This is page numbers 977 - 1013 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 chairman.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Safety and Public Services. Mr. Speaker, last week I asked the Minister if he would consider setting up a committee of business and labour representatives to undertake a quick review of the report on employment standards tabled in 1990, and make recommendations on changes needed immediately to our labour standards, and to further recommend on the process should a more detailed study be seen to be needed. The Minister said he would consider this idea. Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the Minister could advise us now if he will be instituting such a review of our labour standards.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to advise the honourable Member, firstly, so that it's clear for Members, I believe in the past two years our priority for legislation in this House was the issue of the new Mine Health and Safety Act and the whole issue of the regulations, and also the matter of the liquor law review. I say thank you to my colleagues for the support they have given me in that. I do want to say that the labour standards legislation is now one of our top priorities. It has to be, in my view. Certainly, from having discussions with my colleagues, it is one of those pieces of legislation that is long overdue for amendment.

I don't have a problem with the suggestion that is being made by the honourable Member with regard to a group of individuals being assigned a task in the business and labour area. I do want to say, though, that there are a few other components that are important: one, representation from Nunavut; two, the representation from the aboriginal community.

I do want to say that we're now looking at, after having spoken to the Premier, having the group look at the documentation and the work that was conducted for the work to be done by the workplace commission had it been established, which it wasn't.

The other component that would come out of these discussions should be a strategy, an approach, a transition process that has been requested on this whole labour issue. I will advise the honourable Member that we are developing an approach for looking at the possibility of a meeting in May or June, depending on the agenda and the issues. I will speak directly, Mr. Speaker, to the representatives of labour, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, along with representation from Nunavut businesses and the aboriginal groups. We intend to fund it from within. Our expected costs are much more than the honourable Member would have wanted, but it's my view that we have to spend the money in order for this group to get together to give us some sense of where we have to go. So we are going to approach it and we are looking at that agenda.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, what I will do is once we've laid the agenda out, I will advise the honourable Members, through written communication, of the agenda items and the approaches. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister making the commitment to undertake the review. It sounds like it's going to be more detailed right off the bat than what I had been suggesting. A concern is now on the timetable. Can the Minister advise whether or not it is still going to be possible to get the report back from this group before the end of this

calendar year so any recommendations they make can be considered fairly quickly?

Supplementary To Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, it's certainly my intention to have some advice given to this Cabinet on the approaches that would be necessary for us to proceed with the amendments or the development of new labour standards legislation. What is important to us is that there are a whole bunch of new partners in the whole matter of employment management. The Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, for instance, under the agreement, has arrangements for employment through negotiated agreements. There are situations where new legislation is required for conditions of employment. Generally throughout the Northwest Territories, we're talking about the whole issue of division.

I also want to say to the honourable Member, I'm hoping that this round table discussion will lead to some basic principles for the development of new legislation, but also could lead to a blueprint for the new government to action. In other words, it will lay the framework. What I'm trying to do is get public input into laying out a framework; not only action on our part, but laying out some direction. That, in my view, is a much more substantive approach.

The other component, Mr. Speaker, and the honourable Member has mentioned this, is the ongoing consultative process. I would like to see the advice of the group as to how we might approach this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Question 468-12(7): Review Of Labour Standards Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees o the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 90-12(7), NWT Tourism Association Review -Executive Summary, March 1995. Thank you.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Pollard.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as required by section 32.2, subsection (4)(b) of the Financial Administration Act, I am tabling Tabled Document 91-12(7), a list of each case where a 1993-94 expenditure exceeded the 1993-94 activity budget by an amount exceeding $250,000.

I have another document, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as required by section 32.1, subsection 2 of the Financial Administration Act, I am tabling Tabled Document 92-12(7), a list of all interactivity transfers exceeding $250,000 within departments for the period October 28, 1994 to March 9, 1995.

Mr. Speaker, I have another one. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 93-12(7), Working Together for Community Wellness: A Directions Document, on behalf of the Premier. Thank you.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Ng.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 94-12(7), MACA Reorganization Review Report...

---Applause

...which is the executive summary of the report of April 1995, prepared by RT and Associates and Ernst and Young. I will make the full document available to those Members who wish to review the details of the report. Thank you.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, April 26, 1995, I will move the following motion.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin Central, that the Executive Council immediately develop and implement a policy that would allow for the creation of a corporate account for travel points. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to seek unanimous consent to proceed today with my motion on the review of official languages services.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Member for Iqaluit is requesting unanimous consent to deal with Motion 17-12(7). Are there any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Patterson.

Motion 17-12(7): Review Of Official Languages Services
Item 16: Motions

April 11th, 1995

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and honourable Members. Do I need to read the motion?

An Hon. Member

(Microphone turned off)

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Yes. I should know by now.

---Laughter

Some Hon. Members

(Microphones turned off)

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I was wondering if it could be read into the record.

An Hon. Member

No.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

WHEREAS federal funding for official language services has been substantially reduced by the Government of Canada for the 1995-96 fiscal year;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to reviewing priorities in all official languages programs but has not completed that review;

AND WHEREAS some departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories have already made decisions to reduce vote 4 funding for official languages programs, but some departments and vote 4 official language programs have not been reduced;

AND WHEREAS there is considerable concern about reductions planned in the legal interpreters program of the Department of Justice and its possible harmful effects on the rights of accused and the overall administration of justice;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre that this Assembly recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories proceed as soon as possible with its overall review of all official languages programs in cooperation with NWT organizations with an interest in official languages;

AND FURTHER that this Assembly recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories in cooperation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly review the effectiveness and cost of official languages services provided for the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.