Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond to some of the concerns that have been expressed by other Members; in particular, Mr. Nerysoo.
Mr. Speaker, I've witnessed far too much violence; I suspect we all have in this House. I don't think this is the time to get into a debate about who has witnessed or experienced more. We're talking about the principle of a bill that would help all of us to get past tolerating violence, which is something that we have to admit is a problem all across the north.
Regarding the consequences of the legislation and its effect on small communities, I disagree that the bill fails to recognize the reality of life in small communities. I think we've heard a number of Members from small communities speak in favour of the principle of this bill today. I know that certainly in travels with the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, in every single community I went to, people told us, we expect you, the leaders, to set the example. Don't just talk about it, set the example. Prove to us that you really are going to be non-violent. I think that perhaps the people of the north do expect us, even in the smaller communities, to change the way we have tolerated violence in the past.
I also think, Mr. Speaker, that having spoken about the amendments I see as necessary to the bill, that we have representatives from the smaller communities who sit on the Standing Committee on Legislation and the concerns they have in the smaller communities can be adequately discussed in that forum. That's the proper way for our bills to proceed.
I'm not bringing this bill forward for personal goals. SCOF, itself, asked for action on violence. I kept asking the Minister for action on violence and I only brought forward this bill when the Minister made a statement which said that Cabinet would not be proposing such legislation. I agree, it should have been a government bill, it shouldn't have been a private Member's bill. The government should have brought this kind of legislation forward.
The Legislature does have an inherent right to discipline and dismiss its Members, as Mr. Nerysoo says, but it doesn't have a strong tradition of doing so. This bill simply expands on the provisions that we have already codified. We have enacted provisions for disciplining and dismissing Members so it's not unusual that we would expand on those, once they're in existence. What this bill does is ensure a mechanism to make Members address a situation if it arises.
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing in this bill that changes the current situation for a Member getting involved when they see a violent action taking place or if they are, themselves, assaulted. I know that I, for one, would certainly still not hesitate to get involved, as I see necessary, in an incident involving violence.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Nerysoo also at one point commented that amendments might change the principle of the bill. I would like to point out that amendments are not uncommon at the committee stage in our process, and the committee report presented today by the Standing Committee on Finance indicates a situation where a bill, Bill 30, was substantially changed in committee, while respecting the principle. I would submit that we will be able to take a look at maintaining the principle of this bill, while moving to deal with concerns that Members have expressed.
As Mr. Nerysoo said, I received a copy of the legal opinion that Mr. Nerysoo was quoting from. In fact, I spent a lot of time with Mr. Avison, who is the deputy minister of Justice and Ms. MacPherson, the Law Clerk of the Assembly, looking for ways to deal with concerns that Mr. Avison had originally expressed in his memo to Cabinet. I think that all of us have agreed that the principle of the bill can be maintained, and the bill actually improved through amendments at the committee stage.
Mr. Speaker, the Member for Thebacha has raised a point about the need to address other offenses and dealing, perhaps, with codifying a response to Members who break other laws. I must say that I can't disagree that we need to consider broadening the net but, Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill was to respond specifically to one policy which has been adopted by this House, and that is the policy on zero tolerance for violence. That policy is, so far, the only one that is extremely explicit which we have adopted in this House. Therefore, I didn't feel comfortable proposing a bill that went beyond that principle which we, as Members of this House, have already adopted. I would welcome a broader look, but I think it has to happen in a different act. Until such time as we adopt more principles in this House, I don't think we can codify a response to breaking them.
Mr. Speaker, I agree that the goal shouldn't be one of straight politics. People have said to us, as leaders, we expect you to prove that you are, in fact, now ready to set the example. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask Members to set that example this afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a recorded vote.