Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island war Ed d I e sl c a n n i d r P R t e s n p e o 1 m n 851 - 201 1 n si er ble Gov 2011 Annual Report Table of Contents Administration 1 Office of the Legislative Assembly-------------------------------6 Standing Committee on Legislative Management-----------7 Office of the Clerk---------------------------------------------------9 Celebration of the 160th Anniversary of Responsible Government----------------------------------------12 Sessional Activity 2 Assembly Statistics------------------------------------------------16 Budget----------------------------------------------------------------17 3 House Offices & Associations Audio/Visual Services---------------------------------------------20 Committees---------------------------------------------------------21 Hansard---------------------------------------------------------------24 Human Resources, Finance & Administration--------------28 Legislative Library & Research Service------------------------30 Security---------------------------------------------------------------32 Sessional Administration-----------------------------------------34 Indemnities and Allowances Commission-------------------35 Prince Edward Island Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association---------------------------------------36 Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie--------------38 2011 Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island - 4 1 Administration 5 - 10th Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island Office of the Legislative Assembly The Office of the Legislative Assembly (OLA) House and the operation of the Executive. provides the administrative and procedural support Members need to carry out their The OLA has access to a wide range of staff and duties as elected officials. The OLA functions resources that help support the activities of as an impartial authority responsible for the the House and provide services to the public: administration of the Legislative Assembly. administrators, lawyers, security, researchers, computer technicians, and maintenance The Standing Committee on Legislative personnel. Management, chaired by the Speaker and composed of Members of the House, governs the Below is an unofficial organizational chart of the OLA and ensures an “arm’s length” relationship Office of the Legislative Assembly. is maintained between the operation of the Audio/Visual Services Committees Standing Committee on Legislative HR, Finance, & MAnagement Administration Office of Office of the Speaker the Clerk Hansard Library & Research Security Sessional Administration 2011 Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island - 6 Standing Committee on Legislative Management Committee Mandate The Standing Committee on Legislative to appointing staff, and reviewing the Assembly’s Management is responsible for the policies estimates and expenditures. The Committee which govern the administration of the may also undertake additional duties if it is Legislative Assembly, covering everything from deemed important to the efficient management providing security and managing the facilities, of the Legislative Assembly. Committee Membership • Speaker (Chair) • Deputy Speaker • Government House Leader • Government Caucus Chair • Leader of the Official Opposition • Opposition Caucus Chair • Leader of a Third Party Motion 56: the Future of Province House Province House is unique among Canadian to review the 1974 federal-provincial agreement legislatures in that it is maintained jointly by a on Province House. The committee was asked federal government entity, Parks Canada, and to put forward recommendations on how to a provincial entity, the Government of Prince ensure Province House is structurally maintained Edward Island. This relationship is based on into the future and interpreted in a dynamic a 1974 federal-provincial lease agreement manner that encompasses its full colonial, that designates structural and interpretive provincial and national history. The Legislative responsibilities to the federal government, while Management Committee held public meetings, the province retains ownership of the building. hearing a number of common themes, including The federal interest in the building is related to the importance of interpreting the full scope its role as the site of the 1864 Charlottetown of Province House’s history, the urgent need Conference, which led to Confederation. of major repairs, the price and expertise said repairs will require, and the need to re-establish In a unanimous motion during its spring 2010 the building as a source of pride for all Islanders. sitting, the Legislative Assembly called on the Standing Committee on Legislative Management 7 - 10th Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island In its report, adopted by the Legislative Assembly • that a Visitor Services and Public in December 2010, the committee made a total Engagement division within the Office of the of 14 recommendations. These included: Legislative Assembly should be created, and that attempts to re-engage Islanders with their • that Parks Canada should maintain a legislature should be made whenever possible; presence at Province House, and should live up and to the structural maintenance responsibilities • that the Office of the Legislative Assembly assigned to it in the 1974 Province House should further investigate the possibility of Agreement; obtaining a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. • that Province House should be fully restored before the 150th anniversary of Since December 2010, the provincial Department Charlottetown Conference in 2014, and that a of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal long-term legacy fund should be established and Parks Canada continue to work towards to ensure the building is maintained into the implementation of some or all of the committee’s future; recommendations. • that the Provincial Government should become more actively involved in ensuring that Province House is well cared for and that the Legislative Assembly should take on a greater role in the management of Province House; • that the 1974 Province House Memorandum of Agreement should be revised and, in doing so, the Legislative Assembly should be added as a signatory, a Province House Committee should be formed, space should be reallocated for the use of the Legislative Assembly and Parks Canada, and a life-cycle plan for the Province house structure should be developed; • that interpretation of Province House should be expanded and enhanced in order to include the full scope of legislative and democratic history on PEI, and should be jointly delivered by Parks Canada and the Legislative Assembly; 2011 Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island - 8 Office of the Clerk Role Rotary Youth Parliament As the chief permanent officer of the Legislative The Rotary Youth Parliament took place at Assembly, the Clerk aids the Speaker in Province House on February 11-12, 2011. Now in providing administrative support to members, its twenty-third year, the long-running project is and advises the Speaker and members on a partnership between the Speaker’s and Clerk’s parliamentary procedure, helping to ensure the offices, the Department of Education, District proper execution of House rules and practices. School Boards, volunteer teacher advisors and Rotary Clubs across Prince Edward Island. Any documents or reports presented by members during the sitting are given to the Clerk for safekeeping, and are said to have been ‘tabled.’ The Clerk maintains the official record Visit to Province House by Their Royal of the business of the House, and is custodian Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of of the House’s parliamentary papers. Both the Cambridge Clerk and the Clerk Assistant are present at each Prince Edward Island has long welcomed holiday- sitting of the House, seated at a table in front of makers and honeymooners to its red shores, but the Speaker. perhaps none have been so warmly received as Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who visited the province in early July. Conference Activity Following months of planning and preparations, the highly-anticipated official welcome to Prince Charles MacKay, Clerk; Marian Johnston, Clerk Edward Island took place at Province House Assistant and Clerk of Committees; and Melissa on the morning of July 4, 2011. An estimated Keefe, Committee Clerk, attended the 2011 20,000 people lined historic Great George Professional Development Seminar organized Street, with some royal watchers arriving before by the Association of Clerks-at-the-Table in dawn to assure themselves a prime vantage Canada in August. Topics discussed at point. While at this year’s annual conference included Province House, the ethics for table officers; the law and the royal couple signed limits of privilege; the power to send for the guest book and persons; and the concept of convention viewed the restored in a parliamentary context. At the Legislative Library general meeting, Marian Johnston was and toured the elected President of the Association for historic Legislative the 2011-2012 year. Chamber. l to r: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Hon. Kathleen Casey, Speaker of the House; Maurice Fitzpatrick, Assist. Sergeant-at-Arms; J.A. (Al) McDonald, Sergeant-at-Arms; Marian Johnston, Clerk Assistant and Clerk of Committees 9 - 10th Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island change took