This is page numbers 745 - 772 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th 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

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 7th, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik, that the name of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing be changed to the Special Committee on Housing;

Further, that notwithstanding Rule 88(2), the membership of the Special Committee on Housing shall consist of:

-three permanent Members from the east;

-three permanent Members from the west;

-the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation; and,

-two alternate Members, one from the east and one from the west;

And furthermore, that the following be adopted as the terms of reference for the Special Committee on Housing:

The Special Committee on Housing shall:

a)inquire into such housing matters as may be referred to it by the Legislative Assembly;

b)review and recommend on major new or revised policies or programs proposed by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

c)review and recommend on major issues arising from existing policies and programs of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

d)review and recommend on major housing issues arising from community consultation undertaken by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation with members of the public, local housing organizations, community governments and interest groups;

And furthermore, that the Special Committee on Housing may, on its own authority,

e)provide advice to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

And furthermore the Special Committee on Housing shall:

1)conduct its business in a manner approved by the Legislative Assembly;

2)elect one of its members to serve as chairperson;

3)elect one of its members to serve as deputy chairperson;

4)establish its quorum to consist of four members;

5)be provided with the necessary funds for the special committee to carry out its responsibilities from the appropriations of the Legislative Assembly;

6)have the authority to sit during sessions, adjournments and recesses of the House;

7)undertake such travel as a whole or by individual members as required and approved by the committee to carry out the assigned responsibilities of the committee;

8)make regular reports to the Legislative Assembly;

9)report to the Legislative Assembly on any advice provided to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation;

10)be provided with the necessary administrative support by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the office of the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 19, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

An Hon. Member

Question.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 19 has had first reading. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 14-12(6), "Open for Business" - Privatizing the Northwest Territories Power Corporation; Tabled Document 23-12(6), Report of the 1993-94 Electoral District Boundaries Commission Northwest Territories; Tabled Document 36-12(6), "Action Plan - Consolidation - Health and Social Services"; Minister's Statement 11-12(6), Return to Session; Committee Report 10-12(6), Report on the Review of the 1995-96 Capital Estimates; Committee Report 11-12(6), Report on the First Annual Report (1992-93) of the Languages Commissioner of the NWT; Committee Report 15-12(6), Report on the Northwest Territories Arts Council; Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96; Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act; Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act; Bill 14, An Act to Repeal the Public Service Vehicles Act; and, Bill 18, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1993-94, with Mr. Lewis in the chair.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

I would like to call the committee to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend to the committee that we first of all consider Committee Report 11-12(6), followed by Committee Report 15-12(6), followed by Bill 8 and, after that, we consider Bill 1 and Committee Report 10-12(6), specifically to deal with the budget of the Legislative Assembly. And, depending on how time is going, perhaps we could consider Bill 13 and Bill 14.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Okay, sounds like a good day's work. Does the committee agree that that is a reasonable proposal?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Dent, you want to begin with what item?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, I would like to suggest that we begin with Committee Report 11-12(6), Report on the First Annual Report (1992-93) of the Languages Commissioner of the NWT.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you. We are going to deal with Committee Report 11-12(6). Mr. Koe.

Committee Report 11-12(6): Report On The First Annual Report (1992-93) Of The Languages Commissioner Of The Nwt
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the first annual report of the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on December 14, 1993. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions considered this matter in meetings in Yellowknife on April 19, 1994.

The Language Commissioner's report contained 30 recommendations and the standing committee identified a number of issues to address. The standing committee's report, which has already been read in the House, dealt with such issues as: the reporting relationship of the Languages Commissioner; the role and responsibility of the Languages Commissioner; the need for focus on employee complaints and inquiries; the nature of the position of Languages Commissioner; the responsibilities of the government and the Languages Commissioner; and, full simultaneous translation in the Legislative Assembly. I would now like to deal with each of these individually.

The Reporting Relationship Of The Languages Commissioner

Recommendation 1 in the annual report suggests that a new committee be struck to be responsible for official languages issues. Members of the standing committee disagree. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions is quite able to take on the task of reviewing the Languages Commissioner's annual report. Therefore, I have a recommendation.

Committee Motion 64-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Fred Koe Inuvik

I move that the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommends that the terms of reference of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions be amended to direct that:

The annual reports and any other reports of the Languages Commissioner shall be referred to the standing committee and to allow the Speaker to provide these reports to the standing committee, in advance of tabling, to expedite the review by the committee.

Committee Motion 64-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Koe, all the recommendations are part of your report. I think the procedure is that we go through the report because that is part of the report. Then the motions are dealt with later, once you are finished making your report. Mr. Koe.

Committee Motion 64-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Fred Koe Inuvik

I am not going to argue with you, Mr. Chairman, but I have already read the report into the record and would like to deal with the individual motions and some preamble to each motion.

Committee Motion 64-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Okay. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 64-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 64-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Question is being called, but I don't believe we have a quorum. Please ring the bells. We have a motion on the floor and question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Koe.

Committee Motion 64-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, colleagues. A formal motion to amend the terms of reference of the standing committee will be forthcoming some time in the next week or so. The standing committee agrees that the Languages Commissioner should report to and appear before the Standing Committee on Finance for budget-related items.

The Need For Focus

The second part of our report deals with the need for focus. The standing committee Members feel that the Languages Commissioner should have defined a limited scope and set of objectives upon first being appointed. The Languages Commissioner has become involved in too many areas and the office has not been able to focus its attention adequately. The standing committee feels that the Languages Commissioner should develop and stick to a limited set of objectives, such as the definitive objectives defined in the 1994-95 main estimates. This will allow the office to be in control of events as much as possible, rather than letting events control the duties of the office.

Committee Motion 65-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

November 3rd, 1994

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Fred Koe Inuvik

I move that the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommends that the Languages Commissioner annually define a set of goals and objectives to guide the activities of the office. These goals and objectives should be stated in the office's annual budget, and reviewed in the Languages Commissioner's annual reports. Mahsi.

Committee Motion 65-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Your motion is in order. To this motion. Mr. Nerysoo.

Point Of Order

Committee Motion 65-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Just on a point of order, Mr. Chairman, did I hear the honourable Member read that the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommends? I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that it should be this committee because it is the committee of the whole that is now approving the recommendation.