Debates of Nov. 29th, 2021
This is page numbers 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.
Topics
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Members' Statementsmember's Statement Onaccess To Traditionally Tanned Hides
- Member's statement on tlicho All-Season Road Preparedness
- member's statement on Territorial Policing Services Agreement
- member's statement on Education Renewal Framework
- Member's statement on Healthcare and Nursing Challenges
- member's statement on Department of Municipal and Community Affairs Legislative Progress
- member's statement on tlicho Region Housing Crisis
- member's statement on Housing in Nunakput
- member's statement on mproving Government of the Northwest Territories Procurement Processes
- member's statement on Inuvik Warming Shelter Fire
- Eulogy for Miranda Marie Isaiah
- Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement
- oral question 823-19(2): access to traditionally tanned hides
- Oral question 824-19(2): housing in nunakput
- oral question 825-19(2): tlicho all-season road preparedness
- oral question 826-19(2): educational renewal framework
- oral question 827-19(2): healthcare and nursing challenges
- oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
- oral question 829-19(2): department of municipal and community affairs legislative progress
- oral question 830-19(2): improving government of the northwest territoreis procurement process
- oral question 831-19(2): tlicho region housing
- Tabling Of Documentsaurora College Corporate Plan 2021/2022revised Aurora College Capital Budget 2021/20222020-2021 Annual Report On Official Languages
- The GNWT's Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Action Plan The GNWT's Indigenous Recruitment and Retention FrameworK The Interim Public Accounts for the GNWT for the year ended March 31st, 2021
- Royalties Paid to GNWT from the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act Reports versus Royalties Received from the GNWT Public Accounts 2016-2021 Observations on the Redacted Summaries of the Meetings of the GNWT-NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines COVID-19 Recovery Working Group
- the Northwest Territories Territorial Police Service Agreement, April 1, 2012
- Summary of Members absences for the period May 27th, 2021 to November 21st, 2021
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Orders Of The Day
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I would just like to express my sympathy to the Member's riding as well too with the recent fire in her community, and also thank you to all of the Inuvik fire departments, the RCMP, the Housing Corporation, and all that have attended and tried to work with this tragedy in her riding.
Right now, our short-term plans, we are working with the Department of Health right now, and we have acquired a temporary shelter right now in Inuvik and we are looking at a possible government building. We haven't finalized those agreements yet. The other thing is that we are looking at the possibilities of federal units in the community as well too and just acknowledging that we do have market housing units that are being built for the RCMP. So I'm questioning if those units may be available to the Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as I mentioned in my Member's statement, you know, moving our most vulnerable from empty building to empty building to empty building is not a solution. So could the Minister elaborate on what are some of the longer plan -- longer term plans for the Inuvik warming shelter and its residents in my community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as this is unfolding in a community right now, we are working with the Indigenous groups. We have just -- have just established a governance committee in the Member's riding. Right now, we are just looking for a building to get started on in making sure that we could find a more long-term solution, and I will update the Member as we -- as all of the information starts to come into my office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, Mr. Speaker, I've asked this question a couple of times I think. I've emailed the Minister, and it wasn't just this government, it was the last government that promised us a homelessness strategy. When are we expected to see that strategy? And I'm hoping to hear an answer and a date. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and this may be more of a comment. I just want to thank the department for their quick action, like I said and, you know, and the -- one of the things is that the department has taken on is assumed all the staff within the -- my community. So I just -- maybe it is a question as to what the long-term plan for this is, if she can elaborate. If not, I'd like an answer if I can get it in writing. Thanks.
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Paulie Chinna Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 828-19(2): inuvik warming shelter fire
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement
oral question 829-19(2): department of municipal and community affairs legislative progress
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement
November 29th, 2021

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs is does the department have a backlog of legislation?
oral question 829-19(2): department of municipal and community affairs legislative progress
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.
oral question 829-19(2): department of municipal and community affairs legislative progress
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Never a backlog; we've always got work to do. So MACA is responsible for 21 statutes and their associated regulations. And some of it needs to be examined to see if changes are required. MACA will be selecting one -- taking on and prioritizing legislative initiatives. The department needs to balance the age of legislation, its complexity, the nature, and an extent of changes required, whether or not -- or stakeholders are experiencing issues with its administration. MACA must also consider the capacity of stakeholders to support the legislative development, the NWTAC and LGANT have both cautioned about the capacity to participate in multiple initiatives at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 829-19(2): department of municipal and community affairs legislative progress
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I threw MACA a softball 'yes' there. I note the Minister said that the department is responsible for 21 Acts. That's -- ENR has nine and Lands has three. That's almost twice as many as their other departments. And I guess my question is how many pieces of legislation did MACA intend to bring forward in this Assembly and how many realistically are we going to see? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 829-19(2): department of municipal and community affairs legislative progress
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I gave him his 'yes' last week so he's done for the yeses. So -- besides the joking aside there. So MACA initiated -- when were first started, we were looking at three legislations. We brought forward Property Assessment and Taxation, the Fire Prevention Act, and the Senior Citizens Disability and Personal Property Tax Relief Act. Unfortunately, COVID hit, floods hit, flood recovery hit, and so we realistically looked at what can we achieve at this point in time. So what we said is the Senior Citizen and Disability Property Tax Relief will wait until the 20th -- or Assembly. But we're doing the necessary work to get it going there.
Also MACA is providing advanced work with this Assembly to bring a municipal -- municipalities under the assess -- to Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. However, Member -- I can tell the Member I just had a meeting with the deputy minister and ADM this morning, and we are looking at ways to move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
oral question 829-19(2): department of municipal and community affairs legislative progress
Oral Questionsoral Question 822-19(2)territorial Policing Services Agreement

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know what, I'm hopeful we're going to see the Property Assessment and Taxation Act. The MLA from Frame Lake often remarks that when he was on council in 1997, he asked for that act to be brought forward. And a lot has happened in the intervening 24 years except amendments to the Property Assessment and Taxation Act.
Mr. Speaker, presently the on-the-land implementation unit has nine funded staff to bring one act in -- into force. The on-the-land policy shop there is actually the largest policy shop in the GNWT for one act, yet MACA with 21 acts does not have nine policy staff. So is the Minister willing to look what his other departments have done and maybe bring forward a similar unit to catch up MACA on their backlog of legislation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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