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Bold New Initiatives Outlined in Speech from the Throne

September 12, 2005

VICTORIA – With today’s throne speech launching the 38th Parliament, Premier Gordon Campbell said the provincial government is moving ahead with bold new initiatives aimed at improving B.C.’s political process and ending the inequities facing Aboriginal people.

“British Columbians are looking at the future with renewed optimism and confidence as our economy continues to grow and our government remains fiscally sound,” said Campbell. “British Columbians have given us a mandate to continue building long-lasting strength in the economy and also to make progress on the long-term challenges facing our province. That includes creating a new relationship with Aboriginal people, reforming our democratic institutions, and advancing the vision outlined last spring in our Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade.”

Highlights of today’s throne speech include:

  • Appointing an Electoral Boundaries Commission, as required during this session of the legislature, to review constituency boundaries. An amendment will be introduced to allow the commission to provide for up to 85 members under the current electoral system.
  • Asking the Electoral Boundaries Commission to identify the best and fairest way to configure B.C.’s electoral districts under a Single Transferable Vote (STV) model.
  • Holding a binding provincewide referendum in November 2008 on the electoral system, with a clear understanding of how electoral boundaries would be applied under the STV model.
  • Expanding the role of the Official Opposition in the legislature by appointing a second Deputy Speaker of the House from the ranks of the Opposition.
  • Doubling the daily Question Period from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, and doubling the number of daily two-minute Members’ Statements from three to six.
  • Appointing a Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture chaired by the Official Opposition and with a majority of members from the Opposition benches.
  • Establishing a new relationship with Aboriginal people, and working with Aboriginal leaders to achieve the vision of eliminating, within 10 years, the inequities facing Aboriginal people.
  • Establishing a new Pacific Centre for Social Innovation to focus on the needs of today’s families, fostering environmentally sustainable communities, and improving voter participation in elections.
  • Fighting the mountain pine beetle with an on-the-ground decision-making body, equivalent to the emergency response team, and addressing its economic impact with increased resources for economic diversification.  

“British Columbians want the government and the Opposition to work more constructively with each other, and to elevate the level of debate and the level of decorum in the house,” said Premier Campbell. “We are following through on that with significant steps that expand the role of the Official Opposition in the legislature.”

Although this fall’s legislative sitting will be marked by a Budget Update and the debate and passing of budget estimates, the throne speech noted that the original purpose of scheduled fall sittings is to complete items previously announced or introduced in the spring sitting, and deal with urgent matters. Future fall sittings will return to this normal purpose and a throne speech will launch a full second session of the 38th Parliament in the spring of 2006.

This fall’s legislative priorities include:

  • Bringing forward the Civil Forfeiture Act to prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes.
  • Establishing the Southern Interior Development Initiative, the North Island-Coast Development Initiative, and further investment in the Northern Development Initiative.
  • Formalizing the creation of the new World Trade University in Chilliwack with new legislation.
     

The full text of today’s Speech from the Throne is available on the Legislative Assembly website at www.legis.gov.bc.ca/38th1st/4-8-38-1.htm and at www.legis.gov.bc.ca/38th1st/Throne_Speech_2005_1st_38th.pdf.
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