Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Legislative Assembly is unique within the territorial government. It must recognize and respond to factors such as fiscal restraint, division and the changing nature of government which will effect all departments of this government. However, it must also remain separate and distinct from the overall government structure in order to fulfil its role as a legislative body accountable to the electorate, the people who put us here in this Assembly, in this building. The Legislative Assembly is more than just a building. It also has to adjust to the changing way we do business, to improve efficiencies in the consensus decision making that we have and will have as the constant impact on operating environment over the next few years, leading to the creation of two new territories. In the main estimates book and result statements under program overview, the Legislative Assembly, in giving their report, makes the statement which I will have questions on later, Mr. Chairman. One of those statements which I will mention right now is that the Legislative Assembly intends to ensure that there are two independent, fully functioning Legislative Assemblies ready to serve the people of the two new territories well in advance of April 1999. I will be asking some direct questions to the Speaker and his staff on these two independent, fully functioning Legislative Assemblies and how far in advance of 1999 will they intend to make sure that those two independent, fully functioning Legislative Assemblies are up and running or willing to take over on April 1, 1999. Those are just my general comments on the Legislative Assembly. I look forward to direct questions to the staff at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Edward Picco on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 4th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 3rd, 1997
Page 1083
Edward Picco Iqaluit
See context to find out what was said next.