Orders in Council Database

Under the authority of the Prerogative of the Crown, the Lieutenant Governor in

Council is pleased to convene an All-Party Committee to Modernize the Elections

Act, 1991 to enhance voting accessibility in Newfoundland and Labrador, as follows:

1. Mandate

a) The All-Party Committee will review the facts of the 2021 General Election

and provide input in relation to making voting as accessible as possible for

all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians;

b) The Minister of Justice and Public Safety will consider the work of the

Committee in advancing amendments to the Elections Act, 1991; and

c) The All-Party Committee will consist of Honourable Members from all

parties of the House of Assembly.

2. Purpose

The purpose of the All-Party Committee is to:

a) Identify means to enhance accessibility to voting for residents in Newfoundland

and Labrador, including but not limited to:

methods for participation in elections;

ii) changing or broadening methods to vote;

iii) reducing barriers for participation in the election process by marginalized

groups, including language barriers;

iv) methods to increase public access to the voting process; and

b) Report its findings to the House of Assembly.

3. Key Principles

a) Collaborative: All parties will follow generally accepted rules of

collaborative work such as respect active listening, tolerance of differing

views, etc.;

b) Consensus-seeking: Although consensus may not be possible on all points,

best efforts will be made to reach consensus on as many key points as

possible with the ultimate goal of presenting a consensus report;

c) Open and transparent: Feedback received throughout the consultation

process will be made publicly available as soon possible after each session;

d) Accountable: The All-Party Committee commits to respond to all major

points made or ideas proposed by the participants, even if they disagree with

or are not supportive of them;

e) Accurate and thorough: Best efforts will be made to capture the views of all

those interested in the topic; analysis and summary efforts will strive to

keep the “voice” of the presenters intact; and

f) Shared learning: All involved understand that these are complex issues and

that there is always more to learn about it; they accept that they can learn

from one another.

4. Membership

The membership of the All-Party Committee shall consist of:

a) The Honourable John Hogan, QC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and

Attorney General (Chair);

b) The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

and Government House Leader;

c) The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and

Reconciliation, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, and Deputy Government

House Leader;

d) The Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and ServiceNL,

Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Minister

Responsible for Francophone Affairs;

e) Brian Warr, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and MHA for the District of

Baie Verte - Green Bay;

f) Barry Petten, Opposition House Leader and MHA for the District of Conception

Bay South;

g) Helen Conway Ottenheimer, PC Opposition Deputy House Leader, and MHA for

the District of Harbour Main;

h) Lela Evans, PC MHA for the District of Torngat Mountains; and

i) Perry Trimper, Independent MHA for the District of Lake Melville.

5. Meetings

Business and debrief meetings will be scheduled at the call of the Chair.

6. Role of Chair

The Chair will convene and manage All-Party Committee meetings in accordance

with the Mandate.

7. Timeline and Committee Wrap-up

a) The All-Party Committee will convene at a date to be determined by the Chair

and thereafter at regular intervals up to the date on which the Report is tabled in

the House of Assembly; and

b) The All-Party Committee will dissolve upon submission of its report to the House

of Assembly.