Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'm not going to drone on too long about this, but the committee looked at how enforcement of codes of conduct are dealt with in a number of other jurisdictions across the Commonwealth as well as in Canada; certainly it seems to be best practice that enforcement of codes of conduct is located within an independent party, and we already have such a party in the Conflict of Interest Commissioner who deals with pecuniary and financial matters. In some other jurisdictions, that individual also has the ability to receive complaints, carry out investigations, and make...

Merci, Mr. Speaker. Well, that certainly comes as a surprise. I look forward to trying to work with the Minister moving forward on this, and hopefully he will work with the standing committee, as well. We do have another model at hand in the Yukon, where there is a more transparent and accountable way of receiving advice from the mining industry. Is the Minister prepared to review how this happens in the Yukon and elsewhere, to ensure that the advice he may receive from such a board is more inclusive of other interests, free of potential conflicts of interest, and publicly report it? Merci, Mr...

Thanks to the Minister for that. How we learned about it has become a pattern through news releases, but the news release boasts about the 2015-17 implementation period for the Work Credit Program, how it is going to save exploration companies $725,000. That is money that should have been spent in the Northwest Territories to generate more activity. Why would the Minister extend this program that saves companies money that should have been spent in the Northwest Territories, to the benefit of our citizens?

Merci, Monsieur le President. I'd like to recognize Lyda Fuller; she's a constituent of mine. She is also the Executive Director of the Yellowknife YWCA. Welcome to the House.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the Members' Conduct Guidelines serve as the basis for a new Members' Code of Conduct including more specific and enforceable provisions; and further, that the new code be presented to the Assembly for consideration and adoption. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Once again, thanks to the Minister for that response. I still have some carrots in my fridge, and I am happy to share them with the Minister, and he can pass them onto the Federal Minister as well. I could not find anything in the strategy about research and development into northern agricultural techniques and technology, or circumpolar cooperation or partnerships. Can the Minister tell me why research and development and circumpolar cooperation and partnerships are not found in the agricultural strategy?

Mr. Chair, I know we have gone on a long time. I think that the important point that I would like to make, for those who are watching or listening, is that this change to the oath will provide a link to the other sorts of tools that we do have available to guide Members’ conduct, including the Elections Act, and the code that is the subject of the next motion. It is weaving together all of these pieces, and including those in the oath, and I hope and expect that all the Members will support this motion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. My Member's statement there, I said there are no measurable targets or goals in the NWT Agricultural Strategy or the action plan. Can the Minister explain why there are no measurable targets in the strategy and plan? I'll give a couple of examples; an increase in agricultural production by 50 per cent in five years, or completion of food security plans for all communities within five years. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to request a recorded vote.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think I have put the Law Clerk on the hot seat long enough. I guess the other circumstance that might be construed as exceptional by some would be if someone had a Criminal Code conviction and was prohibited from running. Assuming all the conditions were still there, if someone had been through a healing process journey and had completed that sort of treatment and so on, would this be another way of defining what an exceptional circumstance could be?

Where I am going with this, Mr. Chair, is I view this as a potentially friendly amendment and worthy of probably some further...