This is page numbers 39 - 61 of the Hansard for the 13th 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 nunavut.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 46

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, the Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5). Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent. Bill 1 will be moved into committee of the whole for today. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Erasmus.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 46

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 3, Legal Registries Division Measures Act, 1999, Bill 4, Northwest Territories Power Corporation Division Measures Act, and Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, and wishes to report that Bill 3, Bill 4, and Bill 6 are now ready for consideration in committee of the whole. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5) and have these bills moved into committee of the whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 46

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, the Member for Yellowknife North is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 70(5). Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Erasmus, you have unanimous consent. Bill 3, Bill 4 and Bill 6 will be moved into committee of the whole for today. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.

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

Page 46

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Tabled Document 3-13(7): Background Paper: Negotiating Equal Pay at Collective Bargaining

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

Page 46

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Background Paper Negotiating Equal Pay at Collective Bargaining.

Tabled Document 4-13(7): Status Report: Individual Equal Pay Settlement Agreements

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

Page 46

John Todd Keewatin Central

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a status report on the Individual Equal Pay Settlement Agreements. Thank you.

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

Page 46

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Tabling of documents. Mr. Ootes.

Tabled Document 5-13(7): Package of Letters Regarding the Need to Increase Education Funding

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

Page 46

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have 15 letters I wish to table. They are from staff members of N J MacPherson school in Yellowknife in regard to educational funding in the Northwest Territories, which they have requested to be increased. I have a second document, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 6-13(7): Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Decision on the Friends of Democracy Challenge to Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries

This is the judgement by Judge de Weerdt in regard to the court case between the Friends of Democracy, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories and the Aboriginal Summit. Thank you.

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

Page 46

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Mr. Morin.

Tabled Document 7-13(7): Letter from Western Northwest Territories Aboriginal Summit to Premier Antoine Requesting an Appeal to the Electoral Boundaries Decision

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

Page 46

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a document, a letter from the Western Northwest Territories Aboriginal Summit to Premier Antoine of the Northwest Territories.

Tabled Document 8-13(7): Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Decision Known as the Paulette Case Judgement

I also have a second document, the Paulette case, a judgement by Honourable Justice W. G. Morrow.

Tabled Document 9-13(7): PEI Supreme Court Decision on Voter Rights indexed as MacKinnon vs. Prince Edward Island

I also have a third document, a case from Prince Edward Island, MacKinnon and Government of Prince Edward Island and the City of Charlottetown on electoral boundaries. Thank you.

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

Page 46

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Mr. Morin.

Motion 5-13(7): Appeal Of Supreme Court Decision On Electoral Boundaries
Item 14: Notices Of Motion

March 21st, 1999

Page 46

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on

Wednesday, March 24, 1999, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Executive Council that they immediately file an appeal of the March 5, 1999, decision of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in the matter of Friends of Democracy et al, vs. the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories et al, and take all steps necessary to ensure that the decision of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories is stayed pending the hearing of an appeal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Bill 8: Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00
Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

Page 47

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 8, Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 8: Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00
Item 17: First Reading Of Bills

Page 47

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 8 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Todd.

Bill 8: Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 47

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin South, that Bill 8, Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the GNWT to make interim appropriations for the 1999-00 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 8: Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 47

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Bill 8 has had second reading and accordingly the bill stands referred to committee of the whole for today. Second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bill 1, Bill 2, Bill 3, Bill 4, Bill 5, Bill 6 and Bill 8 with Mr. Ningark 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

Page 47

The Chair John Ningark

I would like to call the committee to order. On item 19, we have Bill 1, Bill 2, Bill 3, Bill 4, Bill 5, Bill 6 and Bill 8. I seek the direction of the committee. 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

Page 47

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we proceed in this order, Bill 8, followed by Bill 1, Bill 2, Bill 3, Bill 4, Bill 5 and Bill 6. 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

Page 47

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Ootes is recommending that we proceed with Bill 8 first and then Bill 1, Bill 2, Bill 3, Bill 4, Bill 5 and Bill 6. Do we have concurrence?

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

Page 47

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

Page 47

The Chair John Ningark

We will take a break and come back to deal with the bills. Thank you.

--Break

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

Page 47

The Chair John Ningark

I would like to call the committee to order. We are reviewing Bill 8, Interim Appropriation Act, 1999-00, and, therefore, would like to recognize Mr. Todd, the Finance Minister. Mr. Todd.

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

Page 47

John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Chairman, the Interim Appropriation Act for the 1999-2000 fiscal year is required because the main Appropriation Act for the upcoming year is still under development, pending completion of the Main Estimates and review by standing committees. The government needs interim appropriation authority by April 1, 1999, to allow it to make expenditures for continuing operations in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, which requires that no government expenditures be made which are not pursuant to an appropriation.

The interim requirements were calculated based on operating needs for the first three months of the 1999-2000 fiscal year. Although the present legislative schedule anticipates approval of the 1999-2000 Appropriation Act during the month of April, the three month operating requirements will prevent a problem should there be any changes in the session schedule.

Departments developed their requirements using the 1999-2000 projected level of spending. The interim appropriation amounts were based on the estimated requirements in four areas:

1. Salaries, wages and benefits for the seven pay periods falling between April 1, 1999, and June 30, 1999.

2. Amounts required to fund grants and contributions for the first three months of 1999-2000.

3. Other operations and maintenance requirements. The requested appropriation authority provides for the commitment of the full value of contracts that must be entered into during the first month of the fiscal year. In accordance with the Financial Administration Act, the full amount payable under these contracts during 1999-2000 must be charged to an appropriation when the contract is signed.

4. Interim requirements for capital expenditures for multi-year projects with contracts which span the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 fiscal years and projects where deadlines, due to shipping requirements or other factors, required early approval.

The authority issued under the Interim Appropriation Act expires once the 1999-2000 Appropriation Act is assented to in the Legislative Assembly. The 1999-2000 Appropriation Act will replace the Interim Appropriation Act retroactive to April 1, 1999. 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

Page 48

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Todd. We will allow the Minister to bring in his witnesses before we get into general comments. Does the committee agree that the Minister may bring in his witnesses? Agreed?