This is page numbers 721 - 753 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 housing.

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in general I believe this is a good motion, a proper motion and an area that the government does need to concentrate its efforts in. There is no question in my mind that during the Constitutional Working Group meetings a great issue was always one of the unresolved

land claims and self-government issues and in the end that became a stumbling block to proceed.

There is also the additional uncertainty in the minds of industry of organizations that want to do business throughout the Northwest Territories and development. I believe that with the settlement of land claims and self-government issues, we get a lot of that uncertainty out of the way. We get a lot of the uncertainty out of the way when movement starts taking place and interest by governments and aboriginal groups are directed towards that. Mr. Speaker, I feel, and I have spoken on this before, we have tremendous potential here in the Northwest Territories because our resources are incredibly rich, incredibly of a huge, huge magnitude. I think once we get over the hurdles of our governance, then all of that can proceed to the benefit of the people of the Northwest Territories. We do have a great future here in the North. If we can achieve that, Mr. Speaker. It is mind-boggling because our population is small, yet our resources are so gigantic, our potential is so gigantic. Whether it is resources of oil, gas, and minerals, or fishing or forestry, which I spoke about this morning, we have the potential and we need to get on with getting land claims settled and self-government.

Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting the motion. I would like to make a side comment, and that is, on the first statement where it makes reference to Bill 15 "has created serious rifts amongst northern people", those statements have been made repeatedly during this session. I think it is time we move beyond that and get on with more positive statements. I start to believe it is not productive if we keep that style of rhetoric up. The reality is that Bill 15 is getting third reading today presumably and I think once it is passed, yes, there are issues that need to be resolved but to continually harp on the fact that there are rifts amongst communities, rifts amongst northern people, let us please be more positive, a little more upbeat about our potential. I think it is time that we started to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Rabesca.

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to support this motion since it is a very important motion that has come forward. I believe that it is a long awaited motion that could have come up from this House a long time ago. However, I am sure that the various organizations throughout the territories and maybe national organizations that must have brought a similar motion to the federal government, but yet nobody seems to act to it. Now certainly it is stronger and is better that it came out from this House and I will assume that most of the organizations throughout the territories might be satisfied with this government if this motion comes forward and is supported as it is. On that note, I would like to support this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

To the motion. Mr. Erasmus. Conclude debate.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank people who have indicate that they will be voting for this motion and I appreciate the fact that the government agrees that there is a need to place a high priority on the resolution of the outstanding land claims and self-government negotiations. Mr. Speaker, the first whereas indicates that a few things have caused serious rifts amongst the people of the Northwest Territories, and that is just a plain fact, Mr. Speaker. That is what we heard. I am not trying to harp on this. This is not rhetoric. It is just one of the facts. I know Cabinet is trying to make some movement. They have agreed to do certain things to try to get things moving in a proper direction, and I appreciate that as well. With that, Mr. Speaker, I guess we may proceed on voting on the motion. Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is passed unanimously.

--Applause.

Motions. Mr Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the four year term of the 13th Legislative Assembly expires on November 16, 1999,

AND WHEREAS it would be desirable to hold the general election earlier than December 31, 1999

AND WHEREAS, under Section 9(3) of the Northwest Territories Act, the Governor in Council, after consultation, may dissolve the Legislative Assembly thus causing a new legislature to be elected.

NOW, THEREFORE, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, that this Legislative Assembly requests that the Government in Council dissolve the 13th Legislative Assembly by October 21, 1999, to permit a general election for the 14th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories to be held on December 6, 1999. Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried unanimously.

--Applause

Motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Tabled Document 31-13(7). Bill 16 and Bill 23. Mrs. Groenewegen 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

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I call committee of the whole to order. We have Tabled Document 31-13(7), Bill 26 and Bill 23. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

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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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I would like to recommend that we commence with Bill 23.

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

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Is the committee

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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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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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

We will proceed with Bill 23 after a short break. 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

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I will call the committee back to order. We are on Bill 23. I am going to ask the Minister of Finance, responsible for this bill, to make his opening comments. Mr. Dent.

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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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Supplementary Appropriation, No. 2, results in a net decrease of $683,922 in approved appropriations. Additional operations and maintenance appropriations of $1,428,965 are offset by a decrease of $2,112,887 in capital appropriations. Due to the net decrease in Supplementary Appropriation, No. 2, there will be no negative impact on the government's operating results for the 1999-2000 fiscal year. In addition, approximately $778,000 of the new supplementary requirements will be offset by revenues or other recoveries. With the approval of Supplementary Appropriation, No. 2, the total supplementary appropriations approved for the 1999-2000 fiscal year will be $21.7 million.

The major item included in the operations and maintenance supplementary appropriation is $1.2 million for implementation of the final Hay Plan job evaluations for nursing and social worker positions. The supplementary capital appropriation decrease results from a decrease in 1999-2000 capital requirements due to the plan to replace the Yellowknife Correctional Centre over a four year period rather than to renovate and expand the facility over several years at a higher cost. Madam Chairperson, I am now prepared to review the details of the supplementary appropriation document.

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

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dent. There is no committee review of this. I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring witnesses.

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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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Yes, I would.

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

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Is the committee agreed that the Minister should bring witnesses?

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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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed. Thank you. Would the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the witness in. Mr. Dent, could you please introduce your witness for the record?

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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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. On my right I have the secretary to the Financial Management Board, Mr. Lew Voytilla.

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

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. General comments on the departmental estimates. Are the Members ready to go to the detail of the bill? Would Members please turn in their green binders to Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1999-2000, and reference page five. Executive operations and maintenance, Financial Management Board Secretariat, not previously authorized, -$42,000. Mr. Erasmus.

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

Madam Chairperson, I am sorry. What page were you starting on?

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

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I am starting on page five of the detailed portion of the bill. Department of the Executive. Does everyone have it?

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.