1971 Legislative Session: 2nd 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)

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1971

Afternoon Sitting

[ Page 613 ]

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

The Honourable W.A.C. Bennett presented to Mr. Speaker a Message from, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

On the motion of Mr. Bennett, Bill (No. 48) intituled

An Act to Amend the Provincial Home Acquisition Act , was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Mr. G.B. Gardom (Vancouver–Point Grey) tabled a letter from the

Honourable E.J. Benson, the Minister of Finance of Canada, dated

February 22, 1971.

Pursuant to Order, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of Supply.

The Committee rose, reported Resolution 18, Estimates of the Department of the Attorney-General, and asked leave to sit again.

Pursuant to Order, the Honourable D.R.J. Campbell, Minister of

Municipal Affairs, tabled correspondence, telegrams, and other

documents exchanged between the Government of the Province of British

Columbia and the Honourable J. Marchand, representing the Government of

Canada, relative to proposals for the application of regional disparity

programmes for those areas known as Northern Vancouver Island and

Northern British Columbia.

The House adjourned at 6:02 p.m.

The House met at 8:00 p.m.

Pursuant to Order, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of Supply.

Mr. Speaker was recalled at 10:57 p.m.

MR. H.J. BRUCH, Chairman: Mr. Speaker, during the discussion

on the votes, the Member for Yale-Lillooet became extremely repetitive.

The Chair was lenient in allowing repetition for quite some time. I

asked the Member to cease and the Member refused.

MR. SPEAKER: Honourable Members must realize that the same

rules apply in the Committee of the Whole House as apply in the House

itself and, if a Member refuses to take direction from the Chair, then

the Chair has little recourse but to take specific action. I hope the

Member will review his position and comply with the rules of the House.

MR. W.L. HARTLEY (Yale-Lillooet): I wished to read a letter

that hadn't been read. I have a document here I came prepared to

present the case. The Chairman insisted on cutting me off and that's

why I feel I should stand my ground.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Member realizes that the Chair

must be obeyed, otherwise we would have chaos in the House itself. I

would think that he would want to reconsider and take direction from

the Chair. I'm sure that every opportunity will be made available to

him during the estimates to put his case before the Attorney-General.

It's not a wise policy to argue with the Chairman of the Committee. I

hope he will review his position and take the matter up at a later date.

MR. HARTLEY: Yes, I have given this very serious

consideration, Mr. Speaker. It wasn't a heated argument. I merely

wanted to read more information that hadn't been read. The Chairman did

get a little excited but I tried to keep my cool. I think I have kept

my cool and I would like to be given permission to complete this case

that I'm presenting on behalf of this young lady.

MR. SPEAKER: I'm in no position to give you permission to do

anything other than to take direction from the Chair, Mr. Member. I'm

going to recall the Chairman and I think he has no recourse, if you

will not accept direction from the Chair, to take the appropriate

action. Mr. Chairman.

The House again resolved itself into the Committee of Supply.

The House continued to sit after midnight.

Mr. Speaker was recalled at 1:01 a.m.

MR. BRUCH, Chairman: Mr. Speaker, the Honourable the Leader

of the Opposition insisted on not only repeating a question over and

over but standing in silence in defiance for periods of over two

minutes at a time and refused to take his seat when the Chair asked him

to do so. I would like the Speaker to help me.

HON. W.A.C. BENNETT (South Okanagan): Mr. Speaker,…

MR. SPEAKER: Just a moment, please…Once again, I must draw

the House's attention to the fact that the rules that apply in the

House apply equally in the committee. I learn that the committee is not

following the advice of the Chairman or taking direction from the

Chair. I can only say again that the Chairman has no recourse but to

take the action and that is apparent in the rules. If it is the wish of

the House that the Speaker should take unilateral action, I am very

well prepared to do so. The Honourable the Leader of the Opposition has

something to say?

MR. D. BARRETT (Coquitlam): Well, I think there are two sides

to any case and I have my side to present. I had my place on the floor

of the House properly. I have paused between questions, only to have a

pause from the Chair between questions. The only time the Chair made a

ruling was to call you in. I intend to pursue my questions in the hope

of answers. I will be governed accordingly by the rules of this House;

however, I will insist on my right, my place to speak, and my right to

ask questions.

MR. SPEAKER: So long as the rules are observed, there should be no further problems in the committee. Mr. Chairman.

[ Page 614 ]

The House again resolved itself into the Committee of Supply.

Mr. Speaker was recalled at 1:12 a.m.

MR. BRUCH, Chairman: Mr. Speaker, the Member for Coquitlam

refused to take direction from the Chair and insisted on being

repetitious and refused to take his seat when ordered to do so and when

I asked him whether he was defying the Chair he stated that he was so

doing and, as he was abusing the rules of the House and refused to take

direction from the Chair, I have named him.

MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Coquitlam has been named by the Chairman of the Committee.

HON. L.R. PETERSON (Vancouver–Little Mountain): Mr. Speaker,

the honourable Member has been named for the reasons expressed by the

Chairman. I have no alternative but move, seconded by the Honourable

the Minister of Education, Mr. Brothers, that the Member named be

suspended from the service of this House until 2:00 p.m. on March 12

next.

The House divided.

Motion agreed to on the following division:

YEAS — 30

Messieurs

Wallace

Jefcoat

Campbell, B.

Ney

Tisdalle

Wolfe

Marshall

Bruch

McDiarmid

Wenman

McCarthy, Mrs.

Skillings

Kripps, Mrs.

Jordan, Mrs.

Chant

Mussallem

Dawson, Mrs.

Loffmark

Price

Bennett

Campbell, D.R.J.

Vogel

Peterson

Brothers

LeCours

Black

Shelford

Chabot

Fraser

Richter

NAYS — 12

Messieurs

Hartley

Calder

Strachan

Lorimer

McGeer

Dowding

Hall

Williams, L.A.

Nimsick

Williams, R.A.

Macdonald

Dailly, Mrs.

PAIRS:

Messieurs

Merilees

Brousson

Kiernan

Clark

Williston

Gardom

MR. SPEAKER: The Member is therefore suspended from the service of this House until 2:00 p.m. on March 12 next. Mr. Chairman.

The House again resolved itself into Committee of Supply.

The Committee rose, reported Resolutions 19 to 41, inclusive,

Estimates of the Department of the Attorney-General, and asked leave to

sit again.

It was moved by the Honourable L.R. Peterson, on behalf of the

Honourable W.A.C. Bennett, and seconded by Mr. P.L. McGeer that

whereas

the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was last evening

joined in holy matrimony to Miss Margaret Sinclair in the Province of

British Columbia:

Now therefore

be it Resolved the Legislative

Assembly, on behalf of all citizens of the Province, do extend

congratulations to the Prime Minister and best wishes to his bride.

Motion agreed to.

The House adjourned at 3:27 a.m.