This is page numbers 5791 - 5838 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 public.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5792

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize constituents of mine, Eileen and Guy Erasmus from Ndilo. Thank you.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5792

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Member for Nunakput.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5792

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Mr. Winston Moses and his wife Martha. They went to residential school with my father, and apparently they were pretty good curlers back in the day. Everyone else from the Education Hall of Fame, I'd like to welcome everyone to the gallery today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5792

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5792

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I'd like to recognize a couple of Pages from Frame Lake who have been here with us for this sitting, Carter Kasteel and Zakiya Yalahow. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 5792

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd also like to recognize Mr. Curtis Brown as well, originally from Behchoko. He used to be the administrator out there, and he learned from his experience and moved down to Fort Smith. I'd also like to recognize Guy Erasmus. Guy's family, late mom, was originally from Behchoko, as well. I'd like to thank them for coming and being here with us. Masi. Again, congratulations. Item 6, acknowledgements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge Eileen Erasmus. Eileen has dedicated nearly 20 years to the K'alemi Dene School and to education in the Northwest Territories. She has taught almost every grade and has been an integral part of the growth of K'alemi Dene School. Eileen has demonstrated a consistent commitment to her students, and they know this and can feel it. Former students describe her as an amazing individual, who has been a strong role model for the next generation. On behalf of the people from Ndilo, thank you, Eileen.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Acknowledgements. Member for Kam Lake.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Claudia Parker and her induction earlier today into the Education Hall of Fame. Claudia has always strived for the best for the students and staff of her schools. Those who know Claudia share that she is grounded by her compassion and dedication to her students, staff, and her community. I hope that Members of the House will join me in recognizing the dedicated service that Ms. Parker has given to our territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Acknowledgements. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Steve Nicoll for being inducted into the Education Hall of Fame. Steven has been a teacher at Liidlii Kue Regional High School in Fort Simpson since 2002. He has a passion for hands-on learning and outdoor education and has regularly taken students out on the land to learn survival skills and the traditional cultural way with the support of elders and community.

Along with being a role model to many, Steven is well-respected within the community of Fort Simpson. He is a man who lives by the Dene law, "Share what we have," and a person who leads by example. Steve puts in an endless amount of time into preparing lessons for students in order to provide the best environment for them to learn and excel. As well, he is an amazing volunteer as a firefighter and cadet corps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Acknowledgements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the induction of a Yellowknife Centre constituent into the NWT Education Hall of Fame. Gayle Strikes With A Gun's remarkable career has taken her from Fort Good Hope as a teacher, to Norman Wells as Sahtu District Education Superintendent, the Beaufort Delta as Assistant Superintendent, and on to the position that she now holds as Indigenous Language and Culture Coordinator. Throughout, she has charted a path of inclusion and student motivation across the realms of culture, academics, and physical education, in the classroom and through afterschool programming. Please join me in saluting Gayle Strikes with a Gun. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Acknowledgements. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 38, Protected Areas Act; Committee Report 18-18(3), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Bill 38, Protected Areas Act; Minister's Statement 151-18(3), New Federal Infrastructure Agreement; Minister's Statement 158-18(3), Developments in Early Childhood Programs and Services; and Tabled Document 442-18(3), 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework 2019-2023 Action Plan, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

June 5th, 2019

Page 5793

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. For those who are used to our proceedings proceeding in an orderly fashion, we are switching things up a little bit today, and that is because we have some important business to take care of in Committee of the Whole, and because many of us, myself included, are heading down to Hay River for the Track and Field Championships opening ceremonies tonight. Just a little bit of an explanation for those who might be confused. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5793

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee wishes to consider Bill 38, Protected Areas Act, and Committee Report 18-18(3), Standing Committee Review on Bill 38, Protected Areas Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5793

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5793

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5793

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Is my understanding that the committee wishes to consider the bill prior to the report? Is that correct, Mr. Beaulieu?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5793

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I may have read this backwards. We will consider the committee report first. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5793

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5793

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will begin with consideration of Committee Report 18-18(3). I will turn to the chair of the standing committee that developed the report for opening comments. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure that there is going to be a lot to add, from myself, at least, today with regard to the report. Yesterday was when we read the report into the record and asked to have it moved into Committee of the Whole. I think, for the most part, the report speaks for itself. It is fairly extensive in terms of capturing what the process was.

Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment concluded its review of Bill 38, Protected Areas Act, on June 3, 2019, with a public clause-by-clause review held here at the Legislative Assembly building. This was followed by public hearings on the bill held in eight communities earlier this spring.

The committee received 20 public submissions on the bill and carried 30 motions to amend the bill during clause-by-clause review. These motions were a result of close collaboration between the committee and the Minister and resulted in a much-improved bill. The committee thanks the Minister for his ongoing cooperation.

I would be remiss if I didn't add at this point in time that the committee was concerned originally as to what kind of time and resources that we might have to be able to focus on the Protected Areas Act during this particular sitting. It was through some common understanding and, again, collaboration, cooperation, and compromise, quite frankly, with the Minister and his department, that we would take the Forest Act, Bill 44, and have it removed and move it to the 19th Assembly for further consideration and public consultation so that it, in itself, could be improved.

By doing that, Mr. Chair, that allowed the committee to free up a little bit of resources. I won't use "free" too freely, because, quite frankly, we still have a considerable amount of work on our plate, but it allowed us to put some considerable resources and some important time towards moving the Protected Areas Act into the May-June sitting.

With the efforts that were made by committee, as well as the Minister and his staff, we were able to get to where we are today, and I want to just express my thanks and gratitude to everyone involved. I am happy to see that we have reached this point in time, and I look forward to us moving the amendments and improving the bill later on.

Mr. Chair, individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with consideration of the bill. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5794

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. I will open the floor to general comments on the committee report. First, I have Mr. Testart.