This is page numbers 1945 - 1984 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was program.

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

I move that this committee recommends that the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act be amended to direct each Legislature to request that the Governor in Council dissolve the Legislative Assembly no later than the first Friday in September in an election year;

And further, that the Legislative and Executive Council Act and Elections Act be amended to allow the first Monday in October every four years to be the fixed date of the general election of Members to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

I was just trying to help things move along, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Well, thank you all. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mr. Braden.

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. The timing was indeed the topic that committee spent the most time exploring. In listening to Mr. Zoe's point about more public consultation, I think that, with the efforts that were made, I don't know that we would generate a lot more. I think there is a very broad acceptance of a fixed election date. Now, I think people are expecting us to work out the one that is the best for the most situations. Madam Chair, I would speak in favour of the motion, personally.

As Mr. Roland and I have had two elections now in the front end of winter, I don't relish the thought of doing it any more or of asking any other candidates to do it. A campaign in September, I think, is a really good fit or the best fit we are going to get across the length and breadth of the North. Our business planning process, at least as we know it now, would be interrupted. But business planning processes are not locked in stone either. I would like to think that we can amend the way we go about our business planning process that would give the new Assembly some tools to better work that way. It should also be pointed out, Madam Chair, that this is going to shorten our term I think by three or four months. That is one thing to keep in mind for our own legislative program here. This is not the last piece of electoral kind of business that we or the public are going to deal with, because our laws, as they were set a couple of years ago, will compel us to have an electoral boundaries review. That has to begin within the next term of the next year, so there's more of the same to come.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Braden. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is for the first Monday in October. To the motion. I still have two more speakers at least recorded so far: Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Ramsay and then Mr. Menicoche.

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. I, like my colleague, agree that September is the time when people are out doing their subsistence hunt for geese. The third option, May/June, is the time again when people are out on the land.

I listened here today to people talking about the weather, but up north when you have to campaign, you go campaigning. It doesn't matter what kind of weather it is. If you want to start campaigning, the option is the first Monday in November. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Okay. Then you aren't speaking in favour of the motion. Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to state that, of course, I am in favour of a fixed election date. When it is, is debatable. I can buy the argument that

Mr. Roland makes, but I also listened to my colleagues here who have concerns about it being hunting season. Personally, I could campaign in cold weather, warm weather, it doesn't matter. At this stage of the game, Madam Chair, I would agree to an election next week, it's been that long of a haul here. So I will vote in favour of the motion. Let's get it done.

Some Hon. Members

Yeah!

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. To the motion for the first Monday in October, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am certainly in favour of not campaigning in the snow.

---Laughter

But I am not really in favour of a fixed election date. I won't be voting for this motion.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Next on the list is Mr. Zoe. To the motion.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. Although my previous comments said maybe we should wait until the next sitting in May to discuss this, I just was thinking about the process. This gives the government direction. If we give them direction, then hopefully they will start working on developing the required legislation or make amendments to the various legislation. That's just a first step. Then once the bill is developed, it will go through the process, go back to committee and they will have public hearings. At that time, if they want the date to be changed, we will have a good, healthy debate and maybe we will have more public input at this time. Therefore, I will be supporting Mr. Roland's motion.

Some Hon. Members

Yeah!

---Applause

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Zoe. To the motion. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be voting in favour of the motion. Although I personally prefer winter elections to show how hardy we are as northerners. I want to emphasize that I think Mr. Zoe is right; we will see this a few times, so it can be further debated later. Thank you.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. You raise a good point. This is good drafting instruction, so that the legislation can be drafted up. This will not be your last opportunity to speak to it. There is always the prerogative to change your mind. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Madam Chair, the report also discussed that a review be undertaken to consider the efficiencies and sharing of resources that could occur with the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, assuming the administration responsibilities for election of community governments under the Local Authorities Election Act. I think this review should happen. Let them take a look at it and see if we can incorporate to see if it can be done.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

To that effect, Madam Chair, I would like to move that the committee recommends that a review be undertaken to consider the efficiencies and sharing of resources that could occur with the office of the Chief Electoral Officer assuming the administrative responsibility for elections of community governments under the Local Authorities Election Act.

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.