Debates of Oct. 8th, 2015

This is page numbers 6827 – 6882 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 work.

Topics

Motion 54-17(5): Climate Change Planning, Carried
Motions

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do want to thank the mover, Mr. Bromley, and seconder, Ms. Bisaro, for this motion here. I’m going to just make a few points.

I had an earlier conversation with Mr. Bromley and I wanted to say to the House that, certainly, this issue is up in front in a lot of people’s minds in our communities, and at points of our discussion that Mr. Bromley and I agreed to disagree in how we looked at these issues. I’ve mentioned to Mr. Bromley that I probably needed some more time to understand what the issues are, and I appreciate his openness and willingness to hear me out.

I disagree with the fossil fuels. It’s something that we depend on in our region, and until I see some real dollars coming into our region that would offset the fossil fuels, that is our workforce, that is the fuel that drives our economy, those are areas that we know that fossil fuels could be something that we do not want to get away from until we start seeing some areas where we could look at changing it over. Gas emissions, that’s something that we’ve got to study.

So this would be a good motion to bring to our region to look at the long-term effects of our weather and our land. I’ve stated that there are areas where there is a dry area and our region has suffered that somewhat; however, I have to make sure that we specifically ask and make statements that some areas being affected. Water is one, and in our region there seems to be different opinions. So I just want to say that I will not be voting against this motion, I’ll be abstaining from this motion. I think that there are some pretty good points in here but I’m not there yet to lend my support until I bring this back to the region to look at this and study it. Certainly, it will be on the radar for the 18th Assembly and I wish we had more time to look at something like this in our region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 54-17(5): Climate Change Planning, Carried
Motions

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. To the motion. Mr. Nadli.

Motion 54-17(5): Climate Change Planning, Carried
Motions

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand in support of the motion and I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Bromley and Ms. Bisaro, for putting this motion forward. A couple of years back I had the opportunity and the honour to work with some elders. The elders were talking in their language, and this must have been about 20 or so ago. They were talking about phenomena that will happen in the natural environment when the sun floods, and today the motion speaks to those natural phenomena that have impacted several of our communities. Somehow those disasters that we face, fortunately, there weren’t any human fatalities, but there was a cost to infrastructure. You know, the governments, at some point, have to try to assist communities, and this puts the government in that position to seek the federal government to look at perhaps an increase in the operational budget of the governments so communities that face disasters will be assisted somehow. So that motion perhaps would set an opportunity in stage for that to happen. With that, I’ll be supporting this motion. Mahsi.

Motion 54-17(5): Climate Change Planning, Carried
Motions

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. To the motion.

Motion 54-17(5): Climate Change Planning, Carried
Motions

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Motion 54-17(5): Climate Change Planning, Carried
Motions

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Question has been called. Mr. Bromley, do you have closing remarks on it?

Motion 54-17(5): Climate Change Planning, Carried
Motions

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very briefly, I want to thank all my colleagues who spoke today and I recognize that this is symbolic more than anything but sometimes symbols can be very important, as we all know. I appreciated the comment about elders and Mr. Yakeleya’s comment. We all can have different perspectives, I think. The more we learn about this issue, I think the more we will all speak with one voice, and our elders are one source of knowledge. They are very important on this issue. I want to recognize that Mr. Miltenberger has been a champion for the entire eight years that I’ve been in office, of policy and actions to deal with environmental issues such as this and his comments are relevant again today. I guess I’ll leave it at that and thank my colleagues for speaking and considering this motion. Mahsi.

Recorded Vote
Motions

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member is asking for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

Recorded Vote
Motions

Principal Clerk, Committees And Public Affairs Mr. Ball

Mr. Bromley, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Blake, Mr. Dolynny, Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Hawkins, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Moses.

Recorded Vote
Motions

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.

Recorded Vote
Motions

Principal Clerk, Committees And Public Affairs Mr. Ball

Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. McLeod -Yellowknife South, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. McLeod - Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Recorded Vote
Motions

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All those in favour, nine; all those opposed, zero; abstentions, eight. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 17, first reading of bills. Mr. Bromley.

Recorded Vote
Motions

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on our Order Paper, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery (reversion)

October 8th, 2015

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Madam France Benoit in the gallery today, the widow of the late Doug Ritchie and a major crusader on doing things better for our people and for the land. I think it’s very appropriate that she’s in the gallery today as we discuss this last item. I’ve certainly had Doug in mind as I’ve been doing a lot of my work and I know that a lot of my colleagues have too. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery (reversion)

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 54, An Act to Amend the Forest Management Act; and Minister’s Statement 221-17(5), Sessional Statement, with Mr. Bouchard in the Chair.