New Brunswick.

AuthorMcCleave, John-Patrick
PositionLegislative Reports

The Third Session of the 57th Legislative Assembly opened on November 27, 2012, and adjourned on June 21, 2013, after sitting a total of 57 days. Of note during the session was the referral by the House, for the first time, the budgetary estimates of certain government departments to three separate standing committees. The House referred the estimates of the Department of Health to the Standing Committee on Health Care and the estimates of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to the Standing Committee on Education. The Standing Committee on Estimates also considered various estimates along with the Committee of Supply, which is the usual practice. A motion was adopted to extend the hours allocated for the consideration of estimates to a total of 120 hours, 40 hours more than previous years. The extra time was allocated to the Standing Committees on Health Care and Education.

Legislation

Fifty-seven bills received Royal Assent during the session. In particular, Energy and Mines Minister Craig Leonard introduced Bill 39, Electricity Act. The Bill provides for the amalgamation of a number of separate entities into one vertically integrated Crown electric utility called the New Brunswick Power Corporation, which will be subject to regulatory review and scrutiny by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board. NB Power will be required to defend its energy rates before the Board every year, and the government will no longer have the authority to override the Board's decision on energy rates.

Premier David Alward introduced Bill 72, An Act Respecting Official Languages, which made a number of amendments to the Official Languages Act, following recommendations proposed in the Final Report of the Select Committee on the Revision of the Official Languages Act. Amendments include clarifying municipal signage policies, clarifying language obligations for third parties, adding a purpose clause to the Act, and requiring professional associations created by legislation to provide services in both official languages.

The Opposition introduced 13 bills during the session, including legislation related to the registration of lobbyists, conflict of interest reform, and a competitive appointment process for the heads of Crown corporations.

Electoral Boundaries

The Electoral Boundaries and Representation Commission released its final report on April 25. The Commission held 50 hearings during two rounds of...

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