Saskatchewan (a summary of legislative activity).

• Author: Woods, Margaret

The Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan adjourned the first session of the 24th Legislature on June 29th. After 71 sitting days, the budget was passed and 88 pieces of legislation were assented to.

One of those bills permitted the newly elected member for the Wood River constituency to take his seat in the Assembly just two days after polling day. The Saskatchewan Party's Yogi Huyghebaert had been defeated in last fall's general election by a single vote. A judicial recount failed to resolve the matter and an application was subsequently made under The Controverted Elections Act. Before a final decision could be rendered, the incumbent, Liberal Glen McPherson, conceded that he had been unduly elected and announced that he would not run in the by-election. The by-election on June 26th returned Mr. Huyghebaert with a clear majority. The Wood River Constituency By-election Act was passed on June 27th and Mr. Huyghebaert, a former commander of the Snowbirds air demonstration team, took his seat in the Assembly the following day. The Saskatchewan Party now has 26 seats, the New Democrats 29 seats and the Liberals 3 seats.

Days following the summer adjournment, Deputy Premier and Agriculture Minister Dwain Lingenfelter announced his resignation from cabinet. Mr. Lingenfelter was first elected in 1978 and is the second longest serving Member of the Assembly. Mr. Lingenfelter indicated that he wished to pursue opportunities in the private sector. He will remain as MLA for Regina Elphinstone but has indicated that he anticipates resigning his seat in the near future.

Premier Roy Romanow announced that Janice MacKinnon, Minister of Economic and Cooperative Development, would act as Deputy Premier until a permanent appointment is made later this year. Clay Serby takes over as Minister of Agriculture while Jack Hillson adds responsibility for Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing to his duties as Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Minister.

Committee Activity

With the resignation of Wayne Strelioff from the position of Provincial Auditor in April (he left to become the Auditor General of British Columbia), the Standing Committee on Public Accounts considered a process for the appointment of a new Provincial Auditor. In the past the Minister of Finance recruited the Provincial Auditor without formal input from the Public Accounts Committee. In doing so, the Committee also took into consideration other proposed changes to The Provincial Auditor...