This is page numbers 177 - 203 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 federal.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 18, motions. Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS, in 1949 the then deputy minister of the Department of Mines and Resources, Dr. Hugh Keenleyside invited A Y Jackson to do some sketches in Yellowknife, Port Radium and the surrounding countryside;

AND WHEREAS, with the assistance of Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited, A Y Jackson was able to return to the north to undertake his works;

AND WHEREAS, in subsequent years, A Y Jackson also travelled the barrenlands to outside Coppermine and around Great Bear River, Hunter Bay and Dease Inlet;

AND WHEREAS, at the opening of the exhibition of A Y Jackson's paintings on October 22, 1953 held at the Art Gallery of Toronto, the then Governor General, the Right Honourable Vincent Massey said: "You will recall he was one of four to form that group of artists which, during a spirited chapter in the history of Canadian art, taught Canadians to perceive the peculiar beauty of their own country. Alex Jackson is not only a great Canadian painter, he is a great Canadian, and a legendary figure in the Canadian scene."

AND WHEREAS, Eldorado Mining were happy to have made a contribution to the works of this great Canadian painter, the company's board of directors was pleased to support the collection known as the Eldorado Collection to find a new home in the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS, this new Legislative Assembly building could provide a permanent home so that the public can experience the A Y Jackson legacy and enjoy this truly northern asset;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that this Legislative Assembly request the Premier and the Executive Council that immediate arrangements be made to transfer, on permanent loan, the entire government's collection of A Y Jackson's paintings and sketches for permanent display in the Legislative Assembly building.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Lewis. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To explain why we should support the motion -- and I believe the motion contains most of the reasons, Mr. Speaker -- I should give you a little bit more background. During A Y Jackson's life, he led a group of Canadian painters called the Group of Seven, Mr. Speaker, which broke away from the tradition that it was only by copying European methods that painting could really be developed.

Although he spent time in Paris before the First World War, learning technique and colour, it wasn't until he began to paint the Canadian wilderness that a Canadian style of painting evolved. He was drawn to the most remote parts of Canada. He first visited the Arctic in 1927 and revisited the north in each of the following decades until his death in 1974.

In 1967, the northern paintings by A Y Jackson were transported from Ottawa to the territorial government in Yellowknife. I talked to John Parker two weeks ago and he recalls looking after the paintings on the plane ride carrying the first group of Northwest Territories employees north; the ones who had been in Ottawa. There was no place in Yellowknife to keep or display these paintings at that time, so he made himself the unofficial keeper of the paintings and has looked after them well ever since.

While he was Commissioner, he also acquired more northern paintings by Jackson and added them to the collection. In 1988, as has already been pointed out, Eldorado Mining donated nine northern paintings to the northern heritage centre in Yellowknife. Thus, the Government of the Northwest Territories now owns the best collection of A Y Jackson northern paintings in all of Canada.

It was always the plan to give these paintings a permanent home in Yellowknife. Now that we have a Legislative Assembly building visited by some 2,000 people every year, there's good reason to keep the collection together so they can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike. Our present Commissioner, Helen Maksagak, was gracious enough to lend A Y Jackson paintings from her office to the Legislative Assembly building during our recent Speakers' conference. The reaction from these leaders across the country was very positive, indeed; they were very impressed. And I know that many other Members of the Assembly have also become interested in the Group of Seven because of the explosion to this painter.

I urge Members to support the motion to place the entire collection on permanent loan to this Legislative Assembly building. This building is a fine place to house the work of a man who has been well described in the quotation by Governor General Vincent Massey in 1953. I urge Members to support the motion to honour the work of a great Canadian painter by hanging his work in this place of the people. This would make this building an even greater tourist attraction than it already is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Whitford, do you wish to add...Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the motion?

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Mahsi cho.

---Carried

---Applause

Some Hon. Members

Bravo!

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 19, first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 19: First Reading Of Bills

Page 198

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 19: First Reading Of Bills

Page 198

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 19, first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard, your motion is in order. To the motion.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 19: First Reading Of Bills

Page 198

An Hon. Member

Question.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 19: First Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

---Carried

Bill 1 has had first reading. Item 20, second reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 20: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 198

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make operations and maintenance expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1996. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 20: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 20: Second Reading Of Bills

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Some Hon. Members

Question.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96
Item 20: Second Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

---Carried

Bill 1 has had second reading and, accordingly, the bill stands referred to committee of the whole. Item 21, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Limitation of Actions Act; Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act; Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act; Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act; Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act; Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, No. 2; Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amending Act, 1994; Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Elections Act; and, Committee Report 2-12(7), Report on the Legislative Action Paper on the Office of Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories, with Mr. Whitford in the chair.

Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 21: 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. When we concluded on Friday, we were dealing with Bill 15. I would like to ask what is the wish of the committee today. The chair recognizes Mr. Dent.

Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 21: 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 that committee consider, in the following order: resume consideration of Bill 15 first, then perhaps consider bills 11, 12 and 10.

Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Does the committee agree?

Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

We have agreement. It's agreed that we will continue with Bill 15, first, when we return from our short break.

---SHORT RECESS

Bill 15: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 199

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Before we broke, the committee had agreed that we would continue with Bill 15. I would like to ask Minister Pollard if he would like to bring in witnesses and move to the witness table. Mr. Pollard.

Bill 15: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 199

John Pollard Hay River

With the committee's permission, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 15: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 21: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 199

The Chair

The Chair Tony Whitford

Does the committee agree that the Minister bring his witnesses to the witness table?