Thank you, Madam Chair. An analysis of the legislation governing statutory officers in the Northwest Territories was done and identified a number of areas of inconsistency that could be remedied through statutory amendments we see here today.

These amendments allow the Legislative Assembly to address a number of inconsistencies among them the terms governing its statutory officers. While some differences among these terms are both expected and desirable, some officers currently lack benefits and protections available to others, without obvious reason.

Bill 11 will amend eight statues related to officers of the Legislative Assembly:

• Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
• Elections and Plebiscites Act;
• Human Rights Act;
• Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act;
• Official Languages Act;
• Ombud Act;
• Public Service Act; and
• Health Information Act.

The targeted revisions to existing legislation governing statutory officers will bring greater consistency to the specific terms and is required. Throughout Bill 11, these include:

1. Term of appointment: this will change the term of appointment for all statutory officers to four-year terms.
2. Resignation, suspension, or removal from office: these provisions allow the speaker, on the recommendation of the board of management, to suspend the statutory officer with or without pay when the Legislative Assembly is not sitting.
3. There will be changes to remuneration and benefits, to standardize the pay and benefits to ensure consistency across all full-time statutory officers.
4. We will standardize the travel and expenses, such that statutory officers would be entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred for travel to meetings, training, or official business, consistent with the types of rates set out in the Government of the Northwest Territories employee duty travel policy.
5. We will make amendments to clarify the role of other employment. Given the roles as independent officers and the potential conflict with holding a position within the public service, these provisions clarify that they may hold other employment, with prior approval, but not a position within the Government of the Northwest Territories.
6. Lastly, we will make amendments to the Oath of Office, to provide amended wording to align with other statues, specifying the oath can be taken by the Speaker or the Clerk.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That concludes my opening remarks. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with the consideration of this bill.