This is page numbers 2989 - 3034 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 know.

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not going to make that commitment. I'm going to assure the Member that I think we all have the best interests of these families in mind. It's very unfortunate that the staffing situation is such that Stanton is not going to be available for births between December the 10th and February the 21st, and I recognize the disruption that's going to cause. But I'm not going to task the obstetrics team with writing reports for us. That, I do not think is a good use of their time.

The ultimate answer to this is to try and improve our staffing levels in the obstetrics unit. We staff now for three nurses, obstetric nurses 24/7. And as I think I said earlier, the birth rate in the NWT is actually going down and not up. Even with that, we are struggling with vacancies in the obstetrics unit. The ultimate answer is to improve services in the Northwest Territories rather than putting a lot of resources into this situation which I sincerely hope is one-off. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees under review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following five documents: Report of the Procurement Review Panel - Review of the Government of Northwest Territories Procurement Policies; The Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission 67th Annual Report 2020-2021; The Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board 67th Annual Report 2020-2021; Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1st to June 30th, 2021); and, The Northern Employee Benefits Services (NEBS) Pension Plan Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31st, 2020. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: A Strategy for Renewal of the Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Child and Family Services Annual Report 2020-2021.Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Colleagues, pursuant to section 43 of the Ombud Act, I hereby table Speaking Up for Fairness - 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud.

Pursuant to section 68 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I wish to table the 2020-2021 Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Annual Report.

Pursuant to section 23 of the Official Languages Act, I hereby table the Office of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2020-2021.

Pursuant to section 21 of the Human Rights Act, I wish to table to the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2020-2021.

Thank you. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, November 26th, 2021, I'll move the following motion:

I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Thebacha, that Committee Report 17-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on review of Bill 23, an Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act;. Community Report 18-19(2) Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Review of Bill 24, an Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act;. And the Committee Report 19-19(2) Standing Committee on the Economic Development and Environment Report on Bill 29, Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for your consideration.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Notices of motion. Motions. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President.

WHEREAS Rule 89(2) requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight;

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

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

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, Ms. Jane-Weyallon-Armstrong, the Member from Monfwi.

And further, that the following Member be Appointed to Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, Ms. Jane Weyallon-Armstrong, the Member for Monfwi.

And further, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development, Ms. Jane Weyallon-Armstrong, the Member for Monfwi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. 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.

---Carried.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Motions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm debating whether to move an appointment for the chief electoral officer or make Mr. Dunbar work here another week. But, Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure that.

WHEREAS the Elections and Plebiscites Act provides for the appointment of a chief electoral officer, who has the responsibility to exercise general direction and supervision over the administrative conduct of an election and enforce, on the part of all election officers, fairness, impartiality, and compliance with the Elections and Plebiscites Act.

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Hay River North, that this Legislative Assembly, by virtue of Section 5 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act recommends to the Commissioner the appointment of Mr. Steven Dunbar of Yellowknife as the chief electoral officer for the Northwest Territories for a term of four years commencing November 25th, 2021.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, many of us know here Mr. Dunbar is the director of research for the last three years, but he has served in various roles in this institution on both sides of the House.

He was an executive assistant to the Premier, a former Premier, a long-time special advisor to Minister of Health and Social Services. He has worked in this building inside and out.

Mr. Dunbar also has one of the few published academic documents on consensus government. He is an expert. He is a long-time volunteer with the Yellowknife Ski Club, and I think we all know the vast importance in the role of the chief electoral officer, and we know that Mr. Dunbar is up to this role and he has to get to work right away. So I'm happy to move this motion, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. 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 favor. All those opposed. Any abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Minister responsible for Justice.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 36, an Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Motion is in order. And it's non-debatable. All those in favor. All those opposed. Any abstentions. Motion is carried. Bill 36 has had first reading.

---Carried