This is page numbers 6091 - 6124 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was environmental.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Testart.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Committee Report 30-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of Bill 56: Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act and Draft Code of Conduct; Bill 56: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2; Committee Report 28-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act; Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act; Committee Report 27-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Bill 39: Environmental Rights Act; Bill 39: Environmental Rights Act in that order. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will take a brief recess and then consider the documents. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, committee. I will now call the Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to do Committee Report 30-18(3), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of Bill 56, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, and Draft Code of Conduct. Excuse me, Members. Keep the sidebar to a minimum. I will now go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures for any opening comments. Mr. O'Reilly.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I will keep this very brief. We read the report into the House, I think it was yesterday. The Rules and Procedures Committee held public hearings in three different locations, Fort Smith, Yellowknife, and Inuvik, on some changes that are going to be forthcoming for discussion.

These are changes to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Just quickly, these will:

  • modify the oath of office sworn by Members to include obligations;
  • clarify conflict of interest regime in respect of Members and former Members;
  • require adoption by the Legislative Assembly of a Code of Conduct;
  • establish 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 in respect to the receipt of gifts, personal benefits; and
  • correct consistencies and errors identified in the act.

This is the closing of the loop. The very first thing that we did, actually, as a Legislative Assembly was to refer the Code of Conduct to the Rules and Procedures Committee. This is the end of that process of reviewing our Code of Conduct, and the report that committee has come forward with has a few recommendations that we will get into.

I think that this is very important work that we all undertook and will ensure greater accountability and transparency for future MLAs. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I will now open the floor to general comments on Committee Report 30-18(3), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of Bill 56, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act and Draft Code of Conduct. Any questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Committee did make five recommendations in our report. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories create a separate section on its website for the Integrity Commissioner and that all documents that must be posted on the register be located on this page. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. The motion is on the floor and is being distributed. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Sorry, in my introductory remarks, I neglected to thank my fellow committee Members for the hard work that they did and the public for the submissions that we received.

To the motion, Mr. Chair, with the changes in Bill 56, we are going to transition the Conflict of Interest Commissioner to become an Integrity Commissioner, and the Integrity Commissioner can deal with complaints by any Member of the public with regard to any possible breaches of the Code of Conduct by future MLAs.

What this is going to do is provide a place where the reports, annual reports and so on, of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner can be found in one place. Also, the public portion of our disclosure statements as MLAs, they would also be found on this website to make them more accessible to the public. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the 19th Assembly have a public ceremony where each member agrees to and signs the code of conduct. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Very quickly, the code, when it is passed by the House, is binding on MLAs at the time and any future MLAs. There is not a requirement for our future MLAs to actually sign the code in any kind of public way. The recommendation here is that there still be a symbolic signing when MLAs are sworn in just so the public can see that they have agreed publicly to accept the code of conduct and live by it. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that upon adoption of the new code of conduct and the coming into force of Bill 56, that a news release be distributed and plain-language materials be posted to the Legislative Assembly website explaining the changes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that all Members of the 19th Assembly receive privacy training to assist them in protecting the confidentiality of any personal information, personal health information, or other confidential information that comes into their possession. Thank you, Mr. Chair.