Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2016

This is page numbers 1355 – 1384 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

National Inquiry On Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And Girls

Renewal Of The NWT Aboriginal Languages Framework And Action Plan

Building A Culturally Competent Health And Social Services System

Darnley Bay Resource Potential

Public Engagement And Transparency In Government

Indigenous Guardian Programs

Anti-Poverty Campaign

Reflections After A Year

Ministerial Authority On Water Licences

Proposed Youth Wellness Camp Near Nahanni Butte

Beaufort Delta Language Instruction Policy

Remembrance Day

Economic Growth Through Improved Immigration Outcomes

Remembrance Day

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Sixtieth Anniversary Of Xavier And Marie Bonnetrouge

Northern Polytechnic Proposal

A New Day Men’s Healing Program

Economic Growth Through Improved Immigration Outcomes

Ministerial Authority On Water Licenses

Anti-Poverty Campaign

Indigenous Natural Resource Guardian Programs

Beaufort Delta Languages Instruction Policy

Darnley Bay Resource Potential

Home Care Support Worker Visits

Senior Home Heating Subsidy

Fort Resolution Medical Referrals

Northern Polytechnic Proposal

Written Question 12-18(2): Status Of Vacancies On Co-Management Boards

Written Question 13-18(2): Filling Vacancies On Co-Management Boards

Written Question 14-18(2): Commissioner’s Land Act Security Deposits

Tabled Document 223-18(2): Building A Culturally Respectful Health And Social Services System October 2016

Tabled Document 224-18(2): Government Of The Northwest Territories: Sport, Recreation And Physical Activity Review Final Report

Tabled Document 225-18(2): Department Of Lands: Integrated Risk-Based Strategic Plan 2016-2017 To 2020-2021

Tabled Document 229-18(2): Follow-Up Letter To Oral Question 383-18(2): Remediation Of Arsenic Contamination Near Giant Mine Site

Tabled Document 230-18(2): Grants And Contributions Results Report 2015-2016

Tabled Document 231-18(2): Analysis Of The Current And Future Value Of Indigenous Guardian Work In Canada’s Northwest Territories

Tabled Document 234-18(2): Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Pension Administration Report – Retiring Allowances Act And Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act At March 31, 2015

Bill 13: The Marriage Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report – Modernization Of Human Rights Act

Committee Report 3-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report – Response To Report Within 120 Days

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Timing For Provision Of Public Accounts

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Completion Of Interim And Final Public Accounts

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Adherence To Deadlines For Completion Of Public Accounts

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Environmental Assessment Information For Potentially Contaminated Sites

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Reporting On Infrastructure Financing And Affordable Debt

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Plain Language Reporting On Public Accounts

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Reporting On Student Loan Remissions

Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Response To Report Within 120 Days

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 38-19(2): Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report – Modernization Of Human Rights Act, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this Assembly recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories advise the House of its timeline for the completion and introduction of a bill to modernize and update the Human Rights Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

There is a motion on the floor. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 39-18(2): Committee Report 3-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report – Response To Report Within 120 Days, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

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

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. Motion is carried.

--- Carried

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that we have concluded consideration of Committee Report 3-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 NWT Human Rights Commission Annual Report?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We have concluded the consideration. Next we have agreed to consider Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for any opening comments, Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On November 1, 2016, the Standing Committee on Government Operations presented its Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts. The Standing Committee on Government Operations made eight recommendations, including recommendations regarding the provision of information as well as the development of plain language materials. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. I will open the floor to general comments. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am grateful for the work of this committee around the issue of plain language reporting on the public accounts. As a new Member with a lot of education, still I found the public accounts very difficult to understand. That is a view that is shared by the C.D. Howe Institute where they grade all of the public account presentations. I am very much looking forward to plain language reporting on the public accounts, which we can share with our constituents so that they can understand how their money is being spent by us. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Anything further, Mr. Testart?

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Yes, Mr. Chair. I thank Ms. Green for her comments. Certainly, this is a very important area of oversight and accountability that is performed by parliamentary committees. The standing committee had an opportunity to meet with public accounts committees from across Canada at this year's annual conference. Much was learned, in particular the amount of work that these committees do to hold government accountable and understand how money is being spent. Of course, we found that our financial documents could have their readability improved in the interest of openness and transparency, which of course, is a priority for this government. The standing committee has made that recommendation.

We look forward to working with the Department of Finance to help move that along. In particular, making it clear where the government's fiscal responsibility policy fits into the public accounts is a very serious priority for the committee. We look forward, again, to continuing that work and creating documents that can be used by both the public and MLAs without the assistance of the Auditor General of Canada. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Government Operations for their work on this report. I am not a member of the committee, but I sat in on the review of the public accounts. That was a very thorough review with the assistance of the staff of the Auditor General's office from Ottawa. I agree with the recommendations that have been brought forward.

I want to thank the committee. This one is a good one as my colleague, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, mentioned. First time going through it, it was difficult to understand a lot of what was there. With the assistance of the Auditor General's staff, our own staff, it became a lot more understandable. I believe these recommendations are meant to improve the presentation of this information and make it much easier for folks that come after us and for the public to understand what is going on. I strongly support these recommendations. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 40-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Timing For Provision Of Public Accounts, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this Assembly recommends that the Minister of Finance provide the Standing Committee on Government Operations with the interim public accounts by August 31st, in time for standing committee review of the government's business plans. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Question has been called.

---Carried

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 41-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee On Government Operations Report On The Review Of The 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Completion Of Interim And Final Public Accounts, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

November 2nd, 2016

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the office of the comptroller general in the Department of Finance work with the Auditor General of Canada and GNWT departments, boards, and agencies to complete the interim and final public accounts at the earliest possible date each year and in time to meet statutory reporting deadlines and to seek the necessary extensions where those deadlines cannot be met. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

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

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Question has been called.

--- Carried

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Mr. McNeely.

Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2016

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