I call the committee of the whole back to order. Before we call in the Minister and the witnesses I would like to clear up a point of order that was raised Thursday, March 7, 2002, by the Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.
Chair's Ruling
Yesterday, March 7, 2002, in committee of the whole, Ms. Lee rose on a point of order with respect to comments made by Mr. Bell during debate on a motion to amend Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act.
In stating her point of order, Ms. Lee alleged that the Member for Yellowknife South had imputed false motives to other Members in contravention of Rule 23(i) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly.
Ms. Lee stated, and I quote from page 1058 of the Unedited Hansard:
I read from a repeated statement by the Member of Yellowknife South that somehow, anyone here who opposes this pension is doing so for a political purpose, that we are taking a stance that is popular to the public. We are taking this stance because...it is imputing motive. It is imputing why we are taking this position we are taking. That we are doing this because this is what the public wants, but really inside, in the dark inside of our little hearts, we are really wanting this money. I have a great objection to that.
I have reviewed carefully Mr. Bell's comments contained on page 1057 of Unedited Hansard. In speaking to the motion to amend Bill 7, Mr. Bell stated:
There are two things that a Member can take from this. You can vote no, condemn the pension and that way you will get the political upside and political credit for voting no. Or you can take the pension. I would suggest that possibly, in a politically perfect world, you could do both, which maybe the act of privacy would enable, but I do not think that is fair.
I can find nothing in Mr. Bell's comments stating, imputing or implied that suggest an imputation of false motive. Rather, Mr. Bell was simply stating his interpretation of the facts. Therefore, it is the ruling of the Chair that Ms. Lee does not have a point of order.
-- Applause
We will go on to Public Works and Services. Would the Minister like to bring in witnesses?