With regard to communication with M.L.A.s, the Minister's consultation framework proposed two strategies for facilitating the involvement of the Members of the Legislative Assembly: the establishment of a special advisory committee on housing; and, regular briefings for M.L.A.s.
The seven member special advisory committee on housing was proposed as a vehicle that would provide ongoing advice from the elected representatives to the Minister responsible for the N.W.T. Housing Corporation on broad territorial housing issues. It would be comprised of three eastern Members and three western Members with the Minister serving as Chairperson.
The Minister proposes that this body would be established pursuant to the rules of the Legislative Assembly and would apparently be a formal committee of the House. Funds would be provided from the Legislative Assembly's appropriations, and administrative support would be provided by the office of the clerk. To reduce costs and facilitate administrative functions, the committee would be mandated to meet only during sittings of the House.
The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was generally supportive of the principle of involving M.L.A.s in such an advisory body. It has pointed out that this approach is definitely in keeping with the consensus-style government and would represent the sort of collaborative approach that has been highly effective throughout the history of the territorial legislature. The standing committee saw particular value in making this special advisory committee receive input directly from the annual district meetings and the annual public meetings in communities in order to ensure that community based input was duly considered by the Minister and senior management of the Housing Corporation.
The standing committee did hold certain reservations about some of the specifics outlined in the proposed structure for the special advisory committee on housing. Questions arose for instance, about the propriety of using Legislative Assembly funds and resources to perform a function that is clearly departmental in focus. Similarly, there were questions about whether it would be appropriate for a Minister to chair such a committee.
It was uncertain, as well, from the Minister's presentation of the concept, as to whether the special advisory committee would have the authority or the responsibility to report to the Assembly on its deliberations. The degree to which committee agendas and examinations would be dictated by the ministerial preference as opposed to Members' priorities would need to be clarified. Several Members were concerned as well that restricting committee meeting schedules to sessional periods would result in a limited opportunity to discuss complex issues and would preclude committee participation in annual district and annual public meetings outside Yellowknife.
Notwithstanding these significant concerns, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions concluded that there were definite merits to the concept of establishing the special advisory committee on housing. The standing committee emphasized, however, that organizational considerations will need to be better specified and possibly revised at the time when a formal motion is brought forward in the House to establish the special advisory committee and its terms of reference.