Prince Edward Island.

• Author: Johnston, Marian
• Position: Legislative Reports - Report

The First Session of the Sixty-third General Assembly adjourned to the call of the Speaker on November 2, 2007, after 13 sitting days. On February 8, 2008, Premier Robert Ghiz announced that the First Session of the Sixty-third General Assembly will be prorogued and that the Second Session will be opened officially on April 4, 2008. Premier Ghiz has indicated his preference for a parliamentary calendar to provide notice well in advance of when sessions of the Legislative Assembly are to begin.

Indemnities and Allowances Commission

The three-member Indemnities and Allowances Commission was appointed on October 31, 2007, by Speaker Kathleen Casey, to review the salaries and benefits of Members of the Legislative Assembly. The Commission's authority arises from a 1994 amendment to the Legislative Assembly Act, which established the independent commission for the purpose of reviewing the salaries and benefits of Members, and reporting its decisions to the Speaker each year by December first. The Commission has recommended a salary increase of 2% effective as of April 1, 2008.

Committee Activity

On November 1, 2007, a motion was passed in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island giving the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Environment a mandate to review the implementation and potential impacts of a province-wide ban on the use of cosmetic lawn pesticides. The Committee was authorized to meet after prorogation of the First Session of the Sixty-third General Assembly and make report to the House during the Spring 2008 session.

In tandem with this work, the Committee initiated a series of briefings for its members, primarily on issues of concern to the agricultural industry.

The Standing Committee on Community Affairs and Economic Development was charged, by motion, on October 26, 2007, with conducting public hearings on Sunday shopping to solicit the views of Islanders, and to report back to the Legislative Assembly in the spring of 2008. Currently Prince Edward Island defines "holiday" to include every Sunday that falls between December 25 of any year and the Friday before Victoria Day of the following year, and retail business are not permitted to be open. The Act does not apply to a variety of operations, including gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, drug stores, bakeries, video stores, and flower stores. Public response to the Committee has been mixed, with some input reflecting the belief that Sunday should...