Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Next Steps

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures will:

1. Consider the potential for existing or emerging technologies to enhance public access to information and public interaction.

2. Do further consultation with individual members of the Legislative Assembly, Chairs of standing committees, GNWT officials, and members of the public and organizations; to elicit input on how to enhance transparency and public engagement in the work done by the Standing Committees.

The committee recognizes that further work should be done to examine a number of issues including:

● What does “public” really mean in the context of meetings and does it include broadcasting?

● What supporting materials for standing committee meetings should be public?

● Should standing committee deliberations and decisions be made in public, and how might that be documented?

● What, if any, standing committee correspondence is public?

● How to ensure consistency of processes and procedures across the standing committees?

● How often and by whom should standing committee procedures be reviewed in light of commitments to more public engagement and transparency?

The committee looks forward to conducting additional research and hearing from the public and Members on these matters. The committee will focus on practical and effective ways our standing committees can improve their transparency and engagement, and provide useful information to the interested public. The Committee plans to report further to the Assembly in June 2017. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.