Prince Edward Island.

• Author: Johnston, Marian

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The Third Session of the Sixty-third General Assembly adjourned to the call of the Speaker on December 8, 2009, after 15 sitting days. A total of 23 bills received Royal Assent at the conclusion of the sitting.

Treasurer Wes Sheridan presented the capital budget in the Legislative Assembly on November 27, 2009. The plan will provide investments of $136.7 million in infrastructure for the health care system over the next five years; highway infrastructure accounted for another $229 million over that time frame. The Treasurer indicated that the budget allows for the creation of 1,625 jobs, new tax revenues of $11.4 million and an improvement to the provincial GDP of $62 million in 2010-2011.

Several pieces of significant legislation received Royal Assent during the fall sitting. Among them:

A number of amendments were made to the Employment Standards Act including an additional week of paid vacation after eight continuous years of employment, one day of paid bereavement leave, banking of overtime hours, and enhanced pay protections. The Act will now allow for the possibility of different minimum wage rates for employees or classes of employees in different employments or different classes of employments. During debate on the legislation, the Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, Carolyn Bertram, indicated that she would be asking a standing committee of the Legislative Assembly to seek public input on this measure.

Highway Traffic (Cell Phone) Amendment Act (Bill No. 6) prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle on a highway while holding or using a held-held wireless communication device or other prescribed device that is capable of receiving or transmitting telephone communications, electronic data, email or text messages. Several exemptions are permitted including using a device in hands-free mode, and using a device to contact emergency services. The law came into effect as of January 23, 2010.

The Health Services Act (Bill No. 11) will create an arms length governing body called Health PEI which will be responsible for the delivery of health care in the province. The entity will have a global budget and authority to deliver services in accordance with Department of Health policy, plans and overall direction.

The Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act (Bill No. 12) will allow the province to take action against manufacturers and promoters of tobacco products to recover past health...