Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today goes to the Minister of Justice regarding the Human Rights Act that the government has been working on. I believe the plan was to have the act introduced sometime this fall, but every indication that I see is that this may not be possible. It may not be happening. I was wondering if the Minister could advise the House as to where the government is with respect to this legislation. Thank you.
Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2001
This is page numbers 591 - 622 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 4th 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 highway.
Topics
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 600
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 600
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 600
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the department has been working very hard in developing new human rights legislation to replace the Fair Practices Act. We have done a lot of work. We received some feedback in the whole area of pay equity. It is also something that we took on as a part of the consultation. This is something new that we have started working on because the original proposal dealt with only part of the Human Rights Act.
This work requires more work. I did commit in previous sessions that we were aiming to introduce it this session, but unfortunately, we will only be able to table a draft discussion paper at this point in time and wait until the February session to introduce the legislation. Thank you.
Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 600
Supplementary To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 600
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am just wondering, I am aware of the fact that this government is still engaged in a legal process with respect to pay equity. I see some contradiction in the government being involved in the litigation of pay equity and yet, at the same time, trying to address it through the Human Rights Act. I wonder if the Minister could clarify as to where the government's position is and if he sees any contradiction in this two-pronged effort. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 600
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 600
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the development of the Human Rights Act is to make better the whole area of human rights in the Northwest Territories. We do have quite a fair bit of protection in the Fair Practices Act, but we want to enhance that and we want to make sure that the area of human rights is comparable to what is available in the Canadian Human Rights Act in other jurisdictions.
In the area of pay equity, I am told by the officials in the Department of Justice that the whole area of pay equity is there and it has not been figured out to everybody's satisfaction yet, even though it is practiced in other jurisdictions. We need to do more work on that to make sure that we get it right. I think that even though there is some litigation out there, I think we could still go ahead with the legislation the way we are developing it. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Supplementary To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It looks like we still have a lot of work to do on that. Could the Minister advise as to whether or not he will be able to table the legislation by the earliest session in the new year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to introduce the first and second reading, if possible, in the next session in February. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Supplementary To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the same time, may I ask the Minister to provide the Members of the House regarding some of the outcomes of the consultation process during the week? In particular, the question about pay equity and any other important issues that may have arisen out of the consultation process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will provide the honourable Members with that information. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Question 205-14(4): Update On Human Rights Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.
Question 206-14(4): GNWT Response To Md Resource Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is again for the new Minister of Health and Social Services, while we are on a nice roll in getting some commitments. The NWT Medical Association submitted an MD Resource Plan to the department, which indicated they felt the need for 30 additional physicians. The department has not officially responded to the NWTMA. I did get some assurances from Minister Antoine the other day that they intend to do this, but I would like Mr. Miltenberger, if he could, to reiterate that and give me some sort of a time frame for officially getting back to the NWTMA. Thank you.
Question 206-14(4): GNWT Response To Md Resource Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 206-14(4): GNWT Response To Md Resource Plan
Question 206-14(4): GNWT Response To Md Resource Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the request and we have to balance off the needs for doctors with resource issues with the nurse practitioner program and try to get those pieces to fit. I will reiterate the commitment made by Mr. Antoine that there will be a reply. I would like to suggest that it will be done within a month. Thank you.
Return To Question 206-14(4): GNWT Response To Md Resource Plan
Question 206-14(4): GNWT Response To Md Resource Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transportation, regarding my questions yesterday. I would like to ask the Minister, was he aware that there was a tender being posted by the Town of Inuvik to access gravel from the gravel pit at the Inuvik airport?
Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.
Return To Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation did not tender any contracts for crushing out of the Inuvik airport pit or from the pits in the Inuvik area. Thank you.
Return To Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
Supplementary To Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Question 207-14(4): Tender For Inuvik Gravel Contract
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 601
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will restate my question. I do not believe the Minister understood my question. My question is was the Department of Transportation aware of a contract that was let by the Town of Inuvik to access the gravel pit at the Inuvik airport?