YELLOWKNIFE (Wednesday, June 2, 2021) – Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Standing Committees have selected Chairs to serve at their pleasure for the remainder of the 19th Assembly.
The following Standing Committees have selected new Chairs and/or Deputy Chairs:
Chair, Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight: Kevin O’Reilly, MLA Frame Lake
Deputy Chair, Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight: Lesa Semmler, MLA Inuvik Twin Lakes
Chair, Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures: Jackie Jacobson, MLA Nunakput
Deputy Chair, Standing Committee on Social Development: Katrina Nokleby, MLA Great Slave
On June 1, 2021, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight selected MLA O’Reilly as their Chair, which resulted in vacancies in the Deputy Chair of that Committee as well as the position of Chair of Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. The committee subsequently selected MLA Semmler as Deputy Chair, which resulted in a vacancy in the position of Deputy Chair of Social Development.
Committee Chairs are elected by the Members of each Committee. Committee Chair responsibilities are to act as spokesperson for the Committee, maintain order in Committee, and decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the Speaker. The Chair does not vote in Committee meetings except to cast a deciding vote in the case of a tie.
The effective date of the Chair assignments of both Accountability and Oversight and Rules and Procedures is Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The effective date of the Deputy Chair assignment of the Standing Committee on Social Development is today, Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
“I am honoured by the confidence placed in me by fellow Members. As Committee Chairs we will work hard to serve our colleagues and the people of the Northwest Territories. With these Chair selections completed, we can focus on the legislative business we were elected to do,” said Kevin O’Reilly, Chair of Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.