This is page numbers 2821 - 2866 of the Hansard for the 16th 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 agreed.

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2008-2009, be read for the first time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2008-2009, has had first reading.

---Carried

Item 19, second reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2008-2009, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2008-2009, has had second reading.

---Carried

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 7-16(3), Ministerial Benefits Policy; Tabled Document 11-16(3), NWT Main Estimates 2009-2010; Committee Report 2-16(3), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Matters Referred to the Committee; Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Historical Resources Act; Bill 3, International Interest in Mobile Aircraft Equipment Act; Bill 4, Public Library Act; Bill 5, Professional Corporations Act; and Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act. By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 10-16(3), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

March 4th, 2009

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 7-16(3), Tabled Document 11-16(3), Committee Report 2-16(3), Bills 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. What’s the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today we would like to deal with the Legislative Assembly, the Department of Finance and then, time permitting, the Executive offices.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Is committee agreed?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

With that, we will take a short break and begin with the Legislative Assembly.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Prior to the break, we agreed that we’ll begin with regard to the Legislative Assembly. At this time, I would like to call on the Speaker and see if he has any opening remarks for the main estimates for the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Yes, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2009-10 main estimates for the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Chairman, this year marks the second year of the Assembly’s expenditure reduction exercise. The Board of Management has approved an operating budget of $15.65 million for the Assembly this year.

This represents an expenditure increase of 1.8 percent over last year’s budget.

Mr. Chairman, in addition to fully implementing the Board of Management’s two-year target expenditure reductions, the 2009-10 main estimates includes a number of important new initiatives. These include funding for the work of the independent commission to review compensation and benefits which must be established in the upcoming fiscal year.

Funding is also included to host the Canadian Regional Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar in October. This seminar will be attended by Legislatures from across Canada who will have a rare opportunity to visit the North and learn how our unique system of consensus government works.

Mr. Chairman, the main estimates before you include $14 million to support the work of the Assembly’s various statutory officers. Of note is the additional funding required to implement amendments to the Human Rights Act approved by this Assembly. These amendments will see a clearer distinction drawn between the activities of the various agencies established under the act. Mr. Chair, as was the case last year, all our statutory officers were given the opportunity to appear before the Board of Management to substantiate and defend their operating budget requirements. Their valued input is reflected in the Assembly’s estimates.

While not included in the current operating budget, I wish to advise Members that planning is well underway to repair the Legislative Assembly roadway system and increase its parking capacity.

---Applause

A budget request will be put before the Assembly this fall, with work being scheduled for completion during the 2010 construction season.

Mr. Chair, the global economic slowdown and its resulting impact on capital markets have had serious implications for private and public sector pension plans throughout the world. As Members know, the Board of Management manages over $38 million in assets held in the Legislative Assembly’s two pension plans. While these investments have not been immune to capital market downturns, I am pleased to report that both plans continue to hold healthy surplus positions and will not require the infusion of any public funds for the foreseeable future. I want to thank my colleagues on the Board of Management in both this and the last Assembly for the prudence and foresight they have demonstrated in protecting the interests of past, current and future plan beneficiaries.

Mr. Chair, I want to take a few moments to advise the House and the public of a number of initiatives my office is undertaking to show leadership in environmental and personal responsibilities. First, I am pleased to advise the House that the Board of Management has approved the installation of a wood pellet boiler at the Legislative Assembly during the upcoming fiscal year.

---Applause

This system will reduce the Assembly’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 90 percent and reduce its annual heating costs by 18 percent. The system will work in tandem with the building’s existing boiler, which will still operate to handle peak loads and provide emergency redundancy.

It should come as no surprise to any of you when I say that this institution is addicted to paper. If we were to take all the paper that we use in this building in a year and stack it in piles, it would reach the top of this Chamber more than six times. Placed end to end, this paper would stretch from Yellowknife to Fort Providence. Maybe it’s one way we could use to fill all the holes between here and Enterprise.

The Assembly’s recent decision to allow the use of laptop computers in Committee of the Whole and standing committees provides a key opportunity to change our processes and reduce this waste. While information technology will unquestionably provide convenience and efficiency to the activities of Members while in the Chamber and committees, the greatest benefit will be in using this opportunity to change the way we do business, to reduce our dependency on paper and help the environment.

I have set an ambitious target of reducing our paper consumption by 80 percent in the next year and I look forward to the cooperation of all Members in assisting with this transition.

More than one Member has expressed an interest to me in finding ways to make their activities carbon neutral. I am pleased to advise Members that I will introduce regulatory amendments early in the new fiscal year to allow Members to use their constituency budgets to purchase carbon offsets from institutions meeting the Gold Standard. This will enable any Member to use their budgets to promote a carbon neutral approach to representing their constituents.

Finally, the Legislative Assembly has in recent years lead by example with respect to social and personal responsibility. In these halls we need to both talk the talk and walk the walk in this spirit. I want to advise Members that the Legislative Assembly is going to Drop the Pop and ditch the disposable water bottles effective June 1st of this

year. I have directed the Assembly’s catering contractor to discontinue the sale or distribution of soft drinks and bottled water in the Legislative Assembly, including at private meetings and functions.

The Legislative Assembly is the most important public institution in the Northwest Territories. As lawmakers, role models and politicians, we must each practice the habits that we want people to emulate. I know you will all cooperate as we make these important changes.

Before I conclude, I want to take advantage of this rare opportunity at the mike to recognize some outstanding work at the Legislative Assembly this year. For the past year the Government Operations committee has been conducting an exhaustive review of the implementations of the NWT Official Languages Act. The committee, under the leadership of MLA Kevin Menicoche, has travelled extensively throughout the NWT, hearing and documenting the concerns of our language speakers and communities. The report of this committee will be tabled in the House during this session. I have seen some early drafts of this report and I want to state how impressed I am with the work that has been done on this important file. This is the bread and butter work of legislators. Our committee has done work here that we can all take great pride in. I hope all Members and the public pay close attention to this report when it is made public in the days ahead. I want to make special mention of the work of the committee staff who assisted with this review; particularly the research and drafting that Regina Pfeifer has done in support of this committee’s work, which rivals that of the highest paid consultants we too often rely upon for advice and expertise.

---Applause

Advice and expertise that is usually available to us in house. Congratulations to all the committee members and staff on this excellent piece of work.

This concludes my opening comments. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time I would ask if you will be bringing in any witnesses.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Is the committee agreed to allow the Speaker to bring in his witnesses?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

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

Mr. Speaker, for the record, could you introduce your witnesses?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Mr. Chairman, to my left I have Olin Lovely, director of corporate services, and to my right I have Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome, witnesses. At this time I will call for general comments. Mr. Bromley.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to say, as I’ve been doing, 1.8 percent increase over last year’s budget I think that’s quite reasonable. I’ve been mentioning this with a number of departments and that seems to be below the inflation rate and I think that’s what we’re targeting.

My comments are generally quite positive. I was very excited to hear some of the things today. The installation of a wood pellet boiler...As one who’s declared himself to be a carbon neutral MLA, this is going to help me and help all of us now who choose to be carbon neutral because, of course, we don’t now need to worry about much in the way of heating costs, which is the major cost other than travel.

I’m excited to see the initiatives on paper. I’ve seen quite a change since I’ve started this less than two years ago...the practices of committee and so on. I’m now watching even more how much I print on old paper and make sure I use both sides and so on. So the practices that have been established in the Assembly here have been impressive and I think already working towards the Speaker’s goal of 80 percent reduction in paper. I know it’s going to be challenging to get there, but I’m going to be working hard on that too.

Some of these initiatives are not going to necessarily be easy, but I think the highlight that we need in this hall to be walking the walk and talking the talk and vice versa, I think I’m willing to work hard towards that end. Some things are easier for some people than other things. I’m not a pop drinker, so it’s quite easy for me to support Drop the Pop. I know for others it’s not easy. I’m very appreciative of the commitment that’s been shown by the Board of Management in this work.

I’m going to leave it at that. It’s just a number of exciting announcements that I wasn’t aware of here. Very good to see this work happening.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Next on the list I have Mr. Menicoche and Mr. Yakeleya.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I’m pretty pleased, I’m very pleased with the opening remarks of Mr. Speaker and the initiatives of the Legislative Assembly. I’m glad that they are talking the talk and walking the walk in terms of dropping the pop. Some of the carbon neutral initiatives I will be very happy and proud once they’re installed to display that to other Assemblies, I’m sure. It sounds like there’s a huge regional parliamentary event this coming fall and maybe it will be in place by then to be a shining example of our parliamentary consensus style to show others about how quickly Assemblies can act and move forward with the initiatives that are now driving the global agenda.

It is a local agenda as well, Mr. Chair. So I am very supportive of those efforts. At the same time, I’d like to commend Mr. Speaker for mentioning my chairmanship for Standing Committee on Government Operations, but I would be remiss without mentioning my fellow colleagues that share the duties with me that did do the hard work on the languages report: Mr. Robert Hawkins, deputy chair, committee member Mr. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Jackie Jacobson, as well as you, Mr. Chair, Mr. David Krutko. Thank you very much. That concludes my statements. Mahsi.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Yakeleya.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Chair, the comments I have are just saying to the staff and Mr. Speaker, I think by your presentation, Mr. Speaker, I think we may be one of the leading Assemblies in terms of what we are doing here with the initiatives under your leadership and how we operate within our Assembly. I think that says a lot for the staff who are making unique changes to our system.

I am very happy to know that you will be hosting the Regional Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar in October and have Members here to have a good look at our consensus style of government. I think that’s something we can boast about the uniqueness of being in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chair, the other comment I want to offer to the Speaker is regarding the amount of paper we use and our addiction to paper. It is a very well put scenario. The paper that we use, if you were to stretch it from Fort Providence to Yellowknife, that’s a lot of paper. I hope by this we make something very simple and look at other alternatives in terms of how we do things. The paper that we use, maybe one day we can use that to build the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I just didn’t realize the amount of paper that our Assembly uses. It’s an eye-opener when you put things into perspective. Kudos to you and your staff and the Members to look at different alternatives to not use paper.

With the introduction of the wood boiler system that we are going to use, that’s something that will be a leading example to other parliamentary associations that could use this type of system. Hopefully we are in a groundbreaking area to support our environment.

These are the comments that I have, Mr. Chair, in terms of the presentation. I am glad that we are looking at Dropping the Pop and looking at the bottled water system in terms of us going ahead. I want to say that these types of initiatives are leading other Assemblies into how we take care of ourselves and our environment. I wish to thank the Speaker and the staff well in implementing these initiatives. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. For general comments, I have Mrs. Groenewegen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to thank the Speaker for his opening comments. I believe that the operations of the Legislative Assembly are probably second to none in terms of professionalism and the support that Members get in the work that we do on behalf of our constituents. So I would like to thank not just the Speaker, but the Legislative Assembly staff for all of their help and assistance in the day-to-day operations that we are involved in here.

We have a wonderful opportunity to do things that are trend-setting and that are leading by example. I think that the initiatives that were announced in the Speaker’s opening comments today were certainly in that category. People out there may not know it, but we work long hours here. Sometimes in the winter we come to work in the morning, it’s dark outside and we go home late at night and it’s dark outside. The work is in a strange way, it’s very taxing. One of the occupational hazards I think of being in politics is that we look forward to those breaks and some of those choices and beverages and so on that maybe aren’t all that healthy. I know it seems like a small thing to Drop the Pop, but I think it will help Members in a way, a strange kind of a way, to help us make healthier choices. Because there is an inclination and certainly an ability when you get here working those kinds of hours, being confined in the building, I think sometimes we just consume too many things. We consume too many soft drinks, too much coffee and sometimes too much food.

Mr. Chairman, the environmentally sensitive initiatives that are also being spoken of here today in the opening comments are also very, very welcome. I hope that we will be the first Legislative Assembly on some of these initiatives that we will undertake in the country and it will be noted throughout the land, the efforts that we are making

to respect our environment and be good stewards of our environment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.