Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia legislature fall sitting: Fun facts for political geeks

For those who score politics the way baseball fans score their favourite team, here are some fall facts gathered from a review of fall sittings in the House from 1994 to now.

Check out which government's have been the most and least productive

Former Nova Scotia premiers John Hamm and Darrell Dexter. Who had the busier fall sittings? (Canadian Press)

Since 1994, Nova Scotia MLAs have spent 539 days in the legislature during the fall.

They have turned a total of 572 bills into law. For those who score politics the way baseball fans score their favourite team, here are some fall facts gathered from a review of fall sittings in the House from 1994 to present.

  • Earliest sitting start: Sept. 4, 2003
  • Latest start: Nov. 28, 2013
  • Earliest end to a fall sitting: Oct. 18, 2004
  • Latest end: Feb. 6, 1996
  • Longest fall sitting: 63 days (Oct. 27, 1994 – Feb. 6, 1995) It's the only sitting that recessed over the holidays and resumed in the new year. The contentious issue was the QEII Health Sciences Centre Act, amalgamating the hospitals.
  • Shortest: 11 days (Nov. 28 – Dec 12, 2013)
  • Most bills passed: 48 (Darrell Dexter's NDP government, 2010)
  • Fewest bills passed: 8 (John Hamm's Progressive Conservatives, 2003)
  • Most productive government by bills per days: Rodney MacDonald's Progressive Conservatives, 144 bills in 51 days over three fall sittings
  • Least productive: John Savage's Liberals, 76 bills in 135 days over three fall sittings
The fall sitting of the Nova Scotia legislature begins Thursday. (CBC)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jean Laroche

Reporter

Jean Laroche has been a CBC reporter since 1987. He's been covering Nova Scotia politics since 1995 and has been at Province House longer than any sitting member.