This is page numbers 1389 - 1412 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 communities.

Topics

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I really look forward to that report. Right now, my understanding is: there are less than 100 people that make less than $13.46 in the Northwest Territories. The vast majority of those people work in bars. I, myself, was a bartender for many years, and I know the paycheque almost becomes irrelevant because you make the money through tips. I want to raise the minimum wage. I want to go high, but I don't want to get pushback from the hospitality industry who's suffering. Many jurisdictions have made a lower rate for liquor servers. Is the Minister willing to do that?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I'll see what the report recommends. It's a complete waste of all of these people's time if I'm going to stand up here and answer these questions without ever seeing what is recommended. I understand what the Member is saying. I've worked in the industry, as well. I know that you make lower wages because you live off the tips. If that's something that they recommend, then that's something I'd consider. However, you don't get tips everywhere you work. Maybe Yellowknife isn't bad, but I know there are places where the tipping isn't great. We can't paint the NWT with the same brush as the rest of Canada.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

The way that works in most jurisdictions is: the tips do not bring you up past minimum wage, then their employer must make up the difference. It's not a matter of: you don't get tips, you're working at a lower rate. Another exemption that I think would allow us to go higher is a lot of jurisdictions have a training wage. They have a wage for people in their teenaged years. This is the other argument that's often said why we can't raise the minimum wage because people have first-time jobs or they're just training. Is the Minister willing to implement a training wage for the minimum wage?

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

I don't think we can discriminate in the territory based on age and so to say that someone is under a certain age so they make less because we're calling it a training age. I had jobs when I was younger. I wasn't training. I was training people sometimes. I was working with people older than me, and I was training them. I don't want to get in trouble with any sort of human rights legislation, but again, I'm open to anything. I can't wait to see that report, and as soon as I receive it, I'll make sure that it's shared with the Standing Committee on Social Development. I'll be happy to have a conversation with them prior to making a decision.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, I am trying to advocate for those exemptions so we can get a path to a living wage. I recognize that, the first few months on a job, perhaps it is justified to pay someone a lower rate. However, I think, if we're going to get in trouble with human rights, it's probably the fact that $13.46 at full-time is less than $30,000 a year. People are living in poverty if they earn our minimum wage. The market has moved well beyond this. You cannot hire someone in this territory, a full-time adult, and pay them $13.46. We have simply made our minimum wage irrelevant. Is the Minister willing to get a path forward on how we can get a living wage implemented in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

That took a turn. The Member was advocating for an increased minimum wage, then said the minimum wage is irrelevant, and now wants a living wage. No, I don't have a path to a living wage. Frankly, I don't have a path to ensuring that everyone makes $25-plus in the territory. I'm really not sure how we would get to that at this point. It would take a rethinking of a lot of small businesses. I know of businesses in Hay River that would go under if they had to pay everyone $25 an hour, so no, I can't commit to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: "Annual Report on the Activities of the Rental Officer - April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020;" "Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2019-2020;" and "Northwest Territories Coroner Services 2019 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Budget Dialogues 2020: What We Heard Report, September 2020." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, motions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Motion 17-19(2): WHEREAS this Legislative Assembly is required to appoint Members to the Board of Management in accordance with Section 36 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act;

AND WHEREAS there is a requirement for the naming of two Members to hold the positions of deputy chairpersons of Committee of the Whole;

AND WHEREAS there is currently a vacancy in one of the positions of deputy chair of Committee of the Whole and it is desirable to appoint another Member;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the following Member be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly:

  • The honourable Shane Thompson, Member for Nahendeh;

AND FURTHER, that the following Member be removed from the Board of Management as an alternate member:

  • Ms. Katrina Nokleby, Member for Great Slave;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Ronald Bonnetrouge, be appointed as deputy chair of Committee of the Whole.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. Thank you.

---Carried

Motions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The second motion, motion 18-19(2) for appointment to standing committees on economic development and environment, government operations, and social development:

WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment;

AND WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;

AND WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment:

  • Ms. Katrina Nokleby, Member for Great Slave;

AND FURTHER, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Government Operations:

  • Mr. Ronald Bonnetrouge, the Member for Deh Cho;

AND FURTHER, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development:

  • Ms. Katrina Nokleby, the Member for Great Slave.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. Thank you.

---Carried

Motions. Item 17, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that, on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, I will move that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Bill 13: An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act
Notices Of Motion For The First Reading Of Bills

Page 1409

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, I will move that Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 13: An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act
Notices Of Motion For The First Reading Of Bills

Page 1409

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Bill 14: An Act to Amend the Securities Act
Notices Of Motion For The First Reading Of Bills

Page 1409

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, I will move that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Securities Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.