In the execution of its functions, the Committee is assisted by a Clerk Assistant who is a non-partisan officer, i.e serves all members of the Committee and representatives of all parties equally.

The Clerk Assistant performs his or her duties and responsibilities under the direction of the Committee and its Chair and guided by the relevant Laws. As an expert in parliamentary procedures, practices and Rules of the Assembly (Standing Orders), the Clerk Assistant may be requested to give advice to the Chair and members of the Committee should a question of procedure arise. The Clerk Assistant is the coordinator, organizer and liaison officer for the Committee and as such will be in frequent contact with members. He or she is also responsible to invite witnesses and to deal with all the details regarding their appearance before the Committee.

The Clerk Assistant provides a wide range of specialized administrative services for the Committee, in particular, the organization of Committee meetings and the publishing of documents on the Committees’ website.

The Clerk Assistant provides authoritative, substantive, and timely research, analysis and information to all members of the Committee. He or she is the Committee’s institutional memory and is unique resource for Members.

The Clerk Assistant provides briefing notes on the subjects being examined; detailed study plans; lists of proposed witnesses; analyses of an issue with a list of suggested questions; background papers; draft reports; news releases; and/or formal correspondences.

The Clerk Assistant assist Members in preparation of legislative proposals or amendments to Bills. At various stages of the legislative process, Members may propose amendments to bills. Amendments may first be proposed at the Committee Stage, during a Committee’s clause-by-clause review of a Bill. Amendments may also be proposed at the Report Stage, once a Bill returns to the Assembly.