This is page numbers 4061 - 4110 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

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to turn to Martin on -- or to deputy minister on that one. But before I turn to him, I'd like to say that, really reinforcing that, we're either at the table or not at the table, and for the longest time we weren't even at the table. The federal government wasn't even talking to us. The previous government wasn't really friendly with the federal government, and it took a long time building that relationship to the point where they let us at the table again. But, again, Martin could probably speak better to section 35 than myself. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Goldney

Thank you, Mr. -- Mr. Chair. So certainly if the agreements are ratified, these trans-boundary groups that will become owners of aboriginal title land will be able to make decisions respecting the lands they owned, and they will be treated as any other land owner when it comes to -- when it comes to development.

When it comes to section 35, you know, certainly any activity that might have an adverse effect on established or asserted Indigenous rights will trigger that obligation to consult and that obligation, frankly, exists now, even in the absence of a -- of a settled agreement because we have real and constructive knowledge that these parties have asserted traditional harvesting rights in the southeast corner of the Northwest Territories. So if there were a development that were proposed there, we would be consulting with them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Ms. Martselos.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

So, Mr. Chair, you know, when we're putting the people, or the future generations at risk in this manner that, you know, we're building a territory for future generations, it's not going to be me that's going to be worried about if a mine's coming in or not, I don't think. But those are very serious -- it's a very serious way that we're looking at this. And let trans-boundary agreements into the territories is not okay. I don't care -- you can say, you know, this and that and the other and now you're in good standing with the federal government; not everybody is. I'm not used to a government that is used to spending all the money and going into deficit, and that's exactly what has been happening, even at the federal level. And this thing with the two trans-boundary agreements is going to -- you can't even make an agreement with a couple of -- a couple of Indigenous groups to move forward; how the hell you're going to do it with -- sorry, Mr. Chair. But how are you going to be able to do it with -- with outside interests? Like, that's a really big question. I'm very concerned about this, the way this government is approaching the two agreements that were concluded, which are two final trans-boundary agreements, and our own government can't even settle some of the outstanding implementation and agreements here in the territories. That's very concerning. And I'm sorry I have to disagree with the direction but, you know, with the -- just knowing the knowledge at the table and how -- how awful it could get at -- at trilateral meeting -- and Martin knows that. I mean, you know, and -- and, you know, it's very serious that this is -- this is going forward, and I'm sorry that I can't agree to something like that. And I just -- it's -- it's very concerning that our government will take that approach without -- without -- I think it's a -- it's something that affects all 19 people in this -- in this room and making a big decision like that that affects all the Indigenous groups and all the non-Indigenous participants and people of the Northwest Territories, and I just -- I'm very concerned about that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Premier.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

I stated it was either we're at the table or we weren't at the table. It's always better to be at the table; at least you get some kind of food.

This is -- and I have faith in the -- I trust in the Indigenous governments when they -- part of the consultation process that they would brought not only the concerns bought by the Member but even more so because they had time to process it; we only get a few minutes. But this is not always the case. This one might be contentious but there is another cross-boundary one that's happening right now as well. I think it's called Aninhan Dun -- that's the pronounciation? Which is actually with the Gwich'in people from the Yukon, and that is one is going really well. The Gwich'in people aren't fighting it. They see themself as families. So the -- we're working on that one. That one's close to being done too, and that one will take some of our -- the west coastline as well, and that one doesn't have the contention that we have with the southeast corner. So there's always -- what I've learned from that process is that it all -- every negotiation table is different. Some will be contentious. They don't see themself as family, and others ones, they seem themself as family and there will be less contention with that.

But what I really want to stress to the Member is that I have emphasized to the Indigenous governments that if it's good for them, then we need to put our claims in as well, that Indigenous governments from the North have to put their claims in for the jurisdictions outside of the NWT as well to be fair. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? Opposed? Motion is carried. I will now rise and report progress.

---Carried

Sergeant-At-Arms, please escort the witnesses out of the chamber.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

May I please have the report of Committee of the Whole, Member for Hay River South.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

March 28th, 2022

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 23; Bill 29, Minister's Statement 202-19(2); Tabled Document 561-19(2) and Tabled Document 567-19(2) and would like to report progress. And Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

March 28th

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The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Do we have a seconder? Member for Yellowknife North. All the those in favour. All those opposed? Any abstentions? We have a tie -- no, just kidding. Motion is carried.

---Carried.

Third reading of the 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 37, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. A motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Question has been called. Members, pursuant to Rule 10.3(1), a recorded vote is required. The clerk shall call on each Member by riding name to cast their vote, starting with the mover; those participating remotely and those participating in the Chamber in the order of their seats. When the clerk calls on you, please state whether you are for, against, or abstaining from third reading.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The honourable Member for Hay River North.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

For.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The Member for -- the Member for Kam Lake.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The Member has indicated she is in favour in of third reading of the bill. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

For.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The Member has indicated she is for third reading of the bill. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Agreed.

Recorded Vote
Third Reading Of Bills

March 28th

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Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The Member's indicated she is for third reading of the bill.

The Member for Thebacha.