Agreed.

---Agreed

Department Of Education, Culture And Employment

Agreed.

---Agreed

Agreed.

---Agreed

Agreed.

---Agreed

Mr. Chairman, I move we report progress.

The House will come back to order. We're on item 20, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Whitford.

Seconder? Mr. Dent. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

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

---Carried Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise on a point of privilege.

Mr. Nerysoo, your point of privilege.

Point Of Privilege

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege under rule 20(1). Mr. Speaker, in accordance with this rule, I have provided you with a copy of an article from the March 20th Yellowknifer. The article is by Doug Schmidt. The words that concern me are in the second caption that states, "Speaker gags MLAs from negative character references."

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege and I guess I could quote Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms, 6th edition, citation 168(1). Your role, Mr. Speaker, is to guide this Assembly and it's Members through debate, then make judgements about the rules or to present a decision on matters relating to the rules, privileges and procedures of this House. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask that Members review the headline and, in doing so, recognize that what comes out of this headline is the insinuation that you have gagged Members of this House. I find it offensive as you have not gagged Members as that would be denying our freedom of speech. As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, Members are not permitted to reflect on the character or action of the Speaker. If we do, we may be punished as a breach of privileges.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to point this out because those same kinds of punishments have historically been given to reporters, newspapers and other media vehicles or mediums. I think, Mr. Speaker, you should review this particular matter and, in fact, ask that the paper take care in the words that they use that might mislead the public and appear to criticize you, sir, for whom I think we all have a great deal of respect, not only for yourself but for the position that you hold. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

I want to thank you, Mr. Nerysoo, for that point. Your point is well taken and I'm sure the media is aware of it through the Hansard and, if they're listening, through our PA systems too. Thank you. Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 29, Interim Appropriation Act, April 1 - June 30, 1995, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

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

---Carried

Bill 29 has had third reading. Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance at 9:00 am tomorrow morning, of the Ordinary Members' Caucus at 10:30 am and a full Caucus briefing at 12:00 noon.

Orders of the day for Thursday, March 30, 1995:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements

3. Members' Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

6. Oral Questions

7. Written Questions

8. Returns to Written Questions

9. Replies to Opening Address

10. Petitions

11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

13. Tabling of Documents

14. Notices of Motion

15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills

16. Motions

- Motion 16, Setting of Sitting Hours by Speaker

17. First Reading of Bills

- Bill 31, Recall Act

18. Second Reading of Bills

- Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and

Executive Council Act

- Bill 30, Deficit Elimination Act

19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters - Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96

- Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Fair Practices Act

- Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Retirement Plan

Beneficiaries Act

- Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, No. 2

- Bill 21, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95

- Committee Report 2-12(7), Report on the Legislative

Action Paper on the Office of Ombudsman for the

Northwest Territories

- Committee Report 3-12(7), Report on the Review of the

Legislative Action Paper Proposing New Heritage

Legislation for the Northwest Territories

- Committee Report 4-12(7), Report on the Review of the

1995-96 Main Estimates

20. Report of Committee of the Whole

21. Third Reading of Bills

- Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Elections Act

22. Orders of the Day