Manitoba.

• Author: Yarish, Rick
• Position: Legislative Reports

Manitoba MLAs gathered for their first extended sitting of the 38th Legislature on September 8, 2003. This session, which concluded on October 1, 2003, focussed almost entirely on the conclusion of the budget cycle from the previous Legislature, which had not been completed at the time of the election call in May 2003.

Legislative Schedule

In December 2002 the House adopted certain amendments to our rules, including a sessional calendar identifying periods of the year when the House may and may not meet. Taking this concept a step further upon their return to the House this fall, Manitoba MLAs passed a motion identifying a specific timetable for Legislative sittings during 2003 and 2004. According to the new legislative schedule, the House will sit during the following periods over the coming months:

* November 20, 2003 to December 4, 2003

* An eight day session in March 2004

* From the week of April 12, 2004 until no later than June 10, 2004

In addition to detailing House sitting dates, the motion also stated that during the September 2003 session no business would be considered by the House other than the completion of the budget process. Consequently, the House considered no legislation this session other than the Bills required as part of the financial process.

During a one day sitting following the general election in June 2003 the House passed a motion to reinstate the budget process from the Fourth Session of the 37th Legislature. Based in part on a 1995 Manitoba precedent, all MLAs agreed to this procedure as a means of getting the budget cycle back on track following the election.

Committee of Supply

When the House resumed in September MLAs got down to business right away, proceeding with the consideration of departmental estimates in our three, concurrent sections of the Committee of Supply. This session marked the first time MLAs considered estimates under our new rules which reduce the time allowed for the process from 240 hours to 100 hours. The House completed all stages of the financial process by September 30.

Question Period

On September 10, 2003 Speaker George Hickes informed the House that a trial agreement had been reached between the Government, the Official Opposition and the independent Members regarding guidelines for the conduct of Oral Questions for the month of September, 2003. The guidelines included the following provisions:

* Fifty seconds allowed for questions and answers;

* The continued recognition of points...