This is page numbers 4215 - 4241 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

I don't think I mentioned Yellowknife and Hay River, but that's probably going to be the biggest need moving forward. We do have a lot of major seniors' housing initiatives, such as seniors aging in place retrofits, ongoing seniors' marketing and promoting campaigns, transfer of family homes. I mean, we're looking at intergenerational when we look at doing those. We're going to do LTO repairs in some of the small communities as well as, as I mentioned earlier, we're going to have these community housing plans. As we develop those, the Jean Maries, the small communities will be able to identify whether it's seniors that are going to be a priority or singles or homelessness. We are going to put those out over the years to come.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the answer from the Minister. He talks about these community plans and he explained it, but if we are doing five or six a year and you are just using six as a maxed-out, that is going to be over five years. So has the Minister, looking at that, that is over two Assemblies, this one and the next one, so has the Minister looked at or asked the department to look at speeding up these community plans a little bit quicker?

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

We are just early on into the community housing plans. The good thing about this is that, as soon as we get a community housing plan done in one of the communities, it can operate as a template for similar communities of certain sizes, and, working with our leadership, working with our stakeholders, it might expedite the process of getting more communities done per year and obviously will help us as a government and as the NWT Housing Corporation with our planning of where we put the investments, infrastructure investments, and where we put the programs and what programs need more support for each community. So I think, once we get our first few done, it might serve as a template for communities right across the territory and might speed up, expedite, the process. I am making sure that our district offices as well as the NWT Housing Corporation is on top of this to address it. It's something new, and it's going to be ground-breaking. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question 11-18(3) asked by the Member for Frame Lake to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation on May 30, 2018 regarding the Taltson Hydroelectric Expansion Project.

  1. Phase one of the project includes a 60 megawatt expansion to the Taltson hydropower system, the construction of a transmission line to link the North and South Slave electricity systems, and expanding transmission infrastructure to connect to mining customers in the Slave Geological Province. The first phase could deliver green energy in the next five to ten years. The project would be funded through partnership with the federal government and through electricity sales to new customers.

Clean and reliable hydropower from the Taltson expansion will be sold to existing and future mineral resource development projects. Further, connecting the North and South Slave electrical systems will create a stable, drought-resistant and accessible source of power that will supply ten Northwest Territories communities, representing over 70 per cent of the territory's population.

Future phases of the project will include additional expansion of Taltson to provide up to 200 megawatts of new power. There are no estimated timeframes for future phases of the Taltson expansion project at this time.

2. Phase one of the project will result in an additional 60 megawatts of energy production, and will be achieved without any additional flooding.

3. The 60-megawatt Taltson expansion will displace 227 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually in the Northwest Territories by displacing diesel electrical generation with clean hydroelectricity. If an additional 200 megawatts of power is developed, it would result in approximately 750 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas emissions reduced annually.

4. The current estimated cost for the expansion of the Taltson facility to 60 megawatts is approximately $500 million. This is an estimate based on design work previously completed, but will change as the Government of the Northwest Territories undertakes additional technical and engineering studies. The estimated cost of connecting the North and South Slave electricity systems across Great Slave Lake is currently being determined. There are no cost estimates for future phases of the Taltson expansion project at this time.

We look forward to working collaboratively with the federal government, Indigenous partners and the Members of the Legislative Assembly to better define our path forward on this transformative energy project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question 12-18(3) asked by the Member for Frame Lake on June 1, 2018 to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment regarding Ekati mine layoffs.

I am pleased to provide to you with the following information to address the questions asked:

To date, no workers have been laid off and as announced on June 26, 2018, Dominion Diamond and the Union of Northern Workers have come to a tentative agreement that will keep the workers on staff with the mine.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment met with Dominion Diamond in mid-June 2018 and encouraged the company to continue meeting with the Union of Northern Workers to address the issue. Dominion Diamond has ensured that it and its contractors will continue to strive to meet its Socio-Economic Agreement northern employment targets.

The Government of the Northwest Territories understands that there has been an issue with absenteeism at the Ekati Mine. Employee absenteeism has led to lost productivity and increased costs due to overtime payments for those at site and contractor expenses.

With the issue tentatively resolved, currently there is no expected loss of tax revenue or Gross Domestic Product. Initially, Dominion Diamond had issued a Request for Proposal for a contractor and it was expected that the majority of those impacted would have been hired by the contractor, meaning no loss of 150 jobs.

Details of the new tentative agreement have not been disclosed to the Government of the Northwest Territories, however, in a joint statement by Dominion Diamond and the Union of Northern Workers, it was stated that both parties' concerns have been addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Development has reviewed Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Securities Act; Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2018; Bill 15, Document Formalization, Service and Notice Reform Statute Law Amendment Act; and Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act; and Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act.

Mr. Speaker, the committee wishes to report that Bills 13, 15, 16, and 17 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole and that Bill 14 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4238

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 7, Chartered Professional Accountants Act.

Bill 7 is part of a national effort to unify three separate organizations responsible for regulating and managing professionals authorized in Canada to work as professional accountants. The national unification framework created a new national body, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, or CPA Canada.

The purpose of the bill is to merge the three professional accounting bodies currently operating in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, following the lead of the three related national accounting bodies that merged in 2013. Bill 7 will repeal three exhibiting NWT statutes and replace them with a single, new Chartered Professional Accountants Act. This bill is being coordinated with legislation in Nunavut to allow members of the newly emerged body, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Northwest Territories/Nunavut, known as CPA NWT/NU, to operate as one in both territories.

Reporting of this bill was deferred during our last May sitting, when our law clerk brought to the attention of the committee a concern shared by the law clerk in Nunavut, that clause 2 of bill 7 raises a significant legal matter. As drafted, the bill [microphone turned off.]

Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Member for Kam Lake, you just need to report to the House. You do not have to read in detail.

Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4238

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A public clause-by-clause review of the bill took place yesterday evening, on October 10, 2018. With that, Mr. Speaker, the committee wishes to report that Bill 7 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4238

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Bill 8: Emergency Management Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4238

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on consideration of Bill 8, Emergency Management Act. Bill 8 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 15, 2018 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

I would like to advise the House that the committee wishes to extend our review of the bill with the intention of conducting a clause-by-clause review on Monday, October 15 and reporting back to the House on or before October 26, 2018. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, in accordance with rule 75(1)(C) of the rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the review period for Bill 8 be extended to October 26, 2018. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 8: Emergency Management Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4238

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

The review period will be extended to October 26, 2018. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Bill 18: Cities, Towns and Villages Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4238

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report its consideration of Bill 18, Cities, Towns and Villages Act. Bill 18 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on May 29, 2018 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

Based on our public consultations and submissions received, I would like to advise the House of the committee's wish to extend our review of the bill with the intention of reporting back to the House on or before October 26, 2018. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, in accordance with rule 75(1)(C), I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the review period for Bill 18 be extended to October 26, 2018. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 18: Cities, Towns and Villages Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4239

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

The review period will be extended to October 26, 2018. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Bill 20: The Ombudsperson Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

October 11th, 2018

Page 4239

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 20, The Ombudsperson Act. Bill 20 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on June 1, 2018 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

Based on several public consultations and submissions received, I would like to advise the House of the committee's wish to extend our review of the bill with the intention of reporting back to the House on or before October 26, 2018. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, in accordance with rule 75(1)(C), I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the review period for Bill 20 be extended to October 26, 2018. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 20: The Ombudsperson Act
Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills

Page 4239

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. All those in favour. All those opposed. Motion carried.

---Carried

The review period will be extended to October 26, 2018. Reports of committees of the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following seven documents entitled "Capital Estimates, 2019-2020," "Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 6-18(3): Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories," "Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 8-18(3): Report on the Review of the 2016-2017 Public Accounts," "Interim Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Year Ended March 31, 2018," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 209-18(3): Targets for Summer Student and Internship Employment Opportunities," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 262-18(3): Summer Employment Opportunities for Post-Secondary Students," and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 331-18(3): Fire Prevention in the Mackenzie Delta." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following documents entitled "Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 7-18(3), Report on Review of Bill 6, Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act" and "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 340-18(3), South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Therapeutic Model." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents entitled "Government of the Northwest Territories' Response to Motion 16-18(3), Smoking in Vehicles with Minors Present," "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 309-18(3), Tsiigehtchic Health Centre," "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 312-18(3), Cannabis Education Plan Fund," "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 318-18(3), Addictions Aftercare and Detox Programs," and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 352-18(3), Mental Health Care." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.