Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges made its report last week and moved our report into committee of the whole for further discussion.
Mr. Chairman, during the first meeting of our Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges of the 12th Assembly, the committee agreed to undertake a comprehensive review of the current rules of the Legislative Assembly. A comprehensive review of the rules had not taken place since the 10th Assembly. The committee Members were of the opinion that this review was necessary to ensure that the current rules allow Members to best perform their Parliamentary duties in a consensus system. Some Members of the 12th Legislative Assembly had also expressed the view that the rules could better reflect the cultural traditions of the people of the Northwest Territories. It was also decided that the review should focus, as well, on eliminating grammatical inconsistencies and terms reflecting gender bias.
The standing committee consulted with all Members of the Legislative Assembly to obtain their views and recommendations as to improvements that could be made to the rules. A questionnaire was sent to all Members in May, 1992, to request Members' opinions. As well, the committee received further referrals for its consideration during the time frame of the review.
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges presented its Interim Report on the Comprehensive Review of the Rules, Committee Report 15-12(2), to the Legislative Assembly on June 26, 1992. The committee reported on the topics that were suggested for its consideration by Members and staff, and solicited further comment. The committee also reported its decision to undertake a re-assessment of the rules to simplify their language and sentence structure.
In its interim report, the standing committee also noted that a referral had been received from Caucus that the committee review and report on the conduct of Members. The standing committee has been examining this issue in depth, and will report on its progress to Caucus.
Since the interim report, the standing committee has also received a referral from Caucus, requesting that the committee develop guidelines for the impending use of television within the Chamber, for review and adoption by the House. Our committee, Mr. Chairman, has made this report and it is in committee of the whole for discussion during this session.
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges has met on numerous occasions since its last report to consider rule changes that might enable the House to perform its duties in a more effective and efficient manner, and that might better reflect the cultural diversity of the people of the Northwest Territories.
Members' Statements
A referral was received from the Ordinary Members' Caucus asking that the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges consider extending the length of Members' statements within the rules from two and one half to three and one half minutes. A survey of all Members also produced several comments on this issue. These included suggestions that the time allowed for each Members' statement should be increased, that the time should not be changed and that the time should be increased for statements in the aboriginal languages.
The time allotted for Members' statements within the rules was increased from two to two and one half minutes on November 2, 1989.
The standing committee requested that an analysis of Members' statements be undertaken to determine how often unanimous consent had been requested in order for Members to conclude their statements.
The standing committee found that from the First to the Second Sessions of the 12th Legislative Assembly (to November 17, 1992), the percentage of statements for which unanimous consent to conclude was sought rose from approximately six per cent to approximately 21 per cent.
The standing committee recognizes the wish of ordinary Members to be accorded an adequate amount of time to communicate their constituents' concerns. However, the committee is also mindful of the decision to televise the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly in the near future. The committee is of the opinion that all Members must participate in efforts to have the business of the Assembly proceed in a timely fashion.
The standing committee notes that there has not been a tendency for Members' statements given in the aboriginal languages to be longer than others. With the requirement that all statements be simultaneously interpreted, the committee was of the opinion that the time allotted to all statements should be equal.
Accordingly, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges does not recommend an amendment to the rules in relation to the length allowed for Members' statements at this time.
The standing committee would like to add that it might be of assistance to the interpreters if each Member provided a copy of his or her statement, including those given in English, to the interpreters in advance. By preparing statements in writing, Members may also be better able to estimate and adjust the length of their comments. As well, the committee takes this opportunity to remind Members that pursuant to Rule 23(3), Members' statements are to be confined to one matter only.
Further Returns To Oral Questions
The Speaker referred the matter of "further returns to oral questions" to the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges. The practice of some Ministers at times is to give a partial response to a question, with an offer to provide further information. This information has been provided as a "further return."
The Speaker's rulings have made it clear that unless a question is specifically taken as notice by the Minister, it will not be recorded as such. The official House record will indicate that the question has been answered. As well, when a Minister answers a question in this matter rather than taking it as notice, supplementary questions may be allowed on the same subject.
However, the standing committee recognizes that on occasion, a Minister may inadvertently give incorrect or incomplete information to the House in response to an oral question and may wish to provide additional information at a later time. The committee was of the opinion that the current practice of providing a "further return to an oral question" is an appropriate method of dealing with such situations. A "further return," where necessary, should be given under the item "returns to oral questions" on the orders of the day.
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges is of the opinion that an amendment to the rules is not necessary to accommodate this procedure.