Due to the serious issues respecting public confidence, which have been raised to date, the special committee therefore seeks a further mandate from the Legislative Assembly to conduct a review of allegations of bias together with the questions of conduct, which have presented themselves to date. While this process does require expenditure of public funds, the committee is greatly concerned that should matters abruptly cease at this juncture, significant funds which have been expended to date will have resulted in only doubts and questions being raised without answers and definitive conclusions. Absent a conclusion to this review, there will continue to be a cloud hanging over the reputations of both statutory officers of the House and Members.

Therefore, the special committee is recommending to the Legislative Assembly the following:

1. that the Legislative Assembly approve the request of the Honourable Jane Groenewegen to withdraw the application, as filed with the Board of Management on May 7, 2001;
2. that the Legislative Assembly advise the Conflict of Interest Commissioner that she may transmit her report on the investigation to the Speaker;
3. that notwithstanding the withdrawal of the application, the Legislative Assembly authorizes and extends the mandate of the Special Committee on Conflict Process to consider the allegation of an apprehension of bias in relation to the investigation conducted by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, and to consider related matters which have arisen or may arise during the normal course of proceedings of the special committee;
4. that the Legislative Assembly instructs the Special Committee on Conflict Process to undertake its extended mandate as expeditiously as possible and to report to the Legislative Assembly at the next session, no later than October 23, 2001; and
5. that the authority and terms of reference of the Special Committee on Conflict Process as approved by the Legislative Assembly are hereby amended and extended with the adoption of this report.