Debates of October 19, 2007 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 44 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act states that the "Legislative Assembly may establish such standing and special committees to aid and advise it as it considers necessary";

AND WHEREAS the standing and special committees of the Legislative Assembly are established in the Rules of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly has chosen to make revisions to the standing committees;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that the Rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by rescinding Rule 85 and substituting the following:

Standing and Special Committees

85 (1)

At its first sitting after a general election, the Assembly shall appoint a Striking Committee of five Members to report and recommend, with all convenient speed, Members to comprise the following standing committees of the Assembly:

on Economic Development and Infrastructure;

on Government Operations;

on Priorities and Planning;

on Rules and Procedures;

on Social Programs;

and any other standing and special committees as directed by the Assembly.

(2)

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure shall consider the following matters with respect to the departments of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Environment and Natural Resources, Industry, Tourism and investment, Municipal and Community Affairs, Public Works and Services, Transportation and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation:

(a) review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, including the Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation and the Public Utilities Board;

(b)

review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies; and

(c)

consider any other matter referred by the House.

(3)

The Standing Committee on Government Operations shall consider the following matters with respect to the departments of the Executive, Finance, Human Resources and the Financial Management Board Secretariat:

(a)

review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies;

(b)

review departmental performance and official language issues, including that of boards sand agencies;

(c)

review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of the statutory officers of the Legislative Assembly, including the Languages Commissioner, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Equal Pay Commissioner and the Human Rights Commission;

(d)

examine the reports on the annual financial statements and public accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the report of the Auditor General

(i)

in the event that the Assembly is not in session, the Speaker may provide the Auditor General's report and the Minister of Finance may provide the public accounts to the committee for review, which may include public hearings, in advance of tabling; and

(e)

consider any other matter referred by the House.

(4)

The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning shall:

(a)

review issues which have government-wide implications, including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;

(b)

review Government of the Northwest Territories reports on financial and performance results and program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;

(c)

coordinate sessional business scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate ministerial representatives;

(d)

coordinate committee public consultation efforts with respect to budget and fiscal matters;

(e)

coordinate committee strategic planning efforts;

(f)

monitor and evaluate ministerial performance issues;

(g)

consider the budgets and financial management of any boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any standing committee; and

(h)

consider any other matter referred by the House.

(5)

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures shall:

(a)

review the reports of the Chief Electoral Officer on the conduct of elections, plebiscites or votes conducted in the Northwest Territories in accordance with statute;

(b)

review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner;

(c)

review and make recommendations on the implications and impacts that the implementation of self-government agreements will have on the powers, structures and procedures of the Legislative Assembly; and

(d)

inquire into such matters as may be referred to it by the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker or the Board of Management.

(6)

The Standing Committee on Social Programs shall consider the following matters with respect to the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment and Justice:

(a)

review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, including the Status of Women Council and programs for seniors, youth and persons with disabilities;

(b)

review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies; and

(c)

consider any other matter referred by the House.

AND FURTHER, that Rules 87(1) and 87(2) be amended by striking out "Accountability and Oversight" after "Standing Committee on" and substituting "Priorities and Planning".

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.