Nova Scotia.

• Author: Fordham, Art
• Position: Legislative Reports

The new House of Assembly, which was elected on August 5, 2003, met on September 4, 2003. The only business transacted at that sitting was the election of a Speaker. Murray Scott was re-elected as Presiding Officer. The House then took a break and reconvened on September 25 for its fall sitting, beginning with the Speech from the Throne.

The sitting was very short, but some important legislation was passed, including legislation respecting auto insurance rates and Sunday shopping. Certain changes were made to these bills as a result of negotiations carried out by the minority Government and the two opposition parties. In all, eight bills, which were all government bills, were passed and may be briefly summarized as follows:

Bill No. 1, which, effective November 1, 2003 reduces automobile insurance rates by 20% of what those rates were on May 1, 2003 and places a limit, prescribed by the regulations, on the amount of damages for a minor injury. Bill No. 2,

* permits Sunday shopping from 1 pm to 6 pm from November 16, 2003 to December 21, 2003

* provides for a plebiscite on Sunday shopping to be held at the same time as the 2004 municipal elections;

* enables the Government to permit Sunday shopping if the plebiscite is in favour of Sunday shopping

* makes certain changes to the Labour Standard Code.

Bill No. 6, eliminates mandatory retirement from the public service at age 65;

Bill No. 7,

* allows an employee to take a leave of absence of up to 8 weeks to care for a family member who has a serious medical condition with a significant risk...