Debates of June 13th, 2002

This is page numbers 741 - 776 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th 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 assembly.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Action Plan For Seniors' Programs And Services
Congratulations To The Graduates Of 2002
Providing Assisted Living To NWT Residents
Negative Impacts Of Capital Project Cost Overruns
Tribute To Lil Broadhead
Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery Conference
Comments On The Business Incentive Policy
Affordable Housing In Yellowknife
Tribute To Francis Blackduck
Competitive Compensation For Stanton Employees
Passing Of Alfred Thomas
Suspension Of The Business Incentive Policy
Committee Report 6-14(5): Special Committee On The Implementation Of Self-government And The Sunset Clause Report On Sunset Clause
IntroductionDescription And Mandate Of The Special Committee
What Is The Sunset Clause?
Electoral Districts
Member
Repeal Of Electoral Districts
What Does The Sunset Clause Do?Repeal Of Electoral Districts
Two Scenarios
Repercussions
Who Would Govern The NWT In The Interim?
Premier And Ministers
Resumption Of Authority By The Commissioner
Governance, Claims And Treaty Negotiations Since 1999
How Electoral Districts Are Established
Representation By Population
Federal, Provincial And Territorial Practices
Responsibilities Of Mlas
Canadian Practice
NWT Electoral Districts Boundaries Commissions
Advisory Bodies
Establishing The Electoral Districts For The 14th Legislative Assembly
Public Consultation
The Options
More Consideration Needed
Repeal The Clause
Interpreting The Options
An Electoral Boundaries Commission
Current Distribution Of Districts
Place Of Yellowknife
Self-government
Summary
Committee Conclusions
RecommendationsRecommendation 1 -- Repeal Of The Sunset Clause
Recommendation 1
Recommendation On Electoral Boundaries Commission Legislation
Recommendation 2
Next Steps
Committee Report 7-14(5): Report On The Review Of The Languages Commissioner's Annual Report, 2000-2001
History
Review Of The Official Languages Act
Languages Commissioner
Annual Report 2000-2001
New Vision And Mandate
Establishment Of An Advisory Board
Languages Commissioner -- Recommendation 1
Languages Commissioner -- Recommendation 2
Languages Commissioner -- Recommendation 3
Languages Commissioner -- Recommendation 4
Languages Commissioner -- Recommendation 5
Recommendation
Conclusion
Committee Report 8-14(5): Report On The Review Of The Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Commissioner's Annual Report 2000-2001
The Standing Committee Review
Recommendations From The Access To Information And Privacy Commissioner's 2000-2001 ReportThe Inclusion Of Municipalities As Public Bodies Under The Current Act
Canadian Territories Considered "federal Works"
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Revert To Item 5: Returns To Oral Questions
Social Housing Shortage In Yellowknife
Deh Cho Road Conditions
Highway Maintenance Resources
Support For Families With Special Needs Children
NWT Residents In Southern Institutions
Business Incentive Policy Review Process
Business Incentive Policy Issues
Forest Fire Management Policy
Capital Project Budgeting Process
Stanton Hospital Operating Budget
Eligibility For Local Preference
Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Adoption Act And Family Law Act
Tabled Document 40-14(5): Action Plan: Report On The Review Of Programs And Services For Seniors, March 2002
Tabled Document 41-14(5): Inuvialuit Final Agreement Implementation Coordinating Committee Annual Report, 2000-2001
Tabled Document 42-14(5): Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement, Annual Report Of The Implementation Committee, April 1, 2000 To March 31, 2001
Tabled Document 43-14(5): Response To Petition 1-14(5)
Bill 15: An Act To Amend The Real Estate Agents Licensing Act
Bill 16: Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
To Amend Clause 37(2) Of Bill 12, An Act To Amend The Elections Act (carried)
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 3: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act
Bill 6: An Act To Amend The Financial Administration Act
Bill 11: An Act To Amend The Liquor Act
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

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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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, that sounds like a time-consuming process for individuals who are otherwise already very busy, if you have to go pick up a mail-in ballot, vote and send it into one or two offices. Are there any provisions for advance polling, where an individual knows they are not going to be in the NWT or an electoral district on the day of the voting, that they could vote in advance prior to them leaving the electoral district? Once you leave the community and you go to a conference or other events, you do not want to be bothered with mail-in ballots. 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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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. Mr. Hamilton.

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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David Hamilton

Mr. Chairman, I apologize. I probably did not get the first question. My answer did not fully address the Member's concern. There are a number of voting opportunities that individuals could use. There is not just the one polling day, so it is not that if you do not vote on polling day, there is no other opportunity to vote.

Yes, there is advance polling. There are advance polls in every community that has a population of 500 or more. There is also voting at the office of the returning officer for 12 days. So throughout the 12 days, except Sundays, you can go into the office of the returning officer and actually vote there. There is also now the special mail-in ballots, as I indicated earlier. There are special mobile polls being created for incapacitated people, people who cannot leave their home. We are allowing provisions whereby if an individual notifies his returning officer that because of an incapacity they are unable to leave their home, we are creating one day in that electoral district or in that community where the poll would actually go to that individual. That is including health care centres, senior citizens' homes, but even to an individual's home if they can demonstrate their inability to go and vote.

There are four or five various methods for individuals to vote in an election.

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 Leon Lafferty

Thank you. General comments.

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

Detail.

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 Leon Lafferty

Does the committee agree we will go clause by clause?

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 Leon Lafferty

Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, clause 1.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 2.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 3.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 4.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 5.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 6.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 7.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 8.

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 Leon Lafferty

Clause 9.

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.