We are now dealing with a private Member's bill, Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Mr. Lafferty, do you have any opening comments? Mr. Lafferty.
Debates of March 7th, 2001
This is page numbers 1597 - 1638 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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 women.
Topics
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
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Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today is a very important day in that the Members of the House will be making a decision on Bill 17. This involves renaming my electoral district by amending the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.
This name change is an important step marking the government's recognition of our different regions. It is also significant that it is being given a Dogrib name. This is in keeping with the aboriginal name changes that have occurred throughout the Territory for both electoral areas and communities.
Since being elected as the MLA for the North Slave region in December 1999, I have been deeply concerned with the lack of coordination between government departments. I have brought these concerns with the budget process forward in the House, in committee meetings and I have shared them with my colleagues and the chiefs for my region.
In July, the chiefs responded to these concerns by forwarding a band council resolution supporting the renaming of our area to Monfwi. Renaming the North Slave region Monfwi is a fundamental shift that will help to ensure our region is recognized fairly in the budget process. It will provide for a better understanding of local issues and needs. It will also make government expenditures much clearer and it will allow me to work more effectively for my constituents. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Does the chair of the committee regarding this bill have any comments? Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
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Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight reviewed Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, at public hearings in Yellowknife on February 19 and March 6, 2001. Bill 17 is a private Member's bill and is sponsored by Mr. Leon Lafferty, the MLA from the electoral district of North Slave.
Rule 77 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories provides for private Members' public bills. Bill 17 amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act by removing the heading "North Slave" in item 12 of Schedule A and replacing it with the word "Monfwi". Chief Monfwi was the Dogrib chief who lived from 1886 to 1936, and was a signatory of Treaty 11. Section 2(1) of the Act provides, "There are 19 electoral districts as named and described in Schedule A."
The bill as originally drafted would have come into effect following third reading and assent of the proposed legislative change. At the public hearing on February 19, 2001, committee members heard from Chief Richard Edjericon and Chief Peter Liske of the communities of Detah and N'dilo, Yellowknives Dene First Nation. The committee also heard from Mr. Richard Garepy, legal counsel for Akaitcho Treaty 8 First Nations, and N'dilo elder Muriel Betsina.
These presenters put forward to the committee the position that to change the name of an electoral district at the present time would just add confusion to their current land claim boundary dispute with the Treaty 11 First Nations.
John B. Zoe, chief negotiator for the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, told committee members that the private Member's bill was merely a change to the name of an electoral district and had nothing to do with the claims or boundary dispute process.
Mr. Lafferty and Mr. Zoe put forward the following reasons for wanting a change to the name of the North Slave electoral district:
- (1) Mr. Lafferty told the committee that it would assist him in identifying budgetary items for the four communities that he represents in the North Slave region during the budget process; and
- (2) Mr. Zoe identified the need to have culturally relevant names and told the committee that the amendment would work towards strengthening the Dogrib language.
The committee would like to thank those who appeared before them at the public hearing and fully understands the concerns of the presenters from both Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 First Nations. In particular, the committee would like to thank Mr. Lafferty for bringing forward an amendment to Bill 17. The amendment proposed by Mr. Lafferty would delay the effective date of operation for this bill. This motion to amend Bill 17 was passed by the committee at its public hearing on March 6, 2001.
The bill will now come into force when the Government of Canada has ratified the final Dogrib Comprehensive Land Claim and Self-Government Agreement. Mr. Chairman, committee members may have additional comments during the review of the bill in committee of the whole.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight on Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Dent. General comments. Clause by clause review of Bill 17. General comments. Mrs. Groenewegen
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The renaming of the constituency on the face of it is a simple matter. Although this bill will not change or establish any boundaries, it is clear that other claimant groups, most notably the Deh Cho and Akaitcho, are concerned about the name change because it overlaps issues related to land claims and self-government initiatives.
As a Cabinet, we have worked hard to maintain open and productive relationships with all aboriginal governments and peoples of the Northwest Territories. To take a position on this bill at this time we feel could jeopardize those relations. Because the proposed name change would not come into effect until the Dogrib claim is ratified by Parliament, one might ask if the bill is urgent at this time. It might make more sense to deal with it when some of the related political issues are closer to resolution.
However, Mr. Chairman, the timing of the bill's presentation is not in Cabinet's hands, but for these reasons, Mr. Chairman, Cabinet will be abstaining from voting on this bill and the will of the House will preside. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want some clarification here. In Mr. Lafferty's opening remarks, he wants to rename the electoral district by amending the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. In the last paragraph, at the beginning of the paragraph, "rename the North Slave region Monfwi is a fundamental shift." Are we talking about the North Slave? Is it the North Slave region that is being named or is it the electoral riding called the North Slave riding? As far as I understand, the North Slave region includes the communities of Detah, N'dilo, Yellowknife and Lutselk'e as well.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. If the sponsor of the bill could clarify, Mr. Lafferty.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
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Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe the wording may give the Members a different idea of what I am looking at, but it is just to identify my district. I could say district in putting in that word, but I thought using the word region was more appropriate for the opening comments. For the bill, the way it is worded I think explains everything. Thank you.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am wondering if we can get a legal opinion on this. I would like to be absolutely sure that we are talking about the North Slave riding and not the North Slave region.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Peterson
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What the bill does is change the name from North Slave to Monfwi in the schedule to the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. That schedule is a schedule that describes electoral districts. It does so in two fashions. First by name and then by boundary for each electoral district. This bill affects the name only of the North Slave electoral district as set out in the schedule to that act.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1628
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Clause by clause.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1628
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1628
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1628
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1628
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 43-14(3): To Amend The Schedule (total Appropriation) Of Bill 19: Appropriation Act, 2001-2002 (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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