Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to

thank my colleagues and Cabinet for adding their remarks for debate.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that it may be of some use to you in considering this matter if I advise the House of other precedents that may apply to the situation at hand, especially with respect to government announcements or advertising initiatives which by being announced prematurely cause prejudice of future proceedings of the House and diminish the role of the Legislative Assembly in the eyes of its Members and the public we all serve.

For example, on October 10, 1989, Speaker John Fraser of the House of Commons rendered a decision regarding the Government of Canada’s advertising with respect to the implementation of GST, which may have some relevance. The Speaker found there was strong argument that suggested the government actually tended to diminish the respect due to the House. This ruling also triggered a number of related rulings grappling with issues of government advertising and contempt of Parliament in the Quebec National Assembly. As well, the findings of Speaker Chris Stockwell of the Ontario Legislative Assembly on January 22, 1997, offer some interesting insights, particularly the finding of

the government’s unqualified claims, “convey the impression that the passage of the requisite legislation was not necessary or was a foregone conclusion, or that the Assembly and the Legislature had an inferior role in the legislative and law-making process.”

As you ponder this question, Mr. Speaker, I would ask you to give consideration to one aspect of governance in the Northwest Territories which distinguishes our Legislative Assembly from most other Canadian jurisdictions. This is the guiding principles and process conventions of consensus government. These were adopted by the Members of the Assembly and signed by our Premier and by the chair of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning.

Now, allow me to conclude as I reflect in particular on the principle which has been egregiously undermined by the actions of the Premier and Finance Minister: “Except under extraordinary circumstances,

Members

of

the

Legislative

Assembly should be made aware of and have the opportunity to discuss significant announcements, changes, consultations or initiatives before they are released to the public or introduced in the Legislative Assembly. The use of the element of surprise is inconsistent with consensus government.”

Given that the Premier and Finance Minister have known for more than a year of the drought conditions, and in fact we heard today they’ve known for four years that these conditions have precipitated the impending request for supplementary funding, it is difficult to argue that this is an “extraordinary circumstance”. If this does not amount to contempt of our consensus system of government, then I do not know what does.

I bow to your wisdom in this matter, Mr. Speaker, and I await your response. Thank you.