The first sitting of the Legislature since May ended earlier than expected today with the NDP refusing to help the Liberals accelerate their economic legislation through the house.
“I would have thought with a relatively short session we could have got to the initial second reading debate as quickly as possible,” said government house leader Michael de Jong speaking with reporters. “I would hope the opposition would have more important things on its mind then dragging things out or procedural shenanigans.”
Acts normally get their second reading and debate the day after they are introduced, but they can be moved faster if the opposition agrees.
“They know the rules,” said NDP house leader Mike Farnworth. If the government was in such a hurry, he said, they could have kept the schedule that had the session starting on October 6 or they could have recalled the Legislature last month when premier Gordon Campbell gave his speech saying he wanted to focus on economic issues.
“Instead the government goes into hibernation for 28 days,” he said. “Now, today they say they want to debate it this afternoon. They know the rules. The opposition just doesn't dance to their tune.”
The Legislature will not sit Friday, so both the Economic Incentive and Stabilization Statutes Amendment Act and the Vancouver Foundation Amendment Act will come back for second reading on Monday, November 24.
Finance minister Colin Hansen is scheduled to deliver the second quarterly report on the government's finances Monday as well.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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VicRK
3 years ago
Busy Work
Wasn't it Mike De Jong who called the legislature a place just to do "busy work"? He can't have it both ways. When is he going to learn that British Columbians are tired of his government's arrogance?
egmont rapids
3 years ago
A fiesty question period
Click the link,then click the question period link,see your Liberal goverment doing what they do best,DODGING QUESTIONS
And this has been going on for 7 plus years!
http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/8-8.htm#
de Falla
3 years ago
And so the Minister fumed
How odd for the Government House Leader to believe that the Opposition should begin debate on a bill with fiscal consequences without first knowing the current state of the provincial books.
DPL
3 years ago
Second reading usually the bext day?
It's rather seldom that second reading is the next day although the words are used when presenting a bill. The government sets the day and time for second reading.Some times they eveb talk to the opposition house leader. If Gordo or DeJong were concerned about rapid movement, why were they not in the house weeks ago, after all the legislation brought forward by King Gordo says plainly the house is on a fixed schedule? He just choses not to follow his own laws. He is trying to make sure the opposition has as little time as possible to ask his side of the house anything much of interest or importance. Sleezy operators on the government side