Mr. Speaker, thanks to my colleague for filling in as my voice gave out there.

Recommendations

In a jurisdiction so large and geographically remote, the standing committee believes there is value in providing residents with greater opportunities to interact with their government. The public appeared to appreciate and utilize the pilot site as one place to go to view or sign various petitions, offering greater accessibility and transparency to citizens of the Northwest Territories. No insurmountable concerns arose during the pilot project. The committee, therefore, considers that this Assembly should offer an ongoing electronic petition service and revise the rules of the Legislative Assembly accordingly.

Recommendation 1

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that this Legislative Assembly approve the implementation of an ongoing electronic petition service to operate in conjunction with the traditional petitions, and that the electronic site be operational for the fall 2012 sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

Recommendation 2

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that any necessary amendments to the rules of the Legislative Assembly to permit the use of electronic petitions be drafted and presented for the approval of the Legislative Assembly during the fall 2012 session.

That concludes the Report of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures on the Introduction of Electronic Petitions in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.