Mr. Chairman, I guess when the whole issue of this bill first came forward in the last Assembly, I questioned whether a bill of this kind would limit the rights, powers and privileges of a Member of the Legislative Assembly to seek information in the House, in committee and in other ways. There are qualifications in section 3(2), which spell out that the act doesn't replace other access rights, but there's no reference whatsoever to the powers and privileges of an MLA to seek information, for example, by asking questions in a standing committee meeting, by asking for information in the Public Accounts committee or by asking questions in the Legislative Assembly.
I note that parts of the act, in section 17, say you can't get information about contractual or other negotiations of the Government of the Northwest Territories. I'd like to ask the Minister, if I ask questions now in the Legislature about contractual or other negotiations of the Government of the Northwest Territories -- like the Arctic A airport negotiations that are under way right now or the health billings dispute or the negotiations to transfer other responsibilities to the government -- would I be told by a Minister, I'm sorry, I'd love to answer that but it's an exception under the Access to Information Act, it will prejudice the economic interest of the Government of the Northwest Territories, if you want that information, you can't ask for it here.
I'd like to ask the Minister, why is there no protection in section 3(2) for the powers and privileges of a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.