Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 16 amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act by updating the criteria whereby Members are eligible for a transition allowance when they leave office. The amendment clarifies that Members are eligible for a transition allowance when they voluntarily resign their seat.
Mr. Chair, I view this amendment as a clarification of the original intent of the Legislature when it introduced the allowance. Members may, from time to time, be required to resign their seats for a wide variety of reasons including illness, personal tragedy or family concerns. In my view, Members should not lose their entitlement to the allowance they have accrued, due to unfortunate circumstances such as these. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.