This is page numbers 367 - 397 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th 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 education.

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to briefly elaborate on the motion to establish a Special Joint Committee on Division. I will be brief because the motion, itself, provides more detail than this House normally expects in a motion to establish a special committee and approve its terms of reference. Madam Speaker, this level of detail does reflect the amount of work which Members have put into this division issue during the past ten months.

It was just last April, Madam Speaker, when Caucus devoted considerable time to the division issue at its first strategic planning workshop in Fort Providence. That we were discussing division at that time was not unique, given that it's been on this Legislature's agenda for more than a decade. However, as Members will recall, the focus of our discussion has changed.

For example, we have defined division as the creation of two new territories, and not just the establishment of a Nunavut administration. Moreover, Madam Speaker, the indicators were positive that the federal government would soon be introducing legislation to create Nunavut. Therefore, our focus in Fort Providence also shifted to the operational obligations of the Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories in planning for and implementing division.

Madam Speaker, in particular, Caucus considered how both could work jointly and cooperatively during the remainder of our term to ensure a positive contribution to the eventual creation of the two new territories. In keeping with this common objective, Caucus requested that further work be done on a mechanism for information exchange and decision making on division issues by the Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories. As Madam Speaker knows, a number of the proposals were considered at our Cambridge Bay strategic planning workshop in October and to further develop the most effective option, a Caucus working group of Members and Ministers representing Nunavut and the west was struck.

Madam Speaker, Caucus has considered reports from the working group on two occasions, the most recent being February 22, when Members reached a consensus that the most effective mechanism would be a Special Joint Committee on Division. Madam Speaker, I expect that the honourable Member for Sahtu, who seconded the motion, will be providing some additional details on the special joint committee in his remarks.

I should say that I believe this Assembly and government must act quickly in order that we can begin to meet some of our obligations for creating two new territories between now and 1999. The time remaining for both to make a productive contribution is between one year and 18 months, and there is much work still to be done. Madam Speaker, I'll conclude my remarks by simply urging all Members to support this motion.

The Speaker

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

An Hon. Member

Question.

The Speaker

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

---Carried

Item 15, motions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

WHEREAS, the terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on Social Housing were adopted on March 11, 1993;

AND WHEREAS, there is need to amend the terms of reference so as to ensure the effective operation of the advisory committee;

AND WHEREAS, the advisory committee are of the opinion that the terms of reference should be amended;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Aivilik that the following amended terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on Social Housing be adopted.

Madam Speaker, at this point, as the remainder of the motion is very lengthy and it was read into the Hansard on Wednesday, February 23, 1994, I would request unanimous consent to consider the remainder of Motion 15-12(5) read and printed into the Hansard.

The Speaker

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to consider the remainder of motion 15-12(5) read and printed in the Hansard. Are there any nays? There are no nays.

The Speaker

Purpose

- To provide ongoing advice from elected representatives to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly on broad territorial social housing issues;

- And to provide a forum for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to share information and consult with elected representatives.

Structure

- three permanent Members from the east;

- three permanent Members from the west;

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

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

Term

- for the duration of the 12th Legislative Assembly.

Mandate

The Advisory Committee on Social Housing shall:

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

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

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

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

e) provide advice to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly; and,

f) provide opportunities for all Members to raise concerns related to housing and to have input on housing issues on the review by the advisory committee.

Conduct Of Business

1. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing shall conduct its business in a manner approved by the Legislative Assembly;

2. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing shall appoint a chairman, who shall be the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. The chairman shall not vote;

3. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing shall appoint one of its Members to serve as a deputy chairman;

4. A quorum of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing shall consist of four Members, including the chairman; 5. The Legislative Assembly shall provide from its appropriations the necessary funds for the advisory committee to carry out its responsibilities;

6. The advisory committee shall have the power to sit during sessions, adjournments and recesses of the House;

7. Meetings of the Advisory Committee on Social Housing may be called at the discretion of the chairman, or a majority of Members, to deal with matters as required;

8. The advisory committee, as a whole, or individual Members, may undertake such travel as required to carry out the assigned responsibilities of the committee;

9. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing shall make regular reports to the Legislative Assembly, through the deputy chairman; and,

10. The necessary administration support for the Advisory Committee on Social Housing shall be provided jointly by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker

Mr. Gargan, to the motion.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last March, the original terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on Social Housing were tabled in this House. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing was created so MLAs could provide assistance and advice to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation and to the Legislative Assembly on housing issues and to provide a forum for the Minister of Housing to share information and consult MLAs.

The amended terms of reference will make it possible for the committee to meet whenever important issues arise and the Members of the committee agree that the meeting is necessary. Members of the advisory committee will be able to undertake any travel which is required to carry out the assigned responsibilities of the committee. This would allow us to attend community and district meetings held to discuss housing and any other housing-related meetings. This will broaden our understanding of the issues and improve our ability to address them effectively.

Madam Speaker, under the current terms of reference, the Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly jointly provides the necessary funds for the advisory committee. We are proposing today that all necessary funds be provided by the Legislative Assembly. We view this arrangement as more appropriate for a legislative committee. The advised terms of reference also calls for an alternate Member from the east and an alternate Member from the west to be named to the Advisory Committee on Social Housing. The Members of the advisory committee are in unanimous support of the proposed amendment.

Madam Speaker, all Members of this House are aware of the critical shortage of housing across the Northwest Territories. They also know the situation is one of the most serious challenges we face as a government. Each of us here have constituents who need some assistance to improve their housing conditions. Everyone knows about the federal government's elimination of funding for new social housing and about this government's fight to get that funding reinstated.

The Advisory Committee on Social Housing can help play an important role in helping to solve these problems. Madam Speaker, we are committed to working with the Housing Corporation, the Minister, the Legislative Assembly, the local housing organizations and the people of the north to address the shortage of housing in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.

Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a particular concern regarding the amendments to this motion. In the structure, and it remains the same where there are three Members from the east and three Members from the west and chaired by the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. My concern is, under the mandate of the advisory committee, item (e), the committee is to provide advice to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Legislative Assembly. I see that as a contradiction and a possible conflict with the Minister being the chairperson of this advisory committee, while at the same time providing advice to himself. I just wanted to make that point. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I don't see any contradiction because usually the chairperson seeks advice from the membership. So, in that case, I support the motion. Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

Question has been called. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan, do you have concluding remarks?

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Yes, Madam Speaker. With regard to the conflict issue, I have had our legal advisor, Ms. MacPherson, give us an opinion on that. In this case, there is no conflict. Also, I think the Department of Justice was of the same opinion. There is no conflict, even though the Minister is the chair.

The Speaker

Thank you.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

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

---Carried

Mr. Morin, you voted for and then you abstained.

---Laughter

The Speaker

Item 16, first reading of bills. Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95; Committee Report 2-12(5), Review of the 1994-95 Main Estimates; Minister's Statement 5-12(5), Session Business; Tabled Document 1-12(5), Towards an NWT Mineral Strategy; Tabled Document 2-12(5), Building and Learning Strategy; Tabled Document 3-12(5), Towards a Strategy to 2010: A Discussion Paper; and, Tabled Document 11-12(5), First Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of the NWT for the Year 1992-93, with Mr. Whitford in the chair.