Members of the Legislative Assembly

Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected to represent one of 19 areas of the Northwest Territories, called ridings or constituencies. People living in the constituency are referred to as constituents.

Members of the Legislative Assembly are called MLAs or Members. MLAs represent people at the territorial government level - different people are elected to serve Canadians in federal and municipal governments. MLAs come to Yellowknife, where the territorial Legislature meets, and take their seats in the Legislative Assembly.

MLAs help create laws, act as spokesperson for their constituents, and help solve problems. Regardless of who constituents voted for, the person who was elected, the MLA represents everyone in his/her constituency.

MLAs represent constituents and help create laws by:

• making statements in the Legislative Assembly about issues important to the ridings or to the Territories;
• attending debates in the Legislature to exchange ideas with other MLAs;
• asking questions of Cabinet Ministers to ensure accountability;
• stating their view on legislation being debated;
• introducing a bill about an issue important to the riding or the Member;
• sitting on committees: Regular Members sit on standing committees which look at policy and spending in different areas of government such as Public Accounts or Finance; MLAs also sit on special committees, which are created as needed when certain important issues arise; 
• meeting with staff and other MLAs;
• presenting petitions in the House which express public views about certain issues;
• meeting with groups who have special concerns such as fishermen or people concerned with housing;
• talking with the media so the public is kept informed;
• keeping in touch with constituents in person, by phone or by mail to find out what they think about issues; and
• keeping informed by reading documents and reports, attending meetings and conferences and following current events.

MLAs represent their constituents' views in the Caucus.

All Members form a Caucus. As a group they can plan strategy and consider items for debate in the Legislature. The Caucus also gives all Members the chance to make the views of their constituents known.

MLAs help individual constituents when they have a problem or need information.

Constituents often ask their Members to help with housing, education, or tax problems. The Members can try to help solve the problem by speaking to the proper government department or Minister. The MLA usually knows exactly who to call to avoid confusion and save time.

MLAs take an active role in the community.

Members travel to their ridings often. They normally have at least one office there where constituents can meet with them, discuss problems and find out about the Legislative Assembly or government agencies.

Members are often asked to visit the constituency, to open public buildings, make speeches to community groups and attend performances or anniversaries. They often attend as many as possible. They want to meet their constituents as often as they can, in order to know how people in their riding feel about the different issues debated by the Legislature.

Often Members' families stay in the riding while Members travel to Yellowknife to work in the Legislative Assembly.