New Brunswick.

• Author: Ballak, Ryan
• Position: ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE - Report

On September 26, 2012, Premier David Alward announced various changes to cabinet. Four MLAs joined cabinet: Hugh Flemming was appointed Minister of Health; Danny Soucy was appointed Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour; Troy Lifford was appointed Minister of Human Resources and Dorothy Shephard was appointed Minister of the newly created Department of Healthy and Inclusive Communities. Madeleine Dube moved from the Department of Health to Social Development and Sue Stultz moved from Social Development to Government Services. The four new cabinet members were sworn into the Executive Council on October 9, 2012, by Lieutenant-Governor Graydon Nicholas.

Committee Activities

The Select Committee on the Revision of the Official Languages Act is mandated to oversee the examination of and consultation on the Official Languages Act, to review legal decisions, recommendations of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, as well as suggestions and recommendations from civil society and New Brunswickers. The 2002 Act requires a review to be initiated before December 31, 2012.

During the summer and fall months, the Committee met with various interest groups, experts and individuals to receive input on possible revisions to the Act. The Committee held discussions and received briefs and submissions. The Committee filed an interim report on June 28, 2012, and is expected to file a final report during the next session of the House. The Committee is chaired by Marie-Claude Blais, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Chaired by Rick Doucet, held public meetings from October 31 to November 2, 2012. The Committee reviewed the 2010-2011 annual reports of the Department of Social Development, Department of Health and the Department of Local Government. On December 4, 2012, the Committee will meet in a joint session with the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, Chaired by Jack Cart, to receive Volumes 1 and 2 of the 2012 Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick.

The Standing Committee on Law Amendments received briefs and submissions on Bill 64, An Act Respecting the Selection of Senator Nominees. The proposed Act would introduce a process in New Brunswick for the election of nominees to the Senate of Canada. The Committee is expected to present a...