Legislative reports: Alberta.

The first session of the Twenty-Fifth Legislature adjourned on May 31, 2001 after 26 sitting days comprised of 44 afternoon and evening sessions. A record for the longest single sitting in the Alberta Legislative Assembly was broken on Monday May 28th as the evening session proceeded all night and continued into Tuesday afternoon finally adjourning after 21 hours and 18 minutes. At the conclusion of the Spring Session on May 31st, 18 Bills had received Royal Assent. The following 3 Bills remain on the Order Paper:

Bill 16, School Amendment Act, 2001, revises the process for establishing charter schools; eliminates the School Buildings Board and provides the Minister with authority over school construction; amends sections concerning assessments for property taxes of public and separate school supporters; clarifies the regions governing Francophone education to protect students' linguistic and denominational rights; creates an different procedure for the establishment of separate school regions; and makes reporting to the Registrar mandatory of any employment action taken against a teacher relating to teacher misconduct.

Bill 18, Health Professions Amendment Act, 2001, clarifies existing policy with regards to confidentiality, educational programs, registration and practice permits, and costs of disciplinary hearings and appeals. Regulations will be set up for each profession under the Act, while each health profession affected by the Act continues to be self-governing; and

Bill 21, Electronic Transactions Act, outlines the legal requirements for the use of information and records in electronic form for electronic transactions, and amends and expands the use of electronic records under the Alberta Evidence Act.

In addition to the Government Bills, 12 Private Members' Public Bills were introduced, 3 of which passed second reading and are now at the Committee of the Whole Stage: Bill 207, Alberta Personal Income Tax (Tools Deduction) Amendment Act, 2001; Bill 208, Alberta Official Song Act; and Bill 209, High way Traffic (Bicycle Safety Helmet) Amendment Act, 2001. Five Private Bills also received Royal Assent at the conclusion of the Spring Session.

Privilege Ruling

A question of privilege was raised in the Assembly on Thursday May 24, 2001 by the Government House Leader and Minister of Justice, David Hancock. His purported question of privilege was based on comments made during Question Period by Brian Mason, (ND, Edmonton-Highlands). During...