HANSARD
NOVA SCOTIA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Legislative Committees Office
Printed and Published by Nova Scotia Hansard Reporting Services
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Hon. Kevin Murphy (Chairman)
Mr. Gordon Wilson
Hon. Michel Samson
Hon. Labi Kousoulis
Mr. Iain Rankin
Hon. Christopher d'Entremont
Mr. Larry Harrison
Hon. David Wilson
Mr. Neil Ferguson, Chief Clerk of the House of Assembly
(Non-Voting Member)
In Attendance:
Speaker's Office Adviser
Ms. Deborah Lusby
Director of Administration
Office of the Speaker
Ms. Annette Boucher
Assistant Clerk
House of Assembly
Mr. Gordon Hebb
Chief Legislative Counsel
HALIFAX, TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
11:10 A.M.
CHAIRMAN
Hon. Kevin Murphy
MR. CHAIRMAN (Mr. Gordon Wilson): I'll call the meeting to order. Welcome everybody. This is the House of Assembly Management Commission. I am Gordon Wilson, the MLA for Clare-Digby, filling in for the Speaker, Kevin Murphy. We will start with introductions.
[The committee members introduced themselves.]
MR. CHAIRMAN: First on the agenda is the approval of the November 29, 2016, minutes. I will turn the meeting over to the Chief Clerk. Mr. Ferguson.
MR. NEIL FERGUSON: Just before we go to the minutes, Mr. Chairman, the Speaker is participating by phone-in. I think we agreed beforehand that, because having him live on microphone would create feedback, what we'll do is, at the end of each item, offer an opportunity to him if he has anything to add.
MR. CHAIRMAN: My apologies for not recognizing the Speaker.
MR. FERGUSON: The first item appearing on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from November 29, 2016. Unless anyone has any errors or omissions in those minutes, a motion to do that would be in order.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Moved by MLA d'Entremont. Do we have a seconder? The seconder is the Hon. David Wilson.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
Next on our agenda is the House of Assembly Management Commission Annual Report. I will ask the Assistant Clerk to address us on that.
MS. ANNETTE BOUCHER: The draft copy of the annual report for 2016 was distributed to the committee members in their materials. It's presented in the same format as in past years. It sets out the composition of the commission, meetings of the commission, and decisions made in camera. The meetings of the Audit Committee are also reported on.
One appendix to the report is the Auditor General's annual audit results for the year ended March 31, 2016. I just point that out because the report covers the calendar year 2016, but the audited results are just to March 31, 2016.
Unless there are questions, we would ask for a motion to approve the annual report and that the motion also direct the Speaker to table the report at the next sitting of the House.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We have a motion to accept the House of Assembly Management Commission Annual Report for 2016 and to table the report to the Legislature at the next sitting. Do we have a motion for that? Moved by MLA Iain Rankin. Do we have a seconder? Seconded by MLA Larry Harrison.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried
The next item is the House of Assembly Management Commission Audit Committee Annual Report for 2016. I would ask the Assistant Clerk to present that.
MS. BOUCHER: The Audit Committee's annual report was also circulated in materials to the committee members for today. It's provided by the chair of the committee and reports on the meetings that were held by the Audit Committee over the calendar year. This was used as the basis for preparing the annual report of the Management Commission, which you just approved. It's here for information purposes. If there are any questions, either Ms. Lusby or I could attempt to answer those.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Are there any questions? Hearing none, could we have a motion to accept the Audit Committee Annual Report for 2016? Moved by Honourable Mr. d'Entremont, seconded by Hon. Mr. David Wilson. Any discussion?
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried. Thank you very much.
Item No. 4 on our agenda is the 2016-17 third-quarter financials. I would ask the Director of Administration to present that, please.
MS. DEBORAH LUSBY: The report has been circulated. We do have the same format as prior quarters. This report goes to December 31, 2016, which would be maximum of budget, 75 per cent, and as you can see in the far right column, everybody is managing their budget accordingly. If you have any questions on this report I'd be happy to answer them.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Are there any questions regarding the third-quarter financials? I see that some folks are still studying them, we'll give you a few minutes.
Hearing no questions, thank you very much. We'll move on to item No. 5 now, which is the risk assessment. I'd ask the Director of Administration to present that, please.
MS. LUSBY: I think at the last committee meeting it was suggested that risk assessment be a standard item on the agenda so if anybody else has any other items at this meeting or at future meetings, feel free to bring them up.
I can give an update on the Exercise STAUNCH MAPLE, which is a business continuity exercise planned for April 27th week. I mentioned it at the last meeting as well. Planning meetings are underway with the management team of the Legislature and are meeting once a month with our group and Emad Aziz from EMO and ISD. I think what will be more interesting is after the planning exercise what we report back.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Are there any questions from any of the committee members?
Thank you very much for your presentation on that.
That moves us to item No. 6, Other. I recognize the Chief Clerk.
MR. FERGUSON: Mr. Chairman, just so that it's on everybody's radar, it has been recommended - well it's the law that we're supposed to be meeting at least quarterly. That would mean that before the year end we should have one more meeting of the full commission. I believe that would bring us up to four for the year.
Just so that it's on the members' radar, that not only is it the law, it's the recommendation of the Auditor General and the Audit Committee that we comply. Don't be surprised if you get a notice from the Chair, who we haven't given the opportunity to speak. At this point we have to make sure that we do have a microphone for the Speaker so he can add in anything he wishes.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. I'll now give our Speaker a chance to offer any conversation or comments on the meeting to date. Mr. Speaker, are you there?
MR. SPEAKER: I am indeed. Thank you very much, Gordon, and my apologies for not being able to make it in this morning but in my absence the Deputy Speaker has done an outstanding job. I have no further comment on any of the agenda items.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
We will have another meeting scheduled before the year end, that the Speaker's Office will look after doing. Saying that and hearing no further business - I don't believe I have to ask for a motion to adjourn - I'll adjourn the meeting. Thank you all very much.
[The committee adjourned at 11:19 a.m.]
