The spring sitting of the 3rd session of the 61st General Assembly of the Nova Scotia Legislature began on March 31, 2011. As of May 20, 28 Government Bills, 33 Private Members Bills and 3 Private and Local Bills have been introduced during this sitting of the House of Assembly.
The Spring Sitting of the 3rd session of the 61st General Assembly of the Nova Scotia legislature adjourned on May 19, 2011. This is a summary of the status of all bills introduced during this sitting of the Legislature.
STATUS UPDATES
Status Update on Government Bills
• Bill No. 1 – Motor Vehicle Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 7 – Justice Administration Amendment (2011) Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 13 – Pharmacy Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 15 – Electricity Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 17 – Fair Drug Pricing Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 19 – Nova Scotia Business Incorporated Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 21 – Public Archives Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 23 – Public Procurement Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act except clauses 12(1)(a), (b), (g), (k) and (m), Sections 14, 17 and 18, has effect on and after June 1, 2011. The excepted provisions will have effect on and after June 1, 2012.
• Bill No. 25 – Occupational Health and Safety Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 27 – Financial Measures (2011) Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. Section 7 has effect on and after January 1, 2010. Section 10 has effect on and after December 1, 2010. Sections 8 and 9 have effect on and after January 1, 2011. Sections 2, 18 to 20 and 31 have effect on and after April 1, 2011. Section 3 has effect on and after May 1, 2011 Section 17 has effect on and after July 1, 2011. Sections 11 to 16 and 21 to 25 and subsection 27(1) come into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 30 – Land Registration Act (amended) and Registry Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 33 – Court Administrative Reform Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 35 – Body Armour Control Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Security and Investigative Services Act comes into force.
• Bill No. 36 – Energy Saving Roadway Lighting (2011) Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 40 – Liquor Control Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 41 – Dangerous and Unsightly Premises Amendment (2011) Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 42 – Halifax Regional Municipality Charter (amended) and Municipal Government Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 43 – Interior Designers Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 47 – Summary Proceedings Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 50 – Appropriations Act, 2011 – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act has effect on and after April 1, 2011.
• Bill No. 51 – Public Highways Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 52 – Government Administration Amendment (2011) Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 53 – Labour Standards Code (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 55 – Medical Act – Passed 2nd reading, and was referred to the Law Amendments Committee.
• Bill No. 56 – Real Estate Trading Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 57 – Private Ways Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 59 – Elections Act – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
• Bill No. 62 – Halifax Regional Municipality Charter (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.
Status Update on Private Member’s Bills
• Bill No. 2 – Hydraulic Fracturing Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 3 – Modernizing Government Act – Passed 1st reading, and was adjourned on 2nd reading.
• Bill No. 4 – Tax Review (2011-12) Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 5 – Balanced Budget Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 6 – Finance Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 8 – Maintenance and Custody Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 9 Gaelic College Foundation Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 10 – Electricity Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and was adjourned on 2nd reading.
• Bill No. 11 – Diabetic Persons Support Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 12- Income Tax Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 14 – Agriculture and Marketing Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 16 – Multiple Sclerosis Patient Support Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 18 – Maintenance and Custody Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and was adjourned on 2nd reading.
• Bill No. 24 – Value For Money Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 26 – Sound Recording Tax Credit Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 28 – Public Highways Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 29 – Public Utilities Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 31 – Health Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 32 – Rural Nova Scotia Physicians Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 34 – Newly Trained Nova Scotia Doctors Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 37 – Joseph Howe Day Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 39 – Liquor Control Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 44 – Legislative Internship Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 45 – Wilderness Areas Protection Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 46 – Fair Treatment of Children Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 48 – Income Tax Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 49 – Buy Nova Scotia First Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 54 – Cemeteries Protection Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act came into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 58 – Multiple Sclerosis Liberation Therapy Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 60 – Elections Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 61 – Pension Benefits Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and was adjourned on 2nd reading.
• Bill No. 63 – Concussion Awareness Act – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
• Bill No. 64 –Motor Vehicle Act (amended) – Passed 1st reading, and is awaiting debate in principle by the House.
Status Update on Private and Local Bills
• Bill No. 20 – Trustees of Liverpool United Baptist Church Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. This Act came into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 22 – Public Service Commission of Bridgewater Act (amended) – Received Royal Assent on May 19, 2011. Section 4 has effect on and after November 25, 1999. All other changes came into force on Royal Assent.
• Bill No. 38 – Yarmouth North Baptist Church Act – Passed 2nd reading, and was referred to the Private and Local Bills Committee.
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.
If you wish to be informed when a specific piece of legislation is scheduled to be heard by a legislative committee, please contact us and we will make arrangements for you to be so informed.
If you have any questions regarding the legislation summarized above or would like to receive a copy of any Bill, please contact Jennifer Forster at jforster@coxandpalmer.com or by phone at (902) 491-4107.
Cox & Palmer publications are intended to provide information of a general nature only and not legal advice. The information presented is current to the date of publication and may be subject to change following the publication date.
