Today, MPP Glen R. Murray of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario announced his resignation from the Legislative Assembly and as Minister of the Environment and Climate Change effective September 1, 2017. Murray is leaving to work as the executive director at the Pembina Institute, an environmental think-tank.

Premier Kathleen Wynne announce she will not call a byelection to replace MPP Glen Murray in order to save the province the cost of administrating the election, according to CBC News. Murray’s legislative seat will remain vacant until the next general election set for June 7, 2018. Wynne announced MPP Chris Ballard will replace Murray as minister, according to the premier’s press release.

Lobbyists have until October 1 to file their first registration and return under New Brunswick’s new lobbying law. Because of some reported difficulties in filing, Integrity Commissioner Alexandre Deschênes extended the initial July deadline for filing. “After consulting widely, it is my view that the lobby registry system needs further improvements to allow easier access for lobbyists and to be more meaningful for public inspection,” said Deschênes in a news release.

The Office of the Integrity Commissioner, an independent office of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, is responsible for administering the Lobbyists’ Registration Act.

On June 22, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia will resume following an election without any clear mandate for the direction of the government.

The provincial election held last month produced no party winning with a majority in the 87-seat Assembly. A proclamation calling for the convening of the Assembly was confirmed by Judith Guichon, the 29th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and the representative of the Crown in the province, and was released on June 12.

A speech from the Throne is expected in the afternoon of the 22nd.

On June 8, the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut adjourned for the summer.

Legislation considered by lawmakers this session included amendments to the Legal Profession Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and the Inuit Language Protection Act.

The Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on September 12 and to adjourn on September 19.

On June 6, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada, adjourned for the summer.

Legislation passed during the 3^rd Session of the 29^th Legislature include Bill 8, entitled An Act to Strengthen Municipal Government and Bill 11, Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Amendment Act, 2017.

The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on October 30, 2017, and to adjourn on December 7, 2017.

On June 8, Quebec’s Commissioner of Lobbying François Casgrain, scheduled to retire this month, urged lawmakers to pass lobbying law reform.

According to the Montreal Gazette, Casgrain, who is leaving the position after eight years due to health reasons, is disappointed with the lack of progress in updating the lobbying laws. Casgrain has pushed for the passage of Bill 56, the Lobbying Transparency Act, which was first introduced in 2015. The legislation would expand the scope of the definition of lobbyists to include shareholders lobbying for an entity as well as directors and officers of a nonprofit. The bill would also expand the types of activity considered to be lobbying and impose stricter penalties and higher fines on violators of the law.

Casgrain will step down as Commissioner of Lobbying on June 30.

On June 1, the 2nd Session of The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, which began on November 21, 2016, adjourned until October 4, 2017.

Bill 26, the Election Financing Amendment Act received Royal Assent on June 1. The new law increases the annual contribution limit for individuals from $3,000 to $5,000, and is indexed for inflation. Other changes to the law include limiting cash contributions to $25 or less, allowing self-employed persons to volunteer services for which they normally charge without the services being considered a contribution, and expanding the definition of “election communication” as applied to third parties to include communications about issues associated with a political party or a candidate. The law takes effect on September 1.

Lawmakers plan to adjourn the Assembly again on November 3, and then reconvene on November 15, with a final scheduled adjournment of the 2nd Session to be on December 1.

Several Canadian legislative sessions adjourned last week:

• On June 2, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories adjourned. Legislation considered this session included infrastructure and operations expenditure bills as well as an amendment to the Tobacco Tax Act. The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on September 19, 2017, and to adjourn on October 4, 2017. The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to then again reconvene on October 17, 2017, and to adjourn on October 20, 2017.
• On June 1, the first session of the 41st Legislature of the Quebec National adjourned until June 6. One piece of legislation still being considered is Bill 56, the Lobbying Transparency Act, introduced in 2015. The bill would expand the scope of the definition of lobbyists to include shareholders lobbying for an entity as well as directors and officers of a nonprofit. The bill would also expand the types of activity considered to be lobbying and impose stricter penalties and higher fines on violators of the law. The National Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on June 6, 2017, and to adjourn on June 16, 2017.
• On June 1, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario adjourned on June 1, 2017. In the last week of the session, Bill 138, Transparency in Government Bills Act, 2017, was introduced. The bill would require all proposed legislation to include a statement describing the problem the bill seeks to address, a description of the public policy goals the bill seeks to achieve, and a summary of the financial costs the bill would have on the government, municipalities, the public, and any affected industries or businesses. The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on September 11, 2017, and then adjourn on December 14, 2017.
• On June 1, the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly adjourned to the call of the Chair. During this latest session, amendments to the Intergovernmental Affairs Act and the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act were considered. The next scheduled sitting day is Monday, November 6, 2017. The Assembly is then scheduled to adjourn on December 7.

On May 31, legislation was introduced in the Federal Parliament of Canada to increase transparency concerning political fundraising events.

House Government Bill C-50 requires a five-day advance notice of fundraisers where the admission price is $200 or more. A regulated fundraising event does not include a convention, including leadership conventions, of a registered party or a leadership contestants’ debate. The bill requires political parties file itemized reports to Elections Canada within 30 days of a fundraiser, including information such as the attendants’ names and amounts contributed. If a regulated fundraising event is organized entirely by persons or entities other than a registered party, the person or entity must provide the attendants and donation information to the registered party in time for the registered party to make its report.

The bill’s regulations would not apply if a fundraiser takes place during the election period of a general election.

On May 5, the third session of the 58th Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada adjourned, passing legislation lowering the political contribution limit to $3,000 from $6,000.

Additionally, the Local Governance Act and the Community Planning Act were enacted, replacing the Municipalities Act and an older Community Planning Act.

The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.

On April 30, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved in order to call a provincial general election.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Richard Temporale, issued writs of election for all of Nova Scotia’s 51 electoral districts.

The provincial general election will be held on Tuesday, May 30.

On March 14, the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut adjourned its 2017 Winter Sitting.

Bills considered by lawmakers included amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, the Inuit Language Protection Act, and the Human Rights Act.

The Assembly meets each year for a Winter Sitting, a Spring Sitting, and a Fall Sitting in October.

The legislature will reconvene for its Spring Sitting on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.

On March 10, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories adjourned for the remainder of the winter.

During the session, lawmakers considered various supplementary appropriations dealing with infrastructure and operations expenditures, debated cutbacks, and passed a budget for the territories with all but two MLAs voting for it.

Under the new budget, the Department of Public Works and Services will be consolidated with the Transportation department.

The Second Session of the 18th Assembly will reconvene on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

On March 1, a new lobbying law took effect in the Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario. By-law Number 47-2016 creates a Lobby Registry and Registration System and establishes the position and duties of the Lobbyist Registrar.

The new law covers consultant, in-house, and voluntary unpaid lobbyists. A return is required to be filed within five business days of a covered communication or may take place in advance of lobbying. Lobbyists must register a separate subject matter registration for each issue they lobby and must include a description of the issue being lobbied, who will be lobbied, and when the lobbying will occur or has occurred.

Former public office holders are prohibited from lobbying for one year after leaving their position. Lobbying on a contingency basis is also prohibited under the new law.