Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS section 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees rights and freedoms set out in subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society;
AND WHEREAS section 3 of the Charter provides every citizen of Canada with the right to vote in an election of Members of the House of Commons or of a Legislative Assembly and to be qualified for membership therein;
AND WHEREAS the 14th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories was elected on December 6th, 1999;
AND WHEREAS all Members of the 14th Assembly took an oath of office to solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that they will duly and faithfully and to the best of their skill and knowledge, execute the powers and trust reposed in them as Members of the Legislative Assembly;
AND WHEREAS the term of the 14th Assembly expires on January 5, 2004;
AND WHEREAS under section 9(3) of the Northwest Territories Act, the Governor in council, after consultation, may dissolve the Legislative Assembly, thus causing a new Legislature to be elected;
AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is of the view that the electorate of the Northwest Territories must continue to hold the Legislative Assembly accountable for its actions;
AND WHEREAS by exercising their democratic right to vote, the citizens of the Northwest Territories are permitted through the ballot box to express their views;
AND WHEREAS the Members of the Legislative Assembly must continue to hold the confidence of the electorate;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that the 14th Legislative Assembly request the Governor and Council to dissolve the 14th Legislative Assembly by January 31, 2003, to permit the issuance of writs for a general election for the 15th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories;
AND FURTHER, that the Speaker transmit this resolution to the Governor in Council.
Thank you.