WHEREAS this Legislative Assembly is required to appoint Members to the Board of Management in accordance with Section 36 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act;

AND WHEREAS appointments to the Board of Management are required to be made during the first sitting after a general election;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly:

the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Member for Monfwi;

Mr. Frederick Blake Jr., Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Cory Vanthuyne, Member for Yellowknife North;

the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; and

the Honourable Wally Schumann, Member for Hay River South.

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management as alternate members:

Mr. Herbert Nakimayak, Member for Nunakput;

Mr. Shane Thompson, Member for Nahendeh;

the Honourable Glen Abernethy, Member for Great Slave; and

the Honourable Louis Sebert, Member for Thebacha.

Mahsi, Mr. Testart. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Simpson, Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

---Unanimous consent granted

WHEREAS the Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly are mindful that it is an honour and privilege to serve the people of the Northwest Territories as legislators;

AND WHEREAS the trust and confidence the people have placed in conferring this office upon us demands the highest standard of conduct, integrity and honour;

AND WHEREAS Members are resolved to do our utmost to hear the voices of all our people; preserve our traditions and bridge them with new ways to build our future; provide legislation, policies and services for the good of the people as individuals, families and communities; promote the equality of all our people; distribute resources fairly and justly; and respect and honour our land and all its inhabitants;

AND WHEREAS Members recognize that we owe to this Legislature respect as well as dedication to ensuring the integrity of our government and to earning the confidence of the people;

AND WHEREAS Members recognize that we owe to our constituents our best efforts at effective representation as well as accountability, honesty, fairness and courtesy;

AND WHEREAS Members recognize that we owe to the public a responsibility to work for the well-being of all residents of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS Members recognize that we owe to our colleagues fairness and respect for differences, and the duty to work together with goodwill for the common good;

AND WHEREAS Members are resolved not to act, nor condone others to act, in ways which are dishonest or which exploit, slander or discriminate against others;

AND WHEREAS Members acknowledge a vision and a responsibility to improve the lives of our people and to act in creative ways to overcome the hardships which destroy life and hope and the human frailties which fall upon us;

AND WHEREAS Members are resolved to respect and abide by the laws of Canada and the Northwest Territories and will not act in ways which will violate these laws;

AND WHEREAS paragraph 75(a) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that each Member shall perform his or her duties of office and arrange his or her private affairs in such a manner as to maintain public confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of the Member;

AND WHEREAS past Assemblies have seen fit to adopt principles to guide Members’ conduct;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that this 18th Legislative Assembly formally adopts the Members’ Conduct Guidelines as appended and which forms part of this resolution;

AND FURTHER, that each Member of the Legislative Assembly shall sign a copy of the Members’ Conduct Guidelines before the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, who shall make all signed copies available to the public through the Legislative Library and by posting signed copies on the Assembly website;

AND FURTHERMORE, that this Assembly refer the Members’ Conduct Guidelines to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures for a comprehensive and public review, including a thorough examination of conduct guidelines from other jurisdictions, both parliamentary and non-parliamentary organizations, all relevant legislation, and the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, and that the Standing Committee report back to this Assembly during the fall sitting of 2016.

Mahsi, Mr. Simpson. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. Mr. Simpson.

Mr. Speaker, to conclude the motion and because of the seriousness of this matter, I wish to request a recorded vote.

The Member requests a recorded vote. To the motion.

All those in favour, please stand.

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.

Mahsi, Members. All those in support, 18; opposed, zero; abstentions, zero. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Bob McLeod, Yellowknife South.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

---Unanimous consent granted

WHEREAS the Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly have resolved to work together to set priorities and to develop a mandate to guide this government over the next four years;

AND WHEREAS the development of a mid-term review process will provide an opportunity to evaluate progress on implementing the Assembly’s agreed upon priorities;

AND WHEREAS such a review will also provide a mechanism to evaluate the performance of the Executive Council and standing committees, both collectively and individually;

AND WHEREAS the establishment of a public mid-term review process will demonstrate the commitment of the 18th Legislative Assembly to greater transparency and accountability;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, that this Legislative Assembly conduct a public mid-term accountability review of the adopted mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly, including the performance of the Executive Council and standing committees, to take place in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly prior to the fall 2017 sitting;

AND FURTHER, that this Assembly refer this matter to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures to recommend a process, including the terms of reference, for such a review and that the Standing Committee report back to the House with its recommendations during the fall 2016 sitting.

Mahsi, Mr. McLeod. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 10, first reading of bills. Item 11, second reading of bills. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 28(1) and Rule 33 to have the item “prorogation” placed on the orders of the day for today.

---Unanimous consent granted

The item “prorogation” will be placed on the orders of the day for today.

Colleagues, over the last few weeks we have met for the first time as the 18th Legislative Assembly Members. I know it has been a very busy time, but I hope that it has all been a rewarding time for all of us. We have spent many hours as colleagues, and I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet, discuss and collaborate with you all. It is an encouraging beginning for this 18th Assembly.

Although we are ending this very short sitting today, you will be returning in January to continue your important work. I encourage each and every one of you to take these few weeks to connect with your family, your supporters, your friends and, most importantly, your constituents. They will be the people who will sustain you over the next four years.

I would like to wish all of you and your families a very happy holiday season and very best wishes for you in the New Year. As you leave here today, Members, please do travel safely and I look forward to seeing you all in January.

Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George L. Tuccaro, is prepared to enter the Chamber and prorogue the First Session of the 18th Legislative Assembly.