Nova Scotia.

AuthorBoucher, Annette M.
PositionLegislative Reports

Spring sitting 2015

The 2nd session of the 62nd General Assembly continued on March 26, 2015 with the first day of the Spring sitting.

Resignations and Vacancies

On April 2, 2015 Frank Corbett and Gordie Gosse, two of the seven NDP members, resigned their seats effective that day. At present there are three vacant seats in the House of Assembly as on March 16, 2015 Liberal MLA Allan Rowe died at the age of 58 after suffering an aneurysm. The House of Assembly Act requires the calling of a by-election within six months after the seat vacancy occurs and the election must be held within twelve months after the vacancy occurs.

Budget

In the weeks leading up to the Budget Speech on April 9, 2015, the Premier and the Finance Minister both indicated there would be important measures taken to reduce spending. A few days before the budget the Government announced that non-unionized civil servant salaries were to be frozen for three years. On April 7, 2015 the Minister of Finance introduced Bill # 80--An Act to Amend Chapter 1 (1992 Supplement) of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the House of Assembly Act, this bill freezes MLA salaries until at least January 1, 2018. The bill received third reading on April 16, 2015.

The budget eliminated the Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. The Minister who had been responsible for that Department, Michel Samson, is now Minister of Energy, having assumed that portfolio on March 25, 2015 upon Andrew Younger's resignation from cabinet. He also holds the following portfolios: Minster of Communications Nova Scotia, Minister of Acadian Affairs and Minster responsible for Part 1 of the Gaming Control Act. A new Department of Business was created on budget day with the following mandate: "The Mandate of the Department is to lead and align all government efforts to expand business and social enterprise growth in Nova Scotia. The Department provides strategic direction and leadership to all provincial Government Departments, Crown Corporations and Agencies to achieve alignment on strategy and operations for business and social enterprise growth." Mark Furey was named Minister of Business. His other cabinet responsibilities are Municipal Affairs, Service Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Incorporated, the Innovation Corporation Act, Part 2 of the Gaming Control Act and the Residential Tenancies Act.

One budget item which has generated much public interest is the reduction of the film industry tax credit...

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