Executive Council
January 16, 2015
House of Assembly Session Will Enable Review of Electoral Boundaries
As announced today by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the House of
Assembly will open on Monday, January 19, 2015. This session will allow for
amendments to the Electoral Boundaries Act to support the immediate
review of electoral boundaries and effect a reduction in electoral districts
to 38.
“The significant fiscal challenges ahead mean that we
have to look for cost savings in all areas, including the Legislature.
Reducing the number of electoral districts by 10 will result in upwards of
$10 million in savings over the next four years.”
- The
Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The
chair of the commission will be appointed by the Chief Justice of
Newfoundland and Labrador, and the four other members of the commission will
be selected by the Speaker of the House of Assembly. Currently, the law
requires an electoral boundaries commission to be established once every 10
years to reassess the province’s electoral boundaries.
In addition
to the electoral boundary review, parliamentary reform measures being
introduced by Premier Davis will also include a review of the MHA pension
plan, as well as identifying measures to increase participation by all
Members and improve efficiency and effectiveness of the House of Assembly.
“I have asked the Speaker to convene a meeting of the Standing
Orders Committee to complete an analysis of all standing orders with a view
to modernize procedures; making them more efficient while providing for
greater involvement of all MHAs in the legislative process.”
- Premier Davis
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Media contacts:
| Heather MacLean Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709 729 3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Donna Ivey Special Assistant, Communications Office of the Premier 709 729 3551 Donnaivey@gov.nl.ca |
2015 01 16 5:10 p.m.