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 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. Gargan. That issue has been addressed further on in this report and we will perhaps be adopting that recommendation. To the motion.

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

An Hon. Member

Question.

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

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

---Carried

Mr. Zoe.

Legislative Assembly Guidelines For Committees

Committee Motion 10-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you. With regard to Legislative Assembly guidelines for committees, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges recommends, and I move, that the committee guidelines be adopted by the Management and Services Board as policy for the administrative operation of the Legislative Assembly.

Committee Motion 10-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 10, 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. Zoe.

Committee Motion 10-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Just for Members' information, the guidelines are appendix A to the report, that being proposed to the Management and Service Board for adoption.

Committee Motion 10-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks for that clarification, Mr. Zoe. To the motion.

Committee Motion 10-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 10-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 10, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 100

The Chair Brian Lewis

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

---Carried

Your final motion, Mr. Zoe.

Recall Legislation

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, 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 recall legislation, the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges recommends, and I move, that the government

develop a legislative action paper on the issue of recall of Members of the Legislative Assembly for tabling in the House.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

The Chair Brian Lewis

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

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe it is fair to say that there is an increasing concern about issues such as leadership, conduct and accountability of elected persons, not just in this Legislature but in other organizations. We've seen this reflected in discussions of codes and adoptions of codes of conduct and comments of concerned organizations in recent years.

I would just like to say here, Mr. Chairman, that although there are many complexities to the question of recall -- which are outlined in the questions listed by the committee -- I think there is sufficient concern about the issue of accountability in the Northwest Territories. It would be very helpful if the government were to take this recommendation seriously and produce a legislative action paper which would allow for public

debate to take place on what I consider to be a very important issue.

Mr. Chairman, I'm also aware that a considerable amount of research has been done on this subject by yourself in your capacity as MLA for Yellowknife Centre. We have, at hand, information about what work has been done on this issue in other jurisdictions in Canada and elsewhere. There is quite a bit of good work that has already been done with regard to how systems of recall could work, thanks to your particular interest, Mr. Chairman.

I think it is important to note that the government would not be starting a fresh with this task and that there is quite a body of work that has already been done on the issue. I guess what I am saying is that I don't think it would take a great deal of work to produce a legislative action paper by the next session of the Legislature. I think that would be timely and it would be appropriate that this issue be discussed before the end of the term of the current Assembly.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

The Chair Brian Lewis

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

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

While you, Mr. Chairman, support the recommendation, I do want to point out two concerns that we should all be cognizant of. One, despite the work that has already been done, it is important to note that even with all the questions that have already been asked on pages 13 to 14, it is not a very simple process and that it is quite complex. The other point is that we had a major discussion on this matter and one thing that we noted was that while recall may be an important consideration in any future government, that there were very substantive changes occurring in the area of constitutional development that could cause us to rethink the manner in which we govern ourselves and how we deal with the matter of accountability in future government. That was a matter of significant debate. I want you to be aware of that and to put on record the factors that need to be considered in any documentation that is brought forward to our Legislature. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. To the motion. Mr. Ningark.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If we had had this recommendation in place at the outset when we took our seats in this Legislature, the recommendation would ride well with me. Close to the end of this particular 12th Assembly, trying to make life more difficult for future politicians while we make it easy for ourselves does not seem fair. I wish this issue had come up right at the beginning of this 12th Assembly. Then I would have supported it 100 per cent. But having loyalty to the committee of the Legislature that has done very good research, I am sure, I guess I will have to support the recommendation. But it doesn't really seem fair. Thank you.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks, Mr. Ningark. Anybody else to this motion? Mr. Nerysoo.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the concern that the honourable Member for Natilikmiot raised. I think it was one of the major issues of debate that arose when we discussed the nature and the status that we would be giving a document of this significance. Our problem, I think, was it was an issue that was raised with the standing committee, and it was our view that it should not be a standing committee of the Legislature that made final determinations on any method of recall, but rather that there should be public discussion that would allow the general public to have influence on the direction we undertook. So that was why we said that a document could be developed, not necessarily proceeded with by this government, but made available for major public discussion so that the people of the Northwest Territories would have influence on how they would make their Members accountable. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks, Mr. Nerysoo. Anybody else on this motion? Mr. Patterson.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 101

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Chairman, just as far as the advisability of doing something later in the term of a government rather than earlier in the term, I would remind Members of this committee that a very important piece of legislation which set up the new conflict of interest rules and modernized that legislation was in fact passed in the last session of the previous Legislative Assembly.

I think we have to recognize that sometimes it takes some time for these ideas to be formed and to come forward. In this case, I think it's no secret that the issue was discussed at length by Caucus at a workshop held in Fort Smith. It may be surfacing late in the term of the Legislature, but that doesn't mean that it's not an important subject, nor does it mean that it hasn't been discussed frequently by Members to get us to the point where we are today.

So I would hope -- and I'll say it again , that since a lot of work has been done on this issue, including work by current Members and the Legislative Assembly staff -- that a legislative action paper could be produced and be a legacy of this Legislature, rather than deferred to a new Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 102

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks, Mr. Patterson. Is the discussion on this concluded? Is there anybody else who wants to speak?

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 102

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 102

The Chair Brian Lewis

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

---Carried

Does that conclude your report, Mr. Zoe?

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 102

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That concludes the issues that were referred by Caucus to the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges. Thank you.

Committee Motion 11-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 102

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Does the committee agree that we've finished with this item?