News June 3, 2014

17th Assembly Term of Office

(YELLOWKNIFE)  Tuesday, June 3, 2014 – The Prime Minister has advised the Premier of the Northwest Territories of his government’s intention to introduce amendments to the Northwest Territories Act to allow the 17th Assembly to vary its term. Members of the Legislative Assembly will determine whether to change the October 2015 territorial election date after further discussion in the fall and public consultation.

On March 10, 2014, the Legislative Assembly passed a motion asking the Premier to communicate to the Prime Minister a request for an amendment to the Northwest Territories Act that would authorize the Legislative Assembly to vary its term.

The Premier has received from the Prime Minister a letter indicating that his government will be bringing forward an amendment to the Northwest Territories Act as requested. The amendment, if passed by the Parliament of Canada, will give the 17th Legislative Assembly the ability to vary its term. If the federal election proceeds as currently scheduled and overlaps with the Northwest Territories election in October 2015, the Legislative Assembly will consider a change to the 2015 election date to avoid a conflict with the overlap. If the federal election proceeds at a different time, there will be no need to consider changes to the territorial election date.

Amendments to the territorial Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act and Elections and Plebiscites Act would be required to change the territorial election date to a time other than October 2015. No decision has been made on whether to proceed with any changes. Members will review legislation from other jurisdictions that will trigger changes to their election dates to avoid overlap with the federal election in the event that it proceeds in October 2015, and will discuss the matter further this fall to determine whether further consideration of the territorial election date is needed.  If any changes to the territorial election date are to be considered there will be no decision made on those changes prior to public consultation.

For more information, please contact:

Norman Yakeleya, Caucus Chair
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2270 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
F: 867-873-0276
E: norman_yakeleya@gov.nt.ca

Colette Langlois, Acting Clerk
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2299 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
F: 867-920-4735
E: colette_langlois@gov.nt.ca