Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the last comprehensive independent review of Members' and Ministers' salaries, allowances, benefits, expenses, indemnities and per diems was conducted in 1987;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is of the opinion that it is timely to undertake another comprehensive independent review;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife North, that the Legislative Assembly hereby appoints Mr. Joel Fournier, Ms. Anne Crawford and the Hon. Jim Bourque as the Commissioner on MLA Compensation to review and inquire into the salaries, indemnities, allowances and benefits of Members, Ministers and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly;

AND FURTHER, that the commission shall:

1. Establish principles relating to remuneration for Members, Ministers and the Speaker, which take into consideration the diverse geographic and economic factors which may impact on MLAs' ability to carry out their duties;

2. Conduct a review of the existing salaries, indemnities, benefits and allowances to determine the appropriateness of the amounts provided;

3. Conduct a review of the legislated pension benefits provided to MLAs and make appropriate recommendations concerning the level of benefit;

4. Evaluate the relative pros and cons of a straight salary versus a combination of salary and extra indemnities for MLAs and make appropriate recommendations;

5. Review and recommend the procedures Members shall follow to account for allowances, disbursements and other payments;

6. Develop a statement of purpose for the constituency work expense allowances including recommending permissible spending criteria, and to express an opinion on the adequacy of the current levels of these allowances;

7. Recommend the manner for adjusting from time to time Members', Ministers and Speaker's salaries, indemnities, allowances and benefits and other payments;

8. Review and recommend a compensation system that is simple, straightforward, easily understandable, fair and accountable; and,

9. Review any other matter that the commission considers relevant respecting allowances, disbursements and other payments.

AND FURTHERMORE, in conducting its review, the commission shall take into consideration the diversity of the constituents across the Northwest Territories;

AND FURTHERMORE, the commission shall seek public input as an integral and essential part of the review process;

AND FURTHERMORE, the commission shall report with its observations and recommendations to the Speaker by March 1, 1996, and the Speaker shall cause the report to the tabled in the Assembly without delay if the Assembly is in session, and, if the Assembly is not in session, within five days after the beginning of the session.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.