December 7, 2015

Territorial Leadership Committee Process

(YELLOWKNIFE) – The Members-elect of the 18th Legislative Assembly are pleased to announce a revised process for the upcoming Territorial Leadership Committee.  

On December 9th at 1:30 pm the Members-elect of the 18th Assembly will gather in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly building to commence the Territorial Leadership Committee process. Members-elect who are interested in running for the position of Premier of the 18th Legislative Assembly will have the opportunity to announce their intentions and deliver a speech of up to 20 minutes in support of their candidacy. The Territorial Leadership Committee proceedings will then recess until Wednesday, December 16th at 9:00 am.

The first order of business for the Territorial Leadership Committee on December 16th will be the selection of the Speaker. Members interested in running for this position will have up to 10 minutes to deliver a speech supporting their candidacy. The Speaker will then be chosen by secret ballot.

Following the election of the Speaker, the pre-nominated candidates for Premier will participate in a  question-and-answer session with the Members. All Members will be permitted to ask up to four questions of each candidate. Upon completion of the question-and-answer session, Members will cast secret ballots to elect the Premier of the 18th Legislative Assembly.

The third order of business will be the selection of the Executive Council. The Executive Council will consist of six Members, with two each representing three distinct geographic areas: the “northern” constituencies; the “Yellowknife” constituencies; and the “southern” constituencies.  Members wishing to be considered for Executive Council will have the opportunity to make a speech of up to 10 minutes. The Executive Council will be selected by secret ballot, with separate ballots for each geographic area.

Proceedings of the Territorial Leadership Committee will be open to the public and media representatives.

The Speaker, Premier and Executive Council will be appointed by means of a formal motion in the House on Thursday, December 17th, and will be sworn-in by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George L. Tuccaro, on that same date.

For more information, please contact:
Tim Mercer, Clerk
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-767-9130, ext 12012 or 1-800-661-0784
Email: Tim_Mercer@gov.nt.ca