This is page numbers 43 - 80 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 1st 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

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Members, I wish to table the "Territorial General Election 2019 Official Results Report." The official results are published in accordance with section 265(1) and (2) of the Elections and Plebiscites Act.

Members, please join me in welcoming Ms. Nicole Latour, Chief Electoral Officer for the Northwest Territories, who is present in the gallery this afternoon.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Also, Members, pursuant to section 68 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I wish to table the 2018-2019 Annual Report of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

I would like to draw the attention of Members to the presence in the gallery today of Ms. Elaine Kennan-Bengts, the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Thank you for joining us this afternoon, Ms. Keenan-Bengts.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Members, in accordance with section 21(1) of the Retiring Allowances Act and section 11.1. of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I hereby table the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Pension Administration Report - Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act at March 31, 2018.

Tabling of Documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, motions. Item 17, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to extend certain benefits to Members and have the ability to regulate childcare expenses.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

--- Carried

Bill 1 has had its second reading. The Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 73-2 and to have Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive rule 73-2, and have Bill 1 referred to Committee of the Whole. Are there any nays? There are no nays. The bill is moved into Committee of the Whole for later today, Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters.

Second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, on the floor today with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Norn.

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Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to deal with, one, Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, and, two, Tabled Document 5-19(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2019-2020, in that order. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume with the first item.

--- SHORT RECESS

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I will now call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. I will ask the Member responsible for the bill to introduce it. The Member for Kam Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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December 10th, 2019

Page 66

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act lays out the indemnities and allowances available to Members of the Legislative Assembly. Schedule C of the act sets out the actually monetary value of these indemnities and allowances.

During the 18th Legislative Assembly, the Independent Commission to Review Members' Compensation and Benefits and the Special Committee to Increase Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly put forward recommendations. As a result of these recommendations, amendments to the act and the regulations are required through Bill 1.

These include the following:

1. Prorate certain allowances for Members of an outgoing Legislative Assembly to the day before polling day, as opposed to the day the Legislative Assembly is dissolved;

2. Allow for Members to receive the same level of benefits;

3. Eliminate the requirement for Members of the Executive Council to swear or affirm an oath of allegiance a second time;

4. Include a new section to allow for the reimbursement of childcare expenses and authorize the making of regulations that deal with the reimbursement of these expenses;

5. The chairpersons of all standing committees of the Legislative Assembly receive the same remuneration, with the exception of the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight; and

6. Reference to the new UNW Collective Agreement and add language to eliminate the need for constantly updating the language every time a new agreement is reached.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That concludes my remarks. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with the consideration of this bill.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Would the Member for Kam Lake like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Yes, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

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

Member Cleveland, please introduce your witnesses.

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my right is Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and to my left is Christina Brownlee, Legislative Assembly Counsel for the Department of Justice. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 1. Is the committee agreed that there are no further general comments?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Can we proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 1 of the bill. Clause 1, agreed?

---Clauses 1 through 5 approved