Saskatchewan.

• Author: Drake, Anne
• Position: Legislative Reports

First Session of the Twenty-Eighth Legislature

The first session of the twenty-eighth legislature began on May 17, 2016 with the election of Speaker. Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield later delivered the Speech from the Throne.

On May 18, a sessional order was adopted which outlines the sitting periods for the first session of the twenty-eighth legislature. The parliamentary calendar is currently not in effect because the government may begin the first session of a new Legislature at any time.

The first session will be divided into three sitting periods. The first sitting period was adjourned on June 30. The fall sitting will begin on October 19 and conclude on November 30, 2016. The third sessional period will convene on March 6, 2017 and the parliamentary calendar will be followed at that time.

Election of Speaker

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected by secret ballot in Saskatchewan. Members may submit their names to be considered for the role of Speaker or Deputy Speaker. The candidate with the majority of votes assumes the respective roles.

Corey Tochor was elected as Speaker for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. This was the first time in our history that three candidates put their names forward and a second ballot was required to determine a Speaker. Greg Brkich, MLA for Arm River, was defeated in the first round of voting. A second ballot was required to elect Mr. Tochor in the role of Speaker. The unsuccessful candidate, Dan D'Autremont, was the Speaker for the twenty-seventh legislature. Mr. Tochor was first elected as the MLA for Saskatoon Eastview in 2011.

On May 18, Glen Hart, MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood, was declared Deputy Speaker by acclamation. Delbert Kirsch, MLA for Batoche, was appointed Deputy Chair of Committees.

Committee Hearings

On June 8, the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies held a public hearing on The Crown Corporations Public Ownership Amendment Act, 2016. The bill revoked Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority's status as a Crown corporation. As a requirement of subsection 5(1) of The Crown Corporations Public Ownership Act, public hearings are required at first reading of any bill amending or revoking...