PARLIAMENTARY REPORT
CANADA
THIRD READING: BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Provincial Immigration Programmes Act
The Provincial Immigration Programmes Act improves the transparency and administrative efficiency of provincial immigration programmes. The legislation authorizes the designation of a Director of Provincial Immigration Programmes, and sets out that official’s powers and duties in supporting immigration programmes, including the existing provincial nominee programme. The legislation also strengthens the province’s ability to collaborate with the federal government on immigration matters and selection programmes that could be developed in future federal-provincial agreements and discussions, and enables the director, with the prior approval of the minister responsible for the Act, to enter into new information-sharing agreements with the federal government in order to facilitate immigration into the province. During Second Reading debate, Hon. Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minster Responsible for Labour, indicated that with “fewer young people entering the workforce than older people leaving it … British Columbia needs to look, today and in the future, at how we will provide the workers that will be necessary for the economic growth we anticipate.” To this end, the legislation will provide “a legislative foundation for the administration of provincial immigration programmes.” The Opposition critic for Immigration and Temporary Foreign Workers, Mable Elmore, MLA, noted the legislation’s positive steps with respect to programme administration, and called for action “to regulate recruiters, to bring an end to the charging of exorbitant recruitment fees, to also register employers to provide that accountability and … ensure that there’s a proactive system in place” to protect immigrant workers’ rights. The Provincial Immigration Programmes Act received Third Reading on 4 November 2015.
Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), 2015 The Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), 2015 implements government’s response to recommendations of a coroner’s inquest into tragic accidents that occurred in the Prince George and Burns Lake sawmills in 2012. The statutory changes make workplaces safer through: strengthened reporting by employers of workplace fires or explosions; increased employer investigation reports of workplace accidents; enhanced worker and employer representation in employer accident investigations; a role for workplace health and safety committees to provide advice to the employer on equipment and machinery changes that may affect health and safety; and greater support for workplace health and safety committees in resolving disagreements over health and safety matters. Hon. Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minster Responsible for Labour, told the Legislature that the coroner’s “recommendations were very thoughtful, and in fact, they … will further the safety of workers in this province and help prevent accidents like those that occurred” in 2012. Shane Simpson, MLA, Opposition critic for Economic Development, Jobs, Labour and Skills, while supporting the legislative provisions, urged government to empower workers and give them “a greater say and influence on health- and safety- related issues, using the joint health and safety committee as the vehicle to do that.” The Workers Compensation Amendment Act (No. 2), 2015 received Third Reading on 5 November 2015.
Electoral Districts Act
The Electoral Districts Act gives effect to the resolution of the Legislative Assembly approving the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission entitled, “British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report – September 24, 2015.” The resolution was adopted unanimously on 28 October 2015, and the legislation was introduced later that day. Under the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, an independent Electoral Boundaries Commission must be established within one year after every second provincial general election in order to make recommendations on equitable and effective representation across the province. Similar processes exist across Canada, providing independent and regular reviews of electoral districts. In describing the legislation, Hon. Suzanne Anton, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said the Commission “had the flexibility to address population growth in the province by proposing up to two additional districts, and it has chosen to exercise that option by proposing a new district in Surrey and one in Richmond–New Westminster.” The two new districts in the rapidly growing region around Vancouver will increase the number of electoral districts from 85 to 87 in conjunction with the next provincial general election in 2017. The legislation was supported unanimously, and Members on all sides commended the Commission for its work. Debate on the legislation also provided opportunities to discuss the electoral process and matters of specific concern in their districts. Gary Holman, MLA, Opposition critic for Democratic Reform, stated that during the 2013 provincial general election, he was “struck by the civility among the partisan representatives … It was a lesson to me in democracy – how our democracy in this province has its challenges but, in that particular instance, how well it worked.” The Electoral Districts Act received Third Reading on 17 November 2015.
74 | The Parliamentarian | 2016: Issue One
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