Legislative Reports not been passed when the House 9, Independent Progressive Conser- adjourned for Christmas, although vative – 1 and Vacancy – 1. it had, at that point, been given sec- Spring Sitting, 2007 ond reading and had been referred to the Committee on Law Amend- The Spring Sitting of the House be- ments. However, the Law Amend- gan on March 19, 2007 and ended on ments Committee began its April 13, 2007. The main item of this consideration of the Bill shortly af- sitting was the budget for the fiscal ter the Christmas break, and the year 2007-08 which was passed House reconvened on January 6, unanimously by all members pres- 2007, for a rare January sitting, for ent on April 13, 2007. Nova Scotia the sole purpose of considering this At the Spring Sitting 19 Public Bill. Accordingly, the Bill was re- he name of the new Ser- Bills (including the Appropriations ported back to the House by the geant-at-Arms was incorrectly Act) were passed. Of these, 17 were T Committee on January 6, 2007 and, reported in the autumn, 2006 edi- introduced by the Government, 1 on that day, referred to the Commit- tion of the Canadian Parliamentary by the Official Opposition and1 by tee of the Whole House on Bills. Af- Review. The correct name of the new the Third Party. ter a lively and lengthy debate in Sergeant-at-Arms is Kenneth Committee and on Third Reading, Liberal Leadership Greenham. the Bill finally passed, and was On September7, 2006, the term of given Royal Assent on January 11, office of the Hon. Myra Freeman as The Liberal party held a leadership 2007, and adjourned until the begin- Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia convention on April 28, 2007, to re- ning of its Spring sitting. Francis MacKenzie ended and a new Lieutenant Gover- place , who had Just before the House adjourned, nor, the Hon. Mayann Francis be- resigned as its leader. At the close of Ernest Fage, member of the House came Lieutenant Governor. nominations, the following were for Cumberland North, resigned Immediately, before her appoint- the candidates: from the Cabinet and then from the ment, Ms. Francis served as Director Government caucus, and now sits • Kenzie MacKinnon, a Halifax of Human Rights for Nova Scotia. as an Independent Progressive lawyer Fall Sitting 2006-2007 Conservative. • Stephen McNeil, member of the On March 1, 2007, Kevin House for Annapolis The Fall sitting of the House began Deveaux,memberforColeHar- • Mike Smith, Mayor of the Mu- on October 30, 2006, and the House bour-Eastern Passage, and NDP nicipality of Colchester adjourned for Christmas on No- House Leader, resigned his seat in • Diana Whalen, member of the vember 23, 2006. During the sitting, the House in order to take a position House for Halifax-Clayton Park 43 Public Bills were passed. Of with the United Nations in Viet- these, 30 were introduced by the nam. Frank Corbett,memberfor After two ballots, Stephen Government, 3 by the Official Op- Cape Breton Centre is now the NDP McNeil was elected as the new position (NDP) and 10 by the third House Leader. Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal party (Liberal). By far the most con- Theses two developments leave Party. troversial was Bill 117. This Bill was the standings in the House as fol- introduced by the Government, and lows: Progressive Conservatives – Art Fordham deals with political party finances. It 22; New Democrats – 19, Liberals – Assistant Clerk was hotly contested by the NDP, but supported by the Liberals and had 36 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW / SUMMER 2007 improve water management and overruns on the floodway expan- flood protection; sion project and Manitoba Hydro office tower. • Providing a $30.3-million in- crease for public schools; On April 11, 2007 Jon Gerrard • Implementing the 60 per cent tax rebate on tuition fees for all (Independent Liberal - River post-secondary graduates who Heights) moved a sub-amendment live and work in Manitoba; to Mr. McFadyen's amendment. Mr. • Increasing funding support for Gerrard perceived a number of Winnipeg by 18.3 per cent or other shortcomings in the govern- Manitoba $29.1 million, which includes $21 ment's financial plan, including: million for road improvements; n April 4th, 2007 the Manitoba and • failing to provide an effective Legislature assembled as the O • Providing funding for 14 addi- strategy to deal with child pov- Fifth Session of the Thirty-Eighth tional police officers including erty; Legislature resumed amid much five for the Stolen Auto Unit to • failing to provide Manitobans speculation about an impending deal with repeat offenders. with the legal rights to timely provincial general election. The quality health care; House sat for two and a half weeks During his first budget speech as • failing to present an adequate ap- before the Legislature was dis- party leader, on April 10, 2007 Offi- proach to reduce phosphorous solved on April 20 and Premier cial Opposition Leader Hugh levels and algal blooms in Lake Gary Doer called a provincial gen- McFadyen moved a motion ex- Winnipeg; and eral election for Tuesday, May 22, pressing non-confidence in the gov- • failing to make rapid transit a pri- 2007. ernment. The motion noted the ority in the city of Winnipeg. On the opening day of the spring opposition's regrets that the budget session Finance Minister Greg ignored “the present and future On April 17, 2007 Mr. Gerrard's Selinger presented the NDP gov- needs of Manitobans”. The motion sub-amendment was defeated on a ernment's eighth budget. The total listed a number of deficiencies, voice vote, while Mr. McFadyen's operating expenditure for the including: amendment was defeated on a re- 2007-2008 “Building Budget” was corded vote of yeas 20, nays 34. The listed as $9.3 billion, an increase of • failing to set out a coherent plan main budget motion carried on a re- 7% from 2006-2007. The govern- to stem the flow of people out of corded vote of yeas 34, nays 20. Manitoba, after the loss of 35,000 ment described their plan as “the During his contribution to the first summary budget in Manitoba's Manitobans to other provinces since 1999; budget debate on April 17, former history that fully reflects generally • failing to implement taxation Speaker Denis Rocan (PC - accepted accounting principles Carmen) offered some criticisms of (GAAP).” Highlights included: measures to make Manitoba com- petitive with other provinces; his own caucus, concluding by indi- cating in the House that he would • • failing to address serious issues Providing $297 million in new tax be supporting the government's cuts including $119 million in of crime such as auto theft, gang personal income tax reductions, activity, and violent crime; budget. The following day Speaker $49 million in education property • failing to address the emergency George Hickes received a letter tax relief and $93 million in busi- physician shortage that has crip- from the Leader of the Official Op- ness tax cuts; pled Manitoba hospitals and position advising that Mr. Rocan • Increasing the investment in threatens to close more emer- would no longer serve as a member highways by 50 per cent, bringing gency rooms; of the Progressive Conservative the annual investment close to • failing to embark on a long-over- caucus and would no longer be $400 million; due, science-based effort to clean seated with the caucus in the Legis- • Installing a new leading-edge, up Lake Winnipeg; lative Chamber. non-invasive cancer knife to treat • failing to provide clear informa- Four long serving MLAs an- cancers in all parts of the body; tion about the “Spirited Energy” nounced they will not be seeking campaign; and • Investing more than $10 million re-election: in additional funds to support • failing to be accountable to water protection initiatives and Manitobans for exorbitant cost SUMMER 2007/CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW 37 Tim Sale (NDP - Fort Rouge) - first The Manitoba Public Accounts elected in 1995, Mr. Sale served in Committee (PAC) held two meet- the NDP cabinet from 1999-2006. ings in February and March 2007. Glen Cummings (PC - Ste. Rose) - The discussion focussed on a pair of first elected in 1986, Mr. Cummings served in the cabinet of former pre- reports from the office of the Audi- mier Gary Filmon. tor General. The report on the Cro- Jack Penner (PC - Emerson) - first cus Investment Fund (released in elected in 1988, Mr. Penner also May 2005) investigated the failure served in the cabinet of former pre- of the Crocus Fund, a labour-driven mier Gary Filmon. investment fund. The report on En- Harry Schellenberg (NDP - vironmental Audits (released in Ontario Rossmere) - Mr. Schellenberg sat as November 2005) reviewed both the an MLA from 1993-1995 and again since 1999. He has held the position province's management of contami- n the spring session, the Legisla- of Deputy Chairperson of the Com- nated sites, as well as the protection Iture passed a number of bills in- mittees of the Whole House since of well water quality in Manitoba. cluding Bill 155, An Act to provide for 1999. At the February 22 meeting the a referendum on Ontario's electoral Manitoba PAC used a relatively system. As stated in its title, this Bill A number of notable Bills were new provision in our rules to pass a provides that if the Citizens' Assem- introduced during the spring ses- motion requesting that the Auditor bly on Electoral Reform recom- sion, including: General consider an examination mends the adoption of an electoral and audit into the government's re- system different from Ontario's cur- • Bill 17 - The Employment Standards cent provincial re-branding cam- rent one, a referendum on the rec- Code Amendment Act (Leave for Re- paign known as “Spirited Energy”.