Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to be here today to speak to Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for its review of this bill.

The Conflict of Interest Act defines the circumstances in which a council or board member is considered to be in a conflict of interest when participating in decisions of that council or board.

The current act automatically deems that a member has received a benefit -- what the act calls an “indirect pecuniary interest” -- in situations where the member is also an employee of the government with whom the contract or proposed contract is being made. This results in situations where members are forced to declare a conflict on decisions in which they would derive no direct benefit from their employers and the indirect benefit is so remote that no practical conflict exists.

The main purpose of the bill is to enable employees of the federal and territorial governments to actively participate on boards and municipal councils. Members will not have to declare a conflict of interest unless they stand to benefit from a decision of the board or council. The amendment removes the presumption that the member automatically stands to benefit from such a decision simply because they are employed by government.

The need to amend the Conflict of Interest Act has been raised by the Northwest Territories Association of Communities. The bill before you meets the commitment Justice has made to adjust the legislation to ensure that council and board members are free to participate effectively in matters and decisions of councils and boards.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that the committee members may have regarding Bill 14.