New Brunswick.

AuthorMcCleave, John-Patrick
PositionLegislative Reports

Cabinet Shuffle

A cabinet shuffle was announced by Premier Brian Gallant in September. Three new ministers joined cabinet: Benoit Bourque, Minister of Health; Andrew Harvey, Minister of Agriculture, Mines and Rural Affairs; and Gilles LePage, Minister of Labour, Employment and Population Growth.

Ministers Donald Arseneault, Victor Boudreau and Ed Doherty announced their departure from cabinet. The three members were joined by Bertrand LeBlanc in announcing that they would not be seeking re-election in 2018.

An informal system of regional ministers that had previously been in place in New Brunswick was also formalized during the cabinet shuffle. Five ministers were tasked with the additional responsibility of "regional minister" to advocate on behalf of five provincial regions at the cabinet table.

Sergeant-at-Arms

In October, following an extensive search process, Gilles Cote was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. Mr. Cote brings with him over 27 years of service and experience with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Mr. Cote replaced Daniel Bussieres, who had served the Legislature as Sergeant-at-Arms since 2002.

Committees

On September 1, the Select Committee on Cannabis, chaired by Mr. Bourque, released its final report entitled Consulting New Brunswickers: The Legalization of Recreational Cannabis in New Brunswick. The report is based on public consultations held in seven locations across the province during the month of July.

The committee met with the public following the release of the Report of the New Brunswick Working Group on the Legalization of Cannabis, which looked at the challenges and opportunities of legalizing recreational cannabis and proposed a model for a legal cannabis industry. The working group report was used as a discussion guide during public consultations.

Although the select committee heard varying viewpoints on the proposed model for a legal cannabis industry, presenters agreed that a strategy for the legalization of recreational cannabis should include priorities such as: keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth; shutting out organized crime; investing in education; addressing health concerns; and ensuring public safety.

The Standing Committees on Public Accounts and Crown Corporations, chaired by Trevor Holder and Chuck Chiasson, reviewed various government departments, Crown corporations and other entities during September and October. On October 3, the committees met...

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