Debates of June 12th, 2003

This is page numbers 965 - 1056 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Update On Negotiations
Skills Canada Competition
Youth Criminal Justice Act
Conference Board Study Of NWT Economy
Manufacturing Strategy
Aboriginal Law Career Development Program
New NWT Sport And Recreation Board
Support For NWT Arts And Crafts Industry
Acknowledgement Of Disabled Athletes
Hay River Heritage Centre
Application For A Single Rate Zone For Power
Travels Of Princess Alexandra Grade 6 Classes
Core Health Services Available To NWT Residents
Negotiations With Specialist Physicians
Inequities Of The Medical Travel Co-payment
Role Of Special Committees
Tribute To Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus
Item 6: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Committee Report 15-14(6): Report On The Review Of Rule 70 Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly
Motion To Receive Committee Report 14-14(6) And Move To Committee Of The Whole
Committee Report 15-14(6): Report On The Review Of Rule 70 Of The Rules Of The Legislative Assembly
Motion To Receive Committee Report 15-14(6) And Move To Committee Of The Whole
Item 5: Returns To Oral Questions
Update On Negotiations
Contingency Plan For Specialist Services
Inconsistency In Treatment Of Medical Travel Costs
Hay River Heritage Centre
Government Sponsored Insurance Programs
Harmonization Of Social Housing And Income Support
Housing Meeting In Fort Resolution
Location Of Aklavik Health Centre
Letter Outlining Obstetricians' Concerns
Responsibility For Hay River Airport Maintenance
Status Of Fort Mcpherson Community Services Board
Negotiations With Specialist Physicians
Alcohol And Drug Treatment Services In Aklavik
Written Question 8-14(6): Business Incentive Policy
Written Question 9-14(6): Child Protection Services
Mr. Krutko's Reply
Tabled Document 68-14(6): June 11, 2003, Letter
Tabled Document 69-14(6): Cbc News Release "don't Come North NWT Colleagues Tell Docs" And E-mail
Tabled Document 70-14(6): Public Accounts Of The GNWT, Interim Report - Year Ended March 31, 2003
Tabled Document 71-14(6): June 11, 2003, Letter
Tabled Document 72-14(6): Status Of Women Council Of NWT Annual Report 2001-2002
Tabled Document 73-14(6): Support Manufacturing
Bill 18: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 13: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act
To Amend Clause 3 Subsection 40.1(1) Of Bill 14
Committee Motion 119-114(6): To Amend Clause 3 Subsection 40.1(2) Of Bill 14
To Amend Clause 3 Subsection 40.1(5) Of Bill 14
To Amend Clause 3 Subsection 40.3(1) Of Bill 14
To Amend Clause 3 Subsection 40.6(1)(d) Of Bill 14
To Amend Clause 5 Of Bill 13
Bill 13: Deh Cho Bridge Act
To Amend Clause 10 Of Bill 13
Bill 18: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2003-2004
To Report On $1.3 Million Project For The Tuktoyaktuk Road Reconstruction
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 13: Deh Cho Bridge Act
Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act
Bill 18: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2003-2004
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Bill 13: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The Minister of the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Minister Handley.

Bill 13: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Ms. Lee.

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So we are adding a new definition, well, we are adding a new category there of "employees' association". Is that something completely new in this clause or is this something that was in another section of the act that we are simply bringing into the general section of definitions under section 1? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 13: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The Minister responsible for... Mr. Voytilla.

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Voytilla

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These are not new definitions. They are definitions that currently exist in the existing Public Service Act. The reason for this amendment is so these definitions will apply to the act in its entirety instead of just to one section, which is the way it is currently structured in the act. That is the reason for this change.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Ms. Lee.

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Then why is it we are only moving these definitions and not other ones that might be there and what other definitions are there that he is moving these definitions from?

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The Minister of the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Minister Handley.

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, these are the only two that are used in the new provisions, so they are the only ones that we use here. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Ms. Lee.

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. Thank you for the answer. I now realize that I am learning a lot more than I was aware of. So does that mean then, that equal pay for work of equal value applies to employees and teachers only? Thank you.

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Ms. Woodward.

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Woodward

No, that is not the case. It is that the provisions of the equal pay for work of equal value apply not only to teachers, but also to other members of the public service. It was simply a matter that the teachers definition occurred later in the Public Service Act and in order to ensure that it applied to all of the equal pay provisions it needed to be moved to the front of the Public Service Act.

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Ms. Lee.

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Then may I be advised as to what categories of employees will be included other than the two mentioned here?

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Minister Handley.

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Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, all public servants. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Clause 2. Mr. Braden.

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Chairman, my comments are not specifically related to clause 2, but when I go through the procedure that we are engaged in right now, where Ms. Lee has signaled that she is going to demand that the Minister read through and explain each and every clause, that is a very unusual process for Committee of the Whole to engage in. I do not recall us ever having done this before. Ms. Lee was quite right in remarks that she made a few minutes ago that committee -- and this was the Accountability and Oversight committee -- took a lot of time in considering this and in...

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Excuse me. We are going clause by clause. Every Member has the right to speak to that clause and that is how we are going clause by clause. So could you speak to clause 2? We have a question or general comment under clause 2. Mr. Braden.

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

No, Mr. Chairman, I do not have a question related to clause 2. It is related to the process that we are engaged in right now and I do not know if I have a Point of Order, but I want to indicate to committee my displeasure...

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Excuse me. Mr. Braden, are you making a Point of Order?

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, I am not making a Point of Order.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Clause 2. General comments. Ms. Lee.