MLAs on the on Transition Matters held a long discussion about the possible merits and drawbacks of introducing parliamentary groups to the Northwest TerritoriesSA国际影视传媒� consensus government system on Friday.

Kieron Testart, MLA for Kam Lake, tabled a discussion paper and held a presentation to make his case for what he says is an important organizational tool for the legislative assembly.

What is a caucus/parliamentary group?

SA国际影视传媒淎 parliamentary group or caucus is a group consisting of members of the same political alignment in a legislative assembly such as a parliament or city council,SA国际影视传媒� a slide from the presentation states.

SA国际影视传媒淐aucuses do not have formal standing in a legislature but serve as an important organizational tool for members to ensure the issues important to the group are acted on, both inside and outside of the institution.SA国际影视传媒�

Caucuses could be organized to represent special interests, issues and regional concerns, said Testart. In other legislatures, caucuses receive funding through their legislature to hire staff and conduct research and analysis regarding those issues.

Testart said the proposal was prompted by concerns heSA国际影视传媒檚 heard from regular MLAs over the years, including a need for stronger political cohesion between regular members.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen relationships in this institution break down, it can cause political tension, it can delay legislative work and can get us into situations that I think members of this institution think we are beyond because we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have political parties,SA国际影视传媒� explained Testart.

If a group canSA国际影视传媒檛 work together but is forced to by convention, that can be problematic, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淪o having a more flexible structure that allows members to come and go based on their support of the shared goals of the members is important as well,SA国际影视传媒� said Testart.

Testart also cited a current "inability to direct membership on the committee or effectively take disciplinary action" as well as a lack of resources and staff to support regular MLAs and their activities.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think strengthening the ability of regular members to develop alternative policy proposals to what the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 working on, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something thatSA国际影视传媒檚 come up," he said. "And time and time again, members have said we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the resources or time to get into that.SA国际影视传媒�

Having dedicated staff like a communications officer, legislative co-ordinator and chief political adviser would support the work of regular MLAs, and bring their level of resources on par with those of cabinet MLAs.

The presentation concluded with three recommendations:

1. That the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning be dissolved and a new caucus should be created with mandatory membership for all regular members.
2. That the policies and/or legislation governing the legislative assembly be amended to provide for fair and effective funding for caucuses and establish minimum thresholds for caucuses funding.
3. That the rules of the legislative assembly be amended, where appropriate, to give formal standing to the chair of the regular member caucus, allow for certain discretionary appointments over legislative assignments and increase remuneration of the role commensurate to these new responsibilities.

Committee chair R.J. Simpson was quick to remind members that the committee was not responsible for implementing or even making a decision on the matter, but rather would develop recommendations for the next assembly to consider.