Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, every four years the people of the Northwest Territories exercise their democratic right and elect to this Legislature Members who they trust with the representation of their interests and matters that concern their welfare.
Upon entering these hallowed halls, each Member further serves the public by participating in the deliberation of standing and special committees. These committees are one of the means by which Members can hold this government accountable. Madam Speaker, it is my opinion that one of the most important obligations we undertake when we are elected is the responsibility of legislators. Making decisions about the laws that govern this territory is an awesome responsibility because a decision we make regarding legislation affects all people who must live under these laws.
In the past, decisions were made to create, for the purpose of reviewing important legislation, the Standing Committee on Legislation. This standing committee is committed to determining the will of the people with regard to proposed legislation, reviewing the legislation to ensure that laws of the Northwest Territories are not restricting upon the people of this territory and making recommendations to the House on legislation.
Madam Speaker, I was very disappointed that the debate surrounding Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Arctic College Act, was concluded in the absence of the chairman of the standing committee that reviewed the proposed legislation. The committee report on the review of Bill 7 did not recommend support for the proposed amendment. It is my belief that the committee report reflected the will of the people of the Northwest Territories. Further, the chairman of each committee of this Legislature receives information from the people who we were elected to serve. Although this information is not always received during deliberations of standing committees, a chairman can bring forward these interests during the debates on issues in committee of the whole.
Therefore, I feel it is important that Members ensure that the chairman of the standing committee is present during the debate on issues that have been before the committee. By providing this courtesy, we appear to represent the interests of the people...