Debates of Feb. 11th, 2021

This is page numbers 1945 - 1988 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

COVID-19 Health and Social Services System Response

Aurora College Transformation Update

Summer Student Employment

Moosehide Campaign

Men's New Day Program

Priorities as a Member of the Legislative Assembly

Mental Health During Pandemic

District Heating

COVID-19 Vaccination Program

Caribou Hunting Zones

Climate Change Reporting

2020 NWT Hospitality Award Recipient Mr. Mike Gonet

Mental Health during the Pandemic

Vaccination Schedule for Tuktoyaktuk

Diabetes Program in Small Communities

Marginalized Citizens' Needs

Climate Change Reporting

Frontier Lodge

Housing Social Supports

District Heating

Tabled Document 306-19(2): Aurora College 2019-2020 Annual Report

Tabled Document 307-19(2): Annual Report of the Legislative Assembly under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act - 2020

Tabled Document 308-19(2): Letter from Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation to Premier dated February 5, 2021 regarding MACA Licensing Requirement for Frontier Lodge / Remote Lodges Tabled Document 309-19(2): Letter from Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs to Northwest Territories Tourism dated February 10, 2021 regarding Remote Lodge Licencing

Tabled Document 310-19(2): Letter from Hamlet of Sachs Harbour to MLA Nunakput dated January 26, 2021 regarding Letter of Interest for Project at Airport Tabled Document 311-19(2): Letter from MLA Nunakput to Hamlet of Sachs Harbour dated February 2, 2021 in Support of Airport Project Proposal

Extended Adjournment of the House to February 23, 2021

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Education, Culture and Employment - Deferral of Department (page 137)

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 76-19(2): Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Education, Culture and Employment - Deferral of Department (page 137), Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Any further questions? Member for Frame Lake.

Page 1962

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can I get an explanation as to the sunsetting of the Office of Devolution Initiatives? As I understood it, they were tasked with obtaining an offshore petroleum resources management agreement. I'm not aware of an agreement being signed yet. They were also involved in trying to develop a terms of reference for further work on MVRMA transition. I have never seen a terms of reference. Why is this being sunsetted? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Page 1962

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think I will turn that to Mr. Goldney for the answer. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Deputy Minister Goldney.

Page 1962

Goldney

Thank you, Madam Chair. When we were looking at the progress of work being made and the resources that we have available, we were confident that we could let the sunsets set and still move forward with those initiatives with the resources that we have. We are very optimistic that we'll see significant progress and milestones reached on an offshore accord, hopefully even before March 31^st, if we can, but there is good progress being made there. On the MVRMA initiatives, we do recognize that we've got resources, including those that support the intergovernmental council, that work very closely with Indigenous government officials, as well, so we expect much of that work to be carried forward with those resources. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 1962

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I'm glad to hear the optimism of the deputy minister, but I'd like to get a little bit more concrete information. Can the Minister commit to providing committee with a written update of the status of the negotiations for the offshore? I don't even know what our negotiating position is other than, hopefully, we want to get something at least as generous as the Maritime provinces have received from the federal government. I'd like to start with that. Can I get a commitment out of the Minister that she is going to provide a written update briefing on the status of the negotiations and whether we are actually at a point of getting an agreement? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Page 1962

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Madam Chair, absolutely, we will provide a written update on where exactly we are with that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 1962

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I appreciate that commitment from the Minister. Likewise, on the MVRMA transition: as I understood, there had to be some kind of an agreed-upon study to look at whether any further authority might be delegated or legislative authority might be provided to GNWT. What is the status of that work? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Page 1962

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Madam Chair, I'll turn that to Mr. Goldney.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Deputy Minister Goldney.

Page 1962

Goldney

Thank you, Madam Chair. The focus of that work, at least in the initial phases, has been to engage with Indigenous governments and try and come, to the extent possible, to a common understanding of what might be appropriate to see more authority delegated. That is what officials have been working on with Indigenous governments. Indigenous governments, of course, have their own priorities, too, so a lot of that focus and a lot of those resources were first directed at the development of the intergovernmental council protocol on legislative development. Now that that work has been successfully completed, there are more discussions expected on the MVRMA work. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 1962

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I'm trying to find a way to not delve too much into the weeds here, but I'm hoping that the Minister would actually consult with this side of the House before an offshore accord would be signed or there had been an agreement reached with the intergovernmental council on what might get studied in terms of the MVRMA. Can the Minister make that commitment, that she would consult with Regular MLAs before signing off on this kind of an arrangement so we would actually know what our government is doing? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Page 1962

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Absolutely, I will make that commitment that, prior to signing, I will give an update to standing committee on the status. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1962

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 1963

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes. I just want to nail that down, that, before an offshore accord would get signed, this side would have an opportunity to look at it and give some feedback. That's one commitment, and then I'll follow it up with a second one. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 1963

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Page 1963

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will make a commitment that we will work with the other side to receive some feedback, but recognizing, Madam Chair, that there are other parties involved in this work, as well. I cannot commit that whatever the committee says shall be written in stone. We have other parties at the table. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 1963

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Madam Premier. Member for Frame Lake.

Debates of Feb. 11th, 2021

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