STANDING
COMMITTEES

COMMITTEES OF
THE WHOLE HOUSE

SELECT COMMITTEES

Assembly Matters

The Committee is established to and may examine the rules, procedures, practices, organization and facilities of the House of Assembly and may recommend the provision of support services and facilities for the Members and such examination shall include, but not be limited to, the
following matters:

(a) the Rules and Forms of Procedure of the House of Assembly; and

(b) such matters as are accepted for examination by the Committee upon the request of the House, a committee of the House, a member of the Committee or a member of the House.

Community Services

The Community Services Committee is established for the purpose of considering matters normally assigned to or within the purview of the Departments and Ministers of Business and Consumer Services and of Municipal Affairs and matters relating to the Human Rights Commission and the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission.

Economic Development

The Economic Development Committee is established for the purpose of considering matters normally assigned to or within the purview of the Nova Scotia Economic Renewal Agency and the Minister responsible for the Agency and the Department and Minister of Transportation and Public Works and matters relating to the Technology and Science Secretariat.

Human Resources

The Human Resources Committee is established for the purpose of

(i) considering matters normally assigned to or within the purview of the Departments and Ministers of Education and Culture and of Labour,

(ii) reviewing and approving or not approving candidates for appointment to agencies, boards or commissions where the Governor in Council has, pursuant to an enactment, the sole discretion to make the appointment or where the Governor in Council makes the appointment by choosing from a list of nominees provided to the Governor in Council pursuant to an enactment,

(iii) reviewing and approving or not approving ministerial appointees to agencies, boards or commissions where, pursuant to an enactment, Governor in Council approval is not required, and

(iv) for purposes of greater clarity and certainty, the Committee shall be guided by the terms of reference set out herein and which form part of this Rule;

Terms of Reference in Reviewing Agency, Board and Commission Appointments:

1. Where Governor in Council approval is required for an appointment to an Agency, Board or Commission, after consideration by Executive Council of a person recommended for appointment to an Agency, Board or Commission, the Clerk of the Executive Council shall submit the name of the person to the Human Resources Committee, on Form "A" (attached).

2. Prior to making a Ministerial appointment to an Agency, Board or Commission for which Governor in Council approval is not required, a Minister shall submit the name of the proposed appointee to the Executive Council for consideration. Where the Executive Council recommends the name, the Clerk of the Executive Council shall submit the name of the person to the Human Resources Committee.

3. Committee members shall review the name submitted for approval having regard to qualifications of the individual, affirmative action concerns and, where relevant, the regional representativeness of the Agency, Board or Commission.

4. The purpose of the Committee review is not to replace the function of Government Departments and Ministers in making appointments. Its function is to approve or not approve of the name before it, not to consider or recommend alternative names for appointments.

5. The following appointments shall not be submitted to the Human Resources Committee for review:

(a) appointments of provincial public or civil servants by virtue of their employment (i.e. the Deputy Minister of Finance is an unpaid member of the Lotteries Commission);

(b) candidates selected by an open competition and selection process or peer review (i.e. Provincial Judges selected by the Judicial Appointments Committee or employees of Agencies, Boards or Commissions);

(c) candidates recommended for appointment to self-regulatory bodies who are elected or recommended by the body (i.e. Nova Scotia Medical Society);

(d) candidates recommended for appointment to Hospitals and Universities where the candidate is recommended by the Board of Governors or Directors of the Institution.

6. The Committee may interview a recommended candidate where a majority of members support a motion to interview a particular recommended candidate.

7. The Committee shall not hear submissions or representations from anyone not a member of the Committee.

8. Meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public unless the Committee by majority vote determines to meet in camera.

9. The Committee shall meet at least once a month every month of the year irrespective of whether the House of Assembly has been prorogued.

10. The committee shall approve or not approve recommended candidates on the basis of a simple majority.

11. The Committee shall make recommendations with respect to every name submitted by Executive Council on the day it appears on the agenda unless a majority of members agree to defer a recommendation to the next meeting.

12. Recommendations of the Committee shall be accepted by the Executive Council and the Minister responsible for the appointment.

13. The agenda for meetings and a list of recommended candidates and Form "A" will be provided to all members one week in advance.

FORM "A"

RECOMMENDED APPOINTMENT TO AGENCY, BOARD OR COMMISSION

Name of Agency, Board or Commission

Title of Position for Appointment

Authority for Appointment (please cite statute, regulation, etc., by title and refer to relevant section)

Particulars of Recommended Appointee

Name:

Address:

Telephone: Business

Residence

Other (fax, cottage, car: please specify)

Nature Of Duties (Brief description)

Qualifications [Refer to expertise and representation (i.e. culture, gender, ethnic, regional) required for position and specific qualifications of recommended appointee. Attach resume, if available.]

Current composition of Agency/Board/Commission: where relevant, gender, regional representation etc., experts or persons with experience similar to the applicant.

If Candidate for appointment has been nominated by an organization, please indicate details.

If request is for Governor in Council approval of appointment made by another organization, please indicate details.

Term of Appointment

Length

Beginning

Time Commitment Expected (Number and duration of meetings, etc.)

Remuneration (Specify whether already set or new recommendation)

This appointment is recommended, subject to the approval by the Human Resources Committee.

Date Minister

This appointment is recommended subject to approval by the Human Resources Committee of the House of Assembly.

Date Executive Council

This appointment is approved by the Human Resources Committee of the House of Assembly.

Internal Affairs

The Internal Affairs Committee is established for the purpose of considering rules, privileges, procedures, matters relative to the Legislative Library and Members amenities and like matters.

Law Amendments

Private and Local Bills

Public Accounts

The Public Accounts Committee is established for the purpose of reviewing the public accounts, the annual report or other report of the Auditor General and any other financial matters respecting the public funds of the Province.

Resources

The Resources Committee is established for the purpose of considering matters normally assigned to or within the purview of the Departments and Ministers of Agriculture and Marketing, of the Environment, of Fisheries and of Natural Resources.

Veterans Affairs

The Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs is established for the purpose of considering matters pertaining to the Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Legion.

Select Committee on Fire Safety

The mandate of the Select Committee is to

(i) review proposed changes to the Fire Prevention Act, as reflected by Bill No. 58, entitled an Act to Promote and Encourage Fire Safety, which was introduced in this House on June 6, 2000, and relevant reports of the Fire Prevention Advisory Council,

(ii) seek input from municipalities, local fire departments and others who are involved in addressing or who are affected by fire safety concerns, and

(iii) make recommendations respecting an Act to Promote and Encourage Fire Safety to ensure that Nova Scotians are protected by effective fire prevention laws;

if this House is not sitting when an interim or final report is completed by the select committee, the select committee shall table the report with the Clerk of the House;

the House declares, pursuant to Section 36 of the House of Assembly Act, that the select committee is not dissolved by prorogation of the House and the select committee is authorized to continue its inquiry after the House is prorogued;

all the powers and privileges of the House of Assembly Act applicable to committees apply and are in full force and effect during the sittings of the select committee; and

the House requests the Legislature Internal Economy Board, on behalf of the select committee, to employ such members and staff as may be necessary to enable the select committee to carry out its duties and to provide the select committee, its members and staff, with such facilities and funds as are required to carry out its functions as provided for by Section 80 of the Public Service Act.

Select Committee on Petroleum Product Pricing

The mandate of the Select Committee is to

examine petroleum product markets and current factors that determine existing prices with the intent to make a determination whether current prices are justified. This examination is to include but not be limited to the following issues: the reasons for the current level of product prices; product supply; reasons for volatility in product prices; the rationale for differences in prices across different regions of the province; factors that affect the viability of low-volume outlets in the rural and urban marketplace; factors that affect the viability of independent retail operators in the province; and, any evidence of predatory pricing practices at the wholesale and retail levels of the market. The select committee is to make recommendations related to what it deems are just and reasonable product prices at the consumer level and in terms of retail and wholesale margins, and any other actions it determines may be required to correct imbalances in the distribution and sales of these products to consumers in the province; and

if this House is not sitting when a final report is completed by the select committee, the select committee shall table the report with the Clerk of the House by August 31, 2004; and

the House declares, pursuant to Section 36 of the House of Assembly Act, that the select committee shall not be dissolved by prorogation of the House and the select committee is authorized to continue its inquiry after the House is prorogued; and

that all the powers and privileges of the House of Assembly Act applicable to committees apply and are in full force and effect during the sittings of the select committee; and

the House requests the Legislature Internal Economy Board, on behalf of the select committee, to employ such members and staff as may be necessary to enable the select committee to carry out its duties; and

the House requests the Legislature's Internal Economy Board to provide the select committee, its members and its staff, with such facilities and funds as are required to carry out its functions as provided for by Section 80 of the Public Service Act.

Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process

Whereas the percentage of Nova Scotians voting in provincial elections has declined over a number of years; and Whereas it is the desire of all Parties in the House of Assembly to increase public participation in the democratic process; and Whereas the Parties wish to enhance the effectiveness of our representative form of government;
Therefore be it resolved that:

• the House establish a Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process;
• the select committee be composed of such members as the striking committee determines, with an equal number of members from each of the three Parties;
• the Government House Leader designate one of the members of the select committee as its chairman and the House Leaders of the Opposition Parties each designate one member of the select committee as a vice-chairman;
• the mandate of the select committee is to consider measures designed to increase the percentage of Nova Scotians voting in an election and to enhance the effectiveness of our representative form of government;
• the select committee shall file its report with the Clerk of the House by June 30, 2007;
• the House declares, pursuant to Section 36 of the House of Assembly Act, that the select committee is not dissolved by prorogation of the House and the select committee is authorized to continue its inquiries after the House is prorogued;
• that all powers of the House of Assembly Act applicable to committees apply and are in full force and effect during the sitting of the select committee;
• the House requests the Legislature Internal Economy Board, on behalf of the select committee, to appoint such members and staff as may be necessary to enable the select committee to carry out its duties; and
• the House requests the Legislature Internal Economy Board to provide the select committee, its members and its staff, with such facilities and funds as are required to carry out its functions as provided for by Section 80 of the Public Service Act.