This is page numbers 4927 - 4952 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Bill 8: Social Work Profession Act
Second Reading of Bills

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill provides for the regulation of the profession of social work in the Northwest Territories. It sets out requirements for registration as a registered social worker or a licensed social worker and provides for application procedures.

A process for the review of conduct of registered and licensed social workers is established, including a complaints mechanism, a description of unprofessional conduct, an option for alternative dispute resolution and a hearing process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Bill 8 has had second reading and is referred to committee.

---Carried

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project; Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits; Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits – What We Heard; and Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, No. 3, with Mr. Bromley in the Chair.

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

May 17th, 2010

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, I call Committee of the Whole to order. We have before us today the four items including Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project; Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits; Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits – What We Heard; and Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, No. 3. What is the wish of committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Consideration in Committee 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. The committee would like to deal with Bill 7 first and then return to Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project for today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Does committee agree?

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, committee. We’ll be dealing with Bill 7 first and then Tabled Document 4-16(5), but first a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

I call Committee of the Whole to order. We have before us consideration of Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act and I would like to start by calling on Mr. Ramsay, as a Member of the Board of Management, for his introduction of the bill with opening remarks. Mr. Ramsay.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to be here to represent this bill. This bill proposes various amendments to the Elections and Plebiscites Act.

These amendments are the result of considerable discussion. We started with a review of the CEO’s report on the administration of the general election of 2007. That report was reviewed by the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. During that review, all the candidates, their official agents and the returning officers were asked for their views and concerns about changes for the next general election. In addition to their consideration of the recommendations from the CEO, the committee also developed some of their own recommendations. The results of these reviews were considered by all Members of the Legislative Assembly and the recommendations were passed as motions in this Assembly.

Those recommendations have served as the basis for the preparation of this bill. Additional discussions at several Caucus meetings finalized the preparation of the bill.

This bill makes some important changes:

It establishes a new voting opportunity: multi-district polls. This will be another advance opportunity for voters at remote worksites such as the diamond mines and in communities where many residents may be temporarily located, such as an Aurora College campus. It will be up to the CEO to determine where multi-district polls are to be held.

It also establishes a new identification process at the polls. This closely follows the process for identification during federal elections. Everyone has to show ID establishing residency and identity. If you don’t have ID, another elector can vouch for you only if they have ID.

It supports the collection of information from Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment. This will permit the CEO to obtain and use the health care plan info from Health and Social Services. That information is likely more accurate than enumerations and post-secondary student financial assistance information. This means we can provide special ballot information to university students while they are here in the summer.

It also centralizes special ballots. An election official in Yellowknife will manage the special ballot process. This means special ballots should be able to get out faster and be returned to a central address more readily.

I will be pleased to respond to any questions that Members have about these amendments as we go through the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I would like to ask if you will be bringing in any witnesses.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Yes, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Does committee agree?

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, committee. I would like to ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Thank you. Mr. Ramsay, I would like to ask you to introduce your witnesses, please.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. To my right is Gay Kennedy, acting Chief Electoral Officer for the Northwest Territories; and, to my left is Mr Mark Aitken, director, legislation division, Department of Justice. Thank you.

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Welcome, witnesses. Now I would like to say that we are open for general comments on the bill by Members. General comments on Bill 7.

Hearing none, does committee agree that we move to clause-by-clause review of the bill?

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, committee. We will start on page 1 with clause 1. Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 53 inclusive approved

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

To the bill as a whole?

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that Bill 7 is ready for third reading?

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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act is now ready for third reading.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay, and thank you to the witnesses. Mr. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the House.

Okay, thank you, committee. I believe the wish of committee is to move next to Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Joint Review Panel Report. We had started but not concluded general comments. So does committee agree that we will continue with general comments? Agreed? First on the list, Mr. Abernethy.

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

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

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

---Carried