This is page numbers 78 - 106 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was standing.

Topics

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree with what recommendation number six is recommending, in principle. But, Mr. Chairman, I thought the status quo provided that each Member of a particular standing committee is selected by merit. I think the Striking Committee and the Members of the Assembly know who is able to do a good job on a specific committee. I don't necessarily agree with that having to provide written information explaining the reason why a person is requesting to be on a particular standing committee of the Assembly.

Are we saying, Mr. Chairman, in fact, that what we have done in the past is not good enough? Members are not doing their job on the standing committees. What is happening here? I think we are smart enough to know who...In the past, we appointed membership to each committee and I think we've done a good job. I don't know, but I don't really agree here because that will vote some of the Members down. Perhaps in the next Assembly we will not have all accountants and all lawyers. It seems to me that in order to be on the Standing Committee on Legislation, you have to be a lawyer. In order to be on the Finance committee, you have to be an accountant. That's my understanding. It doesn't ride well with me. Thank you.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Ng.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask Mr. Zoe, when the committee was considering this recommendation, did it take into consideration seniority for appointments on committees? Mr. Gargan has suggested that if there were Members who had served previously and were re-elected, they could have the first priority because of the fact that they may not have sat on the committee they wanted to gain experience on, or they had already sat on a committee and they wanted to continue because they were familiar with the workings of that committee. So I would like to ask if that was a consideration in their discussions on this.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Zoe.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Chairman, I'll speak to the motion again. When we discussed the whole issue of committee assignments, we also talked about seniority, but in the context of making it a requirement that seniority would definitely be considered. What we talked about was that when they do make their preference, they should put it in writing to the Striking Committee. They can note that they have previously served on...If they're interested in, for example, legislation, you can put it in your brief to the Striking Committee and say why you're interested. I guess that will fall under the category of experience. You can mention that when you submit your brief to the Striking Committee when they're ready to assign Members to various committees.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks, Mr. Zoe. To the motion. Anybody else? Mr. Patterson.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Being a Member of the committee, I would just like to respond to Mr. Ningark's concerns.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out to the honourable Member that we referred in the motion to "interest, ability and experience," not education. Had the term "education" been in there, it might have given an advantage to people who had some kind of formal training. But instead, we used the word "experience" which I think acknowledges that in addition to formal education, a Member may have a great deal to offer by way of life experience, employment history, knowledge of the land, knowledge of the languages, culture, having travelled, et cetera.

So I would like to point out that we use the much broader term, which I think is fair to everyone. Thank you.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks, Mr. Patterson. To the motion.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 6-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 6, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

The Chair Brian Lewis

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

---Carried

Mr. Zoe.

Appointment To Committees

Committee Motion 7-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to appointment to committees. The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges recommends, and I move that committee Members continue to be appointed for the term of the Assembly. Thank you.

Committee Motion 7-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

The Chair Brian Lewis

Your motion is in order, Mr. Zoe. To the motion. Mr. Koe.

Committee Motion 7-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 99

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi. I'm opposed to this recommendation. The whole issue of committees...The reason these recommendations are brought up is for the operation and accountability of the standing committees. One of the issues related to accountability of committees is their ability to do work and do it in the criteria that has been laid out. The rules are now being changed.

Under our system there is no process to review the work of a committee. We're recommending, later on, that the committees submit their goals and objectives, their workplans and that reports are submitted, but there is still no mechanism in our process to review the work of a standing committee. They can review themselves within a committee. We have a process or we adopted a process this term for reviewing the work of Cabinet. We had a mid-term review. Yet, there's no process for reviewing the work of ordinary Members, and our work through the standing committees.

So I would have liked to have seen at least a mid-term review of standing committees for that reason. I'm opposed to having the Members appointed for the term of an Assembly.

Committee Motion 7-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Anybody else on this motion? To the motion.

Committee Motion 7-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 7-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 7, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

Question has been called. Those in favour of this motion? Those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Zoe.

Selection Of Committee Chairs

Committee Motion 8-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

October 4th, 1994

Page 100

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to selection of committee chairs, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges recommends, and I move that chairs should continue to be selected through a secret ballot election administered by the clerk of the committee.

Committee Motion 8-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 8-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 8-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

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

---Carried

Mr. Zoe.

Committee Discipline

Committee Motion 9-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, with regard to committee discipline. The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges recommends, and I move that the payment of committee indemnities and living allowances be conditional upon attendance at the committee meetings; and further, that committee chairs, and ultimately the committee, be given the authority to discipline a Member of that committee. Thank you.

Committee Motion 9-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Patterson.

Committee Motion 9-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I noted Mr. Koe's concerns about accountability and I would suggest that this motion, if it is approved, certainly increases the accountability of committee Members to do their duty. Thank you.

Committee Motion 9-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. To the motion. Mr. Gargan.

Committee Motion 9-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 9, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, I support the motion but I would like to make it quite clear that indemnities are paid for the times when you attend the meetings. I find that it is quite unfair that when meetings start at 9:00 am, that in order to get their indemnities some Members will go to the meetings at 12:00 pm or 3:00 pm or something like that. I'm just wondering whether this has already been touched on. I believe committee Members are signed in as soon as they go into a meeting, but if they just show up to get their names checked off and to get paid I don't think that's fair to other Members. I think that should be addressed.