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| Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Journals |
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PROCLAMATION AND WHEREAS I have thought fit to call the First Session of the Fifty-fourth Legislative Assembly of this Province into Session, I hereby issue a Proclamation that the same be called to meet on the sixth day of July, 1999. GIVEN under my hand and the Great Seal of the Province at Fredericton this twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine and in the forty-seventh year of Her Majesty's Reign. BY COMMAND OF THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Bradley Green, Q.C. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Attorney General Lieutenant-Governor ________________________ ____________________________The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly then addressed herself to the House as follows: Members of the Legislative Assembly: I am commanded by Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor to inform you that she doth not think fit to declare the causes for which she has summoned this Legislative Assembly until a Speaker thereof shall have been chosen. It is therefore Her Honour's will that you, the Members of the Legislative Assembly do proceed forthwith to choose a fit and proper person to be your Speaker, and that you present the person so chosen to Her Honour in this Assembly Chamber this afternoon for Her Honour's approbation. ____________________________The House then proceeded to the election of a Speaker pursuant to the provisions of Standing Rule 11. The Clerk informed the House of the list of Members eligible for the first ballot as follows: BLANCHARD, Edmond Hon. Mr. Green, the Government House Leader, referred to Standing Rule 11(8)(l) and stated that notwithstanding this rule he had been advised that three of the four candidates standing for election wished to have their names withdrawn from consideration. He asked if the requirement of an election could be dispensed of with unanimous consent of the House. The Clerk advised that it was her duty to preside over the election of Speaker in accordance with the Standing Rules and according to these Rules, members could not withdraw as candidates for the election except after the first ballot. The Clerk further advised that if it was the will of the Assembly is to dispense with this requirement then she would abide by the wishes of the Assembly. Having ascertained that there was agreement to dispense with the requirement of Standing Rule 11(8)(l), the Clerk invited the eligible members who wished to withdraw from the election to rise in their place and indicate their intention to withdraw. Whereupon, Mr. Blanchard, Member for Campbellton, rose in his place and announced his intention to withdraw as a candidate for the election of Speaker. Mr. Lee, Member for Charlotte, rose in his place and announced his intention to withdraw as a candidate for the election of Speaker. Mr. MacKenzie, Member for Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak, rose in his place and announced his intention to withdraw as a candidate for the election of Speaker. The Clerk then announced: Members of the Legislative Assembly: It is my duty to inform you that only one candidate stands for election to the office pursuant to rule 11(8)(m). Therefore, it is my duty to announce that Bev Harrison, the Honourable Member for the electoral district Hampton-Belleisle, is declared elected as Speaker. The Premier, the Hon. Mr. Lord, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. Thériault, escorted Mr. Harrison to the dais where, standing on the upper step, he addressed the House as follows: Members of the Legislative Assembly: It is my pleasure today to express my grateful and humble acknowledgement to the House for the great honour you have been pleased to confer on me by choosing me to be your Speaker. Conscious as I am of my comparative inexperience of parliamentary procedure, I should have hesitated before accepting a position involving so much responsibility were it not for the fact that I shall be able at all times to rely with confidence upon the courtesy, forbearance and kindness of every Member of the Assembly. Again thanking you, I now submit myself to the House. I want to say to all members, but especially to new members, that the
officers of the House, as well as your Speaker, have an open-door policy
at all times for all members. I will take some liberty with my acceptance
speech, since it will be one of the few occasions on which the Speaker
actually gets to speak. A little of my background as a history teacher
will show as I give you a lesson for the day. We have developed an adversarial form of government based on concepts of parliamentary democracy. In this Chamber, the precedents and practices of the past will often appear as we debate the issues and make decisions that will affect this province and, indeed, the country. This is a place where history is formulated every day. The late Tommy Douglas once said that politics is the "noblest of professions but the vilest of trades". People fight hard to earn a seat in this Chamber, and yet they arrive with definite opinions and deep convictions on the issues facing our province. The Legislative Assembly—in reality, a Parliament, which is derived from the French word "parler"—is a forum of free expression and often heated exchanges. But freedom of expression could not prevail without a reasonable degree of order, for without it, it would be impossible for one to express oneself freely. As your Speaker, it is my goal to work with all honourable members to ensure the dignity and traditions of this institution, which we all respect, and that it be able to function no matter how sincere differences may be and no matter how passionately views are expressed. Although the Speaker is, above all, the servant of the House, the Speaker is invested by all of you here today with considerable authority. The Speakership throughout the Commonwealth is molded in the British traditions. The Speaker's responsibilities are to the House and to its members. In addition, there are constituency and public responsibilities. A Speaker needs to have the ability to change hats, so to speak—neither pun intended—with dignity and common sense. Perhaps a hint of my role as Speaker as we enter a new century. To take from Marcel Danis, a former MP: "Some people think `tradition' is akin to some sort of atmospheric pressure from the past that gently weighs on our present actions to guide us in the daily exercise of our functions." But it was the poet and dramatist T.S. Eliot who argued very strongly in the opposite direction: "It is our present view of reality that constantly reforms and reorganizes our thinking about the past, and every forward step allows us a wider perspective and appreciation of our past tradition." In fact, so the argument goes, it is the present that shapes and determines our tradition. There is one bit of history that has set up the tradition of the modern Speaker. It is appropriate to remind you of the words of Speaker Lenthall in 1642 when Charles I entered the House to arrest five members. The Speaker said, "May it please Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place, but as this House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am." On a personal note, I thank my wife and family for being supportive and for standing by me through my many years of public life. And may I take a moment to thank my constituents in Hampton-Belleisle for their trust and for the honour they have given me to represent them in this August Chamber. I always regard elected office as a sacred trust, and I am sure that sentiment applies equally to all of us in this House today. Finally, I will quote the words of Edward Blake, who said in 1873: "The privileges of Parliament"—i.e., the Legislature—"are the privileges of the people, and the rights of Parliament are the rights of the people." These words are still true. We should always remember them. Thank you again, honourable members, for your support. I will need your continued support to carry out my duties in this House. Thereupon Mr. Harrison took the chair, and the mace was placed upon the Clerk's Table. ____________________________
Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor then entered the House and took her seat in the chair upon the Throne. The Speaker then addressed Her Honour to the following effect: May it Please Your Honour: Your Honour having communicated your pleasure to the House, they proceeded to choose a Speaker. They have elected me to that important and honourable position, and I am now presented for Your Honour's approval. The Clerk of the House then said: Mr. Harrison, I am commanded by Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor to declare to you that she is fully sensible of your zeal for the public service and of your sufficiency to execute the duties of the office to which you have been elected by the Legislative Assembly, and she doth readily approve of their choice, and allow and confirm you to be their Speaker. ____________________________Mr. Speaker then addressed Her Honour in the following words: May It Please Your Honour: Your Honour having been pleased to approve the choice of the Assembly in electing me to be their Speaker, it now becomes my duty in the name and on behalf of the Assembly, to claim and demand that they have all their ancient and accustomed rights and privileges, especially freedom from arrest, freedom of speech in debate, access to Your Honour when they think the public service requires it, and that the most favourable construction be put on all their proceedings and on my own behalf I have to request that any error of mine may not be imputed to the Assembly. To which the Clerk of the House replied: Mr. Speaker, Her Honour hath the utmost confidence in the loyalty and attachment of this Assembly of Her Majesty's person and government and in the wisdom, temper and prudence which will accompany all their proceedings, and she doth most readily and willingly grant and allow them all their privileges in as full and ample a manner as they have at any time heretofore been granted and allowed. With respect to yourself, Mr. Speaker, though Her Honour is sensible that you do not stand in need of such assurance, Her Honour will ever put the most favourable construction on your words and actions. ____________________________Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor then delivered the following speech: Mr. Speaker, and Honourable Members of the Legislative Assembly: It is my honour and privilege to welcome you to the First Session of the 54th Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick. On behalf of this Assembly I welcome the Honourable Bernard Lord to his first Session as Premier of New Brunswick. I also welcome the new Leader of the Official Opposition, our new Speaker, and recently elected Members of the Legislative Assembly. The people have spoken in a general election four weeks ago. Their members in the Legislative Assembly have today claimed from the Crown the ancient rights and privileges that enable them to carry out their responsibilities. In the election, my government sought and received a mandate for its policies, including the creation of three new committees of the Legislative Assembly. The purpose of this early session of the 54th Legislative Assembly is to seek your approval for the creation of these committees so that their important work may commence. The first special committee my government has pledged to create will seek to address the many issues and concerns involving the education of the people of New Brunswick. This committee will seek out opinions and knowledge concerning the field of education, and will advise the Minister of Education and this Assembly as to alternatives for the delivery of education to the people of New Brunswick. The second special committee my government has pledged to create will seek to address the many issues and concerns involving the health care of the people of New Brunswick. This committee will seek out opinions and knowledge concerning the field of health care, and will advise the Minister of Health and Community Services and this Assembly as to alternatives for the delivery of health care to the people of New Brunswick. The third special committee my government has pledged to create will seek to improve the selection process of appointees to certain key positions on agencies, boards and commissions, as nominated and approved by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council. This committee will seek to involve all political parties represented in this Assembly in the review process of nominees for appointment. In due course, we will hold a second session of the Legislative Assembly, at which time my ministers will place before you a statement of policy for this, their first mandate in office. Meanwhile, you may be asked at the present session to consider other matters as deemed advisable by my government. I pray that divine Providence will continue to bless new Brunswick and its citizens, and guide this Assembly in its deliberations. ____________________________Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor then retired. Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair. ____________________________On motion of Hon. Mr. Green, seconded by Hon. Mr. Lord: RESOLVED THAT, notwithstanding the Standing Rules of the Legislative Assembly with respect to the election of Speaker, this House does hereby ratify and approve of all proceedings and procedures that have taken place during the course of today's proceedings for the election of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. ____________________________The Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of the Elections Act, laid upon the table of the House the returns of votes polled in the several electoral districts of the province in the general election held June 7, 1999. On motion of Hon. Mr. Lord, seconded by Hon. Mr. Green: (Motion No. 1) RESOLVED, that the returns be entered in the Journals of the House. And they are as follows:
RETURNS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY HELD ON THE 7TH DAY OF JUNE 1999 RESTIGOUCHE WEST # 1 CAMPBELLTON # 2 DALHOUSIE-RESTIGOUCHE EAST # 3 NIGADOO-CHALEUR # 4 BATHURST # 5 NEPISIGUIT # 6 CARAQUET # 7 LAMÈQUE-SHIPPAGAN-MISCOU # 8 CENTRE-PÉNINSULE # 9 TRACADIE-SHEILA # 10 MIRAMICHI BAY # 11 MIRAMICHI-BAY DU VIN # 12 MIRAMICHI CENTRE #13 SOUTHWEST MIRAMICHI # 14 ROGERSVILLE-KOUCHIBOUGUAC # 15 KENT # 16 KENT SOUTH # 17 SHEDIAC_CAP-PELÉ # 18 TANTRAMAR # 19 DIEPPE-MEMRAMCOOK # 20 MONCTON EAST # 21 MONCTON SOUTH # 22 MONCTON NORTH # 23 MONCTON CRESCENT # 24 PETITCODIAC # 25 RIVERVIEW # 26 ALBERT # 27 KINGS EAST # 28 HAMPTON-BELLEISLE # 29 KENNEBECASIS # 30 SAINT JOHN-FUNDY # 31 SAINT JOHN-KINGS # 32 SAINT JOHN CHAMPLAIN # 33 SAINT JOHN HARBOUR # 34 SAINT JOHN PORTLAND # 35 SAINT JOHN LANCASTER # 36 GRAND BAY-WESTFIELD # 37 CHARLOTTE # 38 FUNDY ISLES # 39 WESTERN CHARLOTTE # 40 OROMOCTO-GAGETOWN # 41 GRAND LAKE # 42 FREDERICTON NORTH # 43 FREDERICTON-FORT NASHWAAK # 44 FREDERICTON SOUTH # 45 NEW MARYLAND # 46 YORK # 47 MATCTAQUAC # 48 WOODSTOCK # 49 CARLETON # 50 VICTORIA-TOBIQUE # 51 GRAND FALLS REGION # 52 MADAWASKA-LA-VALLÉE # 53 EDMUNDSTON # 54 MADAWASKA-LES-LACS # 55 ____________________________On motion of Hon. Mr. Green, seconded by Hon. Mr. Lord: RESOLVED THAT, with unanimous consent, the Assembly dispense with the customary introduction of Bill 1, An Act to Perpetuate A Certain Ancient Right and the customary Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne and the formal debate thereon. ____________________________With leave of the House, Hon. Mr. Green moved, seconded by Hon. Mr. Lord: (Motion No. 1) THAT pursuant to Standing Rule 89, the following Standing Committees be appointed for the Fifty-fourth Legislative Assembly and that the membership on the said Committees be as follows: The Legislative Administration Committee be composed of Hon. Mr. Harrison, Hon. Mr. Green, Hon. Mr. E. Robichaud, Hon. Mr. Graham, Ms. Crossman, Mr. Ashfield, Mr. Bernard, Mr. MacDonald, Mr. C. Thériault, Mr. Richard and Ms. Weir. The Standing Committee on Law Amendments be composed of Hon. Mr. Green, Hon. Mr. E. Robichaud, Ms. Fowlie, Mr. Ashfield, Mr. Cyr, Mr. Savoie, Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Forbes, Mr. McGraw, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Mersereau, Mr. Richard and Ms. Weir. The Standing Committee on the Ombudsman be composed of Ms. Fowlie, Mr. Kinney, Mr. Cyr, Ms. Keddy, Mr. Stiles, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Lee and Mr. Haché. The Standing Committee on Private Bills be composed of Mr. McGraw, Mr. MacKenzie, Mr. Huntjens, Mr. Cosman, Mr. Carr, Mr. Stiles, Ms. Dubé, Mr. Laforest, Mr. Forbes, Mr. B. Thériault, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. S. Graham. The Standing Committee on Privileges be composed of Hon. Mr. Green, Hon. Mr. E. Robichaud, Mr. Kinney, Mr. Savoie, Ms. Keddy, Mr. Landry, Mr. Allaby and Mr. Blanchard. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts be composed of Mr. Lee, Mr. J. Betts, Mr. Bernard, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Malley, Mr. Cosman, Mr. Holder, Ms. Dubé, Mr. Steeves, Mr. MacDonald, Mr. C. Thériault, Ms. Mersereau, Mr. Richard and Ms. Weir. The Standing Committee on Procedure be composed of Hon Mr. Green, Hon. Mr. E. Robichaud, Mr. Weston, Mr. McGraw, Mr. Forbes, Ms. Poirier, Mr. Allaby and Mr. S. Graham. The Standing Committee on Crown Corporations be composed of Mr. Alward, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. Weston, Ms. Fowlie, Mr. Kinney, Ms. Poirier, Mr. Stiles, Mr. Carr, Mr. B. Thériault, Mr. S. Graham and Mr. Haché. And the question being put, the motion was carried. ____________________________With leave of the House, Hon. Mr. Green moved, seconded by Hon. Mr. Lord: (Motion No. 2) WHEREAS New Brunswickers want an open and responsive government to chart a new direction and set new priorities to meet their most important needs; and WHEREAS there is a need to improve the level of involvement of the people of New Brunswick in the decision-making process regarding their education system; and WHEREAS the government has pledged to expand the mandate of MLAs and Legislative Committees to examine major public policy issues by creating a new Standing Committee on Education; BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT this House appoint a Select Committee on Education, as a first step to creating a full Standing Committee during the next legislative session. This Select Committee on Education will be charged with examining, inquiring into, and reporting to the House with respect to the education system in New Brunswick and, in particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to consider other such matters and materials to be referred by the Minister of Education to the Select Committee on Education. The Select Committee on Education will also be responsible for hearing from the members of the general public, interest groups, and others, any such information which they may so wish to present. The Committee may set appropriate rules for the receiving of said submissions. In addition to the powers traditionally conferred upon the said Committee by the Standing Rules, the Committee shall have the following additional powers: to sit during sittings of the House and during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session; to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; to retain such personnel as required to assist the Committee; to release an Annual Report at a time to be fixed during each calendar year as to the activities of the Committee. During a period when the Legislative Assembly is adjourned or prorogued, said Annual Report may be released by depositing a copy with the Clerk of the Assembly, and upon the resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chairperson of the Committee shall present the Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the said Committee be composed of: Ms. Crossman, Hon. D. Graham, Mr. Carr, Ms. Fowlie, Mr. MacKenzie, Mr. J. Betts, Mr. Laforest, Mr. LeBlanc, Mr. McGraw, Mr. Allaby, Mr. B. Thériault, Mr. Haché and Ms. Weir. And the question being put, the motion was carried. ____________________________With leave of the House, Hon. Mr. Green moved, seconded by Hon. Mr. Lord: (Motion No. 3) WHEREAS New Brunswickers want an open and responsive government to chart a new direction and set new priorities to meet their most important needs; and WHEREAS there is a need to improve the level of involvement of the people of New Brunswick in the decision-making process regarding the delivery of health care; and WHEREAS the government has pledged to expand the mandate of MLAs and Legislative Committees to examine major public policy issues by creating a new Standing Committee on Health Care; BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT this House appoint a Select Committee on Health Care, as a first step to creating a full Standing Committee during the next legislative session. This Select Committee on Health Care will be charged with examining , inquiring into, and reporting to the House with respect to the delivery of health care in New Brunswick and, in particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing to consider other such matters and materials to be referred by the Minister of Health and Community Services to the Select Committee on Health Care. The Select Committee on Health Care will also be responsible for hearing from the members of the general public, interest groups, and others, any such information which they may so wish to present. The Committee may set appropriate rules for the receiving of said submissions. In addition to the powers traditionally conferred upon the said Committee by the Standing Rules, the Committee shall have the following additional powers: to sit during sittings of the House and during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session; to adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; to retain such personnel as required to assist the Committee; to release an Annual Report at a time to be fixed during each calendar year as to the activities of the committee. During a period when the Legislative Assembly is adjourned or prorogued, said Annual Report may be released by depositing a copy with the Clerk of the Assembly, and upon the resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chairperson of the Committee shall present the Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the said Committee be composed of: Ms. Dubé, Hon. Mr. McFarlane, Mr. Weston, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Huntjens, Mr. Cosman, Ms. Keddy, Mr. Landry, Mr. McGraw, Mr. Blanchard, Mrs. Mersereau, Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Weir. And the question being put, the motion was carried. ____________________________With leave of the House, Hon. Mr. Green moved, seconded by Hon. Mr. Lord: (Motion No.4) WHEREAS New Brunswickers want an open and responsive government to chart a new direction and set new priorities to meet their most important needs; and WHEREAS the government has pledged to improve the appointments process for agencies, boards, and commissions by having an all-party committee of the Legislature review key appointments for recommendation to Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council; BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT this House appoint a Select Committee to review nominees to key positions on selected agencies, boards and commissions to be recommended to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council with respect to the capability of nominees submitted to it by the Government House Leader on behalf of the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council to certain positions of selected agencies, boards, and commissions, by way of: the Executive Council providing the resumés of nominees for certain positions, along with position requirements; making recommendations to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council in a timely and confidential manner so as to protect the integrity of the individual nominee and the appointment process of the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council In addition to the powers traditionally conferred upon the said Committee by the Standing Rules, the Committee shall have the following additional powers: to sit during sittings of the House and during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session; to retain such personnel as required to assist the Committee; to release an Annual Report at a time to be fixed during each calendar year as to the activities of the committee. During a period when the Legislative Assembly is adjourned or prorogued, said Annual Report may be released by depositing a copy with the Clerk of the Assembly, and upon the resumption of the sittings of the House, the Chairperson of the Committee shall present the Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the said Committee be named the Select Committee to Review Appointments by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council and be composed of: Mr. MacKenzie, Mr. Alward, Mr. Steeves, Ms. Dubé, Mr. Holder, Ms. Poirier, Mr. C. Thériault, Mr. Lee and Ms. Weir. And the question being put, the motion was carried. ____________________________On motion of Hon. Mr. Lord, seconded by Hon. Mr. Green, RESOLVED THAT Keith Ashfield, Member for the electoral district of New Maryland and Joel Bernard, Member for the electoral district of Nepisiguit, be appointed Deputy Speakers. ____________________________Her Honour, the Lieutenant-Governor was announced, and having been bidden to enter, took her seat in the chair upon the Throne. Her Honour was pleased to close the session with the following speech: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Premier, Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Leader of the NDP, Members of the Legislative Assembly, ladies and gentlemen: I am not an historian, but I think that we have had certainly one of the shortest sessions, if not the shortest, in the history of this province. I do want to say that I believe it struck a very important note. You have made some extremely valuable choices today. You will be directing your attention during the coming months to the education of our citizens, particularly our children. I urge you to think about early childhood education, literacy from birth. The fact that you will direct a great deal of attention to the health of our citizens gives me great hope and great satisfaction. Thank you very much for your attention to these things, which are so necessary and essential to our society. I know that you will work hard during the summer, but I want to tell you, as a former Member of the Assembly, as a former doctor, and as a mother, that I really want you to take time, after the spring that you have had and the work that you have already done, to enjoy especially your families and to enjoy this beautiful province. Take time to be with your families and members of your communities in our beautiful province. Every year, I am more and more delighted with what we have in this province. You will find the year ahead very demanding and very strenuous, so make yourselves healthy this summer and make yourselves happy for the year ahead. I pray that Divine Providence will guide you throughout your deliberations this summer and, of course, into the coming year. God bless you always. Thank you very much. ____________________________The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Loredana Catalli Sonier, then said: Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly: It is Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor's will and pleasure that the Legislative Assembly be prorogued until Tuesday, the tenth day of August next, and this Legislative Assembly is hereby prorogued accordingly until Tuesday, the tenth day of August next. LOREDANA CATALLI SONIER |