Members Appointed to Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits

Members Appointed to Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits

(YELLOWKNIFE) Friday, October 20, 2017 – The Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, on recommendation of the Board of Management, appointed three members to the Independent Commission to Review Members’ Compensation and Benefits.

Mr. Norman Yakeleya of Tulita was appointed Chair of the Commission; Mr. John Hazenberg and Ms. Donna Allen of Yellowknife have been appointed as Commissioners. “I have full confidence in each of the individuals who have been appointed to the Commission and I look forward to the recommendations they put forward,” said Speaker Lafferty.

The review, to be undertaken within two years of a general election, of the indemnities, allowances, expenses, and benefits provided to Members of the Legislative Assembly is a statutory requirement of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. The Commission, established under the Act, will review and assess Members’ various benefits to determine the adequacy and appropriateness of the amounts provided and will review and assess the reporting requirements and procedures to determine an acceptable level of public accountability.

The last comprehensive report on Members’ compensation and benefits was tabled in May 2014 by the previous Commission members. The recommendations from this report resulted in a number of changes to legislation, regulations, and Board of Management policies.

Within ten months of the establishment of the Commission, a report will be delivered to the Speaker that may set out recommendations for changes to the indemnities, reimbursements, and all other benefits to which Members are entitled. These recommendations must be debated and formally adopted by the Legislative Assembly before taking effect.

For further information, please contact:

Danielle Mager
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Tel: (867) 767-9130 ext. 12017
Fax: (867) 920-735
E-mail: danielle_mager@gov.nt.ca