Parliamentary practice in British Columbia, 3rd ed.

The Canadian census is decennial and so too, it appears, is the updating of Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia. Neither is going to be read cover to cover, yet both are sure to be invaluable research tools.

Like its predecessor published in 1987 this is basically an annotated discussion of the Standing Orders of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly starting with Standing Order 1 and proceeding to Standing Order 120.

The book is divided into twelve chapters. The first eleven cover such things as regulation and management of the House, committees, petitions, questions, notice and unanimous consent, privilege and so on. Only two of these chapters, the rules of debate and proceedings on public bills begin with an introduction. The others jump right into the standing orders.

The last chapter entitled Officers of the House is organized somewhat differently. It is divided into several parts including private bills, the legislative library and the recording of debate. There is a non technical introduction to each. This approach makes the book easier to read and consideration should be given to extending introductions to all chapters in the next edition.

At the end of the book one finds ten "Practice Recommendations" relating to various standing orders. Although there is no explanation as to the status or origin of these one assumes they are guidelines intending to clarify certain aspects of the Standing Orders.

For example Practice Recommendation 7 states that "A Member wishing to raise a question of privilege should, as a matter of courtesy, give the Speaker notice in writing within a reasonable time before raising the matter in the House." This relats to Standing Order 26 which says "Whenever any matter of privilege arises it shall be taken into consideration immediately.

One wonders why such seemingly innocuous practice recommendations were not incorporated into the Standing Orders. There may be an interesting story here but the reader is left in the...