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Debates of March 4th, 1997
Topics
Motion 15-13(4): Appointment Of An Information And Privacy Commissioner
Item 14: Notices Of Motion
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Some Hon. Members
Motion 15-13(4): Appointment Of An Information And Privacy Commissioner
Item 14: Notices Of Motion
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Notices of motion. Mr. Miltenberger.
Motion 16-13(4): Extended Adjournment
Item 14: Notices Of Motion
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![Michael Miltenberger](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-michael-miltenberger/47139ac033eb544b16722e5e01a06f8e.jpg)
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 6, 1997, I will move the following motion:
I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that not withstanding Rule 4, THAT when this House adjourns on March 5, 1997, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, May 27, 1997
AND FURTHER, that any time prior to May 27, 1997, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned at that time.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.
Motion 16-13(4): Extended Adjournment
Item 14: Notices Of Motion
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Mr. Roland.
Item 16: Motions
Item 16: Motions
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![Floyd Roland](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-floyd-roland/0b9708903b9f913ff93ddcd4599c8ba2.jpg)
Floyd Roland Inuvik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to move my motion to appoint the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Item 16: Motions
Item 16: Motions
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with his motion today. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Roland, you have...
Item 16: Motions
Item 16: Motions
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Some Hon. Members
Nay.
Item 16: Motions
Item 16: Motions
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
You do not have unanimous consent. Motions. Mr. Miltenberger.
Item 16: Motions
Item 16: Motions
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![Michael Miltenberger](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-michael-miltenberger/47139ac033eb544b16722e5e01a06f8e.jpg)
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion today in regards to extended adjournment.
Item 16: Motions
Item 16: Motions
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. The Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent to deal with his motion on extended adjournment. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Miltenberger, you have unanimous consent.
Motion 16-13(4): Extended Adjournment
Item 16: Motions
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![Michael Miltenberger](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-michael-miltenberger/47139ac033eb544b16722e5e01a06f8e.jpg)
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Mr. Speaker,
I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on March 5, 1997, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, May 27, 1997.
AND FURTHER, that any time prior to May 27, 1997, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned at that time.
Motion 16-13(4): Extended Adjournment
Item 16: Motions
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your motion is in order. To the motion. Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Ng.
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kivallivik, that Bill 13, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 1997-98, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects certain inconsistencies and errors in the Statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill also deals with other matters of a non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the Statutes and repeals certain statutory provisions that have ceased to have effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Bill 13 has had second reading and accordingly the bill stands referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bills No. 2, No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 10, and No. 12; Committee Report 2-13(4),
Committee Report 3-13(4), Committee Report 4-13(4) and Committee Report 6-13(4), with Mr. Steen 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](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-vince-steen/98b8a39220470698ce0ae4e9c8a16fbe.jpg)
The Chair Vince Steen
I call the committee to order. Before the committee for consideration is Bill 2, No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 10 and No. 13; Committee Report 2-13(4), Committee Report 3-13(4), Committee Report 4-13(4) and Committee Report 6-13(4). I would like some direction from the committee as to how to proceed. Mr. Ootes.
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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![Jake Ootes](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-jake-ootes/45946d5e27f5f78512b798b732a49baa.jpg)
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That we proceed with Bill 8, the Appropriation Act and Committee Report 2-13(4), Committee Report 3-13(4), Committee Report 4-13(4) and Committee Report 6-13(4) concurrently followed by Bill 7, Bill 2, Bill 9, Bill 10, and Bill 12 in that order. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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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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.
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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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](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-vince-steen/98b8a39220470698ce0ae4e9c8a16fbe.jpg)
The Chair Vince Steen
We are considering Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 1997-98. We are considering the Legislative Assembly, page 1-7 and I would like to invite the Speaker, Honourable Sam Gargan, to present his opening comments on the departmental estimates.
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
March 3rd, 1997
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the 1997-98 main estimates for the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly is requesting an expenditure of $12,539,000 which includes a capital appropriation of $540,000. When I appeared before the Standing Committee on Government Operations to present the business plan for the Assembly, I indicated as I have on a number of occasions in my term as your Speaker, that the estimates of the Legislative Assembly are expenditures that are driven by legislation and political direction, both of which carry a price tag. I must also reiterate, as you all know, we work in an environment that can and does change from day to day. The business of the Legislative Assembly, its Cabinet, standing committees and our Nunavut and Western Caucuses are constantly tackling many issues which may require realignment of expenditures. Since all government is downsizing, amalgamating and implementing initiatives such as user pay/user say, it will be difficult to seek new money for this work even though it will need to get done. But we are not asking for new money. We want to lead by example and do the same and more with less.
The main estimates do not contain any increase to Members' indemnities, living allowances or constituency expenses, as the provision for an automatic increase by the consumer price index was deleted from the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Mr. Chairman, this means that each of us will have to budget very carefully as we will have to do the same amount of work, if not more, with less as the dollars will need to be stretched.
The Management and Services Board has undertaken a number of initiatives that will provide legislative and organizational direction to the Nunavut and Western Legislative Assemblies in 1999. These initiatives include processes for determining the electoral boundaries and general elections for the two new legislatures. The Management and Services Board is also developing options for dealing with post-division pension legislation and a human resource development plan for both Legislatures. It is anticipated that the activities surrounding the first elections for both Territories will require the establishment of election administrations in Nunavut and the western territory. Mr. Chairman, I can assure you that the Management and Services Board, and ultimately this Assembly, are in a good position to assist with a smooth transition in 1999 from a legislative perspective.
The main estimates before you today, Mr. Chairman, include the addition of the transfer of $2,574,000 which was contained in the Supplementary Appropriation, No. 2, approved on November 30, 1996. This transfer of funds is related to the user pay/user say initiative and deals with the operation and maintenance of the Legislative Assembly building and a number of elements of O and M at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the transfer of funding associated with vehicle fuel, external mail, removal, recruitment and medical travel assistance.
Mr. Chairman, this is a significant transfer to the Legislative Assembly and expenditure management measures have been developed to ensure that we do our best to live within the funding transferred. If we do not and operational costs escalate, then we will have to cover our over-expenditures from within the existing funding allocations.
Mr. Chairman, the main estimates provide for the operation of a number of statutory functions that are the responsibility of the Legislative Assembly. These functions include, of course, the Office of the Languages Commissioner who appeared before the Standing Committee on Government Operations to present her budget, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner and the new statutory position of Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Commissioner. In addition, if negotiations are successful with the Government of Canada, it is hoped that we will be in a position to appoint the first resident Chief Electoral Officer in the coming fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, I have kept my opening comments brief to provide more time for Members to ask questions on our main estimates. With that, Mr. Chairman, my officials and I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have.
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](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-vince-steen/98b8a39220470698ce0ae4e9c8a16fbe.jpg)
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would now like to invite Mr. Erasmus, the chairman of the Government Operations Committee, for the committee's comments on the departmental estimates.
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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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the Legislative Assembly, in reviewing the business plan, the committee noted that a number of programs have been assumed under the user say/user pay initiative. The Speaker
indicated that this initiative will probably result in additional costs to the Assembly beyond what was provided in the transfers from the originating departments. We are concerned about the long-term implications of user say/user pay. We will be monitoring this carefully, not just with the Assembly but with all departments.
The committee noted that the Assembly was preparing for the Electoral Boundary Commissions for the two new territories. Members are aware of the urgency of this work and the Commissions cannot proceed until decisions regarding the number of ridings are determined at the political level.
Also for the first time, the Languages Commissioner appeared before the standing committee to explain her business plan. The committee is pleased with the efforts of the Commissioner to fulfil her mandate. As part of the business plan, the Commissioner indicated a number of areas that she will be working on over the next year. One of these items, establishing a storefront office, involved a significant increase to her budget. Due to the size of the Commissioner's budget, she is unable to absorb such an expenditure. The committee encourages the Language Commissioner to pursue creative options, possibly with other small offices or shared storefront space at a reasonable cost. Mr. Chairman, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Thank you.
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](/media/CACHE/images/polpics/13-vince-steen/98b8a39220470698ce0ae4e9c8a16fbe.jpg)
The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. I would like to ask the Speaker, Honourable Sam Gargan, if he would like to have witnesses present.
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 Speaker Samuel Gargan
Yes, Mr. Chairman.