British Columbia Bill 205 (Private Member) — 36th Parliament, 1st Session — Previous Version 1
36-1 Member Bill 205-1
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1996 Legislative Session: 1st Session, 36th Parliament
FIRST READING
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
MR. WEISGERBER
BILL M 205 – 1996
FREE VOTES ENABLING ACT
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:
Free votes defined
Section 1 of the Constitution Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 62 is hereby
amended by the addition of the following:
In this Act, "free vote" means a vote of individual consequence with due regard for the views of a member's constituents and the public good generally, free from intimidation or reprisal from the caucus of a political party, while acknowledging that membership in the Executive Council may limit that member's use of the free vote.
Free votes provided for
Section 18 (2) of the Constitution Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 62, is
hereby repealed and the following substituted:
(2) A member represents the electoral district
in which the member was elected with primary consideration being for the interests
of the constituents such that all votes in the Legislative Assembly shall be
free votes of personal conscience, unless taken on:
(
a) matters which are advised to be matters of fundamental government policy at the time of their first introduction, whether by way of Bill, particular sections of a Bill, Resolution, Motion or otherwise, or,
(
b) Supply Bills, or,
(
c) motions specifically asserting confidence or non-confidence in the government of the day,
all such votes being considered to be questions of confidence or non-confidence in the government of the day.
Explanatory Note
This Bill abolishes party-line voting in the Legislative Assembly except on fundamental policy or money bills, which are treated as votes of confidence or non-confidence in the government of the day.
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© 1996: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada