1970 Legislative Session: ist 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, FEBRUARY 26, 1970

Afternoon Sitting

[ Page 571 ]

The House met at 2 p.m.

The Hon. L.R. Peterson presented to Mr. Speaker a Message from His

Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, amendments to Bill (No. 15) intituled

Jury Act.

On the motion of Mr. G.B. Gardom, Bill (No. 24) intituled

An Act to

Amend the Trust Companies Act was introduced, read a first time, and

Ordered to be placed on theOrders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

On the motion of Mr. D.G. Cocke, Bill (No. 25) intituled

An Act to

Amend the Insurance Act was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered

to be placed on theOrders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Lands, Forests, and Water Resources.

HON. R.G. WILLISTON: Mr. Speaker, I ask leave of the House to

introduce a motion, Motion No. 12, which appears on today's Orders of

the Day, if the Members of the House will so give leave.

MR. SPEAKER: Shall leave be granted?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. WILLISTON: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the

Honourable W.K. Kiernan, that this Motion be approved as spelled out in

Motion No. 12 on the Order Paper.

That this House authorize the Select Standing Committee on Forestry

and Fisheries to receive and study the following reports from the

Forest Service:

Slash-burning in the Interior:

Damage to forest values by mining development:

Application of the 30 to 50 per cent contractor clauses in tree-farm licenses.

Also to consider and report to the House on the total management

responsibilities of the quota holders within any sustained-yield unit

which is being cut to the maximum allowable harvest under close

utilization standards.

MR. SPEAKER: You have heard the Motion. All those in favour

say Aye. The honourable the Leader of the — I'm sorry, the honourable

the member for Cowichan-Malahat — long years of experience….(laughter)

MR. STRACHAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, old habits are sometimes hard to shake.

However, Mr. Speaker, I am supporting this particular resolution for

a number of reasons. For one, we have recognized the limitations of the

operation of the present forest industry. Many questions have been

raised in the minds of the people about the efficacy of slash-burning

or the necessity of slash-burning. I am sorry the Minister has limited

the intent of this reference to the Committee of slash-burning only in

the Interior, because I, myself, have had complaints about the effect

of slash-burning in the Coastal areas also and I would like to hear

from the Minister as to why he is limiting this investigation to

slash-burning in the Interior.

With regard to the question of the damage to forest values by mining

development, I am sorry that, again, he limited it to mining

development, because there are other ways in which forest values can be

depreciated.

The application of the 30 to 50 per cent contract clauses in tree

farm licences should have been examined a long time ago, because under

the terms of the agreements as they have been in the past, really, the

contractor was not a free agent and the evidence indicated that very

often the 30 to 50 per cent clauses, really, were only open insofar as

the, second or third grade of timber was concerned. It wasn't a true

opportunity for the small operator to get involved in the money-making

end of the logging show. So it is a start in examining some pretty

important issues. I am sorry there are these limitations on it,

nevertheless, I support the reference.

MR. SPEAKER: Are you ready for the question? All those in favour say Aye. Contrary minded, No. The motion is carried.

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

(Estimates of the Premier's Office)

At the hour of 6.05 p.m. the Chairman left the Chair.

The House met at 8 p.m.

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

(Estimates of the Premier's Office and the Department of Finance)

The Committee reported Resolution 2, and Resolutions 66 to 92 inclusive.

The House adjourned at 11:40 p.m.