This is page numbers 4635 - 4688 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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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Madam Chair, this recommendation is related to motion 16 about the transition allowance, and for that reason, I recommend that it be defeated. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is defeated.

---Defeated

Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends the following clause to section 79, page 48, of the Members' handbook be removed: For a Member who is a former Speaker or Minister, the transition allowance is equal and limited to their annual indemnity at the time of eligibility. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. The Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Madam Chair, again this recommendation is related to Motion 16 about the transition allowance and, for that reason, I recommend that it be defeated.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in flavour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is defeated.

---Defeated

Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that Members be advised that they can access financial planning support from an independent advisor when they leave office. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Madam Chair, I support this motion. The transition for Members out of politics and either back into private life or retirement can bring with it complex financial considerations. This is a service currently provided to Members. We just need to communicate it better in the run up to and after election. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Towards the end of last Assembly, I did participate in a one-day seminar with a financial planner along with at least one other MLA and our partners. I found it to be very useful. And I understand with COVID, it's not as easy to access these services as it was before but I expect that that will improve. So this already happens, and it actually happens across the GNWT, I know, for other employees as well, that they are offered similar opportunities for training and advice. So I agree and support this recommendation and knowing that it already happens. Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that while each MLA continues to negotiate the salary level for their constituency assistant, the minimum hourly rate should be not less than $25 per hour. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. The motion is in order. To the motion. The Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Legislative Assembly's current constituency assistant hourly rates range from $25 to $46 per hour. The average is approximately $35 per hour. No one is below $25 per hour. Members prefer to have some flexibility in terms of how they manage and compensate their constituency assistant so I recommend that this motion be defeated. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, no one is paying the constituency assistant less than $25 an hour right now, and I guess I'm in favour of this so that no one ever does. You know, hopefully one day in this territory we get to minimum wage of $25 an hour, but. And well, and if inflation keeps up at this rate, we might get there a lot sooner than we expected. But I think we should lead by example, and I don't really see any harm in setting this as at least the bare minimum floor going forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. To the motion. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. I agree with my colleague from Yellowknife North on this. In the last Assembly, we worked pretty hard to ensure that our constituency assistants, they're now eligible for, you know, different kind of benefits. And we worked hard to try to promote them as employees here within the -- they're not within the civil service but trying to make sure that we could find some ways to keep our constituency assistants as well. I can tell you that I pay my constituency assistant more than $25 an hour, and I think they deserve a living wage, and this is probably in about the neighbourhood I would expect that a living wage would be for somebody in Yellowknife. I have no problem setting this as a floor as this recommendation is suggesting. So I will vote in favour of it. Thanks, Madam Chair.