Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.

• Author: Margaret A. Woods

The First Session of the 23rd Legislature adjourned on June 25, 1996, after 17 weeks and 80 sitting days. A total of 127 bills were introduced, including 4 private members bills and 20 opposition public bills. Ninety-eight of the 103 Government public bills and all of the private members' bills received Royal Assent. Health care reform and funding of the provincial health districts, together with the issues of union preference tendering and the Government's Crown Construction Tendering Agreement (CCTA), the organization of rural governments and measures to protect the public from dangerous offenders were the main areas of debate during the session. Two major filibusters (the Liberals on health care and the Conservatives on the CCTA) and a government motion which extended sitting hours (10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, except Friday) marked the last month of session.

New Elections Act

Through Bob Mitchell, minister responsible for the Elections Act, the Government proposed the first comprehensive revision of election law in Saskatchewan since 1971, by introduction of Bill No. 92, An Act respecting Elections. The minister stated that the bill addressed three main subjects areas: firstly, the bill provides substantial improvement in the accessibility of the right to vote; secondly, increased accountability for candidates, campaign managers and provincial parties and thirdly; enunciation of clearer rules respecting election expenditures. The bill was the subject of broad consultation with all the political parties represented in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly before introduction so it was not expected to be controversial. However, when questions were raised by the media about alleged "secret trust funds" maintained by the Conservative and New Democratic parties, Liberal Leader Ron Osika pressed for a public inquiry and postponement of the bill. The minister stated that the controversy was over the interpretation of the reporting provisions of the existing act rather than a problem with the proposed bill. Bill No.92 was passed on June 25th and is expected to come into force in January 1997. The matter of the trust funds is currently being investigated by the Chief Electoral Officer.

Privilege

On June 17, Ned Shillington, the Government House Leader, raised a question of privilege with respect to comments made by Ron Osika, the Leader of the Opposition during oral question period on June 14. Mr. Shillington claimed the comments attacked the...