This is page numbers 3193 – 3228 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 wildlife.

Topics

The House met at 1:32 p.m.

---Prayer

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Good afternoon, colleagues. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I once again rise on a point of order under 23(k) and (l).

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in this House you ruled on a point of order that I raised in this House last week, in which you found that I did have a point of order and Mr. Hawkins was asked to withdraw his comments.

It has come to my attention and I am rising on the first available opportunity and I will table this document at the appropriate time today. It has come to my attention that a Facebook electronic missive was sent out of this House literally minutes after your ruling, that says, “Well, the NWT Speaker ruled against me and he felt my words were too harsh for the Minister of Health.

“First off, I am happy to withdraw them fully. But it should be said it is difficult, if not enormously challenging not to be passionate about the job we are doing here. And when the Minister cannot do his job, I question why they are left there at the cost of all Northerners.

“One serious challenge for me is, should it not be my job to call the Minister out when he won’t or cannot do his job.”

Those are direct references, once again, that you ruled and required a withdrawal. He closes by saying, “And at the same time, isn’t it in many ways the greater crime to ignore that fact.” which I would only take as a reference to the ruling.

Mr. Speaker, the point of order is I see this missive as no different than a note, where in the past notes have been written in the House and it becomes public and gets tabled. This one, we have on one hand Mr. Hawkins speaking in this House saying he withdraws his comments and apologizes, and then in this House he sends out a Facebook that

basically repudiates that and, in fact, challenges the findings of the ruling.

I believe the point of order is still relevant because when you look at these two contradictory messages in the same period of time in this House, one of them is accurate and one of them is not. I think this type of technology, this type of communication now is going to be a challenge for us. In this case, I believe Mr. Hawkins still has to clarify whether, in fact, he does withdraw his comments, given his mixed messages here that he’s sending, one saying yes, one saying no and, not only that, but challenging the ruling of the Chair. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I will allow Mr. Hawkins to reply to Mr. Miltenberger’s point of order. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the job that the House Leader has to do and I say that with great respect. He’s doing his job. As far as his challenge under 23(k) and (l), I think he’s in error and I’ll say why.

In the House yesterday, I will quote from unedited Hansard, “That was my intent when I said I apologize to this House sincerely and fully, and with that, I withdraw my remarks. My apologies for missing that last piece.” Of course, it also goes on, “It was not intended in any other manner.”

Yesterday I pointed out to the public who’s following this particular issue, yes, I did post on Facebook, so I will take ownership of that. That’s the only way to do this. One must be accountable. Mr. Speaker, I pointed out, following one of the posts by our NWT politics sites, which I attached there, to help explain it further, appreciate or understand my perspective. So, Mr. Speaker, I, first off, am happy to withdraw them fully and that’s where I explained the remarks. What I do now is further elaborate to explain to people the enormous challenges about being passionate in this job. Of course, I explain the serious challenge before this particular thing which has led us to these problems.

In this Chamber, I fully respect this ruling, I did so and will continue to do so. In this House you will continue to hear that in the context of how I phrase my words, my statements and my questions. I believe it’s an illusion to say I am attempting to challenge the Speaker’s ruling. I once again say I am respecting your ruling.

I feel that my job is to get out there and communicate why and what has led us to this ruling issued by you, and again, I respect it. The public has a right to know and they are concerned and they are contacting me and they demand that I continue accountability with this government well within the rules and your oversight.

If I do not do my job, which is demand accountability by people, it makes it very challenging for why they sent me and many other of my colleagues here. Expressing my opinion outside the venue of this House does not contradict your point of view, it further explains what has led me to why I took the statements I made last a week and I continue to accept your ruling and decision of them. It doesn’t change my internal passion for the job and, yes, it is challenging to do this job. Sometimes you get heated under the collar, but nothing has changed since yesterday, which is I fully accept your opinion and your direction to this House and your ruling. That said, I was trying to help people understand what passion and energy had led me to where I was.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I am not going to allow debate on this issue. I’m going to take it under advisement and I will bring it forward to the House more than likely tomorrow or the next day. Thank you, colleagues.

Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Mr. Speaker, shortly after taking office, as we considered the economic opportunities, realities and challenges that lay ahead for our territory, the 17th Assembly

highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy to guide our economy though this time of unprecedented political and economic change. Today I am pleased to inform Members that the Governance Committee has completed an Economic Opportunities Strategy for the NWT, which I will be tabling later today.

The settlement of land claims, self-government agreements, and especially the pending devolution of governance responsibilities for lands and resources will soon give our territory a greater degree of self-reliance and decision-making.

Further, the lingering impacts of a world-wide economic recession and the finite nature of our territory’s diamond mining sector underscore the need for a made-in the-NWT approach to guide and increase economic growth, diversity and certainty. Economic opportunities are the key to getting our

people working, freeing them from poverty and helping them to reach their full potential.

This NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy has been created with the direct input of NWT residents, governments, organizations, industries and businesses. The drafting of the final strategy has been overseen by the Strategy Governance Committee, which is a collaborative partnership with the NWT Association of Communities, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, Canada’s Northern Economic Development Agency and the GNWT.

The strategy gives particular attention to tourism, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and the traditional economy; it provides a plan to grow and diversify the NWT economy, creating an environment in which our residents can envision, pursue and realize their economic opportunities at the grassroots level. These benefits will carry over into all of our communities and regions, resulting in an enhanced quality of life for our residents.

To build this vibrant economy, we will need to secure its foundation in resource investment and population growth. Our territory’s people and communities must be prepared to maximize the benefits of the incredible economic opportunities that lay ahead. This will be achieved, in part, by the Mineral Development Strategy that will also be released within a couple of weeks.

The Economic Opportunities Strategy is built on four themes, each a cornerstone for a 10-year approach to building our economy: A Climate for Growth, Building on our Success, Regional Diversification, and ensuring our people are “Opportunity Ready.”

Each theme identifies targets and objectives. From these, the Governance Committee has recommended 117 actions to fulfill the vision of a strategy that will guide the development and realization of economic potential in all regions of the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, as much as this strategy document reflects the completion of a critical planning process, it also marks the beginning of a longer-term plan to address and deliver its actions. We are already working on the GNWT’s implementation plan to get this strategy in motion.

Federal transfer payments and the resource royalties the Government of the Northwest Territories will receive through devolution depend greatly on the size of the territorial economy.

We need to grow and diversify the economy to help ensure that sustainable resource development benefits our people well into the future and supports long-term prosperity for the entire territory. We have great potential here in the North, but we cannot take that potential for granted. To maximize the

opportunities in front of us, we need the kind of vision this plan sets out for creating a robust economy that all residents can benefit from.

I would like to thank the members of the Governance Committee, the project’s advisory panel and the many NWT residents who have informed and contributed to the development of the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy. I look forward to updating this House on its ongoing implementation and success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, one of the goals this Assembly set out to achieve almost two years ago is a healthy, educated people free from poverty. To move towards this goal, the Premier committed to the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

In June I had the pleasure of tabling Building on the Strengths of Northerners: A Strategic Framework Toward the Elimination of Poverty in the NWT. This framework provides a roadmap for us to work in collaboration with our partners, to eliminate poverty in our communities.

The development of this document was a joint effort led by a steering committee made up of representatives of the private sector, NGOs and governments. It incorporates input received during several years of consultation across the North, and reflects the complexity of poverty and its links to the social determinants of health. The framework targets five priority areas, with a focus on children and families, healthy living, safe and affordable housing, sustainable communities and better integration of services.

The development of this framework was merely the starting point for our efforts to eliminate poverty in the NWT. We are now at the stage where we must develop and implement comprehensive action plans.

Work on this has begun. My colleagues in the social envelope and I are working together to develop an integrated, cross-departmental government action plan that will pull together the actions already being taken by all departments as well as identify further actions needed and funding required. This comprehensive plan will be ready for presentation to this Assembly in the new year.

But the elimination of poverty is not a goal that can be achieved by government alone. We need to work with communities, Aboriginal governments and non-government organizations, as well as the private sector, to develop a truly comprehensive,

territorial action plan. To kick-start this work I will host a roundtable next month to which representatives of all sectors will be invited.

None of us have identical goals. All governments and agencies have different mandates and priorities, but we have more in common than we have differences. We can see where we might work together to achieve our common goals and identify steps each of us can take. We’ll start there. Together, we will set shared actions and ensure long-term benefits for all our people. Government alone cannot eliminate poverty, but if each of us commits to doing whatever we can within our respective mandates, I am confident we will succeed.

Many groups and communities are already working towards our shared goal of elimination of poverty. I recently had the honour of speaking at a workshop designed for communities and non-government organizations to share their ideas, challenges and successes in addressing poverty. This workshop was organized by the No Place for Poverty Coalition with financial support from the Government of the Northwest Territories. It brought together over 50 people from across the NWT, all of whom had experience in living with poverty or dealing with its impact. This gathering is a demonstration of the commitment of many people to our shared goal, and conclusions and recommendations from the workshop will be brought forward for consideration at the November roundtable.

Mr. Speaker, together we can build a strong, sustainable future for our territory. I look forward to continuing to work with Members of this Assembly, Aboriginal and community governments, NGOs and representatives of business and industry as we develop, and then implement, a comprehensive action plan that will move us closer to our goal of a truly poverty-free territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, this Assembly is committed to a goal of healthy, educated people free from poverty. Improving the health status of the Aboriginal population in the Northwest Territories is one way the Department of Health and Social Services is accomplishing that goal.

Clearly, if we want to make meaningful change, we have to focus our efforts on the areas of greatest need. We must stop designing “one size fits all” solutions and start listening to communities about what will work.

Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories are suffering from an increased burden of chronic diseases and the trends are worsening. Their cancer rates are higher, Type 2 Diabetes is a growing concern, and they are more likely to be hospitalized for mental health or addictions-related issues.

It is a sad fact that 95 percent of the children in foster care in the Northwest Territories are Aboriginal. These are troubling statistics and we must take action to improve the health of our Aboriginal residents. We know that better promotion of healthy lifestyles is one of the keys to improving this situation. It is obvious to me that we must change the way we do business in order to effectively reach out to our residents.

We need to develop prevention and promotion programs that will be effective and culturally respectful.

We need to work with our health centres to create a welcoming environment where Aboriginal people feel respected and supported.

Mr. Speaker, our new Aboriginal health and community wellness division is working towards that goal. We are changing the way we do business.

Regionally-based community wellness planners will be working more closely with community groups and Aboriginal governments to help them identify their priorities and develop appropriate responses. This helps provide better programming and is consistent with the government’s Aboriginal Engagement Strategy.

Prevention and promotion experts will provide support to community wellness plans. We will put less emphasis on mass-producing posters in English and more emphasis on helping communities to use the most effective tools to reach people.

I will enhance the mandate of Stanton’s Elders Council so that their valuable expertise may provide guidance in developing territory-wide solutions.

By exploring how to make our system more responsive to Aboriginal patients and clients, we also create the potential to incorporate traditional healing into primary care.

Mr. Speaker, the government cannot make people healthy by itself. People also have to take responsibility for their own health by making good decisions and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Eating well, getting exercise, not smoking and avoiding alcohol abuse are steps that every individual can take to improve their health. With the assistance of the many programs and services this government provides and our new approach to doing business, people have a lot of power to choose lives free from disease and illness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Nahendeh Core Housing Needs
Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On the housing front, the Nahendeh region is one of the regions in the Northwest Territories with the highest core need. Housing needs are evaluated in terms of suitability, adequacy and affordability. Suitability means having the appropriate number of bedrooms for the number of occupants; adequacy means running water, indoor plumbing, and isn’t in need of major repairs; affordability means that housing costs consumes less than 30 percent of the household income. A dwelling with problems in two or more of these areas – suitability, adequacy and affordability – gets placed in the core needs category.

Mr. Speaker, as of 2009, when the most recent housing survey was released, 35 percent of the homes in the Nahendeh region fell into a core needs category. For hundreds of my constituents, this housing situation is really grim.

A related problem is there are only a few family violence shelters to serve the entire Northwest Territories. Many women are trying to escape bad relationships, but because they can’t find safe, transitional housing, they end up back with their abusive partners.

The ugliest side of the housing crisis is homelessness. Homelessness leaves people in a constant state of stress; it’s linked to higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse and suicide. Homeless people are at higher risk of contracting HIV infection, Hepatitis C and sexually transmitted diseases.

Taken together, homelessness and inadequate housing are also significant barriers for people attempting to recover from addictions. It is often impossible to find suitable accommodations where they won’t be exposed to destructive activities and get sucked back into addictive lifestyles.

Whether we are considering Fort Simpson, Fort Liard or the smallest of my communities, there just aren’t enough shelters or other measures to provide relief. To be sure, the Housing Corporation is making great strides to improve public housing and respond to homelessness, but I would like to see facilities for homelessness and transitional housing for Nahendeh.

I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Nahendeh Core Housing Needs
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the government, we continue to try to regulate rather than make common sense. I am talking about getting our elders their traditional foods in our health centres and facilities, like serving fish, moose or caribou, or even a rabbit at our health facilities. Mr. Speaker, our elders are starving for their God-given foods. I want to state why we are falling short in helping our elders and how we can help in the long run.

What are our policies about serving Aboriginal traditional foods to our elders in our health facilities? It is reported that at one time we had 65 percent of patients at Stanton Hospital that were Aboriginal. Some long-term care facilities are struggling to serve Aboriginal foods.

Aboriginal foods to our elders is like fish to water. They need it to survive. It’s part of who they are. Mr. Speaker, there is a solution. Vital Abel Home or the Larga Home can help with this problem. We can have Vital Abel or Larga be the place where Aboriginal traditional foods can be cooked and delivered to Stanton or Aven Manor in Yellowknife. Communities can donate fish and meat to these centres.

Mr. Speaker, we need to do the right thing. Feed the elders. It is not too much to ask for all that they have done for us and continue to do for us. I ask this Minister and this government to commit to an action plan that will have traditional foods served up to 90 percent in our health facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk today about us politicians. Obviously, nowadays there’s quite a bit of controversy in the political news about politicians and some of us politicians are all being painted with the same brush.

I want the NWT public to know that, as Members here, we hold our jobs very seriously and the accountability that we hold is to a very high standard. When I first got here at this job a couple of years ago, I found out the NWT has some of the most stringent regulations for expenditures for MLAs. Our regulations require all MLAs to go

through all our purchases and be vetted through corporate services. We have to account for all and get approval before we spend any money related to our constituency budgets.

When I first got here, I found this very cumbersome. I found it frustrating, but now I know these rules and regulations are in place to protect us Members, but also to ensure the integrity of this Legislative Assembly.

All MLAs must complete an annual residency assessment. That, as well, is held in high standard in the country. Corporate services attends annual events and often gets requests from jurisdictions to see our regulations both on our expenditures and the residency assessment, Mr. Speaker.

I know the politicians’ expenditures are a hot topic around the water coolers and at the coffee shops, but I just want our constituents to know that the NWT Legislative Assembly has some of the most stringent regulations in place and that we hold these regulations in high regard, not only for our Members but also for the public’s expenditures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Saturday night the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce named Det’on Cho Corporation Business of the Year.

---Applause

Thank you, colleagues. This comes right after another achievement. In June, Profit Magazine included the Det’on Cho Corporation on its list of the 500 fastest growing Canadian businesses.

Twenty-five years ago, Det’on Cho started out with a $15,000 grant. Over the last five years, their revenues have nearly quadrupled and they now have four fully owned subsidiaries and interest in 12 other local businesses. The company directly employed more than 360 workers this summer. Perhaps most impressive is that nearly 90 percent of their employees are from the North. That is more than double what the diamond mines are reporting. Det’on Cho is showing that a northern business with northern employees can be successful. And all those northern employees are contributing to our community, not only through the income taxes they pay but by shopping locally, volunteering and raising their families here.

Det’on Cho’s most recent project, the 5.9 kilometre bypass around Giant Mine, is being technically challenging and its completion will be an impressive achievement. It has been a great opportunity to

enhance local technical capacity, such as with the intersection with Highway No. 3, and the design and construction of a bridge over Baker Creek. They have provided work opportunity for 11 northern companies on the project. The bypass road is expected to open in time for the winter road traffic. Given that the highway travels over the height of land in the area, I look forward to being able to see the entire Weledeh riding spread out before me.

The success of the Det’on Cho Corporation says a lot about the leadership they have. CEO Roy Erasmus Jr. has put a lot of passion and energy into it and the results speak for themselves. Congratulations

to Yellowknives Dene First

Nations, Roy and all the Northerners who work at Det’on Cho. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend the Sport North Federation held a coaching and volunteer symposium with representation from all across the Northwest Territories. The theme was Every Step Counts. Coaches and volunteers are the backbone of our communities, our regions and our territory. They are also strong role models, mentors and even counsellors. I applaud Sport North and their efforts in supporting and building the capacity within our communities and our people, our coaches and our volunteers.

The symposium focused on physical activity and nutrition as well as, in team management, team dynamics and other fundamental and advanced coaching techniques and tools. I was also very pleased to see a session that was focused on disabilities and inclusion in sports.

Although I was not able to attend, I do appreciate that the coaches and volunteers took time out of their busy schedules, as well as their personal lives, to work and continue to hone their skills for the benefits of people of the Northwest Territories.

At this time I would just like to appreciate and recognize the dedication, hard work and commitment of all our volunteers and coaches across the Northwest Territories as well as the Sport North Federation and what they have demonstrated over the years in the development of northern coaches, volunteers and athletes. Although Sport North did put this symposium on, it is a collaborative approach in building the capacity in our communities and the people of the Northwest Territories. We have a lot of great organizations out

there that are putting in the efforts to building capacity in the community and also increasing our skills and skill sets that will enhance our youth as well as our elders and people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk today about something announced recently by our Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Glen Abernethy. On October 23rd ,

in a press release, Mr. Abernethy laid out a new Regional Recruitment Program. If I could just briefly quote from the press release: “The GNWT actively recruits Northerners to fill vacant positions, especially in the regions. At any given time there are approximately 150 to 200 vacant regional positions available within all departments, boards and agencies in communities. The Regional Recruitment Program will assist to place Northerners into these vacancies. This program is a tool that will help with decentralization efforts.”

I would like to applaud the Minister for this announcement and for this program because, as you know, the MLAs for Hay River at least, are extremely interested in government positions in regional centres. It’s one of our favourite topics lately.

Later today I’m going to have some questions for the Minister of Human Resources about how that vacancy rate compares in the regions compared to in headquarters. I also have an idea that I would like to throw out there that has to do with regional positions.

Quite often, when we talk about decentralization, we hear about deputy ministers and senior departmental staff getting together and trying to imagine or think of activities, positions, secretariats, government activity that can be decentralized to the regions. I have an idea that might help in this effort. The conventional thinking is that nobody would want to leave Yellowknife to go to a regional centre. That’s the thinking that’s out there, and that’s, I think, the thinking of the bureaucracy. Like, oh, we could never force people to move to a community like Hay River. So here’s my idea: Why don’t we survey people who are working at headquarters, who might be interested, who might confidentially share, through a survey, that they might be interested in going to a regional centre?

When you look around the public service in Yellowknife, my gosh, it has to be a collection of people who originated from a lot of these regional centres and they may have family ties, connections, traditional activities that they used to be involved in,

perhaps in the region that they came from. So I think we should ask them. Rather than trying to do everything from the top down, perhaps we should survey the employees themselves and find out people who might be interested in relocating, with the job that they have, to a regional centre. That’s just a suggestion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Hydraulic Fracturing
Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard a lot about fracking in the last few weeks and months, and I haven’t had much to say to date, but I feel it’s time for me to speak out.

I have been following the statements and exchanges in the House, the media reports and so on. The Economic Development and Infrastructure committee has been at the forefront of the fracking issue for the House, doing the research, considering the pros and cons, and monitoring the exploration and development in the Sahtu. I’ve tried to stay abreast of the info flowing to and from the committee, but it’s a challenge, given my other committee work.

As of today, I’m not sure where I stand on this issue. I’m not sure if I support fracking or oppose it. I know that the Sahtu and the NWT need an economic shot in the arm and I know that the proposed development in the Sahtu will provide that boost and I’m not against development, but I do believe, very strongly, that it must be controlled development. The pace of development must be a measured and a conservative one. The all-out do-it-all do-it-now approach that apparently is happening in the area of the Bakken shale deposits scares me. I do not want that kind of development for my territory.

As well, I have a major concern with the lack of knowledge about our subsurface environment in the area where fracking will occur, particularly our lack of analysis of aquifers. Our water tables are unknown and unmapped. Fracking will have two huge impacts on our water supply: the amount of water used in, or needed for, the fracking process and the potential contamination of our groundwater through the injection of the used fracking water back underground.

We don’t get a do-over on our land, Mr. Speaker. If we use it up or contaminate it, it’s gone forever.

Another major concern for me is just what contaminants or chemicals will be used in the fracking process. Current regulations don’t require full disclosure of the products used. The companies have promised they will disclose, but without any legal requirement to do so, how can we be sure they will?

This government must do everything it can to put those requirements in place so we can effectively control the environmental liabilities which can result from fracking.

In my mind, there is the potential for the Sahtu to become a situation akin to Yellowknife’s Giant Mine, a monstrous environmental liability. Let’s not go there. Thank you.

Hydraulic Fracturing
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, the Anne Buggins Wellness Centre on the reserve was named after the respected elder, known for her strong spiritual leadership. Public health, home care and social services staff are no longer cramming the band office. They now have a modern facility to work in, which offers a more comfortable environment for community residents seeking treatment.

I want to congratulate Chief Roy Fabian and the people of the K’atlodeeche First Nation for their vision and hard work, which helped this community wellness centre become a reality. The wellness centre stands as a model of how governments can work together for the good of their people. We need more cooperation like this.

As an MLA, it is distressing for me to hear my constituents say there are people who struggle on the reserve while people across the river, in town, enjoy easy access and benefits of our government. Perception is reality, and the people of K’atlodeeche First Nation do not enjoy the same quality of service as other NWT residents because they are governed under different legislation.

The Hay River Reserve was created under the Indian Act of 1974, which means that the people of the KFN have a different relationship with the federal government. Although the KFN is the key governing body of the reserve, there is a confusing mix of jurisdiction between the GNWT and the federal government and the K’atlodeeche First Nation. While preliminary discussions have been underway since 2005, the K’atlodeeche First Nation is in limbo. It is time to fast-track this process and put greater control in the hands of the K’atlodeeche First Nation to govern their own people so that they can see more success like the Anne Buggins Wellness Centre. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank our Minister of Finance for going into the communities with his recent round of budget dialogue with Northerners. I am pleased that his open and honest approach with residents on how we should deal with our devolution monies and our Heritage Fund has been discussed. But – and this is where I depart from the mild-mannered Member for Range Lake – I am extremely disappointed and, most of all, infuriated at this same Minister who in last night’s budget dialogue with Yellowknife residents refused to take responsibility in responding to the question if we were capturing our fair share of economic rent for what we call, sometimes in this House, resource taxation, or commonly known as mining tax.

Before I go on my rant, let’s back up the bus first. The Department of Finance back in 2009 concluded that any such extra tax would be viewed as a double taxation. To that, I say hogwash. Then they proceeded to say such tax would be a disincentive to new resource development. I only need to say two things: Danny Williams and Newfoundland. Enough said.

Finally, my favourite, that this new resource revenue sharing with the federal government would be strained. This is where I yawn. That’s what I put in my Member’s statement.

The GNWT currently collects a corporate tax, a fuel tax, a property tax and a payroll tax from mining companies. While most provinces levy a mining tax in addition to the basic royalty rate, the NWT chooses not to. This is a fail. This mining tax is a standard practice in many jurisdictions and there is absolutely no reason to believe that such a tax would cause the mineral industry to suddenly stop exploring profitable opportunities in the NWT to favour other areas. Let’s face it, our first two major diamond mines were able to pay off their capital construction costs in less than three years, and with both of these mines net profiting over $37 billion annually, I hardly believe they would be poverty stricken with a mineral tax.

Furthermore, we have a golden opportunity if the GNWT would institute, today, a new mineral tax. Even with devolution, these revenues would not be clawed back. The territorial funding formula provides incentives for the GNWT to raise as much revenues as possible on its own. Any new revenues from new taxes are exempt from clawbacks for at least one year and after this period, 30 percent of the revenue raising ability is exempt.

This is a windfall, but the clock is ticking.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

The public owns its mineral resources on Crown land in the NWT. Our job, government’s job, the Department of Finance’s job and the Minister of Finance’s job is to capture a fair share of economic rent from mineral companies to ensure the public is appropriately compensated and that companies have fair returns.

Clearly, someone in this government didn’t get this memo and it’s clear that this current government is leaving money on the table at a time when they preach fiscal responsibility and accountability. This is shameful. Thank you very much.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Yellowknife Power Rates
Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, Yellowknife is number one; the Northwest Territories is number one. What was that again? We’re number one. Power rates continue to be the highest.

If you take 1,000 kilowatts here in Yellowknife, you have to pay over $300; 1,000 kilowatts in Iqaluit, $275. We continue to be number one and we get dwarfed by Whitehorse where a thousand kilowatts only charges you $146. We’re number one, thanks to the Premier in his old job when he re-engineered the power rates. He engineered the communities’ rates, which I am certainly happy that he did help them, because as I said yesterday, if you’re not on the hydro, I don’t know how you afford your power bill. But why didn’t we engineer some of Yellowknife power rates like we did?

We must find a way to make the cost of living liveable here in the Northwest Territories, certainly here in Yellowknife. It’s not an insurmountable problem. Find a way. Rather than being bureaucrats sitting on the seven stumps across the way, let’s be politicians, let’s be daring, let’s connect with our constituents on issues that matter to them. Even in talking to the Economic Opportunities Strategy, the Governance Council even recognized the fact that power rates hold Yellowknife back. It is seen as a negative, certainly not as a positive.

Thirty cents per kilowatt cannot help sustain our population. They cannot help the everyday blue collar worker. The working family suffers from this day after day after day as they try to get by. We’ve heard about rising fuel prices. No action. We need these costs of our power to come down to what is considered normal. Why spend millions and millions of dollars and on Come Make Your Mark? Who wants to live here at 30-some cents a kilowatt? People are leaving. The exit sign is certainly getting well used. I have heard this from countless people who leave the Northwest Territories because they

can be paid the same types of dollars elsewhere and certainly cut their cost of living easily in half. Every day we struggle. Every day working families struggle because of the cost of living. It is time we stop talking about this and demonstrate that as politicians we’re willing to do something.

I started off by saying we are number one. Yes, we beat Whitehorse, we beat Iqaluit and we lost 83 people from last year’s census third quarter. We peaked out. We lost 83 people since then and people are leaving. Why? Because the cost of living is killing Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s time to do something.

Yellowknife Power Rates
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few people in the gallery I would like to recognize today. Earlier today we had a press conference releasing the Economic Opportunities Strategy. With us today in the gallery we have Kathy Gray, the president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Kevin Lewis, the regional director with CanNor; and also a former mayor of Yellowknife, Gord Van Tighem, a member of the advisory panel. Welcome, folks.

Also with them is Ms. Kelly Kaylo, the assistant deputy minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. I also want to recognize my colleague over in the Yukon Territory, the Honourable Wade Istchenko. He’s the MLA for Kluane and also the Minister of Highways and Public Works with the Yukon government. Welcome.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to recognize a couple of constituents of mine, Elizabeth Anne Mackay from Fort Resolution and her daughter Karen Lafferty from Hay River. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Blake.

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

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Brittany and Lucyanne Kendo, originally from Tsiigehtchic. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

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

Yellowknife South

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize a relative, my sister-in-law Karen Lafferty. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Menicoche.

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m really glad to recognize my partner Lucyanne Kendo and step-daughter Brittany Jewel Kendo. You guys are my heart. Mahsi.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize our past mayor of Yellowknife and resident of Weledeh, past mayor Gordon Van Tighem. Thank you.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. I would like to welcome here my good friend Wade Istchenko. We worked together for the last 10 years with the Rangers and Junior Rangers, and if people only knew how many hours and months he put in with the Junior Rangers in the Yukon and all the good that you do, not only that but the work that you’re doing in making sure our Dempster Highway is always in good condition. Thank you, Mr. Istchenko. Welcome to the House.

And my good friend Beth Anne Mackay, president of NWT Dogsled, that she’s been putting in for so many years and trying to make dogsledding not a dying sport, and pushing forward to make it one-way transportation. Thank you, Beth Anne, for coming today, and your daughter, welcome.

I’d like to also wish my good friend Gord Van Tighem, with all the years that we worked together in the past, welcome to the House. It’s always good to see you.

To everybody here, thank you for taking interest in our proceedings today.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I spoke about so many housing issues, transitional housing and homelessness, and I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation some questions.

I’d like to know if the Housing Corporation has been working on any plans for transitional housing options for the regions and communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member had mentioned before on the core needs study that was done in 2009, and since 2009, as a government, I think we’ve spent over $151 million across the territory to try and

address some of the issues contained in that report. There was $17.5 million in Nahendeh alone, plus an additional $5.7 million, I think, we’re debating this year and I’m glad for that.

As far as working on transitional housing goes, we are currently looking at a new initiative where we’ll identify some communities that could possibly have one of our housing units there converted into a bit of a transitional home. It’s a start. It’s not going to address all of the concerns, but we need to start somewhere and we feel that’s a good start. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Certainly, that last report was in 2009. As I said, great strides have been done with that to take care of the housing that’s in core need. But for this House, one of our challenges is, of course, to address homelessness.

I know that the Minister is working with the Social Envelope Committee, but can he tell me a little bit about the strategy and what we’re going to do about the homeless, especially in the small communities?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we have a homelessness coordinator who was hired in August. She is actually planning on going to all regions in the Northwest Territories, compiling some data, a bit of a report, and then we’ll take that report and look at that as possibly a future way that we can allocate more funds into some of the communities again.

The pilot project I spoke of is a start. Once we hear back from our new homelessness coordinator, we look forward to working with the Members and seeing what we can provide to some of the communities that are most in need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

I certainly look forward to working with the homelessness coordinator as she tours my communities.

I’d like to ask the Minister, in terms of homelessness, I know that here in Yellowknife, of course, it’s a much larger centre and they’re able to have O and M to address homelessness.

Is this the type of thinking they will be having when they go out to the communities and have their scoping sessions? Thank you.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife is a much larger community and a lot of people do come here and end up homeless. We recognize that. We work with some of the organizations in Yellowknife and provide some type of funding. Most of it is on the infrastructure side, but we make contributions. It’s starting to be recognized that out in the communities it is getting to be more and more of a problem. We have replacement public housing units we’re hoping to put into some of these communities. I think we’ve

identified 14 for the Nahendeh this year, but that still is not going to address the homeless.

There are many reasons that people could be homeless and it’s a cross-departmental exercise that we’re going through with my colleagues on the Social Envelope Committee. So we have to identify some of these situations and see what we can do as a government to try to assist them.

Again, the new initiative we have is a start and we’re hoping to build on that. Thank you.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

As we move towards this, can the Minister indicate who would be the proponent in this case? Will he be working with the band councils or else any interest groups out there that want to do a ground-based proposal that are interested in providing this kind of service? Thank you.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you. We’d be more than willing to listen to all proposals that come in from the community. As I said before, we’ve made contributions in the past to some of the infrastructure side of it. The O and M, we haven’t made too many contributions to that. With the new initiatives, again, we’re looking at a partnership with a local organization and we will provide the infrastructure again, and we’ll work with them to see if there’s an agreement we can work out where they provide kind of the supervision of the place.

So as we roll out the details on that, I will be sharing it with committee members and we still haven’t made a determination as to where the pilot projects are going. I think we’d look at some of the communities that are most in need and work on that. Some of the larger regional centres we’d look at too.

So we look forward to working with the Members and we’ll update them as we make progress. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement on the Regional Recruitment Program and the good efforts of the Department of Human Resources to look at opportunities for filling vacant positions in regional centres, I do have a few questions.

In the same statement or press release that Minister Abernethy put out, it says that the Department of Human Resources will provide support to managers through a new decentralized, regional recruitment officer position. Could we have that in Hay River, please?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that we’re looking at a location for that and I think right now I believe we’re looking at Fort Smith and I think we’ve already got somebody who has been identified as a reasonable and suitable candidate. But I will confirm, for the Member, that information. Thank you.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you. I’d like to ask the Minister, how does the vacancy in GNWT positions rates compare in Yellowknife versus regional centres. If he knows, I’m not sure if that’s something he would know off the top of his head, but just curious. Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you. I don’t have the exact vacancy rates for anywhere in the Northwest Territories directly in front of me, but what I can say is that we know at any given time there’s about 380 to 400 vacant positions in the GNWT that we’re trying to staff and fill. Approximately half of those are in Yellowknife and half of those are in communities and regional settings. So about 50/50. Thank you.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you. In an effort to identify people who might be willing to fill positions vacant or otherwise in regional centres, in my Member’s statement I mentioned an idea of perhaps surveying people who might be interested in relocating, because my sense is that there is a bit of a mindset that that’s not the direction you want to go. But I want to tell you that I can’t even tell you the number of people who come to Hay River for business, perhaps with the government, perhaps with private sector and look at our amenities, look at our housing prices, look at the community, the lake, the river, the sports, all the other things that are there and say, you know, I could live here. But how would they communicate that to their employer if it’s the GNWT and how could we look at someone who has a job that can travel, that can relocate? Is a survey a possibility? Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you. Certainly an intriguing idea and if it’s something committee wants us to look at I’m certainly willing to.

Having said that, the Regional Recruitment Program that we’re talking about here is actually a program designed to help people from the communities and the regions obtain employment with the GNWT and it will be a valuable tool as we devolve positions throughout the Northwest Territories because it will help those individuals who feel or may not qualify for jobs. They’ve developed the on-the-job training and skills they need to get jobs, but with respect to Mrs. Groenewegen’s question, if it’s something committee wants us to look at, I’m absolutely happy to take a look at that and discuss further with committee. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize that I have kind of mixed a couple of things here and I know that that’s not the letter of what this Regional Recruitment Program is about. That is to fill existing positions in regional centres and I’m kind of mixing that in with creating positions at regional centres. But I just want to say that I think the people should be advised of this and the program as it’s laid out for trainees and job shadowing, the $15,000 allotment, I think the whole thing is a really, really good idea and a great program.

I would like to know how people are going to be advised on a broad scale of what those positions are. We see positions advertised in newspapers and ads and so on, but can we get an inventory of vacant positions community by community? Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you. The list is evolving and we have people coming into positions, people leaving jobs. It changes on a fairly regular basis. We do know that we run about 400 in the Northwest Territories at any given time that we’re trying to staff. How we’re planning to let people know, is we’re looking a little outside the box, we’re not just going to rely on our advertising and communication. We do know in the communities that there are a lot of people who have been going through career development officers and other mechanisms to find opportunities for themselves. So to make this work, we feel it’s critical to have a departmental collaboration with Education, Culture and Employment and the career development officers, who are individuals that a lot of these people looking for work go to. So we’re developing that relationship, we’re making sure that the career development officers are on board, they’re part of the team to communicate the message to residents of the communities who would be eligible for these training opportunities.

I will commit to sharing, with committee and the Member, an analysis, as we go, of the types of positions that we’re getting uptake on and what communities throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I talked about the traditional foods at the health facilities in the Northwest Territories. I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, other than the Aboriginal Wellness Program, the Stanton Elders Council, are there any types of discussions happening to increase the amount of Aboriginal foods that are served at the Stanton Territorial Hospital and possibly at the Aven Manor?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Our environmental health unit has, in the past, worked with the various institutions that are run by Health and Social Services or the authorities to try to get traditional foods into these homes. In addition to that, recently the Member has brought to our attention that perhaps we should start looking at institutions that are under our authority that already are providing traditional foods on a regular basis and start working with them to see if they can expand the traditional food by delivering it to other institutions in town where traditional foods are not usually served on a regular basis.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you. Certainly, the Minister is correct of our discussion. I want to ask the Minister, is that something that could be within this fiscal framework, to look at the various solutions to increase the Aboriginal foods, say, at Aven Manor? I understand they serve traditional foods only twice a month and at the Stanton Hospital they serve traditional foods every Friday at lunchtime. At Stanton Hospital, the last report indicated 65 percent of patients were Aboriginal people. So I want to ask if the Minister would look at some of these types of solutions to help our elders and our Aboriginal people in these health facilities to get their traditional foods.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Like I had indicated, we are now reaching out to the organizations. Immediately after my conversation with the Member, I had asked the department to talk to the two organizations that he is referring to. We have done that. All we need to do is find the various ways within our policies on traditional foods, the various ways we can legally provide traditional foods in that type of institution. Thank you.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I’m looking for a commitment from the Minister of Health and Social Services to direct his department within the next couple of months. I’m looking forward to seeing some type of policy, a direction, where this is going to happen. Can the Minister give that commitment to me?

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, we are prepared to look at the requirements of handling uninspected wild fish and game. This is really the key issue, is how traditional food is brought into these residences for long-term care, hospital or any residential type of facility where there is a requirement to serve food. We have to discuss an effective and consistent way of getting uninspected wild fish and game into those places as part of the menu. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

That’s what I said in my Member’s statement. How do we try to regulate something that is just common sense in our small communities? We should see some of the places where we store our food and wonder, gee, it must be quite the challenge to cook it up.

What makes something that is common sense in our small communities so unexplainable when it comes to our health centres? Why do we have to go through all these processes? How can the Minister help me with the existing facilities we have now so Aboriginal people and elders can get their traditional foods in these facilities?

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, the Food Establishment Safety Regulations under the Public Health Act lay out what we can do legally when we provide traditional food into the long-term care centres or the hospitals. One way that we are thinking about getting around that specific issue is that because fish and game can be donated by individuals that have a general hunting licence or individuals that have the right to hunt and donate food. A lot of that has been done at the Vital Abel where they are serving traditional food, and the Member talks about how we would be able to work with the Vital Abel to provide food at Avens and the hospital, as an example. Considering that we do have contracts with those individuals, as well, we had to talk to all of them to make sure that we’re not trying to offload work on somebody without having that discussion first. I can assure the Member that we’re moving forward with this and that we’re trying to find a solution. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs on the subject of unauthorized occupation of a small point of land in the Weledeh riding. I’m talking about the houseboat that has been pulled up on shore at the point in Willow Flats. I appreciate that there were three originally; we are down to one. I have been getting complaints from constituents since this boat arrived in June and these complaints are escalating as we learn about the poor treatment of a pet chained now at the point.

Would the Minister explain who has what jurisdiction over this situation and on that piece of land and water? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have jurisdiction over that. It is

Commissioner’s Lake that land is called. We have been trying to locate the owner of the houseboat so they can be served and have that houseboat removed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that. This is a favourite spot for families to gather for picnics, to swim and to walk their dogs throughout the winter, or should I say, they used to do those things.

Would the Minister be able to explain how or if this jurisdiction arrangement will change with devolution? Mahsi.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, if it’s Commissioner’s land, I don’t foresee much change. Once devolution happens we’ll still be responsible for that land within the boundary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, could the Minister explain when and how the City of Yellowknife could apply for jurisdiction over this area and if this could help manage situations such as the one we are faced with today?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, we will be more than willing to sit down with the City of Yellowknife and discuss the jurisdiction of the lakebed.

Again, the Member is right; from the correspondence that I have been getting, it is a favoured spot of a lot of people that use the trail. There is some concern, and I have received e-mails directly, about the houseboat that is there. We are looking at trying to, again, locate the owner and have the houseboat removed from the area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope the Minister does understand that there is a standing offer from constituents to assist the Minister. They know where this person is. The Weledeh residents have been asking for something to be done about this all summer, so we have lost a summer of swimming and picnicking and so on. Can we expect it to continue all winter as well?

What is the current status of the process of removing this trespasser? And, incidentally, the log structure that is in the ice just to the North is a dangerous barrier to travel during the dark parts of the winter. Mahsi.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I know there has been an attempt to serve the owner of the houseboat. I believe the sheriff has even gone out with a boat and tried to locate the particular individual. I can assure the Member that we are looking by the end of the week if we can’t serve these papers, then we might have to look at other options. My understanding is that once we do that, if there is a

concern that boat is going to be there next spring, to make a bit of a commitment that once we get all the proper work done, then the boat should be removed. If it happens to be this winter, it will be this winter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Human Resources. I just want to talk a little bit about termination of employment within the GNWT because there have been some cases in the Inuvik region and in my community where people have retired or who have resigned from the job position and had trouble getting their ROEs, or records of employment. I would like to ask the Minister, in terms of getting a record of employment, what’s the process. Is there a timeline from when an employee is terminated from a position to the time they can actually get their record of employment to either seek income assistance or some other form of payment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A record of employment is required after many situations. If an employee has interrupted earnings of over seven days, they are required to be provided with a record of employment. When an employee’s salary falls below 60 percent of their weekly earnings, they are supposed to be provided with a record of employment. When an employee declares bankruptcy, a record of employment is required, and there are a lot of other reasons why a record of employment is required.

The requirement is that a record of employment is provided within five calendar days of the last day of the pay period in which they are last paid for, so it’s five days from the end of that. I know the Member and I have had some conversations about this and had shared concerns of constituents that there is a bit of a backlog on the ROEs and we haven’t always hit our five days, and this is important. We have to fix this. The department is looking at their processes right now, trying to identify the barriers on these and barrier on making the five-day commitment, and we’re looking at re-engineering and some streamlining to fix this problem that the Member has brought to my attention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

The Minister did hit a few things on the head there in terms of some challenges that we

have in getting these ROEs passed to government employees.

Can I ask the Minister what some of these challenges and barriers are? Would it be dealing with HR training, development? Do we need to put more training within our HR staff or is there more capacity that needs to be in that department such as more personnel to cover such processes? Can the Minister identify some of these barriers and whether or not our HR department needs more human resources themselves or more funding sources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, at this time we hope that through the review of this process, we can identify and answer some of those exact questions. Right now we feel that we have enough positions established, but we also do have turnover and some vacancies within our own shop and it’s difficult to find people who are capable of doing this work.

One of the real challenges is just the sheer quantity of these ROEs that are required. Today there are about 382 that are required. Between April 1, 2012, and August 30, 2013, just by way of example, we processed 3,653 records of employment. If you break that down to the workday, that’s 10 ROEs a day that this unit is processing. When you actually consider that each ROE involves an audit of the file to verify all sick days, annual days, special leave days, make sure they’ve been paid what they’re supposed to be paid and that all that information is properly tracked so that we can provide an accurate ROE so that the individual can get EI, there is a little bit of time involved for each of these files.

But I get the Member’s point. We do provide training to our new staff that come in. They mentor and sit with experienced staff so that they can become familiar with the processes. Once again, those are the processes we have today and we’re looking at those processes to see if there’s any way to streamline and improve them so that we can meet our commitment of five days after the final pay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a lot of ROEs that need to be addressed. I understand the Minister has talked about streamlining the process. I’d just like to ask the Minister, for somebody who needs an ROE and requests an ROE maybe for EI, is there any way for a person to get higher up on the list or more of a priority? Is there a process that this person could take, rather than having to wait a period of time to receive an ROE? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, one of the things I encourage all staff to do when they know they’re coming up to the end of their

employment is obviously to have a discussion with the benefits officer. If they have a discussion with their benefits officer prior to their last day, they can usually streamline the process a little bit so that people know how urgent it is; this person isn’t going to be having a job, they’re going to be going on EI. I would encourage all employees of the GNWT, when they know that they’re coming up to their end date, to talk to their benefits officer so that we can get these dealt with in a timely manner and have the five-day turnaround so that they’re not affected for EI and other benefits. So, talk to your benefits officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary again, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know this is my fourth question here, but one in particular was medical termination. When we do have a GNWT employee that does have medical illnesses and can’t continue with their job, can the Minister give me a timeline when somebody who is on medical, when they’re going through their termination, how long is that process to get a person terminated from the GNWT when they’re going through medical termination? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, that’s a very difficult question to answer because every situation is going to be different. Obviously, we want to work with our employees and find ways to bring them back into the workforce, rather than having to go to that final step of termination. So we tend to work with our employees, try to accommodate them where appropriate, reasonable and feasible. If all things fail and the person has to be terminated or let go based on their condition, we work with the employee to try and figure out the best way. But at the end of it, an ROE is still five days, so we still have to find a way to make sure that we can get those out within the five days of the last pay period that the employee is working on.

Once again, we’re reviewing the processes and trying to streamline them to make sure that we get these things out when they’re supposed to get out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I’d like to follow up on my statement and ask him some questions with regards to fracking and the requirements that will be required of companies that are doing fracking.

Recently, the National Energy Board put in place new requirements for companies, but I’d like to, first off, ask the Minister… I mentioned in my statement, these requirements don’t force the companies to reveal the components of the fracking fluid, but I’d like to first know from the Minister whether or not the requirements from the NEB and/or any of the requirements that this government is thinking about implementing, whether they would include a monitoring or an oversight of the fracking in the Sahtu. Something similar to the Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency that exists for the Ekati Diamond Mine. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intention is to work with the NEB and with the Sahtu Land and Water Board to look at the new requirements, and review and assess the various proposals and projects as they come forward. We, as well, after April 1st , are in the

process collectively of contemplating and planning for what type of regulatory regime we want to have. We want to have a northern-based, northern-driven, northern-controlled regulatory process. We want to make use of the technical skills of the National Energy Board, and we want to be clear, as we go forward, that we have northern control of the process. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for the information. I didn’t hear an answer to my question, so I guess I’ll have to phrase it a little differently.

I’m pleased to hear that the government is going to be working with various organizations. One of the things that is in place is the Sahtu Land Use Plan and I’m not exactly sure how the government will use the Sahtu Land Use Plan and consider that in terms of fracking development. So there’s that and there’s also the question about whether or not there will be an independent environmental monitoring agency such as we have for Ekati. Will there be that for Sahtu? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

We’re currently in the exploration stage. As we move forward and if the Sahtu oil play proves out and becomes a producing field, those discussions, on an ongoing basis, will be there. In the meantime, there will be monitoring throughout the approved projects, the requirements that they have to adhere to in terms of the monitoring, the disclosure, the information that they have to share, the issue of fracking fluids. All those are going to be addressed in a way that fits industry best standards. Thank you.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. I’m pleased we’re going to try to achieve industry best standards. He’s mentioned several times the word “monitoring” and we’re going to be monitoring, and

that’s part of my concern, is the scale of development, the pace of development> I need to know from the Minister how we’re going to determine that, how we’re going to slow things down if things are going too quickly, speed it up if maybe we think they’re not going fast enough, which is unlikely.

How are we going to measure, how are we going to monitor? It goes to my question about an independent oversight agency. Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

One of the functions we are taking over from the federal government that has some funding attached to it is a Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program. We have that venue and process that we will be looking at, as a government, in terms of providing the monitoring that’s necessary. We’ll also work with the land and water boards. At this point, there are no plans for an independent monitoring body at this juncture. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that response. I would urge the government to consider, very seriously, establishing an independent oversight body.

My last question has to do with the fact that we’ve talked a lot about the Bakken formation, the people that visited there and so on, and it sounds as though we are thinking about putting in place the same sort of system that exists in the Bakken. However, the Bakken doesn’t have permafrost and doesn’t have melting permafrost. So what are we thinking about doing differently, to accommodate fracking in a permafrost zone? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

We are different than the Bakken in many ways. The intensity of development, the speed and pace of development are different; we have a different regulatory regime that requires environmental work to be done prior to any project proceeding. We have a lot of monitoring done in the area of groundwater monitoring and mapping in the area of where they plan to work, wildlife baseline information needs to be taken. We are going to make sure, through the best practices, that we allow and account for what the topography and geography is going to look like, including permafrost. The big issue for us is the different regulatory regime, and the pace and intensity in the Northwest Territories is something we have to control and has to fit in with the broader planning for ourselves as a government and the people of the Sahtu with their land use plan. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement both yesterday and certainly today, I talked about why Yellowknife is number one and certainly the Northwest Territories is number one when it comes to power rates. I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corp what relief he can provide Northerners for power bills. It is well beyond the reach of the normal working family who struggles through this.

What immediate relief can he start doing, especially in the Yellowknife region where power bills are costing people everything? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A point of clarification, for a commercial customer using 2,000 kilowatts in a five-kilowatt demand in Iqaluit and Yellowknife, in Yellowknife the total bill would be $476.53 and in Iqaluit it would be $953.73. Yellowknife to Iqaluit is lower by $477.20. At the residential level, there is a significant subsidy provided to residential power users in Iqaluit versus Yellowknife. Our rates are higher than Whitehorse, but clearly when you look at Whitehorse, they have the majority of their population living very, very close to the city. They have road access to all their communities except one. They have a hydro plant right in the middle of the city, so they have different challenges than we do with 33 communities in 1.3 million square kilometres that we have to manage and provide services to.

So we’ve done a number of things to cushion the rates. We’ve put in almost $34 million to cushion the rate increases, because there had been no rate increases for five years. We’ve spent or we revised our rate structure to, in fact, provide greater relief to small communities where rates were as high as $2 a kilowatt hour. We’ve standardized the rates in the thermal zone and hydro zone.

So we’ve done a number of things and we’re working hard on additional things like liquid natural gas in Inuvik, the use of solar, we are going to work on combined heat and power as we proceed with biomass. So we have some very aggressive plans to bring down the cost of energy in the Northwest Territories.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

The only thing the Minister didn’t do there is thank me for giving him such a platform or soapbox to provide a Minister’s statement to in defence.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister used, as a distracting technique, to start talking about commercial rates. I keep talking about residential rates for the working family. As I said, and the Minister did pick up that

1,000 kilowatts is more expensive in Yellowknife than it is in Iqaluit. It is certainly way more expensive, twice as expensive in Yellowknife versus Whitehorse.

What immediate relief can the Minister of the NWT Power Corp do? We engineer the community power rates; let’s do something for half our population. Here is your opportunity. I look forward to the Minister’s answer on that one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I do appreciate the opportunity to discuss these important matters in the House with the Member. It’s always an interesting discussion. I have laid out in my previous answer a significant amount of work that we’re doing on the issue of energy and providing a lower cost of affordable energy, not only to residents but to businesses. One of the things we are focusing on, of course, is conservation. We have any number of rebate programs to assist people to convert to energy-efficient appliances, biomass, all the things that will help them save money as they go forward and cut their use of power so that it will save them money.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

I can’t be the only one noticing the Minister continues to not answer the question, which is: What immediate response can the Minister, through the department, through that government, do to help the immediate need that everyday Northerners need, which is relief on their power bills? This government wanted to help the cost of living for Northerners and this is something we can do. I will continue to launch question after question on this issue until he does something. What can he do? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

One second here. Sorry, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Hawkins, enough is enough. When you are told to ask the question, ask the question. Don’t drag it on. It’s not Members’ statement time. Mr. Miltenberger, now answer the question for Mr. Hawkins. Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will choose my response carefully. In this House where there is sometimes political theatre, the demand for instant, quick fixes, silver bullets may play well on the airwaves, but the Member knows in his heart of hearts – he’s been in this Assembly for a considerable amount of time – that everything takes planning. It takes planning, it takes design, it takes resources, it takes consultation and we’ve been working on these improvements since the last Assembly and we are going to continue to do that. If the Member has a silver bullet that he wants to share with us that is not just putting unaffordable subsidies more than we’re already paying, I would be very happy to have that discussion with him, because we are very open-minded and looking for that type of constructive input. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, we need an answer to this question. Why are engineered power rates okay if you’re outside of Yellowknife but not in Yellowknife? It’s a question of fairness.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Everything about energy provision is engineered. It has to be engineered the proper way; it has to be engineered for efficiency for economy and for practicality. What we’ve done with the rate restructuring was to, in fact, bring a greater clarity, streamlining to the rate systems. Instead of 33 rate zones, we have two. We’ve pegged the rate of residential power across the North to the Yellowknife rate. Yellowknife has some challenges, but we have to keep in mind the whole Northwest Territories and these improvements have benefited all Northerners. Is there still work to do? Absolutely, which is why we’re talking about a five to seven hundred million dollar investment in hooking up the transmission lines to improve our ability to manage and provide electrical energy to our citizens. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I read a statement on the K’atlodeeche First Nation Reserve, so my question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the House on the current status of the KFN negotiations with Canada and the GNWT? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is we are waiting for the KFN to decide which process they will want to follow, whether it’s a comprehensive claim process or the treaty land entitlement process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

I’d like to thank the Premier for giving me an update on the KFN. What is the GNWT doing to ensure the federal government maintains its fiduciary obligation on the delivery of programs and services to the K’atlodeeche First Nation? Mahsi.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you. We’ve had several meetings with the leadership of the K’atlodeeche First Nation, with the chief and several council members where we provided information on our understanding on how the reserve, because Hay River is a reserve, how that works. Certainly, as a government we’re committed to providing services just like any other community in the Northwest Territories, recognizing that the

K’atlodeeche First Nations have a very special treaty relationship with the Government of Canada and we’re prepared to assist in whatever way we can. Thank you.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you. The GNWT prides itself in providing trail breaking leadership in the advancement of treaty and Aboriginal rights, and rightly so. I think this Legislature has a legacy of leaders that have blazed a trail in forging public government, First Nations and treaty rights movements.

Can the Premier agree, at this point, to being…and you can be exploring the idea of supporting the establishment of a framework for programs and services in terms of its funding and delivery. For example, on housing. I recently had a constituency meeting on the reserve and a constituent made the point that perhaps the reserve is coming to a housing crisis. In the meantime, negotiations are still going forward. So would the Premier agree to immediately establish a framework in terms of delivery of programs and services? Mahsi.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you. We’re still investigating certain areas and we have two reserves in the Northwest Territories. One is Salt River and the other one is in Hay River. They’re two different considerations because of the fact that in 1975, when the Hay River Reserve was established, there were some considerations that were negotiated which were different from the Salt River First Nations. But we’d be prepared to meet and work with the K’atlodeeche First Nation to clarify those areas of responsibility. Thank you.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you. I’d like to thank the Premier for making the suggestion of a meeting with the chief and council. My question is in terms of the GNWT’s policy in dealing with First Nations and recognizing the reserve has a unique treaty relationship with the federal government on a band-level basis. However, from time to time, from negotiations at different levels, the GNWT takes a fairly different position and takes on the trilateral position with the GNWT, the federal government and the First Nations.

How would the GNWT ensure it follows consistent policy in dealing with the K’atlodeeche First Nation? Mahsi.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you. As I indicated, our deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs met with the chief of the K’atlodeeche First Nation and because we have two different reserves and we’re dealing with both of them differently, we want to make sure we’re very clear in what our responsibilities are, and we will continue to work with them to clarify what those responsibilities are. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Transportation today. In the springtime I was asking him questions about the transportation and trucking industry and some of the differences that we have in jurisdictions. He’d indicated to me that they were in the process of doing a review. I’m just wondering: Where is that review of those regulations in comparison to other jurisdictions currently?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Member for bringing the concerns to the House. Last year and again earlier this year, we were looking at harmonizing our regulations with other jurisdictions, especially in Western Canada. The Member had brought up the issue of tri-drive vehicles. We’ve got a two-year pilot project that’s underway, including a company from Hay River that’s taking part in that exercise. We also are looking at the Class 3 driver’s licence and allowing people with a Class 5 licence to tow or drive a commercial vehicle that’s towing a trailer up to 4,500 kilograms. So we are making some positive changes and we really want to be at the forefront. Concerns the Members bring to this House come from businesses and companies doing work here in the NWT. So we take the thoughts and ideas the Members bring to the floor of the House very seriously. Thank you.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you. I’d also like to remind the Minister of another issue of the trailers and registering one plate tied to the trailer so it stays with the trailer. That’s another issue that’s out there.

But I’ll ask the Minister, conveniently we had a Minister from Yukon Transportation here and I’m just wondering if he’s been having other meetings with other Ministers from other jurisdictions to figure out the differences in our regulations and trying to compare them.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you. At the FPT table, it’s more high level. Certainly at the officials’ level, discussion is continuing on regulations and how we can best serve the people of the Northwest Territories and companies that are doing business here in the NWT.

Getting back to the issue of licence plates on the front of vehicles on commercial vehicles over 4,500 kilograms, it has always been the practice and the law here in the Northwest Territories that plates be in the front so that officers don’t have to go underneath the trailer to see what the plate is. That’s always been the practice and we did take a look at what it would cost to have plates on the front and the back. We just felt that it was too big of a

task and too expensive to go through that process. So again, for commercial vehicles over 4,500 kilograms, plates are required to be at the front of the vehicle.

Also, I should mention, now that we’ve got the tolling system in place at the Deh Cho Bridge it’s very important that the plate in the front is visible and able to be taken a photo of by the camera equipment. Thank you.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you. The Minister seems to be leading right into all of my questions here. He’s answering the first one mentioned the tri-drive program and that they’re experimenting with that for two years. I’m just wondering if there has been a lot of uptake and if he has any initial indications of how the program is working and any feedback that we’re getting from the tri-drive experimental project.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you. We have five tridem drive tractor units that have been registered to three companies in the NWT; one in Inuvik, one out of Edmonton and also one out of the Member’s constituency in Hay River. They have submitted reports to the Department of Transportation.

Again, this is being done on a two-year trial basis to see what impact these heavier loads potentially will have on our infrastructure, our road infrastructure, especially on the chipseal portions of our highways. We’ll be glad to share the findings of these reports with the Member and other Members if they’d like to see the findings of those reports. But we’re almost a year into that two-year program. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister also alluded to the tolls on the Deh Cho Bridge. I’m wondering if we have any kind of audit or any kind of information on that tolling system. Have we collected more than expected, are we still having difficulties registering some of these companies? Just a quick update on the tolls on the bridge for trucking.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you. I do know folks that have been issued a ticket for not paying the toll aren’t too happy with the $1,700 ticket they do receive. We have been collecting revenue. It’s an effort to pay for the infrastructure we have in place across the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. I can get the detailed information on the collection of tolls, what we’ve collected to date and what the projections are for the Member, the standing committee and Members of this House. I don’t have that detailed information with me today. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today in my Member’s statement, I clearly indicated that this government is leaving money on the table and is clearly not working in a fiscally prudent manner for the people. This government and Minister of Finance have a fiduciary obligation to the people and to capture a significant portion of economic grant royalties and taxation since it rightfully belongs to the public. Why this government continues to ignore pleas of citizens in trying to find new sources of revenue I am not sure, but what I am certain of is, if nothing is done, as the good Minister always reminds us, it will be decided in 706 days from now. So let’s dive into the world of opportunity and ask our Minister of Finance what fuels his obdurate refusal for not listening to the people.

Why is the Minister of Finance so inflexible so as not to consider the will of the people when it comes to considering any new forms of mineral taxation? Can he clearly fortify his reasons as to his continued refusal to deal with this question? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve just had some discussion in this House about cost of energy, the fact that it’s driving Northerners away and it is crippling business. So one of the reasons we are very careful and we haven’t touched taxes for a number of years and we have looked at efficiencies is because we don’t want to add to the burden of business or to Northerners. We are spending millions on improving our energy efficiency and we are spending millions on looking at transmission line expansions, all tied to affecting the cost of living productively and to lower it. The issue of raising taxes, getting our fair share, we’ve had that discussion and we made a calculated decision that it is not in our best interest at this time to raise taxes. Thank you.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, we’ve had this discussion. That’s what I’m hearing from the Minister, but we did not include us on this side of the House. It is has been a Cabinet decision.

After devolution, this government will have the opportunity to raise royalty rates which, for the record, haven’t changed in years and are embarrassingly some of the lowest rates in Canada in the free world. This government, for years, has been content with not capturing what is owed to the people. There is still opportunity for the NWT to raise royalty rates and still remain competitive.

Will this Minister commit to the House and to the people that this will be done immediately post-devolution? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Every year for months we have budget cycles and, of course, this Legislature and the Members are involved in the budgeting process and if there was a unanimous decision on the other side of the House to say we want to raise taxes here, there or wherever, of course that would have a bearing. But the reality is two things, that they are fully involved and we have listened to the debate and concerns around the North and we’ve been through this House year after year with budgets and we have been holding the line to not add a burden on our businesses or on our residents and we are continuing with that. There has been nothing in this House that would give us pause to change that, other than the Member standing up saying he wants taxes raised on industry, on resource rent.

After devolution we are going to inherit a royalty regime and we’re going to look at it very carefully, but we are going to be very measured, thoughtful and thorough about how we implement devolution. There is going to be no rush to any kind of kneejerk reaction as it comes to any type of change to the royalty regime until we are very well settled and have a good look at that whole issue. Thank you.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I encourage the Minister to bring those discussions within the life of the 17th Assembly. I’m looking forward to it.

Capital tax which is applied on a corporation paid-up capital is a stable revenue stream and is another form of tax that most provinces and territories levy while the NWT does not. According to the GNWT’s own analysis from the Department of Finance, a tiny 0.3 percent tax on paid-up capital of large corporations would net $12 million in annual revenues. Keep in mind that in the past 10 years, federal corporate income taxes have been reduced from 22 to 15 percent. This gap leaves a significant revenue-raising opportunity for GNWT.

Can the Minister indicate to this House why his department has refused the implementation of such a taxation model?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, we have a model that we have developed through our Territorial Formula Financing Agreement. We’ve looked at our costs in the Northwest Territories. We have an 11.5 percent corporate tax rate. We have a 4 percent small business rate. We are in the middle of the pack in most of our taxation.

When we take over the royalty regimes, of course we are going to look at them very carefully. We are going to offer briefings to the other side of the House. We are going to offer briefings to Northerners so we fully understand how taxes are implemented, how royalties are exercised in this

territory in the different resource areas and they’re not all the same.

It is fairly complex. We want to be very thorough and measured on how we do that. In due course, in the fullness of time, we’ll have those discussions. Come April 1st , we are not charging down the road

to start raising taxes before we’ve even established ourselves in a very careful, measured way. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must remind the Minister that we aren’t the middle of the pack when it comes to taxes. We are actually one of the lowest when it comes to royalty rates and we don’t have a mineral tax, so we don’t have anything to compare with.

If there is any doubt at all in the facts presented here today, then, clearly, would this Minister take this to the people? Will he conduct a public review of economic rent from the non-renewable resources to ensure fair capturing of public revenues? Will he seek out all forms of taxation revenues? Will he stand on the side of accountability and commit to the people this obligation within the next 128 days?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, in fact in the last Assembly we did those roundtables and they were based on revenue generation and we did look at taxation. We did it for three cycles, if my memory serves me correctly. The consistent feedback we got from Northerners across the regions, when we brought them to Yellowknife, was that this was not a good time to raise taxes. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Northwest Territories Economic Opportunities Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, an excerpt from Mr. Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, Facebook page. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Pursuant to Section 5 of the Legislative Assembly Executive Council Act, I wish to table the Summary of Members’ Absences for the Period of May 29, 2013, to October 16, 2013.

Colleagues, pursuant to Section 40.23(2) of the Public Service Act, I wish to table the following two documents, the Annual Report of the Equal Pay Commissioner for the Northwest Territories for the Period of July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012; the Annual Report of the Equal Pay Commissioner for the Northwest Territories for the Period of July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013.

Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, October 31, 2013, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that within the next 12 months, the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct a feasibility study on putting in place universal, affordable child daycare run by people trained in early childhood development and education, similar to the systems in Quebec and Scandinavia;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this motion within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, October 31, 2013, I will move that Bill 28, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2013-2014, be read for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, I also give notice that on Thursday, October 31, 2013, I will move that Bill 29, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013-2014, be read for the first time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the second time.

Bill 26 modifies the allowance and expense entitlements of Members of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. To the principle of the bill.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Question has been called. Bill 26 has had second reading.

---Carried

Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 26, Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Bill 26 is moved into Committee of the Whole.

---Consent granted

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 3, Wildlife Act; Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Education Act; Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act; Bill 18, Apology Act; Bill 19, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2013; Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act; Bill 22, Territorial Emblems and Honours Act; Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act; Committee Report 6-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act; Committee Report 7-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act; Tabled Document 70-17(4), Electoral Boundaries Commission, Final Report, May 2013; and Tabled Document 107-17(4), NWT Capital Estimates 2014-2015. By the authority given to me as Speaker, by Motion 1-17(4), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider business before the House, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. There are a number of matters before Committee of the Whole today. What is the wish of the committee? Ms. Bisaro.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. We wish to consider Bill 3, Wildlife Act; and Committee Report 6-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act.

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Is committee agreed?

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

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. We’ll resume with that after a brief break.

---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 Jane Groenewegen

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. The next item on our agenda is the review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act. I would like to ask Minister Miltenberger, the Minister responsible, if he has any opening remarks. Minister Miltenberger.

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, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present Bill 3, Wildlife Act. As the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure noted in its review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act, a collaborative approach and extensive consultation was used to develop this legislation before us today. The collaborative process, which began about 20 years ago, is unique in Canada. No other public government has worked so closely with Aboriginal governments to jointly draft legislation on issues of deep and abiding interest to all.

The road to this point was not always smooth and there were a lot of challenges along the way. But we all persevered – governments, Aboriginal leaders, community members, co-management boards, stakeholders and MLAs. We continued to work together to sort out our differences and fulfill our shared vision of legislation that respects all people in the Northwest Territories and protects one of our most precious resources: our wildlife.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work brought to bear on this initiative; without it, this day would not be possible. The Wildlife Act Working Group has been involved in the development of this bill since 2009 when this government decided to incorporate a collaborative drafting process for new wildlife management legislation in the Northwest Territories. The working group included representatives from the Inuvialuit Game Council, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, Tlicho Government, Northwest Territories Metis Nation, Wildlife Management Advisory Council and the Gwich’in, Sahtu and Wek’eezhii renewable resources boards. The Dehcho First Nations provided input on the legislation.

I would also like to thank the members of the Stakeholders Wildlife Act Advisory Group for its deliberations and input. The advisory group included representatives from NWT Tourism, Association of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters, NWT Barren Ground Caribou Outfitters Association, NWT Wildlife Federation, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines and three resident hunters – Mr. Ken Hall, Mr. David Radcliffe and Mr. Malcolm Stark – who represented the public at large.

In particular, I would like to take a moment to remember a man who was instrumental throughout this entire process, the late Mr. Arthur Pape, legal counsel for the Tlicho Government. Art, who passed away on December 6, 2012, never faltered in his belief that a collaborative approach to wildlife management would not only benefit wildlife, but would benefit all the people of the Northwest Territories as well. Art’s vision was a driving force that helped shape the act we have before us today.

Nowhere else in Canada have so many different groups come together to build a piece of legislation like this. These people, representing a wide range of views and interests, dedicated a great deal of time and energy to develop recommendations, which greatly improved this legislation.

I would also like to recognize the first-rate group of Environment and Natural Resources employees who worked so tirelessly, and creatively, to make this day a reality. In particular, I would like to thank Ms. Susan Fleck, the former director of wildlife, and her successor, Ms. Lynda Yonge, for their efforts to ensure the Wildlife Act would be one of the most

advanced pieces of wildlife legislation in the country. The hard work of these groups and individuals has resulted in a well-balanced and fair piece of legislation reflecting the best interests of all residents.

Bill 3 upholds constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal and treaty rights and the provisions in land claim agreements, recognizing that land, resources and self-government agreements function as modern treaties. The same consultative and collaborative approach used to shape this important legislation will also be valuable in developing the legislative tools or regulations needed to implement it.

Once enacted, this legislation will be reviewed within five years and then every seven years. This will ensure the legislation continues to provide the most current and effective tools to conserve wildlife for present and future generations. Both Bill 3 and the process used to develop it are to be commended. Bill 3 provides the tools needed to manage and conserve wildlife for the benefit of our residents, now and in the future, and reflects the interests of all residents of the NWT.

I look forward to hearing more discussion on Bill 3, Wildlife Act, during our clause-by-clause review this afternoon. Thank you, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. As Members begin to prepare for general comments, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring witnesses into the Chamber.

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, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Is committee agreed?

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

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses in.

Minister Miltenberger, for the record, could you please 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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have with me Deputy Minister Ernie Campbell; director of wildlife, Ms. Lynda Yonge; and Ms. Kelly McLaughlin, director of legal 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Members, general comments. Mr. Hawkins.

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

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. October 17th , the Economic Development and

Infrastructure committee read a lengthy report, quite detailed, on some of the issues we’d seen and come across. We don’t go through that report again today, but I’ll use the occasion, as Minister Miltenberger has, to acknowledge that a lot of work

and collaboration has gone into the Wildlife Act and the work provided in a small part, in a small way, by the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee was a challenge we were certainly up to.

Although, the Minister has pointed out it’s been almost 20 years to bring this to where it is today, the hard work by many can’t go without acknowledgement. Without partners in Aboriginal governments or working groups or SWAAG group, we could not have been here today. I really appreciate the fact that the Minister took an extra moment to acknowledge Sue Fleck, who we all know has put her life into the development of this Wildlife Act. Without her early stewardship as well as the current folks, we wouldn’t be here today.

Although she’s moved on to retirement and probably quite happy, I’m sure she’d be quite pleased to see the Wildlife Act passed here today, if it is done so through the Assembly process.

With that, as chairman, I don’t have any specific remarks but I just wanted to use the occasion to say it was a work and task we willingly took on and are glad we are here today. However, as we said in our report, the government can anticipate probably some new motions on many particular issues which we’d raised during the public hearings, they raised from mandatory harvesting reporting, training, using of aircraft and a few other mechanisms regarding special harvester licences. But nothing in particular, just more of a general statement of saying it was work, it was hard work and we were certainly glad to be part of it. If the Assembly chooses to move forward on this initiative, we will be glad to see this chapter moved to the next phase.

I would be remiss if I did not mention one more thing, although I was going to leave it at that. A significant amount of regulation power will be invoked once this is done. If this act passes, that is, and it will require significant collaboration, once again, to come to the table to find a way through this. The Minister, through public documentation, or I should say the department has, through public documentation, said that they would use the same collaborative and outreach approach to draw out these regulations. That said, it won’t be easy and I certainly don’t welcome the headaches that I can see coming forward, but wildlife is a resource for everyone and I look forward to the final product that will one day, hopefully in our near future, be fully implemented.

Madam Chair, with that, I just thought I’d lead in with a few opening remarks.

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. At the decision of the chair here, if committee agrees, I think that when it is just general comments, there are no questions, please let’s not take the time to have the Minister respond to general comments. Let’s try and save our questions for the detail. As Mr. Hawkins has set the

tone here with general comments, indeed those were general comments. So I think what we’ll do is we will forego turning the floor back to the Minister as we normally do. Let’s go on to general comments. Mr. Dolynny, please.

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

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. We face a critical choice between the promise this future bill will mean for our shared public wildlife resource and the prisons of our past between resident and traditional harvester. We can ill afford to duplicate these same errors.

After 15 years in the making, I ask you today, on a scale from nine to 10, how severe is our wildlife issue. How polarized have we become as a society to pit one against the other, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal hunter, treaty holder and non-claimant holder? We are a nation of divide, driven apart when our resolve should be about the management of species and looking after Mother Earth.

I teach my kids about how we have to accept diversity as a society and that every class of citizen deserves to be heard and respected. Yet, when I see, hear and read what the people have said about the Wildlife Act, it is abundantly clear we have a long journey ahead of us accepting this shared responsibility of resource management.

Someone asked my thoughts on this bill. I responded, Bill 3 is far from good, and good from far. I got a puzzled look from this person so I said many issues on this public resource and its stewardship are being cleverly concealed in the regulations yet to be written, which I closed off in saying, a very dangerous precedent, given the polarization of this topic. To be clear, I said these comments a month ago and, sadly, my thoughts have not waned.

I have lived in the NWT most of my adult life. My kids were born in the Northwest Territories and were raised on caribou. This is no different than I as a child growing up in Northern Alberta. I lived off the land then and up to seven years ago I did the same here. I can remember the day my kids asked what is cow when we first served it to them. I can tell you they looked at it funny and smelled their first bite. Thank God for ketchup.

Southerners get a kick out of this when I tell them this story, but the reality is they have grown up now missing out on what I considered my tradition, my heritage as a hunter and a provider of my family. Upon reflection, I remember hearing the blame and the finger pointing for the disappearance of the caribou herds. We all spoke at the coffee shops and the grocery store or the barber, it’s because of this, if only they would play nice in the sandbox, things would be different. We were all mad that we could not hunt and we were upset, knowing certain groups were allowed to continue hunting. All we wanted was fairness, nothing more.

The years have passed now. Some traditions now lost forever and still we deal with the same issues unresolved. In my humble opinion and in the opinion of many residents of Range Lake and in Yellowknife, this bill does not provide the fairness that all Northerners have been waiting for.

Let me explain. I have the right to hunt safely, knowing that everyone on the land knows the rules. Does this bill address this fairly? No. If I have to prove my abilities to hunt, then so should everyone. Does this bill address this fairly? No. If I have the duty to report my harvest to wildlife managers, then so should everyone. Again, does this bill address this fairly? No. Is a stakeholder representing my wildlife management views allowed at the table in the spirit of cooperative wildlife species governance for all Northerners? No. This bill limits species management to only Aboriginal governments and treaty holders.

Finally, we spend millions of public tax dollars promoting hunting, trapping and the fur trade. ENR and ITI even have a Take a Kid Trapping Program to promote trapping with youth, which includes non-Aboriginal youth. However, the NWT is the only jurisdiction in Canada, other than Nunavut, where non-Aboriginals cannot simply apply for a trapping licence. I find this fairly cynical, Madam Chair. In fact, the NWT North Slave office in Yellowknife has never issued a trapping licence to a non-Aboriginal. Why? Because there is no process, there is no committee and there is no appeals mechanism. So does this bill give comfort that non-Aboriginal trappers have a chance that they’re treated fairly? No, it does not.

Much of what we heard today or are about to hear about this bill today allegedly, is that there will be an established process for other individuals and organizations to make submissions on wildlife management issues, and not to worry just because it’s not prescribed in legislation. The public, on the other hand, or at least 50 percent of us, are somehow led to believe things will magically happen.

This bill must be the foundation to which the wildlife management principles of all user groups are stated clearly, with no ambiguity and for the general good of everyone. Wildlife management is people management and without sound public policy, we cannot advance in a meaningful way.

Knowing that much of this act falls into the regulations or under the purview of a Minister offers me very little comfort, knowing that everyone is taking a shared responsibility for the management and stewardship of our public resource.

As much as I appreciate the extremely hard work and efforts of my colleagues and for the communities they visited and listened to, and for all stakeholders, as have been previously mentioned, this bill collides on the many topics left unresolved

and it is perceived to be a train wreck that tramples on the rights of many Northerners. We have to do what is right and not what is easy.

With that, it will be very difficult for me to support this bill as presented or with any amendments to it today. Thank you, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. General comments. Mr. Moses.

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

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know there’s been a lot of hard work over the past several years and in previous governments on Bill 3. Coming into the mix and being one of the Members that are asked to support the bill and pass the bill through for the Wildlife Act, it is very hard to jump into this looking at all the concerns that are made from several groups across the NWT, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. However, because I do represent the Inuvik region and I do have some organizations that do have a strong commitment to this Wildlife Act and the hard work that they have done in developing this Wildlife Act and the efforts they made in the last Assembly to ensure that the Wildlife Act was not going to be able to go through to third reading based on some things that contribute, some of the land claim rights and some of our roles and responsibilities of some of these groups.

More specifically, on October 17th , as Members of

the Legislative Assembly, we did receive a letter from the Inuvialuit Game Council, the Gwich’in Tribal Council as well as the NWT Metis Nation, and they expressed a lot of concerns in some of the amendments that were brought forth by SCEDI, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure. Being a Member that’s responsible for bringing these views to the table as we go through the clause-by-clause reviews, there are going to be some amendments and clauses that I probably will not be able to support. Going forward into reading and passing of Bill 3, I will have to do some more consultation before making sure that this bill actually goes through.

We do have three Aboriginal groups here that have done a lot of work, as well as the Government of the Northwest Territories, to try to bring a bill forward that would allow everybody the same rights and give everybody an equal chance to either have a general hunting licence, specialty harvesting licence, but there are provisions within the NWT in that we are unique in that sense, and as I mentioned earlier, as we go through the clause-by-clause we will have to see what amendments and motions are passed through with the bill. But it will be very difficult to support a bill with some of our Aboriginal groups that have really put a lot of input and a lot of interest into this bill going forward. As we move forward, we will see how the process unfolds and respect every Member’s decisions and

comments on the bill today. Thank you, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Next I have Mr. Blake.

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

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a couple of brief comments I wanted to make on the Wildlife Act. I would like to start off by commending this government for implementing many of the land claim rights and inherent rights of Aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories. The land claim groups have had a very difficult challenge over the last 20 years implementing their land claims and this is one area that the land claim groups have struggled with over the years. I know this government has been working with those Aboriginal governments with many of the issues that have arisen.

In the consultation process, I was hoping to see a lot more representation at our consultation as we met with the committee. Many of the concerns that have come out of those consultations have been implemented into the changes we are about to see here today. I was just hoping we had more people attending. I know a lot of concerns have come out of the changes that were made, but I was really surprised not to see those working groups at our public consultations.

I just wanted to commend this government once again. I know there are concerns of mandatory reporting, also giving the Minister the ultimate authority on approving some situations that may arise if the community or RCs do not approve. I know that was one of the major concerns, but I believe those issues will be resolved in the near future. Thank you, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Blake. 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 very much, Madam Chair. I was pleased to be on the committee that worked on public consultations and traveled with the bill. As well, I would like to commend government on all the hard pre-work that they did before they introduced the bill to the House. I know in the last Legislature, in the final hours when we were trying to pass the bill in the late stages of the government, there were many, many last minute changes to be done. Members on this side always said, if they make any changes, they would like to do a proper consultation.

I think this term a lot of proper consultation was done. I will be supporting this bill as we progress it through here at Committee of the Whole and through to third reading. We are committee members that will be proposing some amendments, but they are minor. For me, it is about ensuring that Aboriginal rights will not be abrogated or derogated. Through it all, the Minister assures us that won’t be the case.

With that, once again, I will be supporting the new Wildlife Act. Thank you, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Next I have Mr. Nadli.

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

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Chair. This matter was referred to the committee on which I serve. At this moment, of course, I have an obligation as an MLA to serve the constituents that put their confidence in me to be their voice here within the House. At the same time, I serve on this committee, and this initiative here has led us to this day. I have to acknowledge that, from my observation, there have been extensive consultations with the word collaboration. I see governments work along with First Nations, whether it was a separate claim or else unsettled area. There have been great efforts to try to come up with a simple plan solely for the purposes of setting up a wildlife management regime for the NWT and putting the interest of the wildlife as paramount. In that instance, I think we still have some concerns, especially from my perspective.

What’s front and centre about this whole matter is treaty and Aboriginal rights. The area that I represent obviously has an unsettled region as historical treaties. Of course, how that goes is that Section 35 rights in terms of how it is that governments work with First Nations. That, of course, is a big proviso in terms of my mission to ensure that we have due diligence and discussions. I think to a point I have raised these questions on numerous occasions and I am doing this exercise of reviewing the Wildlife Act.

What really stands out for me is in terms of the Wildlife Act in its preamble and its provisions affecting treaty and Aboriginal rights in the sense that we will not abrogate or derogate from treaty and Aboriginal rights. I did raise a question at the very outset. Understanding that, at what instance would the Wildlife Act interfere with those rights? I know, with our recent experience with the caribou decline, there were moments when there had to be rights or measures invoked, which brought into question that very reality. Of course, that’s a challenge we all face in terms of setting up a regime. That question still remains front and centre to my deliberations of this very matter.

Some very specific concerns have been brought to my attention. GHL is one example in terms of whether, indeed, people that have these rights currently and why they should have to prove their rights again to harvest wildlife. The other matter that was brought to me, of course, was residency, whether we could reduce the residency from two to one year. Those are concerns that have been brought to my attention and perhaps I will bring those to the forefront of discussion at a later time.

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Next I have Mr. Bouchard.

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

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to thank all those people who put all the hard work in the years before us. I would like to thank all the Members that are in the EDI committee and all the Regular Members that sat in and were involved. It was a great pleasure to travel around the North, getting feedback from the public.

This being probably one of the biggest acts that I’ve been involved with in my short period as an MLA, it is very difficult. You are being pulled from one direction to another. You tweak one of the sections and then another group would be involved, either an organization or non-Aboriginal groups or Aboriginal groups that would have concern with the wording. So it’s very complex when you’re dealing with these acts. Some of the tweaking that we’re looking at has to be done in regulations, so some of my colleagues have talked about that. Skepticism from all organizations about what the regulations are going to read and how they’re going to read and what are those regulations are going to have as an impact on the whole act.

The whole fact is it does polarize the territory. We need to distinguish non-Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal rights and where those are. It seems like to the non-Aboriginals, we get concerns from them that it seems like there is a two-tiered system, but on the other hand, the Constitution of Canada recognizes those treaty rights. Coming from an area where it’s Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, coming from an area where the community right next to us is not settled, there are a whole bunch of different issues that my colleague just mentioned. Even the issue of residency, we went into one community and they say it should be two years and another group says, well, one year. Even following that, they would say, well, it should be one year if they have approval from the community or somebody marries an Aboriginal person from the community. So we have varying decisions from varying people, depending on who we talk to.

Even the simplest concepts of training and reporting, people would like to know what’s being taken so we can manage. Some of the Aboriginal groups feel that steps on their rights. I mean, some of that stuff I know they’re just as interested in making sure that the people who are out there hunting are safe and we want to get some sort of indication from an elder or somebody who says, yes, this person is a safe hunter, safe trapper. So it’s very difficult. I would compare it to probably my carpentry skills and trying to put up boards around my house, where I cut one piece and I think it fits, and then I cut it again and it doesn’t quite fit, so I have to start over again. Some of the pieces in this act that we’ve tried to change and tweak are very difficult to please everybody, but I think we’re at the point where the majority of people are in favour of the majority of what’s being put in the bill. Yes, the

regulations are probably going to tweak that and there’s going to be a big discussion on that.

Obviously, working with committee, I’ve put my two cents in and I think this is as close to a good act that we can get. Is it perfect? No, it’s not going to be perfect for everybody. You talk to all the groups and they have some sort of concerns. Obviously, how it’s going to be implemented is the biggest issue there.

That being said, I’m definitely supportive of it. I think we’re at the point where we can justify with most people why we’ve gone this way. We’ve even come up recently with some amendments. Speaking with the Minister’s office, we’ve softened some of the wording to allow him the flexibility, and make sure there’s flexibility in the Aboriginal groups to allow them to feel that their rights are not being affected.

Again, I’d like to finish by just thanking the Minister and everybody who has been involved, all the organizations and all the MLAs who were before us who have put time into it and our current MLAs who have put all their time into it. Thank you, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. General comments. Next I have Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. This Wildlife Act is a very contentious piece of legislation even leading up to this. When you look at the Wildlife Act, it’s been over 30 years of any type of very significant changes to it, since ’78-79. When you look at the history of Aboriginal rights and title, even with the Wildlife Act in place since ’78-79, it certainly did not recognize Aboriginal rights or titles, or even have a constitution in place that gives First Nation people this recognition.

Certainly the courts have ruled on significant cases of law that give credence to Aboriginal rights or Aboriginal titles to land and to animals and to practise their ceremonies as a people, a First Nations people of Canada. Again, the Wildlife Act that we’re making changes to today, the old Wildlife Act doesn’t recognize this and that is not right. Things have changed and the courts have ruled on some of these changes that people are bringing forward, such as the First Nations people. Even in the Northwest Territories, the Inuvialuit, the Gwich’in, the Sahtu and the Tlicho have settled their land claims and have structured decision-making bodies such as our renewable resource boards to advance further our wildlife management than we have in the act right now. So this act is recognizing that and catching up. We’re catching up to what’s already out there, settled and dealt with.

The Wildlife Act certainly has a lot to do with the attitudinal changes that come with it. That is something that needs to happen.

In the Charter of Rights and Freedoms under Section 25 – and I always stated that – there is a clause in the Charter that protects the Aboriginal people as a nation of people that gives them that special shield. This was negotiated at the provincial and federal level by Aboriginal organizations. It’s in the Charter that gives them that shield, to recognize that as First Nations of Canada – and the courts have ruled on it significantly in some of the court cases – Aboriginal people have special rights, and Section 25 protects those special rights. That says you can’t treat everybody the same and you can’t use that, because that shield is there to protect that, the special rights of Aboriginal people being the first peoples in Canada. That’s why it’s there, and that shield protects them from that type of discussion, and the land claims also speak to that.

I know when I went home to the Sahtu, even the residency is too short for some people. One year is too short. They wanted three to five years. Once you’re here for one year, a teacher or an RCMP or the Northern Store workers or any non-Aboriginal people coming into their community, they only need to stay a year and then after that they can go hunt, providing they pass certain standards and qualifications for them to hunt. But that’s too fast. That’s too fast for the old people. They’re saying that’s too short for us.

I also understand there has to be compromise in how we help each other out. There are constitutional rights that need to be recognized and protected in the Wildlife Act. We’re also seeing a change of lifestyles amongst our people in our communities.

In the ‘60s and ‘70s, we in the small communities were primarily people who lived off the land more strongly than today. Even in the ‘50s, people were slow in coming out of the mountains and the bush to live in communities. Government had a policy to encourage people to go live in the small communities, go to the schools, go live in the government houses in the ‘70s. That was a strong encouragement to get us off the land and to go that way. We were strong out there. But the change of lifestyle today is different. We still have that yearning to go in the bush in the fall time and for the spring hunt. We also have a respect that if my friend next to me, if they are Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal and I know that they need food to feed their family, then we’ll help them. That’s in small communities. We really don’t distinguish, well, you’re non-Aboriginal so you can’t come with us. That’s not right. We would help them just as much as that person would help us. And that’s what we’re coming to. I think we’ve pushed this Wildlife Act as far as we can.

We do have an issue if someone comes to our small communities and they think they have rights right away because they’re there for a year, two

years or three years. That’s too short. They’re not staying with us very long. Pretty soon they’re leaving. Even five years is a short time and then they take off and they don’t come around. That’s pretty hard for some people to accept that a teacher can be there for three years and then they’re gone. We don’t see them again. We don’t see them back in our community or our region. They take off. So these rights are very personal and very significant with wildlife. We understand that long-term Northerners who stay in our communities and our region that raise their families, that’s different. We help many people in those situations. There’s also a point where this Wildlife Act now is catching up to our land claims settlements. These land claims settlements are far in advance of what we have today. So I do have some concerns with the Wildlife Act. I do have some issues such as the residency clause. It’s way, way, way too short. I do recognize that this could be perceived as unjust; however, I will be going through it and making my decisions as we go through it. Thank you, Madam 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Members, could you join me in recognizing in the gallery our Minister’s brother, a Hay River South constituent, Jean-Marc Miltenberger, and how appropriate it is for him to be here today as his brother marshals this historic piece of legislation through this process. Welcome to the Chamber.

---Applause

Next for general comments, I have Ms. Bisaro.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the outset, Madam Chair, I want to, as other Members have indicated, express my appreciation for the work that’s gone into this act but also for the previous act, which came through at the end of the 16th Assembly.

This act has been many years in the making and many people have worked on it. In my mind, it’s unfortunate that this act has been as divisive as it has been. It has pitted Northern residents against Northern residents. That’s been the unfortunate part of the act for me.

However, on the positive side, there has been a huge amount of cooperation amongst groups, organizations, staff, MLAs, various and sundry groups, and that cooperation has led to a better act today than what we had two years ago.

I do have some concerns, though, with a number of provisions in the act. I believe – and I don’t think the act states it firmly enough – that wildlife is a resource that belongs to all NWT residents and that it belongs to all NWT residents equally.

I am concerned in terms of the focus, some of the focus, a lot of the focus in the act on rights and so on. I want to read something that I stated two years ago when this act came forward and didn’t then go

through third reading and has been amended quite a bit since then. At that time I said, “There’s far too big a focus on rights that are already covered in other legislation and agreements. This should be a management act, but it goes beyond that with the clauses that focus on rights. On the other hand, there’s a noticeable lack of definition and description of the rights for non-Aboriginal residents. The act should recognize that non-Aboriginal residents deserve the same access to wildlife as our Aboriginal residents.” I still believe that. My mind has not changed at all in that regard.

I think a number of Members have spoken about rights of Aboriginals and I will never stand in the way and say that they do not have special rights, but in my mind, special rights do not mean exclusive rights. I don’t understand why we can’t say these rights are guaranteed for these people. They’re not guaranteed for this group of people, but that doesn’t mean that the second group of people can’t access wildlife as the first group does. That’s where I find this act fails a bit.

I have concerns – and some of these amendments will come forward later – in terms of the training that’s required, according to the act or according to the regulations, however it’s determined, with the harvest reporting. In terms of conservation, I think we are doing a big disservice if we don’t require harvest reporting from everybody. I think there’s way too much left to regulations and it’s a major concern for me.

Lastly, in terms of the management council, it doesn’t include non-Aboriginal hunters. Again, I go back to my statement that I believe the wildlife resource belongs to all Northerners and I think all Northerners should have a hand in managing that resource.

So I will have some comments when it comes to specific clauses, Madam Chair. That’s it for now. 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Any further general comments? Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also would like to join my colleagues in saying that a massive amount of work has been done towards this legislation and I would like to compliment the Minister and his staff on their efforts and attempts to deal with and wrestle with, really, the considerable shortcomings of past work. I’d also like to acknowledge our chair and colleagues on the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure which have also had many prolonged discussions and fruitful consultations with people across the Northwest Territories. Thanks to all of those. Those have been real and meaningful conversations because wildlife is of such critical importance to the people of the Northwest Territories.

Wildlife are a form of life which all of us understand are representative of the natural world and our dependence on it and our relationship with it. We all come from the natural world, as I have noted before, and we will all return there. We could say we have a molecular connection to wildlife that is perhaps even closer than other parts of our ecosystem, all which are crucial in providing the ecological services we depend on. I think we’re basically born with this knowledge as creatures of the natural world. As a result, it is no surprise that looking after and using wildlife is so critical to people and even an emotional issue for many.

I would like to quote from the last time I spoke to this bill, as well, where I said, “We as a government have an opportunity and responsibility to respond to our residents in the responsible management of such an esteemed public resource as our wildlife and their habitat. In reviewing the bill, I look for recognition that this is a public resource, I look for acknowledgement of special Aboriginal and treaty rights, I look for inclusiveness in management and I look for evidence of full consultation with all our residents. Finally, while fully accounting for the special Aboriginal and treaty rights provided by law, I expect to see a commitment to acknowledging all people’s interest in using wildlife and to maximizing their opportunity within the bounds of conservation.” That stands true today, as I look over the current bill before us. Because of treaties and land claims, there is not an equal opportunity to use wildlife for all residents. Special rights are preserved for those with Aboriginal and treaty rights. These are not available to others. This is a potentially divisive issue, but in my work as a wildlife biologist in a past life, working on the land with Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people, I have seen the potential that can be achieved when, as the elders say, we all work together, this potential divisiveness disappears. Unfortunately, although this bill recognizes the overriding precedence of land claims legislation, it does not serve the purpose of bringing all people together in the management of this public resource. Instead, it is divisive and does not ensure a single tent under which we would gather annually for a full discussion. The collaboration that Art was looking for remains incomplete.

There are no provisions to ensure that decisions made by those with authority are made in an open and transparent manner. While this doesn’t mean it won’t happen, to me this is not something that should be left to chance. We need to provide a clear format within which all Northerners can shine.

Much of what should be in the act, actual wildlife management, is left to regulations or completely unaddressed. In contrast, much of what is already law and should be addressed in regulations is laboriously and confusingly dwelled upon in excessive, painful detail in the act. Major decisions

and mechanisms for dealing with issues remain unresolved, again left to regulations and their development.

The public and Members demand a clear and public commitment for meaningful involvement in the development of these regulations, but this is a vulnerable commitment as Ministers can change such commitments that have no legal substance. It is not right that the public should be left in this position.

The absence of draft regulations before dealing with this bill makes it difficult to understand the full implications of the legislation. Again, we’re being asked to pass this law blindly, then go to a lottery later to find out what it means in translation into regulations.

Because of its unnecessary length and tangled forest of detail, the public is left with a confusing and opaque situation that, once passed, will only be resolved by a massive public information campaign, with clear and transparent maps and information on who can hunt, what, where and when, with what permits and under which authority. I do not envy the hunters’ dilemma whether he be one with Aboriginal treaty rights or not, he or she.

There was a somewhat improved attempt to consult the 50 percent of our residents without Aboriginal and treaty rights. I want to fully acknowledge that. That hadn’t been done in the past. It was a very shallow, if any, effort in the past and I’d say this time there was a very specific effort. But unfortunately, according to all reports, there was very little weight given to their input. That is obviously problematic. So that, again, makes this a somewhat hollow achievement. Nevertheless, to me it’s a fundamental step in the right direction and I want to thank the Minister for that action. Obviously, were this only true in the act, I’d be much happier.

As the MLA for Weledeh, it is of concern that the Yellowknives Dene First Nation have, at a very high level, decided not to participate in the development of this legislation and they do not support it. Also, I’ve been contacted by other constituent groups that oppose this legislation. These are obviously of concern and indicate, perhaps what other colleagues have already said, that this is a very challenging piece of legislation. It’s very difficult to please everybody here.

I want to acknowledge that some changes have been made and my quote from my earlier comments, the acknowledgement of public resource, there has been an attempt. Although the preamble is a non-legal part of this legal document, there was objection from different fronts to recognizing the public nature of this resource, but some wording was put forward and is in the current version suggesting that wildlife is a natural resource and as that there’s a responsibility for stewardship

of wildlife and habitat. So there was some attempt. That was a common comment that the committee heard. Perhaps not common, but a frequent comment. I think other amendments were made as an attempt to address some of the concerns and those, for example, on reporting harvest training and so on, appeal process, were not successful.

So, I’m running out of time I see. The Minister may seem committed to dealing with these other issues through the development of regulations, but is this right? Is that the way legislation should be handled? Can the fundamental basis for wildlife management measuring harvests be left out of regulations or left out of legislation and left to regulations still to be developed through an unknown process?

So that’s it. I look forward to further discussion and consideration of any amendments that may come forward. I will be keenly listening and monitoring the support of the House in hopes to try and make this a piece of legislation that I can support. With that, I conclude my comments. Mahsi.

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Members. Any further general comments? I’ll give the Minister an opportunity, if he would like to respond to some of the general comments that have been made. Minister Miltenberger.

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, Madam Chair. I’d like to thank the Members for their comments and just acknowledge that this has been a very complex process and a long process, decades in length. At least probably five governments have been working on this particular issue.

As the comments indicate, there is still not anonymity. I’m hoping that there will be critical support to move this forward to the next phase and that at this juncture, after all this work, that we can take that leap of faith from an archaic, old piece of legislation that originally came to us from the 1950s and is thoroughly and sorely outdated.

So we will be supporting the seven motions that we worked on with committee that are coming forward, amendments that we will be concurring with. We’ve worked hard with committee and I appreciate all of the work that they’ve done to make necessary amendments that would give everybody enough comfort to move forward, recognizing the consensus government and the need for compromise.

This bill, when it is passed, should it be passed, will be exemplary in both the process and the content and I look forward to the clause-by-clause review and the debate and discussion that will follow with the motions, but I’m really hopeful that we will actually be able to close the file on this Wildlife Act, get the regulations done and in the life of this government have a fully functioning act and regulations. 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. If there are no further general comments, does the committee agree to proceed with clause-by-clause review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act?

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 Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Does committee agree to review the clauses in groups?

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. The committee agrees to conduct a clause-by-clause review of Bill 3. Let’s turn to page 12 of the bill and begin with the preamble. Any questions on the preamble? Agreed?

---Preamble 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clauses 1 to 14. Any questions or comments?

---Clause 1 to 14 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clause 15. Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you,Madam Chair. Clause 15, unfortunately, is where we start running into problems in the act. Again, I’m generally supportive of this clause except that – again, as poor old Art tried to get collaboration and so on – unfortunately, it’s collaboration between just a select group here. I want to recognize again, very plainly, that I acknowledge and respect those who have decision-making authority for wildlife management. We need a process again, a one-tenth process, to enable everybody to hear the same information, otherwise this becomes a divisive process.

In clause 16 – and I refer to that because it is relevant to clause 15 – there is a process made for those without management authority to make submissions and recommendations on the conservation and management of wildlife and those are made public; they’re made available for public review. My concern is that requirement, which recognizes the need for openness and transparency and gives us the opportunity to work together as our elders have called for, is blocked and it becomes a barrier.

As I mentioned in my remarks, this may not happen, but it’s probably not something that should be left to, perhaps, category. I’m suggesting that, in fact, with a very minor change in clause 15, the adding of the word “public” before the word “meeting,” that we convene a “public” meeting, we can actually develop a transparent and public process that everybody can support because it would bring everybody under one tent. On that basis, I would like to propose a motion.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I would like to put forward a motion that reads: I move that clause 15 of Bill 3 be amended by deleting “convene a meeting” and substituting “convene a public meeting.” Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Miltenberger.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

We have been working on this bill for years. We’ve had agreement with committee. Now we have this one motion. I have been in this business long enough to know one word can be important. While we appreciate the intent and will live with the will of the House, our concern is that the issue of the public meetings versus the ability of the groups to have a meeting that may require in camera sessions, others sessions that are tying their hands, we have committed to a public process, transparent process, but getting down to the level of telling them that you are required to have…you are going to meet once a year and it has to be a public meeting is something that, in our mind, given the amount of consultation we’ve done, is something that would require some consultation at this point and we’re not prepared to support the amendment just because this has just been dropped on our desk. We prided ourselves and learned the hard lesson that you have to be able to walk these through. But we are prepared to accept the will of the House. Thank you.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. To the motion. Mr. Bromley.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to note that this concern was repeatedly raised with the Minister during a review of this act, the need to develop a truly collaborative process and to provide an opportunity for everybody to hear the same information so that when decisions were made, there was some transparency on why they were made in the way that they’re made, and also to provide a critical opportunity for everybody to have input to all of the decision-makers. As it currently stands, the input would be made to the Minister on issues that would not even be clear, because not all management authorities would be in the Minister’s office and, of course, would be at the discretion of the Minister for whether they be carried forward or not. It is only through a truly collaborative approach and getting together, rubbing shoulders and having coffee, chatting with each other, of course the best of all would be to be out on the land together, as my colleague from the Sahtu had mentioned. That’s where the real good stuff happens. But next best thing would be to have a meeting that’s public. That’s not to say that the management authorities –

they are the authorities – could seclude themselves for the actual decision-making, but the discussions would largely be held in public to provide the transparency and openness of the public, again as called for. Thank you.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. To the motion.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Defeated

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 15. Agreed?

---Clause 15 approved

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clauses 16 to 25.

---Clause 16 to 25 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 97-17(4): Amendment To Clause 15, Defeated
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clause 26. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 98-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to read in a motion for the record. I move that clause 26 of Bill 3 be amended by adding the following after subclause (2):

(3) A person who has not received a written

response from a local harvesting committee, local band council or Metis council within 60 days after making a written request to the organization for a recommendation for a special harvester licence may, in writing, request the Minister to contact the organization to inquire about the status of the request.

(4) On receiving a request under subsection (3),

the Minister may contact the local harvesting committee, local band council or Metis council to inquire about the status of the request.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 98-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 98-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 98-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 98-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 26 as amended.

---Clause 26 as amended approved

Committee Motion 98-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clauses 27 to 47.

---Clause 27 to 47 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 98-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clause 48. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to move another motion. I move that Bill 3 be amended by

(a) renumbering clause 48 as subclause 48(2);

and

(b) adding the following immediately preceding

subclause 48(2):

48.(1) Unless exempted by the regulations, a person shall not hunt or otherwise harvest wildlife until he or she has successfully completed an approved harvester training course.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Bromley.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, this has been an issue that has been raised quite extensively. There are a couple of components to it. One is safety and the other is conservation. As we know from our situation with caribou, we’re faced with the need to stipulate male or female caribou when harvesters are out, be they Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal, so everybody needs that. So this has conservation implications as well as safety implications. It goes, obviously, well beyond the normal course of things dealt with in land claims.

I guess my question would be: Why do we need an exemption in the regulations here when, obviously, everybody should have an approved harvester training course or the equivalent. I like the idea of mentoring, for example. That’s a typical approach within Aboriginal cultures that I very much respect, and in some other cultures. So why do we need to have exemptions here? Thank you.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. To the motion. Minister Miltenberger.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Ms. Chair. We will be supporting the motion. There are two areas that are affected by this. Should an individual have training in another area that’s recognized, then they would be exempted, plus there’s an Aboriginal right to hunt and to harvest. You can’t put any conditions on that. It’s clear. People will agree to it. We will work out how we… Everybody wants to have safe hunting practices within law. You cannot constrain that right that is guaranteed in the Constitution. Thank you.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. To the motion.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 48 as amended.

---Clause 48 as amended approved

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. Committee, in light of that motion to amend being carried, we now have a consequential amendment to make to clause 26.1. Do we have unanimous consent to return to clause 26.1?

---Unanimous consent granted

Committee Motion 99-17(4): Amendment To Clause 48, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Let us briefly return to clause 26. Clause 26.1. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 100-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a motion to move. I move that Bill 3 be amended by deleting clause 26.1. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 100-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 100-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 100-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 100-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 26.1 as amended.

---Clause 26.1 as amended approved

Committee Motion 100-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed. Thank you. Now we will go to clauses 49 to 61. Any questions? Comments?

---Clause 49 to 61 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 100-17(4): Amendment To Clause 26.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 62. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wish to move a motion again. I move that Bill 3 be amended by adding the following after clause 62:

Harvesting Restriction

62.1. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and the regulations, no person who has been on an aircraft while it was in flight shall harvest prescribed wildlife within a prescribed time period after the termination of the flight.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of

a regularly scheduled flight operated by a

commercial airline company from one airport to another.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 62 as amended.

---Clause 62 as amended approved

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clauses 63 to 80. Agreed?

---Clause 63 to 80 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clauses 81 to 97.

---Clause 81 to 97 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 101-17(4): Amendment To Clause 62.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 98. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 3 be amended by adding the following after clause 98:

Mandatory Reporting Requirement

98.1 A person who harvests wildlife in the Northwest Territories shall report the wounding, killing or capture of big game or other prescribed wildlife when requested by the Minister or in accordance with the regulations.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Bromley.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that this is a step in the right direction to actually getting Wildlife Management 101 the possibility of coming into action here. If we don’t know how many animals we’re taking, especially from a limited population, we can get into trouble and that’s exactly what we saw, of course, with our caribou situation today. It has a generational impact, I would say, on people’s culture.

I understand in the act that there are consequences for those without Aboriginal treaty rights if they fail to report their take. Now, it’s sad that this had to be put in regulations because those people have always had to report their take of wildlife and they have done so at an extremely high rate, without any

clubs over the head. I think people, as I mentioned, are very connected to wildlife and want to do the responsible thing. I would say that’s true of all people.

I guess my comment is, if there’s a consequence for one group of people and we are talking about this applying to all groups of people that the Minister requires it of, what are the consequences for all people if they do not conform, since we have consequences stipulated in the act for some?

Thank you.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. To the motion. Minister Miltenberger. [microphone turned off] …anyone speaking to the motion except yourself. To the motion.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Chair. Once again it’s the issue of putting any restrictions on a right. There is an interest of the Aboriginal governments to work out, through regulations, the mandatory reporting, because we all agree, you can’t manage what you can’t count. So the intent is to do that.

In terms of consequences, there can be penalties, which will be sorted out in regulation, but we can’t deny a licence. Thank you.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. To the motion.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 98 as amended.

---Clause 98 as amended approved

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clauses 99 to 120.

---Clause 99 to 120 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clauses 121 to 141.

---Clause 121 to 141 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Clauses 142 to 167.

---Clause 142 to 167 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 102-17(4): Amendment To Clause 98.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 168. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 103-17(4): Amendment To Clause 167.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have another motion. I move that Bill 3 be amended by adding the following between the headings: “PART

8 GENERAL” and “Disclosure of Information” that proceeds clause 168:

Appeal

167.1 A person who, under this act or the regulations, has been refused a licence, permit or other authorization, may appeal the refusal in accordance with the regulations.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 103-17(4): Amendment To Clause 167.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 103-17(4): Amendment To Clause 167.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 103-17(4): Amendment To Clause 167.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 103-17(4): Amendment To Clause 167.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 168 as amended.

---Clause 168 as amended approved

Committee Motion 103-17(4): Amendment To Clause 167.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clauses 169 to 172.

---Clause 169 to 172 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 103-17(4): Amendment To Clause 167.1, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed. Thank you. Clause 173. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 104-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173 (Z.6), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a couple of motions to read and I will obviously do them one at a time.

I move that subclause 173(1) of Bill 3 be amended by deleting paragraph (z.6) and substituting the following:

(z.6) respecting exemptions from the

requirements under subsections 48(1) and (2) to complete an approved harvester training course and prescribing provisions of the act and the regulations for the purpose of subjection 48(2);

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 104-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173 (Z.6), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 104-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173 (Z.6), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 104-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173 (Z.6), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 105-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(1)(Z.26a), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that subclause 173(1) of Bill 3 be amended by adding the following after paragraph (z.26):

(z.26.a) respecting exceptions to sections 62.1

and prescribing wildlife and time periods for the purpose of that section;

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 105-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(1)(Z.26a), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 105-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(1)(Z.26a), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 105-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(1)(Z.26a), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. Out of habit, I’ll stop saying dot and I’ll say period. I have one last motion at this particular time before me.

I move that subclause 173(1) of Bill 3 be amended by deleting paragraph (z.54) and substituting the following:

(z.54) respecting reporting in relation to the

wounding, killing or capture of big game or other prescribed wildlife for the purpose of section 98.1, and requiring and respecting reporting of other matters in relation to the harvest of wildlife;

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clause 173 as amended.

---Clause 173 as amended approved

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Clauses 174 to 180.

---Clause 174 to 180 inclusive approved

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed. To the bill as a whole as amended.

---Bill 3 as a whole as amended approved

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Does committee agree that Bill 3, Wildlife Act, is now ready for third reading as amended and reprinted?

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to use this last second to say thank you to the Minister. He did hear a lot of the issues committee had raised, although, as you heard from other Members, we had not been able to get them all as far as we wanted to, but he was willing to work with us and, as such, you can see today the support of Cabinet on all of those motions. Could we have had more? I’m not sure. We may have wanted more sometimes, but it’s all about trying to get the best bill and work together and get a solution for everyone. Certainly I’m pleased to support this bill at large.

Once again, I want to thank Minister Miltenberger in particular for his repeated efforts to carry this bill. I don’t think it has been recognized enough how much work he has put behind this bill. That said, I don’t think it could be stated well enough or far enough on how much passion he’s brought to the table on getting the Wildlife Act organized, put through, dealt with, consulted on and certainly supported.

Madam Chair, I know there isn’t everything that everyone wanted, but we’re certainly further today than we were before. I just want to put on record my thanks and appreciation for his hearing a lot of committee issues. Thank you very much.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you very much, Mr. Hawkins. I would like to add my thanks to the Minister. He mentioned that it took five terms of this Legislature to deal with this legislation and he had to come back for all five of them.

---Laughter

I would also like to thank the Minister’s officials for all of their hard work in bringing this to the table. Does the committee agree that Bill 3, Wildlife Act, is now ready for third reading as amended and reprinted?

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, committee. Bill 3, Wildlife Act, is now ready for third reading as amended and reprinted.

---Applause

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Does committee also agree that we have concluded consideration of Committee Report 6-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act? Agreed?

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Okay. Thank you, committee. You’ve now agreed to conclude Committee Report 6-17(4). At this time, I’m going to call a brief break. Thank you, committee.

---SHORT RECESS

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I will call committee back to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

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

---Carried

Committee Motion 106-17(4): Amendment To Clause 173(Z.54), Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, committee. I will rise to report progress.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Good evening, colleagues. Item 21, report of Committee of the Whole, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Bill 3, Wildlife Act; and Committee Report 6-17(4), Report on Review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act, and would like to report progress with nine motions being adopted and that Committee Report 6-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act, is concluded and that Bill 3 is ready for third reading. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Do I have a seconder? Mr. Miltenberger.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act, has had third reading.

---Carried

Mr. Abernethy.

Bill 18: Apology Act
Third Reading of Bills

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 18, Apology Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 18: Apology Act
Third Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Bill 18, Apology Act, has had third reading.

---Carried

Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 19, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2013, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Bill 19, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2013, has had third reading.

---Carried

Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act, has had third reading.

---Carried

Madam Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

Clerk Of The House (Ms. Langlois)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 1:30 p.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. Replies to Opening Address

11. Petitions

12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

14. Tabling of Documents

15. Notices of Motion

16. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

17. Motions

18. First Reading of Bills

- Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act

19. Second Reading of Bills

20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of

Bills and Other Matters

- Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Education Act

- Bill 22, Territorial Emblems and Honours Act

- Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act

- Committee Report 7-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Liquor Act

- Committee Report 8-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 12: An Act to Amend the Education Act

- Tabled Document 70-17(4), Electoral Boundaries Commission, Final Report, May 2013

- Tabled Document 107-17(4), NWT Capital Estimates 2014-2015

21. Report of Committee of the Whole

22. Third Reading of Bills

- Bill 3, Wildlife Act

23. Orders of the Day

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Wednesday, October 30th , at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 6:19 p.m.