Thank you, Minister Cochrane. For the record, I do appreciate the work you do. To the motion.
Debates of March 14th, 2019
This is page numbers 5453 - 5490 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 assembly. View the webstream of the day's session.
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Committee Motion 120-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - GNWT Employee and Family Assistance Program Access, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 120-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - GNWT Employee and Family Assistance Program Access, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Committee Motion 120-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - GNWT Employee and Family Assistance Program Access, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Ms. Green.
Committee Motion 121-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Publication of Members' Expenses, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that more detailed information about Members' expenses be published on the government website as a separate document by June 30th of the following fiscal year.
Committee Motion 121-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Publication of Members' Expenses, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Ms. Green. The motion is in order. To the motion. Ms. Green.
Committee Motion 121-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Publication of Members' Expenses, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Mr. Chair, the Legislative Assembly currently publishes details of Members' constituency budget expenditures as an appendix to its annual report. I note that the Speaker tabled the annual report for the 2017-2018 fiscal year earlier today. This recommendation calls for more detailed, timely, and accessible information than what is currently provided, particularly for such categories as travel and office expenditures. Other Canadian jurisdictions, as well as our own Executive Council, have taken steps to provide this information online and in significant detail. If adopted, the board of management will develop a revised policy with respect to the posting of detailed expenditures online. Mr. Chair, I support this recommendation.
Committee Motion 121-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Publication of Members' Expenses, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Committee Motion 121-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Publication of Members' Expenses, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Committee Motion 121-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Publication of Members' Expenses, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Ms. Green.
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the Public Service Health Care Plan dues, at the level available to senior managers in the public service, be paid by the Government of the Northwest Territories for all Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Mr. Chair, there is currently a disparity between the health benefits provided to Regular Members and Members of the Executive Council, as well as premiums paid by each. This motion recommends that all Members of the Legislative Assembly be treated equally with respect to health, dental, and disability benefits, and that they be consistent with the benefits provided to senior managers in the GNWT. Mr. Chair, I support this recommendation.
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the commission for bringing this to our attention. I didn't know about it as a Regular MLA that there were two tiers of healthcare insurance between Regular MLAs and our Cabinet and the Speaker. I thank them for bringing this to our attention. As I understand, the information that we've been provided, the cost of doing this for the 11 Regular MLAs, the additional premiums would be about $9,500 a year. I think that it's only fair that all MLAs should be treated equally. I do support this. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Committee Motion 122-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Public Service Health Care Plan Dues, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Ms. Green.
Committee Motion 123-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Members' Access to Benefits, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that, if it is decided to not pay for the same level of medical travel, health, dental and life insurance benefits for all Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the additional paid benefits for the Speaker and Ministers be removed from their benefit package and the Speaker and Ministers become responsible for paying for that benefit; and further, that all Members of the Legislative Assembly would then receive the extended healthcare benefit and level 1 of the hospital benefit at no cost.
I'm going to explain it.
Committee Motion 123-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Members' Access to Benefits, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5465
The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Ms. Green. The motion is in order. To the motion? Ms. Green.
Committee Motion 123-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Members' Access to Benefits, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Given that the House adopted the previous recommendation, this recommendation is redundant. The previous motion directed the board of management to make health, dental, and disability benefits and premiums for Regular Members consistent with those for Cabinet Ministers. As a result, this recommendation is not necessary, and I will be voting against it. Thank you.
Committee Motion 123-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Members' Access to Benefits, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5466
Committee Motion 123-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Members' Access to Benefits, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5466
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Committee Motion 123-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Members' Access to Benefits, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5466
The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
Ms. Green.
Committee Motion 124-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Increased Indemnity for Chair, Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, Carried as Amended
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the indemnity for extra duty for the chair of the Rules and Procedures Committee be increased from $3,194 to $6,296 per year.
Committee Motion 124-18(3): Tabled Document 237-18(3): Independent Commission to Review Members' Benefits and Compensation 2018 Report on Members' Compensation and Benefits - Increased Indemnity for Chair, Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, Carried as Amended
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 5466