Prince Albert MLAs look forward to modified legislative session
Prince Albert Northcote MLA, New Democrat Nicole Rancourt, calls it a compromise but is happy to have the legislature back in session for 14 starting days next month.
The public will learn a lot more about how the province’s finances look and exactly where hundreds of millions of dollars in extra spending is going on June 15. On that date, Finance Minister Donna Harpauer will table the 2020-21 provincial budget, to be followed by two weeks of examination of the budget estimates in various legislative committees.
“We need budget hours [of debate] and to talk to ministers face to face and ask ‘where is this money going,'” Rancourt told paNOW. “The people of the province deserve to know what it’s being used for.”
Rancourt said the COVID-19 situation meant there could not be a normal legislative session – only 10 governing and five opposition members will be in attendance in the House to follow social distancing protocols. She said the seriousness of the pandemic and the economic fall-out made it vital the public have an idea of where the province is heading financially.