Mr. Chair, I rise on a point of order under Rule 3.2(3)(m). I waited until today to raise this point of order because I wanted to review Hansard, and I'm raising it at the earliest opportunity at the commencement of Committee of the Whole where the remarks at issue were made.

During Committee of the Whole yesterday while the Minister of the ENR and departmental officials debated the main estimates for the department, the Member for Monfwi asked questions about the barren-ground caribou mobile management zone. In that context, the MLA said the following as quoted from the unedited Hansard: But the assistant said it's going to take, like, at least 60 days to, you know -- to get the word out. But we don't have 60 days.

According to Rule 3.2(3)(m), a Member can be called to order if the Member introduces any matter in the debate that offends the practices and precedents of this Assembly.

This House has long abided by the practice to not make statements in the House about an individual who is not a Member of this House and who is not present to defend themselves. The MLA for Monfwi makes statements about a specific individual who was not in the House.

Further, the MLA said the following as quoted from unedited Hansard: Because you -- some people are saying that that is not true. It's not true that why did -- it's not true that why did they -- did the boundary so big. They're not telling people the truth. End quote.

Mr. Speaker, the proceedings of this House are based on the long-standing tradition of respect for the integrity of all Members. This includes refraining from the use of unparliamentary language. The Member for Monfwi used language in the Assembly which offends our rules of debate, order, and decorum when she said, quote, "they are not telling the truth", end quote.

Finally, the Member's comments offended the practices of this Assembly because they undermined our consensus government system by attempting to discredit the Minister.

Yesterday, the Minister of ENR stated that he did not want to be the Minister of "no caribou." This was an expression of his passion for ensuring the safety of the Bathurst caribou herd and the measures put in place to protect from decline.

In response to that, the MLA for Monfwi stated: Yes, well, if the Minister doesn't want to be known as the Minister who got rid of all the Bathurst or known of getting rid of certain species, then I think he should change or do a Cabinet shuffle because that's not what the answer that we wanted to hear. End quote.

The guiding principles for consensus government in the NWT say that, "Consensus government is defined by the ability and willingness of all Members of a Legislative Assembly to work together within their respective roles for the collective good of the people of the Northwest Territories."

While the guiding principles also recognize that a healthy level of tension must exist between Cabinet and Regular Members, the ultimate goal of Regular Members is not to defeat or discredit Cabinet.

The MLA for Monfwi's remarks were taken to mean, by the Minister, that he should be shuffled from his portfolio of Environment and Natural Resources for not giving the response that the MLA wants regarding the conservation of the Bathurst caribou herd. This exceeds the healthy level of tension that is expected in debates in the House. As a whole, this type of exchange is not helpful to advancing the business of the Assembly or to maintaining a positive working relationship in the House. On this basis, Mr. Speaker, I respectfully suggest that the MLA for Monfwi be directed to withdraw her remarks and apologize to this House. Thank you, Mr. Chair.