Legislative reports: British Columbia.

AuthorMacAlpine, Wynne

Since August 2001, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has, as part of its mandate, reviewed and made recommendations to the Legislative Assembly on the annual reports, budgets and service plans of British Columbia's six statutory officers. In June, the Committee heard the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Ombudsman present the results of the statutory officers' preliminary analysis of the feasibility of sharing services as a way of realizing financial and service efficiencies. The Committee will continue to consider the matter of shared services this autumn, once it has completed its legislated pre-budget consultation process.

Three other committees dealing with statutory officers were active this summer. On August 9, the Special Committee to Review the Police Complaint Process completed its year-long review of the procedure for resolving complaints against municipal police constables and departments in British Columbia, which is set out in Part 9 of the Police Act. After consulting with expert witnesses, key stakeholders and the public, the Committee issued two reports. Its report of May 30, 2002 announced the resignation of British Columbia's first Police Complaint Commissioner. Its final report, deposited August 9, 2002, offered recommendations on improving the police complaint process. The Committee's recommendations centred on four key themes: improving public confidence in the complaint process; improving the informal resolution process and encouraging its use; enhancing fairness for complainants and respondents; and clarifying the role of the Police Complaint Commissioner.

The Special Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner is nearing the end of its selection process, and will soon recommend to the Legislative Assembly a candidate for appointment as BC's second Police Complaint Commissioner. Having gained thorough knowledge of the police complaint process and the role of the Police Complaint Commissioner during the course of their review of Part 9 of the Police Act, the members of the Special Committee to Review the Police Complaint Process were selected to form the appointment committee. The position of Commissioner has been vacant since May, when Don Morrison resigned. Benjamin Casson, QC, is presently the Acting Police Complaint Commissioner.

On October 10, 2002, the Special Committee to Appoint a Chief Electoral Officer tabled its report in the House, recommending that Harry...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT