Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, the committee proposes the implementation of legislative amendments to provide for regional representation on Cabinet. Cabinet concurs with the review of the committee that the regional representation based on the 2-2-2 model, set out in the committee report allows for a good balance between all regions of the Northwest Territories. Such a model would ensure that all regions have an adequate voice in decision-making at the Cabinet level. Traditionally, decisions concerning the size, composition and selection of Cabinet have fallen within the purview of incoming Members of the Legislative Assembly. In most jurisdictions, reference to the Premier and the Executive Council are not even set out in legislation. In our system, Madam Chairperson, this type of representation has always been established by convention.

Prior to division, this Legislative Assembly established a convention that ensured four Ministers would be elected from amongst the 14 Members of the western caucus and four Ministers from the ten Members of Nunavut caucus. This was a convention established and honoured through several Assemblies and the terms of office of many different Members. During the clause by clause review of this Bill in committee, it was suggested to me that the 2-2-2 model could not be established in this manner because no such convention exists at this time. Another argument put forward was that under the proposed electoral boundaries, one region could essentially control the Cabinet selection process. Cabinet has considered these arguments and those set out in the committee's report. In our view, the convention must begin somewhere, and a good place to start is the beginning of the 14th Assembly.

With respect to the argument that one region can control the selection process, this is of course possible. I would note that it was also possible during previous Assemblies for the western caucus to dominate the Cabinet selection process based purely on numbers. This never occurred. Madam Chairperson, whether this was the result of goodwill of Members or because in our system, Members are elected as individuals with individual political views, is a question open to debate. In truth, there was probably a little of both. We believe that future Members of the Legislative Assembly would continue to ensure that regional interests are represented in Cabinet. Members of Cabinet fully endorse the 2-2-2 model proposed by the committee and are of the view that such a model will be adopted as the convention for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Madam Chairperson, we believe that a political convention based on the 2-2-2 model of regional representation could be achieved through a formal motion of this House recommending this proposal to the 14th Assembly. This motion and the report of the Standing Committee could be provided to Members of the 14th Assembly in the transition report traditionally prepared for incoming Members. Madam Chairperson, the committee also proposed to enshrine the size of the Cabinet at six Members. We feel that this is a determination that incoming Members of the 14th Assembly should make. Mahsi Cho.