British Columbia.

• Author: Ellingsen, Aaron
• Position: Legislative Reports

The fall sitting of the third session of the Legislative Assembly of BC's 40th Parliament adjourned on November 27, 2014. The House is expected to reconvene for a spring session on February 10, 2015.

Legislation

Government introduced seven bills during the fall 2014 sitting, with all seven receiving Royal Assent on November 27, 2014. Notable legislation passed during the fall sitting addressed taxation and reporting requirements for British Columbia's emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry.

Additional government legislation was introduced to facilitate participation by First Nations in LNG-related development. Bill 7, Nisga'a Final Agreement Amendment Act, 2014, formalizes Nisga'a Nation authority to levy property tax on non-Nisga'a citizens and businesses residing on Nisga'a Nation lands through implementation of property tax coordination between the Nisga'a Nation and the province. Bill 8, Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act (No. 2), 2014, removes 63.5 hectares of land from the Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Park to allow for construction and operation of a natural gas transmission line, in keeping with an October 29 resolution by the Nisga'a Lisims Government. These two pieces of legislation reinforce Nisga'a sovereignty through formalizing Nisga'a control over taxation and land use/resource development in the First Nation's territory. Bills 7 and 8 passed with support from both Government and Opposition sides of the House.

Ten private members' bills were introduced during the fall session, on topics ranging from the proposal of a fall fixed election date, to addressing poverty and economic inclusion in the province. Bill M203, Terry Fox Day Act, introduced by Linda Reimer, was passed to establish the second Sunday after Labour Day as Terry Fox Day in BC. The Terry Fox Day Act met with broad support from Members on both sides of the House. Ms. Reimer's bill is the first private members' bill to receive Royal Assent in BC since Bill M204, The Hunting and Fishing Heritage Act, introduced in May 2002.

Legislative Assembly Management Committee

On November 6, 2014, the Legislative Assembly Management Committee released the Legislative Assembly's first annual Accountability Report, which includes the Assembly's first independently audited financial statements. Of significant note is the additional inclusion of an unqualified audit opinion based on a review of the statements by British Columbia's Office of the Auditor General...