Debates of Aug. 21st, 2019
This is page numbers 6289 - 6352 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.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Assent to Bills
- Minister's Statement 237-18(3): Minister Late
- Minister's Statement 238-18(3): Seniors Report
- Minister's Statement 239-18(3): Housing for Vulnerable Populations
- Minister's Statement 240-18(3): Post-Secondary Education Update
- Recognition of "Buffalo" Joe McBryan
- National Pharmacare
- Land Administration and Management
- Land Rights Agreements
- Eligibility for Home Improvement Funding
- Child and Family Services Quality Improvement Plan
- Recognition of Gabe Hardisty
- Waste Resource Management and Single-Use Plastics Ban
- Arctic Sovereignty
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 839-18(3): Access to Health Services in Fort Nelson, BC
- Question 840-18(3): Single-Use Plastics Ban
- Question 841-18(3): Child and Family Services Quality Improvement Plan
- Question 842-18(3): Eligibility for Home Improvement Funding
- Question 843-18(3): National Pharmacare and the NWT
- Question 844-18(3): Fort McPherson Housing Units
- Committee Report 35-18(3): "Lessons Learned" Report of the Special Committee on Transition Matters
- Tabled Document 509-18(3): Draft Code of Conduct and Guide for Members of the Legislative Assembly
- Tabled Document 510-18(3): Draft Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, August 2019
- Tabled Document 511-18(3): Capital Estimates 2020-2021 Tabled Document 512-18(3): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 19-18(3): Report on the Review of the 2017-2018 Public Accounts
- Tabled Document 513-18(3): 2018 Annual Report - Office of the Fire Marshal
- Tabled Document 514-18(3): Report on Seniors Access to Government of the Northwest Territories Programs and Services Tabled Document 515-18(3): What We Heard Report - Continuing Care Facilities Legislation for the Northwest Territories
- Tabled Document 516-18(3): Northwest Territories Post-Secondary Education Strategic Framework 2019-2029 Tabled Document 517-18(3): Operating Plans for Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 2019-2020 School Year Ending June 30, 2020
- Motion 41-18(3): Adoption of Code of Conduct for Members of the Legislative Assembly
- Motion 42-18(3): Repeal and Replace Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
- Motion 43-18(3): Extended Adjournment of the House to October 24, 2019
- Motion 44-18(3): Dissolution of the 18th Legislative Assembly
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Committee Motion 237-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act - Private Interviews between Inmates and Indigenous Elders or Spiritual Advisors, Carried
- Committee Motion 238-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act - Needs-based Assessments for Inmates, Carried
- Committee Motion 239-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act - Prioritization of Work Programs, Carried
- Committee Motion 240-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act - Security Assessment Tools, Carried
- Committee Motion 241-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act - Victim Services, Carried
- Committee Motion 242-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
- Committee Motion 243-18(3): Bill 45: Corrections Act - Amend Clause 40.1(5), Carried
- Committee Motion 244-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Perceptions Held by Northern Businesses Toward the Government of the Northwest Territories' Procurement Processes - Procurement Advisory Panel, carried
- Committee Motion 245-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Perceptions Held by Northern Businesses Toward the Government of the Northwest Territories' Procurement Processes - Comprehensive Public Review of Procurement Related Policies, carried
- Committee Motion 246-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Perceptions Held by Northern Businesses Toward the Government of the Northwest Territories' Procurement Processes - Government Response to Recommendations, carried
- Committee Motion 247-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Protocols for Engagement in Development of Legislation, Carried
- Committee Motion 248-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Process and Criteria for Technical Working Groups, Carried
- Committee Motion 249-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Technical Working Group Recommendations, Carried
- Committee Motion 250-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Complex Bills of Significant Public Interest, Carried
- Committee Motion 251-18(3) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Plain Language Materials, Carried
- Committee Motion 252-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Comprehensive Briefing on Legislative Process for Technical Working Group, Carried
- Committee Motion 253-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Process for Development of Regulations, Carried
- Committee Motion 254-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Collaborative Lessons-Learned Exercise, Carried
- Committee Motion 255-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Public and Stakeholder Engagement, Carried
- Committee Motion 256-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Exclusion of Bill from Technical Working Group Process, Carried
- Committee Motion 257-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Information for Standing Committee on Technical Working Group Progress, Carried
- Committee Motion 258-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Federal Concurrence, Carried
- Committee Motion 259-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Consistent Terms and Definitions, Carried
- Committee Motion 260-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Consistency in Public Information, Carried
- Committee Motion 261-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Preamble or Purpose Statement, Carried
- Committee Motion 262-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 34: Mineral Resources Act
- Recorded Vote
- Orders Of The Day
Committee Motion 249-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Technical Working Group Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6336
Committee Motion 249-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Technical Working Group Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6336
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Committee Motion 249-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Technical Working Group Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6336

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Vanthuyne.
Committee Motion 250-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Complex Bills of Significant Public Interest, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that when the Government of the Northwest Territories is preparing complex bills of significant public interest, the government should coordinate with the appropriate standing committee on the introduction of such bills to allow the public and standing committees to adequately consider the implications of each bill.
Committee Motion 250-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Complex Bills of Significant Public Interest, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. The motion is on the floor and has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.
Committee Motion 250-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Complex Bills of Significant Public Interest, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think, if anyone wasn't convinced that there wasn't too much legislation before the House, they should have been here last night at midnight. We've heard from observers who have said this is an unprecedented amount of legislation to be introduced so late in an Assembly. I can speak for the personal stress that it's given me, my family, and my friends. This is not healthy. We're not making good laws for our people. We're not making the best possible laws, because of the amount of work that we've had to accomplish in a very, very short period of time. I think this could have been avoided, and it could have been managed a lot better and timed and paced in a way that would have ensured we could better fulfill our duties as MLAs and served the public.
This is a suggestion, a recommendation, in looking at the legislative workload that it be done in a more collaborative fashion to look at the capacity of committees and so on.
We raised these issues about the legislative workload continually in the last half of our mandate with Cabinet. We would get these legislative initiatives listing what laws or bills were likely to come forward, and we continually raised this as an issue, particularly from this standing committee, Economic Development and Environment, about the back-end loading of all of the legislation. It really has resulted in, I think, less than what our citizens deserve. Next Assembly, please do it differently and do it better. Thank you.
Committee Motion 250-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Complex Bills of Significant Public Interest, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337
Committee Motion 250-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Complex Bills of Significant Public Interest, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Committee Motion 250-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Complex Bills of Significant Public Interest, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Vanthuyne.
Committee Motion 251-18(3) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Plain Language Materials, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
August 21st, 2019
Page 6337

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that standards should be developed for the production of plain language materials to assist committees and the public in the review of bills, including appropriate reading levels, timelines for distribution, and what role the sponsoring department has in promoting proposed legislation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 251-18(3) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Plain Language Materials, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. The motion is on the floor and has been distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Committee Motion 251-18(3) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Plain Language Materials, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, I think this is a motion that speaks for itself, but one of the experiences that we had was sometimes we were receiving plain language rather late. In some instances it was right at the day of us conducting a public hearing. In some cases, depending on the bill, we would receive plain language that came in the form of one document, and that would be fine, but then, when we would take a different bill on the road, we had plain language material for that particular bill that came in the form of five or six pieces of documents. There were times when the plain language was not that plain and, quite frankly, was pretty technical in nature, and so we believe that a motion to this effect would be most effective in getting plain language material, call it more unified, for the benefit all of the committees and the public. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 251-18(3) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Plain Language Materials, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337
Committee Motion 251-18(3) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Plain Language Materials, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Committee Motion 251-18(3) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Process Used for Devolution Legislative Initiatives - Plain Language Materials, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6337

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
--Carried
Mr. Vanthuyne.
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