Mr. Speaker: Summon the Committee on Assembly Matters
By knowhowtheyvote. Filed in Updates |
This House has sat for 29 days. In 29 days, 25 Bills have passed through Second Reading without one recorded vote. In 29 days, 52 MLAs have chosen not to act to bring accountability and transparency to the Legislature.
It is clear that we cannot rely on simply the good will of MLAs to make change in the House. What is needed is a thorough and public review of the Rules and Procedures of the Nova Scotia Legislature. Currently, the rules are against recorded votes; recorded votes are not the default method of voting and they can take up to one hour each. It is understandable, although not acceptable, that MLAs have not been more active in pushing for recorded votes
The Committee on Assembly Matters is mandated with the following task:
The Committee is established to and may examine the rules, procedures, practices, organization and facilities of the House of Assembly and may recommend the provision of support services and facilities for the Members and such examination shall include, but not be limited to, the
following matters:
(a) the Rules and Forms of Procedure of the House of Assembly; and
(b) such matters as are accepted for examination by the Committee upon the request of the House, a committee of the House, a member of the Committee or a member of the House.
Despite the vital role this Committee plays in making sure that the ideals of democracy, accountability and efficiency are represented in the House, it has not met since April 2005. The time for a thorough review of the Rules governing the Nova Scotia Legislature is long overdue.
Today, I have asked the Honourable Charlie Parker, Chair of the Committee on Assembly Matters, to summon the Committee to meet at the earliest possible time. I have also asked him to ensure that the public will have access to the deliberations of the Committee and may be allowed to participate in them.
In order for this to work, we need to show MLAs that there is a public desire to review and change the practices of the Legislature. The MLAs that compose this committee are:
Hon. Charlie Parker Mr. Gary Ramey
Hon. Frank Corbett Mr. H. Dave Wilson
Mr. David Wilson Ms. Diana Whalen
Ms. Vicki Conrad Hon. Murray Scott
Mr. Mat Whynott Hon. Cecil Clarke
Please write to these Members and tell them that you demand a review of the Rules and Practices of the House of Assembly.
