SECOND REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE, PRIVILEGES AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS First Session Sixty-first Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick March 26, 2025 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE Ms. Wilcott, Chair Mr. Arseneault, Vice Chair Mr. M. LeBlanc Mr. Bourque Mr. J. LeBlanc Mr. Robichaud Mr. Doucet Mr. Austin Ms. S. Wilson Ms. M. Johnson Mr.

Coon March 26, 2025 To The Honourable The Legislative Assembly of The Province of New Brunswick Madam Speaker: I have the pleasure to present herewith the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers for the First Session of the 61st Legislature. Your Committee was directed to examine the definition of “recognized party” and your Committee’s Report contains the resulting recommendations for amendments to the Standing Rules. And your Committee begs leave to make a further report.

Kate Wilcott, MLA Chair On November 20, 2024, the Legislative Assembly adopted Motion 2, which directed your Committee to examine the definition of “recognized party” in the Standing Rules. Your Committee met on March and 25, 2025 , and examined the rel evant practices and procedures in New Brunswick and other jurisdictions. Following deliberations, your Committee agreed to recommend amendments to the Standing Rules concerning the definition of, and rights conferred by, recognized party status.

Amendments to the Standing Rules Your Committee therefore recommends for adoption the following amendments to the Standing Rules: 1 Standing Rule is amended by repealing t he definition “recognized party” and substituting the following: “recognized party” means any registered party that (

a) elects two Members or receives twenty percent of the vote at a general election; and (

b) has officially nominated candidates in seventy-five percent of the electoral districts; 2 Standing Rule 40.1 is amended by repealing subrule (3) and substituting the following: 40.1(3) Members shall be recognized as follows: the Official Opposition first, followed by other recognized parties in order of the size of their membership in the House and finally the Government and then in rotation, ensuring that the frequency of recognition is proportional to each recognized party’s total number of Private Members, until the time provided in subrule (2) has expired. 3 Standing Rule is amended by repealing paragraphs (1)(

e) and (

f) and substituting the following: (

e) two members from the party forming the Official Opposition, nominated by that caucus; (

f) one member from each recognized party, not already represented on the Committee, nominated by each respective caucus.