Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer develop a standard, based on accounting principles that reflect the depreciated value, for calculating the value of campaign expenses for signs that are reused from previous elections.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to recognize a couple of Pages from the Great Slave riding and thank them and all the other Pages for all the hard work that they’ve done for us over the last couple of weeks. I’d like to recognize Muhammad Awan and Linda Charlie from the Great Slave riding.

I move that this committee recommends that the “housekeeping” amendments, which are identified by the Chief Electoral Officer on pages 42 to 45 of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer, with the exception of his recommendation 21, be considered by legislative drafting during the preparation of the other amendments.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer provide the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures with recommendations for additional specific enforcement powers for the Chief Electoral Officer, and substantiation for each of those powers.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Elections and Plebiscite Act be amended to define the term “sponsor” as a person or organization that pays for, provides or incurs the cost of the campaign material bearing their identification. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer develop detailed recommendations to replace the provisions for advance polls in communities without returning officers and fewer than 500 residents, with a new special voting opportunity, and report back to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer identify options for a clearer definition for the term “broadcasting” and report back to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer ensure that for the next general election there is an improved signage to clearly identify the location of polling stations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank my colleague Mr. Bromley for bringing us to this point in the report.

The committee heard a number of concerns about the valuation of signs reused from previous election campaigns. The committee believes it is unfair to value reused signs at their full cost for the purposes of calculating campaign expenses. Instead, reused signs should be valuated using a consistent standard based on accounting principles that reflect depreciated value.

The committee heard that some polling stations, particularly in the city of Yellowknife, were not as clearly identified...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled 2012 Annual Report on the Public Utilities Board of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.