This is page numbers 24 - 48 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was report.

Topics

Return To Question O29-12(1): Freeze On Capital Projects
Question O29-12(1): Freeze On Capital Projects
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Todd.

John Todd Keewatin Central

My question would be to Mr. Pollard. Did I hear you say that all contributions are frozen?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question O30-12(1): Freeze On Contributions
Question O30-12(1): Freeze On Contributions
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, in this particular instance the FMB turned down the submission by the Minister with regard to the church in Fort Providence. Not all contributions are frozen, but they are going up to Ministers, and they may go on to the Government Leader's office and be approved there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question O30-12(1): Freeze On Contributions
Question O30-12(1): Freeze On Contributions
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Justice. In our jurisdiction we do not have any legislation in respect to protection of women when it comes to the area of divorces. Women sometimes help their spouses build up businesses, and there is basically no protection that allows them a 50 per cent settlement made in their favour. I would like to know if the Minister of Justice will consider formulating legislation to ensure that women are protected and recognized when they assist their spouses in building businesses or whatever, and do it basically by working; or sometimes spouses live on the women's salaries, and when their businesses come to fruition and divorces are in process, there is currently nothing to protect the interests of the women. Would it be possible for this type of legislation to be considered for women to fall back on in the event of a divorce case.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Justice, Mr. Patterson.

Return To Question O31-12(1): Legislation To Protect Women In Divorce Cases
Question O31-12(1): Legislation To Protect Women In Divorce Cases
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure the honourable Member knows that the Minister of Justice previous to myself had commissioned a review of what are called "gender equality issues" relating to the justice

system. There is a special advisor to the Minister of Justice now doing extensive public consultation before submitting recommendations to the government on how women can be treated more fairly in all aspects of the justice system. I do expect that this very issue that the honourable Member has raised will undoubtedly be the subject of recommendations of the special advisor in this very important area of matrimonial property.

However, Mr. Speaker, to answer the Member's question shortly, succinctly, yes, I will be open to considering whether our legislation can be improved or new legislation can be developed to meet the concerns expressed by the honourable Member; and I will rely on advice that I expect to receive from the special advisor on gender equality on that issue.

Return To Question O31-12(1): Legislation To Protect Women In Divorce Cases
Question O31-12(1): Legislation To Protect Women In Divorce Cases
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The time allotted for question period has expired. We will go on to Item 6, written questions.

Item 7, returns to written questions.

Item 8, replies to Opening Address.

Item 9, petitions. Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

I would like to make the report on interim measures for the management of board appointments. This report is from the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions of which I am the chairman. The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions met on Friday, December 6, 1991. The committee discussed the establishment of a comprehensive work plan for the review of selected boards and agencies, and a further report on this matter may be forthcoming later in the session.

Members of the standing committee, however, took special note that sections of the "Strength at Two Levels" document outlined prospective courses of action for the reorganization, downsizing and elimination of certain government-created boards and agencies. While both general and specific recommendations contained in the report may have some merit, the standing committee wishes to ensure that the government does not proceed with decisions in this area without the benefit of committee review and discussion of all relevant options. To this end, the standing committee has requested advance notification from the Government Leader of any plans to modify existing boards, agencies or commissions.

Further, the standing committee wishes to ensure that appointments of board members not proceed in a fashion that might later limit the capacity of the Legislative Assembly and the cabinet to make structural changes necessary to improve our system of boards and agencies.

For that reason, the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions recommends that the Government of the NWT postpone filling membership vacancies in all government-created boards and agencies until after March 31, 1992; and further, that where it is clearly in the public interest to appoint or reappoint members of boards and agencies, that these appointments be made for the shortest possible term.

Motion To Move Committee Report 1-12(1), Report Of The Standing Committee On Agencies, Boards And Commissions, To Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Mr. Speaker, that concludes this report by the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions. I move, seconded by Mr. Lewis, the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the report of the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions on interim measures for the management of board appointments, be received by the Assembly and referred to the committee of the whole.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Your motion is in order. All those in favour? Opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Committee Report 2-12(1): Report Of The Standing Committee On Legislation
Item 10: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

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Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At various points during the 11th Legislative Assembly, certain fundamental shortcomings were made apparent in the process used by the House and its committees to review and enact legislation. Most significant among these was the fact that the standing committee on legislation most commonly reviewed proposed legislation as draft bills submitted by the government as confidential documents for in camera consideration behind closed doors. The opportunity for the people of the NWT to review and provide input into their government's legislative initiatives was extremely limited as a result.

There were several logistical difficulties as well, particularly with respect to ensuring that the standing committee on legislation received draft legislation six weeks in advance of the first day of the session in which bills were to be introduced. Time pressures were created by the need to deal with bills before short sessions prorogued. In camera debates in the closed standing committee meetings often left issues unresolved so that Members could deal with them as public matters during committee of the whole consideration and raised questions about the efficiency of the committee's role in the legislative process.

Frequently, concerns were raised about the 11th Assembly's process for dealing with Private Members' bills, primarily with respect to difficulties in adequately considering input from the cabinet and from the public. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, procedures for reviewing statutory regulations were not well established. Through committee reports and Ministers' statements, both ordinary Members and the Executive Council recognized that clearly the legislative process during the 11th Assembly had to be improved.

At its meeting on January 17, 1991, the 11th Assembly standing committee on legislation passed a motion to research alternative strategies for dealing with bills. While an unprecedented legislative workload during the final session and the dissolution of the House precluded final completion of this project by the 11th Assembly, Members of the current standing committee on legislation considered the legislative process during a meeting on December 2 and 3, 1991, and have now completed the review initiated by their predecessors.

This report contains the results of that review and proposes significant changes to the manner in which the 12th Legislative Assembly should undertake the review and passage of bills into law. A discussion paper is appendixed to our report to provide further details into the proposed revision of the legislative process.

At its meeting on December 3rd the standing committee on legislation agreed that the following principles should be adopted to guide the House in its consideration of legislation for the people of the NWT:

1) A central purpose of the Legislative Assembly is to achieve the passage and amendment of any and all territorial statutes necessary for the public interest and for the practise of good government. Legislation must be fair to all and framed in a durable, practicable and understandable fashion.

2) The process developed for review and passage of proposed legislation must reflect the consensus nature of the system of government embraced by the people of the NWT and should be sensitive to the diversity of people throughout our jurisdiction. This means that among Canadian parliamentary bodies the legislative process of the NWT Legislative Assembly will have unique qualities arising from the distinct social and political characteristics of our jurisdiction.

3) All people of the NWT have a direct interest in the body of legislation which governs their respective pursuits. Accordingly, the public should have a voice with regard to both the principle and substance of any proposed law. The process followed for the passage of legislation must allow ready public access and input into the consideration given proposed amendments and new statutes by the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

4) Persons who speak one official language of the NWT should have opportunities to participate in the legislative process equal to those who speak any other official language.

5) The process used by the Legislative Assembly for the review and passage of legislation should be carried out in the most effective and cost efficient manner possible.

8) Within the Legislative Assembly, the wishes, priorities or decisions of any one standing or special committee are not to be considered paramount to those of any other standing or special committee.

9) It is both the privilege and the responsibility of the Executive Council to maintain exclusive jurisdiction over the drafting and preparation of government bills. Similarly, it is the prerogative of the Executive Council to assign relative priorities to any initiatives on its legislative agenda and to exercise its own discretion over when to give notice of their introduction to the House.

With these principles in mind, it is proposed that the 12th Assembly establish two separate tracks for dealing with proposed legislation. Track one, standard legislative procedure; track two, the tabling of legislative action papers. Each track will serve a different legislative process.

Motion To Move Committee Report 2-12(1), Report Of The Standing Committee On Legislation, To Committee Of The Whole, Carried

Mr. Speaker, that concludes this report by the standing committee on legislation. I move, seconded by Mr. Brian Lewis, the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the report of the standing committee on legislation on the review of the legislative process for the 12th Legislative Assembly be received by the Assembly and referred to the committee of the whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Report 2-12(1): Report Of The Standing Committee On Legislation
Item 10: Reports Of Standing And Special Committees

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Thank you. Your motion is in order. All those in favour of the motion? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, tabling of documents. Mr. Patterson.

Item 11: Tabling Of Documents
Item 11: Tabling Of Documents

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With your permission, I would like to table four documents. In accordance with the Statute Revision Act, I wish to table Tabled Document 4-12(1), Volume III, Supplement to the Revised Statutes of the Northwest Territories, 1988. I wish to table Tabled Document 5-12(1), The Northwest Territories Law Foundation, Ninth Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1991. I wish to table Tabled Document 6-12(1), Northwest Territories Legal Aid 1990-91 Annual Report. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 7-12(1), Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Workers' Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 1990. Qujannamiik.

Item 11: Tabling Of Documents
Item 11: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Tabling of documents. Mr. Pollard.

Item 11: Tabling Of Documents
Item 11: Tabling Of Documents

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 8-12(1), Interim Financial Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Year Ended March 31, 1991. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 11: Tabling Of Documents
Item 11: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Tabling of documents. Tabling of documents. Item 12, notices of motions. Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, December 12, 1991, I will move the following motion, and it has to do with appointments to the standing committee on rules, procedures and privileges: Whereas it is

desirable to have a cabinet Minister as a Member of the standing committee on rules, procedures and privileges; now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the Hon. Dennis Patterson be appointed as a Member of the standing committee on rules, procedures and privileges; and further, that not withstanding Rule 88(2), the Hon. Tony Whitford may attend as an alternate Member only in the absence of the Hon. Dennis Patterson.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motions. Notices of Motions. Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on December 12, 1991, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for High Arctic, that the following terms of reference for the standing committee on rules, procedures and privileges be approved. The standing committee on rules, procedures and privileges may, on its own authority: a) examine the rules, procedures, practices and powers of the Legislative Assembly; and the standing committee shall: a) inquire into such matters as may be referred to it by the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker, the Management Services Board, a standing or special committee, or by caucus; b) inquire into matters of privilege as they may arise; and c) establish its quorum to be three Members including the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to proceed with my motion today.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motions. Notices of motions. Mr. Gargan.

Notice Of Motion 23-12(1): Walk-in Freezer For Kakisa
Item 12: Notices Of Motions

December 9th, 1991

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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, December 12, 1991, I will move the following motion: Now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kivallivik, that the Legislative Assembly recommends that the community of Kakisa's need for a walk-in community freezer be considered a priority for inclusion in the Department of Renewable Resources' five year capital plan; and further, that the long-awaited policy concerning community freezers be formalized by the cabinet. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Notices of motion. Notices of motion. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Thursday, December 12, 1991, I give notice that I will move the following motion: Whereas the problem of the abuse of alcohol is affecting many individuals and families in our society in the Northwest Territories; and whereas if individuals continue only to talk about alcohol abuse and take no concrete action; and whereas it is critical that every action should be taken by elected officials to play their part; and whereas the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories should not be providing alcohol free of charge at sponsored events; and whereas public funds should not be used to provide alcohol free of charge to people attending government-sponsored functions; now therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin Central, that this Legislative Assembly adopts a policy that public funds should not be used to provide alcohol at government or Legislative Assembly events. Thank you.

An Hon. Member

Hear, hear!

---Applause