Saskatchewan.

• Author: Ursulescu, Stacey
• Position: Legislative Reports

Spring Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Twenty-Eighth Legislature

The Fourth Session of the Twenty-Eighth Legislature resumed on March 2, 2020. Typically, the spring sitting focuses on the presentation of the budget, budget debate, and the scrutiny of the estimates in the standing committees. Based on the parliamentary calendar as outlined in The Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, the budget presentation was planned for March 18, 2020.

As the spring sitting proceeded, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the attention of the Legislative Assembly and executive government. On March 12, 2020 Premier Scott Moe announced Saskatchewan had its first presumptive COVID-19 case. The following day, March 13, 2020, the chief medical health officer issued his first order under The Public Health Act, 1994 of Saskatchewan restricting the number of people that can gather in one location. In accordance with the order, the premier announced that the presence at the budget day events scheduled for March 18, 2020 would be limited to Members of the Legislative Assembly, authorized employees, and accredited media.

That same day, Speaker Mark Docherty, announced that visitor access to the Legislative Building would be suspended effective March 13 at 5:00 p.m. All tours, educational events, and public events in the building were cancelled until further notice. Only Members of the Legislative Assembly, authorized employees, accredited media, authorized service contractors, and the public service conducting parliamentary and ministerial work would be permitted access to the building.

The following week, the gravity...