Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just would like to rise in support of this bill. I am sure my colleague, Mr. Simpson, is happy to see that this bill will pass first reading today and we will, ultimately, I believe, lower the small business tax rate. I really think the backbone of our NWT economy in recovery must be our small business. As we enter into a world and compete in a world where capital increasingly gets held in the hands of large businesses, I think we as government have to do everything we can to support our small businesses. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2020
This is page numbers 1563 - 1592 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 work.
Topics
Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills
November 2nd, 2020
Page 1585
Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills
Page 1585
Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills
Page 1585
Some Hon. Members
Question.
Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Second Reading Of Bills
Page 1585
The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 16 has had second reading and is referred to the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly for review. Second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 15, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2020; Committee Report 4-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report; Committee Report 5-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; Minister's Statement 77-19(2), National Housing Co-investment Fund; Tabled Document 165-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 1-19(2), Report on Long-term Post-Pandemic Recovery, Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 166-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 2-19(2): Report on the Long-term Post-Pandemic Recovery, Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 181-19(2), Capital Estimates 2021-2020, with Member for Hay River South 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
Page 1585
The Chair Rocky Simpson
I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the will of the committee? Mr. Norn.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1585
Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to consider the following documents: Committee Report 4-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report; Committee Report 5-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; and then Bill 15, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2020. Mahsi, 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 1585
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1585
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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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
The Chair Rocky Simpson
Committee, we agreed to consider Committee Report 4-19(2), Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report. I will go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for any opening comments.
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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Frieda Martselos Thebacha
Our report was read into the record, so I do not have any substantive comments to add. I would like to thank the committee for their work on this report. Individual members may have comments on this report and its recommendations. 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
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The Chair Rocky Simpson
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. I will now open the floor to general comments on Committee Report 4-19(2), Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report. Seeing no comments. Ms. Martselos.
Committee Motion 47-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Removing Barriers to Alignment between Building Codes and Standards and the Human Rights Act, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Frieda Martselos Thebacha
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories investigate and take the necessary steps to solve the issues and remove the barriers that prevent the alignment between building codes and standards and the Human Rights Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 47-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Removing Barriers to Alignment between Building Codes and Standards and the Human Rights Act, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
The Chair Rocky Simpson
Thank you, Ms. Martselos. The motion is in order. Member for Yellowknife North.
Committee Motion 47-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Removing Barriers to Alignment between Building Codes and Standards and the Human Rights Act, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm glad to see you in that seat today. I'd just like to speak in support of this motion. The GNWT Department of Infrastructure on our good building practices has done a lot of great work in including disability and accessibility standards. However, that work we're very much leaders on has not made it into the private sector. Presently, there is a gap in this area. There is the national building code. Builders go out, they build something, and they think it's compliant with human rights law, and it's not. That can cause a lot of frustration for people who are building buildings to find out they followed a code, and it can actually end them up in human rights court.
The GNWT has done this work in the Department of Infrastructure, but we have not really translated it into the private sector. Some of that work is beginning. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has the fire prevention sections of the building code but not the rest of it. I really do believe we need a northern building code and a building standards act, and part of that work needs to make sure that contractors know that following the national building code doesn't always mean your building is accessible. There is work being done at the national level; there is work being done by GNWT. We have to put it all together and make sure that contractors know where those line up. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 47-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Removing Barriers to Alignment between Building Codes and Standards and the Human Rights Act, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
Committee Motion 47-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Removing Barriers to Alignment between Building Codes and Standards and the Human Rights Act, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
Some Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 47-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Removing Barriers to Alignment between Building Codes and Standards and the Human Rights Act, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
The Chair Rocky Simpson
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.
---Carried
Ms. Martselos.
Committee Motion 48-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Enhanced Digital Access and Inclusion for People with Disabilities, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
Frieda Martselos Thebacha
Chair, I move this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories enhance digital access and inclusion for people living with disabilities in the Northwest Territories by reviewing current practices in serving the public and identifying measures to improve the existing situation with the goal to reduce the number of complaints to the human rights commission on the grounds of disabilities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 48-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Enhanced Digital Access and Inclusion for People with Disabilities, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
Committee Motion 48-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Enhanced Digital Access and Inclusion for People with Disabilities, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
Some Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 48-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Enhanced Digital Access and Inclusion for People with Disabilities, CARRIED
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1586
The Chair Rocky Simpson
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.
---Carried
Ms. Martselos.
Committee Motion 49-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Frieda Martselos Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to the recommendations contained in this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 49-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1587
Committee Motion 49-19(2): Committee Report 4-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1587
Some Hon. Members
Question.