This is page numbers 1057 - 1078 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 communities.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with Motion 14-14(6). Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may proceed with your motion, Mr. Lafferty.

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly has indicated his intention to retire from the position after 23 years of service to the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to name an individual to fill the position of Clerk;

AND WHEREAS Section 54(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the Clerk shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories on the recommendation of the Board of Management approved by the motion of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management is prepared to make a recommendation;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Timothy Mercer be appointed Clerk of the Legislative Assembly by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly;

AND FURTHER, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. We have a motion. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried unanimously.

---Carried

Thank you. Any further 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: Bill 16 and Bill 17, with Mr. Lafferty 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 Leon Lafferty

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Roland.

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

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That we deal with Bill 16 and 17 and start with Bill 17.

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?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. At this moment we will take a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Labour Standards Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

I will call the committee back to order. We are dealing with Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act. I would like to ask the Minister if he has any opening comments. Minister Allen.

Minister's Opening Comments

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Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to speak to Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act. If passed, this act will increase the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories from $6.50 an hour to $8.25 an hour. The minimum wage was last changed in 1991. The cost of living in Canada has increased approximately 20 percent since that time. This is one of the key factors in setting the proposed minimum wage at $8.25 an hour.

If this bill is passed, the Northwest Territories will have the second highest minimum wage in Canada after Nunavut, whose rate is $8.50. By setting the rate at $8.25 we will recognize that the cost of living in Nunavut is higher than in the Northwest Territories.

Bill 17 will also remove the different minimum wage for people under 16 years of age. Under the current act the minimum wage for those under 16 years of age is either $6.00 or $6.50 depending on whether they live in an on-road community or an off-road community. These amendments ensure that everyone, regardless of age or where they live, will receive a minimum wage of $8.25 an hour.

Having one minimum wage rate is consistent with the Human Rights Act adopted by this Assembly. The legislation sets December 28, 2003, as the day the new rate will come into effect. This allows enough time for the department to ensure that residents and employers are fully aware of the changes and have time to plan for them.

Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to answer any questions the Committee of the Whole may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. Any comments from the Social Programs committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Standing Committee On Social Programs Comments

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act. This bill will raise the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories to $8.25 per hour and remove previous sections of the act that stated persons under the age of 16 could be paid a lower minimum wage and people living off the highway could be paid a higher minimum wage.

Members had no major concerns with this legislation, given that it is generally understood that the effective minimum wage for adults in the Northwest Territories is actually in the $10 per hour range. It was noted by committee Members this legislation could have an effect on small businesses that hire part-time workers under the age of 16. It is not clear and the department did not conduct an actual research or consultation on whether these businesses could afford to pay the higher wages and whether employment opportunities for persons under the age of 16 would be affected.

The committee also noted that in the future, it would be more appropriate to examine minimum wages at least once during the term of an Assembly, rather than doing it once every 12 years. This concludes the committee's comments on Bill 17. Individual Members of the committee may have questions and comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. Does the Minister wish to bring in his witnesses?

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Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, I have witnesses, thank you.

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Does the committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort in the witnesses?

For the record, Mr. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses?

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Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My apologies, Mr. Chairman. To my left is Mark Aitken, director of legislation for the Department of Justice; and, M.J. Patterson with policy in the Department of Justice. Thank you.

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Thank you. We are now in general comments.

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Some Hon. Members

Clause by clause.

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

Does the committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Clause By Clause

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The Chair Leon Lafferty

We will go clause by clause. Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, clause 1.