This is page numbers 4503 - 4526 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th 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 i'd.

The House met at 1:36 p.m.

---Prayer

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Education Week, I would like to draw attention to an important tool that is helping many Northerners receive important trades training in smaller communities. I’m talking about Aurora College’s Mobile Trades Training Lab in the Beaufort-Delta.

In 2008, the college worked with Education, Culture and Employment, the Government of Canada and partners in aboriginal governments and industry to secure the lab. It offers a 900 square foot shop that is fully self-contained with its own forced air oil furnace heating and power generators. It also comes equipped with an overhead crane for mechanics training and a rear car lift that allows students to bring light vehicles into the shop.

This unit allows Aurora College to deliver quality trades training in smaller communities in the Beaufort-Delta region, training that wouldn’t be possible due to limited infrastructure.

In 2008 and 2009, the lab facilitated delivery of introductory carpentry and introduction to plumbing and gas-fitting in Inuvik. These programs provided participants with entry-level skills so they can gain meaningful employment and go on to pursue apprenticeship opportunities.

The lab also brought the Career Technology Studies Construction Training Program to Fort McPherson in 2009. Students learned the basics of residential framing and how to safely use tools and different construction materials by building four storage sheds for use in the community. This program is part of the Success Project that the \

Tetlit Gwich’in Council initiated so residents can gain personal management skills, work experience, math and science upgrading, wellness training, and, in this case, basic construction training.

In addition, the lab allowed the Building Trades Helper Program to go to Tuktoyaktuk in 2009, teaching students the basics of construction. The project provided a real-world work environment where students were able to learn while working on an actual housing project assisting a journeyman to build two houses. The class also built three sheds which were donated to the local minor hockey association for a raffle. All proceeds went towards purchasing hockey equipment for local kids.

Mr. Speaker, this year the lab is facilitating the Building Trades Helper Program in Aklavik. As part of the training, the class is doing an interior retrofit of a local housing unit that was damaged by fire. This provides students the opportunity to learn wall framing and assist with plumbing and electrical rough-in work. At the end of the program, students will be more skilled and able to help tradespeople on construction sites.

I am very happy that the Mobile Trades Training Lab is helping people to receive training in their own community so they can enter fulfilling careers here in the North. I want to thank Aurora College and our many partners who made the lab and this training possible. These include our partners at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Northern Transportation Company Limited, the Building Inuvialuit Potential Society, the Tetlit Gwich’in Council and our partners in industry. I also want to thank all the instructors and students who are making these programs so successful. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Early this month the Minister of Health and Social Services made a statement about the 2010 Drop the Pop

program in effect for this month of February. Since it’s Education Week and Drop the Pop Month, I thought I would see what Yellowknife schools registered for the program are doing and highlight some of their activities.

I mentioned a few days ago that we have a great bunch of teachers in the NWT. Their creativity and that of our students is evident in the events that YK schools are holding to emphasize the importance of dropping the pop. Here’s a summary of what some Yellowknife schools are doing:

Weledeh school is running a program called Better Bones. They’ve identified nutrition ambassadors who are visiting classrooms and providing food samples high in calcium; food samples such as figs and cheese, and providing those to their classmates.

Sir John Franklin High School is using Drop the Pop funding to purchase small kitchen items, kettles, microwaves and toasters, as well as the bagels to go in those toasters. The school is considering providing water throughout the school for student consumption, made possible through the donation of water coolers by a local Yellowknife company, Tundra Transfer.

St. Patrick High School will profile foods that are high in calcium in several ways. Next week will see lunches that are high in calcium at the school’s cafe. Homeroom discussions on nutritious foods and the importance of calcium will be held. There will be daily draws for prizes such as yogurt tubes and the high-content calcium recipes will be posted to the school’s website.

William McDonald Middle School is going all out. They’ll have trivia questions about the evils of pop on teeth and bones. There are posters all over the school. They have had one assembly already with skits by the kids on the benefits of natural drinks instead of pop, and there will be a second assembly with students competing for the best Drop the Pop slogan and their finale. Next Friday they will drop a fake pop machine from the roof of the school, to the delight of the students, I have no doubt.

I have to say that the Health and Social Services department’s nutrition sector and the funding that they provide is being very well used. Now if we can just get MLAs off of those energy drinks...

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Tribute To Andy Carpenter
Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I stand in the House to make my Member’s statement in tribute of my good friend Andy Carpenter, who we lost this last week.

Nunakput has lost a leader who recently passed away on Monday. I join elders, leaders, and the community members from all across the Territory to remember a man who has contributed an incredible legacy to the Inuvialuit people in the communities of Nunakput. Whether Andy was in negotiations with a room full of Ministers, lawyers, bureaucrats or whether he was out on the land harvesting caribou, he brought wisdom, confidence and cultural awareness to everything he was involved in.

Over the years Andy has contributed building capacity for his people in the communities. His legacy shows everywhere: in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, success. His leadership also contributed to the Inuvialuit Game Council and, most recently, the past mayor of Sachs Harbour.

I grew up in Nunakput hearing about the accomplishments of Andy in a large way. He was a role model not just for myself but for many young people. Andy worked tirelessly to improve the life of the community. From lobbying for a permanent RCMP detachment or increased funding for infrastructure, he never gave up and always used the utmost diplomacy.

Andy loved Sachs Harbour. With all his accomplishments he could have lived anywhere, but he always called Sachs Harbour home. It was his anchor and it gave him strength.

He lived a hard life, but he never complained. He assisted in the growth of IRC. He never asked for praise. He was proven right and he never said, I told you so.

Our elders truly lived amazing lives. They had never seen the introduction of airplanes, electricity, televisions. They had to quickly adapt from a preliminary traditional lifestyle to a modern lifestyle. They had to take care of us...

Tribute To Andy Carpenter
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Mr. Jacobson, your time for Member’s statement has expired.

Tribute To Andy Carpenter
Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Tribute To Andy Carpenter
Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, Andy was one of those people who look for these changes, not just to span one or two years, but decades in a region where people’s lifestyle has more improved to all these years because of his foresight for what I wish to take the opportunity to thank you, Andy.

Once he said a man’s worth is not what he takes with him, but what he leaves behind. He leaves behind not only a legacy, but he also leaves eight children, many more grandchildren and great-grandchildren who all admired him and loved him. Andy will always be remembered for his

accomplishments, diplomacy and utmost kindness. My thoughts and prayers will be with the family and friends of Andy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tribute To Andy Carpenter
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Education Week, today I would like to talk about a recent trip I made with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment into my riding. On this trip we learned that the South Slave Divisional Educational Council is making efforts to increase the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations for reading proficiency in all its schools, including Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e. This initiative was implemented in 2007, and in only a few years the student achievement in reading has shown significant improvement. A key component of this is regular, accurate assessments of each student’s abilities, skills, strengths and challenges so that learning can be tailored to the students’ needs.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes students don’t get the necessary support at home with respect to schooling. This initiative, Leadership for Literacy, helps address that. At any given time during the school year, teachers know what level each student is reading at and can share this information with students and parents.

On this tour of the South Slave with the Minister I had a firsthand opportunity to meet with teachers and hear how the program is progressing. The teachers and other support staff are making a real effort to increase reading levels of all the students in the region.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Minister, the teachers, the department and the dedicated, hardworking staff of the South Slave Divisional Education Council for working hard on this initiative.

I have stood up in this House many times and talked about how we need more programs for youth. I often talked about the need for more youth programming in the communities, and this is one such youth program that is having an immediate positive impact on the youth in the community.

Mr. Speaker, I hope to see this program continue. It is too important to stop after only a few years. I’m not sure if the money has been set aside for the longer term or for a specific completion date. Later today, I will ask questions of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on future plans for this program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to speak today about a topic I have brought up, I think, pretty consistently in the last 15 years that I’ve been an MLA. I don’t know how many terms you have to be elected or how many years you have to serve in order to get some of these issues resolved, but please don’t make me come back here again. I hope this can get resolved soon.

Mr. Speaker, the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act, an act of this government, permits a municipal taxing authority, by bylaw, to exempt the eligible property of a disabled person from a part of the taxes where the disabled person is the owner or part owner of the eligible property. The MTA, Municipal Taxing Authority, shall not exempt from taxes the eligible property of a disabled person who is part owner of the eligible property unless the other part owner or all other part owners are disabled persons or dependents of the disabled person.

Hay River’s disabled person’s property tax relief bylaw is consistent with that act. So in Hay River, the Town of Hay River has a bylaw that is consistent with this government’s act. The problem being, Mr. Speaker, is that most people who own a property who are in a relationship, who are married, have a common-law spouse, usually put the title in both of their names. The chances of both parties being disabled reduces the number of people who would be eligible for this tax quite considerably. Also, when it comes to senior citizens, if one person becomes eligible at the age of 65 for this tax relief and the other partner or party is younger than 65, again, they become ineligible for this tax relief.

Now, we’ve been talking about this for a long time, it hardly seems fair, Mr. Speaker, and it should be prorated or have some provision so that people can take advantage of this property tax relief.

I know that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has been working on this particular act. I believe there’s been a document, a consultative document that has gone out, there has been feedback come back, but, Mr. Speaker, as an MLA I continue to get inquiries at my constituency office about this, about when is it going to be changed, when is it going to be made fair and when are people going to have to stop going to drastic measures of putting the property in one partner’s name, which creates all kinds of other problems, potentially, in the future. So, Mr. Speaker, I’ll have

questions today for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs on the tax relief for persons with disabilities and seniors. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to continue speaking today about economic development and opportunities here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I serve as chairman on the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, a position I take very seriously. Our people need opportunities for training and employment that will lead to an increase in the quality of life for our residents here in our Territory. As a government, we have an obligation to pursue opportunities that may present themselves. Also, we must actively seek out other potential opportunities to grow our economy. This is a role of government, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, last November, a federal parliamentary standing committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development visited the three northern territories. They were here in Yellowknife on November 19th and 20th.

The committee is

chaired by Mr. Bruce Stanton, an MP from Ontario. The committee contains Members from all federal, political parties.

Mr. Speaker, I attended the meetings held here in Yellowknife not because I was invited or asked by our government, but because a colleague of mine who works for an MP in Ottawa phoned me and asked me if I knew the committee was coming to Yellowknife. This was just a few days before the meeting actually took place. Mr. Speaker, it’s not every day that a dozen influential MPs show up in our Territory to talk about the barriers and solutions to northern economic development. As the chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, you would think that our government may have let me know about the fact that our government was making three presentations to that committee, but they didn’t.

As I sat there listening to the presentations, I didn’t hear any of the three presenters -- Premier Roland, Minister Miltenberger or Mr. Peter Vician, who was presenting on behalf of Minister Bob McLeod -- say anything about the possible relocation of the hundreds of jobs located in Gatineau and Ottawa pertaining to northern development. I also didn’t hear them say anything about an increased military presence or locating any federal institutions here in the Northwest Territories. All of which, Mr. Speaker,

would substantially benefit and develop our economy here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Deh Cho Bridge Project
Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to voice my opinion on the Deh Cho Bridge. On Monday of this week I had the opportunity to speak to Fort Simpson constituents about the Deh Cho Bridge issues. This was forefront on their minds, as I’m sure with many Northerners. I advise that myself, I am in general support of moving forward with the construction. Opinions were very much split whether we should continue with the bridge or not. People against the bridge are very concerned that as taxpayers they will pay the increased costs of the bridge whether they agree to it or not. Constituents that do want to continue have doubts and reservations of management of the bridge. People do want to see a full disclosure of costs of the project to date and I’m very pleased that such information was provided to us in Committee of the Whole the other day and I’m happy it is public.

Constituents are angry about the increased costs of the bridge and question why these additional costs should be borne by the taxpayers. These cost overruns will have very little benefit to people in the Nahendeh riding. They do want to know why the GNWT has been left holding the bag.

I can advise it was not an easy decision the other day when we as MLAs on this side approved the additional $15 million. I do want to say that as an MLA and along with my colleagues we will be paying close attention to the project and look forward to the Minister of Transportation’s commitment for timely updates to this House and to us as Members of the legislature.

Deh Cho Bridge Project
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased to see the Biomass Strategy tabled yesterday by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Switching our energy supply over to renewable energy is an important part to the answer to climate change and holds promise for affordable power both with local employment and investment benefits. Biomass is a proven solution and a Biomass Strategy is an essential part of our overall climate change and energy vision.

All Members and Ministers know my position on the need for aggressive action to fight climate change. Government is beginning to respond. A Biomass Strategy would have been thought frivolous 10 years ago.

But we’re running out of time. We don’t have until 2030 or 2040 to get where we must be. With the most vigorous steps possible today we could achieve a meaningful and timely shift to renewable energy.

What we’re talking about and what we must do is get the vast majority of our homes, businesses, and government operations switched over either to biomass, hydroelectricity, or ground source heat, for example, in the South Slave. That means changing out dozens to hundreds of furnaces in each community, creating residual and distributed heat systems, and building small hydro.

To do that we’ll need the renewable energy expertise that is coming under huge global demand and we need to grow much more of that expertise at home. It’s a huge order, but Europe’s huge success over the last 30 years is a model to follow. We have to overhaul our approach to one that addresses our energy structures and systems to meet total energy needs in new and better ways.

Electricity for heating sounds crazy, yet with good planning and efficiency it can address many of our goals. Electric vehicles are coming; that’s not science fiction. Our economy needs the economic advantages of reduced dependency on costly and volatile fossil fuels. We need the sustainable local jobs that new businesses’ biomass can offer. Northern Europe, in fact all of Europe, is now doing it and reaping the rewards.

Most of all I need the dedication of all Members to this vision. We’ve passed our budget so now we must turn to our next program of expenditures. I know the Minister’s staff is going flat out on many vital fronts: water stewardship, land use planning, energy, wildlife, contaminants, environment. It’s part of everything we do and this ministry bears that brunt.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

This modest Biomass Strategy has been slow to come, but it’s finally laid the basis for moving forward. It now needs full and progressive implementation. We have a start in 2010-2011, but to fully realize the benefits it can offer we will need the full support and capacity required to be nailed down in the 2011-2012 budget cycle. I call on all Members to ensure that we learn from this first year of experience with the Biomass Strategy and commit to a fully resourced strategy on how we will get our people, environment, and economy to where it must and can be.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Aklavik has completed their Community Economic Sustainability Development Plan which shows that there’s definitely a need to give a different perspective of how researchers look at our communities. The Community Economic Development Plan is to remote Arctic communities such as Aklavik and the challenges that they face with the distance of the market and the high cost of living, cold climates, difficulties recruiting and retaining quality human resources to deliver programs and services, and the lack of economic development stabilized programs to provide economic opportunities.

Sustainability of such remote communities is important to the Inuvialuit, the Gwich’in, and non-indigenous people who live there. It is also important on the national front on the sustainability of Arctic communities and national sovereignty. The reasons of climate change and the effects that we’re seeing in the Arctic are more dominant than anywhere else in the world.

It’s important that we take a second look at how we deal with resource development, transportation, infrastructure needs, and dealing with local priorities. The community of Aklavik has identified a number of areas where this government and governments can really look at what the community priorities are and the values they put forward to improve the quality of life in their communities.

The Community Economic Development Stabilization Plan involved community members and can improve the community’s work towards achieving economic self-sufficiency. That’s what we’d like for all our communities. Ensuring that they have face-to-face surveys and questionnaires to all members in the communities where they went door to door to visit with the local residents to acquire this information shows that allowing the communities to take on these challenges and putting their perspectives forward can really show this is a real community plan.

At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of ITI questions on this matter.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about the potential of the film industry in our Northwest Territories. We have such a wealth of people, scenery, and landscapes to showcase to the world, yet it seems a shame that we don’t have more films being produced here in the North.

It’s true that we’ve had many talented independent filmmakers who have worked on commercials and entertainment projects, but with the few grants available through the NWT Arts Council it makes it tough for them to be established and working. We know Western Arctic Moving Pictures. They work very hard on showcasing their independent producers who develop films here in the North, and we certainly know about the film festival that was held here a few short weeks ago.

This industry, in a startlingly simple sense, barely shows up as a blip on our territorial scope. I think this government needs to find ways to help support this industry, because I think we have a wealth of opportunities to showcase to this world.

It’s no surprise to many Members here. We’ve all heard about the Ice Road Truckers. A few months ago I was travelling in Whitehorse and the first thing someone said when they found out I was from Yellowknife was, hey, do you know Alex Debogorski?

The message on our film industry up in the North here can showcase to the world the type of people and culture that’s available here. I’ve heard people down south ask me about Ice Pilots. The world is tuning in to what’s happening here in the North and they certainly like the format of what they see.

There are a lot of these movies and films that stir the emotions and certainly interest Canadians as well as people around the world. As such, I’ve heard that people, since watching the Ice Road Truckers, want to come to the North and drive on the ice road.

The bottom line is this industry does need help. I’ve spoken to people who were involved in the Ice Pilots show, but one of the problems they talked about was finding very little in the way of support mechanisms where they need to get staff to help them develop the film to a product they can then send out. The staff wasn’t available with the tools. They had to bring everyone from Vancouver, do the work here, and then fly everyone back home. Very little investment was put on the ground here.

With time running out on the clock, we’ve had great shows such as North of 60 produced here and we’ve had Northerners involved. Later today I’ll ask the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment about how we can turn the North into the Hollywood of the North and build on that potential.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize Wendy Wile. She’s monitoring her daughter here, Mikelle, and I believe that Grandpa’s up here too. She’s a former resident of Behchoko and former teacher in Behchoko. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to recognize Wendy Wile, as well. I can’t see her up there, but I know she’s up there. She’s a resident of Frame Lake and a neighbour just down the road from me. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. I’d like to welcome everyone to the gallery today. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. Item 7, Acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the report I mentioned, I believe a copy was given to the Minister of ITI, and ITI did provide some funding for this research. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, I believe that this research is really identifying the core issues on communities and also some suggestions on how they can look at being self-reliant in a lot of these small communities, especially like the community of Aklavik.

I would just like to ask the Minister of ITI if his department has had an opportunity to consider some of the recommendations in the report and possibly moving on some of the suggestions that were put forward in regard to how we can invest in some projects in the community and see if we can generate jobs and make the community self-reliant.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Aklavik project was quite a novel and creative approach to economic development. I think that it’s

an approach that could be used in other communities and was done largely at the initiative of the local people from Aklavik who want to see economic development occur in this community. As we speak, our department of ITI is reviewing the report with the direction to come back and give me some indication of what areas we can implement and what areas we can advance further. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the Minister for that, because in the report it clearly identifies through the finding of the research some of the priority items include a sawmill in the community of Aklavik, the fur garment factory that was there in the past -- there’s still effort to do that -- the whole area around tourism. I think it’s those types of initiatives that we, as government, can provide seed money to assist those communities to get some of these projects off the ground to generate those types of incomes.

So I’d just like to ask the Minister if he’s had an opportunity to get his regional staff involved in looking at this report and seeing exactly how they can maybe work with the local communities to get some of these projects off the ground and get them going right from the regional level, regardless if it’s regional staff in Inuvik, the local economic development officer and whatnot. So this work is already there. I’d like to ask the Minister if he’s had that opportunity to explain this to the regional staff.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I understand the regional staff have a copy. We have just completed a staffing competition to hire a new economic development officer for Aklavik, so we’ll have somebody on the ground working to begin to implement some of the recommendations with some support from here in headquarters. Thank you.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Again, Mr. Speaker, in regard to the overall report and study, it does talk about challenges that they face in the communities, and one of them was something I believe the Minister just touched on, is capacity of trying to deliver human resources in our communities. It is critical that we find a way to ensure that we have economic development officers as key people in the communities. So I’d just like to ask the Minister, one of the suggestions is ensuring we have long-term commitments for positions and so people know that when they take on these jobs, they will have some certainty if they go into a community than simply year-to-year contracts. So I’d like to ask the Minister, in regard to the capacity issue, has he had an opportunity to look at some of the suggestions in the report on how we develop capacity in our communities.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

My ITI staff are reviewing the document and will be providing me with some recommendations on what is in the report. In the

meantime, we’re also working to provide for more longer term capacity. We will be working to have somebody from the community work with the EDO position so that we can have longer term workers in the community. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister in regard to whatever his findings are from his department, if he can keep myself and the community of Aklavik involved so we can take it to the next step of implementing some of these ideas. It’s a great report. It’s 166 pages long and it would be a waste if this report isn’t being used and isn’t implemented. So I’d like to request the Minister to keep me involved when implementing the report.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

We’ll keep the Member involved and also the people that have been the lead on this project from day one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement with the Deh Cho Bridge. I know that a lot of the issues have been somewhat addressed by the Minister and by the Finance Minister in Committee of the Whole the other day. However, my constituents are really upset that they had to cover the additional costs, because the additional costs come from government coffers and thereby the taxpayers. I would just like to ask the Minister of Transportation, does he have a plan B or a plan C if there are more additional costs to be incurred. Will he be going to the taxpayers or will he look for some other type of financing such as a full toll on the bridge? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Member is quite familiar with the agreement that was signed with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, and in the Bridge Concession Agreement there is a clause that requires the Government of the Northwest Territories to assume the costs if they go over their budget amount. However, the money would then be recovered from the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation from its return, and in the event that the government does assume all of the project and is not a partner anymore, it does allow for the government to recoup its costs through the self-liquidating clause that’s in this agreement. That

would mean that we would recover from the tolls that are raised. That’s the intent for this additional $15 million that’s been tacked onto the price of this bridge.

As to whether we would raise the tolls, that’s not something we’ve looked at. That is certainly not something we wanted to do. The price of the toll is still to be considered for what it was set at, and if there was ever any consideration for that, we’d have to have considerable discussion around the possibility of raising the toll. So we haven’t considered at that this point. Thank you.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

A complete toll system is something that constituents raised. There are, of course, good examples throughout Canada in other jurisdictions like B.C., the Coquihalla Highway, and in eastern Canada, that as you drive you pay your toll, you actually see the repairs happening, you see the bridge, the public infrastructure being built, so you don’t mind paying that extra cost. I really think that the Minister of Transportation should seriously look at this idea that, yes, you know, we are going to need some extra revenue to cover off these costs. I’m telling you, our taxpayers don’t want to be paying these extra costs so we’ve got to come up with a unique and creative way of addressing any increasing costs or even costs of this project alone. Thank you.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Speaker, the consideration for providing a toll for all people that travel across the bridge is not something that we have looked at as an option. It would have to be a decision of this House. Right now the consideration for recovery on the extra $15 million would be through the revenue that’s raised from tolling the commercial vehicles. We have not had any discussion with any of my Cabinet colleagues or anyone else, for that matter, and that’s something we’ve considered. We’ve tried very hard to keep the commercial toll from increasing and we certainly did not want to burden the travelling public with a toll. So that’s the rationale for not considering a toll for all traffic. Thank you.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much. People are fed up that as taxpayers they have to bail out government for a project that has gone astray such as the Deh Cho Bridge. Once again, the public has asked for information, the ministry has provided that and I’d like to ask the Minister will they use this review and do a post-mortem of the information that they have to ensure that there will be no more increased costs in the upcoming project. It is hopeful that with this additional $15 million that they can certainly stick to the budget and try to be on time. Can the Minister use the baseline data that they have to look backwards and see where they went wrong and come up with a strategy that can ensure that they do not run into this type of problem again? Thank you.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you. We have tried very hard to look at all the different opportunities or any other costs to enter the project and we feel that we’ve covered all the avenues. Of course, I can’t absolutely guarantee that. We’ve also assumed full management of the project. We have a new team, we have a new contractor. Along with that, we plan to have better communications with the public as part of the responsibilities for project management. We want to have regular updates to all the MLAs and the public with the sites that they could look at, informing themselves, including establishing a website and the possibility of signage that explains some of the project information and things of that nature so the public can be more comfortable with this project and be able to have better communications all around. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If I can get the Minister to continue with his commitment that he update Regular Members on this side of the House. I don’t want to get into a situation where we’re micromanaging government projects, be it the Deh Cho Bridge or anything like that, but the residents are concerned and I’m concerned, colleagues are concerned. So will the Minister continue with his commitment that he will update this side of the House on a regular basis and try to make the information as public as possible that we can share with our constituents? Thank you.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you. During the discussion of Committee of the Whole we had made a number of commitments. We certainly committed that we would continue to demonstrate that there is competent management on this project. We would provide clarity and timely information on where the project is at and we will also provide clarity and information on our role as a government and all our trades and people that are involved so that the public knows exactly where this project is at in terms of the timelines and so they will be fully informed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier and it gets back to my Member’s statement where I was talking about a federal parliamentary standing committee that came to the North. They visited all three northern territories. They were here in Yellowknife on November the 19th and 20th of last year. They

looked at the areas of aboriginal affairs and

northern development, they were here talking about potential barriers and solutions to economic development in the Northwest Territories and, as I stated in my Member’s statement, Mr. Speaker, I found it quite out of the ordinary that I had to find out about this committee coming to Yellowknife via a third party in Ottawa. The government never let Regular Members know that this committee was coming and didn’t invite any of us or have any discussions with Regular Members about the presentations that they presented that day to that committee. I’d like to ask the Premier why that was. Why didn’t the government seek the input of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure before those presentations were made to that standing committee? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Notice was given, a day before mind you, it was a little late for the input, but a notification was sent out to Members about that, which included the comments of the three departments that were going to be made. We were given five minutes each and as the Member would be familiar, their processes are much stricter than our processes, where a speaker is requested and given a timeslot, the idea of the subject area they’re interested in, and five minutes. The area that I had opportunity to speak on was the aboriginal affairs intergovernmental relations piece, in which I did bring up devolution, which means drawing of the authorities and the positions to the North, as well as the Mackenzie Gas Project, self-government issues in that area.

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources shared on his concern about being a Member for so long and the regulatory issues that we’re faced with and those pressures and needing to draw those down.

As well, the deputy minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment went on on a number of the economic issues and challenges we face, as well as some of the potential solutions that were there and involvement of the federal government to discuss the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, transportation initiatives, tourism. So within the five minutes we were allotted each, we had to cover a broad area and we did so and we forwarded that information on to Members. Thank you.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

I guess oftentimes I get a little bit sceptical, but I mean, I asked for the presentations before they were made to that standing committee and I hazard to guess whether the government would have even let us know had I not inquired about it. It might have just happened and Regular Members might not have even known about it. One day’s notice for, like I said, over a dozen influential MPs visiting our city and in an opportunity to get out

and see those proceedings and interact with these Members of Parliament is an opportunity that I think should have been given to Members that were in Yellowknife at the time or they could have come into Yellowknife at the time.

I’d like to ask the Premier, and again, I’ve got a copy of his speaking notes from that presentation. I don’t see anywhere in there where it says anything about relocating jobs. He talks about devolution, yes, but not about relocating jobs from Gatineau and Ottawa to the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Premier what follow-up has the government done on that presentation with the federal government and when is the last time the Premier has been in Ottawa. Thank you.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Thank you. I know the Member is interested in travel routines and accompanying Ministers. Maybe we can include him on our next trip. We’ll see about that. The issue, more importantly, is the follow-up from there. Now this is a federal standing committee that sets its own criteria, that puts its own program in place. We don’t influence that, we were just asked to make presentations. They posted publicly their events. We got the information to Members, yes, the day before, but it was a slight oversight on our part.

Follow-up to the meetings we’ve had, we follow up specifically on our initiatives that departments have forwarded. So the Minister of ITI has had numerous trips and meetings with federal Ministers, whether they’re phone calls or through their staff, through tourism agencies and so on.

For myself under the travels I’ve done to Ottawa, the opportunities I’ve raised, I recently had a meeting with the Prime Minister to talk about the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline, for example. An initiative we had prior to that with myself, Minister Michael McLeod, Minister Robert C. McLeod on the stimulus package and the work that was happening there and that kind of work, and there’s many meetings following up. For example, Mr. Speaker, at the regional leaders’ table we’ve talked about a re-engagement of devolution and resource revenue sharing, which again includes bringing authority and positions to the North. So there’s ongoing work on a regular basis on numerous files. Thank you.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

The reason I ask these questions is because, really, as a Regular Member you don’t see much proof that the government is pursuing ideas or issues that are brought up by Regular Members. Just yesterday I had an exchange with the Minister of Justice about the possibility of a penitentiary being located in the Northwest Territories and some substantial investment of federal dollars here in the Northwest Territories. I’m talking about the possibility of a university, an increased military presence here in the Northwest

Territories, and those northern development jobs that are located in Ottawa.

Who is in charge of those files and when are those types of issues raised with the various federal Ministers? Obviously from the discussion I had with the Minister of Justice yesterday, they fall on deaf ears and they don’t get raised with the federal Ministers.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

One of the things that was said early on in the life of this government is we need to be clear and we need to be strategic and go and work on specific initiatives. Previous governments have been known to go down there with a wish list that was a mile wide and a foot long type thing. We needed to narrow it down and focus on specific areas. We shared that with Members. It was around the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline and expansion of our hydro. Those are the main issues that we’ve been focusing on and putting our energy into.

If we’re aware, for example, that the federal government is going to expand on its penitentiary system, we would be aligning ourselves to make sure we’ve got the foot in the door to tell them about the opportunities we can avail of them to give them indication and our numbers and opportunities there. That was in fact done a number of governments ago, and I know this because I’ve been around for quite a number of years when the government was talking about expanding its penitentiary system. We can’t go down there with a list of items and constantly add to those lists because we need to build a business case. If we know there’s interest there, we’ll go after it. We’ll continue on that pursuit.

The main files that the Members are aware of are, again, around the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline issue, the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Taltson system. We’ve got an ask there, we continue to work that. In fact, one of those things have just come to fruition where we’ve cost-shared the dollars on PDR of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. That’s the farthest any government in the history of the Northwest Territories has gone on the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Let’s start recognizing some of the work that we have done.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t mean to downplay the significance of the things the Premier has suggested such as the expansion of the hydro, the Mackenzie Gas Project, devolution, the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Those are things that are important. Make no mistake about that. What I’m saying is that just because we’re focusing our efforts on that, we can’t let other opportunities pass us by. We always have to be looking for opportunities for federal investment in this Territory. If we are too much into the tunnel vision, we’ll miss

opportunities. That was my big fear. I just wanted to ask the Premier, with the various federal Ministers, if he could at least raise this issue. It doesn’t take much to raise an issue with a federal Minister or make a phone call or write a letter.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

I think in addition to the work that we’ve done on those big files, and Members have just worked through our capital files and capital budget where we’ve had the largest budget in the history of the Government of the Northwest Territories on our capital program; cost-shared dollars with the federal government on the number of plans. We’re one of the most advanced jurisdictions on working with the federal government on those stimulus plans and implementation of that.

On the additional areas, if we’re aware that the federal government is getting information or preparing for expansion of its programs and services, we’ll be ready to line up there.

On the specific issue of a potential penitentiary, we’ll follow up and I’ll find out if there’s an interest on the federal government’s part to expand that program area. We’ll gladly look at doing that.

Let’s recognize, as I believe the Member has done, we’ve worked with the federal government very well in the area of the stimulus plan, whereas our capital plan for 2009-2010 is in the area of $460 million; the largest in the history of the Government of the Northwest Territories. We’re getting it done.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act is a piece of legislation of this government that enables municipalities to offer tax relief to property owners in their taxation area who are either senior citizens or have a disability.

There is something inherently unfair about this. If one of the recipients is in a relationship, is a common-law or partner of the person who is a senior or person with disabilities, if by sharing title to that property, they then become disqualified from receiving this tax relief. This is a discussion that has been going on for some time and I understand there has been some behind the scenes progress on it. For the benefit of those people who are potential recipients of this tax relief, I was wondering if the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs could update us on where we are with modifications or revisions to this act.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can inform the Member that there has been work going on behind the scenes. We have been reviewing the act with the intent of making revisions to it. I will commit to the Member that I will follow up with officials and see where we’re at with it and how soon we can bring an LP forward for consideration.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

The unfair part of this act is the fact that if the property is shared or partly owned by someone who is not qualifying under the tax relief program, that the entire property becomes disqualified. I’d like to ask the Minister if he’s familiar enough with some of the work that’s being done with this legislation to tell us if the government has an idea about how they might be able to do this; like, for example, on a prorated basis. The property’s owned by two people, one is disabled, one is not. Would the tax relief apply to 50 percent of the property taxes? Would that be something that’s being considered?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I’m not quite familiar enough with the work that’s being done, but I will follow up on it. These are actually issues we’ve been hearing about from folks across the NWT. I will commit to the Member that I will follow up on it. This is part of the work that’s being undertaken right now. As I get more information, I will share that with the Member.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

I’d like to ask the Minister if any of the consultation and work that’s being done on this act is to the stage that it could possibly be tabled this session or the May session. When does he think the legislative proposal for the amendments might be forthcoming?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I do know that in the coming months we’re going to finalize our analysis to see about bringing an LP forward. I will follow up and see if we have enough in there with enough meat on it to bring an LP forward as soon as the May session.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If this has not already happened, and I would assume that stakeholders such as the NWT Council for Persons with Disabilities, the NWT Seniors’ Society, the NWT Association for Communities, I would assume these are stakeholders that would have been consulted when looking at this act. I would ask the Minister if he would also be able to provide for this House a list of people who would have participated in consideration of the revisions to this act.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

We have consulted with interested stakeholders and that includes the tax-based community governments, the relevant GNWT departments, the NWT Seniors’ Society, and the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT. They have been consulted and have had some input into the process that’s gone on so far.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I talked about the importance of reading and the tremendous efforts of the teachers in the South Slave and the South Slave Divisional Education Council. I’d like to know more about the literacy programs. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Can the Minister tell me about the change in reading levels of the students between when the program was started and now?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I, too, truly enjoyed the tour of the South Slave with the Member. I believe it was a real successful South Slave tour. I can certainly highlight some of the key initiatives that have been undertaken since 2006.

Just over 50 percent of the South Slave students met or exceeded the standards of the Alberta Achievement Tests for grades 3, 6, and 9 after the second year, for the South Slave students reading at or above the Canadian norm this year, 2009. We are making a huge improvement in this area. In 2008-2009, South Slave students were at 71 percent, at or above the Canadian average. Also, 2009 South Slave students are reading above the average superior to 20 percent comparison to Canadian peers. We’re making progress in this area and are very proud of that.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

That’s good news to hear that the students are achieving positively. I’m wondering if those results are for all of the students or are those results tied only to those students who are attending school a certain percentage of the time. I’m curious if it’s... I think I heard that it might have been that students are rated once they are attending more than 90 percent of the time and those are the only students being compared. Or is it everyone that’s in school whether they’re attending only 50 percent of the time or not? I’m wondering if those results are tied to absenteeism as well.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

The information that was given to me was based on the number of

students in the South Slave region that are currently in school since 2006. It was based on the number of students that were in school at that time that took the Alberta Achievement Tests in grades 3, 6, and 9. It covers a broad sector of the students in the South Slave region.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Can the Minister tell me what the program cost for this is? Is this an extra cost? What is the cost above the standard cost of education? This is a new program introduced in 2007. Did it cost more? Is there a plan to continue the program?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

This particular program is quite unique and the cost factor itself is approximately $800,000 to operate. It does consist of classroom and library resources, mostly level books. They are the key to success literacy program and make it possible for teachers and students to track their reading achievement progress. Those are the specific areas, $800,000, which also covers the literacy coaches in those communities.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I’m not aware if this Leadership for Literacy is fully implemented in the communities that I represent. If they are fully implemented, good. If they’re not fully implemented, because I know, for example, there is no library in the school in Lutselk’e, I’m wondering if the department is looking at a full implementation in all of the schools in the South Slave.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, when we toured the schools in the South Slave region, we did tour Fort Resolution as well. At the same time, we were told by the education council in the South Slave district that all schools, I believe there were eight schools that had one literacy coaching in the schools that as a pilot project that they were doing since 2006. Mr. Speaker, we are looking at that model and we want to deliver that in other jurisdictions as well. It’s a very successful project and we’re very proud of it. We’re continuing with the program this year using our internal resources, and next year it will be part of the business planning cycle on a going forward basis. We feel that this is an important factor in our education system. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today will be to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and it goes back to my Member’s statement today where I talked about the film industry. Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement, really, the crux of it really was

getting at the fact that the foundation for the film industry has certainly been planted in the Northwest Territories, but I’m not sure it’s been cultivated and grown properly. I think we still have a significant amount of potential out there to continue and grow.

So, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment what can his department do to help foster and further develop the film industry here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this Member is trying to win an Oscar. The department has provided some limited funding through its SEED program for filmmakers and other larger projects. In the past, we’ve dealt with on an ad hoc basis, depending on the benefits that would accrue to the Northwest Territories. Otherwise, we would direct them to the National Film Board of Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

I’d like to thank my supporting cast in this expose, my thespian, the Minister McLeod. Mr. Speaker, the issue really is about not just attracting issue, but it’s equally weighed with helping to develop the industry. Now, we have some very dedicated and, I’m going to stress, significantly talented filmmakers here in the Northwest Territories, but without the types of resources, which are very expensive, it’s very difficult to get off the ground. In the recent example I talked about, Ice Pilots, they had to bring everyone up from the south to do the work here, and they couldn’t do the editing and developing of the product. It all had to go in raw form back down south. So, Mr. Speaker, it’s that type of support.

Does the Minister foresee that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment can find ways to help develop the film industry here in the Northwest Territories so we can attract not just business but people too? Thank you.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

We’re committed, as a department, to undertake a review of the possibilities for expanding into NWT filmmaking. I made a commitment to your colleague Mr. Bromley the other day that we will be undertaking a review and we will be reporting back this spring. I have asked the Department of ITI to provide us with some recommendations. I think that other provinces and territories do provide incentives and we’ll see how they’re doing. Here in the Northwest Territories, as well, my colleague, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, does have programs through the Arts Council. There is $500,000 available through that process. We have a number of other programs to fund northern performers, northern theatre arts, northern library arts, northern film and media arts, new arts

membership, cultural projects and so on. So there are a number of programs there as well.

But I think that, as I said before, whatever we come up with, if it’s seen that there are benefits, and we’ve looked at it in the past where most of the benefits were short-term and left the North. But, as I said, I believe times have changed and if there are significant benefits, then we would have some recommendations that we can look at this spring. Thank you.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, the Minister highlights a financial pot and by itself it does sound quite significant. I will acknowledge that. But the problem is a lot of people are coming to the table, and when they all split up the pie it ends up being very small, and that industry does need some serious focus to help keep it moving forward and to continue to develop.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has been, or I should say it sounded pretty clear that he made a commitment to review the program as what we offer for the film industry, but I’d like to ask the Minister specifically, what does Industry, Tourism and Investment do as a department or even through their tourism marketing leg to market the Northwest Territories as a venue to attract the film industry. Thank you.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Right now we currently have the NWT Film Commission, which acts as a liaison and provides advice to prospective filmmakers. This year we’ve responded to 215 e-mail inquires and 303 phone inquiries. We also are having NWT Film Week at Canada’s Northern House, which will run from March 15-19. As the Member indicated, we have contracted Western Arctic Moving Pictures to help with those who are interested in doing films and we think that through the exposure to Canada’s Northern House that there will be a lot more interest in filmmaking in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with all those inquiries the Minister has talked about, I think that’s a significant milestone in the sense of showing that there is attention on the North as a marketable option for people to do this work. The issue really comes down to are we actually getting them here to run those cameras, get those actors acting and the film crews filming. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to hear if the Minister, recognizing that there seems to be interest in the North, would he work, in his review, to help develop a program just like made in the North. Perhaps we could develop a format, be it tax proposals, a support system, and we could call it filmed in the North, because that could help launch a new avenue to draw investment money, workers here and certainly good business for our North to develop film. Thank you.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Those are all the elements that we would look at in the review and also in developing recommendations. I think we have to be careful if we start trying to get into a race to the bottom with B.C. or Ontario with regard to tax incentives, but again, I think that with specific benefits to the Northwest Territories and we can look in those areas and, certainly, we’ll probably try to focus on existing NWT filmmakers. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My oral questions are for the Minister of ECE. I’m having a little bit of trouble understanding some of his replies to my questions in regard to yesterday’s Member’s statement. They just don’t seem to add up. What I know, Mr. Speaker, is my CA received a call this morning from the Beaufort-Delta superintendent, Mr. Roy Cole, at 9:30 this morning. According to Mr. Cole, he has reported anything new to the Minister; that the situation remains the same in Sachs Harbour. Where is our Minister getting his information from, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my department works closely with the Beaufort-Delta education council and we get information directly from them. The information we got from them is exactly what I quoted yesterday. There might have been a miscommunication, but that’s what we received. We do have a superintendent who continues to have a discussion on this particular issue, as well, between our department and also the Beaufort-Delta, to deal with the one outstanding student that I referred to yesterday and how we can work with those students and then continue on our dialogue where if some of the students are comfortable going to Ulukhaktok, so those are the arrangements and the options that we’re gathering. Mr. Speaker, the information that we gather is through the education councils. Mahsi.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you. Well, myself, Mr. Speaker, at 9:30 this morning I got an e-mail from my CA telling me that Mr. Roy Cole called and he didn’t report anything to Minister Lafferty either. BDEC executive board met and nothing has changed for Sachs Harbour, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when will these students get their teacher they require to finish their academic year, since nothing has changed? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi. Again, it is at the Beaufort-Delta Education Council level. Again, we provide funding to them to provide teachers to the students. We provide operation maintenance to operate the schools, to look after the students based on enrolments. That’s what our funding is based on and if the students happen to drop out of school for some reason, then it is the responsibility of the Beaufort-Delta because the funding is allocated to their board to deal with those matters at hand. As the Minister responsible, I am responsible to make sure the act is in place where the board of education is following the act. So, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to hiring teachers, it is at the board level. Mahsi.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you. The Minister stated yesterday that the information he had was accurate and from the superintendent. This does not seem to add up, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain what was he trying to accomplish by stating these things yesterday that just didn’t make sense? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi. With this outcome, we can certainly clarify what’s truly happening. It’s just a matter of making calls to the superintendent or the board level and reconfirm where the students are at, but at the same time, the Member is asking for an additional teacher in the community to what was required based on their funding. It will be at the board level to deal with those eight students that have been brought forward to our attention. Mr. Speaker, yes, we will clarify the matter once and for all. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister if he could share that information that he did read out yesterday to me in the House in regards to the stats or where he got that information from and that the Beaufort-Delta education, Mr. Roy Cole, the Beaufort-Delta education superintendent says nothing has changed, Mr. Speaker. I want to get to the bottom of this, I want to work with the Minister and his department to make sure everything gets properly allocated for these eight students that supposedly nothing has changed. Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

That is exactly what we’ll get out of the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Transportation and I’d like to thank both the Minister of Transportation and Finance for the

package of information on the Deh Cho Bridge that we received the other day. It was comprehensive and there was a lot of information in there, which Members have been asking for.

I spoke about the bridge last week and in my statement I asked for two things. I asked for an analysis of the costs, how they were accumulated from inception until now, and I also asked for protocols for the future. My first question to the Minister is in regard to the bridge project’s estimates and the costs to date information that was contained in the package of information we got the other day. I didn’t see any obvious reference in either of those two items to what I called “hidden costs” in my statement, and by that I mean the work that’s been done by GNWT staff, the Department of Transportation, Department of Justice, Department of Finance. So I’d like to ask the Minister where do those costs show up in this summary that we received the other day. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The costs that were incurred by our government that were not directly charged back to the project I’m assuming is what the Member is referring to. Those are one full-time position and another part-time position and, of course, there are other people within our government that have worked on this project. Those costs are not included, as the Member stated, as part of this budget. Those costs are outside of the project costs. These are all calculations that would be charged back to the project and we don’t charge back our staff positions to the project at this point. So it won’t be included as part of the estimations.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you. That goes to my point, when I call them “hidden costs” I was not impugning that anyone was hiding anything, but these are costs which are not all that easy to itemize. The two PYs, yes, they’re obvious, but then there are many other bits and pieces of costs in various departments and that’s what I’m talking about. I’d like to know if the Minister can tell me approximately what kinds of costs the GNWT is incurring for staff time that’s been spent on this project, and that would be from after October 2007 election until now. Thank you.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you. I suppose we could calculate that. That’s not something we normally do on our project is divide a person’s time up into how many projects he’s got and assign a cost to those specific projects. This is a normal course of duty. We can certainly try to get some calculations together. It would entail some effort. We have a lot of people that may have worked on one portion or another on this project, but we can certainly have a discussion to see if we can get that

together in a fairly short order, if that’s what’s being requested. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. I do appreciate the commitment. That is what I’m asking for, is some kind of an approximation of costs which GNWT has had to endure for this project over and above the actual costs of the construction and the management of the project. So I am looking forward to that information.

My next question has to do with chargeback and the Minister has mentioned that many costs are charged to the project. These GNWT staff costs I presume are not charged to the project and I’d like him to confirm. I understood that the $15 million we just approved is going to be paid back to GNWT through tolls. Will these GNWT staff costs also be paid back to GNWT through tolls over time? Thank you.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

We don’t have any projects that we charge back government services. The people that are working on these projects are hired to do those jobs and, no, they’re not included in the toll recovery. The $15 million does not include the two positions or the position and a half and things of that nature that are right now part of regular duties. So I guess the short answer to the Member is no, it’s not included in the $15 million. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that clarification. So I guess I have to then ask, this is a P3 project, you know, the cost for the project is now $181-some-million, but is it normal that in a P3 project that the public partner is going to encounter and endure and have to undertake extra costs over and above the actual cost of the project? Thank you.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

There’s a P3 arrangement in this case and, yes, there are responsibilities assigned to different partners. In this case, we did charge back a lot of what the government has to have incurred, including all the different components of responsibility, but the two people that we have assigned are a position and a half that we have assigned directly to this position. We have not included and we did not agree anywhere in the concession agreement that we would charge it back. That’s the rationale for why we’re doing it the way we are. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my statement earlier today with the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I

want to start by saying I was happy to see the Biomass Strategy, but I did note that it was pretty high level. Many actions noted in it were actually started years ago, but of particular concern is there were no targets or plan or basis for evaluation other than sort of a feel-good general review after 18 months from now.

As we’ve seen in Europe, the marketplace became the driving force in the shift to biomass energy after government actually placed some ambitious and mandatory targets for greenhouse gas reductions. So any kind of targets give a strategy some teeth and some basis for evaluation. So what are the Minister’s plans for leadership to actually establish targets with a schedule to be achieved? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This whole initiative going into year two is a major undertaking. We recognize that the Biomass Strategy is at a high level and as we work through our various energy plans, as we review and redo our Greenhouse Gas Strategy, as we look at all the other components of our Energy Strategy, that the debate and decision-making that’s going to take place with regard to standards and targets is going to flow from that. Thank you.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

That’s kind of my concern. We’re three years almost into our mandate here and yet we’ve got a lot of debate to go before we actually do things. So I’m pretty concerned here. The Minister notes, as anybody could have noted in this strategy, that cross-departmental efforts are needed, but again there is no mechanism for merging community engagement which is called for with private enterprise and Public Works and Services’ considerable experience now in a pilot test approach to distribute a biomass energy project in each region. So I’m wondering what is the mechanism for that. There is no indication. It’s a lot of work and hopefully the thinking has been done, but what is just that one mechanism for getting that going? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

In case I hadn’t mentioned it, we are committing $60 million to this initiative. We finished year one. We are moving into year two. We are committed to community energy plans. We are also working very closely with all the other strategies within government. We are looking at government itself doing a significant number of retrofits. We are growing the market with biomass, with our efforts, with the communities, within government retrofits, within the private sector. We’ve also started discussions and planning in terms of inventory to see what type of biomass industry could be sustainable and what’s the best structure for that; is it regional or should it be territorial? So I would

suggest, Mr. Speaker, that we have a lot of pieces on this chessboard and a lot of them are in play and there’s a lot of work being done and there is $60 million of government money being put to this initiative to move it all forward. Thank you.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I’m glad there is a lot of work being done and I’m glad to hear that assurance. I’m just trying to pull out some of that work here, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister realizes, from his comments, that it’s an enormous task, but I’m trying to get at how far along are we at all. What is the quantity and the volumes of things we are talking about? How many furnaces do we need to change over and where are those targets to be established? So what work is actually underway to get down to the brass tacks on what the specifics are on this challenge and its opportunities? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Once again, the Member and I are aiming for the same goal. I have been suggesting and saying right from the start that, yes, we have to do these broad strategies. Yes, we have to have that long and intense debate about targets, standards. In the meantime, we should be doing things on the ground and we shared the information with the Members about the dozens of initiatives that Public Works has taken in its mandate for retrofits. We are doing some very innovative things with ground source heat pumps. We have initiatives with wind, we are moving on the mini-hydro with Lutselk’e, in addition to the mass amount of work I think we are doing with biomass. We are getting things on the ground.

People in the residential sector are buying into this process. In the industrial sector, they are too, because a lot of the big buildings are government buildings. There are contracts that go with that. We started the work to look at the secondary value-added industry with biomass production. So we’re trying to hit all these initiatives on the go, but we want to get things on the ground and I believe that we are doing that.

Just on the government ones alone, we showed the thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas savings and the savings in terms of actual dollars that will be put into a revolving fund that will allow for the retrofits to continue. So I think we can demonstrate in almost every sector that we have work underway as we still try to do the broader planning. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t want to take away from the work that we are doing. As enormous as the Minister makes it sound and as modest as I feel it is, I don’t want to take away from that. I will note that we have a 10 percent reduction target for the GNWT, which is one-twelfth of the NWT. One-twelfth times one-tenth, that’s one one

hundred-twentieth of the greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories. So it’s pretty modest. We know that’s way out of date and typically small. So I’m hoping we are getting going on that strategy

Let me just say, will the Minister commit to bringing forward a multiyear costed plan for consideration prior to the next business plans with real targets that can be evaluated from year to year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

As he talks about our modest efforts and what he sees as miniscule goals and targets, we do have a project, just one project that I’ll point to which is the Taltson Hydro Project that could reduce our overall greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent. We know we are already saving thousands of tonnes just with the work the government has done, let alone all the things that are going to come into play. We’ve committed to and we are going to start the process in April 2010 to renew the Greenhouse Gas Strategy with a full intent to have a final product by April 2011. It will speak to a lot of the issues the Member talks about. As well, we will look at the second edition, basically, of the Biomass Strategy and is refined and is more practical in terms of its application. Those issues the Member talks about will be addressed. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Time for question period has expired. Item 9, written questions .The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to return to item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I appreciate the indulgence of the House. I was so excited to have a visitor in the audience earlier that I forgot to thank my Page. I would like to express my appreciation for Mikelle Wile who’s been here serving with us for the last several weeks. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Public Utilities Board of the Northwest Territories 2009 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the Aklavik Community Economics Sustainability Development Plan. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010; Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act; Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act; Bill 10, Exemptions Act; Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Transfer of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy; Committee Report 5-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report, with Mr. Krutko in the chair. By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 12-16(4), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House.

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. We have several items to deal with: Bills 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Committee Report 5-16(4). What is the wish of committee? Mr. 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. Mr. Chairman, today we would like to deal with the bills in numerical order. So Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts... Well, let’s just say Bill 2, 4, 5, 7, 10 and then moving on to Committee Report 5-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report. 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

Does committee agree?

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’ll take a short break and begin with Bill 2.

---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 back to order. Prior to the break, we agreed to begin with Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he has any opening comments.

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Chairman, I am here to present Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010. This bill requests authority for the forgiveness of certain debts listed in the schedule of the act.

Pursuant to Section 25 of the Financial Administration Act, the forgiveness of a debt or obligation to the government exceeding $1,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

When a debt is forgiven, no further collection action shall be pursued. The forgiveness of certain debts being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. Allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to an appropriation at the time it was determined that collection of the debts was considered unlikely.

The accounts being recommended for forgiveness are the result of bankruptcy, compromise settlements or are in the public interest. In cases where a compromise settlement is reached, the following factors have been considered:

the possibility of future recoveries;

the cost to continue legal action; and

the value of security associated with the debt.

That concludes my opening remarks. 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. Minister. At this time I would like to ask the chair of the standing committee which reviewed the bill if he has any comments. Mr. Menicoche.

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, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010, at its meeting on December 9, 2009. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 2. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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. Menicoche. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he 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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Yes, 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

Does committee agree?

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, escort the witnesses in.

Mr. Minister, for the record, could you introduce your witness?

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me is Mr. Warren St. Germaine, comptroller general, Department of Finance. 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. Minister. Welcome, witness. General comments on the bill?

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

Detail.

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

Detail? Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010, clause 1.

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

We will defer consideration of clause by clause and begin with the schedule of the bill? Does committee agree?

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

Page 3, schedule, debts forgiveness, total $535,564.96.

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

Agreed? Now can we turn back to page 1, Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 and 2 inclusive approved

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

Bill as a whole?

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

Does committee agree that we’ve concluded consideration of Bill 2?

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

Mr. Menicoche.

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, Mr. Chair. On Thursday, February 11, 2010, the Standing Committee on Government Operations tabled its report 5-16(4)...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m ahead of myself here, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much for recognizing me. 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

I’d like to thank the Minister and the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out. Does the committee agree that Bill 2 is now ready for third reading?

---Bill 2 as a whole approved for third reading

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

Bill 2 is now ready for third reading. The next bill we agreed to deal with is

Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister responsible to introduce the bill. Ms. Lee.

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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act. The proposed amendments to the act are technical housekeeping changes required to clarify provisions already established in the act. The amendments include:

ensuring the current confidentiality provisions apply to all persons who have access to child protection files, including casuals, clerical, and those who are not directly involved in child care matters, such as information technology services and custodial staff;

renaming the various ‘plan of care’

terminology, thereby clearly distinguishing each term from the other;

a correction in the child apprehension timeline, thereby restoring the timeline to the originally intended number of days; and

changing the process for obtaining a subpoena as well as an exemption under the ‘duty to report’ requirements for those informed of a child needing protection during the course of a judicial proceeding, thereby eliminating any possible expense, inconvenience and unnecessary work that is required when these incidents do occur.

All other recommendations before you, Mr. Chairman, are of a miscellaneous nature and are proposed in order to update the act.

That concludes my opening comments. 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, Madam Minister. This time I’d like to ask the chair of the standing committee on the review of the bill if he has any comments. Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted a public review of Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act, at a meeting held on December 11, 2009. Bill 4 makes amendments to the current Child and Family Services Act, it clarifies the terminology description plan of care agreements, care plans and case plans. Bill 4 also addresses the handling of confidentiality of the child protection information as well as other protocols.

Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 4 is now ready for consideration by Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 4. Individual Members may have comments or question as we proceed. Thank you, 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

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if she 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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Yes, 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

Does committee agree?

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, please escort the witnesses in.

For the record, Ms. Lee, 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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Ms. Lisa Cardinal, director of policy, planning and evaluation of Health and Social Services. To my left is Mr. Mark Aitken, director of legislation division. 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, Ms. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 4. Detail?

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

Can we turn to page 1 of the bill. Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 16 inclusive approved

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

To the bill as a whole.

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

Does committee agree that Bill 4 is ready for third reading?

---Bill 4 as a whole approved for third reading

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

Ms. Lee.

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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Mr. Chairman, I have a motion I need to make on the bill that we’ve agreed to.

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

The Minister is requesting we go back to, I believe, clause 16. Does committee agree?

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

Clause 16. Ms. Lee.

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

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you. My apologies. I should have caught it at clause 16.

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

Okay, let’s do this again. Clause 16. Minister Lee.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I’d like to move a motion.

I move that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act, be amended by adding the following after clause 16:

17(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act

comes into force on assent.

(2) Section 16 comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Commissioner.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

[Microphone turned off.] …as amended.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree that Bill 4 is now ready for third reading as amended?

---Bill 4 as a whole approved for third reading

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Committee, Bill 4 is now ready for third reading as amended.

With that, I’d like to thank the Minister and thank the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witness out.

As we agreed, the next bill we will be dealing with is Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act. With that, I’d like to ask the Minister responsible to introduce the bill. Mr. Robert C. McLeod.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Bill 5 has been brought forward as a result of a recommendation from the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, in May of 2009, to strengthen security requirements for commercial or industrial leases of Commissioner’s land.

The goal is to require enough security to cover the costs of any remediation required to return the land to a condition that is satisfactory to the Minister or a person authorized in the regulations.

The bill contains clauses making performance security a condition of commercial and industrial leases, it sets out the factors to be considered when determining the amount of the security, and includes a new regulation-making authority respecting the position of security for commercial and industrial leases. The bill before committee today also includes some additional amendments that I was happy to concur with during clause-by-clause review by the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure.

I am prepared to answer any questions you may have.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

At this time I’d like to ask the chair of the standing committee if he has any comments in regard to the bill. Mr. Ramsay.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act,

includes an amendment that requires anyone leasing Commissioner’s land for commercial or industrial use to post security to cover the cost of restoration of the land to a satisfactory condition. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure conducted two public hearings on Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, one on December the 8, 2009, and one on February 15, 2010.

The committee heard concerns from members of the public, a private citizen and a representative of the Deh Cho First Nations. The committee brought forward some amendments to the bill at the public review on February 15, 2010. The proposed amendments move the factors used to determine the amount of security from the regulations into the act, as well as conditions for the exemption from posting security.

Members believe these amendments result in stronger legislation that reduces the Government of the Northwest Territories’ risk of environmental liability. The Minister concurred and the bill was amended. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 5. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. At this time, I’d like to ask the Minister if he’ll be bringing in any witnesses. Mr. McLeod.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair, I would.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses in.

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

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have with me today, to my right, Mr. Mike Aumond, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. To my far left is Mr. Mark Aitken, director of legislation, and to my immediate left is Ms. Bev Chamberlin, director of lands administration with Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Lands Act. What’s the wish of the committee? Detail? Turn to page 1 of the bill. Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 4 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

To the bill as a whole.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree that Bill 5 is now ready for third reading?

---Bill 5 as a whole approved for third reading

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

With that, I’d like to thank the Minister. Thank you, witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses out.

As we agreed, the next bill we’ll be dealing with is Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if he has any general comments. Minister.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Yes, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to be here to speak to you about Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for their review of this bill. The Summary Conviction Procedures Act allows for a ticket to be issued to a person who is accused of committing an offense under a territorial law or municipal bylaw. The ticket indicates the amount of the voluntary payment for an offense, as well as the date on which the person is obligated to attend court if the person wishes to challenge the ticket.

Mr. Chair, the act outlines the procedures that need to be followed in order to convict a person who has failed to pay a ticket or attend court. This usually involves holding a trial in which the accused is not present, which involves calling a peace officer such as an RCMP or bylaw officer to the witness stand to provide sworn testimony about how the ticket came into existence. This results in policing and court resources being used in a less than efficient manner.

The bill before you today was developed at the request of the RCMP, the City of Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and the Territorial Court. The main reason for the bill is to permit a court to automatically convict a person who receives a ticket if that person neither pays the ticket nor appears in court to contest the ticket. One of the proposed amendments removes the need to hold an unnecessary trial when a person fails to show up to court.

Mr. Chair, other amendments in this bill will also raise the maximum fine from $150 to $500 for failure to appear in court as required under the act. The fine amount has not been changed since 1986. The proposed increase takes into consideration inflation, while also encouraging individuals to appear in court if they wish to dispute the charge. The bill also includes minor amendments to clarify a provision relating to ticket information, and to ensure that the terminology is consistent throughout the act.

The Department of Justice is pleased that these amendments will save both time and money for courts and peace officers, which will in turn allow peace officers to spend more time serving the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chair. I would be pleased to answer questions that the committee members may have regarding Bill 7. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time I would like to ask the chair of the standing committee which reviewed the bill if you have any comments. Mr. Beaulieu.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted a public review of Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act, at a meeting on December 11, 2009. Bill 7 makes amendments to the Summary Conviction Procedures Act. The amendments will allow a justice to enter a conviction and impose the specific penalty in cases where a person who has been summonsed to appear before the justice by way of a ticket fails to either pay the specific penalty or to appear as summonsed. As well, Bill 7 increases the maximum fine for failing to appear before a justice as required, and other minor amendments are made to the terminology.

Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 7 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he’ll be bringing in any witnesses.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

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

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

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. To my right I have Mark Aitken, director of legislation division and to my left, Mike Reddy, senior policy analyst, policy and planning division. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act. General comments? Detail? Turn to page 1, Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 5 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

To the bill as a whole.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree that Bill 7 is ready for third reading?

---Bill 7 as a whole approved for third reading

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Bill 7 is now ready for third reading. With that, I’d like to thank the Minister and thank the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out.

The next bill we agreed to deal with is Bill 10, Exemptions Act. At this time, I’d like to ask the Minister if he can introduce the bill. Minister Lafferty.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to be here today to speak about Bill 10, Exemptions Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for its review of this bill.

The Exemptions Act is used when one person owes money to another. It limits the types and amount of property that can be seized or garnisheed by a creditor as part of the enforcement process. The current act was enacted in 1948 and is now very out of date. The amounts of money and categories of property that can be kept haven’t changed since then, other than a change to the amount of wages that the debtor can keep in each pay period.

The main purpose of the bill is to set out exemptions amounts for categories of property under the current act. The bill also updates the categories and descriptions of property that are exempt from seizure. The new act strikes a balance between the rights of creditors to enforce a debt and the need for debtors to maintain enough assets and income to live, provide for their dependents, and maintain a means to repay the debt. For example, debtors will be able to keep things like medical aids and property traditionally used in subsistence hunting or fishing.

The need to update the existing Exemptions Act has been raised by Members of past Legislative Assemblies, and the bill before you meets the commitment Justice made to amend the legislation during this Assembly.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that the committee members may have regarding Bill 10. Mahsi.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. With that, I’d like to ask the chair of the standing committee that reviewed the bill if he has any comments on the bill. Mr. Beaulieu.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 10, Exemptions Act, on February 17, 2010. The

committee would like to thank the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

The bill repeals and replaces the existing Exemptions Act. In the new act, property categories that are exempt from legal seizure are expanded to include types of property essential for subsistence of the debtor and his or her dependents. The Public Service Garnishee Act is also amended.

Following discussions which took place during the public review, the committee will be moving an amendment to include trapping in the description of subsistence activities included in the bill.

Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 10, Exemptions Act, to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 10. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if he will be bringing in any witnesses. Mr. Lafferty.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.

Mr. Minister, can you introduce your witnesses, please?

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right is Ian Rennie, legislative counsel, legislation division. To my left is Mike Reddy, senior policy analyst, policy and planning division. Mahsi.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments on Bill 10, Exemptions Act. Detail? Can we turn to page 1, Bill 10, Exemptions Act, clause 1.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 35-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 4, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Clause 2, Mr. Bromley.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a motion with respect to the Exemptions Act.

I move that clause 2 of Bill 10 be amended by striking out “hunting or fishing for food” in proposed paragraph 2(1)(e) and substituting “hunting, trapping or fishing for food.”

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Motion is being circulated. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Question is being called.

---Carried

Clause 2 as amended.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Clause 3.

---Clauses 3 through 12 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The bill as a whole, as amended.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree that Bill 10 as amended is ready for third reading?

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Bill 10 as amended is ready for third reading.

With that, I’d like to thank the Minister, thank the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out?

The next item we agreed to deal with is Committee Report 5-16(4), Report and Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report. With that, I’d like to pass it over to Mr. Menicoche.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. On Thursday, February 11, 2010, the Standing Committee on Government Operations tabled its report 5-16(4) on the Review of the Human Rights Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report, which includes two recommendations. It was read into the record by members of the standing committee and a motion was passed that moved the report into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 36-16(4): Motion To Amend Bill 10, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Menicoche.

Committee Motion 37-16(4): Civil Leave For Commission Members Who Are GNWT Employees, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories include the Human Rights Commission in its Human Resources Manual, Section 810 – Civil Leave, thus making board members who are GNWT employees eligible for civic leave with pay to attend meetings.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 37-16(4): Civil Leave For Commission Members Who Are GNWT Employees, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The motion is being circulated. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 37-16(4): Civil Leave For Commission Members Who Are GNWT Employees, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 37-16(4): Civil Leave For Commission Members Who Are GNWT Employees, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Question is being called.

---Carried

Mr. Menicoche.

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days.

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

The motion is being circulated. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Question has been called.

---Carried

Does committee agree that Committee Report 5-16(4) is concluded?

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Committee Report 5-16(4) is concluded. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Committee Motion 38-16(4): Comprehensive Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I will now rise and report progress.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Krutko?

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering and Bills 2, 4, 5, 7, 10 and Committee Report 5-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report, and would like to report progress, with four motions being adopted and Committee Report 5-16(4) is concluded and that Bills 2, 5, 7 are ready for third reading and that Bills 4 and 10 are ready for third reading as amended. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Mahsi.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

Doug Schauerte Deputy Clerk Of The House

Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Friday, February 26, 2010, 10:00 a.m.:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers’

Statements

3. Members’

Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

6. Acknowledgements

7. Oral

Questions

8. Written

Questions

9. Returns to Written Questions

10. Petitions

11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

13. Tabling of Documents

14. Notices of Motion

15. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

16. Motions

17. First Reading of Bills

- Bill 12, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 4, 2009-2010

- Bill 13, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2010-2011

- Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures ) No. 3, 2009-2010

- Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2010-2011

18. Second Reading of Bills

19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of

Bills and Other Matters

- Bill 3, Medical Profession Act

- Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act

- Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Transfer of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy

20. Report of Committee of the Whole

21. Third Reading of Bills

- Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010

- Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act

- Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act

- Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act

- Bill 10, Exemptions Act

22. Prorogation

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Friday, February 26th , at 10:00 a.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 4:18 p.m.