Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think my colleagues on the standing committee would want me to elaborate on this motion. When the standing committee requested additional information about how community input into housing policy and programs can be guaranteed, the Minister returned with a very comprehensive consultation framework. One of the elements of this framework was a concept of establishing a special advisory committee of the Legislative Assembly. The Minister suggested that this would be comprised of three western Members and three eastern Members and that the Minister responsible for Housing would chair it. The Minister also suggested that this committee would operate during periods when the House was in session. The cost then would be borne by the Legislative Assembly. It would provide input to the Minister and his housing officials on policy matters.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee both liked and disliked elements of this plan. The fundamental concept that involves setting up a committee of M.L.A.s was seen as a novel and effective approach. Members noted that this was one of the activities that fits better with the consensus style of government we have in the Northwest Territories, than it would in partisan legislatures in the south. For this reason, the standing committee felt that this concept had a lot of merit. At the same time, however, the standing committee had many questions about what this sort of a committee structure would be involved in, in an operational sense. Some of the issues outlined in the committee report include concerns over the Minister's role, the committees authority to report and the rationale for using the Legislative Assembly budget to fund an activity that may fall more properly within the departmental mandate. The standing committee liked the principle, Mr. Chairman, but Members were concerned about the lack of information which existed about the specifics.
For that reason we brought forward a motion to suggest that the Minister go ahead with his plan. Before doing so, however, he should provide this House with a tabled document which more clearly specifies what this committee would do and how it would operate. The standing committee is suggesting that this tabled document should take the form of a draft terms of reference. Once the draft terms of reference are tabled, the Minister would then proceed with a motion to establish this committee. Problems may result at that time since there is no existing structure known as a special advisory committee within this House. This would have to be addressed at the time when the Minister brings forward his motion. The tabled document which includes his draft terms of reference may assist in clarifying that point.
Mr. Chairman, should the Minister's motion pass, the committee of M.L.A.s could then be established. At that time the committee could then establish its own terms of reference and bring them back into this House. This may be somewhat different than the tabled document. Mr. Chairman, the standing committee was excited about the idea of proceeding with this initiative, however, it was worried about some of the aspects which I mentioned. I believe that the current motion will provide a useful process for seeing this new structure develop. I urge all Members to support this motion. Mahsi.