FIRST REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE, PRIVILEGES AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS Second Session Sixtieth Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick May 12, 2023 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE Mr. Wetmore, Chair Ms. Bockus, Vice Chair Ms. M. Wilson Mr. Ames Ms. S. Wilson Mr. Cullins Ms. Conroy Mr. D’Amours Mr. K. Chiasson Ms. Thériault Mr. Coon

May 12, 2023 To The Honourable The Legislative Assembly of The Province of New Brunswick Mr. Speaker: I have the pleasure to present herewith the First Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers. Your Committee’s Report contains recommendations for the implementation of a legislative calendar by Special Order and for amendments to the Standing Ru les governing sitting hours of the House and Routine Proceedings. And your Committee begs leave to make a further report Respectfully submitted, Mr. Ross Wetmore, MLA Chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers

1 May 12, 2023 To The Honourable The Legislative Assembly of The Province of New Brunswick Mr. Speaker: Your Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers begs leave to submit their First Report of the session. Your Committee met on January 10, February 21, March 23, April 28 and May 11 to consider Motion 10 and certain amendments to the Standing Rules. Motion 10 was adopted by the Legislative Assembly on December 1 5, 2022, and directs your Committee to examine the options for a fixed legislative calend ar and report back to the House with recommendations.

Your Committee recommends the implementation of a legislative c alendar by Special Order, as outlined in this report, to allow the House the flexibility to modify and improve the calendar mechanism, if needed, before deciding on its adoption into the Standing Rules.

In addition, pursuant to its permanent order of reference, your Committee recommends amendments to the Standing Rules to modify the time for the dai ly meeting and adjournment of the House on Thursdays and Fridays, and to add statements of co ndolence and congratulation as an item of business under Routine Proceedings, consistent with the practice in recent sessions, rather than at the end of the sitting day.

SPECIAL ORDER 2 Your Committee therefore recommends for adoption the following Special Order: THAT, notwithstanding any Standing Rule, Special Order, or usua l practice of the House, the Legislative Assembly adopt the following Special Order:

(1) During each session, the House shall meet: (

a) in the Fall period from the third Tuesday in October to no later than the second Friday in December, excluding constituency and committee weeks, for a minimum of 24 sitting days, except when a provincial general election is held pursuant to subsection 3(4) of the Legislative Assembly Act; and (

b) in the Spring period from the third Tuesday in March to no later than the second Friday in June, excluding constituency and committee weeks, for a minimum of 24 sitting days.

(2) The House and its Committees shall not meet during constituency weeks, which shall include: (

a) the week of Remembrance Day or the week preceding if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday; (

b) the first week of January; (

c) the week of Spring vacation as established by the regulations under the Education Act; (

d) the week following Spring vacation.

(3) During any period of adjournment, including constituency and co mmittee weeks, if the Government advises the Speaker that the public interest require s the House to meet on an earlier day, and the Speaker is so satisfied, the Speaker may g ive notice that the House shall meet and in such notice shall state a day on which the House shall meet, and thereupon the House shall meet on the day so stated to transact its busin ess as if it had been duly adjourned to that day.

(4) Before the House adjourns for the Summer recess, the Government House Leader shall move a sessional calendar motion, without notice, that indicate s the days on which the House shall meet in the Fall period in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Special Order and said motion shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate.

(5) Before the House adjourns for the Winter recess, the Government House Leader shall move a sessional calendar motion, without notice, that indicates the days on which the House shall meet in the Spring period in accordance with paragraphs ( 1) and (2) of this Special Order and said motion shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate.

(6) The House shall meet and adjourn on the days so stated in the motions moved and decided pursuant to paragraphs (4) and (5) of this Special Order subjec t to any subsequent amendments adopted in accordance with paragraph (7).

(7) Despite paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Special Order, on motion of the Government House Leader, with notice, the House may amend a sessional calendar a dopted pursuant to paragraphs (4) and (5), to meet on a day or days the House was not scheduled to meet, or to not meet on a day or days the House was scheduled to meet, a nd said motion shall be decided without amendment and any debate shall be limited to one hour in duration and no Member shall speak for longer than ten minutes.

(8) This Special Order shall remain in effect for the remainder of the 60 th Legislature unless adopted as an amendment to the Standing Rules by motion of the House, with the necessary modifications.

AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDING RULES 3 Your Committee therefore recommends for adoption the following amendments to the Standing Rules: 1. Standing Rule 29 is repealed and the following is substituted: 29 Unless otherwise provided by Standing or Special Order of the House, the time for the daily meeting and adjournment of the sitting of the Assembly shall be as follows: Tuesday 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Wednesday 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Thursday 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Friday 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. 2. In Standing Rule 30, subrules (1.1), (1.2) and (1.3) are repealed. 3.

Standing Rule 35 is amended by adding “Statements of Condolence and Congratulation.” after “Introduction of Guests.” 4. The Standing Rules are amended by adding after Standing Rule 35.3 the following: 35.4(1) A maximum of ten minutes shall be allocated to the item of routine business “Statements of Condolence and Congratulation”. 35.4(2) A Member making a statement of condolence or a statement of congratulation shall speak for no more than sixty seconds. 5.

In Standing Rule 44, subrule (1) is repealed and the following is substituted: 44(1) The first Order of the Day commencing on the second Thursda y of the session shall be “Opposition Members’ Business” which shall have precedence o ver all other business of the House except the ordinary daily routine of business. 6. In Standing Rule 105 a. subrule (1) is amended by striking out “six” and substituting “five”; b. subrule (3) is amended by striking out “sixth” and substituting “fifth”. 7.

In Standing Rule 106 a. subrule (3) is amended by striking out “six” and substituting “five”; b. subrule (4) is amended by striking out “sixth” and substituting “fifth”.