Legislative Reports
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Legislative Reports -Mandating that elections be tember 8, 2008 Ralph Eichler (PC – held every four years in Lakeside) brought forward a mo- October; tion to debate the issue of flooding -Establishing an annual mailing and excess moisture conditions expense budget for caucuses which had created severe chal- and Members. lenges in several regions of Mani- toba, including the negative impact § Bill 38 – The Balanced Budget, Fiscal on the agriculture sector, local gov- Management and Taxpayer Account- ability Act, which replaces The Bal- ernments, businesses and citizens. Manitoba anced Budget, Debt Repayment and On September 10, 2008 Kevin Taxpayer Accountability Act and estab- Lamoureux (Independent Liberal – lishes new requirements for fiscal ac- Inkster) initiated a debate on Air he 2nd session of the 39th Legis- countability and balanced budgets. Canada’s announcement of plans to lature adjourned to the call of § Bill 45 – The Teachers’ Pensions Amend- T close its flight attendant base in the Speaker on October 9, 2008 fol- ment Act – which changes the Teacher’s pension cost-of-living ad- Winnipeg. lowing a busy fall sitting. justment through the pension adjust- A number of Bills held over from ment account. The Manitoba Public Accounts the spring session proceeded this § Bill 47 – The Centreport Canada Act – Committee met in September and fall through Report Stage and Con- which creates CentrePort Canada, a October to consider Auditor Gen- private-sector focused corporation eral’s reports on Hecla Island Land currence and Third Reading. The focussed on developing and promot- House spent a great deal of this time ing Manitoba’s inland port. The cor- and Property Transactions, a re- on Report Stage, with close to 100 poration will build on the province’s view of the Workers Compensation well-established network of air, rail, Board, as well as the Manitoba Pub- Report Stage Amendments being sea and trucking routes. considered in September and Octo- lic Accounts for the last fiscal year. Additionally, the House passed ber. The Committee expressed a desire the following Private Member’s to meet again before the end of the Several Government Bills re- Bills: year. ceived Royal Assent before the end From October 16 to 19 2008, of the session, including: § Bill 232 – the Public Schools Amendment George Hickes Act (Anaphylaxis Policies) (sponsored Speaker hosted the § Bill 17 – The Environment Amendment by Erin Selby – NDP, Southdale) 30th Commonwealth Parliamen- Act (Permanent Ban on Building or Ex- which requires school boards to de- tary Association (CPA) Canadian panding Hog Facilities), which prohib- velop an anaphylaxis policy to meet Regional Seminar. Held at the its the construction or expansion of the needs of pupils who have serious confined livestock areas for pigs and allergies. Fairmont Hotel and the Manitoba pig manure storage facilities in speci- § Bill 300 – the Royal Lake Of The Woods Legislature, the seminar featured fied areas of Manitoba. Yacht Club Incorporation Amendment business sessions covering the fol- § Bill 37 – The Lobbyists Registration Act Act (sponsored by Heather lowing topics: and Amendments to the Elections Act, Stefanson –PC,Tuxedo)which amends the object of the club and re- the Elections Finances Act, the Legisla- w tive Assembly Act and the Legislative As- peals provisions about issuing stock Urban Rural Disconnect in the club. sembly Management Commission Act, w Newfoundland and Labrador which introduces a wide range of amendments, including: Audit Committee -Requiring the registration of The House also devoted some w Rural Development Initiatives in people who lobby the govern- time to the consideration of two Prince Edward Island ment, government agencies or Matters of Urgent Public Impor- w Nurse Recruitment and Retention Members of the Legislative As- tance, debated with the unanimous sembly. agreement of the House. On Sep- w The Role of Private Members’ Legislation and Public Policy WINTER 2008-2009/CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW 33 Barnhart read the prorogation instead forced them to wait until The 3rd session of the 39th Mani- speech. next year for relief. toba Legislature began on Thurs- The second session of the Sas- Procedural Matters day, November 20, 2008 with a katchewan Assembly opened later Speech from the Throne. that afternoon. Under the title “A In the opening days of the session, stronger Saskatchewan, a better the government took advantage of a Rick Yarish life”, The Lieutenant Governor out- new rule that permitted a public bill Clerk Assistant / lined the government's plans for en- considered in a previous session to Clerk of Committees suring continued economic growth be reinstated to the Order Paper in and the participation of all the following session if done within Saskatchewanians in the province's five sitting days of the commence- new prosperity. ment of the fall session. On October Premier Brad Wall laid the foun- 23rd, Government House Leader dation for his administration's plans Rod Gantefoer gave notice that he a day earlier with the announce- would be moving the reinstatement ment of income tax reductions, an of Bill No. 9 - The Superannuation additional $1 billion to pay down (Supplementary Provisions) Amend- the provincial debt and a 50% in- ment Act, 2008. The motion to rein- crease in infrastructure invest- state the bill was subsequently Saskatchewan ments. The Throne Speech adopted and the bill was replaced enumerated a number of further on the Order Paper at the same stage initiatives, including: it had reached during the previous ne week before the scheduled session. Pursuant to the Rules of the fall opening, the Leader of the O w New educational and training Assembly, the bill is designated a Opposition and former Premier, programs particularly targeted at specified bill and the amount of Lorne Calvert, announced that he engaging First Nations and Métis time previously spent considering would be stepping down as leader people and a commitment to en- it is carried forward to the current of the Saskatchewan New Demo- able libraries to expand their ser- vices and programs; session. cratic Party. Mr. Calvert first en- tered the Assembly in 1986 and w Equitable income support and Assembly Officer served in the cabinet of Roy services for persons with disabili- ties; Romanow before himself becoming In a letter dated October 22, 2008, the NDP leader and Premier in 2001. w Environmental programs to con- Chief Electoral Officer Jean Ouellet He represented a Moose Jaw con- trol greenhouse gas emissions, a submitted his resignation to the comprehensive water manage- stituency from 1986 until 1999 and Speaker effective immediately. Mr. ment plan and exploring further Ouellet had held the position since has been the MLA for Saskatoon the potential of clean coal and Riversdale since 2001. Mr. Calvert nuclear energy; 2004 after serving in a variety of will continue to lead his party until w electoral positions with Elections Democratic reforms to restrict Canada and Elections Saskatche- a new leader is chosen at a conven- government advertisement prior tion in June 2009. to provincial elections and the wan. Speaker Don Toth announced election of nominees for appoint- that the position will be filled in an Fall Sitting ment to the Senate. acting capacity until a new Chief Electoral Officer could be selected Saskatchewan politicians reassem- Mr. Calvert responded on behalf through a national competition. bled in Regina early on October of the Official Opposition by chal- 22nd to welcome a new colleague lenging the Premier to explain how and to prorogue the first session. the government's approach would Margaret (Meta) Woods Doyle Vermette was formally pre- make Saskatchewan “this year Clerk Assistant sented in the Assembly by Mr. country”. It was Mr. Calvert's asser- Calvert and deputy leader Pat tion that the government's agenda Atkinson before taking his seat to did little to address or alleviate the hear Lieutenant Governor Gordon pressures facing the populace but 34 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2008-2009 w Bill No. 63, Act to Amend the Se- Inverarity (Porter Creek South, Lib- niors Income Supplement Act eral) and Mr. Cardiff - are currently finalizing their report, which is due In addition, Steve Cardiff to be tabled in the Assembly on (Mount Lorne, NDP) introduced a Thursday, November 20th. private member's bill, Young Worker Protection Act, which has been des- Special adjournment motion ignated Bill No. 109. Standing Order 75(1) stipulates that Private Member's Motion the House shall sit a maximum of 60 Yukon days per calendar year. As the The recent federal election was the House sat for 32 days in the 2008 n October 8, the Premier of Yu- subject of debate on October 29th, Spring Sitting, 28 days remain avail- Okon, Dennis Fentie (Watson the first private member's day of the able for the Fall Sitting. Given the Lake, Yukon Party), pursuant to 2008 Fall Sitting. Steve Nordick October 23rd start date the House Standing Order 73(2), informed the (Klondike, Yukon Party) moved: would have to adjourn by Thurs- Speaker, Ted Staffen,thathe day, December 11 at the latest. THAT this House urges the wished to have the 2008 Fall Sitting Parliament of Canada to re- However, on October 29th the of the First Session of the 32nd Leg- view the effects of recent government House leader, Brad islative Assembly convene on Octo- changes to the Canada Elections Cathers (Lake Laberge, Yukon Act regarding information vot- ber 23rd. The Speaker informed ers are required to present to Party) gave notice of the following Members of the Premier's request prove identity, to determine if motion: and the House met on that date. identification requirements need to be adjusted to prevent Legislation Northern residents from being THAT this House shall stand deprived of the ability to exer- adjourned from its rising on cise their democratic right to Thursday, November 6, 2008 Pursuant to Standing Order 74 the vote.