British Columbia.

• Date: 22 March 2018
• Author: Analyst, Karan

Second Session

As mentioned in the Winter 2017 Legislative Report, the 2nd Session of the 41st Parliament began on September 8, 2017 with the first Speech from the Throne of the minority government led by the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) and Premier John Horgan. The government is supported by the three BC Green Party Members pursuant to a May 30, 2017 "Confidence and Supply Agreement." The House adjourned on November 30, 2017, and was scheduled to resume on February 14, 2018.

Currently, the BC NDP and the BC Liberal Party have 41 Members each, and the BC Green Party has three Members. The Assembly has one Independent Member, the Speaker, and one vacancy due to the August 4 resignation of former premier and leader of the BC Liberal Party, Christy Clark. A by-election for the former Premier's constituency must be called no later than February 3, 2018.

Legislation

In total, 17 government bills and 11 private members' bills were introduced in this sitting. By the end of the sitting, all government bills received Royal Assent. The significant bills outlined in the Winter 2017 Legislative Report received Royal Assent, including the Election Amendment Act, 2017, the Electoral Reform Referendum 2018 Act, the Lobbyists Registration Amendment Act, 2017 and the Constitution Amendment Act, 2017. With the adoption of the Constitution Amendment Act, 2017, which changed the definition of "leader of a recognized political party" by reducing the threshold for official party status from four Members to two, the BC Green Party received official party status.

Speaker's Decision on the Application of Standing Order 18 (Pecuniary Interest)

On October 18, 2017 in anticipation of second reading debate on Bill 5, Constitution Amendment Act, 2017, Opposition House Leader Michael de Jong raised a point of order regarding the application of Standing Order 18 to the Bill. Standing Order 18 states that a Member is not entitled to vote on a question in which he or she has a direct pecuniary interest. As the Bill would result in Members of the Green Party becoming eligible for additional compensation if they were to accept the responsibilities for party positions such as leader, House Leader and whip, the Opposition House Leader sought guidance on whether any Members would be precluded from participating in the debate and voting on the bill.

In his decision, Speaker Darryl Plecas cited previous Speaker's rulings on Standing Order 18 establishing that a direct pecuniary interest must be immediate and personal. The Speaker stated that the entitlement for additional compensation for Members in the above noted positions is not a personal...