David Coon, MLA/Député

Fredericton – David Coon, Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick and MLA for Fredericton South, is calling on the government to introduce a Sessional Order when the 58th Legislature resumes sitting for its 3rd Session November to enable members to agree on a parliamentary calendar to fix sitting days and committee meetings.

“Last year, early in our Second Session the Government House Leader provided a calendar that followed the typical pattern of sitting for three weeks and then taking one week outside the house,” said Coon. “A week later the government, without consultation, issued a press release that flipped this schedule on its head, scheduling only five weeks of house business for the following three months. This interfered with the proper functioning of the legislature.”

The Manitoba Legislature adopts a sessional calendar to schedule when the House and its committees will meet over the course of the parliamentary session. This is the practice that Coon wants New Brunswick to follow.

“New Brunswickers need to know when their elected representatives are sitting in the House and working in Committee on their behalf, while all private members, whatever their party, need an agreed on calendar to plan their work around,” said Coon. “Surely this is something in which all parties can collaborate, rather than it being dictated by the Executive Branch.”

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