Below is a summary of those Bills introduced between October 25 and November 2, 2012.
GOVERNMENT BILLS
Bill No. 94 – House of Assembly Act (amended) – Hon. Ross Landry
This Bill implements the changes in the electoral boundaries as recommended September 24, 2012 by the Electoral Boundaries Commission appointed pursuant to the House of Assembly Act. The Bill provides that the House will now be composed of 51 members, with one member for each of the 51 electoral districts as defined in the Act.
Status: Passed first reading on October 25, and underwent second reading debates on October 26, 29 and 30, 2012.
Bill No. 97 – Fairer Power Rates Act – Hon. Charlie Parker
This Bill expands the powers of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, allowing the Board to order an independent savings review from Nova Scotia Power Inc (“NSPI”). The Bill also prevents NSPI from obtaining any further general rate increases until January 1, 2015, excluding applications already in existence, unless exceptional circumstances or serious financial harm to either rate payers or NSPI would occur. The Bill also requires NSPI make a report to the Board with every rate application as of January 1, 2013, identifying executive employees and their wages, which must then be reviewed and approved by the Board, and NSPI may not recover bonuses or incentive compensation, or other remuneration paid to executives, other than as prescribed by the regulations. The Bill also provides the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations regarding recovery of executive employee compensation, from a rate, charge or fee approved by the board.
Status: Passed first reading on October 25, 2012, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 102 – Education Act (amended) – Hon. Ramona Jennex
This Bill revises the wording of section 26(1)(l) of the Act from “is persistently defiant or disobedient” to “engages in severely disruptive behaviour including bullying or cyberbullying”, for consistency with the rest of the Act. The Bill also requires principals to investigate and respond to any reports of severely disruptive behaviour of students, and to notify parents where a student’s well-being has been endangered as a result of the behaviour. In addition, the Bill requires support staff to report severely disruptive behaviour to the principal.
Status: Passed first reading on October 29, 2012, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 105 – Agriculture and Marketing Act (amended) – Hon. John MacDonell
This Bill provides the Minister with general authority to establish and administer policies, programs and guidelines regarding agriculture and the development or protection of its resources, as well as the authority to consult and co-ordinate work efforts, enter into agreements, and gather and collect and disseminate information pertaining to agriculture. The Minister is also provided with the authority to make regulations regarding forms and fees to be used under the Act, which would replace the current authority of the Governor in Council to amend or change forms “from time to time”.
Status: Passed first reading on October 30, 2012, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 107 – Debt Collection and Management Reform (2012) Act – Hon. John MacDonell
This Bill would amend the Collection Agencies Act and the Consumer Creditors’ Conduct Act, with the intention of protecting individuals from certain marketing tactics, and unrealistic promises of debt reduction. The Bill would limit the number of times a collection agency could contact an individual to three times in seven days, and would require written authorization from creditors before a collection agency could collect a debt. The Bill would also prohibit unlicensed debt management agencies, and create the authority to place a cap on fees relating to debt management services, and limiting fees charged to those relating to services provided after settlement is reached with the creditor.
Status: Passed first reading on October 31, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 109 – Bee Industry Act (amended) – Hon. John MacDonell
This Bill would expand the authority of the Governor in Council to make regulations, by adding the authority to make regulations regarding prescribing fees under the Act.
Status: Passed first reading on November 1, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 111 – Fur Industry Act (amended) – Hon. John MacDonell
The Bill would allow for the appointment by the Minister of an Administrator, who would now have the authority to administer the Act. The Bill also replaces a number of references to “as prescribed by the Minster”, with “as prescribed by the regulations”. In addition, the Bill amends the three year period provided to existing farms for compliance so that an existing farm which increases in size must comply with the act within 6 months.
Status: Passed first reading on October 31, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 112 – Municipal Government Act and Halifax Regional Municipality Charter (amended) – Hon. John MacDonell
This Bill would amend the definition of “Deputy Minister” in the Municipal Government Act, and Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, so as to include the Associate Deputy Minister, while also updating the wording to conform with the current name of the Department. The Bill would also revise the date by which a municipal auditor must file a report from July 31 to September 30 under the Municipal Government Act and the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter. The Bill would add villages as an eligible entity for municipal grants pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, while also making the investment requirements under the Municipal Government Act apply to the funds of a village.
Status: Passed first reading on November 1, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 114 – Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act (amended) – Hon. Ross Landry
This Bill would clarify that the designation by the Attorney General of a court or courts for the purpose of the Act does not constitute a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act. The Bill also corrects a number of errors in section numbers in the Act.
Status: Passed first reading on November 2, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILLS
Bill No. 95 – Reliability and Accountability in Electricity Act – Andrew Younger (Lib)
This Bill would require the Minister to set performance standards for NSPI relating to the reliability of electricity-service, preparedness for disruption of service, restoration of service, and public communications regarding any service disruption, while requiring NSPI meet the standards set, and file a report annually setting out how the standards were met. The Bill would also require NSPI file annually a service reliability plan as well as a service-disruption communications plan, which must be reviewed and approved by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. The Bill would enable the Board to investigate NSPI’s performance with respect to restoration of service following a disruption in service, or the adequacy of the service-disruption communications plan, and conduct a hearing where warranted. The Bill would provide the authority to the Board to impose an administrative penalty for failure to implement its service-reliability plan if the service disruption was materially longer then forecasted, on an individual at fault of a penalty up to $25,000, and on NSPI of a penalty up to $100,000. The Bill would require NSPI to provide a report to the Board annually regarding strategies for mitigating flooding of substations in particularly susceptible areas. In addition, the Bill would establish that any administrative penalty be paid into a fund with the Minister of Finance, held in trust, to be used for improving reliability and restoration of service, or public communications following a service disruption.
Status: Passed first reading on October 25, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 96 – Public Utilities Act (amended) – Hon. Jamie Baillie (PC)
This Bill would amend the Public Utilities Act so as to require NSPI to prepare service-standards audits for the Board. The audits would be required to be reviewed and approved by the Board before establishing an allowable return on common equity in the setting of the general rate, and determine whether service standards penalties should be enforced against the utility. The Bill provides that where such penalties are issued, they must be deducted from the amount that NSPI is otherwise entitled to earn. The Bill also provides the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations regarding the service-standards audit reports, the evaluation of the audit reports, and related penalties.
Status: Passed first reading on October 25, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 98 – Nova Scotia Power Stranded Asset Disclosure Act – Andrew Younger (Lib)
This Bill would require NSPI to submit an annual report which sets out the full cost and amortization of stranded assets owned by NSPI. The Board would be required to review the report, and where it determines that it is not accurate, to reject the report and require NSPI prepare a new report. The Board must review and determine whether to approve the report within 90 days of receiving the report, and upon approval must notify the Minister, who will then table the notice and the report in the House, or if the House is not sitting, file the notice and report with the Clerk of the House. The Bill would also provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations regarding the definition of “stranded assets”.
Status: Passed first reading on October 25, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 99 – Revenue Act (amended) – Alfie MacLeod (PC)
This Bill would exempt the mining industry from gasoline and diesel oil taxes, in a manner similar to the current exemptions for fishing, farming and forestry industries. Tax would not be required to be paid on marked gasoline used in commercial vehicles for mining, quarrying or pitting operations. The Bill would allow for refunding of any taxes paid for such marked gas, upon application to the Commissioner.
Status: Passed first reading on October 25, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 100 – Green Energy Promotion Act – Andrew Younger (Lib)
This Bill would require the Ministers of Energy, Environment and Finance to carry out a review of the Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit of Manitoba, and consider enactment of a similar credit for Nova Scotia. The Bill would require the Minister of Energy then table a report containing the findings of the review in the House.
Status: Passed first reading on October 26, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 101 – Public Utilities Act (amended) – Andrew Younger (Lib)
This Bill would exempt public utilities which produce or provide thermal or geothermal energy to ten or fewer customers from the regulatory oversight of the NSUARB pursuant to the Public Utilities Act.
Status: Passed first reading October 26, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 103 – Accountability in Economic Development Assistance Act – Hon. Stephen McNeil (Lib)
This Bill would require any recipient of economic development assistance to provide, upon request, a copy of each agreement with the Government for economic development assistance to which the recipient is a party, as well as a written summary of the assistance provided by each agreement, a summary of the terms and conditions of each agreement, and a document identifying the business activities to which each agreement applies. These same documents must be submitted to the Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism within 30 days of entering into an agreement for the provision of economic development assistance, and shall submit a report to the same Minister, on a quarterly basis, updating progress in meeting targets or timelines set out in each agreement. The Bill then provides that the documents provided to the Minister shall be published on a public website.
Status: Passed first reading October 29, 2012 and debate was adjourned on second reading on October 31, 2012.
Bill No. 104 – Increasing Immigration to Nova Scotia Act – Diana Whalen (Lib)
This Bill would require the Immigration Advisory Council to recommend criteria for the evaluation of applicants under an “Entrepreneur Stream” to be established pursuant to the Nova Scotia Nominee Program under the Canada-Nova Scotia Co-operation on Immigration Agreement. The Bill would require the Advisory Council to submit a report regarding these recommendations by March 15, 2013, and the Minister would be required to respond within 15 days of receiving the report, and table the report with the House.
Status: Passed first reading October 29, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 106 – Education Act (amended) – Hon. Karen Casey (Lib)
The Bill would repeal clause 141(ja), which allows the Minister to establish a Provincial school code of conduct policy respecting the promotion of school and student safety, including a code of conduct containing provisions regarding student conduct, disruptive and seriously disruptive behaviour, bullying and cyberbullying. The Bill would replace this with more specific requirements for a Provincial school code of conduct policy, including requiring support for enforcement of the code of conduct by school board members and school administrators. The code would also include provisions requiring the codes of conduct polices and codes of conduct identify inappropriate behaviour, including bullying and cyberbullying and consequences of such behaviour, as well as a requirement that the school board notify an individual’s internet or cellular phone provider where it is satisfied an instance of cyberbullying has occurred. The Bill would also require the Governor in Council to direct the Ministers of Education and Justice to enter negotiations with the Government of Canada for the purpose of making changes to the Criminal Code, regarding bullying and cyberbullying.
Status: Passed first reading on October 30, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 108 – Bluenose Trust Accountability Act – Allan MacMaster (PC)
This Bill would require the Directors of the Bluenose Trust to provide all books of accounts to the Schooner Bluenose Foundation, and the Auditor General shall audit the books of account, with all past and present Directors of the Bluenose trust required to provide information and explanation as required by the auditor. The Bill would also require the Auditor General to deliver a report on the results of the audit to the Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism.
Status: Passed first reading on October 31, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 110 – Supporting All Students’ Success in the Classroom Act – Hon Stephen McNeil (Lib)
This Bill would require regional school boards to require each public school in that region complete a review of resources assigned to the school for the purpose of fulfilling special education needs, identify any deficiencies or surpluses in the resources assigned, and submit a report, for each fiscal year, summarizing the findings of the review. The school board would then compile each report, and provide them to the Minister by March 1 of that fiscal year. The Bill would require the Minister increase the funds to a school that has identified a deficiency, and decrease funds to schools which have identified a surplus, and where the Minister decided to provide an increase which is less than the deficiency identified by the school, the Minister will provide reasons. The school board must direct funds received for the sole purpose of fulfilling students’ special education needs.
Status: Passed first reading on November 1, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 113 – Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans Act – Diana Whalen (Lib)
This Bill would establish a voluntary retirement savings plan, and provide the legal framework to establish and administer such low cost retirement savings plans. An individual may become a member of a plan to the extent that the individual is permitted to contribute to a registered retirement savings plan under the Income Tax Act. The Bill would require plans, and amendments to plans, be registered with the Superintendent, and plans must be administered by an administrator with a license issued by the Superintendent. The Bill would provide for oversight, winding up, and creates offences for contravention of the Act.
Status: Passed first reading on November 2, 2012 and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
PRIVATE AND LOCAL BILLS
N/A
STATUS UPDATES
Status Update on Government Bills
Bill No. 1 – Status of the Artist Act– Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 5 – Municipal Government Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 9 – Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation (Nova Scotia) Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 11 – Nova Scotia Tartan Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 13 – Education Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 17 – Financial Measures (2012) Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 20 – Public Trustee Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 22 – Mortgage Regulation Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 24 – Purchasing Management Association of Canada Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 30 – Promotion of Respectful and Responsible Relationships Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 32 – Securities Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 34 – Matrimonial Statutes Repeal Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 37 – Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 39 – Maintenance and Custody Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 41 – Grandparents’ Rights Affirmation Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 52 – Conservation Easements Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 11, 2012.
Bill No. 55 – Community Easements Act– Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 59 – Fish Harvesters Registration and Certification Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 61 – Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 65 – Consumer Protection Act (amended)– Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 69 – Appropriations Act, 2012 – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 71 – Assessment Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 73 – Municipal Government Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 74 – Patient Safety Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 76 – Personal Health Information Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 77 – Medical Society Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 78 – Justice Administration (2012) Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 79 – Education Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 81 – Gaming Control Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 82 – Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations, An Act to Incorporate (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 84 – Dalhousie University-Nova Scotia Agricultural College Merger Act –Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 86 – NewPage Port Hawkesbury Pension Plans Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 87 – Good Forestry Management on Crown Land Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 88 – Maritime Link Act – Status: Received Royal Assent May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 94 – House of Assembly Act (amended) – Debate was adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 97 – Fairer Power Rates Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 102 – Education Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 105 – Agriculture and Marketing Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 107 – Debt Collection and Management Reform (2012) Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 109 – Bee Industry Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 111 – Fur Industry Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 112 – Municipal Government Act and Halifax Regional Municipality Charter (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 114 – Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Status Update on Private Member’s Bills
Bill No. 2 – Tax Review (2012-13) Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 3 – Sales Tax Act (amended) – Debate was adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 4 – Maintenance and Custody Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 6 – Fair Treatment of Children Act– Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 7 – Concussion Awareness Act– Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 8 – Joseph Howe Day Act– Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 10 – Blueprint for the Future of Public Education in Nova Scotia Act – Debate was adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 12 – Petroleum Products Pricing Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 14 – Trade Union Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 15 – House of Assembly Management Commission Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 16 – Affordable Higher Education Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 18 – Agriculture and Marketing Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 19 – Early Development Instrument Assessment Program Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 21 – Sound Recording Tax Credit Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 23 – Day Care Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 25 – Victims’ Rights and Services Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 26 – Stand Up Against Bullying Day Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 27 – Cyberbullying Intervention Act – Debate was adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 28 – Safer Schools Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 29 – Child Protection Intervention Act – Debate was adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 31 – Residential Tenancies Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 33 – Diabetic Persons Support Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 35 – Motor Vehicle Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 36 – Income Tax Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 38 – Finance Act (amended)– Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 40 – Labour Standards Code (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 42 – Rural Nova Scotia Physicians Act – Status: Debate adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 43 – Newly Trained Nova Scotia Doctors Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 44 – Health Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 45 – Ratepayer Protection Act – Status: Debate adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 46 – Electricity Act (amended) – Status: Debate adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 47 – Modernizing Government Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 48 – Balanced Budget Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 49 – Income Tax Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 50 – Next Generation Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 51 – Red Tape Reduction Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 53 – Debt Settlement Protection Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 54 – Power Rate Reduction Review Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 56 – Elimination of Bonuses in Power Rates Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 58 – Transparency in Power Rates Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 60 – Ratepayer Fairness Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 62 – Pension Benefits Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House
Bill No. 63 – Transparency for Homeowners Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 64 – Income Tax Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 66 – Multiple Sclerosis Patient Support Act– Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 67 – Buy Nova Scotia First Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 68 – Value for Money Act– Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 70 – Multiple Sclerosis Liberation Therapy Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 72 – Capital Projects Review Act – Status: Debate adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 75 – An Act to Provide Greater Flexibility for Nova Scotians’ Retirement Savings in Locked-in Accounts – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 80 – Child and Youth Advocate Act – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 85 – Workers’ Compensation Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 89 – Trade Union Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 91 – Condominium Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 92 – Safe Collection of Scrap Metal Act (amended) – Status: Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 93 – Labour Standards Code (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 95 – Reliability and Accountability in Electricity Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 96 – Public Utilities Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 98 – Nova Scotia Power Stranded Asset Disclosure Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 99 – Revenue Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 100 – Green Energy Promotion Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 101 – Public Utilities Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 103 – Accountability in Economic Development Assistance Act (amended) – Debate was adjourned on second reading.
Bill No. 104 – Increasing Immigration to Nova Scotia Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 106 – Education Act (amended) – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 108 – Bluenose Trust Accountability Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 110 – Supporting All Students’ Success in the Classroom Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Bill No. 113 – Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans Act – Passed first reading and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Status Update on Private and Local Bills
Bill No. 57 – Crosbie Memorial Trust Fund Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 83 – Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival, An Act to Incorporate the (amended)– Status: Received Royal Assent on May 17, 2012.
Bill No. 90 – Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission Act (amended) – Status: Received Royal Assent on May 17, 2012.
THE PROGRESS OF BILLS IN THE NOVA SCOTIA LEGISLATURE
The legislative process begins when a Bill is presented by a Member of the House of Assembly and is given First Reading by the House, without debate.
A Bill is given Second Reading after being debated in principle in the House.
Following Second Reading, Bills are referred to one of the legislative committees – the Law Amendments Committee or Private and Local Bills Committee – for detailed discussion in meetings outside the House. Members of the public can attend the meetings of these Committees and make presentations respecting any Bill. Amendments are frequently considered and may be adopted and included in the Bill when it is reported back to the House.
Bills reported back from the legislative committees are debated, clause by clause, by the members of the House acting as the Committee of the Whole House on Bills. The Bill is then reported back to the House.
The Bill receives Third Reading and the final approval of the House. There may be some debate at this stage but usually the Bill is voted on with no discussion.
The Bill receives Royal Assent when the Lieutenant Governor signs the final version. The Bill is then referred to as an Act, and is assigned a chapter number in the Statutes of Nova Scotia.
Commencement is the day on which the Act takes effect. Ordinarily, an Act takes effect when it is given Royal Assent. Sometimes, however, it provides that it will come into effect only when is it proclaimed to take effect by Order in Counsel to be made by the Cabinet.
Government Bills are introduced by the Minister of the department responsible for the legislation. Private Members Bills are generally introduced by a member of the opposition parties. Government Bills have a higher likelihood of becoming law since the largest party in the Legislative Assembly supports the initiative. Except in a minority government, Private Members Bills are unlikely to be brought forward for substantive debate or become law.
