I have another return, Mr. Speaker. Return to Oral Question asked by Mr. Lewis on December 8, 1993.
Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 1993, Mr. Lewis asked me if I was aware that the Department of Social Services had hired a Professor Gordon, from Simon Fraser University, to assist in the drafting of the Guardianship Act. He asked if I had met with the professor to discuss the new act. I told Mr. Lewis that I was not aware that Professor Gordon was in town and that I had not met with him.
Mr. Lewis asked that, since Professor Gordon had been involved in the development of a controversial guardianship act in BC, I should review the act, in detail, to ensure that I agree with the underlying principles and philosophy of this new act.
I want to correct the record since the exchange of questions and answers on this issue left the impression that a consultant had been hired for this work which I as Minister, did not know about. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the department has not hired Professor Gordon to do any work on its behalf and the drafting of the new Guardianship Act was done entirely in-house. I hope this clarifies the issue.