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BILL NO. 234

(as introduced)

2nd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
69 Elizabeth II, 2020

 

Government Bill

 

House of Assembly Act
(amended)

 

The Honourable Mark Furey
Attorney General and Minister of Justice



First Reading: February 27, 2020

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading: March 3, 2020

Third Reading: March 9, 2020 (LINK TO BILL AS PASSED)

Explanatory Note

This Bill provides for the appointment and the remuneration of the Sergeant-at-Arms and sets out the authority of the Sergeant-at-Arms.

An Act to Amend Chapter 1
(1992 Supplement)
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the House of Assembly Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Section 53 of Chapter 1 (1992 Supplement) of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the House of Assembly Act, is repealed and the following Sections substituted:

    53 (1) The Speaker may appoint a person to be Sergeant-at-Arms who shall perform such duties as the House or the Speaker determines.

    (2) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be paid such salary as the Governor in Council from time to time determines.

    53A (1) In this Section,

    (a) "firearm" means a firearm or other weapon, including a prohibited firearm, a restricted firearm, a prohibited weapon or a restricted weapon within the meaning of the Criminal Code (Canada), that is currently approved for use in the Province by police officers;

    (b) "precincts of the House" means Province House and its environs as defined by the public streets immediately adjacent to it and includes any other premises or areas used for meetings of committees of the House or, where so designated by the Speaker, used for another purpose of the House.

    (2) The Sergeant-at-Arms is a peace officer within the precincts of the House or while in fresh pursuit of a person leaving the precincts of the House.

    (3) As a peace officer under this Section, the Sergeant-at-Arms

    (a) has all the powers, authority, privileges, rights and immunities of a peace officer and constable under the common law, the Criminal Code (Canada) and any other federal or Provincial enactment; and

    (b) with the approval of the House or the Speaker and subject to subsection (4), may possess and use firearms, subject to such conditions or restrictions as the House or the Speaker may determine and except as otherwise provided by law.

    (4) The Sergeant-at-Arms must meet the same requirements, including training and certification, that police officers are required to have in order to be permitted to possess and use a firearm in the Province.

 


This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2020 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created February 27, 2020. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.