British Columbia.

• Author: Fershau, Jonathan
• Position: Legislative Reports

With the House scheduled to adjourn for the summer break on May 31, 2007, Government House Leader Michael de Jong introduced a motion in accordance with the Legislative Assembly's Standing Order 81 (b) to invoke time allocation limits for three Government Bills left on the Order Paper. Two of the bills cited for time allocation limits passed with unanimous support from both sides of the House.

To abolish mandatory retirement at the age of 65, Attorney General Wally Oppal introduced Bill 31, Human Rights Code (Mandatory Retirement Elimination) Amendment Act, 2007. The legislation, which applies to both public and private sector employers, supports a key recommendation of the Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues.

Similarly, measures to strengthen consumer protection laws governing the sale of new homes were also supported by both the Government and Official Opposition. Bill 34, Homeowner Protection Amendment Act, 2007, strengthens the licensing requirements for residential builders and enhances enforcement provisions and penalties administered under the Act.

Members' Remuneration

The final piece of legislation debated during the Spring Session under a time allocation limit was Bill 37, Legislative Assembly (Members' Remuneration and Pensions) Statutes Amendment Act, 2007. Stemming from the report tabled with the Speaker by the Independent Commission to Review MLA Compensation, Bill 37:

* sets the basic salary for B.C.'s MLAs at $98,000 (a 28.8 percent increase);

* links stipends payable for additional duties as a percentage of a Member's basic salary;

* increases the stipends payable to the Premier, members of the Executive Council, the Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Assistant Deputy Speaker, parliamentary and caucus officer positions, and Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Select Standing and Special Committees; and

* re-institutes a defined benefit pension plan for all Members.

Bill 37 also provided Members the opportunity to permanently and irrevocably opt out of both the revised compensation package as well as the new pension plan by submitting a request in writing to the Speaker within one week of the bill receiving Royal Assent. Members electing to opt out would continue to receive their existing remuneration and RRSP contribution framework.

In speaking to Bill 37, Mr. de Jong stated that issues pertaining to MLA compensation are "fraught with political quicksand." As the Legislative Assembly had, in 2005...