Debates of Nov. 3rd, 2022
This is page numbers 5051 - 5086 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 housing.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 291-19(2): Northwest Territories Community Flood Response
- Minister's Statement 292-19(2): Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Survey
- Minister's Statement 293-19(2): National Housing Day
- Member's Statement 1281-19(2): Housing
- Member's Statement 1282-19(2): Hay River Harbour
- Member's Statement 1283-19(2): Highway No. 3 Transmission Line
- Member's Statement 1284-19(2): Indigenous Disability Month
- Member's Statement 1285-19(2): Budget Transparency
- Member's Statement 1286-19(2): Recognition
- Member's Statement 1287-19(2): Tu Nedhe Wiilideh Constituency Budget Allocations
- Member's Statement 1288-19(2): Recognition
- Member's Statement 1289-19(2): Supplementary Health Budgets
- Member's Statement 1290-19(2): Open Sky Festival
- Member's Statement 1291-19(2): Supporting Youth
- Member's Statement 1292-19(2): Families of Canadian Soldiers
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Acknowledgement 7-19(2): Order of Saint John Life Saving Award
- Question 1295-19(2): Kole Crook Fiddle Jamboree
- Question 1296-19(2): Highway No. 3 Transmission Line
- Question 1297-19(2): Housing
- Question 1298-19(2): Disabled Tenants Support
- Question 1299-19(2): Budget Transparency
- Question 1300-19(2): Integrated Service Delivery
- Question 1301-19(2): Indigenous Government Support
- Question 1302-19(2): Support for Youth at Risk
- Question 1303-19(2): Tu Nedhe Wiilideh Constituency Support
- Question 1304-19(2): Support for Youth Sports
- Question 1305-19(2): Addressing Homelessness
- Written Question 54-19(2): Carbon Tax and the Cost of Living
- Tabled Document 794-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 65: Builder's Lien Act Tabled Document 795-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 68: An Act to Amend the Child Day Care Act Tabled Document 796-19(2): Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2021 Annual Report
- Tabled Document 797-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 68, An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act Tabled Document 798-19(2): Plain Language Summary for Bill 67, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act Tabled Document 799-19(2): Northwest Territories 9-1-1 2021-2022 Annual Report
- Tabled Document 800-19(2): Housing NWT 2021-2022 Annual Report
- Tabled Document 801-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Questions 1210-19(2): Treatment Programs, Oral Question 1232-19(2): Addictions Treatment, and Oral Question 1255-19(2): Addictions Treatment
- Tabled Document 802-19(2): Letter from Fertility Matters
- Tabled Document 803-19(2): Redacted Report from the Department of Health and Social Services from the Internal Audit Bureau obtained under Access to Information
- Tabled Document 804-19(2): Email Exchange with Environmental Health Officer Regarding Lanky Court
- Tabled Document 805-19(2): Summary of Members' Absence for the Period May 26 to October 12, 2022
- Motion 68-19(2): Establishment of a Special Committee on Transition Matters, Carried
- Motion 69-19(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 7, 2023, Carried
- Motion 70-19(2): Amendments to the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, Carried
- Motion 71-19(2): Reappointment of Members to the Northwest Territories Honours and Advisory Council, Carried
- Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024
- Bill 65: Builder's Lien Act, Carried
- Bill 66: An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, Carried
- Bill 67: An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act, Carried
- Bill 68: An Act to Amend the Child Daycare Act, Carried
- Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
- Assent to Bills
- Orders Of The Day
Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5082

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler
Question has been called. The Minister of Finance has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please rise.
Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5082
Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer
The Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Deh Cho, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Monfwi, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Nahendeh.
Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5082
Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5082
Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer
The Member for Yellowknife North.
Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5082
Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5082
Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer
The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Bill 71: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5082

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler
The results of the recorded vote is 13 in favour, one opposed, and one abstention. The motion is carried. Bill 71 has had third reading.
---Carried
Third reading of bills.
Members, I will ask you to now close your laptops and phones down. Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the honourable Margaret Thom, is prepared to enter the Chamber and assent to the bills.
Assent to Bills
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5083
The Commissioner Of The Northwest Territories Margaret M. Thom
Mahsi, Please be seated. Good afternoon, Madam Speaker, Premier Cochrane, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, staff and visitors in the public gallery. [No Translation].
Thank you, it is always a great feeling and an honour to be here and see all of you. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and hard work on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories.
With deep respect, I acknowledge and am reminded that we are on Chief Drygeese traditional territory, home to the Yellowknives Dene, the North Slave Metis, and Inuit. We are grateful to live, to work, to celebrate on your sacred lands and to welcome as visitors.
I further extend my respect to all Indigenous, Metis, Inuit, and non-Indigenous people who make the Northwest Territories their home. It is my honour to take this moment to remember the dedication and proud service made by current and past brave members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Remembrance Day is Friday, November 11th, and it is a day when we remember and honour all who left their homes and families to fight for our country and, more importantly, for our freedoms. Some of these brave men and women never returned home. They died serving Canada.
As your Commissioner, I will proudly take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony in Hay River this year, and I will remember and honour the fallen and their ultimate sacrifice for our country.
It is with deep respect and pride that I mention a postage stamp that was issued by Canada Post on October 17th. It shows Sergeant Thomas "Tommy" George Prince in his Korean War uniform. Sergeant Prince is one of Canada's most decorated Indigenous war veterans and was a prominent Anishinaabe activist. He served Canada in World War II and in the Korean War. He died in 1977.
November 8 is Indigenous Veteran's Day, and on that day, I will remember and honour all Indigenous veterans by participating in the wreath ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery here in Yellowknife.
As this sitting comes to an end, I would like to wish each and every one of you good health, happiness, prosperity, a time for relaxation and a balanced lifestyle. Enjoy the blessed season that is soon upon us with your families and your constituents.
In closing, may each of you be gifted with continued guidance and vision as you work together cooperatively for the betterment of all residents of the Northwest Territories. I wish you all safety in your journey home to your loved ones.
Now, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am pleased to assent to the following bills:
- Bill 48, Arbitration Act;
- Bill 52, Elevators and Lifts Act;
- Bill 53, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act;
- Bill 58, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2;
- Bill 59, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act;
- Bill 69, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023;
- Bill 70, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2022- 2023;
- Bill 71, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024.
Masi cho. Thank you. Quyananni. Merci Beaucoup. Koana.
Assent to Bills
Third Reading Of Bills
Page 5083

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler
You may be seated. Members, on behalf of the House, I thank the Commissioner, the Honourable Margaret M., Thom, for being here today. It is always a pleasure to have her in the chamber.
I'd like to thank the pages who have been with us for this sitting. It is wonderful to see our youth with us in the chamber. I hope you have learned a little about how our unique form of consensus and how it works, and that you will stay interested in the Legislative Assembly where your representatives make decisions that will affect your lives now and in the future. Please keep up the good work.
I'd like to also encourage all our pages and all of our youth throughout the territory to learn about our Youth Parliament Program. Each year we host students in grade 9 to 10 from across the territory and hold a model session here. They have the opportunity to speak to and debate issues of importance. If you think you would be interested in the youth parliament, I encourage you to apply.
Thank you also to the interpreters who have joined us for this sitting and put up with us and our fast talking. Our languages are vital to our cultures and we honour our official languages by using them. The interpreters make this possible for us.
Members, I finally want to take a moment to thank our long-serving Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Brian Thagard. We don't typically acknowledge our staff for their vital contributions to our successes; however, this is the last sitting of the Assembly before his upcoming and well-deserved retirement. So today I am making an exception to recognize Mr. Thagard for his hard work and dedication. Mr. Thagard has had a 32-year career with the Government of the Northwest Territories, and for the past 18 years he has served this institution as our Sergeant-at-Arms, making him the longest currently serving Sergeant-at-Arms in Canada.
---Applause
I know he doesn't like limelight. His greatest satisfaction is keeping the lights on, as he would say, so I will keep this short.
As Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Thagard has helped run a wonderful page program, bringing in youth from across the territory and giving them an experience that otherwise would not be available to them. He was also integral in setting up our direct-to-home broadcasting system, including appearing at the CRTC hearings in support of our application to have our proceedings designated as a must-carry channel on direct-to-home satellite television throughout the territory. As Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Thagard has overseen the security, operations, and improvements to the Legislative Assembly building for nearly two decades. We consider this building to be a place of the people, and we see the philosophy throughout the work of Mr. Thagard and his team. The improvements he has overseen to improve both accessibility and security in this building are a great example of how he has been able to strike the necessary balance between running a safe and secure Legislative Assembly building while ensuring that the building and our proceedings remain open and accessible to the public.
Brian, you have been a part of this Assembly for so long that most of us cannot remember or imagine this place without your dedication and leadership. While I know that we have recommended the appointment of a very capable successor, we know that you will be missed. On behalf of this institution, I wish you and your wife Patrizia the very best in the next stages of your life. Brian, the world is your oyster; make the best of every day.
Members, next Friday, November 11th, is Remembrance Day, and I encourage each of you, and all Northerners, to take some time to reflect upon and honour those who have served this country in the Canadian Armed Forces. These brave men and women dedicated, and in some cases gave their lives, to fight for our country and to make a better future for each of us. In these troubled times, their service and sacrifice are deserving of our gratitude more than ever. Members, please join me in thanking our veterans and serving members of our armed forces.
---Applause
Members, although this House will not sit again until the new year, we will remain busy. Our days will be filled with ongoing business of committees and government and our most important work serving our constituents. It's still a few weeks away, but as we enter the upcoming holiday season, I ask that you take some time to reflect upon what this season means to you. I also remind you to take the time to celebrate with your family and friends. Let them know how much they mean to you and how much you value their love and support and show them that they are appreciated.
This is the time of year can be difficult for many people. If you find yourself having a difficult time, please reach out. There are many people who care about you and who are willing to help you in any way they can. If somebody else is having a hard time or you believe that they may be, please make a point of checking on them. As Northerners, we help each other, we support each other, and we rely on each other. As we celebrate the holidays, please remember to do so safely. Travel safely on our roads and on the land. Thank you, colleagues.
I'd also like to take the time to -- this is Jennifer Franki-Smith, our clerk's last day in the House as when we return in February, she'll not be here and she may not be back. And we may see her if some of us get back in here in the next term. Hopefully she comes right back.
So orders of the day, Madam Clerk.
Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day
November 3rd, 2022
Page 5085
Deputy Clerk Of The House Ms. Franki Smith
[No Translation] Orders of the day for Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, 1:30 p.m.
- Prayer
- Ministers' Statements
- Members' Statements
- Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
- Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
- Reports of Standing and Special Committees
- Returns to Oral Questions
- Oral Question 1163-19(2), Homelessness
- Oral Question 1188-19(2), Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Red Cross
- Oral Question 1246-19(2), Infertility Treatment
- Acknowledgements
- Oral Questions
- Written Questions
- Returns to Written Questions
- Replies to the Commissioner's Address
- Petitions
- Tabling of Documents
- Notices of Motion
- Motions
- Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
- First Reading of Bills
- Second Reading of Bills
- Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 3
- Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
- Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
- Bill 29, Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act
- Minster's Statement 264-19(2), Response to the NWT Chief Coroner's Report on Suicide Report of Committee of the Whole
- Tabled Document 681-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 26-19(2): Report on the Child and Family Services Act - Lifting Children, Youth and Families: An All of Territory Approach to Keeping Families Together
- Tabled Document 694-19(2): Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2021-2022 Early Release of Data
- Report of Committee of the Whole
- Third Reading of Bills
- Orders of the Day
Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day
Page 5085

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler
Thank you, Madam Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 4:22 p.m.
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