Prince Edward Island.

• Author: Reddin, Ryan
• Position: Legislative Reports

2nd Session, 66th General Assembly

The House adjourned to the call of the Speaker on May 6,2022, after sitting for 36 days during the WinterSpring period. The 2nd session of the 66,h General Assembly opened in February 2021.

Government and Private Member's Bills

During the Winter-Spring sitting, the House reviewed 27 bills. Nine of these bills did not progress beyond first reading; all others passed and received Royal Assent.

Most bills originated with Government, mostly to amend existing legislation. These included Bill 56, An Act to Amend the Education Act, which re-establishes an elected school board for the Public Schools Branch, PEI's English-language school authority, and Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Climate Leadership Act, which sets a new carbon pricing framework for the province. The latter bill was unusual in that the motion for its second reading was debated over three sitting days; debate on most bills in PEI takes place during Committee of the Whole House instead. Debate mainly focused on whether Government should use carbon pricing revenue to fund climate change programs or return it to Islanders in the form of refunds. The House also passed Bill 19, Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, which had been introduced in 2021, referred to a standing committee and amended as a result of that committee's report. The bill aims to protect temporary foreign workers by imposing licensing, registration, and other obligations on recruiters and employers.

Three private member's bills were passed during the sitting. Bill 125, An Act to Amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, replaces the definition of "officer of the Legislative Assembly" in the parent Act with a more general definition that covers current officers and officers that may be provided for in future legislation. Bill 123, An Act to Amend the Real Property Tax Act, empowers the Minister of Finance to waive penalties or interest on unpaid property taxes when satisfied that the reason for non-payment is beyond the control of the property owner. This bill had a winding trip through the House, with several days of debate in Committee of the Whole House, amendment, and re-referral to committee at the third reading stage, but did ultimately pass. Finally, Bill 124, Emancipation Day...