Point of Privilege
by WCWC (mid-island)
 Draft Transcript from the Hansard record of the B.C. Legislature.
S. Fraser: I rise today to raise a point of privilege. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: Proceed. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
S. Fraser: I served notice yesterday on my intention to raise a question of privilege, and I rise now to that matter of which written notice has been given to the Chair under Standing Order 26. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I believe that I can establish a prima facie case on the face of the record that the member for Nanaimo-Parksville breached the privileges of this House by misleading this assembly. I have attempted to keep my presentation brief and non-argumentative, in accordance with the rules. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The member for Nanaimo-Parksville has made statements in this House on the subject of logging in the Englishman River. On Thursday last week in question period, the member told the House: "This was logged under a plan, a watershed management plan, that involved consultation with the Arrowsmith Watershed Society and other groups." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I would like to submit as exhibit 1 an e-mail from Michael Jessen of
the Arrowsmith Watershed Coalition Society, which takes issue with this
statement by the member. Mr. Jessen's e-mail states: "We assure you
that we have never collaborated with Island Timberlands or its
predecessors in the preparation of any watershed plan, nor have we
reviewed or approved any timber-harvesting plans for any
private-managed forest land company." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Yesterday when I gave the member the opportunity to correct the record and to apologize to the organization he named, the member for Nanaimo-Parksville instead stated: "I want to say to the Arrowsmith Watershed Coalition Society that I used the wrong acronym, AWCS. I should have said the Arrowsmith Water Service, which is comprised of representatives from Parksville, from Qualicum Beach and from the regional district, who indeed took part in the watershed assessment portfolio plan to protect the watershed in this sensitive area." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
This explanation by the member is, in turn, countered by a second document I submit as exhibit 2: a press release from the Western Canada Wilderness society quoting Barry Avis, who sits on the Arrowsmith Water Service, regarding logging in the Englishman River. In this document, Mr. Avis of the Arrowsmith Water Service states: "If there was ever a time to speak up, it is to present day. What is happening here exposes almost all that is wrong with forestry policies, watershed protection policies, riparian areas, proper stewardship, ownership conflicts, potential health risks, local financial waste, and as well as many, many volunteer hours and financial donations from the stewardship groups and land trusts over the past 25 years just wasted now." [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I respectfully submit, based on these exhibits, that the community organizations cited by the member were not consulted and did not agree to the plans, as asserted in this House by the member for Nanaimo-Parksville. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The member also made claims that only 21 of 228 merchantable trees were removed from the site. It was a selective harvest by helicopter, it was quoted. Only two trees actually hit the ground, it was quoted. The Western Canada Wilderness Committee did a complete inventory of the logging site, and their inventory shows that 47 trees were cut down and 22 were taken away. Another 25 were left behind, including trees that were between 150 and 500 years old. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1425]
I submit these documents of the site as exhibit 3 and will table these along [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
HSE - 20090224 PM 012/jbp/1425
47 trees were cut down, and 22 were taken away. Another 25 were left behind, including trees that were between 150 and 500 years old. I submit these documents of the site as exhibit 3 and will table these along with all the other documents I have cited and the relevant excerpts from Hansard. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
From the documents I have tabled today, I believe that I have made a prima facie case of breach of privilege. I am prepared, Mr. Speaker, to move the necessary motion should you find a prima facie case exists. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. M. de Jong: I'll reserve the right to provide a more fulsome response shortly. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Mr. Speaker: I'll take it under advisement. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Tabling Documents
Hon. C. Hansen: I rise to table a revised schedule 1 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. The revised schedule 1 reflects the changes to the ministerial accountabilities under the Balanced Budget and Ministerial Accountability Act resulting from the government ministry reorganizations that took place in 2008-2009. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Motions Without Notice
|
