Thank you. Tabling of documents. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Tabling of documents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege. In yesterday's unedited Hansard, Thursday, October 17th, there is a series of questions asked to Ms. Thompson regarding recognition of band councils. If I recall correctly, these questions were asked by Mr. Krutko and not by myself, however, in the Hansard, they are attributed to myself. I realize that the normal process, is that we would in writing inform the Hansard office of these changes, but since we are going on to the end of the session, and these documents are received through electronic mail, and looked through by staff, media, and other individuals, that I wanted to make note.

Thank you. The Chair appreciates your comments on it. The Chair is responsible for the Hansard. I will do follow-up on it. Also, just to remind the Members to that, you do receive copies of the unedited Hansards of the previous day's session, and it would not hurt for the Members to just go over your questions, make the corrections necessary, that same day that you receive the Hansard, so that the Hansard department knows about it. If they do not, they will print it in final copy.

We are still in tabling of documents.

Notices of motion

Notice of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent to deal with Motion 23-13(3). Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To your motion. Mr. Ootes, do you wish to speak to your motion? Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Seconder of the motion. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to follow up on what Mr. Ootes has indicated. All the Members, basically have spoken in support of community empowerment. However, we want to ensure that the communities are not set up for failure, that they do receive training and support, and that they actually do want to take on community empowerment, and it is not being forced upon them. With that in mind, we are making this motion, and we support it. Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion. Question is being called. All those in favour. All those opposed. All those abstaining. The motion is carried. Thank you.

---Applause.

Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 1-13(3), Tabled Document 83-13(3), Committee Report 10-13(3), and, do we have another motion? And Committee Report 11-13(3).

Again, on March 28th, a motion was passed by which authority was given to the Speaker 3-13(3), I will order you into Committee of the Whole to sit beyond the regular adjournment, or until such time as the committee is prepared to report. Mrs. Groenewegen is in the chair.

Thank you Madam Chair.

Under the Legislative Assembly, the various reports provided to the committee included a projected shortfall of $350,000, in the Legislative Assembly's budget, 1996/97. Much of the extra cost is related to committees meeting more often than was originally expected in the budget.

On the other hand, committee members noted that most of the reductions in contractual costs recommended during the business plan review process earlier this year, are being achieved, and that cuts to Members' compensation and pensions were also achieved, as planned. Final calculations of the actual savings and reductions to Members' pensions will be forthcoming from the administrators of the pension plan.

Committee Members also noted a concern regarding affirmative action levels among employees of the Legislative Assembly. Under the Affirmative Action Policy Review, in 1989, the government implemented the Affirmative Action Policy, which included a provision for the policy to be reviewed in 1994. A comprehensive review was undertaken in 1994/95. In June, the chairman of the Financial Management Board presented a draft report on the review of the Affirmative Action Policy to the standing committee. Committee members have previously expressed concerns about the policy. All noted that the policy did not work. That is, it did not raise levels of employment within the GNWT for affected groups significantly. Members noted that the problem was especially serious for professional and management positions.

The standing committee agreed that a broader approach is needed. Members suggested that a broad northern employment policy be developed. Such a policy would recognize that hiring practices are only one part of achieving a goal of a public service representative of the population that it serves. Education and career training are equally important issues that must be addressed in order to attain that goal, and a broader employment policy would include measures to deal with those issues.

The committee also agreed that such a policy would be more effective if more of the implementation was handled at the regional or community levels. Members suggested that one reason the policy has not been effective to date, is its top down nature.

The committee was disappointed that the draft report, rather than providing options and suggested courses of actions, merely seemed to ask more questions. The chairman of the FMB asked for direction from the committee, and following the June meeting, the standing committee presented its concerns to the chairman. Committee members expect to see a new draft of the policy review this fall.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We would like to provide the details of the Report of the Standing Committee of Government Operations on the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer. During the 1995 election, the majority of the election administration was handled in the north by northern election officials; however, overall control of the

process and many of the special approvals were still handled by the Chief Electoral Officer in Ottawa.

In his last two reports there have been recommendations that the N.W.T. should assume responsibility for it's own elections. Elections Canada could provide support, and advice, only on request, as it does for other jurisdictions, both within Canada, and elsewhere.

The standing committee agrees completely that the administration of elections should be the responsibility of northerners. The Chief Electoral Officer has already made this recommendation to the federal government. It is now time for the territorial government to follow up on this recommendation.

Negotiations should begin immediately to ensure the responsibility is transferred prior to the 1999 elections. Funding for Territorial elections are currently fully covered by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer. There is no specific budget for these elections which could be transferred. Instead the elections are funded by the federal government with statutory authority money.

The Chief Electoral Officer suggested during his appearance before the standing committee that these funds could be rechanneled through the Government of the Northwest Territories. He further suggested the amount in question is probably about $1 million, for the two territories combined.

Madam Chair, I move that this Committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories immediately begin negotiations with the Federal government for the transfer of full responsibility and the financial resources for the administration of territorial elections and further, that the Legislative Assembly appoint a Chief Electoral Officer, well in advance of the next election.