Standing Orders
2003 Legislative Session: 4th Session, 37th Parliament
STANDING ORDERS
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Adopted February 20, 1930
(Effective May 1, 1930)
(Including Amendments of April 1970, February, March, and
October 1973, June 1974, June 1977, February 1985,
March 1987, May 1991, March 1992,
March 1994, April 1996, August 1996
and April 1997
GENERAL RULE
Procedure in unprovided cases.
1. In all cases not provided for hereafter
or by sessional or other orders, the usages, customs and precedents,
firstly, of this House and, secondly, of the House of Commons of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall be
followed as far as they may be applicable to this House.
PART I - PUBLIC BUSINESS
Chapter I - Regulation and Management of the House
Sittings
Daily sittings.
2. (1) The time for the ordinary meeting of
the House shall, unless otherwise ordered, be as follows:
Monday |
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Tuesday |
Two distinct sittings:
10 a.m. to 12 noon
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Wednesday |
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. as hereinafter provided |
Thursday |
Two distinct sittings:
10 a.m. to 12 noon
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Friday |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
(2) The House shall meet on Wednesday if the
Government shall have so advised the House prior to the adjournment
of Tuesday's afternoon sitting, otherwise the House shall stand
adjourned until Thursday, unless otherwise ordered.
Hour of interruption.
3. If at the hour of 6 p.m. on any Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, or 1 p.m. on any Friday, the business
of the day is not concluded and no other hour has been agreed on
for the next sitting, the Speaker shall leave the Chair.
On Monday |
until 10 a.m. Tuesday |
On Tuesday |
until 2 p.m. Wednesday (subject to 2 (2)) |
On Wednesday |
until 10 a.m. Thursday |
On Thursday |
until 10 a.m. Friday |
On Friday |
until 2 p.m. Monday, |
unless otherwise ordered.
4. Standing Order 4 repealed.
Decorum.
5. When the House adjourns the Members shall
keep their seats until the Speaker has left the chamber.
Quorum
Quorum.
6. The presence of at least ten Members of
the House, including the Speaker, shall be necessary to constitute
a meeting of the House for the exercise of its powers.
Absence of quorum at commencement of sitting.
7. (1) If, at the commencement of a sitting
there is not a quorum, the Speaker may declare a recess or adjourn
the House until the next sitting.
Absence of quorum during sitting.
(2) If, during a sitting of the House, a question
of quorum arises, the Speaker may ring the division bells and, no
later than 5 minutes thereafter, count the House. If a quorum is
then not present, the Speaker may declare a recess or adjourn the
House until the next sitting.
Time and names entered in Journal.
(3) Whenever the Speaker adjourns the House
for want of a quorum, the time of adjournment and the names of the
Members then present shall be entered in the Journal.
Attendance required.
8. Every Member is bound to attend the service
of the House, unless leave of absence has been given by the House.
The Speaker
The Speaker's duties.
9. The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum
and shall decide questions of order and practice. In deciding a
point of order or practice, the Speaker shall state the reasons
for the decision and shall cite any Standing Order or other applicable
authority. The Speaker may invite submissions from Members but no
debate shall be permitted on any decision. No decision shall be
subject to an appeal to the House.
Not to join in debate.
10. The Speaker shall not take part in any
debate before the House. In case of an equality of votes, the Speaker
shall give a casting-vote, and any reasons stated by him or her
shall be entered in the Journal.
Election of Speaker.
11. (a) (1) The House at its first Session
of a Parliament, and at any other time as determined pursuant to
Standing Order 11 (a) (2) shall make the election of Speaker the
first order of business, which shall not be interrupted by any other
proceedings.
(2) Where there is a vacancy in the Office
of Speaker whether at the opening of a Parliament, or because the
incumbent of that office has indicated his or her intention to resign
the Office of Speaker, or for any other reason, the House shall
proceed to elect one of its Members to be Speaker.
(3) No Minister of the Crown shall be eligible
for election to the Office of Speaker.
(4) The election of a Speaker shall take precedence
over all other business and no Motion of any kind shall be accepted,
and the House shall continue to sit, if necessary, beyond its ordinary
hour of daily adjournment, until a Speaker is elected and is installed
in the Chair and if the House has continued to sit beyond its ordinary
hour of daily adjournment, the Speaker shall thereupon adjourn the
House until the next sitting, unless otherwise ordered.
11. (b) (1) For the purpose of electing a
Speaker, the Clerk of the House, or in the absence of the Clerk,
the Deputy Clerk or a Clerk Assistant, shall administer the election
process and shall preside during the election of a Speaker.
(2) During the election of a Speaker, the
Clerk of the House, Deputy Clerk or Clerk Assistant shall not be
permitted to entertain any question of privilege or point of order.
(3) During the election of a Speaker, there
shall be no debate.
11. (c) The election of a Speaker shall
be conducted by secret ballot as follows:
(1) Any Member who does not wish to be considered
for election to the Office of Speaker shall advise the Clerk of
the House in writing no later than 6:00 o'clock p.m. on the day
preceding the day in which the election of a Speaker is expected
to take place.
(2) Before the taking of the first ballot,
the Clerk of the House shall fix in the lobby an alphabetical list
of candidates and shall distribute that list to Members present
in the Chamber.
(3) Members present in the Chamber shall be
provided with ballot papers by the Clerk of the House.
(4) Members wishing to indicate their choice
for the Office of Speaker shall print the first and last name of
a Member on the ballot paper and shall deposit their completed ballot
papers in a box provided for that purpose at the Table.
(5) Once all Members wishing to do so have
deposited their ballot paper, the vote shall be counted by the Clerks
at the Table who, for this purpose, shall retire from the Chamber.
The Clerk of the House, being satisfied as to the accuracy of the
count, shall destroy the ballots together with all records of the
number of ballots cast for each candidate, and all those persons
present will in no way divulge the number of ballots cast for any
candidate.
(6) If one candidate receives a majority of
the votes cast, the Clerk of the House shall announce in the Chamber
the name of that Member as Speaker.
(7) If no candidate receives a majority of
the votes cast, the name of the candidate having the least number
of total votes shall be excluded from subsequent ballots.
(8) If every candidate receives the same number
of votes, no name shall be excluded from the next ballot.
(9) For each subsequent ballot, the Clerk
of the House shall prepare an alphabetical list of candidates and
affix that list in the lobbies, and distribute it to Members present
in the Chamber.
(10) Subsequent ballots shall be conducted
in the manner prescribed above, and the balloting shall continue,
in like manner, until such time as a candidate is elected Speaker
upon having received a majority of the votes cast.
(11) At any time after the result of the first
ballot has been declared, but before the commencement of a second
or subsequent ballot, a candidate may withdraw from the election,
which shall then proceed as if such Member had not been nominated.
(12) If only one Member stands for election
to Office of Speaker, or at any stage a withdrawal pursuant to the
above rules leaves only one candidate remaining, the Clerk of the
House shall announce in the Chamber that candidate's name and without
any vote declare that Member to be elected Speaker.
(13) The election of a Speaker shall not be
considered to be a question of confidence in the Government.
Absence of the Speaker.
12. Whenever the House is informed by the
Clerk at the Table of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker, the
Deputy Speaker or, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole
or, in their absence, any Member appointed by the House shall take
the Chair and shall perform the duties and exercise the authority
of the Speaker in relation to all the proceedings of the House until
the meeting of the House on the next sitting-day, and so on from
day to day on the like information being given to the House until
the House otherwise orders.
Appointment of Speaker pro tem.
13. In the absence of the Speaker from the
House for a period of 5 consecutive sitting days, the House may
elect another of its Members to act as Speaker, and the Member so
elected shall, during such absence of the Speaker, have and execute
all the powers, privileges and duties of the Speaker.
Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson
Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson.
14. At the commencement of every Session,
or from time to time as necessity arises, the House may appoint
one of its Members to be Deputy Speaker and another Member to be
Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole.
Duties of Deputy Speaker.
15. The Deputy Speaker or another Member of
the House may take the Chair in the House or in Committee of the
Whole whenever requested to do so by the Speaker or by the Deputy
Speaker, and no formal communication to the House is necessary.
The Deputy Speaker or other Member of the House shall, under this
Standing Order, have and execute all the powers, privileges and
duties of the Speaker.
Divisions
Divisions.
16. (1) When the Speaker rings the bells for
a division, no further debate shall be permitted.
(2) When a division has been called, the division
bells shall be rung forthwith. Not sooner than 2, nor longer than
5 minutes thereafter, the Speaker shall again state the question.
No Member shall enter or leave the House or Committee of the Whole
after the final statement of the question until the division has
been fully taken, and every Member present shall vote.
Entries in Votes and Proceedings.
(3) On a division in the House or Committee
of the Whole, the Yeas and Nays shall be entered in the Votes and
Proceedings.
Deferring divisions.
(4) Divisions on debatable motions in the
House or Committee of the Whole may be deferred to a time fixed
by motion, without notice. The motion shall be a Government motion
and decided without amendment or debate.
Conduct of Members
Decorum in the House.
17. (1) When the Speaker is putting a question,
no Member shall walk out of or cross the House, or make any noise
or disturbance.
(2) When a Member is speaking, no Member shall
pass between the Member and the Chair, nor interrupt the Member,
except to raise a point of order.
(3) No Member may pass between the Chair and
the Table, nor between the Chair and the Mace, when the Mace has
been taken off the Table by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Member having pecuniary interest not to vote.
18. No Member is entitled to vote upon any
question in which he or she has a direct pecuniary interest, and
the vote of any Member so interested shall be disallowed.
Disorderly conduct.
19. The Speaker or the Chairperson of the
Committee of the Whole shall order a Member whose conduct is grossly
disorderly to withdraw immediately from the House or Committee of
the Whole for the remainder of that day, and the Sergeant-at-Arms
shall act on such orders as may be received from the Chair in pursuance
of this Order.
Suspension of Member.
20. (1) Any Member who disregards the authority
of the Chair or refuses to comply with an order of the Chair, or
abuses the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing
the business of the House, or otherwise, may be named by the Speaker
or by the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole, and, if the
offence has been committed in the House, the Speaker shall forthwith
put the question, on a motion being made without amendment, adjournment
or debate, "That such Member be suspended from the service of the
House", and, if the offence has been committed in a Committee of
the Whole, the Chairperson shall forthwith suspend the proceedings
of the Committee and report the circumstances to the House, and
the Speaker shall, on a motion being made thereupon, put the same
question, without amendment, adjournment or debate, as if the offence
had been committed in the House itself.
(2) If any Member is suspended under this
Order, the suspension shall continue for a period not to exceed
15 consecutive sitting days from and including the day of suspension.
(3) When a Member has been suspended under
this Order, the Speaker shall order that Member to withdraw immediately
from the House, and if the Member shall refuse to obey the direction
of the Speaker, when summoned under the Speaker's orders by the
Sergeant-at-Arms to obey such direction, the Speaker shall call
the attention of the House to the fact that recourse to force is
necessary in order to compel obedience to his or her direction,
and the Member named by him or her as having refused to obey his
or her direction shall thereupon and without any further question
being put, be suspended from the service of the House for 30 consecutive
sitting days, from and including the day of suspension.
Suspended Member.
21. A Member who is ordered to withdraw or
is suspended from the service of the House is also thereby suspended
from the Legislative Chamber and Committees of the House for the
same period.
Suspend sittings.
22. (1) In the case of grave disorder arising
in the House, the Speaker may recess or adjourn the House until
the next sitting without question put.
(2) In the case of grave disorder arising
in a Committee of the Whole, the Chairperson may recess the sitting
Conduct of Strangers
House may be cleared.
23. If any Member takes notice that strangers
are present, the Speaker or the Chairperson (as the case may be)
shall forthwith put the question "That strangers be ordered to withdraw"
without permitting any debate or amendment: provided that the Speaker,
or the Chairperson, may, whenever he or she thinks proper, order
the withdrawal of strangers.
Conduct of strangers in House, Committees or galleries.
24. Any strangers admitted to any part of
the House, Committees of the House or galleries who misconduct themselves,
or who do not withdraw when directed to do so, shall be taken into
custody by the Sergeant-at-Arms, and no person so taken into custody
shall be discharged without special order of the House, or of the
Speaker if the House be recessed or adjourned.
Chapter II - Business of the House
Routine Business
Daily routine.
25. The daily routine business of the House
shall be as follows:
Prayers (morning or afternoon sitting)
Introduction of Bills
Oral question period (15 minutes, afternoon
sittings: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and, subject to Standing
Order 47B, Friday morning)
Presenting Petitions
Reading and Receiving Petitions
Presenting Reports by Committees
Motions on Notice
Written Questions on Notice
Proposed Amendments on Notice
Orders of the day.
The order of business for consideration of
the House day by day, after the above routine, shall, unless otherwise
ordered, be as follows:
MONDAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
(Government Days)
Throne Speech Debate
Budget Debate including Committee of Supply
Public Bills and Orders and Government Motions on Notice
Private Bills
Public Bills in the hands of Private Members
Adjourned debate on other motions
WEDNESDAY
(Optional Sitting Day)
Throne Speech Debate
Budget Debate including Committee of Supply
Public Bills and Orders and Government Motions on Notice
Private Bills
Public Bills in the hands of Private Members
Adjourned debate on other motions
FRIDAY
(Private Members' Day)
Throne Speech Debate
Budget Debate including Committee of Supply
Urgent Government business
Public Bills in the hands of Private Members
Private Bills
Private Members' Statements (10 a.m.)
Public Bills and Orders and Government Motions on Notice
Adjourned debate on other motions
Private Members' Statements
Statements.
25A. (1) Every Friday
at 10 a.m. or following question period (Standing Order 47B.) a
Private Member may make a statement, notice of which has been tabled
no later than 6.00 p.m. the preceding Tuesday.
(2) The order in which such statements are
to be called shall be determined by lot by the Speaker, before appearing
on the Orders of the Day.
(3) The time allocated on Friday for statements
and discussion thereon shall not exceed one hour, and the time for
each statement shall be limited to 15 minutes as follows:
Proponent: maximum of 7 minutes
Any other Members: maximum of 5 minutes
Proponent in reply: maximum of 3 minutes
(4) Private Members' statements shall not
be subject to amendment, adjournment or vote.
(5) Statements and discussions under this
Standing Order:
(a) |
shall be confined to one matter; |
(b) |
shall not revive discussion on
a matter which has been discussed in the same Session; |
(c) |
shall not anticipate a matter
which has been previously appointed for consideration by the
House, in respect to which a Notice of Motion has been previously
given and not withdrawn; |
(d) |
shall not raise a question of
privilege. |
Privilege.
26. Whenever any matter of privilege arises,
it shall be taken into consideration immediately.
Precedence.
27. (1) All items standing on the Orders of
the Day, other than Government orders, shall be taken up according
to the precedence assigned to each on the Order Paper.
Government orders.
(2) Whenever Government business has precedence,
Government orders may be called in such sequence as the Government
thinks fit, and the Government may place Government orders at the
head of the list on every day except Friday.
Urgent Government business.
(3) Notwithstanding Standing Orders 25, 25A
and 27 (2), urgent Government business may, with the consent of
the Speaker, be considered on Friday, and given priority over any
other business.
Arrangement of Order Paper.
28. The day-to-day precedence on the Order
Paper for Bills of all classes shall be as follows:
(1) Third reading;
(2) Report;
(3) Committee;
(4) Adjourned debate on second reading;
(5) Second reading.
29. Standing Order 29 is repealed.
30. Standing Order 30 is repealed.
Orders not taken up.
31. (1) Motions on Notice, not taken up when
called, may on request be allowed to stand and retain their precedence;
otherwise they will be dropped from the Order Paper, but they may
be renewed.
Dropped orders.
(2) Orders not proceeded with when called,
upon the like request, may be allowed to stand, retaining their
precedence; otherwise they shall be dropped and be placed on the
Order Paper for the next sitting after those of the same class at
a similar stage.
(3) All orders not disposed of at the adjournment
of the House shall be postponed until the next sitting-day, without
a motion to that effect.
Business under consideration at interruption or adjournment
to have precedence.
32. If, at the hour of interruption or at
the time of adjournment of the House, a motion is under consideration,
it shall not lapse but shall stand first on the Orders of the Day
for the next sitting at which orders of a similar class are properly
taken up, next after the orders to which a special precedence has
been assigned by Standing Order or Order of the House.
Proceeding to the Orders of the Day.
33. When the House is engaged in Routine Business,
a motion for reading or proceeding to the Orders of the Day shall
have precedence to any motion before the House. No amendment to
or debate on this motion shall be allowed.
Adjournment of House or debate.
34. A motion to adjourn (except when made
for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public
importance) shall be always in order; but no second motion to the
same effect shall be made until after some intermediate proceedings
shall have taken place.
Adjournment on Matter of Urgent
Public Importance
Adjournment for special purposes.
35. (1) Leave to make a motion for the adjournment
of the House, when made for the purpose of discussing a definite
matter of urgent public importance, must be asked after the ordinary
daily routine of business (Standing Order 25) has been concluded
and before Orders of the Day are entered on.
Making statement.
(2) A Member wishing to move, "That this House
do now adjourn" under this Standing Order, shall rise and state
the matter briefly.
Written statement to Speaker.
(3) After the Member has stated the matter,
he or she shall hand a written statement of the matter proposed
to be discussed to the Speaker.
Decision.
(4) If the Speaker decides that the statement
is in order and is of urgent public importance, he or she shall
read the statement aloud and ask whether the Member has leave to
move the motion. If objection is taken, the question of leave shall
be decided on division without debate.
Speaker may defer decision.
(5) The Speaker may defer the decision upon
whether or not the statement is in order and of urgent public importance.
The proceedings of the House may be interrupted later for the purpose
of announcing the decision.
Debate may be deferred.
(6) If leave has been obtained, the motion
may stand over until 4.30 p.m. on that day, or the Speaker may direct
that the motion be set down for consideration on the following sitting
day at an hour specified by him or her.
Motion on Friday.
(7) If leave has been obtained on any Friday,
the motion shall stand over until 4.30 p.m. the next sitting day,
unless the Speaker shall direct that the motion be set down for
consideration later the same Friday.
Time limits.
(8) The debate on the motion shall not exceed
one hour, apportioned as follows:
Mover: 15 minutes
Other Members: 10 minutes each
Debate concluded.
(9) Upon expiration of the time limited for
debate, the motion lapses and the House shall proceed to Orders
of the Day or the next order of business, unless the House otherwise
orders.
Restrictions.
(10) The right to move the adjournment of
the House under this Standing Order is subject to the following
restrictions:
(a) |
not more than one such motion
may be made at the same sitting; |
(b) |
not more than one matter shall
be discussed on the same motion; |
(c) |
the motion must not revive discussion
on a matter which has been discussed in the same Session; |
(d) |
the motion must not anticipate
a matter which has been previously appointed for consideration
by the House, or with respect to which a notice of motion
has been previously given and not withdrawn; |
(e) |
the motion must not raise a question
of privilege; |
(f) |
the discussion under the motion
must not raise any question which, according to the Standing
Orders of the House, can only be debated on a motion under
notice. |
Chapter III - Rules of Debate
Order in addressing the Chair.
36. Every Member desiring to speak is to rise
in his or her place, uncovered, and address the Speaker.
Precedence when two Members rise to speak.
37. When two or more Members rise to speak,
the Speaker calls upon the Member who rose first in his or her place;
but a motion may be made that any Member who has risen "be now heard"
or "do now speak" which motion shall be forthwith put without debate.
Member to resume seat.
38. A Member who is addressing the House shall
take his or her seat when
(a) |
called to order by the Speaker, |
(b) |
a point of order is raised by
another Member, or |
(c) |
the Speaker rises. |
Motion re Member's conduct.
39. If any motion is made concerning the conduct
of any Member, or his or her right to hold a seat, that Member may
make a statement, remain in the House during the debate and, notwithstanding
Standing Order 18, participate in any resulting vote.
Disrespectful or offensive language forbidden.
40. (1) No Member shall speak disrespectfully
of Her Majesty, nor of any Member of the Royal Family, nor the Governor
General or the Chief Executive Officer or Administrator for the
time being carrying on the Government of Canada, nor of the Lieutenant
Governor or the Chief Executive Officer or Administrator for the
time being carrying on the Government of the Province.
(2) No Member shall use offensive words against
any Member of this House.
Irrelevance in debate.
(3) No Member shall be irrelevant in debate.
Reflection on earlier vote.
(4) No Member shall reflect upon any vote
of the House passed during the current Session, except for the purpose
of moving that the vote be rescinded.
Reading the question.
41. When the question under discussion does
not appear on the Order Paper or has not been printed and distributed,
any Member may require it to be read at any time during the debate,
but not so as to interrupt a Member while speaking.
No Member to speak twice.
42. (1) No Member may speak twice to a question
except in explanation of a material part of his or her speech which
may have been misquoted or misunderstood, but then the Member is
not to introduce any new matter, and no debate shall be allowed
upon such explanation.
Reply.
(2) A reply shall be allowed to a Member who
has moved a substantive motion, but not to the mover of an amendment
or an instruction to a Committee. Such reply shall close the debate.
(3) In all cases, the Speaker shall inform
the House that the reply of the mover of the original motion closes
the debate.
Irrelevance and repetition in debate.
43. the Speaker or the Chairperson of the
Committee of the Whole, after having called the attention of the
House or of the Committee to the conduct of a Member who persists
in irrelevance or tedious repetition, either of that Member's own
arguments or of the arguments used by other Members in debate, may
direct that Member to discontinue speaking and, if the Member still
continues to speak, the Speaker or the Chairperson shall follow
the procedures in Standing Orders 19 and 20.
Motion in abuse of Rules of House.
44. If the Speaker, or the Chairperson of
a Committee of the Whole House, shall be of opinion that a motion
for the adjournment of a debate, or of the House, during any debate,
or that the Chairperson do report progress, or do leave the Chair,
is an abuse of the Rules and privileges of the House, he or she
may forthwith put the question thereupon from the Chair, or he or
she may decline to propose the question to the House.
Debatable motions.
45. (1) The following motions are debatable:
Every motion -
(a) |
On Orders of the Day except Government
notices of motion for the House to go into Committee at a
later date; |
(b) |
For the concurrence in a report
of a Standing or Special Committee; |
(c) |
For the rescinding of a previous
vote; |
(d) |
For the second reading of a Bill; |
(e) |
For the third reading of a Bill; |
(f) |
For the adjournment of the House
when made for the purpose of discussing a definite matter
of urgent public importance; |
(g) |
For the adoption in Committee
of the Whole, or of Supply, of the resolution, clause, section,
preamble, or title under consideration; |
(h) |
For the appointment of a Committee; |
(i) |
For reference to a Committee of
a report or any return laid on the Table of the House; |
(j) |
For the suspension of any Standing
Order; |
(k) |
And such other motion, made upon
routine proceedings, as may be required for the observance
of the proprieties of the House, the maintenance of its authority,
the appointment or conduct of its officers, the management
of its business, the arrangement of its proceedings, the correctness
of its records, the fixing of its sitting-days, or the times
of its meeting or adjournment. |
(2) All other motions, including adjournment
motions, shall be decided without debate or amendment.
Time Limit on Speeches and Duration of Debates
Time limit on speeches.
45A. In respect of a
subject indicated in the following schedules to this Standing Order,
the maximum period for which a Member may speak shall not exceed
the period specified opposite that Member, and the other rules in
that schedule apply.
Schedule 1
In the House
Address in Reply and Amendments
(i) |
Mover and Seconder |
40 minutes each |
(ii) |
Leader of Government
or designated Member |
2 hours |
(iii) |
Leaders of recognized
opposition parties or designated Member thereof |
2 hours |
(iv) |
Any other Member including
leaders where a Member has been designated under (ii) or (iii) |
30 minutes |
Time limit for Address in Reply to Debate.
(1) The proceedings on the Orders of the Day
for presenting and debating the motion for an Address in Reply to
the Speech from the Throne, and on any amendments and subamendments
proposed thereto, shall not exceed 6 sitting days, comprising not
less than 8 sittings.
Amendments and subamendments disposed of on fourth day.
(2) On the fourth of the said days, if an
amendment or a subamendment be under consideration at 30 minutes
before the ordinary time of daily adjournment, the Speaker shall
interrupt the proceedings and forthwith put the question on any
amendment and subamendment then before the House, and no further
amendments shall be in order.
Main motion disposed of on sixth day.
(3) On the sixth of the said days, at 15 minutes
before the ordinary time of daily adjournment, unless the said debate
be previously concluded, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings
and forthwith put every question necessary to dispose of the main
motion.
Schedule 2
In the House
Budget Debate and Amendments
(i) |
Minister of Finance |
2 hours |
(ii) |
Leaders of recognized
opposition parties or
designated Member thereof |
2 hours |
(iii) |
Any other Member including
leaders where a
Member has been designated under (ii) |
30 minutes |
Time limit for Budget Debate.
(1) The proceedings on the Orders of the Day
for debate on the motion "That the Speaker do now leave the Chair"
for the House to go into Committee of Supply, and on any amendments
and subamendments proposed thereto, shall not exceed 6 sitting days
(excluding the day the Budget is presented), comprising not less
than 8 sittings.
Amendments and subamendments disposed of on fourth day.
(2) On the fourth of the said days, if an
amendment or subamendment be under consideration at 30 minutes before
the ordinary time of daily adjournment, the Speaker shall interrupt
the proceedings and forthwith put the question on any amendment
and subamendment then before the House, and no further amendments
shall be in order.
Main motion disposed of on sixth day.
(3) On the sixth of the said days, at 15 minutes
before the ordinary time of daily adjournment, unless the said debate
be previously concluded, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings
and forthwith put every question necessary to dispose of the main
motion.
Schedule 3
In the House
Public Bills
Public Bills in the Hands of Private Members
Private Bills
(Second Reading and Amendments)
(i) |
Mover except as otherwise
provided in (ii) |
40 minutes |
(ii) |
Leaders of recognized parties
or designated
Member thereof |
2 hours |
(iii) |
Any other Member including leaders
where a Member has been designated under (ii) |
30 minutes |
Schedule 4
In the House
All Other Proceedings in the House not
Otherwise Specifically Provided for
(i) |
Mover except as otherwise
provided in (ii) |
40 minutes |
(ii) |
Leaders of recognized
parties or designated Member thereof |
2 hours |
(iii) |
Any other Member including
a leader where a Member has been designated under (ii) |
30 minutes |
Schedule 5
Committee of Supply
(All Proceedings)
(i) |
Leaders of recognized parties
or designated Member thereof |
one opening statement
not exceeding 30 minutes - thereafter, 15 minutes |
(ii) |
Any other Member including a
leader when another Member
has been designated under (i) |
15 minutes |
Schedule 6
Other Committees of the Whole
Public Bills
Public Bills in the Hands of Private Members
Private Bills
(All Proceedings)
(i) |
Each Member |
15 minutes |
Closure of Debate
Closure of debate.
46. (1) After a question has been proposed,
a Member rising in his or her place may claim to move "That the
question be now put," and, unless it shall appear to the Chair that
such motion is an abuse of the Rules of the House, or an infringement
of the rights of the minority, the question, "That the question
be now put," shall be put forthwith, and decided without amendment
or debate.
(2) When the motion, "That the question be
now put," has been carried, and the question consequent thereon
has been decided, any further motion may be made (the assent of
the Chair as aforesaid not having been withheld) which may be requisite
to bring to a decision any question already proposed from the Chair.
Such motions shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment
or debate.
(3) Provided always that this Standing Order
shall be put in force in the House only when the Speaker or, in
his or her unavoidable absence, the Deputy Speaker (as provided
in Standing Order 12) is in the Chair, or in the Committee, when
the Deputy Speaker is the Chairperson of the Committee.
(4) This motion can be made on an amendment
or on the stages of a Bill, or on amendments to Bills in Committee
of the Whole when the Deputy Speaker is in the Chair.
Chapter IV - Questions
Written Questions
Questions.
47. (1) Questions may be placed on the Order
Paper seeking information from the Ministers of the Crown relating
to public affairs; and from other Members relating to any Bill,
motion, or other public matter connected with the business of the
House, in which such Members may be concerned; but in putting any
such question no argument or opinion is to be offered, nor any fact
stated. And in answering such question the matter to which the same
refers shall not be debated, and the substance of all replies made
by Ministers of the Crown to questions put to them shall be in writing
and handed to the Clerk of the House, and entered in the Journals
of the Session.
Questions to stand as notice.
(2) If in the opinion of the Speaker a question
on the Order Paper put to a Minister of the Crown is of such a nature
as to require a lengthy reply, the Speaker may, upon the request
of the Government, direct the same to stand as a notice of motion,
and to be transferred to its proper place as such upon the Order
Paper, the Clerk of the House being authorized to amend the same
as to matters of form.
Questions made order for return.
(3) A Minister may answer a question by way
of a return, and an entry shall be made accordingly in the Votes
and Proceedings.
Oral Questions
Oral Questions.
47A. There shall be a 15 minute Oral Question
Period at the opening of each afternoon sitting on Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, which shall be subject to the following
rules:
(a) |
only questions that are urgent
and important shall be permitted; |
(b) |
questions and answers shall be
brief and precise, and stated without argument or opinion; |
(c) |
supplementary questions may be
permitted at the discretion of the Speaker. There shall be
no supplementary question to a question taken on notice; |
(d) |
debate shall not be permitted; |
(e) |
points of order arising during
Oral Question Period may, at the discretion of the Speaker,
be deferred until Question Period has been completed; |
(f) |
Oral Question Period shall not
take place on the day of the Speech from the Throne. |
Oral question period Friday.
47B. When the House does not meet on Wednesday
pursuant to Standing Order 2 (2), there shall be an Oral Question
Period on the Friday following.
Chapter V - Notices and Unanimous Consent
Notices of motion, etc.
48. (1) Two days' notice shall be given of
a motion to present a Bill, resolution or address, for the appointment
of any Committee, for the putting of a written question and for
the suspension of Standing Orders, but this rule shall not apply
to Bills after their introduction, or to Private Bills, or to the
times of the meeting or adjournment of the House, or to a motion
to proceed to the Orders of the Day. Such notice to be laid on the
Table before adjournment and to be printed in the Votes and Proceedings
of that day.
Two days' notice for certain amendments.
(2) Two days' notice shall be given of a motion
to amend the motion on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the
Throne, and the motion, "That the Speaker do now leave the Chair"
for the House to go into Committee of Supply. Notice shall not be
required for a subamendment.
Motion without notice, by leave.
49. A motion may be made by unanimous consent
of the House without previous notice having been given under Standing
Order 48.
Chapter VI - Motions, Amendments, Notices of Motion
Motions to be written and signed.
50. All motions, except the motion to adjourn
and the closure motion, shall be in writing and signed by
the mover before being debated or put from the Chair. Upon the motion
being moved, it shall be read aloud by the Speaker before debate.
No motion or amendment requires seconding before the question thereon
is proposed from the Chair except:
(a) |
the motion for an Address in Reply
to the Speech from the Throne and any amendment thereto; |
(b) |
the motion "That the Speaker do
now leave the Chair" for the House to go into Committee of
Supply, and any amendment thereto. |
Withdrawing Motions.
51. (1) A Member who has made a motion may
withdraw the same by leave of the House.
Withdrawing notices of motion and question.
(2) A notice of motion or notice of question
may be withdrawn without leave.
52. A motion negatived in Committee of the
Whole may be made again in the House.
Motion to commit Bill.
53. A motion to refer a Bill, resolution,
or any question to the Committee of the Whole, or any Standing or
Special Committee, shall preclude all amendment to the main question.
Same Question not to be put twice.
Rescinding Votes.
54. A motion being once made, and carried
in the affirmative or negative, cannot be put again in the same
Session, but must stand as a judgment of the House; provided always
that a vote in the affirmative may be rescinded and an Order of
the House discharged on a motion to that effect.
Question under debate.
55. When a question is under debate, no motion
may be received other than a motion:
(a) |
to amend it, |
(b) |
to postpone it to a day certain, |
(c) |
to proceed to Orders of the Day, |
(d) |
to proceed to another Order, |
(e) |
to adjourn the debate, and |
(f) |
to move adjournment of the House. |
56. Standing Order 56 is repealed.
57. Standing Order 57 is repealed.
Unparliamentary motion.
58. Whenever the Speaker is of opinion that
a motion offered to the House is contrary to the rules and privileges
of Parliament, he or she shall apprise the House thereof immediately
before putting the question thereon, and quote the rule or authority
applicable to the case.
Chapter VII - Committee of the Whole
59. Standing Order 59 is repealed.
Committee of Supply.
60. The Committee of Supply shall be appointed
for the Session on motion without previous notice.
Reference of Estimates to Select Standing Committee.
60A. At any time after
the Estimates have been referred to the Committee of Supply, the
Government House Leader may refer Votes within the Estimates to
a Select Standing Committee upon motion without notice. Such motion
shall be decided without amendment or debate.
Standing Orders of the House to be observed.
61. (1) The Standing Orders of the House shall
be observed in the Committees of the Whole so far as may be applicable,
except Standing Orders limiting the number of times a Member may
speak.
Relevancy.
(2) Speeches in Committee of the Whole must
be strictly relevant to the item or clause under consideration.
Chairperson maintains order.
(3) The Chairperson shall preserve order and
decorum in the Committee of the Whole and shall decide questions
of order and practice. In deciding a point of order or practice,
the Chairperson shall state the reasons for the decision and shall
cite any Standing Order or other applicable authority. The Chairperson
may invite submissions from Members but no debate shall be permitted
on any decision. No decision shall be subject to an appeal to the
House.
Disorder in Committee.
(4) Subject to Standing Orders 19 and 20,
disorder in a Committee of the Whole may only be censured by the
House on receiving a report thereof. Words used in a Committee of
the Whole to be reported to the House must be taken down in writing.
Motion to leave the Chair.
62. A motion that the Chairperson of a Committee
of the Whole leave the Chair shall always be in order, shall take
precedence of any other motion, and shall not be debatable. Such
motion, if rejected, cannot be renewed unless some intermediate
proceeding has taken place.
When Chairperson of Committee leaves Chair without question
put.
63. When the Chairperson of a Committee of
the Whole has been ordered to make a report to the House, he or
she shall leave the Chair without question put.
Report to be brought up without question.
64. Every report from a Committee of the Whole
shall be brought up without any question being put.
65. Standing Order 65 is repealed.
Motions recommending expenditure of public money.
66. The House will not receive any resolution
stating an express or abstract opinion of the House on recommending
the expenditure of public money unless recommended by the Crown.
All Bills, etc., appropriating public revenue to originate by
Message.
67. It shall not be lawful for the House to
adopt or pass any vote, resolution, address, or Bill for the appropriation
of any part of the public revenue, or of any tax or impost, to any
purpose that has not been first recommended to the House by Message
of the Lieutenant-Governor in the Session in which such vote, resolution,
address, or Bill is proposed. (Vide R.S.B.C. 1960, chap.
71, sec. 52 (Constitution Act).)
Chapter VIII - Select Standing and Special Committees; Witnesses
Select Standing Committees.
68. (1) At the commencement of each Session
a Committee of Selection shall be appointed without notice, whose
duty it shall be to prepare and report, with all convenient speed,
lists of Members to compose the following Select Standing Committees
of the House:
1. |
Aboriginal Affairs; |
2. |
Justice, Constitutional
Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations; |
3. |
Education, Culture and
Multiculturalism; |
4. |
Economic Development,
Science, Labour, Training and Technology; |
5. |
Environment and Tourism; |
6. |
Finance and Government
Services; |
7. |
Health and Social Services; |
8. |
Agriculture and Fisheries; |
9. |
Forests, Energy, Mines
and Petroleum Resources; |
10. |
Transportation, Municipal
Affairs and Housing; |
11. |
Women's Equality; |
12. |
Public Accounts; |
13. |
Parliamentary Reform,
Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills; |
14. |
Crown Corporations. |
15. |
Legislative Initiatives. |
List of Committees to be posted.
(2) The Clerk of the House shall post a list
of the Select Standing and Special Committees appointed during the
Session.
Special Committees.
69. (1) Special Committees may be appointed
on motion with notice.
Select Standing Committees - additions and substitutions.
(2) If it is later necessary to add or substitute
a Member or Members to a Select Standing or Special Committee, a
motion on notice shall be given specifying the names of the Members
proposed to be added or substituted.
Reports, how made.
70. Reports of Select Standing and Special
Committees may be presented by a Member in the House during routine
business.
Proceedings and voting in Committee.
71. (1) The Standing Orders of the House shall
be observed in the Select Standing and Special Committees to the
same extent as the same may be applicable to the Committees of the
Whole House as provided in Standing Order 61, except as to the Chairperson's
voting powers in the Select Standing Committee on Standing Orders
and Private Bills as provided for by Standing Order 107. Procedural
matters arising in Committee shall be decided in Committee.
Quorum.
(2) A majority of the Members of a Committee
shall be a quorum, unless the House has otherwise ordered.
Witnesses
Witness summoned to Committee.
72. (1) Witnesses may be summoned to attend
before any Committee of the House upon a motion to that effect being
passed by the Committee.
Payment.
(2) The Clerk of the House may authorize the
payment to witnesses so summoned of a reasonable sum per diem during
their travel and attendance, to be determined by the Speaker (the
daily rate if allowed to be the same in all cases), and a reasonable
sum for travelling expenses.
Certificate.
(3) The claim of a witness for payment shall
state the number of days during which he or she has been in attendance,
the time of necessary travel, and the amount of his or her travelling
expenses, which claim and statement shall, before being paid, be
certified by the Chairperson and a Clerk of the Committee before
whom such witness has been summoned, and no such payment shall be
made in any case without the authority of the Speaker, which shall
be signified by his or her endorsement upon such certificate.
Chapter VIIIA - Committee On Crown Corporations
Chapter VIIIA and Standing Order 72A are repealed.
Chapter IX - Petitions
How and when presented.
73. (1) A petition substantially in the form
prescribed by Appendix A may be presented by a Member for the redress
of an alleged public grievance.
(2) The petition must contain a clear, concise,
accurate and temperate statement of the facts for which the intervention
of the House is requested and the signature of all the petitioners.
(3) No petition can be received which requests
any expenditure, grant or charge on the public revenue, whether
payable out of the consolidated revenue fund or out of moneys to
be provided by the House.
(4) A petition, on being presented and meeting
the requirements of this Standing Order, is deemed to have been
received, and copies shall be made available to a Member on request.
Tabling of the petition shall be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
(5) Members presenting petitions shall be
answerable that they do not contain impertinent or improper matter.
Chapter X - Proceedings on Public Bills
Introduction of Bills.
74. Every Bill shall be introduced upon motion
specifying the title of the Bill.
Bills must be complete.
75. No Bill may be introduced either in blank
or in imperfect shape.
Bills affecting the Constitution.
76. Any Bill affecting the Constitution must
be introduced by a Member of the Government or with the sanction
of the Government.
Bills negatived not to be introduced again.
77. A Bill having been negatived shall not
be again introduced in the same Session.
First reading not debatable.
78. When a Bill is presented by a Member,
the question, "That this Bill be NOW read a first time," shall be
decided without amendment or debate.
Reference to Select Standing Committee.
78A. At any stage after
introduction a Bill may be referred to a Select Standing Committee
upon motion without notice made by the Member in charge of the Bill.
Such motion shall be decided without amendment or debate.
Second reading after Bill printed and distributed.
79. No Bill shall be read a second time until
it has been printed and distributed, and has been subsequently marked
on the Orders of the Day - thus, PRINTED (signifying that it
has been printed and distributed).
Bills amended in Committee to be reprinted.
80. When a Bill has been amended in Committee
of the Whole House, or by any Select Standing Committee, it shall
be reprinted as amended; and when the Bill has been sent to be printed
it shall be marked on the Orders of the Day - thus, NOT REPRINTED;
and shall not be further proceeded with until that mark has been
removed and the word PRINTED substituted (signifying that the
Bill has been reprinted and distributed).
Bills to receive three readings before passing.
Urgency cases.
81. Every Bill shall receive three readings,
on different days, prior to being passed. After the second reading
it shall be ordered for committal on a subsequent day. On urgent
or extraordinary occasions, a Bill may be read twice or thrice,
or advanced two or more stages in one day.
Clerk to certify on Bill the state it has passed.
82. When a Bill is read in the House the Clerk
shall certify upon it the readings. After it is passed he or she
shall certify the same, with the date, at the head of the Bill.
Bills to be read twice before committal.
83. Subject to Standing Order 78A, every Bill
shall be read twice in the House before committal or amendment.
Proceedings in Committee of the Whole.
84. (1) In proceedings upon Bills in Committee
of the Whole, every clause shall be considered by the Committee
in its proper order, with the preamble and title being considered
last.
(2) Any clause may be postponed but shall
be taken up before the Bill has been reported to the House.
Amendments to be reported.
Amendments on report.
Bills returned for further amendment.
85. All amendments made in Committee shall
be reported by the Chairperson to the House, which shall receive
the same forthwith. After report the Bill shall be open to debate
and amendment, on a subsequent day, before it is ordered for a third
reading. But when a Bill is reported without amendment it is forthwith
ordered to be read a third time, at such time as may be appointed
by the House. Whenever any Bill shall be presented to the Lieutenant-Governor
for assent thereto, he or she may return the same by Message for
the reconsideration of the Assembly, with such amendments as he
or she may think fitting.
Recommittal.
Instructions to Committee.
86. When the order of the day for the third
reading of any Bill is read, any Member desiring to recommit the
same must move to discharge the order and to recommit the Bill,
and, upon such motion being resolved in the affirmative, the Member
shall give notice of the instructions proposed to be given (if any),
and such instructions shall not be taken into consideration before
the next sitting of the House.
Revising and certifying Bills by Law Clerk.
87. It shall be the duty of the Law Clerk
of the House to revise all Bills after their first reading, and
to certify thereon that the same are correct; and in every subsequent
stage of such Bills the Law Clerk shall be responsible for the correctness
of Bills, should they be amended.
Amendment of Bills.
88. Whenever it is desired to amend a section
or subsection in either a Public or Private Act, by deleting, substituting,
or adding words to the said section or subsection, the whole or
material part of the said section or subsection should be repealed
and re-enacted as it is intended it should be read, unless the sense
of the amendment be more plainly manifested by a simple deletion,
substitution, or addition; and it shall be the duty of the Law Clerk
to alter any Bill after its introduction, so as to comply with this
rule, before the second reading thereof.
Chapter XI - Offer of Money to Members; Bribery in Elections
A high crime.
89. The offer of any money or other advantage
to any Member of this House, for the promoting of any matter whatsoever
depending or to be transacted in the House, is a high crime and
misdemeanour, and tends to the subversion of the Constitution.
Proceedings in case of bribery.
90. If it shall appear that any person has
been elected and returned a Member of this House, or endeavoured
so to be, by bribery, or any other corrupt practices, this House
will proceed with the utmost severity against all such persons as
shall have been wilfully concerned in such bribery or other corrupt
practice.
Chapter XII - Effect of Prorogation on Orders for Returns
Prorogation not to nullify order or address for returns.
91. A prorogation of the House shall not have
the effect of nullifying an order or address of the House for returns
or papers, but all papers and returns ordered at one Session of
the House, if not complied with during the Session, shall be brought
down during the following Session, without renewal of the order.
Chapter XIII - Officers of the House
The Clerk of the House
Duties of the Clerk.
92. The Clerk of the House is responsible
for the safe-keeping of all the papers and records of the House,
and has the direction and control over all the officers and clerks
employed in the offices, subject to such orders as he or she may
from time to time receive from the Speaker or the House.
Orders of the Day.
93. The Clerk of the House shall place on
the Speaker's Table every morning, previous to the meeting of the
House, the order of the proceedings for the day.
The Law Clerk
Duties of the Law Clerk.
94. It shall be the duty of the Law Clerk
of the House to:
(1) Revise before third reading all amendments
made by any Committee.
(2) Report to the Chairperson of the Select
Committee on Standing Orders and Private Bills:
(a) |
Any provisions in Private
Bills which are at variance with general Acts on the subjects
to which said Bills relate; or with the usual provisions of
Private Acts on similar subjects; |
(b) |
Any provisions of special
attention; |
(c) |
Any provisions that
do not appear to have been contemplated in the petition for
the Bill; |
(d) |
And generally to facilitate
the work of the Committee. |
(3) To revise, print, and put marginal notes
upon all Bills, and be generally responsible for the correctness
of all Bills in their various states as provided in Standing Orders
87 and 88.
(4) To see that the annual volume of Statutes
is prepared and printed.
The Sergeant-at-Arms
Sergeant-at-Arms.
95. (1) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be responsible
for the safe-keeping of the Mace, furniture, moveable property and
fittings of the House.
(2) The Sergeant-at-Arms has the direction
and control over all messengers, pages and other employees, subject
to such orders as he or she may receive from the Speaker or the
House.
(3) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall preserve order
in the galleries, corridors, lobbies and precincts.
Completion of Work
Completion of the work at close of Session.
96. It is the duty of the officers of this
House to complete and finish the work remaining at the close of
the Session.
PART II - PRIVATE BILLS
Application for Private Bills.
97. Any person may apply for a Private Bill
by filing with the Clerk of the House not later than 14 days after
the opening of a Session:
(a) |
a petition in the form
prescribed by Appendix A, |
(b) |
200 copies of the Bill, |
(c) |
a fee of $500, |
(d) |
a copy of the Notice
published, |
(e) |
the authority of the agent or attorney
in fact of the applicant, and |
(f) |
the name of the Member sponsoring
the Bill. |
Notice of application for Private Bill to be advertised.
98. (1) The applicant for a Private Bill shall
publish a Notice stating clearly the nature and objects of the proposed
Act and the name and address of the applicant,
(a) |
in 2 issues of The British
Columbia Gazette, and |
(b) |
once a week for 2 consecutive
weeks in a newspaper having a general circulation in the area
where reside the parties or the majority of the parties likely
to be particularly interested in, and affected by, the proposed
Act. |
(2) At least one of the Notices must have
been published at the time of filing the application.
(3) Publication of the Notices shall be verified
by an affidavit or statutory declaration which shall be filed with
the Law Clerk, before First Reading of the Bill.
Legislative Counsel to receive copy of Private Bill.
99. The Law Clerk shall forward a copy of
all Private Bills to the Legislative Counsel.
Bills to be printed by Queen's Printer and cost paid by applicant.
100. The Queen's Printer shall print all Private
Bills, and the applicant shall pay the cost of such printing as
and when prescribed by the Law Clerk.
Remission of fees paid.
101. The fees, or any portion thereof, paid
with respect to a Private Bill may be remitted by the Committee
at its discretion.
Certified cheques.
102. All fees shall be payable by certified
cheque to the Minister of Finance of the Province of British Columbia.
Procedure when Bill opposed.
103. A person who objects to a proposed Private
Act and whose interest or property may be affected by it may be
permitted to appear before the Committee provided that the applicant
and the Committee shall first have received in writing at least
3 days' notice of the nature of such objection.
Progress of Bill after certification of Law Clerk issued.
104. (1) When the requirements for an application
for a Private Bill have been met, the Law Clerk shall so certify
and cause the Bill to be placed on Orders of the Day for Introduction
and First Reading.
Procedure when certification of Law Clerk not issuable.
(2) If the Law Clerk has not so certified,
he or she shall place the application before the Committee. The
Committee may waive any requirements of the Standing Orders relating
to the application and may
(a) |
report to the House
thereon, |
(b) |
authorize the Law Clerk
to cause the Bill to be placed on the Order Paper for Introduction
and First Reading, or |
(c) |
issue such other Order
as the Committee deems appropriate. |
Referral of Bill to Committee.
105. When a Private Bill has received First
Reading it shall stand referred to the Select Standing Committee
on Standing Orders, Private Bills and Members' Services, herein
referred to in this part as "the Committee".
Notice of meeting of Committee on Bill.
106. Five calendar days' notice of any meeting
for the consideration of a Private Bill by the Committee shall be
posted in the lobbies by the Clerk of the House and printed in the
Votes and Proceedings of the day of such posting and thereafter
in Orders of the Day until the day after such meeting.
Voting in Committee on Bill.
107. All questions before the Committee are
decided by majority of votes including the vote of the Chairperson.
Reprinting of Bill after amendment.
108. The Committee shall report Private Bills
to the House in every case, and Private Bills amended by the Committee
shall be reprinted before further consideration or report.
Variance between Bill and Notice to be reported.
109. Any substantial variance between a Private
Bill and the Notice for the same shall be reported to the House
by the Committee.
Report when preamble not proved.
110. (1) When the Committee reports to the
House that the preamble of the Bill has not been proved to its satisfaction,
or otherwise reports unfavourably on the Bill, the Committee must
also state its reasons for arriving at such decision.
Second reading of Private Bills.
(2) Private Bills favourably reported to the
House by the Committee shall automatically be placed on the Orders
of the Day for Second Reading.
Chairperson to sign copy of Bill with amendments.
111. The Chairperson of the Committee shall
sign a printed copy of the Bill with any amendments made and clauses
added in Committee.
Parliamentary Agent to obtain certificate.
112. A person may act as Parliamentary Agent
upon receipt of a certificate from the Clerk of the House.
Unprovided cases.
113. Except as herein otherwise provided,
the Standing Orders relating to Public Bills shall apply to Private
Bills.
Application of notice of Standing Orders
and notice of application for Private Bill.
114. The Clerk of the House shall publish
Notice of the time for receiving applications for a Private Bill
in The British Columbia Gazette and in such other newspapers
from time to time as the Clerk may deem advisable.
Private Bill Register to be kept by Law Clerk.
115. A Private Bill Register shall be kept
by the Law Clerk in which he or she shall enter the title of the
Bill and the proceedings thereon.
PART III - LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY
Library catalogue.
116. The Legislative Librarian shall maintain
a catalogue of the Library and shall file an annual report to the
House, through the Speaker, as soon as practicable after the opening
of each Session.
Use of Library.
117. No person shall be admitted to the Library
during a Sitting of the House, except the Lieutenant-Governor, the
Members of the Executive Council and Legislative Assembly and their
personally introduced guests, the Officers of the House and such
other persons as may receive written permission from the Speaker.
Books not to be removed during Session.
118. During a Session of Parliament no books
belonging to the Library shall be taken out of the building, except
by the authority of the Speaker, or upon receipt given by a Member
of the House.
Management of the Library.
119. The management and control of the Legislative
Library shall rest with the Speaker.
PART IV - RECORDING OF DEBATES
Recording of debates.
120. The debates of the Legislative Assembly
in the House and all Committees of the House shall be recorded by
means of magnetic-tape recorders or other suitable recording devices
in accordance with the following rules:
Magnetic-tape record under control of the Speaker.
(1) The magnetic-tape record of the said debates
shall be under the control and custody of the Speaker and no duplicate
or copy of the magnetic-tape record shall be made without the express
authority of the Speaker.
(2) The public use, employment, publication,
transmission, or broadcast outside of the House of the magnetic-tape
record of the said debates, or any portion thereof, is prohibited
without the express authority of the Speaker.
(3) Any person who, without the express authority
of the Speaker, offends against sections 1 and 2 of this Order may
be considered in contempt of the House.
(4) When any question arises in the House
as to the words spoken by a Member in its said debates of the House
and all Committees of the House, the Speaker may use the magnetic-tape
record as evidence of the actual words spoken by that Member.
(5) An official report, substantially verbatim,
of the said debates in the House and Committee of the Whole shall
be prepared under the supervision of the Speaker and a copy thereof
shall be distributed:
(a) |
without charge to every Member,
and |
(b) |
to any other person at a charge
to be fixed by Order in Council. |
(6) A Member may make no alterations, additions
or deletions to the report which would in any way tend to change
the context of that which has been spoken.
APPENDIX A - FORM OF PETITION
(For Private Bill or Other Purposes)
To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of
British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:
The petition of the undersigned, ____________________________
, of the ____________________ , states that: [here state the
object of the petition, briefly setting forth the reasons
therefor].
Your petitioners respectfully request that
the Honourable House [take such action as may be deemed appropriate.]
Dated __________ day of ____________________
, 19__ .
___________________(Signatures)
APPENDIX B - PRIVATE BILLS
1. (a) When all requirements for an application
for a Private Bill have been met, the Law Clerk will so certify
and the Bill will be placed on Orders of the Day for Introduction
and First Reading.
(b) If all the requirements have not been
met, the Law Clerk will place the application before the Committee
On Standing Orders and Private Bills and Members Services. The Committee
will then determine if and when and upon what conditions (if any)
the Bill will be placed on the Order Paper for Introduction and
First Reading.
2. After the Bill has obtained its first reading,
without further order it stands referred to and in charge of the
Committee.
3. When the Committee favourably reports upon
the Bill, the Bill will automatically be placed on the Orders of
the Day for second reading on the day following the report.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 1
(Standing Order 16) - DIVISIONS
In any voice vote a Member may ask the Chair
to announce to the House or Committee that the motion in question
was "carried (or defeated) on division" without an actual division
being taken under Standing Order 16. Upon the Chair so announcing,
the Votes and Proceedings should record the fact accordingly.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 2
- INTRODUCTIONS
Introductions should be brief, precise and
non-argumentative, and not permitted whilst another Member is addressing
the House, without the consent of such Member.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 3
(Standing Order 46) - TIME ALLOCATION
(1) Rather than adopt as a Standing Order
a form of time allocation, agreement reached as the result of consultation
may be announced to the House by the Government House Leader.
(2) The Government House Leader may announce
to the House that the Government will proceed under Standing Order
46 if the motion in question has not passed the House or Committee
by a certain day and hour.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 4
(Standing Order 68) - CLERK FOR COMMITTEE
The Office of the Clerk to provide for a Clerk
of Committees to be available on request of the Standing or Special
Committees.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 5
(Standing Order 74) - STATEMENT UPON
INTRODUCTION OF A BILL
Permit a statement not to exceed 2 minutes
by the Member in charge of introduction of a Bill to explain its
purpose. No further debate shall be permitted at this stage.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 6
(Standing Orders 2 (2), 16 (4), 60A and 78A) -
CONSULTATION
Before moving the motions provided for in
Standing Orders 16 (4), 60A and 78A and advice in Standing Order
2 (2), there should be consultation between the Government and the
Official Opposition.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 7
(Standing Order 26) - PRIVILEGE -
NOTICE TO THE SPEAKER
A Member wishing to raise a question of privilege
should, as a matter of courtesy, give the Speaker notice in writing
within a reasonable time before raising the matter in the House.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 8
(Standing Order 35) - NOTICE TO THE SPEAKER
A Member proposing to move a motion under
Standing Order 35 should, as a courtesy, give the Speaker notice
in writing within a reasonable time before raising the matter in
the House.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 9
(Standing Order 45A) - DESIGNATED SPEAKER
A Member who wishes to speak as designated
Member should advise the Chair as early as possible after the commencement
of his or her speech.
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION 10 -
REVISED SUPPLY PROCEDURE UPON
COMPLETION OF ESTIMATES
1. Upon completion of consideration of all
the estimates, the Chairperson will leave the Chair on motion and
report the fact to the Speaker.
2. Minister of Finance will then move that
the House agree with the resolutions passed in Committee of Supply.
3. The Minister of Finance will then move
that the requisite amounts to make good the supply be granted to
Her Majesty for the public service and other purposes from and out
of the consolidation revenue fund.
4. The Minister of Finance presents the Supply
Bill, and moves the usual motions.
(This is complementary to the changes in the
Standing Orders eliminating the Committee of Ways and Means and
replaces 18 motions formerly required.)
Queen's Printer for British Columbia ©
Victoria, 1997
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