Good afternoon. I would like to call the meeting of the Territorial Leadership Committee to order. I would like you to rise and I ask Mr. Delorey to lead us in an opening prayer.

---Prayer

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. All Members have a copy of the agenda in front of them.

The next item on the agenda is the review and adoption of agenda. Are there any additions or deletions to the agenda? If not, is the agenda adopted? Agreed?

Agreed.

The agenda is adopted. Thank you.

This is the first meeting of the Territorial Leadership Committee for the Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly. In front of you, in addition to the agenda, is a package of information and various forms including the guidelines and procedures for the selection of your Speaker, Premier and Cabinet Members. There are several items that will assist Members in addressing how they are to proceed through this committee today and tomorrow.

Members should be aware that you are not required to turn your microphones on and off. That will be done automatically for you.

The process for election of the Speaker will begin with nominations from the floor. Once the nominations are closed, voting will commence by secret ballot. There will be no speeches or questions and if only one nomination is received, that Member shall be acclaimed. Are all Members of the committee in agreement with this process for selection of Speaker?

Agreed.

Once you have chosen your Speaker-elect, that individual will assume the Chair of the Territorial Leadership Committee and will preside over your proceedings tomorrow.

Also in front of Members, built into your desks are the timing mechanisms. We won't be using those timing mechanisms today, but tomorrow, when speeches are being made, the clocks will count down the time available to you and you are asked to be mindful of the time limits that have been set and agreed to by all Members. In fairness, the Speaker-elect will be somewhat flexible on the limitations. However, the cooperation of Members is requested in adhering to these limits.

I would also like to remind Members that this is a less formal committee than the House itself. When Members do wish to speak, they have the option of remaining seated or standing. Probably the best thing for the majority of the time would be if you remain seated. However, if you do wish to stand to make a speech, feel free to do so at the time. The choice is yours.

The next item on the agenda is item 5, election of Speaker. You have in your packages the Speaker selection guidelines. As per the guidelines, my first duty is to open the floor for nominations for the position of Speaker. Are there any nominations? Mr. Bell.

Mr. Krutko, do you accept this nomination?

Mr. Krutko has accepted the nomination for Speaker. Are there other nominations for the position of Speaker? As I see no other nominations for the position of Speaker, I hereby call to a close the nominations for that position. I hereby declare that Mr. Krutko has been acclaimed as Speaker-elect for the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

As you know, this position will be ratified by a full vote in the House on Thursday. At this time, Mr. Krutko, I would like you to come over and take over chairmanship of the Territorial Leadership Committee.