I feel like an eager beaver. Merci, Monsieur le President. Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of Bill 56: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and the Executive Council Act, No. 2, and the Draft Code of Conduct.
Introduction
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures (committee) is pleased to report on its review of Bill 56: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act No. 2 and the Draft Code of Conduct for Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
The Draft Code of Conduct was tabled in the Legislative Assembly and referred to the committee on March 11, 2019. Bill 56 was given second reading in the Legislative Assembly and was referred to the Committee on June 4, 2019.
If adopted, the Draft Code of Conduct would replace the current Members' Conduct Guidelines as the rules that govern Members' behaviour. The Draft Code of Conduct includes an explanatory guide.
Bill 56 would amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to:
- modify the oath of office sworn by Members to include specific obligations;
- clarify the conflict of interest regime in respect of Members and former Members;
- require the adoption by the Legislative Assembly of a Code of Conduct that establishes standards for the conduct of Members;
- require Members to comply with any Code of Conduct adopted;
- create the Office of Integrity Commissioner to carry out the duties of the former Conflict of Interest Commissioner, as well as similar duties in relation to the Code of Conduct;
- clarify the obligations of Members with respect to the receipt of gifts and personal benefits; and
- correct inconsistencies and errors identified in the Act.
Background
The Legislative Assembly adopted Motion 6-18(1) on December 17, 2015, which, among other things, referred the Members' Conduct Guidelines to the committee 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.
The committee filed CR-2-18(2): Interim Report on the Review of Members' Conduct Guidelines on October 25, 2016. The purpose of the interim report was to outline useful information to support public discussion, consultation, and further research that would lead to recommendations for consideration by the Legislative Assembly
The committee filed its final report, CR-7-18(2): You Are Standing For Your People: Report on the Review of Members' Conduct Guidelines. This report included several recommendations, including:
- changes to the oath of office sworn by Members of the Legislative Assembly;
- the adoption of a Code of Conduct that included more specific and enforceable obligations;
- the role of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner be expanded to include responsibility for receiving and investigating complaints respecting breaches of the Code of Conduct; and
- the conflict of interest provisions of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act No. 2 be publicly reviewed.
Bill 56 and the Draft Code of Conduct were developed at the direction of the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly in response to these recommendations.
I'd like to turn the next part of the report over to the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.