Thank you. The Member for Yellowknife South is seeking unanimous consent to have this motion deemed to have been read in its entirety and printed in Hansard. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Henry, you have unanimous consent.
WHEREAS on April 1, 1999, the creation of Nunavut will reduce the membership of the 13th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories to 14 Members;
AND WHEREAS the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures has considered certain rules provisions respecting attire in the Chamber and Standing Committee structures in light of their applicability after March 31, 1999; NOW THEREFORE, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by:
Striking out that portion of Rule 12(9) that follows, "When in the Assembly, every Member shall be attired..." and substituting "... in traditional aboriginal clothing or in a manner that does not offend the dignity of the Assembly.";
AND FURTHER that Rules 85 and 85.1 be rescinded and the following adopted:
85(1) At its first sitting after a general election, the Assembly shall appoint a Striking Committee of three Members to report and recommend, with all convenient speed, Members to comprise the following Standing Committees of the Assembly:
On Government Operations
On Resource Management and Infrastructure
On Rules and Procedures
On Social Programs
and any other standing and special committees as directed by the Assembly.
(2) The Standing Committee on Government Operations shall:
a) Review issues which have government-wide implications;
b) Consider items and issues referred from other committees and the House;
c) Conduct the overview of the budget and the fiscal framework;
d) Consider the budgets and financial management of boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any standing committee, including the Office of the Legislative Assembly;
e) Examine the reports on the annual financial statements and public accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Report of the Auditor General;
f) Allocate to any other standing committee its examination of any estimates and any review of departmental performance;
g) Examine and consider the overall issues that affect the operation of the Government of the Northwest Territories relating to division.
(3) The Standing Committee on Resource Management and Infrastructure shall consider the following matters with respect to the Departments of Executive, Aboriginal Affairs, Financial Management Board Secretariat, Finance, Public Works and Services, Municipal and Community Affairs, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and Transportation:
a) Review legislation and policy proposals, multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, and public accounts;
b) Review departmental performance; and,
c) Consider any other matter referred by the House.
(4) The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures shall inquire into such matters as may be referred to it by the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker, or the Management and Services Board.
(5) The Standing Committee on Social Programs shall consider the following matters with respect to the Departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment, Justice, and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation:
a) Review legislative and policy proposals, multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, and public accounts;
b) Review departmental performance; and,
c) Consider any other matter referred by the House.
AND FURTHERMORE that Rule 87(1) be amended by adding "... with the exception of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, which shall consist of seven Members" after "... not more than five Members..."
AND FURTHERMORE that Rule 87(2) be amended by adding "... with the exception of the Standing Committee on Government Operations..." after "Each Standing Committee...";
AND FURTHERMORE that Rule 90(3) be rescinded and the following adopted:
90(3) The quorum of a committee shall be a simple majority of committee Members.
AND FURTHERMORE that these amendments shall come into effect and be deemed to be Rules of the Legislative Assembly on April 1, 1999.