Madam Speaker, I have four returns. I will read them all. The first is in response to a question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 11, regarding a legal opinion about whether there is a conflict of a Minister serving as the chairman of the Advisory Committee.
Madam Speaker, the conflict of interest provisions of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act contemplate a Member's conflict of interest in his or her personal capacity due to direct or indirect pecuniary interests in matters in which the Legislative Assembly is concerned. The provisions do not address the potential for a Minister to be in conflict by virtue of his or her office as a Minister of the Crown. Accordingly, a Minister is not in a legal conflict of interest under the terms of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act if the Minister is represented on a committee advising his or her department.