Thank you, Mr. Chair. This amendment is separate from the previous suite of amendments that was designed to register and regulate territorial political parties. One of the concerns raised, and we've heard it in the debate was around creating an unfair advantage for independent candidates or incumbents to compete with a political organization with superior resources.

This amendment allows anyone who wishes to be a candidate in an election to use up to $30,000 a year to promote their candidacy. One of the realities of being an incumbent in this House is we are able to hold the public's attention to a certain degree for four years through newsletters, through advertising. Even if it's not to directly promote our candidacy, it indirectly continues to keep our roles as MLAs alive in the public's eyes.

In the Northwest Territories, statistically, incumbents have a 65 percent likelihood of being returned to office in a general election. This amendment is designed to allow potential challengers to an incumbent to be able to spend their own personal resources to promote their candidacy. That could look like an ad in the newspaper saying, "I'm John Doe, and I would like to be your next MLA for Kam Lake," and it to not be an offence under the Elections Act to do so.

A lot of Members spoke earlier today about ensuring we have a level playing field for all political contenders. This amendment will allow independence, because we all know the registration of political parties is not a reality. Those amendments failed. This amendment specifically addresses the ability of independent candidates to promote their candidacy to a pre-defined limit outside of an electoral period or a pre-election period.

I hope Members will consider this separate from the issues of political parties. This is a very specific amendment that addresses independent candidates who could be consensus candidates or any kind of candidate, but this does level the playing field between challengers and incumbents. At the appropriate time, I would like a requested vote. Thank you, Mr. Chair.