Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Bill 1 has had second reading.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, moved into Committee of the Whole today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member is asking unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 1 referred to Committee of the Whole for today.

---Unanimous consent granted

The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with second reading of Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the second time.

Bill 2 amends the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act to provide that allowances payable under the two acts may be divided upon the breakdown of a marriage or conjugal relationship outside marriage and to adjust the calculation of allowances for a Member who ceases service after October 18, 2011. Additional options are provided for former Members who become eligible for an allowance before attaining 65 years of age.

Various provisions are also amended to ensure compliance with federal regulation to promote consistency between the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act and to improve the clarity of expression of the two acts.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Bill 2 has received second reading.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) to have Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, moved into Committee of the Whole today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, and Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, with Mr. Abernethy in the chair.

Thank you. I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. In front of us today are Bills 1 and 2. What is the wish of committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The wish of committee is to deal with Bills 1 and 2.

Thank you. Is committee agreed?

With that, we will take a short break and return with Bills 1 and 2 in that order.

---SHORT RECESS

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Prior to going on break we’d agreed to review Bills 1 and 2 in that order, so we’ll start with Bill 1. Is committee agreed?

On that I’ll go to the sponsor of the bill for opening comments. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to provide opening comments on Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.

On May 11, 2010, the Report of the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits was tabled in the House. The report made a wide range of recommendations regarding the allowances and benefits to which Members of the Legislative Assembly are entitled.

This bill enacts many of the recommendations of the independent commission that require legislative change. Other recommendations will be introduced via regulation and Board of Management policies.

The most significant changes recommended by the independent commission relate to the activities of former Members of the Legislative Assembly in the period immediately after they leave office. Currently, former Ministers and Speakers are prohibited for a period of one year after leaving office from accepting contracts with or lobbying departments previously under their authority. The proposed amendments extend this prohibition to all government departments. The amendments also prohibit former Regular Members from lobbying or accepting government contracts for a period equal to one month for every year of service. In addition, the amendments prohibit former Ministers from accepting contracts or appointments with corporations or other entities that the former Minister had significant official dealings with while in office. Current reasonable exceptions to these prohibitions include such a provision that allows the Conflict of Interest Commissioner to set aside the restrictions if in his view the terms of the contract are fair and reasonable and are not contrary to public interest.

The bill also proposes a number of other relatively minor changes to the act. It includes no substantial changes to the compensation currently provided to Members of the Legislative Assembly.

This concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to respond to any questions that Members may have.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Would you like to bring witnesses into the House?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I would.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Is committee agreed?

Thank you, committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, if I could please get you to bring the witnesses into the Chamber.

Mr. Beaulieu, could I please get you to introduce your witnesses to the House?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my left is Mr. Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. On my right is Ms. Lana Birch-Rideout with the legislative division of the Department of Justice.