approved.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Second Member for

Vancouver-Burrard.

MS. R. BROWN (Vancouver-Burrard): Mr. Speaker, I move

seconded by the Hon. Member for Omineca (Mr. Kelly), that Mr.

H.D. Dent, Member for Skeena Electoral District, be appointed

Deputy Speaker for this session of the Legislative Assembly.

Motion approved.

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The following papers were presented:

By the Hon. E. Hall (Provincial Secretary)-

Seventeenth annual report of the business done in pursuance

of the Members of the Superannuation Act for the year

ended March 31, 1972.

Thirty-seventh annual report of the business done in

pursuance of the Civil Service Superannuation Act for

the year ended March 31, 1972.

Thirty-third annual report of the business done in pursuance

of the Municipal Superannuation Act for the year ended

December 31, 1971.

Fourth annual report of the business done in pursuance of

the College Pension Act for the year ended August 31,

Thirty-first annual report of the business done in pursuance

of the Teachers' Pensions Act for the year ended

December 31, 1971.

Twelfth annual report of the business done under the

Public Service Group Insurance Act for the 12th policy

year July 1, 1971 to June 30, 1972.

The report and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry

into Employer and Employee Relations in the Public Service of

British Columbia, December, 1972.

Department of the Queen's Printer balance sheet as at March

31, 1972 and the profit and loss statement for the 12 months

ended March 31, 1972.

By the Hon. E. Hall in his capacity as Minister of Travel

Industry-

Sixth annual report of the Department of Travel and Industry

for the calendar year 1972.

Also the following-

The Capital Improvement District Commission financial

statement as at March 31, 1972.

Overall Medical Services Plan of British Columbia financial

statements as at March 31, 1972.

Regulations on the Provincial Elections Act ,

section

199, Ch. 306 of the Revised Statutes of British Columbia

(1960) .

By the Hon. A.B. Macdonald (Attorney General)-

Annual report of the Motor Vehicle Branch for the year

By the Hon. D.G. Cocke (Minister of Health Services and

Hospital Insurance)-

The Twenty-fourth annual report of the British Columbia

Hospital Insurance Group.

By the Hon. W.S. King (Minister of Labour)-

The annual report for 1972 of the Department of Labour.

By the Hon. L.T. Nimsick (Minister of Mines and Petroleum

Resources)-

Annual report of the Department of Mines and Petroleum

Resources for the year ended December 31, 1971.

By the Hon. R.M. Strachan (Minister of Highways)-

Annual report of the Department of Highways for

the fiscal year 1971–1972.

By the Hon. E.E. Dailly (Minister of Education)-

The 101st report of the Public Schools of the provinces.

By the Hon. W.L. Hartley (Minister of Public Works)-

The annual report of the Department of Public Works for the

fiscal year ended March 31, 1972.

MR. SPEAKER: The Hon. Premier.

HON. MR. BARRETT: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour, at last,

as Minister of Finance to present to the House the Public

Accounts of British Columbia for the fiscal year ended March

31, 1972.

Return submitted in accordance with

section 46(2) of the

Revenue Act, Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1960 ;

Refunds and remissions made under

section 46(1) of the

Revenue Act, Revised Statutes of British Columbia,

1960 , during the calendar year 1972.

Return submitted in accordance with

section 85(4) of the

Taxation Act : Remissions and refunds made under authority

section 85(1), (2), and (3) of the Taxation Act, Revised

statutes of British Columbia, 1960 , during the calendar

year 1972.

The annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1972,

Office of the Assessment Commissioner.

The annual report of the Assessment Appeal Board for the

year ended December 31, 1972.

A statement of unclaimed money deposits, under authority of

Unclaimed Money Deposits Act, Revised Statutes of British

Columbia, 1960 , for the fiscal year ended March 31,

Thirtieth annual report of the Purchasing Commission,

January 1, 1972 to December 31, 1972.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of presenting to the House as

President of the Council the report of the British Columbia

Energy Board dated August 31, 1972.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House, at its rising, do stand

adjourned until 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

MR. SPEAKER: All right, I think that's irregular but I must

proceed with the motion, which is not debatable.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Barrett moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

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