Manitoba.

• Author: Grenier, Monique
• Position: ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE - Report

The Second session of the 40th Legislature is set to open on Monday, November 19, 2012 with the reading of the Speech from the Throne. In accordance to a House Leaders' agreement, notice for the 2012 Fall legislative session was required to be given by September 30th as well as four week's notice will be required for the resumption of the 2013 Spring legislative session.

Standing Committees

Manitoba Standing Committees held four separate intersessional meetings since our last submission. The Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs met in October to consider the contents of Bill 209 which proposes cooling-off periods relating to Independent Officers of the Assembly. This particular meeting was an anomaly and was held based on a House Leaders" decision. Also, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts met on three separate occasions to consider reports from the Auditor General covering a variety of topics including:

* Members' Allowances

* Appointment Process to Agencies, Boards and Commissions

* Wireless Network Security

* Managing Climate Change

* Protection of Well Water Quality in Manitoba

* Environmental Livestock Program

* Contaminated Sites and Landfills

New PC Caucus appointments:

After winning the by-election for the Fort-Whyte constituency held on September 4, 2012, Official Opposition Leader Brian Pallister was sworn in on September 19, 2012 and will officially be introduced to the House on November 20, 2012. On November 3, 2012, an Orientation session with the Table Officers was provided to Mr. Pallister and the briefing material was tailored to suit his thirteen years of experience as a former MLA and former MP.

On September 5, new shadow cabinet was assigned as follows:

* Brian Pallister, critic for Federal-Provincial Relations and Francophone Affairs;

* Myrna Driedger, critic for Finance, Civil Service and Crown Corporation Accountability;

* Blaine Pederson, critic for Local Government;

* Mavis Taillieu, Infrastructure Transportation, Emergency Measures and Lotteries critic;

* Kelvin Gocrtzen, Education critic;

* Reg Helwer, critic for Justice, Attorney General, Constitutional Affairs and MPI;

* Bonnie Mitchelson, Immigration and Multiculturalism critic;

* Cameron Friesen, Health critic;

* Larry Maguire, Conservation and Water Stewardship critic;

* Ron Schuler, critic for Innovation, Energy and Mines, as well as Manitoba Hydro;

* Heather Stefanson, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs critic;

* Cliff Cullen, critic for Healthy...