Debates of March 22nd, 1993

This is page numbers 1053 - 1090 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 3rd 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Report Of The Family Law Review Committee
Minister's Absence From House
Member's Statement Re Defeat Of MLA Sharks By Media Ravens Hockey Team
Annual Meeting Of The Gwich'in Renewable Resources Council
Designation Of River Ridge Facility As "secure Facility"
High Quality Of Construction On Ingraham Trail
Congratulating Senior Men's Curling Rink
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Designation Of River Ridge Facility As Secure Facility
Departmental Initiatives Re Trap Manufacturing
Community Consultation Re Hap Program Changes
Water And Sewer Subsidies In Fort Simpson
Cabinet Approval For Rental Scale Increase
Extension Of Accreditation Arrangements For Arctic College
Policy On Government Seeking Restitution From Convicted Former Employees
Written Question 31-12(3): Restitution To The GNWT
Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Extension Of Sitting Hours For Third Session
Item 15: Motions
Extension Of Sitting Hours For Third Session
Appointment Of Members To The Advisory Committee On Social Housing
Bill 24: Write-off Of Debts Act, 1993
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 17: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
To Amend Clause 2 Of Bill 5
Bill 17: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94
To Adopt Recommendation 9
Committee Report 16-12(3): Final Report On The Comprehensive Review Of The Rules
Committee Reports
To Adopt Recommendation 1
To Adopt Recommendation 2
To Adopt Recommendation 3
To Adopt Recommendation 4
To Adopt Recommendation 5
To Adopt Recommendation 6
To Adopt Recommendation 7
To Adopt Recommendation 8
Bill 17: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Media/mla Schmockey Game
Revert Back To Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
Item 21: Orders Of The Day

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

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

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

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

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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

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Are there any general comments? Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

General Comments

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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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

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The Chair

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

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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

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Clause 1, agreed?

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 21st, 1993

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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

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Clause 2, agreed? 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

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

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The Chair

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

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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

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The Chair

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

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. 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

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

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The Chair

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

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The Chair

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

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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

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you. We will recess for ten minutes.

---SHORT RECESS

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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The Chair

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

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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

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The Chair

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?