Mr. Speaker, I would like to present the report of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges on the television guidelines.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges has the responsibility to review the rules of the Assembly and matters brought to its attention by Members.
On November 25, 1992, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges received a referral from Caucus, advising that Caucus had approved the televising of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly for implementation with the move to the new Legislative Assembly building in 1993. Caucus requested that the standing committee develop television guidelines for review and adoption by the House.
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges was advised that Caucus, in the interest of open, responsible and accountable government, had decided to televise certain proceedings of the Legislative Assembly on the TVNC network, to show a cross-section of the day's proceedings. The broadcasts will be distributed in all official languages of the Northwest Territories. Caucus had also decided to put the operation of the television system out for tender.
The standing committee has been examining the procedures used in other jurisdictions for the televising of House proceedings, and two committee Members recently travelled to the Legislative Assembly in Regina, Saskatchewan. Members reviewed their television system, which recently received an extensive upgrade, and studied the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly's current television guidelines, as well as guidelines which had been adopted by the Saskatchewan Assembly on a provisional basis in 1992.
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges has developed guidelines for the televising of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. These guidelines would require the cameras to focus primarily on the Member speaking, while maintaining some flexibility for orientation shots of the Chamber.
As it is not practical to broadcast the entire proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, the guidelines would allow the Speaker to establish a broadcasting schedule to ensure that the public are able to gain a broad perspective of the daily proceedings. In addition, members of the public would be allowed access to the audio/video record of proceedings with permission from the
Speaker's office, and to obtain copies of the record from the Clerk.
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges is of the opinion that these guidelines would allow the public throughout the Northwest Territories to gain a greater understanding of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, while maintaining the decorum of the Chamber.
Therefore, this committee recommends that the following television guidelines be adopted as the television guidelines for the Legislative Assembly.
Television Guidelines
1. The philosophy of television coverage of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly should be an accurate, factual and coherent record of the legislative proceedings which will allow the viewing public to clearly understand how the legislative process works without dramatizing the proceedings.
2. The coverage of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly shall be recorded in the official languages of the Northwest Territories as identified in the Official Languages Act.
3. All proceedings in the Legislative Chamber, beginning with the Speaker's procession and prayers until the daily adjournment of the Assembly, shall be recorded, with the exception of recesses. Proceedings in committee of the whole shall also be recorded.
4. The Member who is on his or her feet and has been recognized by the Speaker shall be shown on camera and shall be identified periodically by his or her full name and constituency, or for a Minister, his or her full name and portfolio titles. When a Minister makes a Member's statement he or she shall be identified by name and constituency.
5. Information as to the status of the House and current business shall be displayed on the television screen periodically during proceedings.
6. The shot of the Member shall be of his or her head and shoulders, or a medium close up shot showing some of the Members who are seated on either side of the speaking Member. In addition, an occasional establishing shot may be taken to help orient viewers to the chamber. On special occasions, such as the opening address and the budget address, cutaway shots of individuals or groups of Members or guests to the House may be shown.
7. When the Speaker is speaking or is on his or her feet, the camera facing the Speaker that best reflects the activities of the House shall be used at the discretion of the television director.
8. When in committee of the whole, or in a standing or special committee, a variation of wide, medium and close shots may be used to best reflect the activities of the committee. Ministers may be shown consulting with their officials. Officials or witnesses may be shown on camera as introduced by Ministers or the chair of the committee, or when answering questions at the director of the chair of committee of the whole.
9. Head and shoulder close-up shots of the Speaker or the chair in committee may be taken when he or she is giving a ruling.
10. Applause shots and orientation cutaway shots may be taken provided that care is taken to ensure that the shots are in good taste and reflect the decorum of the chamber.
11. Split screen shots will not be permitted.
12. Medium close-up shots may be taken of distinguished visitors sitting in the gallery. These guests must be seated in a predesignated location and the Speaker or the chair of committee of the whole will instruct the television director when such introductions will be made.
13. Pursuant to the provisions of the Copyright Act (Canada), the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories has copyright in the audio/video record of the proceedings of the Legislative.
14. Access to and use of the audio/video record of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly may be made available to media organizations upon permission being obtained from the Speaker's office.
15. Members of the Legislative Assembly or members of the public may obtain an audio/video copy of the record of the proceedings from the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. This service will be provided free of charge but it is the responsibility of the requester to provide the audio/video tape.
16. After the prorogation of each session of the Legislature, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly shall ensure that the master audio/video records of the proceedings made during that session are deposited in the Northwest Territories archives, following which access to this record shall be had in accordance with procedures established by the territorial archivist.
17. The following conditions apply to the use of the record of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly by any person or organization:
1)the person or organization shall have a bona fide public interest in the use of that record;
2)the person or organization shall not use that record with purposeful distortion; and,
3)the person or organization shall not use that record as part of any paid advertisement.
Any breach of these conditions or of the Copyright Act (Canada) is an offence and may be prosecuted accordingly, or may be otherwise enforced by the Speaker and the Assembly.
18. These guidelines shall be enforced by the Speaker. Specific complaints by Members regarding the televising of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly should be raised with the Speaker in the Speaker's office.
19. The Speaker will establish a broadcasting schedule that will afford the viewing public an opportunity to observe a board perspective of the daily proceedings of the Legislative Assembly.
And further, that these guidelines be reviewed by the Legislative Assembly after one year of operation to assess their effectiveness.
Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges.
Motion To Accept Committee Report 17-12(3) And Move To Committee Of The Whole
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the honourable colleague for High Arctic, that the report of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges on television guidelines be received by the Assembly and moved into committee of the whole for consideration. Thank you.