This is page numbers 4635 - 4688 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 know.

Topics

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Madam Chair, I support this motion. This is a useful document for those thinking about running for office, and it should be updated in time for the next election. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion. Member for Range Lake.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. This one I am 100 percent in support of. I know that when I first considered running for politics, I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn't know anything about this building nor the procedures at all. So I think that the more that we can do to actually ensure that all people understand how this structure works, the better off. And especially for people that are lower become and people that feel that they don't deserve to be here. I think everyone needs to know that they all deserve to be here. So I am 100 percent in support of this. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the document referenced in Motion 23 is more easily found on the Legislative Assembly website. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion..Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I support this motion.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstention? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I MOVE that this Assembly recommend an awareness and information video "A day in the Life of an MLA" be created by following and interviewing Members and Ministers about their work in the Legislative Assembly. It is important to show the difference between the role of a Minister and a Member. This would assist with awareness not only for potential candidates but the public in general. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I support this recommendation and feel a video like this would be useful for both the public and anyone considering running in the next election. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm not really opposed to this. I think it's fine for people to watch; I'd probably watch it.

I guess this came out of a bit of an ongoing concern at committee where people don't really realize what, I think especially Regular MLAs do. And I think the solution to that problem is we stop having the vast majority of our meetings in-camera. We do business plans in-camera. We just spent three weeks doing very tedious review in-camera. And if people want to know what MLAs do all day, that's -- well, they can't see what we do. So I think it would just be much easier to review what we do in-camera. I'm not too sure that people have as many doubts about what Ministers do, but maybe they do. They also do the vast majority of their work behind closed doors as well. So I think this is actually a transparency issue, and I'm not really sure that a little video is going to get us there to explain what we do behind closed doors all day. I think a good -- you know, if people want to know what MLAs do, they could probably watch this last hour of Committee of the Whole, and that would give you a sense of how most of our meetings look. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried. We'll have some movie stars in here.

---Carried

Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that clearly articulated and publicly available information about the purpose of the Legislative Assembly and the work and roles of an MLA in the NWT be created so individuals can become more informed and engaged in the political process. This could include such things as educational and information resources, fact sheets, classroom activities, workshops or webinars. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I support this motion. Our public affairs and communications team are doing great work and recently published two excellent videos along these lines. The more the better when it comes to helping the public understand what we do in this place. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion. Member for Frame Lake.