Bob Bromley

Thank you, committee.

By way of conclusion, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures will return with additional recommendations after its review of additional research and recommendations from the Chief Electoral Officer on the following topics:

voter identification requirements;

polling day;

the definition of “broadcasting”;

options for new special voting opportunities for communities with no resident returning officer and with populations of fewer than 500;

campaign financing provisions; and

additional enforcement powers.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to add candidate nomination papers to the list of public records that may be inspected during office hours at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s remarks. I can’t say I’ve got much comfort yet, but I’ll look forward to that statement.

Another statement from the Minister in his letter, “The GNWT will be promoting the use of northern tools for any future areas.” This sounds like a unilateral decision to me and ignores the partners and considerable work done. I wonder, does this mean there is no support for the National Wildlife Areas in the federal dollars that are available now, but will disappear if we don’t take them up on this? It sounds like the Minister will not support National...

Sorry, I don’t have a response to that right off hand, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The Minister has told me by letter that the GNWT will work with Canada to conclude Edehzhie, which I appreciate, but then with respect to all of the other areas, National Wildlife Areas proposed, the GNWT appreciates the significant work undertaken. What does that statement mean? Thank you.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer proceed to develop restructured Tariff of Fees Regulations and provide the draft regulations to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures for comment before recommending them to the Commissioner. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a Weledeh resident, Mr. Steve Matthews. He’s a long-term resident, spent his whole career with GNWT and is semi-retired now, I believe. Also with him is Mr. John Lee, a renowned bear biologist many of you may know. Both long-term residents with their families of Yellowknife.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer provide the committee with a review of approaches to campaign finance in other jurisdictions, and that the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures develop a set of proposed principles to guide the development of new campaign finance provisions and report back to this Assembly. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to enable the Chief Electoral Officer to communicate, during an election campaign, the contents of the list of electors to the public using the best available means. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer monitor developments on the use of social media during election campaigns in other jurisdictions, and consider developing guidelines to assist candidates and their teams before the next general election.