Further study needed

Committee to make recommendations on whether cabinet should receive additional powers

A legislative standing committee will have two weeks to consider whether to give cabinet additional powers during current and future states of emergency.

With a second wave of the coronavirus looming, possibly as early as this fall, MLAs voted 17-6 to refer an amendment of the province’s Emergency Measures Act to the standing committee on health and social development for review. The committee, which includes two members from each party, will have 14 days to study and make recommendations related to the bill before it comes back to the legislature.

The original bill was

introduced by Justice and Public Safety Minister Bloyce Thompson, but there have already been several revisions introduced during the past week.

The original amendment gave executive council the power to change any piece of legislation during a state of emergency, and for up to 90 days after a state of emergency is rescinded.

Thompson argued the legislation was necessary in order to allow government to react quickly in case of a second wave of the coronavirus.

However, Thompson subsequently introduced amendments to his own bill, exempting several pieces of legislation from being altered by cabinet and allowing the legislative assembly to veto any other cabinet changes to laws.

Green Leader Peter BevanBaker introduced his own amendments, which would exempt a further 23 acts from changes by cabinet.

Some Green and Liberal MLAs have argued the broad emergency powers allow cabinet to unnecessarily supercede the power of the legislative branch of government.

Bevan-Baker said that referring the bill to a standing committee would allow for some public consultation and would allow MLAs to hear from senior civil servants about their experiences during the pandemic.

The motion drew support from all members of the Opposition Greens and governing Progressive Conservatives, including Thompson.

It was opposed by all Liberals MLAs.