House of Assembly wraps up for session

The latest sitting of the House of Assembly finished up this week, with a collection of proposed legislation making it through before close, with few changes.

There was an amendment to the new Prescription Monitoring Act. The Act now provides for two prescribers (doctors) and two dispensers on a related professional advisory committee, as opposed to one prescriber and one dispenser in the original bill.

But much of the legislation went through as-is.

So what has been accomplished?

As mentioned, the province now has something in place to provide for monitoring of prescription drugs, specifically opioids.

Health Minister John Haggie has described it as an important contribution to the efforts to address opioid addictions and the illegal drug trade.

Government now has guidance for a Serious Incident Response Team — able to independently investigate cases arising involving police officers from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary or locally stationed Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Justice Minister Andrew Parsons said the team, to be put in place in the coming months, is needed to reassure the public when serious cases come about, to maintain public trust for the forces.

Newfoundland and Labrador will now be able to issue genderneutral birth certificates and driver’s licences.

Changes to the Liquor Corporation Act have laid the groundwork for the introduction of legal marijuana sales in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Reporting on the deaths of children and youth in government care to the independent Office of the Child and Youth Advocate will now be mandatory by law, assuring the advocate will be aware of these deaths and serious injuries.

There are new penalties for offences under the Securities Act, and separately a new registrar will be introduced for pre-paid funeral services.

Fines are being upped for certain Highway Traffic Act offences. And more.

The changes will come into effect on differing dates, following Lt.-gov. Frank Fagan’s sign off Thursday, as per the individual texts (For more: assembly.nl.ca).

Before closing this week, there was time given over in the House to each party leader, with all taking a moment to recognize staff and the larger public service, ahead of the holiday season.

Progressive Conservative Leader Paul Davis, MHA for Topsail-paradise, took the opportunity to thank Speaker Perry Trimper for his professionalism since taking over the role.

Trimper, also the MHA for Lake Melville, was elected to the Speaker’s chair in August.

Davis noted the Speaker had made a point to be at Government House earlier in the day, for the swearing in of the new MHA for Mount Pearl North, Jim Lester. Lester was able to get a single day in before the House closed.

“In my time here — in the last seven, almost eight years here — it’s the first time that I recall the Speaker attending the swearing in of a member through a byelection, so I wanted to acknowledge that,” Davis said, adding he feels things have run well under Trimper’s chairmanship.

Davis also spoke to overall interest in the House in best outcomes for the people of the province.

“I would not hesitate at any time to approach any minister on the government side and ask them for their assistance and support in trying to resolve a matter for a constituent,” he said.

Premier Dwight Ball took a moment to acknowledge all representatives, including those across the aisle, for challenges to government in sometimes heated debate.

Members now return to their districts. The House of Assembly is scheduled to sit again Feb. 26, 2018.