This is page numbers 1135 - 1164 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 report.

Topics

Committee Motion 50-12(7): Territorial Plebiscite On Legal Drinking Age
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a few comments on that. I certainly recognize the Member's concern with respect to the Plebiscite Act in comparison to the Legislative Assembly Act in the way the question could be put forth. It's not that the process is difficult, from my understanding.

There could be many things done. I mean, we could simply amend the Plebiscite Act within the next couple of weeks to make it consistent with the Elections Act, and I believe it's a small amendment, so it's not too hard to do.

But, Mr. Chairman, one thing I want to bring forth is that it states in the committee report, "talked about extensively in all regions". Although talked about extensively in all regions, the raising of the legal drinking age was not supported by the witnesses who appeared before the standing committee. I believe that there were quite a few. I read many of the reports on the public hearings, and there were comments alluding to supporting raising the drinking age, and I believe the best and fairest approach to it would be to allow the people to decide. That's why I feel that the cheapest, most cost-effective and economical way would be to look at the form of a plebiscite, a question, along with your ballot for election.

With regard to saying that this responsibility is going to be given a little bit more to the Executive Council, we are recommending that they look at this and see if there's a way that it can be done. I find that this issue comes up time and time again, and I think it's something that the new Assembly, because they are going to be looking at rewriting liquor laws in the next Assembly after spending extensive consultation throughout the Northwest Territories over the past year, are going to look at what they should put in the new liquor laws. I think that, in order to address that, this is one way of giving them a direction.

This committee report is very vague. With all due respect, there are no recommendations. It's basically a report on the report that the government presented. I find that I was somewhat disappointed in reading that report because it was really vague in giving direction to the government. What do we want in our liquor laws that we want developed? We have an archaic liquor law system. How do we want to shape it? This is a form of shaping it. We sit here every day, and many times when we sit here we always say that the biggest problem in the Northwest Territories is alcohol and drug abuse. Until we, as leaders, offer some guidance as to how we are going to deal with alcohol, then I can't see it getting any better.

I mean, sure, a few campaigns do provide public education. It's something that we've got to deal with. But at the same time, I think that if we want to change laws which will affect people then I believe that we have to certainly go out and ask the people if they want the laws changed. I think that this is the fairest, most effective, cheapest way of finding out whether or not the people of the Northwest Territories want to raise the drinking age legally from 19 to 21.

So with that, Mr. Chairman, I certainly hope that Members take that into consideration when they vote on this motion, not placing MLAs in the position of having to make a decision on something like this, that it's the people of the Northwest Territories that will decide this, and the easiest way to decide this is to see a plebiscite question during the territorial election. Thank you.

Committee Motion 50-12(7): Territorial Plebiscite On Legal Drinking Age
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1164

The Chair John Ningark

The hour being 6:00 pm, I will rise and report progress to the Speaker. Thank you.

Committee Motion 50-12(7): Territorial Plebiscite On Legal Drinking Age
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The House will come back to order. Item 20, report of committee of the whole, Mr. Ningark.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Committee Report 5-12(7) and would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

It is seconded by Mr. Antoine. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

---Carried

Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

Bill 26: An Act To Amend The Jury Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 1164

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River, that Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Jury Act, be read for the third time.

Bill 26: An Act To Amend The Jury Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 1164

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Bill 26: An Act To Amend The Jury Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Bill 26: An Act To Amend The Jury Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

---Carried

Bill 26 has had third reading. Item 21, third reading of bills. Item 22, Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

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Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton

Mr. Speaker, there will be meetings of the Standing Committee on Finance at 9:00 am tomorrow, and of the Ordinary Members' Caucus at 10:30 am.

Orders of the day for Wednesday, June 7, 1995:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements

3. Members' Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

6. Oral Questions

7. Written Questions

8. Returns to Written Questions

9. Replies to Opening Address

10. Petitions

11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

13. Tabling of Documents

14. Notices of Motion

15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills

16. Motions

17. First Reading of Bills

18. Second Reading of Bills

19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Committee Report 5-12(7), Report on the Review of Rewriting the Liquor Laws of the Northwest Territories: A Legislative Action Paper

- Committee Report 9-12(7), Report on the Review of the Financial Statements of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Report of the Auditor General for Canada for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 1994

- Committee Report 10-12(7), Report on the Review of Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2

- Bill 25, Education Act

- Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2

20. Report of Committee of the Whole

21. Third Reading of Bills

- Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act

22. Orders of the Day

Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, June 7, 1995 at 1:30 pm.

---ADJOURNMENT