Nova Scotia.

• Author: Boucher, Annette M.
• Position: Legislative Reports

House of Assembly Tartan

On April 5, 2019, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly passed the House of Assembly Tartan Act. This Act established a unique and official Tartan of the House of Assembly. The Speaker controls the use of the Tartan and penalties are provided for its unofficial use. The Tartan is also an emblem of the House of Assembly.

Section 4 of the Act describes the significance of the selected colors for the Tartan as follows: "The green in the Tartan represents the legislative chamber where the Assembly meets, the red represents the Red Chamber, the black represents the Speaker's and the Clerk's robes, the yellow represents the gold Mace, the white represents the laws passed by the Assembly and the tan represents the sandstone exterior of Province House, the building where the Assembly conducts its business."

During 2019 there are many celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Province House and it is fitting and of significance that the House of Assembly gave itself an official tartan in time for Tartan Day on April 6.

The Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act

On April 2, 2019, the Premier as President of the Executive Council, introduced the Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act. This Act makes Nova Scotia the first jurisdiction in North America to adopt presumed consent for organ and tissue donation. Nova Scotians will have the option of opting out of the presumed consent if they so desire and persons under 19 along with those without decision-making capacity are exempt from the application of the proposed legislation unless a parent, guardian or substitute decision-maker opts them in. The Act is subject to proclamation and the Premier stated that proclamation would occur approximately 12 to 18 months after passage to provide opportunity for planning, public education and awareness. The public had a first opportunity to comment on the bill when it was before the Law Amendments Committee.

Speaker's Rulings

1) On March 27, 2019, the Leader of the Official Opposition raised a point of privilege alleging a series of threatening incidents against him by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. It was his submission, after setting out the fact situation, that there was sufficient evidence for the Speaker to rule that he had raised a prima facie question of privilege; and, should the Speaker so conclude, that he would move a resolution referring the matter to the Committee on Internal Affairs for study and report to...