Kevin O'Reilly

There is a potential for a conflict of interest when the mineral industry advisory board provides advice to the Minister generally, and in this specific case of the Work Credit Program, what is the Minister prepared to do to deal with this issue of potential for a conflict of interest and to improve transparency around the recommendations he gets from this board?

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Can the Minister tell us why there was no consultation with the standing committee on the extension of the Work Credit Program for another two years? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. On March 8th our government issued the media release "GNWT Extends Key Mineral Exploration Support Program." The release describes the extension of the Work Credit Program, which sets the value of exploration work required to keep mineral claims in good standing. Claim holders are now credited $1.50 for every eligible dollar spent. The release says the program originally "arose from recommendations made by the Mineral Industry Advisory Board."

I fully recognize that mining is important here, so we want to protect the integrity of our decision-making on this section...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess I'd like to ask through you, then, another question, if I may. I've got a couple of ideas of things that could be considered as exceptional circumstances, but I'll just go ahead and throw them out there. Somebody who may be a few days or a week short if they were caught within that five year period and an election had been called and they may be a few days short of something. Presumably that is the sort of thing that could be determined through this sort of process as an exceptional circumstance. Is that the sort of thing that could be defined in that way? Thanks, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let us be honest here. This is the one recommendation or motion that is likely to spur quite a bit of discussion and debate, and I look forward to that. I think it is very important that all Members speak on this issue so that their views are known, and we know where everybody stands.

I would like to start by going back to the original referral motion and cast our mind back to December 17, 2015. This is shortly after we were all elected. The very first motion that we passed in this House is we wanted to refer this issue to Members' conduct to the Standing Committee on...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I neglected to indicate that I will be seeking recorded votes for each of the motions, please. Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Just for those that are listening or watching, what we are going to do is take the recommendations from the committee report and turn them into motions one by one. The committee motion is as follows, Mr. Chair: I move that this Assembly recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to provide that, during the election period, candidates declare compliance with a code of conduct including the duties to abide by the laws of the Northwest Territories and Canada; to conduct his/herself with honesty, integrity, and respect for others; and to refrain from actions...

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?