Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When the motion first came out, I first considered naying the unanimous consent. On second thought, I decided not to, but I want to indicate that I do not support this motion. It is not because I don't support the Members who are being assigned to the committee, but there are some principles I would like to bring up.

I've been a strong advocate, over the past several years and the last year, in particular, of trying to have this Assembly review MLAs' performances. The way we perform and where we do most of our work is not only in this House, but in our standing and special committees. We expect that membership on these committees would reflect individual Members' interests, reflect an east/west balance -- which is one of the key principles of operating in this House -- and, some regional balance.

When we were first elected in October, 1991, during our first caucuses, a Striking Committee was formed. One of their tasks was to give us each a ballot with a list of the committees. I, being a rookie at the time, indicated my preferences -- one, two, three, et cetera -- but, really not knowing the significance of that sheet of paper, at the time. Subsequently, to my disappointment, I didn't get my second choice, which was the Standing Committee on Finance.

Ever since then, Madam Speaker, I've been trying to get on this committee. Even though I'm not on the committee, I've attended most of the Standing Committee on Finance meetings, trying to ensure that the interests of the western Arctic, north of Yellowknife and north of the Dogrib nation, are represented.

Madam Speaker, my opposition to this motion is that, again, for about the third or fourth time, we are replacing Members on our committees without reviewing the make up of the committees. We are replacing one Member who has moved from one side of the House to this side, and in your case, Madam Speaker, to the chair. We are doing this again, without reviewing the totality of all our committees.

I would like to see a total review of these committees. One of the points I would like to raise is that, if this motion is accepted, on the Standing Committee on Finance, there will now be three Members from the Yellowknife, North Slave area. There will be two Members from Yellowknife, and one from North Slave. And, no representation for the whole Inuvik region. I know there are critics that say there are over 15,000 people in Yellowknife, and they should have more people on this standing committee. But, we have never, in this Assembly, chosen representation on the basis of population, it has always been on the basis of east/west and on regional balance. Another response is that, there are no Yellowknife representatives for Cabinet. So, this specific committee should be loaded, to ensure that Yellowknife gets its fair share of the pie. I say this is unwarranted, and can not support those types of arguments.

Madam speaker, I am a resident of Yellowknife, and have declared so on the conflict of interest document and other documents I have filed with this House. My family and I have lived here for a long time, and I think we contribute quite a lot to this town. A lot of the issues I bring up are not only for my constituency, but on issues that impact all residents of the Northwest Territories, including a lot of my neighbours in Yellowknife.

Madam Speaker, all the work that I do, and which most Members of this Assembly do, is to strive for fairness and equity. That is based on sharing the wealth in all our communities. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Standing Committee on Finance for allowing me to participate in their meetings over the past few years, and I promise that I will continue to work with this committee and all committees, if they continue to allow me into their meetings and deliberations.

All I'm asking from this Assembly is that we develop a process whereby we allow ourselves the opportunity to review memberships on our standing committees, and not have them appointed for full four year terms. We just went through a mid-term review of Cabinet. In previous times, the Cabinet has reshuffled their. I think a process similar to the mid-term review, would be beneficial and allow Members some flexibility in working and contributing to other committees and eventually for the benefit of this Assembly and of people in the north. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. To the motion. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

Madam Speaker, this is still for the purpose of clarification. Mr. Koe is right. There is no process, at this, time given to the Striking Committee from the caucus or their own area, OMC, to allow the striking committee to manoeuvre the names around or to recommend to the caucus if that person is doing well in this committee, they should be moved into another committee, et cetera. The Striking Committee considered some of the preferences Members presented to them, but the Striking Committee felt that they have no mandate or direction from the full caucus, a clear process which would allow them to address Mr. Koe's concern. That is why this election has been made the way it has. Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do support the motion and the appointments that were made, but, like Mr. Koe, I have problems with the way the selections are done and wonder if there is fair distribution. I would like to suggest that the Striking Committee consider looking at the ways these elections are done so we can develop a process in which, perhaps, while we review Ministers in mid-term, we also look at a process in which all the Members would be given the opportunity to ask if they wish to serve on different committees at that time, that they make their views known. An opportunity should be given to them to serve on those boards. Again, I support the motion, but I do also want to say that we should have a process for the ordinary Members. Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 15, motions. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to proceed with my motion, appointment of Deputy Speaker.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to proceed with his motion. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

WHEREAS, the position of Deputy Speaker is vacant due to the resignation of the Member for High Arctic;

AND WHEREAS, it is required to have a Deputy Speaker.

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, be appointed Deputy Speaker.

Thank you.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Item 15, motions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am seeking unanimous consent to proceed with Motion 4-12(5).

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to address his motion. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

WHEREAS, the document entitled, Building and Learning Strategy, Increasing Northern Involvement in Building and Construction Occupations, has been tabled in this House;

AND WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the public for the document to be discussed by the legislature.

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that Tabled Document 2-12(5), Building and Learning Strategy, Increasing Northern Involvement in Building and Construction Occupations, be moved into committee of the whole for discussion.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 15, motions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion regarding the Report of the Languages Commissioner.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to proceed with his motion. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Iqaluit, that Tabled Document 11-12(5), Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, be moved into the committee of the whole for discussion.

The seconder is not inside the House.