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, JANUARY 21, 1971

Afternoon Sitting

(L.S.) J. R. NICHOLSON Lieutenant-Governor CANADA:

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom,

Canada and Her other Realms and Territories, QUEEN, Head of the

Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

To Our Faithful the Members Elected to Serve in the Legislative

Assembly of Our Province of British Columbia, at Our City of Victoria — GREETING.

A PROCLAMATION

L. R. PETERSON,

Whereas We are desirous and resolved, as soon as may

be, to meet Our People of Our Province of Attorney-General British

Columbia, and to have their advice in Our Legislature:

NOW KNOW YE, that for divers causes and considerations and taking

into consideration the ease and convenience of Our loving subjects, We

have thought fit, by and with the advice of Our Executive Council of

the Province of British Columbia, to hereby convoke, and by these

presents enjoin you, and each of you, that on Thursday, the

twenty-first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-one,

at three o'clock in the afternoon, you meet Us in Our said Legislature

or Parliament of Our said Province, at Our City of Victoria, FOR THE

DISPATCH OF BUSINESS, to treat, do, act, and conclude upon those things

which, in Our Legislature of the Province of British Columbia, by the

Common Council of Our said Province may, by the favour of God, be

ordained.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused these Our Letters to be made

Patent and the Great Seal of Our Province to be hereunto affixed.

WITNESS, Colonel the Honourable JOHN R. NICHOLSON, P.C., O.B.E.,

Q.C., LL.D., Lieutenant-Governor of Our Province of British Columbia,

in Our City of Victoria, in Our Province, this fifth day of October, in

the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy, and in the

nineteenth year of Our Reign.

By Command.

W. D. BLACK

Provincial Secretary

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1971

The House met at 3:00 p.m.

Due to the special arrangement of Members' desks in the Chamber, it

was not possible to record the proceedings in the House on the opening

day of the second Session of the Twenty-ninth Legislative Assembly.

This being the first day of the second meeting of the Twenty-ninth

Parliament or Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia

for the dispatch of business, pursuant to a Proclamation of Colonel the

Honourable JOHN R. NICHOLSON, P.C., O.B.E., Q.C., LL.D.,

Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, dated the 5th day of October,

1970, the Members took their seats.

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Colonel the Honourable JOHN R. NICHOLSON, P.C., O.B.E., Q.C., LL.D.,

Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, having entered the House, took his

seat on the Throne, and was pleased to deliver the following gracious

Speech:

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly :

I welcome you to the Second Session of the Twenty-ninth Parliament

of British Columbia, confident that you will discharge your duties

carefully and that lasting benefits will accrue for the benefit of all

our people from your deliberations.

We have already embarked upon the fitting commemoration of the

centenary of our entry into Confederation. While that momentous change

in our constitutional status occurred on July 20, 1871, may I recall to

your attention that one hundred years ago yesterday the Legislative

Council of the Colony of British Columbia, having endorsed the terms of

union which had been revised by our delegates in consort with the

Federal authorities, approved an Address to Her Majesty Queen Victoria

expressing the desire of the Colony to join the Canadian Confederation.

Pursuant to the provisions of the British Columbia Centennial '71 Celebrations Act ,

elaborate plans have been prepared for our commemoration of this

significant event. Hundreds of our communities have completed or are in

the process of completing permanent projects which will add appreciably

to the facilities available to our people for their use and enjoyment.

Already our calendar of events is full to overflowing, assuring our

people ample opportunity to share to the full in this eventful

commemoration.

Her Majesty the Queen has graciously consented to visit with her

people in British Columbia between May 3 and May 12, and by her

presence to join with us in our celebrations. Her Majesty will be

accompanied by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and Her Royal

Highness the Princess Anne. Centennial '71 promises to be a gala year

in the life of this great Province.

During the past year my Government welcomed ambassadors and

distinguished visitors from many countries, evidence of the growing

interest in our Province. This comes as no surprise when it is

remembered that British Columbia in terms of population is the

fastest-growing Province in Canada, having increased by one-third in

the last decade alone. It is predicted that early in the twenty-first

century we will approach Ontario and Quebec in population alone.

My Government continues to be concerned not only with the present

and future prospects of our Province but also with the preservation of

our historical heritage and traditions. The Provincial Archives now

occupies its splendid new facility in Heritage Court and, in

consequence of its transfer, plans are in process for the expansion of

the facilities and services of the Provincial Library. Development of

both the Barkerville and Fort Steele Historic Parks goes on apace and,

on the basis of attendance figures alone, ample proof is given of the

interest and appreciation of the people of our Province. The

restoration of Craigflower Manor, under a joint Federal-Provincial

agreement, is now completed, and during our Centennial Year it will be

officially opened. Under a similar agreement, the restoration of Fort

St. James is under active planning, and this new historic park will

officially be dedicated this year.

During 1970, British Columbia experienced a difficult year for a

variety of reasons. The many labour-management contracts coming under

negotiation and the lockouts and strikes in both the Federal and

Provincial jurisdictions seriously affected the economy of the

Province. The policy of the Federal Government in relation to tight

money and high interest rates, as well as increased prices, resulted in

increased unemployment. The decision of the Federal Government to unpeg

the Canadian dollar further compounded our problems, since we are

necessarily dependent upon the export market. However, we enter the

Centennial Year and the decade of the '70's with faith, courage and

optimism. By its progressive policies, my Government will continue to

seek to improve the quality of life of all citizens of this Province.

The main and foremost policy of my Government is directed to the

improvement of the total environment of its citizens to the end that

they shall all enjoy the best ecological climate in the world. Already

considerable advances have been made in pollution control. By statutory

enactments last year, motor vehicles manufactured after January 1,

1971, and licensed in British Columbia, were required to conform with

detailed standards of pollution control, and new industries established

in this Province in 1971 were required to meet standards of industrial

air-pollution control. Every effort is being made to speedily reduce

the backlog of existing pollution control problems.

A broad approach to the general matter of ecological balance of the

environment has been made through the Land Use Committee, chaired by

the Minister of Lands, Forests, and Water Resources, and comprised of

the Ministers of Agriculture, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Municipal

Affairs, and Recreation and Conservation. Arrangements are now being

made to bring an even broader scope of opinion and advice to the vital

question of environmental management in the Province by the inclusion

on the Committee of the Minister of Health Services and Hospital

Insurance.

In consequence of legislation approved last year, better relationships now exist between landlords and tenants.

I am pleased to report that the Age of Majority Act has

met with general approval and is proving beneficial to the young people

of this Province. At my Government's request, the end of juvenile age

under the Federal Juvenile Delinquents Act was lowered from the 18th to the 17th birthday.

A Judicial Council, under the chairmanship of Judge Cyril White, has been appointed under the Provincial Court Act .

Improvements in the administration of justice will continue to be made

through altered procedures and rules of practice designed to reduce

delay and inconvenience.

The Law Reform Commission has formulated a programme of study

covering many fields of law. It is anticipated that the first product

of its study will be

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presented to you for consideration.

The forest resource industries of British Columbia did not

experience their customary growth in several sectors in 1970. Present

projections indicate that the timber cut is up only 3.2 per cent over

1969. By the end of 1970, lumber production was down 4.1 per cent over

1969. This is attributable in large part to depressed lumber markets at

home and abroad, to strikes within the towing and forest industries,

and to forest closures made necessary by extreme fire hazard. The 1970

fire season was in many respects the worst in history. The direct cost

of fighting the 3,982 forest fires was close to 9 million dollars, but

fortunately the acreage burned was less than the 10-year average. The

slowdown in housing construction, general throughout North America,

affected the output of related lumber products, but there are

indications of a more buoyant market.

Pulp and paper production ran about 5 per cent lower than the

previous year, but again demand has almost overtaken capacity and with

recent price increases the outlook has brightened.

Our forest resource industries continue to attract vast sums of

capital. Several new plants opened in 1970, others are in the

construction stage, and existing plants are being extended. Our

sustained-yield and close-utilization policies are being more widely

enforced.

My Government continues its efforts to plan and make available our

water resources for social betterment and economic growth. The

rehabilitation of irrigation and flood control works continues under

joint Federal-Provincial programmes.

Work continues in the development of hydroelectric power on the

Peace and Columbia Rivers. The continuing expansion predicted for

British Columbia's economy presents a major challenge for the British

Columbia Hydro and Power Authority.

A number of studies have been initiated to determine not only the

most economical but also the most environmentally acceptable means of

meeting the load growth. Protection of the natural environment has

become one of the most important challenges of the decade, and British

Columbia Hydro will continue to utilize sources of power which do not

adversely affect the natural environment of our Province. It is

fortunate that almost 90 per cent of the power produced by British

Columbia Hydro in 1970 was generated at hydroelectric installations,

the most pollution-free of all systems for supplying energy.

The construction of Mica Dam, the last of the three Columbia River

Treaty projects in British Columbia, is progressing favourably.

Progress is also being made on the redevelopment of several existing

generating stations. Further expansions of the Peace River generating

facilities, which already provide more than 48 per cent of British

Columbia Hydro's power, are planned for 1971 and 1972.

Transmission and distribution facilities continued to expand during

the past year, including extensions to a number of remote and sparsely

populated areas. The latter were made economically possible by my

Government's rural electrification annual grant to British Columbia

Hydro.

My Government is pleased to report that the mineral industry shows

no sign of diminishing activity. During the year, eight different

mining companies announced their intention to bring eight new metal

mines into production, with a total rated treatment capacity in the

order of 55,000 tons of ore per day. Activity in oil and gas

exploration continued on a level similar to that in 1969. Although no

new major fields of oil or natural gas were discovered during the year,

developed reserves at the end of 1969 were 252,860,000 stock barrels of

oil and 7.8 trillion standard cubic feet of residue gas.

I am pleased to advise you that a new ARDA agreement has been signed

with the Federal Government which extends to 1975 and raises the

Federal contribution to two million dollars per year. The Canada Land

Inventory programme continues; three areas of high priority have been

completed and the scientific maps are of considerable benefit to the

Land Use Committee.

The Agricultural Aid to Developing Countries and World Disaster Fund

continue to serve a useful purpose in meeting emergency situations as

they occur around the world. It is hoped that their use may be extended

to provide scholarships for persons to attend schools in underdeveloped

regions and, to this end, discussions are proceeding with the Canadian

International Development Agency.

My Government continues to exert every effort to expand the

international trade of this Province, an activity vital to the

strengthening of our industrial base. Trade through customs ports set

another new record during 1970. The Federal Government is being

approached for increased development and incentive grants to foster

industrial growth in all geographical areas, but particularly in the

Interior and more northerly regions. We continue to press for the

release of Federal funds for housing and the reduction in mortgage

interest rates, which would have the effect of releasing larger sums

from the private sector to enable persons with more modest incomes to

own their own homes.

You will recall that last year you were informed of plans for our

participation in Expo '70 at Osaka, Japan. I am pleased to report that

the British Columbia pavilion was an outstanding success. Rated among

the top five foreign pavilions, over four thousand visitors per hour

toured our building and approximately fourteen thousand were present

for our daily film presentations.

My Government will again sponsor the British Columbia International

Trade Fair to be held at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds in

Vancouver from June 2 to 12 this year.

My Government is conscious of its responsibility through the provisions of the Motor Carrier Act

to provide the maximum protection for properly licensed carriers.

Regulations relating to pipeline construction standards and aerial

tramways will be revised to ensure greater safety.

The railway from Cloverdale to Roberts Bank superport was completed

in 1970, and the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority trackage

east of Cloverdale was upgraded.

Concentrating on the development of our northern resources, the

Pacific Great Eastern Railway in 1970 increased the tempo of new line

construction and moved, in record volume, an ever-expanding variety of

commodities. Despite the restraining effect of an unsettled economy,

car loadings and revenues reached the highest levels in the railway's

history. To move the vast natural resources of northern British

Columbia to domestic and world markets, work was in progress during the

past year on nearly 700 miles of new extensions. It is anticipated that

both the extension from Fort St. James to Takla Lake and from Fort St.

John to Fort Nelson will be opened for traffic during our Centennial

'71 celebrations. Good progress has been made on the extension from

Takla Lake to Dease Lake, which should be completed by 1974.

The extension and improvement of the highway system of

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this Province continues to be a prime concern to my

Government. A start has been made on the new 80-mile highway linking

Kelsey Bay with Beaver Cove on northern Vancouver Island, and the first

portion of the Cowichan Valley road was opened last fall. Good progress

has been made on widening of the Patricia Bay Highway from Victoria to

Swartz Bay to four lanes, and the first contracts have been called for

the reconstruction of the Trans-Canada Highway between Horseshoe Bay

and Taylor Way in West Vancouver to full four-lane, freeway standards.

Among other projects either completed or nearly completed were a

12-mile

section on the Yellowhead Route near Prince Rupert and 26 miles

on the Cariboo Highway. Work continues on the extension of the Lougheed

Highway east of Agassiz and widening it in the Haney area. Despite the

delays arising from the construction industry dispute, progress is

being made on two major bridges over the Fraser River — at Knight Road

in Vancouver and at Mission. My Government is pleased to report that

traffic on all 12 routes of the British Columbia Ferries Division

increased during the past year. The second "stretch" ferry, Queen of Victoria was brought into service last year. To cope with increased traffic, necessary alterations to terminals are continuing.

During the past decade it became obvious to my Government that there

would be a great demand in modern society for technically trained

people, and that facilities should be constructed in which students

could obtain the type of training of benefit to themselves and to the

communities in which they live. It becomes increasingly more apparent

that, in order to obtain employment in the resource-based industries of

our Province, workmen would require special skills and expert training.

My Government, therefore, embarked on an ambitious programme of

diversifying our post-secondary education facilities. During the past

year, the wisdom of this policy was proven by the large number of

students who received their training in our vocational schools and

colleges and who, in consequence, are now qualified to take their place

in the industrial development of our Province.

During the course of this past year over 36,000 students received

training in the nine vocational schools located throughout the

Province. During 1970, vocational schools were officially opened at

Victoria and Terrace. Financed by Federal and Provincial funds, these

two schools alone cost over nine million dollars and annually enrol

about 3,000 students. The new vocational school at Kamloops is

proceeding on

schedule and should be operational this year. A

vocational school in the Chilliwack area has been approved and it is

hoped construction will start this year.

Great progress has also been made in the development of colleges by

College Councils with the cooperation of school boards throughout the

Province. Cariboo College, near Kamloops, and Douglas College, in the

Lower Fraser Valley, were opened during 1970 and Vancouver City College

moved to its new eight million-dollar Langara campus. Approval has been

given to the Greater Victoria School Board to operate a new college to

serve students from the southern part of Vancouver Island, commencing

in September of this year.

Whereas, a short five years ago, only 2,500

students were enrolled in one college, I am pleased to be able to

report that this year 12,000 students were enrolled in eight colleges.

It is the policy of my Government that these post-secondary

facilities shall be so located that students desiring to obtain higher

education may take their initial two-year academic programmes or

vocational training close to home.

My Government is not unmindful of the need for continuing support

for our universities. All three of our public universities are

contributing to the welfare of the citizens of the Province.

While great progress has taken place in the post-secondary field of

education, the public school system continues to grow at a rapid pace.

Over half a million students are now enrolled in our public schools.

During 1970 over 800 classrooms were added, and an additional 890 new

classrooms are projected to be built this year.

Under the leadership provided by the Library Development Commission,

a five-year plan for public library development is being finalized. A

new formula for grants-in-aid is now in effect which substantially

increases the financial assistance given to individual small libraries.

I am pleased to be able to report that there is growing acceptance of

the principle of regional library service.

My Government pursues a sound, modern system of personnel

administration for the public service. It is deeply conscious of the

high quality of its Civil Service and is appreciative of its loyal

support. You will be asked to consider amendments to the Civil Service Superannuation Act , the Municipal Superannuation Act , the Teachers' Pensions Act , and the School District and Regional Colleges (Pensions) Act .

During the past year, some 350 tasks were carried out by Civil

Defence, many of which were in direct aid in emergencies involving the

safety of human life and in support of local authorities in civil

emergency situations.

You will be asked to consider amendments to the Provincial Elections Act .

My Government continues to improve the building facilities for

public service through the Province. The Government Building and Law

Courts at Duncan are completed, and one at Williams Lake will soon be

opened. Planning continues for buildings in several centres throughout

the Province. Extensive renovations to the Vancouver Law Courts have

been carried out as part of a continuing programme to increase court

facilities. Service facilities for the Department of Highways have been

completed at Quesnel, Williams Lake, Salmon Arm, and 100 Mile House. A

new fish hatchery is being designed for Abbotsford.

British Columbia at mid-July, 1970, led all Canada in the increase

in its labour force, rising by 6.4 per cent, continuing a trend

throughout the decade of the '60's. During that period, our labour

force rose by 55.2 per cent, compared to increases of 19.8 per cent in

the Atlantic Provinces, of 29.0 per cent in Quebec, of 31.7 per cent in

Ontario, and of 24.2 per cent in the Prairie Provinces. Of equal

significance is the fact that, during the same decade, British Columbia

increased the number of its labour force gainfully employed more

rapidly than elsewhere in Canada. In the Atlantic Provinces the

increase was 23.8 per cent; in Quebec, 30.7 per cent; in Ontario, 33.2

per cent; in the Prairie Provinces, 24.0 per cent; but in our Province

the increase was 57.2 per cent.

Although my Government found it necessary to invoke the final and binding provisions of the Mediation Commission Act in

a few instances, it is convinced that free collective bargaining is the

best means of achieving peaceful and harmonious relations.

Nevertheless, in cases where the public interest and welfare are

seriously affected, that interest must be paramount and take precedence

over the desires of any particular segment of the population.

I am pleased to report that, effective the first of this year, the maximum wage on which Workmen's Compensation

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payments are based was raised from $6,600 to

$7,600. In consequence, the monthly compensation for work-caused

injuries has risen from $412.50 to $475.00, the highest in Canada.

Disability pensions and compensation payments for time lost through

industrial injuries have likewise been increased.

The Workmen's Compensation Board of British Columbia will be

sponsoring the largest joint Management-Labour Safety Conference ever

held in Canada in June of this year in Vancouver. More than 1,000

delegates are expected to attend. My Government congratulates both

labour and management for demonstrating this spirit of cooperation and

dedication in seeking means to reduce the incidence of death and injury

in industry throughout the Province. As part of its programme to

celebrate the centenary of the entry of British Columbia into

Confederation, the Workmen's Compensation Board will also be

co-operating with the Council of the Order of St. John in hosting the

world's largest international First Aid Competition. First aid teams

from all 10 provinces and the two northern territories will compete,

along with teams from a number of American states and Mexico. This

competition will assist in maintaining the high standards of efficiency

in industrial first aid for which this Province is so well known. Along

with the Provincial Senior First Aid Championships, boys and girls from

all regions of the Province will be competing in the junior events of

this Centennial project.

My Government is anxious that municipal by-laws and regulations

serve the purpose of facilitating expansion of residential housing

programmes. You will be asked to approve the standardization and

co-ordination of housing regulations.

My Government is co-operating in the purchase of land and the

development of a Botanical Garden in Vancouver, which will be of great

significance to the Province and Canada's third largest city.

The continued rapid growth of the visitor industry has materially

benefited the economy of this Province. The dollar value of this

industry has passed the 470-million mark, having doubled in less than

six years, and further expansion of all types of facilities is being

encouraged.

You will be asked to consider measures to enhance the protection of

rare and endangered wildlife species and to improve the protection of

wildlife and wildlife habitat generally. Further control over the

recreational use of firearms and all terrain vehicles will be

recommended for your consideration.

In 1970 the extension of community programmes in the field of mental

health was furthered with the opening of two new mental health centres

at Nelson and Terrace, bringing to 17 the number of such centres in

British Columbia. Approximately 19,000 patients were cared for by

mental health facilities, an increase of 19 per cent over 1969. Most of

this increase was in out-patient care.

The final phases of construction of the 300-bed Glendale Hospital,

Victoria, are proceeding on

schedule and will be operational early this

year. Renovation and planning programmes continue at Skeena View

Hospital, Terrace; at Riverview Hospital; at the Woodlands School; and

at the Tranquille School.

Actions taken by the Public Health Services have increased further

the protection of the public against disease and other disabling

conditions.

You will be asked to consider amendments to the Health Act to

authorize new Communicable Disease Regulations, to permit charges for

services provided by Health Services laboratories, to provide for the

appointment of medical health officers for the Province as a whole

rather than for the presently defined geographic areas, and to permit

regional districts to appoint representatives to union boards of

health. Amendments to the Marriage Act

will also be presented to you. To permit the transfer of community-care

facilities from the Department of Rehabilitation and Social Improvement

to the Department of Health Services and Hospital Insurance, amendments

to the Community Care Facilities Act will also be placed before you.

Inflation, high unemployment, and the migration of individuals and

families to British Columbia in search of employment and a better life

were three socio-economic factors which contributed to sharply rising

demands for social services and income maintenance to persons in need.

My Government, fully cognizant of these facts, took appropriate

action. Social Allowance rates were increased, as were earning

exemptions for mothers with dependent children, handicapped family

heads, employable persons making continued and continuing efforts to

find full-time employment, and persons receiving Disabled Persons'

Allowances. Boarding and nursing homes' rates for indigents were

increased twice in 1970. The allowable income for persons receiving

Supplementary Social Allowance to Old Age Security was also adjusted.

I am pleased to be able to report that amendments to the Protection of Children Act

are working well and have resulted in more effective use of public and

private child-care facilities and improvement of services to children.

During the past year, administrative changes providing programme,

fiscal and operational controls were instituted. To ensure the best

service possible to our senior citizens, the administration of

Supplementary Social Allowance to Old Age Security was decentralized to

local offices. The Provincial Alliance of Businessmen became a branch

of the Department of Rehabilitation and Social Improvement, ensuring

co-ordination of services, financial eligibility and job-finding

sections of the Department.

The Public Accounts and reports of the Departments of my Government

will be presented to you, and estimates for the ensuing year will be

submitted.

Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, I now leave you and trust that

in your deliberations the guidance of Divine Providence will attend you

in your labours.

His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was then pleased to retire.

The Speaker reported that, to prevent mistakes, he had obtained a copy of His Honour's Speech.

On the motion of the Hon. L. R. Peterson , Bill (No. 1) intituled

An Act to Amend the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders 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.

On the motion of the Hon. W.A.C. Bennett , seconded by the Hon. L.R. Peterson , it was Ordered—

That the appointment of Gerald Herbert Cross. Q.C., of Victoria, as

Acting Clerk Assistant of the Legislative Assembly in place of Earle

George MacMinn during the year 1971, approved by His Honour the

Lieutenant-Governor by and with the advice of His Executive Council on

the 22nd

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day of December, 1970, an d effective on the 15th day of January, 1971, be now ratified pursuant to the provisions of

section 44 of the Constitution Act , being

Chapter 71 of the Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1960 .

On the motion of the Hon. W.A.C. Bennett, seconded by the Hon. W.D. Black, it was Ordered –

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.

On the motion of the Hon. W.D. Black, seconded by the Hon. L.R. Peterson, it was Ordered –

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.

On the motion of the Hon. W.A.C. Bennett, seconded by the Hon. D.L. Brothers, it was Ordered –

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.

L.R. Peterson, the Hon. W.N. Chant, and Messrs. Bruch, Barrett, and

McGeer.

On the motion of the Hon. W.A.C. Bennett, seconded by the Hon. L.R. Peterson, it was Ordered –

That Herbert Joseph Bruch, Esquire, member for Esquimalt Electoral

District, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this Session of the

Legislative Assembly.

Resolved, that the House, at its rising, do stand adjourned until 3 o'clock p.m. tomorrow.

The following papers were presented:

By the Hon. W.D. Black (Provincial Secretary) –

Fifteenth Annual Report of the business done in pursuance of the

Members of the Legislative Assembly Superannuation Act for the year

ended March 31, 1970.

Thirty-fifth Annual Report of the business done in pursuance of the

Civil Service Superannuation Act for the year ended March 31, 1970.

Thirty-first Annual Report of the business done in pursuance of the

Municipal Superannuation Act for the nine-month period ended December

31, 1969.

Twenty-ninth Annual Report of the business done in pursuance of the Teachers' Pensions Act for the year ended December 31, 1969.

Tenth Annual Report of the business done under the Public Services

Group Insurance Act for the policy year July 1, 1969 to June 30, 1970.

Department of the Queen's Printer Balance-sheet as at March 31,

1970, and Profit and Loss Statement for 12 months ended March 31, 1970.

Capital Improvement District Commission Statement of Receipts and Disbursements for the year ended March 31, 1970.

Annual Report of the Library Development Commission for the year ended March 31, 1970.

By the Hon. L.R. Peterson (Attorney-General) –

The Fifty-ninth Annual Report of the Superintendent of Insurance for the year ended December 31, 1969.

The Forty-eighth Annual Report of the Fire Marshal for the year ended December 31, 1969. (In manuscript form.)

The Annual Report for 1970 of the British Columbia Racing Commission. (In manuscript form.)

The Annual Report of the Motor-vehicle Branch for the year 1969. (In manuscript form.)

The Forty-ninth Annual Report of the Liquor Control Board covering the fiscal year ended March 31, 1970.

By the Hon. W.A.C. Bennett (Minister of Finance) –

Public Accounts of the Province of British Columbia for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1970.

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 1970.

Return submitted in accordance with

section 85 (4) of the Taxation

Act : Remissions and refunds made under authority of

section 85 (1),

(2), and (3) of the Taxation Act , Revised Statutes of British Columbia,

1960 , during the calendar year 1970.

Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1970, Office of the Assessment Commissioner.

Twenty-eighth Annual Report of the Purchasing Commission, January 1, 1970 to December 31, 1970.

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, 1970.

By the Hon. FX Richter (Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources) –

Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources, Province of British Columbia, Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1969.

British Columbia Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources, Geology, Exploration, and Mining in British Columbia, 1969.

By the Hon. W.D. Black (Minister of Highways) –

Annual Report of the Department of Highways for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1970.

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By the Hon. L. R. Peterson (Minister of Labour) –

The Annual Report of the Mediation Commission of British Columbia for the year 1970. (In manuscript form.)

By the Hon. D.L. Brothers (Minister of Education) –

The Ninety-ninth Report of the Public Schools of the Province.

By the Hon. D.R.J. Campbell (Minister of Municipal Affairs) –

Department of Municipal Affairs Report for the year ended December 31, 1970.

By the Hon. W.A.C. Bennett (President of the Council) –

British Columbia Energy Board Eleventh Annual Report, 1970.

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority Eighth Annual Report, year ended March 31, 1970.

Public Utilities Commission Thirtieth Annual Report pursuant to

section 35 of the Motor Carrier Act , Licence-year 1969/70.

The House adjourned at 3:52 p.m.