The B.C. legislature is experimenting with an earthquake early-warning system that could beep MLAs’ phones with a warning before one hits.
It would lend a certain urgency to the “I move we adjourn” moment that protocol would require.
A Vancouver firm — Weir-Jones Group — has lent the same gear to the legislature that it installs at U.S. nuclear power plants.
Legislature clerk Craig James briefed politicians this week at a meeting of the legislative assembly management committee.
“The idea behind this equipment, which is now installed, is for, initially the executive to have an app on our smartphones to see how it works so that we can become familiar with it and in time … be able to supply that app to all members and staff who work in the parliamentary precinct.
“In the event of an earthquake, they are alerted, and it will give you X number of seconds to X number of minutes to do what you need to do — either run or hide.”
The system is supposed to detect the seismic waves from quakes ahead of time. It has to be fine-tuned to ignore bus traffic, construction noise and anything else.
It also apparently has to disregard the smashing of slate roof tiles. In another part of the agenda, the crumbling old brick armory behind the buildings got another failing grade.
“It’s been classified as a health and safety risk, presently, with the slate shingles starting to fall off the roof, which for those that might park around there, might pose some harm,” said James.
It’s the latest in a long line of failing grades. NDP MLA Mike Farnworth said it was discussed way back in 1991. Liberal MLA Eric Foster said they’ve been talking about it for the five years he’s been elected.
The building is so old now that even the condemned notice is eligible for a heritage designation.
“There’s a simple rule that you live by,” said Foster. “If you have knowledge, you have liability. If one of those pieces of slate comes off the roof and hits anybody … we’re in trouble. I don’t want to be sitting around thinking we should have done something before a 20-pound piece of slate falls on somebody’s head. We need to move on this.”
The committee that oversees most parliamentary functions has a long-range capital plan, but decisions on the armory building are going to be accelerated, James said.
In the meantime, “facilities services is looking for a company to provide some kind of netting around the outside.”
Meanwhile, Speaker Linda Reid said she’s meeting the Victoria Foundation to further discuss an idea that’s been in the works for a year or more — using tax-credited charitable donations to fund heritage restoration work in the parliamentary precinct. The working estimate for the amount of restoration and seismic work needed is about $250 million.
There are already some donors interested in another issue — bee sustainability. Work is planned on a pollination garden in the southwest corner of the block, but the bees will have to wait until after the election.
Reid said: “The only time to move bees, apparently, at this end of the Island, is in May. So the actual colony, should we proceed … the decision will be taken after the next election.”
Also on the costing sheet was the price of one small part of the royal visit. The initial estimate of the welcoming event on the front lawn was $170,000, but it was whittled down to about $90,000, with the legislature covering about $18,000 and the two governments covering the remainder.
The committee also covered another item near and dear to some politicians’ hearts — transitional assistance. That’s the amount made available to ex-MLAs once they either step down or lose an election. They’re not eligible for employment insurance, so they get full pay for a minimum of four months. The transition pay continues until they take another job or become pension-eligible, or 15 months has elapsed.
A new stipulation is under consideration that will require all ex-politicians claiming the benefit to report regularly any wages they earn, to address a concern by the auditor general.
