The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is committed to the government and is more open to stakeholders and to the general public. In pursuit of this objective, the committee looks for opportunities to open meetings to the public. In addition, internal committee documents are often appended to committee reports when the issue is ready for presentation in the Legislative Assembly to allow the public to better understand the background leading to recommendations. During this Legislative Assembly, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight's Report on the Business Plans has been tabled for the first time along with the Committee Report on the Main Estimates.
Theme Days
In the past two years, committee members used "theme days" as a way of working together to publicize, heighten awareness, and bring focus to issues of public concern. During the time allotted for Members' statements and during question period, Members would focus on a particular issue. The rules of the Legislative Assembly allow for a period of time for Members of the Legislative Assembly to make a two-and-a-half minute statement on any matter.
Question period is typically one of the most publicized parts of the Assembly's proceedings and it provides an opportunity for Members of the Legislative Assembly to call attention to public issues. During question period, MLAs ask Ministers questions about government activity in order to seek out information. The responses are a way of making information about the government's activities public.
Members prepared several theme days on important issues, including:
- • Student Financial Assistance;
- • Health and Social Programs;
- • Greenhouse Gas and Resource Development;
- • Human Resources and Public Service Commission;
- • Literacy;
- • Water Quality;
- • FAS/FAE; and
- • High Cost of Energy.
Mr. Speaker, water quality, for example, was a concern for committee members for a variety of reasons, including contaminated drinking water in communities, inadequate and unsafe sources of water supply, aging municipal water systems and a drastic increase in insurance rates for municipalities. Members made statements and raised questions on water supply, quality, training and certification, water quality standards and environmental concerns.
As a result, the government has taken steps to address many issues raised including an examination of municipal systems and standards.
Next Steps
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight met on September 11, 2001, to review the work undertaken to date and to plan for the next 15 months of business. Members reviewed the vision statement and reaffirmed that:
Our vision is to be responsive and accountable to the public by acting with integrity to contribute to the achievement of the 14th Legislative Assembly's vision.
The mission statement was revised to better reflect the proactive role of the committee, not merely a role in which committee responds to government initiatives. The committee agreed that:
Our mission will be to take purposeful action to support, question or oppose government initiatives and to hold government accountable; we will also propose that government take action where appropriate and in the public interest.
Within the context of the revised mission statement, Members revised the goals and priorities of the committee. They are:
- • To advocate for the rights of the public in those needing a voice in dealings with government;
- • To have a public service that is representative of the population served; that is treated fairly and managed effectively;
- • To work toward effective government organization, structure and operations;
- • To see a cohesive and current workers' compensation system and governing authorities to meet the changing environment;
- • To develop an energy strategy to address the changing Northwest Territories environment and outside influences;
- • To see a strategy for sharing control of resources including non-renewable resource development and environmental impacts and liabilities of development;
- • To develop a diversified long-term fiscal outlook for the GNWT;
- • To advocate for adequate housing for residents;
- • To advocate for reduced cost of living for residents; and
- • To support the development of prevention measures and promote awareness of the detrimental effects of FAS/FAE.
Mr. Speaker, ongoing goals that are explicitly included in our mandate were revised to reflect the recommendation that the annual reports of several statutory officers be referred to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. They are:
- • Conduct the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;
- • Consider budgets and financial management of the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and non-assigned boards and agencies;
- • Examine Auditor General reports;
- • Coordinate House business scheduling and planning with Cabinet; and
- • Review, as necessary and appropriate, annual reports of statutory officers of the Legislative Assembly including the Commissioner of Official Languages; the Conflict of Interest Commissioner; and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Commissioner.