House of Assembly
October 16, 2007

The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Harvey Hodder, Speaker of the House of Assembly, at a news conference held at Confederation Building, St. John�s:

"This morning, I am pleased to release two volumes of resource information that pertain to the future governance and operational practices of the House of Assembly. Specifically, I refer to a new Members' Handbook and the new Members' Resources and Allowances Rules Manual.

All Members elected on October 9, 2007 have copies of the handbook and the manual.

The Members' Handbook and the Members' Resources and Allowances Rules Manual have been developed to assist Members of the House of Assembly with the schedule of rules and management procedures adopted under the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act passed by the House on June 14, 2007.

These volumes provide resource information and governance procedures respecting a wide range of issues affecting Members of the House of Assembly and, in their intent and structure, follow the recommendations of the Review Commission on Constituency Allowances and Related Matters chaired by Chief Justice Derek Green. The manual and the handbook attempt to present this information in a readily accessible manner and structure.

The symbolism of the photo on the front cover of each volume is deliberate and speaks to the philosophy of the new approach to operational management. The doors of the House of Assembly are open in theory and in practice.

It is not my intent to outline the specifics of the new procedures and operational models. However, we are prepared to discuss any aspect included in the handbook or the manual. In addition, I wish to make it quite clear that further clarifications, modifications, and practical changes to the new procedures are to be expected as the House implements the new rules that affect Members of the House and their participation in the 46th General Assembly. Residual powers rest with the House of Assembly and/or the House of Assembly Management Commission. If a matter is not specifically authorized under legislation, a consequent change cannot be effected until very precise procedural and legal issues have been addressed. The procedures for change are outlined in legislation and follow a transparent process.

Seminars designed to provide training on the new procedures will be offered to all Members of the 46th House of Assembly, including their Constituency Assistants, Executive Assistants, office staff, etc. These seminars begin this afternoon and continue throughout the week. We are also prepared to offer a seminar for members of the Press Gallery should such a seminar be deemed desirable. We want to ensure that all interested persons have access to all information necessary to facilitate a working knowledge of the new management methodology. To that end, we also will be making the information available on House of Assembly Web site.

The public release of the handbook and the manual is one of the last matters to which I will attend as Speaker of the House of Assembly. This day is historic and, for me, the culmination of an approach I communicated to all Members of the House of Assembly in a document entitled "Accountability and its relevance to Members' Constituency Allowances" dated March 1, 2004.

Several sentences in that document outline my philosophy and approach. I will quote several sentences only:

'In recent years, the public has demanded greater accountability and a high level of transparency in the expenditure of public funds. While this principle is generic to all public expenditures, it is even more so in instances where elected officials have access to taxpayer revenues in the conduct of their offices.�

and

�Trust and confidence is fostered where public disclosure and transparency permeate the principles upon which public funds are received and where the expectation of public accountability and disclosure is understood and practiced.�

Openness, transparency and accountability are hallmarks of my political philosophy and my approach to public life. I spoke of these matters in the House of Assembly while I occupied the Opposition benches and I shared the approach and political philosophy of many of my colleagues who now occupy the Executive Branch. I affirm this approach today without reservation or equivocation. As I stated in the House of Assembly in my final address as a Member on June 13, 2007,

'While there have been bumps, political bruises, unexpected challenges along the way to a more open and transparent system of political governance and while the process of greater openness and transparency has had its share of political and, in some instances personal sadness, all of us must remind ourselves that democracy in the twenty-first century must be co-operative, interactive and credible. Anything less diminishes, not just the institution but the very basis of our parliamentary model.�

I acknowledge my familiarity with most of the accountability and transparency models currently being used in many of those jurisdictions that practice the Westminster model. Without reservation and with some deal of confidence and pride, I can state that the practices now operational in Newfoundland and Labrador are exemplary and, as such, set a new benchmark not just in Canada but elsewhere as well.

In closing let me thank my colleagues in the House of Assembly, including those in the Executive Branch, who gave me support and encouragement throughout my tenure as Speaker and especially during the challenges over the past two years. And, a big thanks to the House of Assembly staff, especially Mr. William MacKenzie, the Clerk of the House, and Ms. Marlene Lambe, the Chief Financial Officer. I am indebted to their professional competency and their untiring efforts over the past months to facilitate the implementation procedures that follow from the adoption of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act.

If there are questions, Mr. MacKenzie and Ms. Lambe or I would be delighted to respond.

Thank you."

To View: Members� Handbook and Members� Resources and Allowances Rules Manual, //www.hoa.gov.nl.ca/hoa/members/ 

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Media contact:
Harvey Hodder
Speaker of the House
709-729-3404

2007 10 16                                                    2:15 p.m.

 


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