May 18, 2021
SWEARING-IN OF MEMBER
Member-Elect met in the Assembly Chamber on the morning
of May 18, 2021, for the Swearing-In Ceremony.
CLERK (Barnes):
Good morning.
Please rise for the entrance of Her Honour the Hon.
Judy Foote, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Please be seated.
Your Honour, we welcome the Member-Elect for the
District of St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi, the hon. John G. Abbott, to this
ceremony today. We also acknowledge Minister Abbott’s family, friends and
colleagues who will be viewing this ceremony via webcast.
There are three elements to the Swearing-In Ceremony of
a Member of the House of Assembly. Firstly, before a Member-Elect may assume his
or her seat in the House of Assembly, that Member-Elect must swear or affirm
allegiance to the Queen. The Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance is a requirement
under the Constitution Act, 1867 for
Members of all legislatures in Canada.
The Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance must be witnessed by Her Honour.
Secondly, the Member-Elect must make an Oath or
Affirmation of Office. The Oath or Affirmation of Office is a requirement under
the House of Assembly Accountability,
Integrity and Administration Act. The Oaths or Affirmations are then signed
by the Member-Elect and Her Honour.
Finally, the Member signs the Roll of the House of
Assembly. That is the large hand-printed Roll that is lying on the table and is
prepared for each General Assembly showing the alphabetical listing of electoral
districts with Members’ signatures.
In accordance with Public Health protocols in place for
the House of Assembly, the Member-Elect will make his Affirmations from a seated
position. Masks will be worn at all times except when speaking and the taking of
official photographs.
Your Honour, as Clerk of the House of Assembly, I am
pleased to report that in accordance with section 163 of the
Elections Act, 1991 a notice was
published in the Newfoundland and Labrador
Gazette of Wednesday, May 12, 2021, declaring John G. Abbott the duly
elected Member of the House of Assembly for the District of St. John’s East -
Quidi Vidi.
I will now ask Her Honour to read the instrument of
authority.
HER
HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR (Judy May Foote, PC, ONL):
Under and by virtue of the powers conferred upon
me as Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and, in
particular, pursuant to section 128 of the
Constitution Act, 1867 I am pleased to administer the Affirmation of
Allegiance to you, John G. Abbott.
CLERK:
Minister Abbott, would you please now make your Affirmation of Allegiance, an
Affirmation of Office and sign both in the presence of Her Honour?
J.
ABBOTT:
I,
John G. Abbott, do affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law.
I, John G. Abbott, do affirm that
(a) I am fully qualified to hold the office of Member
for the District of St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi, to which I have been elected;
(b) I have not knowingly contravened the
Elections Act, 1991 respecting any
matter in relation to my election;
(c) I will faithfully, to the best of my ability,
perform the duties and responsibilities of my office and will not allow any
direct or indirect monetary or other personal or private interest to influence
my conduct or affect my duties in public matters; and
(d) I affirm, ascribe to and agree to follow the Code
of Conduct of Members adopted by the House of Assembly.
CLERK:
Congratulations, MHA Abbott.
This concludes this ceremony.
Please remain at your places until Her Honour has left
the Chamber.
All rise.