Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: Legislative Reports

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Spring Sitting

On March 24, 2016, Premier Darrell Pasloski advised Speaker David Laxton that the Legislative Assembly would reconvene on April 7, for the 2016 Spring Sitting of the First Session of the 33rd Legislative Assembly. This is the second time since 2007 (the first time being 2015) that the Spring Sitting has started after the start of a new fiscal year.

On April 14, Government House Leader Darius Elias informed the House, pursuant to Standing Order 75(4), that after conferring with opposition House Leaders it was agreed that the Spring Sitting would be a maximum of 28 sitting days, with the final sitting day being May 26.

It is anticipated that the 2016 Spring Sitting will be the last Sitting before the next general election.

Government bills

During the Sitting, the following government bills were introduced:

Bill No. 21, Third Appropriation Act, 2015-16

Bill No. 22, Interim Supply Appropriation Act, 2016-17

Bill No. 23, First Appropriation Act, 2016-17 (requesting a record appropriation of $1.39 billion)

Bill No. 95, Student Financial Assistance Act, 2016

Bill No. 96, Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, 2016

Bill No. 97, Chartered Professional Accountants Act

Bill No. 98, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016

Bill No. 99, Second Income Tax Amendments Act, 2016

Bill No. 200, Technical Amendments Act, 2016

Bill No. 201, Act to Amend the Placer Mining Act and the Quartz Mining Act

Bill No. 202, Act to Amend the Education Act

Private member's bill--political contributions

On April 19, Official Opposition Leader Liz Hanson introduced Bill No. 107, Act to Amend the Elections Act, with Respect to Political Contributions. The bill seeks to ban corporate and union donations, to end political donations from non-Yukoners, and to cap at $1,500 annual contributions by individual donors.

On May 4--a day on which Opposition Private Members' business had precedence--the bill was brought forward for second reading debate. Unusually, an amendment was moved to the motion for second reading, proposing that the bill be referred to the Members' Services Board after second reading (rather than to Committee of the Whole, which is the standard practice). The amendment, moved by Minister of Justice Brad Cathers, was adopted on a voice-vote, and the motion for second reading of the bill, as amended, carried unanimously (18 yea, nil nay).

Motions by Third Party Leader

On April 20, a day on which private members' business had...