Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Debates of March 22nd, 1993
Topics
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Madam Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses.
For the record, Madam Minister, would you please introduce the witnesses.
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Deputy minister, Mr. Blair Dunbar, and Ms. Diane Buckland, legal counsel with the Department of Justice. Thank you.
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Chairman, I wanted to advise the Minister and the House regarding the whole issue of the Social Assistance Act, there has been considerable concern with respect to the chairperson, the appeal committee, the composition of it and the quorum. Therefore, at the appropriate time, I will be moving an amendment to clause 2 of this bill. Thank you.
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Are there any general comments? Clause by clause. Agreed?
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Clause By Clause
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 21st, 1993
Page 1065
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Chairman, I move that clause 2 of Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act, be divided into two clauses by adding the following before proposed subsection 6.3: "2.1, the following is added before section seven." Thank you.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Pollard.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, I would ask that the legal counsel for the Government of the Northwest Territories be allowed to speak to the technicality of the motion. In effect, does this change the principle of the bill? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Pollard. The chair is having some difficulty with the suggestion. It is not customary to have opinions expressed on a bill such as this from a witness. The motion is in order. Mr. Pollard.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, I would request a ten minute recess while we consult with our legal counsel. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Mr. Chairman, perhaps I can explain what I am proposing. Mr. Chairman, as we know, clause 2 basically looks after the chairperson...
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1065
The Chair Tony Whitford
One moment, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. We will refer to your comments as speaking to the motion. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha
Thank you. I apologize, I forgot we had called question on this particular motion, Mr. Chairman. However, I thank you for allowing me to speak to the motion. Mr. Chairman, subsection 6.2 would increase the size of the appeal committee because currently the chairperson designates the members who should hear the appeal. I think there were concerns regarding this from Members. The other point which I want to make is that this particular chairperson would also take away the area of concern of Members with regard to the quorum, where it states, "A chairperson of an appeal committee shall, for each appeal, designate not fewer than three and not more than five members of the appeal committee to sit as a panel of the appeal committee, and shall direct the panel to hear the appeal." What we are saying is that the statutory act will look after the quorum part of this and, perhaps, legal counsel can explain more explicitly how that act will look after the quorum portion of this particular panel.
There were two concerns by Members, particularly in respect to the quorum and this clause is to address the quorum part of this particular bill. It will also automatically look at the appeal committee in its totality.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1066
The Chair Tony Whitford
Mrs. Marie-Jewell, I have to interrupt you, I must refer you back to the fact that you are speaking to this amendment. Do Members agree that we recess for ten minutes so that this matter can be clarified?
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1066
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1066
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1066
The Chair Tony Whitford
The committee will come to order. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1066
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 112-12(3): To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1066
The Chair Tony Whitford
Question has been called. The chair recognizes a quorum. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Clause 2. Agreed?