As explained above, the sunset clause provides for the repeal of all of section 2 as well as Schedule A of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act when the present Assembly is dissolved. This means that no election for a 15th Assembly could be conducted, since there would be no legal electoral districts in the NWT.

The federal NWT Act provides that no Assembly shall continue for more than four years from the date of the return of the writs from its election. This means that the present Assembly cannot continue to function later than January 6, 2004. After that date, unless the sunset clause is amended or repealed, there will be no Legislative Assembly in the NWT.

This could have various repercussions.