Frame Lake MLA Affirms Oaths and Proposes Changes

Frame Lake MLA Affirms Oaths and Proposes Changes

(Yellowknife) December 8, 2015 – Kevin O’Reilly, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Frame Lake, today affirmed an Oath of Office and an Oath of Allegiance to take a seat in the NWT Legislative Assembly.

The Oath of Allegiance for Members of the Legislative Assembly reads as follows:

I, [Name], do swear or affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors according to the law.

Swearing or affirming an Oath of Allegiance is a legal requirement under the Northwest Territories’ Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Northwest Territories Act (Canada), and Constitution Act, 1867.

“While I recognize that the Queen is the constitutional Head of State, my Oath also reflects my allegiance to Canada and its peoples,” stated Mr. O’Reilly

In Quebec, Members of the National Assembly also declare an Oath to the people of Quebec in accordance with the National Assembly Act. 

Recently, Member of Parliament Romeo Saganash (Abitibi - Baie-James – Nunavik - Eeyou) added the following words after his Oath of Allegiance during his swearing in ceremony:

And, I solemnly affirm that, in the carrying out of my duties, I shall honour and respect the treaties signed with Indigenous peoples.

“I would like to work with Members of the Legislative Assembly to develop an Oath of Allegiance to the peoples of the Northwest Territories that recognizes the need to honour and respect the treaties and agreements signed with Indigenous peoples.” Mr. O’Reilly continued, “I think it is time that Oaths for territorial, provincial and federal legislators reflect an allegiance to Canada and its peoples.”

 

For more information, please contact:
Kevin O’Reilly, MLA Frame Lake
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Tel: (867) 767-9143 ext.12110