Merci, monsieur le President. I am pleased to present the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Interim Report on the Review of Members’ Conduct Guidelines.

Introduction

It is a priority of the 18th Legislative Assembly to promote and ensure, to the greatest extent possible, a high standard of personal and public conduct for current and future Members. An important step was taken via Motion 6-18(1), entitled “Adoption of Members’ Conduct Guidelines.” Introduced by the Member for Hay River North, the motion represents this Assembly’s first referral of work to a standing committee:

WHEREAS the Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly are mindful that it is an honour and a 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 Legislative 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.

The committee notes that, while the referral motion directs a review of the Members’ Conduct Guidelines, it recognizes that legislation and rules of the Assembly also govern Members’ behaviour. Taken together, they set the overall standard of conduct Members are expected or bound to uphold. This report describes that matrix, and provides some comparisons to systems elsewhere. The purpose of this interim report is to outline useful information to support public discussion, consultation, and further research that will lead to recommendations for consideration by the Legislative Assembly.

The standing committee’s work began with an examination of laws that govern who can run for office, and what is done in the event a sitting Member breaches the law. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass this on to Ms. Green to continue.