British Columbia (legislative activity summarized).

• Author: Ryan-Lloyd, Kate

The Fourth Session of the Thirty-Sixth Parliament of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly adjourned on July 6 after 50 sitting days. The session featured a modest legislative agenda - with only 32 bills tabled, as compared with 101 bills during the Third Session. The majority of House time was devoted to Estimates debate and other budgetary matters. As expected given the close party standings in the House, a number of votes were narrowly decided, primarily on bills and amendments. However, the governing New Democratic Party was able to successfully carry all votes.

Although the government tabled a package of proposed procedural reforms earlier in the session, the motion did not have full support of the opposition and was left on the order paper upon adjournment. Consequently, the Assembly did not adopt the government's proposed legislative calendar, and speculation continues about a possible fall session to deal with three exposure bills presented in July, as well as other legislative matters.

Balanced Budget Legislation

One of the more significant pieces of legislation passed by the House was Bill 28, the Balanced Budget Act, introduced by Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations, Paul Ramsey on June 29. The bill was the third piece of fiscal legislation introduced by the government as part of its pledge to set a new direction in fiscal management. Towards this end, the government also introduced the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act, and the Income Tax Amendment Act as well as amendments to the Financial Administration Act and the Financial Information Act. Generally, these changes had the effect of conditioning the cabinet's unilateral fiscal powers permitting more public scrutiny into a previously invisible planning process.

The new legislation is reflective of balanced budget provisions in place in seven other provinces, but it also features unique provisions related to ministerial penalties and a requirement to recall the legislature if the act's provisions cannot be met due to an emergency or unexpected circumstances.

Highlights of the balanced budget act include:

* A statutory requirement to meet or exceed deficit targets and balance the budget in 2004 and every year thereafter.

* A 20 per cent cut in pay for the premier and cabinet ministers if targets are not met.

* Changes in accounting policies must be fully disclosed and cannot be used to meet targets.

Since the proposed legislation was a marked departure from...