Legislative reports: Saskatchewan.

Members of the Saskatchewan Assembly elected a new Speaker on March 20, 2001. The election had been necessary with the resignation of Ron Osika prior to his appointment to cabinet. Two Members let their names stand, Lindy Kasperski (Regina Sherwood) and Myron Kowalsky (Prince Albert Carlton). Once the ballots were counted, Mr. Kowalsky. was declared the province's 22nd Speaker. The following day, Mr. Kasperski was acclaimed Deputy Speaker. Graham Addley (Saskatoon Sutherland) was appointed Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole on March 29th, 2001.

Almost two months later, MLAs were asked to participate in a second election for Deputy Speaker after Mr. Kasperski submitted his resignation for personal reasons on May 7th. The Rules of the Saskatchewan Assembly gave MLAs until five o'clock that day to put their names forward for consideration. Mr. Addley and Ron Harper (Regina Northeast) contested the secret ballot election on May 8th. Mr. Addley proved successful while Mr. Harper was subsequently appointed to Mr. Addley's former position as Deputy Chair of Committees. Mr. Addley was almost immediately able to test his abilities when he was called upon to chair Oral Question Period the following day.

Opening of New Session

The opening of the 2nd Session began with the traditional Speech from the Throne by Lieutenant Governor Lynda Haverstock. The speech outlined the government's agenda of connecting to the future by identifying three priorities: a thriving economy; healthy citizens, families and communities; and responsive and effective government. Finance Minister Eric Cline's 2001 Budget Address on March 30th echoed the theme of "Connecting to the Future" and focused on investments in education, transportation and technology.

House Business

It has been the custom in Saskatchewan to prorogue the previous session on the morning of the opening of a new session. However this year, three additional items of business were addressed. These began with the election of a new Speaker, described earlier. Next, two bills were presented, passed through all stages and granted Royal Assent. The bills permitted the newly elected members in two recent by-elections to take their seats in the Assembly prior to the return of the writs. One of these new MLAs was Premier Lorne Calvert, who had been elected the day before.

The resumption of the sitting of the Assembly provided MLAs with a venue in which to raise the province's agricultural concerns. On March 21st...