Saskatchewan.

AuthorUrsulescu, Stacey
PositionLegislative Reports

Spring sitting of the first session of the twenty-ninth legislature

The spring sitting began on April 6, 2021, with the presentation of the budget. It was a 30-day compressed sitting that concluded on May 14, 2021. In accordance with the Rules and Procedures of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, completion day of the first session of a new legislature must be 29 sitting days after the budget motion is moved.

The spring sitting saw 36 bills advance through the legislative process and receive Royal Assent. Of note was the passage of Bill No. 601, The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act, 2021, a private members' public bill. This bill was re-introduced by opposition member Doyle Vermette after previously being voted down in the prior legislature. The government stated that they had heard on doorsteps during the fall election campaign that passing this legislation would be a meaningful step in supporting suicide prevention efforts across Saskatchewan. Accordingly, the government chose to support the bill. Bill No. 601 received Royal Assent on April 30.

In addition to Bill No. 601, a public bill and a private bill also received Royal Assent on April 30. This was unique because one bill from each of the three types of bills received Royal Assent that day. The remaining bills received Royal Assent on May 13, 2021.

The Assembly and committees completed all their business by working during the Easter week period and extending it to Saturday, April 10, 2021, and incorporating all subsequent Fridays. It was the first time that the Assembly sat on a Saturday since 1991. Committees also worked on several additional Saturdays to consider the estimates and bills.

The Assembly adjourned on May 14, 2021, and will reconvene on October 27, 2021, in accordance with the parliamentary calendar. The Assembly will observe the parliamentary calendar for the duration of the twenty-ninth legislature.

Modifications to the rules and procedures due to COVID-19

The Assembly and its committees continued to operate under temporary modifications to the rules and procedures due to COVID-19 during the spring sitting. Committees only met in the Chamber...

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