This is page numbers 2329 - 2354 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 program.

Topics

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Question has been called. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

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

Clerk Of The House (Mr. Mercer)

Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Green, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. Moses, Ms. Cochrane, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. McLeod - Yellowknife South, Mr. Schumann, Mr. Sebert, Mr. McNeely, Mr. Vanthuyne, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

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

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

Clerk Of The House (Mr. Mercer)

Mr. Nadli, Mr. McLeod - Inuvik Twin Lakes.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. The results of the recorded vote are 13 in favour; zero against; two abstentions. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Anything further?

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The only thing I would like to say is I want to thank the committee again for all the work that was done, our staff that helped us get us to this point very ably, and I do want to thank all the Members for their passionate discussion yesterday. I think it was useful to have those matters discussed in public; it wasn't an easy discussion. I know that we will continue to work together on all of those issues as MLAs in this House. So once again, thanks to everybody for their thoughtful submissions yesterday. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Committee Report 7-18(2)?

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

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Committee, next we have agreed to consider Committee Report 9-18(2), Report on the Review of the 2016 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Support to Communities for Municipal Services in the Northwest Territories, Municipal and Community Affairs. I will go to the chair of the committee, Mr. Testart, for opening comments. Mr. Testart.

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

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Support to Communities for Municipal Services in the Northwest Territories, Municipal and Community Affairs was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on October 25, 2016.

On March 7, 2017, the Standing Committee on Government Operations presented its report on the review of the Auditor General's Report. This Standing Committee on Government Operations endorsed the 13 recommendations made by the Auditor General and recommended implementation of the recommendations by the department in a timely manner. We made recommendations related to the development and delivery of future departmental action or implementation plans and we made recommendations regarding the final action plan developed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

These seven motions are going to be discussed later today and we focused primarily on ensuring when the receipt of -- when these processes, these audits, are going on the Standing Committee is involved in how the processes roll out and is recognized as a partner in evaluating these performance audits and ensuring that the government is living up to its obligations under its own rules.

We did not want to duplicate the efforts that had already been undertaken by the Auditor General and in their recommendations and by the department through their action plan, but we did evaluate the action plan and support the actions of government. So there will be again, seven motions to be considered today, and I hope to have the support of this House moving forward as we dispose of those motions. Thank you.

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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. I will open up the floor to general comments. Do we have general comments on the committee report? Seeing none, I will just let everyone know at home and in the Assembly that we are, as Mr. Testart said, going to have seven motions. The first would pertain to the recommendation on page 9. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs take the steps necessary to ensure that the 13 recommendations made by the Office of the Auditor General in Tabled Document 173-18(2) are implemented in a timely manner. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

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

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate we want to move on. All I will say is that the government has tabled a comprehensive plan to address these concerns. The committee is going to keep an eye on that and ensure they are done in a timely manner. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that, in future, any GNWT department being audited provide the Standing Committee on Government Operations with a copy of its actions or implementation plan at the earliest possible opportunity and no later than three business days prior to the public review on the Auditor General's report, consistent with the process convention on communications between Cabinet Ministers, standing committees, and Regular Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The 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, Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we were reviewing this business plan in particular, the government was very late in getting their action plan to us. In fact, probably about three hours was actually afforded in business days. We want to avoid that problem in the future. We certainly do appreciate the hard work that the department did in working with the Auditor General's office in developing their action plan. For us to play our part in this process, as the Standing Committee on Government Operations and the Public Accounts Committee for this Assembly, we need to be given that information in a timely manner so we can properly assess it. It doesn't do the public any favours if we are rushed in that analysis and assessment.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried. Thank you, committee.

---Carried

Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that any GNWT department selected in the future for an audit provide the Standing Committee on Government Operations with a copy of its action or implementation plan in draft format; and further that this document not be finalized until the department has had an opportunity to consider the recommendations made as a result of the standing committee's review. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The 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, Mr. Testart.