BILL NO. 174

(as introduced)

1st Session, 59th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
54 Elizabeth II, 2005

Government Bill

Auditor General Act
(amended)

The Honourable Michael G. Baker, Q.C.
Minister of Justice

First Reading: April 27, 2005

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading: April 28, 2005

Third Reading: May 19, 2005 (WITH COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS) (LINK TO BILL AS PASSED)

This Bill changes how the Auditor General is to be appointed and limits the term of office of future Auditors General to a term of 10 years. There is no change in how an Auditor General may be removed from office.

1 Subsection 3(1) of Chapter 28 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Auditor General Act, is repealed and the following subsections substituted:

(1) Subject to the approval of the House of Assembly by majority vote, the Governor in Council shall appoint a person to be the Auditor General.

(1A) Subject to subsection (1B), the Auditor General holds office for a term of ten years and may not be re-appointed.

(1B) The Governor in Council shall remove the Auditor General on the passing by the House of Assembly of a resolution carried by a vote of two thirds of the members of the House of Assembly voting thereon requiring the Governor in Council to remove the Auditor General from office.

2 For greater certainty, nothing in this Act affects the term of office of the Auditor General holding office when this Act comes into force.

3 This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.