Government Legislation

New government legislation can be initiated from any number of sources. Often it comes from a government department and, on occasion, MLAs will approach the Minister with ideas from their constituents. Regardless of how the idea for legislation is generated, once the idea has been approved by the Minister, the conceptual framework for the bill is taken to Agenda & Priorities Committee and Cabinet for approval. It is then routed to one of the six Standing Policy Committees for in-depth review. Following this process, the draft then goes to caucus for discussion and approval. After caucus review, the legislation, which by this time is close to a final draft, goes to the Legislative Review Committee. This committee is comprised of Ministers, MLAs and legal counsel, and it does a final review of the legislation to ensure that the legal text contains the policies that caucus intended. 

Once the Legislative Review Committee has approved the draft legislation, it is printed in a final form and put on Notice in the official papers of the Assembly. Anytime after that, it may be introduced as a bill. It requires three readings, and review in the Committee of the Whole before it can be passed. The new legislation may be effective immediately, or it may have a later proclamation date.