Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For more than seven years, the major criticism of this Assembly is its lack of accountability. We have a fixed term of four years, with no mandate from the public other than election promises to work hard on certain issues and to be a good representative of the people. As individuals, we are free to vote in any way we please as we have no party discipline to direct us.
The major public concern I heard expressed, however, is that we're very good at making speeches, full of good intentions but we are reluctant to enforce on ourselves any standard of accountability or discipline. We make many laws that regulate the activities of other people but make few laws to enforce discipline on ourselves. Three years ago when I first began reading material on the issue of recalling elected Members, I had an open mind, Mr. Speaker. Over a period of three years, however, it has become more clear to me that the Legislature needed to do something more than make fine declarations against violence and adopt guidelines for the conduct and behaviour of Members.
Where political parties exist, very clear discipline is exercised over Members and there are consequences for breaking the rules. Since we're elected as individuals by our constituents, our accountability is very clearly to the electorate. If recall is appropriate anywhere in the world, Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate in the Northwest Territories, where we follow a consensus form of government and are not bound by party discipline. If it weren't for the fact that we follow a parliamentary system of government with a set of rules and
conventions, there would be a very undisciplined rabble in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, I can assure Members.
At least for our behaviour in this Chamber, we have rules to follow and there are penalties for breaking them. As we all know, they are your responsibility, Mr. Speaker. Now that we've adopted so many principles to guide us in our work outside this chamber, we need some mechanism to make Members accountable. Today, I shall give first reading to Bill 31, Recall Act, and I urge Members to read the bill with an open mind since the bill will be in your books after I give it first reading today. I will have no fear in serving in this Legislature if this bill were in force. Thank you.
-Applause