This is page numbers 5107 – 5142 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was public.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document,

entitled “Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Annual Report 2013-2014.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, November 3, 2014, I will move the following motion. Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the 17th Legislative Assembly supports the

national Aboriginal organizations’ call for a national inquiry and a national roundtable into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls;

And further, that this Assembly supports a national roundtable on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls to have a national dialogue that will allow all levels of government to work together to identify concrete outcomes that will prevent further violence against Aboriginal women and girls;

And further, that this Assembly supports the efforts of the Premier of the Northwest Territories to help the national Aboriginal organizations facilitate the development of a national roundtable;

And further, that this Assembly urges Premier McLeod to continue his dialogue with the federal government on the proposed roundtable and report back to this House as progress is made;

And furthermore, that the Premier of the Northwest Territories transmit a copy of this motion to all his provincial and territorial counterparts with a request for their consideration of support for a similar House motion.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 3, 2014, I

will move that Bill 39, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015, be read for the first time.

I also give notice that on Monday, November 3, 2014, I will move that Bill 40, Appropriation Act, (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2015-2016, be read for the first time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 34, 2015 Polling Day Act, be read for the first time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Bill 34 has had first reading.

---Carried

Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act; Bill 27, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2014; Bill 29, Human Tissue Donation Act; Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act; Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act; Committee Report 7-17(5), Report on the Development of the Economic Opportunities and Mineral Development Strategies, with Mr. Bouchard 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 Robert Bouchard

Good morning, committee. What is the wish of 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, Mr. Chair. We would like to consider Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act, and Bill 27, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2014.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Does committee agree?

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

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you. We will reconvene after a short 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 Robert Bouchard

I will call committee back to order. We are reviewing Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. I will go to the Minister responsible. Minister Beaulieu, do you have opening remarks?

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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some opening comments. Mr. Chairman, I’m pleased to be here today to discuss Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. This bill proposes three amendments to the Public Service Act to simplify human resource management for the benefit of our employees.

A range of legislation, policy, Collective Agreement terms and conditions of employment, human rights and labour law governs human resource management in the public service. This provides a transparent, balanced approach to ensure employees and managers understand their responsibilities and rights.

Through the Bill 30 amendments, I believe we created an efficient and sensible approach for employees to fulfill the government’s duty to accommodate obligations, meet the government’s commitment to retain employees affected by layoff and realize the Chief Electoral Officer’s recommendation to eliminate a perceived conflict of interest for those employees interested in seeking political candidacy.

During the standing committee’s review of the bill, concerns were expressed on impacts to employees and members of the public interested in GNWT employment. Bill 30 does not change our established commitments. Public service employees’ rights and responsibilities remain unchanged. It does not expand the power of the GNWT to appoint individuals without competition. GNWT managers act responsibly within the legal and policy frameworks provided in the best interest of their employees and the public service as a whole.

Bill 30 simplifies and fine tunes the existing legal mechanisms we use to accomplish our accommodation and staff retention goals.

I would be pleased to answer any questions Members have today. Mahsi cho.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Now I’ll go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, 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, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has been considering Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. The purpose of this bill is to enact three changes to the Public Service Act:

1. to remove the potential for conflict of interest in

the process of granting a leave to an employee who wishes to run for elected office by shifting the authority to grant such leave request from the Minister responsible for the Public Service to the deputy minister;

2. to permit employees who have been identified

for layoff to be placed in vacant positions

without disrupting their continuous employment status as the act currently requires;

3. to expedite the appointment of employees in

order for the government to fulfill its legal duty to accommodate someone who has been impacted by illness or injury.

The committee has no concerns with the amendment that proposes to shift the authority to the deputy minister to grant the leave requests for the purpose of political candidacy. This change is consistent with the recommendation made by the Chief Electoral Officer and his report on the administration of the 2011 General Election and subsequently concurred with the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures.

The committee is, however, divided in its support for the remainder of this bill because there are aspects of the remaining two proposed amendments that some members of the committee find troubling. Nonetheless, the committee completed a clause-by-clause review of the bill on October 16, 2014. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 30 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 30. Individual committee members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Mahsi cho.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. I will ask the Minister, Mr. Beaulieu, do you have witnesses to bring into the House?

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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mr. Chair, I do.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you. Does committee agree?

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

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Thank you. Minister Beaulieu, would 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

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mr. Chair, with me today is Shirley Desjardins, deputy minister, to my immediate right; Nicole MacNeil, director, labour relations, to my far right; and to my left I have Ken Chutskoff, legislative counsel.

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 Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Committee, we are on general comments for Bill 30. First on the list is Mr. Dolynny.