Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present the report of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges.

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges has the responsibility to review the rules of the Legislative Assembly and any other matters brought to its attention by Members.

During the first meeting of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges of the 12th Assembly, the standing committee agreed to undertake a comprehensive review of the rules of the Legislative Assembly. The standing committee decided that a focus on eliminating grammatical inconsistencies and terms reflecting gender bias should be included in this 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)) on June 26, 1992. The standing committee reported on the topics that had been referred to the committee for consideration, and reported the decision of the standing committee to also undertake a reassessment of the rules to simplify their language and sentence structure.

Following a process of consultation with Members and thorough review and discussion of the rules, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges presented its final report on the comprehensive review of the rules (Committee Report 16-12(3)) to the House on March 16, 1993.

The final report on the comprehensive review of the rules included eight recommendations which were presented to the House. On March 22, 1993, seven of these recommendations were adopted by the Legislative Assembly. Five of the adopted recommendations directed the preparation of specific amendments to the rules. The Assembly agreed that these amendments should be incorporated in a new rule book, along with revisions to simplify the rules and to eliminate grammatical inconsistencies and gender bias, to be presented to the Assembly for approval prior to the conclusion of the Third Session.

During its examination of the rules to correct inconsistencies and gender bias and to simplify the rules, the standing committee identified additional areas which require further review and consideration. The standing committee noted that under rule 3, the two sessions that the Assembly is required to hold each year by the federal Northwest Territories Act, must commence on the second Wednesday in February and on the first Wednesday in October. The standing committee questioned whether it is necessary to specify the commencement of sessions within the rules, and will consider this issue further.

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges noted as well that the current rule 9, dealing with the election of the Speaker, does not reflect present procedure. Although the standing committee has previously reported to the House that it does not recommend the incorporation of the procedures of the Territorial Leadership Committee within the rules at this time, the standing committee is of the view that the procedure for the election of the Speaker should be re-examined by this committee.

The standing committee also intends to continue to consider issues relating to the cultural relevance of the proceedings of the Assembly, as previously reported to the House.

In accordance with the motions carried by the Legislative Assembly on March 22, 1993, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges has redrafted the rule book

for the approval of the Assembly. The revised rule book incorporates the amendments approved by the Legislative Assembly from the standing committee's final report on the comprehensive review of the rules. The amendments which required the addition of new rules have been incorporated in rules 38, 59(4), 61 and 93(4) of the revised rule book. The rule book also includes further revisions to correct grammatical inconsistencies and gender bias, and to simplify and clarify the sentence structure, language and meaning of the rules. Where the current rules have been reworded, the new rule is identified in bold type.

Therefore, this committee recommends that the following revised rule book be adopted by the Legislative Assembly,

And further, that the revised rule book as adopted be effective on the first sitting day of the Fourth Session of the 12th Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, what follows in this report is the proposed revised rule book which contains 103 rules. I would request that the proposed revised rule book from rule 1 through rule 103 be considered and printed in the Hansard.